Idd-e-Gaddir: A Time to Reflect on the Greatest Gift from the Holy Imam

Ya Ali Madad and Idd Mubark. On the occasion of Idd-ul-Adha and Idd-e-Ghaddir, may Allah grant material, spiritual and intellectual happiness to Muslims all over the world. Ameen.

This post covers material on: (a) the role of Holy Imam in the world as he was declared as the Commander of the faithful at Ghaddir-e-Khum; and (b) the mechanism to enter the luminosity of the Imam and the Qur'an. Let us reflect on the following ta'wils:

(a) The role of Holy Imam in the world

1. Definition of Wilayat
   

   ""Wilayat," derived from wila', means power, authority or a right of certain kind. In Sh?'a theology, "wilayat" is the authority invested in the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt as representatives of Almighty Allah on this earth." (Source: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi)

2. The Three stages of Religion
   

   "It is related that the Prophet said: "I enjoin upon those of you who have faith in God and in me and have declared me to be truthful, the walayat of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali bin Abu Talib. For, truly, the devotion to him is devotion to me, a command my Lord has given me and a covenant which he has made with me and has ordered me to convey to you from Himself." The greatest wisdom in this luminous teaching of the Holy Prophet is that belief in God and the Prophet is the first stage of religion, that affirmation of the Prophethood and Messengership is the second stage, and that affirmation of wilayat of Mawla Ali is the third stage." (Fruit of Paradise, p.36)

3. The Mechanism and Importance of Salwat
   

   The verse (ayat) of the Holy Qur'an [Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56)] indicates that the major entities which are involved in the execution of this prayer are: Allah, Angels, the Holy Prophet, the Holy Imams and believers. This mechanism of salwat is presented in the following diagram:

   
   
    
   
   Click here to play and right click here to save the mp3 track to your computer.
   
    
   

(b) The mechanism to enter the luminosity of the Imam and the Qur'an

1. The Importance of Divine Remembrance
   

   "God says: "And he who is blind to the remembrance of God, We assign him a Satan who becomes his comrade." (43:36). The pure Imam is the living Supreme Name (ism-i azam) of God and His luminous remembrance, because it is from him that mu'mins obtain the light of Divine remembrance, which rescues them from the clutches of Satan. For the Imam of the time is in the position of Ali and is the gate to the city of knowledge and wisdom." (Fruit of Paradise, p.29)

2. "Dhikrukum: Your remembrance
   

   See the blessed words of the verse (21:10): "Fihi dhikrukum".

   • "In it is the exhortation for you";
   • "In it is the remembrance of ism-i a'zam for you"; and
   • "In it is your own remembrance provided you are successful."
   
   

   When the Imam of time grants ism-i azam to one of his murids, it is certainly from the holy Qur'an. The purpose of the miraculous bridge of special ibadat (i.e., ibadat of ism-i azam) is that he or she may enter the luminosity of the Imam and the Qur'an." (A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 363, p. 196-197)

3. In one of his teachings, NOOR Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) has explained that through luminous prayer at a luminous time with a luminous word (bandagi with ism-i azam, the Supreme Name of God), a person can experience the merging of soul with God (fana fillah). In another place, he has explained that during the luminous prayer a person should focus on their ism-i azam (Supreme Name) to such an extent that they should not even be aware of their physical surroundings. In a third place, he has taught that one should die during meditation, i.e., one should be totally and fully immersed in the luminous prayer with the luminous word. Thus, through the Supreme Name (the luminous word), it is possible to go through the cycles of spiritual death and resurrection for the sake of spiritual enlightenment which will be given in the form of knowledge and recognition of higher realities.

4. The ism-i azam is the door to luminosity, therefore it is a treasure that should be constantly remembered. Here is a humble dhikr to emphasize this point. Let us pray to NOOR Mowlana Hazir to empower us to practice the luminous prayer at a luminous time with a luminous word, i.e., perform bandagi with ism-i azam, the Supreme Name of God, with a greater effort, strength and enthusiasm.

Click here to play and right click here to save the Ism-i Azam mp3 track to your computer.

Additional reading:

1. Let us Learn about the Power of Angelic Salwat (Download PDF)
2. Creation of Light Within the Personal World Through Ism-i Azam (Download PDF)
3. Enlightenment Norms from Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi (Download PDF)

Prayers for the Global Jamat:
Let us pray to our beloved NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam:

Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, grant us, our families, our Jamats, the worldwide Jamat, the Muslim Ummah, and humanity at large, luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually.

O Mowla make us one global Jamat with one Sound Heart (Qalb-i Salim), bless us with a Golden Noorani Didar, and empower us to present spiritual and luminous nazranas. Ameen.

Peace, light, barakat, tayid, and a Golden Noorani Didar,
Noorallah Juma
December 22, 2007

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Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma