Forty Enlightenment Norms

:: Enlightenment Norm No. 1: Seek Enlightenment and Set an Example ::

Saturday, Feb. 1, 2025

Ya Ali Madad. This post consists of two parts:

Part 1: Project Overview

Let us first reflect on the following excerpt from the Platinum Jubilee Message of Imam NOOR Mowlana Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.):

"In these 70 years of my Imamat, man's material condition has totally changed. There has been immense increase in power over nature but, as we see, with strifes everywhere spiritual power has not increased.

It is my hope that my Spiritual Children, the Ismailis, will, by the example of their own higher enlightenment and helpful cooperative movements amongst themselves, set to the world an example of better fraternity and brotherhood which alone can free men from the fear and dangers of moral and mental discord which leads to disaster for all."

—Imam NOOR Mowlana Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.)

The above message was delivered in 1953. Under his guidance, our beloved Imam NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini's voluminous activities clearly show that we have made great progress. The AKDN is now a global organization and Ismailis have created a greater awareness of their own spirituality. However, to set example, perhaps, we should also consider following advice of Pir Shihabu'd-din Shah Al-Hussaini from his book, Risala Dar Haqiqat-i-Din, (True Meaning of Religion' translated by W. Ivanow), p.39 :

"Thus, with the help of God, in labour and worship, in the struggle with your own evil impulses, with the spiritual knowledge kept alive in your heart, with certainty in reason, with study and the acquisition of a religious education, with the vision of the saints of God and of their example in the heart, by the discharge of your duties, you will attain a high degree of spiritual refinement, as it has been systematically explained. If you do all this, you may attain the degree which you seek. You have to seek it, and it depends upon Him not to leave you without a chance."

—Pir Shihabu'd-din Shah Al-Hussaini

Part 2. Angelic Salwat
Let us recite angelic salwats to invoke Divine grace and mercy.

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

33 beads recited by Noorallah Juma

101 beads recited by Noorallah Juma

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

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

Forty Enlightenment Norms

Article by Dr. Noorallah Juma