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Brother Uganda, Can you please enlighten us how Khomeini's videos and books have helped you in "your Ismaili faith"?Dear Ismaili Brothers and Sisters, I would like to share with you in this thread some writings by or on Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, that would be helpful in our own faith. To understand them it is instructive to view the videos on Ruhollah Khomeini at youtube.com which is a 10 part series in Arabic with english subtitles. It gives some idea of the way he behaved and spoke. Previously, I posted the links and the moderator made a judgement error and deleted the post even though I explained him that it helped my Ismaili faith.
I shall reserve my comments until I hear from you.
Virgo2
Since you're seeking some answers - i'd suggest before reading anything else to read the Mathnawi - as per the farman of MSMS...then progress to reading the ginans..and our ismaili canon...once you comprehend that..than i'd say go outside and read other books...uganda wrote:What is ghiyba ? In the article Khomeini refers to it several times and explains that this sin does not cause pain. The word ghiyba comes from ghaib, ie hidden. Dont we make evaluative referrals (good and bad) to events, persons, things out of their presence all the time, and necessarily must ?
These are some of the unclear things to me from this writing of his.
However for that which can be understood, I would urge people to read the book slowly just as khomeini speaks in his video. Infact, one must read the Risala Dar Haqeeqat in such a slow humble and believeing manner to get any benefit from it otherwise it wont sink in at all.
In my jamat khana, I distributed printed copies of the Risala with many people. Not many people made much comment about it as if it did not scratch their consciousness. Only one alwaez who I met accidentally a day before the didar, made comment on it as "Oh my God ... " and it was gratifying to find someone who might be able to help me enhance my understanding.
I think it's a great idea to read Pir Khalilulah's (aka Pir Shihabuddin Shah) Risala Dar Haqiqati Din - it's actually available on the site..that's a good start...but to go from there to Ithna Asheri sources without progressing in finding out about your own faith/your own foundations and establishing your own foundations is in a way shortchanging yourself and your faith.
Shams
Dear brother,
Ever read the book “Lolitta in Tehran”? or “Not without my daughter”? These two books will tell you about the terrorist clergies and their terrorist police in Iran after the rise of Khomeini. Literature was banned from Iran and people had to go underground to acquire knowledge! Prophet S.A.W. had told us to go to China if need be to get knowledge, but Mr. Khomeini’s people destroyed books right under their own noses and deprived their people of gaining knowledge. Now, don’t tell me that these books were damaging the youth, because nothing could be more perverse than Khomeini’s book in which he promoted Muta marriages between young girls and older men.
Remember Salman Rushdie? Mr. Khomeini issued a fatwa against him and told Muslims to kill him. Qur’an says, “life saved is mankind saved, and life destroyed is mankind destroyed”. How can Mr. Khomeini preach the Qur’an in the same breadth he preaches destruction of mankind? Salman Rushdie was, afterall, a writer. How many people write against our Imam, but our Imam does not issue fatwas! There are legal venues available to us to pursue.
In the same Iran our Imam Khallillulah was brutally murdered by Khomeini’s brothers and sisters, but Imam Khallillulah’s son forgave his father’s murderer. This is the Shaan of Ismaili Imams, this is the Shaan of Hazarat Ali, who, when attacked by Ibne Muljim from behind, and was offered water, asked his people to give it to Ibne Muljim instead who was scared and shuddering in a corner. He told his followers to leave him alone and not to harm him. Hazir Imam has told us also to leave Mehrally and his family alone for whatever harm they are causing to us. Do you think we lack Ismaili Fidais?
Now, tell me why would I be impressed with Khomeini who teaches hatred, promotes rape of young girls under the guise of muta marriages? He killed a lot of people and was thirsty of the Shah’s blood. What have you learned from him?
"The Greater Jihad with the Nafs"
Did he really practice what he preached? The man was insane with hatred and jealousy. I have still not forgotten the way he turned Iran into a dictatorship and a police state worse than the Shah did. He held Americans hostages for 444 days and had his people torture them.
Tell me how many Ismaili Imams or Pirs have condoned such nonsense.
Speaking on TV cannot convey much about the character Mr. Khomeini was. We all know what happened to Iran after Mr. Khomeini returned. Women were relegated to the back quarter of the houses, they were not allowed to read freely any literature that was produced in the west.It gives some idea of the way he behaved and spoke.
Ever read the book “Lolitta in Tehran”? or “Not without my daughter”? These two books will tell you about the terrorist clergies and their terrorist police in Iran after the rise of Khomeini. Literature was banned from Iran and people had to go underground to acquire knowledge! Prophet S.A.W. had told us to go to China if need be to get knowledge, but Mr. Khomeini’s people destroyed books right under their own noses and deprived their people of gaining knowledge. Now, don’t tell me that these books were damaging the youth, because nothing could be more perverse than Khomeini’s book in which he promoted Muta marriages between young girls and older men.
Remember Salman Rushdie? Mr. Khomeini issued a fatwa against him and told Muslims to kill him. Qur’an says, “life saved is mankind saved, and life destroyed is mankind destroyed”. How can Mr. Khomeini preach the Qur’an in the same breadth he preaches destruction of mankind? Salman Rushdie was, afterall, a writer. How many people write against our Imam, but our Imam does not issue fatwas! There are legal venues available to us to pursue.
That is the real purpose, but Mr. Khomeini cannot teach us anything about our faith. We have much better sources than Mr. Khomeini.I thought the purpose of this website in this section of doctrines was to undersand our doctrines and also to nurture our faith.
You are comparing Apples and Oranges. Mr. Khomeini is no match for any of Ismaili Pirs. Ismaili Pirs were not blood thirsty, hate mongerers the way Mr. Khomeini was. He went after the Shah of Iran like a wolf in sheep's clothing.How am I promoting Khomeini by citing his book which explains the subject of "The Greater Jihad with the Nafs" in a little more detail in a few points by Pir Shihab Ud Din Shah who is an Ismaili Pir and whose "Risala Dar Haqeeqat Mazhab Ismailiya" is on this website.
In the same Iran our Imam Khallillulah was brutally murdered by Khomeini’s brothers and sisters, but Imam Khallillulah’s son forgave his father’s murderer. This is the Shaan of Ismaili Imams, this is the Shaan of Hazarat Ali, who, when attacked by Ibne Muljim from behind, and was offered water, asked his people to give it to Ibne Muljim instead who was scared and shuddering in a corner. He told his followers to leave him alone and not to harm him. Hazir Imam has told us also to leave Mehrally and his family alone for whatever harm they are causing to us. Do you think we lack Ismaili Fidais?
Now, tell me why would I be impressed with Khomeini who teaches hatred, promotes rape of young girls under the guise of muta marriages? He killed a lot of people and was thirsty of the Shah’s blood. What have you learned from him?
"The Greater Jihad with the Nafs"
Did he really practice what he preached? The man was insane with hatred and jealousy. I have still not forgotten the way he turned Iran into a dictatorship and a police state worse than the Shah did. He held Americans hostages for 444 days and had his people torture them.
Tell me how many Ismaili Imams or Pirs have condoned such nonsense.
For example, our Ismaili Institute only began recently, while the Shia's have had their seminaries in Qom and other places in Iran and Iraq endowed and running since the twelver got majority there over the Ismailis.
It would not help you to go and read the books from Khomeini to understand our faith. Why not read the books written by the likes of Qazi Noaman, Nasir Khusraw, Al-Tusi, and learn a lot about the life of Hasan bin Sabah. All these elites were Ithana Asheries and converted to Shia Ismailism, all because it is the only sect that has a Living Imam. They came in search for an Imam and found him in Egypt. They found the truth!
I visited the link you produced here. I got bored half way down, because there was nothing new except “Holier than Thou” attitude.
He is condemning the youth and pre-judging them, their morals and spirituality. What a contrast between the teaching of our Beloved Imam and Khomeini. Our Imam talks to his spiritual children, young and old in loving manner, whereas Mr. Khomeini is admonishing the youth! “ In contrast our Imam never undermines his youth or his Jamat.
Mr. Khomeini says:
“If, God forbid, you were not to reform yourselves in the centre of learning, and you were not to realize spiritual ideals, then-may Allah protect us-everywhere you went, people would be perverted, and you would have given them a low opinion of Islam and of the clergy.”
With the rise of Mr. Khomeini came the
low opinion of Islam Islam fell because of his third class treatment of women; his promotion of hatred against Jews, Christians and other faiths. Even Ismailis were scared to practice their faith openly.
Let me suggest something. Ithanasheris are not the only Shi'as. There are other Shia's so please do not refer to them as if they are the only Shia's. Having said that, let me remind you that Ismailism flourished under the Fatimid Imams and there were many learning centers, and a lot of knowledge that is now in the West came from the Fatimid period. They were ahead of the IthnaAsheris. However, the Ayyubids and the Mongols wasted the Ismaili literature and manuscripts into the Nile and burned it down in Alamut respectively. Even then a lot of manuscripts survided and now the IIS is conducting the research again So please do not make it sound like Ismailis have just woken up.I only put this link because it was not easy to find and would certainly benefit many Ismailis in their faith. For example, our Ismaili Institute only began recently, while the Shia's have had their seminaries in Qom and other places in Iran and Iraq endowed and running since the twelver got majority there over the Ismailis.
For years the world has learned about Ismailism from hostile sources. It takes time to unearth the truth.. Ismailis have been persecuted for centuries and only since the last two Imams, Ismailis can breathe clearly, and within the past century Ismailis have already started setting the record straight to the dismay of their antagonists. This is just the beginning, and Inshallah, Ismailism will reach its pinnacle, as it should! Ismaili flags have been flying around the world and the world is anxious to know more about Ismailis and their Imam.
Nahj ul Balagha is translated by an Iranian, but it consists Imam Ali S.A.W.'s sermons. There is a difference between reading Nahj ul Balagha and Mr. Khomeini's books. You can't compare Mowla Ali's sermons to Mr. Khomeini's "sermons".In one of the Jamat Khana library, they have Iranian Edition (from Shia Iran) of the Nahj ul Balagha. By your logic, that would be promoting the Shia publishers or authors or sources
There are a lot of books in Ismaili libraries and on their literature desks written by Ithanasheri Scholars. I have a couple myself. Ismailis have always been thirsty for knowledge but they want the knowledge from good scholars. Mr. Khomeini does not fit that bill, I am sorry to say.
Daftary is a twelver and he is working at IIS. We may not agree with everything he writes, but he is a writer. As the Imam says we have democracy in Ismailism!
Virgo2
Khomeini was a horrible Iranian nationalist. He's was a power hungry mullah, part of the cabal that has turned Islam into a fiqh-regulated nightmare devoid of any spirituality, responsible for the bad image of Islam that turns away Muslims and non-Muslims alike.
It was people like Khomeini that made me leave Twelver Shi'ism for Ismaili Shi'ism (thank Allah and Ali for Hazar Imam!). The Twelver faith is little more than a form of Sunnism - just that it has the twelve imams tagged onto it: if you take a 'practising' Sunni and a 'practising' Twelver could you tell the difference? I can't!
It was people like Khomeini that made me leave Twelver Shi'ism for Ismaili Shi'ism (thank Allah and Ali for Hazar Imam!). The Twelver faith is little more than a form of Sunnism - just that it has the twelve imams tagged onto it: if you take a 'practising' Sunni and a 'practising' Twelver could you tell the difference? I can't!