Salman Spiritual
Towards the Inner Vision of the Truth
"Lo! those who believe and do good works, their Lord guideth them by their faith." — Holy Qur'an 10:9
:: Post No. 35: How can Reality (Haqqiqah) Be Known? ::
Saturday,
Mar. 15, 2025
Ya Ali Madad! This post has four parts.
Part 1. Knowledge Section
How can reality (haqqiqah) be known?
In his Usul-e-Din firman made in Dar-es Salaam on September 29, 1899, Noor Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah (a.s.) blessed the Jamat with a foundational prayer: "I pray that you may follow the path of righteousness and have the gift of inner vision of the Truth. This prayer means more than any other prayer." This prayer is implemented in many ways and appears in all our supplications. For example, 'Ya Ali tu Gat Jamat ke Haqqiqati Samaj baksh' which means 'O Ali bless the Jamat with the understanding of the Truth or the Reality'.
In order to achieve this, all our esoteric practices, such as our Holy Dua, Holy Ginan and Granths, Holy Qasidas, silent and congregational dhikr and bandagi (meditation), are integrated so that we may advance to really understand the Absolute Truth. We can ask the question, is it not enough to read and learn about the Truth? The answer is learning cannot teach us about the Absolute Truth. Similarly, the power of reason and reflection are not the right techniques because the Absolute Truth transcends the capacity of human beings.
.My Perspective on the development of the soul
Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, also known as Aga Khan III, has linked the value of soul to the concept of monoreality as follows:
The Luminous Duty of the Imam of the Time
"Once man has thus comprehended the essence of existence there remains for him the duty, since he knows the value of his own soul, of making for himself a direct path which will constantly lead his individual soul to and bind it with the universal Soul of which the Universe, as much of it we perceive with our limited vision, is one of the infinite manifestations. Thus Islam's basic principle can only be defined as monorealism and not as monotheism"
Aga Khan III, Memoirs of Aga Khan, p.175
Monoreality is the gnosis or recognition of God in one's own soul and is the final step in understanding the reality of the statement "Lo! we are Allah's and lo! unto Him we are returning" (Holy Qur'an 2:156). Monoreality can be achieved by man if he strives to excel in the physical, spiritual and luminous dimensions of his existence. Spirituality is concerned with the development of soul. Luminosity is concerned with enriching the soul with Light, the highest form of intellect. This can all be achieved in the microcosm or the personal world of an individual as described by following verse of the Holy Quran:
"We shall show them Our portents on the horizons and within themselves (in their souls) until it will be manifest unto them that it is the Truth. Doth not thy Lord suffice, since He is Witness over all things]."
Holy Qur'an 41:5
Point of Reflection
When our beloved Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam blesses us he says, " ... your are constantly in my heart, thoughts and prayers." The concept of the 'Heart' (Qalb) is very different than what is generally expressed through our emotions and sensory perceptions. What is he heart of the Holy Imam? It is the Real Heart which is full of transcendent, integrated knowledge and wisdom, and infinite Love. He blesses us with these so that we can awaken our soul and return it him with full luminosity.
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
Allahu Akbar, Subhan Allah, Al-hamdu Lillah
Allah is the Greatest, Glory be to Allah, Praise be to Allah
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