Ya Ali Madad! This post has five parts.

Part 1. Knowledge Section on Bandagi:

Let us reflect on the following teaching of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.)

We see the material world with our physical eyes and physical light. However, in the above mentioned teaching of Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.), Mowla is emphatically saying that whatever there is, it is nothing except the soul. This teaching is applicable for all those mu'mins whose inner eye has been opened by the grace of NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam. These mu'mins are experiencing the beauties and presence of soul everywhere and they are also experiencing the light of the Holy Imam in their foreheads. In this context, I would now like to present the concept of the spiritual university of NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam.

In the 2006 progress report of the Aga Khan University, there is a map which shows that the university has the following facilities: (1) main campuses in Karachi and East Africa, (2) a campus in London, England; and (3) four professional development centres which are located in Karachi, Gilgit, Chitral and Dar-es-Salaam. The iconic university of Mowlana Hazar Imam is spanning across three continents and is continually expanding. It is a source of pride the Holy Imam, the Jamat, the Ummah and humanity at large. So a question arises: does Mowlana Hazar Imam have a spiritual university?

In order to answer this question, I would like to present the following ayats from Surah Alaq (96:1-5):

There are many commentaries on these ayats, however, it is quite clear that these ayats were revealed to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) when he was practising ibadat (bandagi) with ism-i azam, the Supreme Name of Allah. It is also quite clear the there was not a written form of the Holy Qur'an at that time, therefore this reading or proclamation was not physical. The Holy Prophet was "reading" the Holy Qur'an which was in a luminous and a spiritual form, i.e., it was in the form of a light and a soul.

It is quite clear through 1400 years of our history that spiritual enlightenment is only possible through the practice of ibadat (bandagi). Our Holy Imams have built Jamat Khanas across the world so that the murids can, if they so choose, practice bandagi daily. In addition to the time for meditation, Jamat Khanas are places to imbibe spiritual knowledge through Holy Ginans, Qasidas and Holy firmans. In my humble opinion, each Jamat Khana is a node of the spiritual university of NOOR Mowlana Hazar Imam. It is in these sacred sanctuaries in which the ardent followers of the Holy Imam search for the light of NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.).

The Jamat Khanas are open for the murids of the Holy Imam and this search for enlightenment is a life-long process which is open for all those who want to discover their spirituality and luminosity. In my humble opinion, the spiritual university of NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) is always open and it is more than 1400 years old. Graduates are spread across the world and there is room for new students. Are we up to the challenge of attending this university regularly? If we are, al-hamdulillah. If not, let think deeply about the teaching of the Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) and Mowlana Hazar Imam's wish that we carry Sunshine in our hearts (consciousness)!

Part 2. Dhikr Section:

Here is a dhikr track to invoke the power, grace, and help from the Light of Eternal Ali which is present in our present and living Imam, Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam (a.s.):

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ya Ali, Mowla Ali;
O Light of Eternal Ali, O Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

Part 3. Anant Nâ Nav Chhugâ Verses (Chhugo Number 4, verses 1 to 5):

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad:
O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants

Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!

Part 5. Global Prayers and Three Grand Aspirations
Through the barakat of spiritual knowledge, tasbis and angelic salwat by many individuals of the global Jamat, O Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, bless the global Jamat with:

1. Spiritual and luminous tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually;
2. Sunshine in our spiritual hearts and actualization of the inner vision of the Truth;
3. Empowerment to present a Material Nazrana of time, knowledge and financial resources;
4. Empowerment to present a Spiritual Nazrana in the form of a pure heart which is in a state of constant dhikr; and
5. Empowerment to present a Luminous Nazrana in the form of a sound heart (qalb-i salim) which is in a state of constant dhikr and enlightenment.

Bandagi Gems:

Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma