Salman Spiritual
Towards the Inner Vision of the Truth
"Can he who was dead, to whom We gave life, and a light whereby he can walk amongst men, be like him who is in the depths of darkness, from which he can never come out?" — Holy Qur'an 6:122
:: Post No. 34: The Luminous Duty of the Imam of the Time ::
Wednesday,
Apr. 23, 2025
Ya Ali Madad! This post has four parts.
Part 1. Knowledge Section
Let us reflect upon the luminous duty of the Imam of the Time and our responsibilities on the Ismaili esoteric path of higher spiritual enlightenment.
The Luminous Duty of the Imam of the Time
"...following the Prophets and Imams is not an ordinary matter as their path (the straight path) and its stages are full of pearls and diamonds of spirituality, luminosity, knowledge and recognition, and the duty of the office of the True Guide, (i.e., the Holy Imam), cannot be fulfilled until he makes the followers reach the desired destination, i.e., annihilation or merging in God. However if the followers lose courage and lag behind, then they are responsible for their own failures."
Rubies & Pearls, p. 121
Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Purity of the Heart
"Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (a.s.) said: Beware that destitution is a calamity, but worse than destitution is the ailment of the body, while worse than bodily ailment is the disease of the heart. Beware that plenty of wealth is a blessing, but better than plenty of the wealth is the health of the body, while still better than the health of the body is the purity of the heart [soul]."
Peak of Eloquence Nahjul-Balagha' by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, edited by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri, Seventh U.S. Edition published in 2009. Saying number 398, p.913
According to the teachings of Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, the Alid tradition is an intellectual tradition which requires ardent practice of faith and utmost purification of the heart (soul). This is the first time that I have encountered the above mentioned quotation of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) where he has placed the purification of the heart (soul) above health and wealth. Thus, the absolute imperative of the Ismaili Tradition is to nurture and foster the spiritual growth and purification of the soul in addition to looking after wealth and health. In spiritual terms, each action has to be evaluated whether it would bring the salvation of the soul. This golden rule captures the essence of the above quotation.
Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on How To Live in This world?
"Hazrat Ali (a.s.) describes the significance attached by this class of devotees to spiritual life — the life of the heart: "They see that the worldly people attach great importance to the death of their bodies, but they themselves attach much greater importance to the death of the hearts of the living."
Peak of Eloquence Nahjul-Balagha' by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, edited by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri, Seventh U.S. Edition published in 2009. p.60
In order to understand the above quotation, we have to know that there are at least two classes of people:
If someone is completely materialistic, he is dead to the notion of the next world. On the other hand, the one who is spiritually alive has ensured that his heart never dies. This is the key concept of many traditions and particularly the Alid Tradition which emphasized that we all should have pure and powerful souls.
Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on Earnest Souls
"Hazrat Ali (a.s.) describes the ecstatic eagerness of the earnest souls which impels them to move onwards on the path of spiritual perfection in these words: "They lived in the society and participated in its affairs with their bodies, while their souls rested in the higher spiritual spheres".""
Peak of Eloquence Nahjul-Balagha' by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, edited by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri, Seventh U.S. Edition published in 2009. p.57
The above quotation can be linked to the saying: "Be in the world, but of the world".
Wisdoms of Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) on the Rewards for the Earnest Souls
"The angels have surrounded them and peace is showered upon them. The doors of heaven are opened for them and the abodes of bliss, of which He had informed them, have been prepared for them. He is pleased with their struggle and admires their station. When they call upon Him, they breathe the fragrance of His forgiveness and mercy."
Peak of Eloquence Nahjul-Balagha' by Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib, edited by Yasin T. Al-Jibouri, Seventh U.S. Edition published in 2009. p.57
Let us pray to advance on the path of the Alid Tradition and be among those souls which have flown to lofty heights and into the abodes of eternal peace, prosperity and existence! Ameen.
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
Ya Rahman, Ya Rahim
O the Most Kind and the Most Merciful Lord
of individual personal worlds of all human beings
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