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"Allah is the Protecting Guardian of those who believe. He bringeth them out of darkness into light." — Holy Qur'an 2:257

 

Candle Posts :: Motivational Gems for Higher Spiritual Enlightenment

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:: Candle Post #124 :: How is the Human Potential Related to the Cosmopolitan Ethic? ::

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

Ya Ali Madad and Idd Mubarak! On the most auspicious occasion of Idd ul-Fitr, please accept our heartfelt felicitations. May Allah grant material, spiritual and intellectual happiness to Muslims all over the world, and to all those who have submitted their wills to He Who is Above All Else. Ameen.

Table of Contents:

  1. Qur'anic Ayat on Creation of Humanity
  2. What is the Human Potential?
  3. How is the Human Potential Related to the Cosmopolitan Ethic?
  4. Noble Prayers for Humanity and the Creation
  5. Esoteric Meaning of Dua-e Qunut in Idd Namaz
  6. Links

Part 1: Qur'anic Ayat on Creation of Humanity

Let us first reflect upon the following ayat from the Holy Qur'an:

Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam (a.s.) has used the above ayat on several occasions. The ayat conveys the message of the creation of the whole humanity from a single Soul. Biologically, we all have DNA but outwardly we see a diversity of forms. Spiritually, we all have a soul which is linked to the single Soul. Thus, it is possible that we will be able to interact with one another at the level of soul if we evolve spiritually and intellectually. This is happening already in spite of voluminous material activity and globalization and the expectation is that we will become more spiritual when we actualize our potential.

Part 2: What is the Human Potential?

Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) has described the human potential in his Usul-e Din firman made in Dar es Salaam, September 29, 1899:

"Hazrat Ali has said, "He who knows himself knows God". Wherever I turn my eyes, I see the Spirit as my Friend. When you look around, you merely see the external form. All that you see are hands, legs, face, eyes, etc. You fail to see the Spirit behind it. You must constantly strive to see the Spirit. Your aim should always be to reach the Spirit, not merely to obtain a feeling of pleasure through Ibadat."

Part 3: How is the Human Potential Related to the Cosmopolitan Ethic?

In his LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture delivered on October 15, 2010 in Toronto (Canada), Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, (His Highness the Aga Khan), presented the concept of cosmopolitan ethic as follows:

"As we think about pluralism, we should be open to the fact that there may be a variety of 'best practices', a 'diversity of diversities', and a 'pluralism of pluralisms'.

In sum, what we must seek and share is what I have called 'a cosmopolitan ethic', a readiness to accept the complexity of human society. It is an ethic which balances rights and duties. It is an ethic for all peoples.

It will not surprise you to have me say that such an ethic can grow with enormous power out of the spiritual dimensions of our lives. In acknowledging the immensity of The Divine, we will also come to acknowledge our human limitations, the incomplete nature of human understanding.

In that light, the amazing diversity of Creation itself can be seen as a great gift to us � not a cause for anxiety but a source of delight. Even the diversity of our religious interpretations can be greeted as something to share with one another � rather than something to fear.

In this spirit of humility and hospitality � the stranger will be welcomed and respected, rather than subdued � or ignored." (Source: akdn.org speeches)

Esoterically, the cosmopolitan ethic is a subtle concept and has to grow from the spiritual dimension of our lives. If we link this concept to the teachings of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) and Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.), we have to search, explore and develop our spiritual potential. We have to see the drop of Spirit in everyone and in everything that is in the Creation.

The first step to appreciate the Spirit is to recognize that everyone and everything has a soul. The second step is to develop our spiritual potential which would first yield a much deeper knowledge of our souls. The third step is to actualize the inner vision of the Truth within ourselves though illumination.

Through these processes, we will make peace with the single Soul within ourselves and will have the power to extend this everlasting peace and other virtues to our fellow human beings. This is an enormous undertaking and, in my opinion, efforts in this arena of human endeavor could be the greatest charity that we could give to all on the occasion of Idd ul-Fitr.

Part 4: Noble Prayers for Humanity and the Creation

On this auspicious occasion of Idd ul-Fitr, let us pray for the following:

  1. Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam and the Noorani Family for peace, security, long life, happiness, and excellent health;
     
  2. The Global Ismaili Jamat for peace, security, mushkil asaan, material progress and higher spiritual enlightenment;
     
  3. The Ummah so that we may all may live in peace, security, harmony and equality in the true spirit of a Spiritual Islam;
     
  4. The humanity so that we may all accept one another, respect all people and embrace the cosmopolitan ethic, and be in harmony with nature;
     
  5. For all the departed souls (kul ruhani) so that they may attain the Abode of Eternal Peace (Daras Salaam)
     
  6. For the whole creation because it is full of Allah's signs which demonstrate to us the submission of nature to the Will of Allah. Let us pray that this understanding creates energy within ourselves so that we may also submit of the Will of Allah; and
     
  7. Finally, let us pray to Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam to multiply the benefits of these prayers and send these to whosoever he wishes wherever they may be living because only he knows what is best.

May Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam's Light (Noor) protect all of us in all the six directions (right, left, front, behind, above and below). We all are controlled by our circumstances and by the different social, economic and local settings. Let us supplicate to Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam to ease the burden of all our difficulties. Ameen

Part 5: Esoteric Meaning of Dua-e Qunut in Idd Namaz

On this happy occasion of Idd ul-Fitr, SalmanSpiritual.com would like to present to the global Jamat an article entitled, "An Esoteric Interpretation (Tawil) of Dua-e-Qunut which is recited in Idd Namaz". Click here to download the PDF version.

Part 6: Links:

  1. Download to the PDF version of Candle Posting 124 ::
    How is the Human Potential Related to the Cosmopolitan Ethic? ::
  2. Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali's (a.s.) Insight on Idd ul-Fitr
  3. Idd ul-Fitr Mubarak :: Tawil of Dua-e-Qunut
  4. Spiritual Aspirations for Idd ul-Fitr
  5. Noor Mowlana Mansur's Guidance, Supplication and Prayer (Idd ul-Fitr card)

Ardent Supplications:

Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, create Sunshine in our hearts, light in our foreheads, and bless us all with the inner vision of the Truth!

Ya Ali, Ya NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, grant the global Jamat luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually. Ameen.
 

Haizinda — Qayampaya
(Our Present Imam is Living and His NOOR is Eternal)


Rakh Mowla je Noor te Yaqeen (Certainly, we trust in Mowla's Light only),
Noorallah Juma
SalmanSpiritual.com
Tuesday, August 6, 2013

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Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma