A Doctrine of Noor

[pannekoek]

This is my take on the doctrine of noor.

Noor is God's Infinite Light which is centered on the Imam of the Time. There is nowhere it does not shine tho not all can see it due to their karmic natures. Even tho not all can see the Noor all beings are capable of doing so, when their time is right. Centered on the Imam of the Time, the Noor has only one center at a time. Upon the death of an Imam it (the Noor) re-centers to his successor by nass. Only one being can center the Noor at any time.

jim davis

[Virgo2]

Dear Jim,

You have the right take on the Noor.

We have people in this forum who are non-Ismailis and yet have been enlightened by this Light. They are the lucky ones. As you say
" Even tho not all can see the Noor all beings are capable of doing so, when their time is right."

How true! This has been proven right in this forum!

Then we have some trolls who were enlightened, but did not understand the Light and went on to destroy it, but Allah has promised to guard this Light, so these trolls cannot do anything. They have been huffing and puffing, but have not succeeded, and will never succeed.

Virgo2

[kmaherali]

Upon the death of an Imam it (the Noor) re-centers to his successor by nass. Only one being can center the Noor at any time.

jim davis

According to Imam Hasan Ala Zikri his Salaam, as quoted by Tusi in his 'Paradise of Submission', Imams are conceived as Imams, they do not become Imams through nass. Nass is meant for others to recognise the rightful Imam in a worldly and legalistic sense. There can be many bearers of the Noor but only one recognised one.

Following is the excerpt from the book.

[§356]
If mankind knew what the Imamate is, no one would have entertained doubts such as these. If only they had realised that mutability cannot exist without some immutable [central] point, just as the circumference [cannot exist] without the centre point. For everything that rotates or moves requires a cause for its rotation and movement, and the moving force in relation to the object which rotates or moves must be stable and perfect, in order to be able to spin or move it. This is why it has been said [in the Gospels]: 'Heaven and earth will change, but the commandment of the Sabbath will never be altered.'111 This means that while the Prophets and the hujjats may change - at one time this one, at another time that one, at one time in this community, at another time in that - the Imam will never change: 'We are the people of eternity.'112 [The essential nature of the Imarn will never change], even when he is a drop of sperm in the loins of his father, or [a foetus] in the womb of his mother. It is a total impossibility to suppose that the true Imam could cease to exist, and the case of the acting (mustawda) Imam such as our lord Hasan [b. 'All], could be any different.113 In reality, it is impossible for any past or future Imam to be better or more powerful than another, or to be better at one time than at another time. For example, it is wrong to suppose that he should be better when he reaches maturity than when he was a drop of sperm, or better when the designation (nass) was made than before it was made. The designation which is made is not in order to make him an Imam; it is only made so that people should recognise him as such - otherwise, from his standpoint and perspective, all such different states are one and the same. Such is the case because a perfect man (kamill) must always exist amongst God's creatures in order to raise those who are incomplete and deficient to a state of perfection. Even if you assume that he is not that person [the perfect man], there would still have to be someone else. For, if each imperfect soul needs a more perfect soul [to perfect it], and the more perfect soul, [in its turn], needs an even more perfect one, and in the final case, [the chain] must terminate with the perfect man who does not need anybody else, and through whose instruction [all others] may reach perfection. Such a perfect man is a logical necessity and the matter must ultimately finish there [with him].

[pannekoek]

Thanks for the correction...I actually had that passage in mind when I wrote the post but it had been a while since I actually read it..certainly an announcement of nass does not make an Imam-of-the-time.

jim

[zubair_mahamood]

Karim I completely agree with you that the power of Noor or The Noor remains same it don’t depend on it physical or externally form and Nass is for us to recognize the rightful Imam in a worldly and legalistic sense…

Jim and Virgo just to add my point on “can see or can’t see The Noor” I think a Human is not capable of seeing The Noor, let me explain Physically we can see Hazar Imam by not The Noor with our physical form or with our Human form… To see The Noor: purist side of our soul must leave our human body and reach a level or to The divine level of Noor to see the actual Noor… with ibadath or by blessing this can be possible or I would say only by Blessing of The Noor itself our soul can leave our body to reach the level of Noor…

And brother’s willing to destroy The Noor is like someone trying to take sun into the hand… when someone take refuge its like Moon Light (pleasant and blessing) and when someone tries to destroy its like Sun Light (distractive) …!

When we are talking of Noor I have a question… is it possible that someone can see The Noor in different form other then Hazar Imam or what does our Tariqah says If a Christen see a Prophet Jesus Physically with Noor or if a Sunni Muslim see Prophet Muhammad Physically with Noor or If a Hindu see lord Krishna physically with Noor what does it mean.. Is it possible? If yes what does the Doctrine says about it… if not then why it’s not possible? I have an answer but it’s just my perception…!

Zubair Mahamood