Salman Spiritual
Towards the Inner Vision of the Truth
"Then those who believe in him, and honour him, and help him, and follow the light which is sent down with him: they are the successful." — Holy Qur'an 7:157
:: Post No. 31: Transforming from a Murid into a Mu'min ::
Tuesday,
Mar. 11, 2025
Ya Ali Madad! This post has four parts.
Part 1. Knowledge Section
Teaching of Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.):
What is the relationship between Iman and Islam?
"Islam and Ismailism are built on Iman and Mu'min. Iman means faith. Mu'min is one who has faith. Mu'min who has true faith does not mean to be a philosopher it means one who has got faith. If you have got no Iman there is no hope. Iman is a thing that one can get by praying for Iman, for that you have to go to Imam. There is no other way or short cut to it."
Extract from Address by Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) at the Ismailia Association Mission Conference held at Dar-es-Salaam in July 1945
A mu'min is a murid who has enlightened his faith in the Holy Imam. This is a much greater achievement than just accepting the Imam with one's tongue and thoughts. All mu'mins are murids but not all murids are mu'mins. There is meritocracy in personal search!
In one of his firmans, Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah has taught us that "Faith is Light" ('Iman Noor chhe'; Source: Ruhani Raaz Gujrati firman book, p. 59; Jamnagar, 4th April 1900). This is the reason that I am categorically stating that a mu'min is a person who has enlightened his faith with the Noor of Imamat.
In the Ismaili Tariqah, we go to the Imam of the time for iman (faith). In this context, please reflect on the first Dua which the Holy Imam bestowed upon the global Jamat in his Golden Jubilee Irshad: "I pray for the strength of the faith of every Murid". I think that this act is consistent with the meaning of the sixth Divine Name Al-Mu'min: The infuser of faith. The Holy Imam infuses the Light of faith into a mu'min.
In my mind, first we accept the Ismailism, and then we follow the seven pillars of Ismailism, pray to the Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam for iman, get an infusion of iman from the Noor of the Imam, and with ardent practice of faith let these rays of Light of faith blossom in our whole being. This is, in a simple way, the process of transforming from a murid into a mu'min! Al-Hamdullah!
Part 2. Affirmation of Baiyat:
Let us also reaffirm our baiyat to our Holy 50th Imam, NOOR Mawlana Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam by reciting the Shahada from the second part of our Holy Dua:
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"La ilaha illallah, Muhammadur-Rasoolullah, 'Aliyyun Amirul-Mu'mineen 'Aliyullah Mawlana Shah Rahim ul Hussaini, Al-Imamul Hazarul Maujood."
"There is no deity except Allah, Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, 'Ali - the master of believers - is from Allah. Our Lord Shah Rahim Al-Hussaini is our present and living Imam"
Shukran wa Mubarak, Shukran wa Mubarak, Shukran wa Mubarak
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Part 3. Dhikr
Let us perform dhikr to invoke infinite blessings:
Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful
Shukhran Lillâh Wal Hamdu Lillâh:
All thanks are due to Allâh, and all praises are due to Allâh
Al-hamdu lillahi rabbil 'alamin.
Praise be to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!
Part 4. 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
or
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 Esoteric Imamat Gems