Ya Ali Madad! On the occasion of the birthday commemoration of our first Holy Imam, Amir al-mu'minin, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (alayhi salaam), let us reflect on reflect upon the following points:

1. Ta'wil of word 'Ali' (Vision of Ali):

   "The holy Prophet said: "To look at the face of Ali is worship." (al-Mustadrak, III, 152-153; Sharh, IX, 381; Kawkab, p. 161). Ali's vision is worship because of the fact that he is the speaking Qur'ân, the supreme Name, the mazhar of the Divine light, the mirror which shows God and he is the legatee of the holy Prophet. This is why the true lovers yearn for the sacred vision of the Ali of the time with heart and soul." [Source: Tawil 621: A Thousand Wisdoms]

2. The Holy Prophet (s.a.s), Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and the Holy Imams are Living Ism-i Azams, Supreme Names of God

   "Imâm Jafar as-Sâdiq has said "Allah has concealed one name, i.e., the supreme Name and He has 360 names." (Lughât, Sîn, p. 175). The supreme Name or the great secret is in two forms: as a word and as a person. As a word, it is "al-hayyu'l-qayyûm" (the Everliving, the Everlasting) (2:255; 3:2) and as a person it is the True Guide, i.e., the Prophet and the Imam of the time (see Wajh, p. 124-129)" [Source: Tawil 64: A Thousand Wisdoms]

3. Ta'wil of word 'Kalimat Allah' (Ism-i Azam, Supreme Name, Bol):

   "You will be amazed to hear that Ism-i Azam (bol) and kar-i buzurg (practice of bandagi in Baitul Khyal) are alluded to from the beginning to the end of the holy Qur'an. Try to understand the meaning of this statement through these wisdom-filled questions: Was the holy Prophet not doing ibadat through the beautiful names of God from the very beginning? Are the Prophet and the Imam not the (living) ism-i azam? Is the purpose of the entire Qur'an not the special ibadat (bandagi)? Can the ism-i azam (i.e., the Holy Imam) be on a path other than the straight path? Can the light of guidance (i.e., the Holy Imam) and the ism-i azam be two different things? Is the spirituality of the Qur'an and that of the beautiful names not the same? Had the Prophets and Imams not taught ism-i azam to chosen mu'mins in their respective times?" [Source: Tawil 740: A Thousand Wisdoms]

On the happy occasion of NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali's (a.s.) birthday commemoration and on the eve of the Baitul Khyal satado, let us seek luminous (noorani) and spiritual (ruhani) help (tayid) to understand the lofty concept of merging into the Eternal Light of Hazrat Ali (a.s.). Let us recite a bouquet of salwats to strengthen our knowledge (ilm) and faith (iman) and commit ourselves to practice luminous prayer (bandagi) with a luminous word (supreme name, ism-i azam, bol) at the luminous time (early hours of the morning).

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!

Follow these links to read an article or a poem on salwat, or hear the recitation of Ayatul Kursi and Salwat.

Peace, light, barakat, tayid and a 'golden' didar,
Noorallah Juma
Thursday, Aug. 18, 2005

Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma