"On the edge of the Khangay range, on the way back to Persia, he
(Rukn al-Din) was led away from the road, on the pretext of going to a
feast, and was murdered ... The destruction of Alamut, and the final humbling
of Ismaili power, are vividly depicted by (Ata Malik) Juvayni. 'In that
breeding-ground of heresy in the Rudbar of Alamut the home of the wicked
adherents of Hasan-i Sabbah ... there remains not one stone of the foundations
upon another. And in that flourishing abode of innovation the Artist of
Eternity Past wrote with the pen of violence upon the portico of each one's
dwelling the verse: "These their empty houses are empty ruins." Quran,
xxvii, 53) And in the market-place of those wretches' kingdom the muezzin
Destiny has uttered the cry of "Away then with the wicked people!" Quran,
xxiii, 43) Their luckless womenfolk, like their empty religion, have been
utterly destroyed. And the gold of those crazy double-dealing counterfeiters
which appeared to be unalloyed, has proven to be base lead." 'The Assassins
- A Radical Sect of Islam' page 95
Noorum-Mubin (1951), records on page 303:
"The pages after pages of history books are filled with details
of Halaku Khan's huge mass killings, plunders, inhuman cruel burning
and atrocities. He did not spare the six month old children who were in
their cradles". "Imam was drowned in a river.
This is not an invented story but a record from history
confirming the scripture and "Haqqa" (the Sure Realities). When history
is repeated, the falsehood and pretense will once more perish and the Word
of Allah will prevail.
Allah says:
"We have sent them the Truth; but they indeed practise Falsehood!"
'Holy Quran' 23/90
"When it is said to them: 'Come to what Allah hath revealed, and
to the Apostle': Thou seest the Hypocrites avert their faces from thee
in disgust". "Those men, - Allah knows what is in their hearts;
so keep clear of them, but admonish them, and speak to them a word to reach
their very souls".
'Holy Quran' 4/61 & 63
Note: It is a sacred duty
of every Muslim to preach and warn his fellow Muslims, perchance they may
fear Him. For more information read Holy Quran 7/163-164.
Unique Confession
Judaism, Christianity and Islam
A great historian of religion devoted forty years
of his life to determining what the world's religions have in common, and
came up with two things: "Belief in God if there be a God," and "Life is
worth living - sometimes."
That was the point of view of a historian - one who
narrates past events. If a theologian - one who analyses the scriptures,
was to devote that many years of his life to determine what the major religions
of the world have in common, then he would come up with one thing: "A thread
is woven through the cardinal principles of Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
The Prophets of these three great religions have taught one lesson
over and over again - the monotheism". The
spiritual development of mankind has been gradual and in stages, like the
physical development of a child. Lord the Almighty has been sending His
Messengers to warn mankind about attributing His Glory to others and associating
partners to him. He is Absolute. Each Prophet brought the concept of ONE
GOD, as Cardinal Principle of God's religion, and submission to that ONE
GOD ALONE as the fundamental credo and profession of faith.
Prophet Musa (s.a.s.), (in Latin - Moses) formed a center
of consolidation for the early Semitic tribes. From there on, their acceptance
of Yahweh as God, rather than their tribal ancestry made them Jews. God
gave to the children of Israel the great credo, 'Shema'
"Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is ONE LORD."
Deut. 6/4
The Israelites were then practicing Baalism, servinggraven
images, worshipping heavenly hosts, and venerating the Sun god, which they
had learnt from the Egyptians, Babylonians, and Canaanite tribes.
History of the Prophets of the Middle East records that
with the exception of Islam, every time a Prophet had departed from amongst
his people, the followers had, in one way or another, reverted to the practice
of associating others with the Absolute Being. Whilst Moses was on the
mountain receiving God's Commandments, the Israelites became impatient,
and led by Samiri, formed a molten statue of a golden calf or a gold plated
wooden calf. They worshipped it, sacrificed to it, bowed before it, ate,
drank, and reveled in song and dance surrounding the calf which represented
God.
The Jews had not fully understood and accepted the Command
of worshipping "One Lord" of great 'Shema', although 'Shema' was on their
lips, in their prayers, and placed on the posts of their front doors. History
confirms the fact that Judaism until as late as the advent of Islam had
pictures of Sun gods and heavenly hosts in the Synagogues. The large central
medallion of the mosaic floor in Bet Alpha Synagogue (6th Century A.D.)
had Hellos driving the horses of the Sun God surrounded by the signs of
the Zodiac. The four seasons were pictured in the four corners of the medallion.
After seeing the Islamic Mosques decorated with floral and geometric patterns
and the artistic calligraphy that not only adorned the House of God, but
also conveyed His message, the Jews began changing the pattern of decorating
their Synagogues.
The mission of Moses for establishing "Unity of God"
was not completed. The Bible records that seven centuries before the coming
of Jesus Christ, King Josiah (622 B.C.) burnt down the wooden chariots
of the Sun god and vessels made for Baal (the god of fertility), which
were kept in the house of the Lord by the Jewish high priests.
Besides, the Jewish community had monopolized on the
words "our God" of their capsule credo - the 'Shema', and made their religion
and God, sectarian and prepossessed. They had built high walls surrounding
the religion, taught by Prophet Moses. The Message of God became non-universal
and exclusive for the tribes of Israel. The name Yisra'el is explained
through popular etymology as "He contends against El (God)".
The Almighty now sent another Messenger of His, named
Issa (s.a.s.), (in Latin - Jesus). Being anointed he became Jesus Christ.
It is recorded that, when a man versed in "the Law" (the Old Testament)
asked Jesus Christ, "Teacher, which is the greatest Commandment
in the Bible?" Jesus quoted the First Commandment,
"Thou shalt have no other gods before Me" and added, "You must Love
the Creator your God with your whole heart and with your whole soul and
with your whole mind."
The Message that Jesus had brought was the same as declared
in the fifth Book of Moses, called Deuteronomy, which is: "Thou
shalt have no other gods before Me." "Thou shalt not bow down thyself unto
them, nor serve them; for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God..."
In other words, God not only resents the idea of associating
a partner or partners to Him, but takes most serious offense at the concept
of sharing His Glory because He is the SOLE OWNER of that Glory. The lesson
that Jesus had taught was of believing, obeying, serving, praying to and
loving ONE GOD, whom he used to call my Father and your Father in the Heaven.
The philosophical and spiritual statements of Jesus were misinterpreted
by the Apostles after his departure. The misunderstood relationship of
"my Father" made him the only "begotten" son of the Heavenly Father, in
its physical sense and meaning. Centuries later Trinitarian terms were
added by the Church, to the Biblical description of "ONE GOD". The
term Trinity is not a divine revelation; neither the word 'Trinity', nor
the explicit doctrine of Trinity, appear in the Bible. It developed several
centuries after the departure of Jesus and through many controversies.
In John 1:14, the Divine Command, "The Word" became
"The God", when "theos" (God) at the end of the verse, John 1:1
became "ho theos"( the God) in its interpretation of John 1:14. In other
words, "Theos", that described the nature of "the Word" (which was Divine)
was identified with his person as "the God." Actually, in the Greek text,
the definite article "ho" (the), appears before the first "God", but there
is no article before the second. Moreover, the phrase "with God" in the
middle of the verse, John 1:1, separates the entity of God from 'the Word".
On the same subject of Divine Command, Quran teaches
that when Allah commands "BE; 'it happens'. It was a Divine Command (the
Word "BE") that brought forth Flesh or "The Command" was made flesh. In
the words of John 1:14, "The Word was made flesh", in the womb of the Virgin
Mary. The Quran acknowledges the birth of Jesus from his mother Mary, who
was a virgin. To ward off skepticism it goes further and explains that,
if God could create Adam without a Father and Mother, then it is not difficult
for Him to create someone with Mother alone by His Command.
It is interesting to note that to reinforce the
theory of "the only begotten Son", in John 1:14 - the verse on the basis
of which the said concept is advocated - after the words "And the Word
was made flesh, and dwelt among us", the following phrases have been added,
within brackets, in the middle of the verse:
"... (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten
of the Father)..." Authorized King James Version, John 1:14
As for Christ, the resurrected Saviour, the Bible says:
"I, even I, am the Lord; and beside me there is no saviour."
Isaiah 43:11
"... and there is no God else beside me; a just God and
a saviour; there is none beside me." Isaiah 45:21
Christianity lost the monotheism to theomorphism when it
made its great founder, Jesus Christ, not only the chosen Prophet and Messenger
of God, but also a God incarnated or embodied, having been begotten in
a physical form. The 'Unity of God' - the Absolute Being was forsaken.
It adopted the idea of "Unity in Trinity". It is a belief in Him, that
exists in three parts, yet remaining one God. The first part is God Himself
as Father, the second part is God the Son that is Begotten, and the third
part is God the Holy Spirit that emanates. Islam says: God does not emanate
from anything. He is Absolute Original. God is not begotten. He does not
beget. Anything that is begotten matures and becomes like its parents.
The son becomes the father and the daughter becomes the mother. Thus, there
would be two Gods and when the begotten one begets, there would be more
than two Gods. The Church of Jesus had forgotten the original Command:
"Thou
shalt have no other gods before Me", which equally applied to "God
the Son" and to "God the Holy Spirit".
God now sent Muhammad (s.a.s.) and gave the concept
of "Allah". Allah is formed by joining the definite article "Al" (meaning
"The") with "Illah" (God). Literally, Allah means 'The God', not 'God'
or 'A God', for there is only ONE GOD. Allah is the Almighty Creator and
Sustainer of all upon this world as well as of all upon all the other worlds.
He is therefore called "Rabbil alamin"- the Cherisher and Sustainer of
the worlds. He is not just for a particular group or race of people. His
Message (the Quran) is for mankind in its entirety and not only for Muslims.
His
Message is universal and eternal.
The Quran confirms the previous scriptures because the
Prophets that brought them were all sent by One God. It repeats some of
the stories of the previous scriptures because the originator and inspirer
is the same One God. The Quranic text has been free from human editing
and consequently stories are neither exaggerated nor understated, hence
more logical and coherent.
God gave through Muhammad "Shahadah", instead of "Shema".
The root word of Shema is "to hear", whereas the root word of "Shahadah"
is 'to confess". Mankind had been hearing about "ONE GOD" for a long time.
Now the time had come to "confess" aloud, from the heart, what it had been
hearing. The spiritual development of the human race has been like that
of a child who had been hearing names and relating them to persons and
things and then begins repeating the same words and names with the knowledge
and understanding of their meanings and relationships. God says:
"Say: He is Allah, The One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He beget no one, nor was He begotten. And there is none like unto Him."
Holy Quran 112 / 1 to 4
No person can claim to be a Muslim unless he or she recites
and bears witness with heartfelt conviction: "There is no God but Allah,
and Muhammad is His Prophet". Anyone who negates the above "confession
of faith" (Shahadah) is a non-Muslim.
Anyone who associates other god or gods besides God
has not surrendered himself fully to One God. This has been the eternal
Message that God has been repeating again and again through various Messengers.
The Islam acknowledges these Messengers that came before Muhammad and there
are recitals of Aaron, Abraham, Adam, David, Elias, Elijah, Ishmael, Issac,
Jacob, Jesus, Job, John the Baptist, Jonah, Joseph, Lot, Mary, Moses, Noah,
Saul, Soloman, Zechariah and others in the Quran.
Abdul-Khaliq, but not Khaliq
Abdul Khaliq was an office-bearer of the Ismailia Council
in Kuwait and a friend of mine. Often, he would come to Karachi to see
his relatives. We used to call him Khaliq (a short for Abdul-Khaliq), whenever
he was in Karachi. One day I was in Kuwait and wanted to speak to Abdul-Khaliq.
I picked up a telephone, dialed his office number and asked his secretary:
"Can I please speak to Khaliq?".
My friend's secretary was a Muslim lady from Kuwait.
She answered back: "La" meaning "No", or that is to say "There
is no Khaliq" and she hung up. I tried again, asked the same question
and she gave me the same reply and hung up. That day I must have tried
several times, each time hoping that my friend must have now returned to
his office. But every time the lady would shout louder and hang up. In
the evening I met Abdul-Khaliq in the Kuwait Jamatkhana (most of the Jamatkhanas
in Middle East and Malaysia are now closed permanently). I asked my friend
if he was in his office that day. He replied; yes. Thereupon I mentioned
what had happened over the phone. He immediately understood the problem,
because, I was not the first Pakistani friend of his to have encountered
it.
Abdul-Khaliq then gave me an explanation for his secretary's
action and that was my lesson in "Tawheed" (Unity of Allah). He
mentioned that if his secretary had passed the call tchild who had been hearing names and relating them to persons and
things and then begins repeating the same words and names with the knowledge
and understanding of their meanings and relationships. God says:
"Say: He is Allah, The One and Only; Allah, the Eternal, Absolute;
He beget no one, nor was He begotten. And there is none like unto Him."
Holy Quran 112 / 1 to 4
No person can claim to be a Muslim unless he or she recites
and bears witness with heartfelt conviction: "There is no God but Allah,
and Muhammad is His Prophet". Anyone who negates the above "confession
of faith" (Shahadah) is a non-Muslim.
Anyone who associates other god or gods besides God
has not surrendered himself fully to One God. This has bsp; The Ismaili Tariqah being a Unique Tariqah, has two
Shahadahs, like two sets of teeth of an elephant. A Shahadah that is visible
like a protruding tusk is published in the book of Ismaili Constitution.
The second Shahadah that is hidden like a set of chewing teeth is published
in the book of Ismaili Dua. The 'Shahadah' (Confession of Faith) of the
Constitution is the one that any Muslim would recite and confess. The 'Shahadah'
of the Dua (ritual prayer) has an extra phrase annexed to it. This annexed
phrase negates the "Unity of God" by confessing:
"The
Ali, the God."
Below are the photographic reproductions of the Ismaili
'Kalimah Shahadah' with its transliteration and translations from the book
of Ismaili Dua, published by The Shia Imami Ismailia Association for Africa,
Kenya, 1963.
(Here appears in the book, the Arabic text)
La ilaha illallaha, Mohammedur-Rasoolullahi,
Aliyyun Amirul-mu'mineen Aliyyullah:
There is no deity except Allah, Muhammad is the
Messenger of Allah, Aly, the master of the believers,
is from Allah.
(Here appears in the book, the Gujrati text)
The phrase that negates the "Tawheed" (Unity
of Allah) is "Aliyyullah". It appears at the
end of the Shahadah. This phrase is a combination of two words. "Aliyyun"
and
"Allah".
When the two are
joined together, they read "Aliyyullah". The word "Aliyyun"
means "The Ali" and "Allah" means "The
God". Hence, the phrase "Aliyyullah" means "The
Ali, the God", which also signifies
"The Aga Khan, The God".
As an example, if I was to write "The Abualy, The Missionary",
it would mean "That particular Abualy (is) the Missionary". To contend
and say that I have meant "That particular Abualy is from the missionary"
is totally incorrect and nonfactual. Hence, the English translation, which
reads "Aly...is from Allah" is a baseless smoke screen. The
Arabic word for "from" is "min", and it does not appear in the Arabic
text. Therefore, it is not incorrect to say
that the Ismaili Kalimah Shahadah negates the "Unity of Allah".
I remember the answer given by Abualy. An Ismaili questioned:
What is the difference between the Kalimah of our old Dua, wherein we used
to recite 'Ali sahi (truly)Allah',
and of the new Dua which recites "Aliyyullah"? Abualy's response was: There
is no difference. He added, while demonstrating: We (Ismailis) used to
hold our ear with our hand from the front - across the chest. Now we are
holding the same ear with the same hand but from the back of our neck.
In other words; Aga Khan is truly Allah. Ismailis
are not raising their voices for the removal of the last phrase of their
Kalimah. But they all know that one day, if not today, they could be thrown
out of the fold of Islamic Ummah (Brotherhood), especially in Pakistan,
for their un-Islamic Kalimah. Equating Aga Khan with
Allah is far worse than the equating of Mirza Gulam Ahmed with Prophet
Muhammad by the Qaddiyanis (Ahmediyyas), who have recently been declared
"non-Muslims" by the Law in Pakistan.
Today many Ismailis in India and Pakistan have given
up the recitation of the Ismaili Dua. More Ismailis are openly reciting
Islamic Namaz (Salat). Ismailia Namazi Khidmat Committee of Pakistan
has constructed two Masjids (Mosques) in Karachi to recite Azan and
Namaz with other Ismailis in congregation. Similarly, in India, Islah
Educational Foundation of Bandra, Bombay has constructed a Mosque for Ismailis
of Bombay and is now constructing a 13.18 million rupees complex in the
town of Tighra in the District of Valsad. The project includes Boarding
House, Sanitarium, Medical Center, Buildings for Secondary, Technical and
Social Education where the Boarders will learn to recite the entire Quran
by heart, call the Azan and lead the Namaz.
I have been informed from several sources that a draft
of 'Namaz for Ismailis' has been submitted by the Institute of Ismaili
Studies, London, to the office of Karim Aga Khan in France for signature
and promulgation. The need for change has been perceived as more acute
since June 1986 when a group of Ismailis filed a civil suit in the High
Courts of Sind at Karachi, Pakistan, for the right of Ismailis to
recite Azan and Namaz in Jamatkhanas. The judgment is expected very soon.
Whatever the eventual outcome, however, this litigation has raised some
eye-brow raising questions in the minds of local Muslims, through the Pakistani
media. The case has generated momentum from the non-Ismaili Muslims, many
of whom have come out in the open supporting the plaintiffs. It will not
be an easy task for the Courts of an Islamic Republic to restrict Ismaili
Muslims from reciting Namaz in a House of Prayer built for Ismaili Muslims.
However, the Defendants are trying their best to sway
the decision in their favour, by making a submission in their Counter-Affidavit,
that "Inherent right of devolution of ownership of Jamatkhanas (is) in
the Imam"; "Jamatkhanas are not dedicated as Masjids" and historically,
such establishments are "additional places for religious practices, other
than Masjids, for supererogatory prayers".
Note: The above mentioned sworn statement
acknowledges that a Jamatkhana is a place for supererogatory prayer but
not a place for Sujood (Prostration) - the root word for Masjid.
Do not Ismailis make Sujoods in their Dua? Literally Masjid means,
a place for making Sujood.
"O Ali - You the Creator -
You the Judge"
I have met hundreds of educated Ismailis who take pride
in declaring themselves as unorthodox Ismailis. They say they are not like
other traditional, ill-advised Ismailis who call Hazar Imam (Aga Khan)
God. They only consider him their religious leader and head of the community.
The most surprising thing is that most of these Ismailis who call themselves
unorthodox and do not believe in the Divinity of the Aga Khans, send their
children to the religious night schools in Jamatkhanas.
One of the most popular and elementary Ginans that these
youngsters are taught in the religious night schools is "Haqq tu - Pak
tu". It is one of the most frequently recited Ginan in the Jamatkhanas.
What does the Ginan "Haqq tu - Pak tu" pronounce and
declare?
It says, O Ali (meaning the Aga Khan) you alone are:
Haqq tu = You the Truth;
Pak tu = You the Holy;
Sarjanhar tu = You the Creator; Rabb tu = You the Sustainer;
Rehman tu = You the Mercy; Kazi
tu = You the Judge;
Badshah tu = You the King;
Awwal tu = You the Beginning;
Akhir tu = You the Ending;
Zahir tu = You the Seen One;
Batin tu = You the Unseen; Ya Ali tuhi tu = O Ali, you alone
are you.
I do not see any difference whatsoever between Ismailis
who boast that they do not call Aga Khan God, and then teach their children
"Haqq tu - Pak tu" and a father who would boast that he is a teetotaler
(anti-alcoholic) and then sends his son or daughter to a pub to learn how
to drink alcohol.
Allah says:
"And if it be said unto them: Follow that which Allah hath revealed,
they say: Nay, but we follow that wherein we found our fathers. What! Even
though the devil were inviting them unto the doom of (blazing) fire?"
Holy Quran 31/21
"And Satan will say when the matter is decided: 'It was Allah who
gave you a promise of Truth; I too promised, but I failed in my promise
to you. I have no authority over you except to call you, but you obeyed
me; so blame me not, but blame yourselves. I cannot help you, nor can you
help me. Lo! I had already beforehand rebelled against God with whom you
associated me. Lo! For wrong-doers there must be a grievous penalty".
Holy Quran 14/22
Path to Peace
"O Believers, enter into Peace, all together." Holy Quran
"What is next?"
One Sunday morning, I was awakened from my peaceful
sleep by the telephone. It was around seven o'clock. I picked it up. On
the other end was an Ismaili missionary calling long distance. He is a
well educated, outspoken, middle-aged preacher with western concepts and
innovative ideas - a rare combination for an Ismaili missionary
He had come across some of my papers and questionnaires
on the subjects of Ismaili Tariqah, probably passed on to him by
members of his congregations. His primary interest was to know if I had
received any response to my questionnaires on the Ismaili Traditions and
Dua, from any of his fellow missionaries or the institutions that look
after the propagation of Ismaili faith. I explained to him that I had mailed
the papers to The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London and to The Ismailia
Associations all across the world but unfortunately none of them had answered
or came forth to have either private or public dialogues on the issues.
Probably the matter for discussion was too hot. He remarked; the matter
is uncomfortably warm and there are only a few trained firefighters (missionaries),
the rest are only dressed like firefighters. He requested me to mail him
a few more papers and details on subject matters where ambiguities were
prevalent.
A few weeks later, on a Sunday morning when it ischeaper
to call from the States, we were again discussing the issues over the telephone.
He concluded by asking me a question. He said, "the arguments that you
have put forth are of a fundamental nature. The questions you want to be
answered are key issues. Your line of interrogation is logical. Even if
we were to go to the extent of admitting that your concerns are well founded,
what is your suggestion? What do you want us to do? My question to you
is - what is next?"
This same question is being asked over and over again
by Ismailis, especially in the 80's. The recent publication of 'The
Aga Khans' by Mihir Bose, articles by foreign journalists in international
magazines on the life of the Aga Khans and his followers, letters to editors,
open questionnaires and public appeals to Aga Khan through the media have
made the Ismailis, intellectually curious and eager for knowledge. Contradictory
records from Ismaili history have added fuel to some of the age old burning
questions. Today Ismailis are discussing issues and topics in the open,
about which they would not be candid two or three decades ago. When ambiguities
and uncertainties continue to prevail, the question is - what
is next? Before I answer the question, let me briefly elaborate
the goal.
"Dar-us-Salaam"
Come winter and every year the migrating birds begin
their journey to the South from Alaska and North Canada - most of them
reach their destinations. But on their path, a few of them get stranded
or waylaid.
I often wonder, were my forefathers lured or got stranded,
in their journey to 'Dar-us-Salaam' (House of Peace)? I am told their aim
was freedom from idol worshipping; a journey from theomorphism to monotheism.
A pilgrimage from Hinduism to Islam. The question is; “did they or their
descendants -my parents - reach their destination”?
I am positive my parents and grandparents worshipped Aga Khan as
"Sahi (truly) Allah", because they taught me to worship him, the way they
did. Hence, I think they along with hundreds of thousands of their brothers
and sisters were waylaid or lost on their migratory trip to
Islam - a true monotheism.
The journey for my parents and grandparents came to
an end, when their souls departed from this world. For their brothers and
sisters who are alive, the journey is not yet over. The Path to Peace is
open for those who wish to continue the march. A peace, that is within
and without; no 'taqiyya' (concealment of faith), no double standards,
no 'Unity' in Duality or Trinity. A monotheism that is pure and simple,
open and honest. A relationship that is unmediated; no intervening agent(s),
no human bondage, no shackles of Constitutions or Clergy. A Peace that
has the harmony of body, mind and soul. The goal is to reach that Dar-us-Salaam
(House of Peace).
Our existence for it is short. So take heart, ponder
for whatever time is left with you out of the unknown and act, lnsha-Allah,
"Fadhlun min Rabbi, fathun qareeb".
The Journey
Every journey begins with the first
step.
“… Lo! Allah changeth not the condition
of a folk until they (first) change that which is in their hearts …”
Holy Quran 13/11
Step No. 1:
A drowning person can only be pulled aboard a ship by
a Captain if he is holding a rope coming from that ship. If he holds two
ropes coming from two ships, he faces the danger of being torn apart rather
than being rescued. Evaluate, do you fear the primary authority or the
secondary authorities? Who should you trust, the Creator Himself or His
creations? After having evaluated, make a firm decision to obey and pray
to that alone whom you have chosen as your Captain and Rescuer.
“Allah has said: 'Take not (for worship)
two gods: For He is just One Allah; then fear Me (and Me alone)’.”
Holy Quran 16/51
Step No. 2:
No teacher can write a fresh lesson on a slate
that is already filled with old lessons. Clean your slate without any hesitation.
If the old lesson that you had learnt was 'The Truth', then Allah will
not mislead you to other than 'The Truth’. Not cleaning the slate proves
that you have not sincerely embarked upon a project of knowing the Truth
but your object is to collect facts and evidences that would support and
strengthen a particular truth, that you happen to possess by inheritance
or acquaintance. In other words you have not chosen Him as your Teacher
with complete confidence.
"When My servants ask thee concerning Me, I am
indeed close (to them); I listen to the prayer of every suppliant when
he calleth on Me: Let them also, with a will listen to My Call, and believe
in Me; that they may walk in the right way"
Holy Quran 2/186
Step No. 3:
We have cleaned our slates. Now where is the lesson?
Allah says:
"And We have revealed the Book to thee for the express purpose,
that thou mayst explain unto them that wherein they differ, and that it
should be a guide and a mercy to those who believe."Holy Quran 16/64
Step No. 4:
Having accepted that the Revelations of Allah - the
Quran - as our teacher we consider which version of the Quran to read.
First of all, the concept of the existence of more than one version of
the Quran is incorrect. In the case of the Holy Bible, there are several
versions, e.g., Vulgate, Wycliff, Tyndale, the Authorized Version (King
James Version), the Revised Standard Versions and so forth. Even the Revised
Version of 1952 is rerevised in 1971. There are textual differences and
contrasts between these versions. Whereas, since the last 1400 years, the
Arabic text of the Quran has not been revised or altered. The differences
that we see lie in its translations, interpretations and commentaries.
So, the question would be, which is the correct interpretation? How do
we know it is not biased or misleading? Allah, subhanhu wa ta’ala, has
already solved this problem. He says:
"He it is who hath revealed unto thee (Muhammad) the Scripture wherein
are clear revelations - they are the substance of the Book - and others
(are) allegorical. But those in whose hearts is doubt pursue, forsooth,
that which is allegorical seeking (to cause) dissension by seeking to explain
it. None knoweth its explanation save Allah. And those who are of sound
instruction say: We believe therein; the whole is from Lord; but
only men of understanding really heed." Holy Quran 3/7
This verse makes it clear that the verses of the
Quran that are clear to understand, meaning verses of explicit instructions,
are the substance or nucleus of the Quran. They are the basic messages
and fundamental commands.
Step No. 5:
How do we understand the rest of the Message? Once we
have read the clear and explicit Message of the Quran, and continue observing
the rules of practical conduct and the prescribed statutes, then He with
His Mercy will guide us unto the finer things. Allah, had He willed, would
have made us all into one community and expanded equal understandings,
but He wants to test us with what He has prescribed. Our duty is to follow
His plan, obey the Law prescribed, do good deeds, and strive as in a race
for His Mercy He will then gradually show us the traced out way for the
finer things. He will keep opening up the 'Open Way' "How?" This entire
process has been beautifully explained in the Quran. The prescribed Statute
is called "Shirat" and the prescribed or traced out way or 'Open Way' is
called "Minhaaja" by Allah in the Quran. For full details please open chapter
5 and read verse 48 in Pickthall's or 51 in Yusuf All's translations. I
have not quoted the verse this time for the simple reason that I would
like you to read the preceding verses, which are also relevant to the subject.
The more you read the Quran, the more you will know the answer to "What
next?" and "How?"
Step No. 6:
You can call this a word of caution: please DO NOT break
the covenant that you make with your Creator Please make it a commitment
that when you say "Thee Alone we worship, and Thee
Alone we ask for help" (lyyaaka na’budu, wa iyyaaka nastaiin) you
mean to abide by it. The moment you call upon "other than Allah"
for Madad (help) or Muskil Ashan (Succor), you have nullified
"Thee Alone", the heart and soul of the covenant. And
you have seized the second rope.
"Lo! As for those who believe not in the hereafter,
We have made their deeds fair-seeming unto them; and so they wander about
in distraction."
Holy Quran 27/4
"Unto Him is the real prayer Those unto whom they pray
beside Allah respond to them not at all save as (is the response to) one
who stretcheth forth his hands towards water (asking) that it may come
unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of disbelievers
goeth astray.
Holy Quran 13/14
Peace of Allah be upon you.
Should I be a Silent Spectator?
There was a community
of fishermen living in a seaside town. These fishermen were Jews and were
commanded to observe the Sabbath (Jewish day of worship and rest), decreed
upon them by Mosaic Law (The Pentateuch). Many persisted in breaking the
Sabbath by fishing between Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, instead of
resting and praying.
Allah says in the Quran:
“… For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come
to them, openly holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath,
they came not: Thus did We make a trial of them, for they were given to
transgression."
The traditional story relates that some of these
fishermen were smart. Instead of defying the Law in the open, they constructed
huge reservoirs channeled into the sea. They would allow the fish to swim
into the reservoirs on the Sabbath day and in the evening they would trap
the fish in the reservoirs by shutting the gates of the channels. The next
dm they would do the fishing from the reservoirs. This kind of circumvention,
as well as the open transgression, divided the community into three groups.
Group A. Repeatedly transgressed
the Sabbath.
Group B. Observed the Sabbath.
Group C. Observed the Sabbath
and preached to group A.
Thereupon some of the Jews said to the people who were
preaching:
"... Why do ye preach to a people whom Allah
will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?"
Allah says, the preachers replied:
“… To discharge our duty to your Lord and perchance
they may fear Him."
Commenting on the above verses (7/163-164), translator
Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes:
"There are always people who wonder no doubt
sincerely, what good it is to preach to the wicked. The answer is given
to them here: (1) every man who sees evil must speak out against it; it
is his duty and responsibility to God; (2) there is always a chance that
the y Quran 27/4
"Unto Him is the real prayer Those unto whom they pray
beside Allah respond to them not at all save as (is the response to) one
who stretcheth forth his hands towards water (asking) that it may come
unto his mouth, and it will never reach it. The prayer of disbelievers
goeth astray.
Holy Quran 13/14
Peace of Allah be upon you.
Should I be a Silent Spectator?
There was a community
of fishermen living in a seaside town. These fishermen were Jews and were
commanded to observe the Sabbath (Jewish day of worship and rest), decreed
upon them by Mosaic Law (The Pentateuch). Many persisted in breaking the
Sabbath by fishing between Friday sunset to Saturday sunset, instead of
resting and praying.
Allah says in the Quran:
“… For on the day of their Sabbath their fish did come
to them, openly holding up their heads, but on the day they had no Sabbath,
they came not: Thus did We make a trial of them, for they were given to
transgression."
The traditional story relates that some of these
fishermen were smart. Instead of defying the Law in the open, they constructed
huge reservoirs channeled into the sea. They would allow the fish to swim
into the reservoirs on the Sabbath day and in the evening they would trap
the fish in the reservoirs by shutting the gates of the channels. The next
dm they would do the fishing from the reservoirs. This kind of circumvention,
as well as the open transgression, divided the community into three groups.
Group A. Repeatedly transgressed
the Sabbath.
Group B. Observed the Sabbath.
Group C. Observed the Sabbath
and preached to group A.
Thereupon some of the Jews said to the people who were
preaching:
"... Why do ye preach to a people whom Allah
will destroy or visit with a terrible punishment?"
Allah says, the preachers replied:
“… To discharge our duty to your Lord and perchance
they may fear Him."
Commenting on the above verses (7/163-164), translator
Abdullah Yusuf Ali writes:
"There are always people who wonder no doubt
sincerely, what good it is to preach to the wicked. The answer is given
to them here: (1) every man who sees evil must speak out against it; it
is his duty and responsibility to God; (2) there is always a chance that
the warning may have effect and save a precious soul."
After having read the book, if you believe it is your
duty and responsibility to Allah, to warn your fellow brothers and sisters,
please do not be a silent spectator. Spread the Truth. Perchance you may
save a soul or two.
'Jazakum Allahu Khairan’.
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