Important Questions...

[Ali_765]

Ya Aly Madad

I have read the forum about Du'a.
Most people wrote that our Du'a is the prayer of the present time.
What was the reasoning for changing to our present Du'a from the Namaz receited by other Muslims?
and I also read that Deedar is equal to Hajj...
Where is that written?

[kmaherali]

Ya Aly Madad

I have read the forum about Du'a...
Most people wrote that our Du'a is the prayer of the present time...
What was the reasoning for changing to our present Du'a from the Namaz receited by other Muslims?
and I also read that Deedar is equal to Hajj...
Where is that written?

My understanding is that it has never been mentioned in the Quran as to the form of prayer we must adopt nor the five times of prayer. The majority of the Muslims (Sunni Muslims) have adopted the Sharia based on the Sunna(life of the Prophet). We Ismailis do not follow the Sunna. Our Sharia is based on the interpretation of the Imam. He tells us when and how to pray and we follow him.

In one of the Ginans, Pir Hassan Kabirdeen says:
"Mune didhaa Deedar Mowlaa e
Kaabaa to maru dil chhe, hardam hajj thaae"

Meaning:
The Lord has granted me the Deedar. Kaba is my heart and I perform Hajj all the time!

For more understanding about our interpretation of faith, please refer to my article 'Interplay Between the Zahir and the Batin' as a reply under Doctrines -->Baten or Zaher - Can we choose.

There is a very interesting poem written by Nasir Khusraw on the Batini interpretation of hajj. It is called 'The Wasted Pilgrimage'. It can be referenced in the library section under Poetry. It is one of the 40 Poems of Nasir Khusraw. If you have problems accessing it, let me know. I can post it here.

[kmaherali]

Ya Aly Madad

I have read the forum about Du'a...
Most people wrote that our Du'a is the prayer of the present time...
What was the reasoning for changing to our present Du'a from the Namaz receited by other Muslims?
and I also read that Deedar is equal to Hajj...
Where is that written?

My understanding is that it has never been mentioned in the Quran as to the form of prayer we must adopt nor the five times of prayer. The majority of the Muslims (Sunni Muslims) have adopted the Sharia based on the Sunna(life of the Prophet). We Ismailis do not follow the Sunna. Our Sharia is based on the interpretation of the Imam. He tells us when and how to pray and we follow him.

In one of the Ginans, Pir Hassan Kabirdeen says:
"Mune didhaa Deedar Mowlaa e
Kaabaa to maru dil chhe, hardam hajj thaae"

Meaning:
The Lord has granted me the Deedar. Kaba is my heart and I perform Hajj all the time!

For more understanding about our interpretation of faith, please refer to my article 'Interplay Between the Zahir and the Batin' as a reply under Doctrines -->Baten or Zaher - Can we choose.

There is a very interesting poem written by Nasir Khusraw on the Batini interpretation of hajj. It is called 'The Wasted Pilgrimage'. It can be referenced in the library section under Poetry. It is one of the 40 Poems of Nasir Khusraw. If you have problems accessing it, let me know. I can post it here.

[Ali_765]

But there was a time when we Ismailis did pray Namaz...correct?
Im am looking for the reasoning of why the Imam decided to change our prayer?

[Thanks for the reply...I will look into your article]

[kmaherali]

But there was a time when we Ismailis did pray Namaz...correct?
Im am looking for the reasoning of why the Imam decided to change our prayer?

[Thanks for the reply...I will look into your article]

Yes, for sure I know during the Fatimid Period. But times changed and the form of our faith also changed. That is the reason why we have HazarImam to interprete the faith according to times. He decides what is the best, the most appropriate and the most practical form of prayer for a given time.

Ismailis can still go to Masjid and perform Namaz. I know of many Ismailis who do that especially on Fridays to maintain good relations with their neighbours.

[Ali_765]

Did he give reasons why he decided to change the prayer?

[kmaherali]

Did he give reasons why he decided to change the prayer?

I am not aware of the reason in that particular situation, but then He does not have to give a reason to make changes to the practices. It his absolute prerogative.

[Ali_765]

Is there a way in which I can find the Firman in which the Imam introduces the Du'a to us?

also...

I have read the many reasons on this site for why Deedar is equal to Hajj, but when did the Imam tell us that we are not required to go to Hajj?
Is there a way in which I can find this Firman?

[star_munir]

Ya Ali Madad

I donot agree with you when you say Ismailis can still go to Masjid and perform Namaz. I know of many Ismailis who do that especially on Fridays to maintain good relations with their neighbours.

Why ismailis need to say namaz.If my neighbour is hindu and to maintain good relations I can not go in temple and worship Ram and Krishna although they were Imam Pre Ali.

Our prayer is dua.I agree that Imam has right and prayers can change from time to time.

Old Prayer was in Gujrati which was composed by Pir Sadar din which was our dua from the time of Imam Islam Shah till Imam Sultan Muhmmad Shah. As people of India do not knew how to speak arabic. Quran is in Arabic because people of Arab knew arabic.So their prayer was in arabic. Pir Sadadin converted hindus and their prayer was in their language.Now the time is changed.Ismailis are not only in India,Pakistan and Africa they are in Afghanistan,Iran,central Asia,Russia,Europe,America,China etc and Gujrati is not the language of all ismailis or all ismailis not know gujrati .Infact there is not any single language which is spoken by each and every ismaili. Our Present Dua is in Arabic which is the language of Quran and there are Quranic verses in it.This may be the reason. Present Dua was composed by our Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah.


Regarding Hajj.Bait-ul Allah means house of Allah. If you believe Imam as mazhar of Allah than Imam is like house of Allah. Think over it and you will know why deedar is equivalent to Hajj.

[kmaherali]

Is there a way in which I can find the Firman in which the Imam introduces the Du'a to us?

also...

I have read the many reasons on this site for why Deedar is equal to Hajj, but when did the Imam tell us that we are not required to go to Hajj?
Is there a way in which I can find this Firman?

I do not think you can find a firman in which the Imam introduces Dua. I do not feel that there is a need to find one. The Imam tells us to recite Dua. That means that He(or His ancestors) must have sanctioned it or authorised it. That is what should matter. The reasons become secondary.

Hazar Imam has never told us not to perform Hajj. If you feel the need to do it, you may. I know at least one Ismaili who performed hajj recently.

[shamsu]

Ya Aly Madad,

Ismailism had a time during Imam SMS when Imam would send Namaz to the murids in the arabian part of the world and Dua to the murids in the Indian subcontinent.

I myself have read those farmans in Kalame Imame Mubeen. where Imam says to Indian mureeds to not worry about the namaz he has sent to those murids who live in arabia and persia.

There are farmans of Imam Aly Shah that curse those who want arabic prayers. I mean actually using cuss words. Imam has also called those who run after arabic as enemies of his home. (Amara ghar na dushman)

Shams

[star_munir]

Ya Ali Madad Shamsu if you have those farmans of Imam Ali Shah can you send it to me? thanks

[kmaherali]

Ya Aly Madad,

There are farmans of Imam Aly Shah that curse those who want arabic prayers. I mean actually using cuss words. Imam has also called those who run after arabic as enemies of his home. (Amara ghar na dushman)

Shams

I am not quite sure about the context of this farman. Let us be cautious in criticising Arabic language. We are coming into contact with Arabic speaking Ismailis of Syria today. I am not sure how they will react to this. Arabic language has contributed significantly to Islamic culture generally.

As recently as 1951 Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah pleaded for Pakistan to adopt Arabic as her national language. Imagine what would have been the consequences for the Jamat of Pakistan if they heeded the Imam. Their linguistic orientation would surely been towards Arabic. The full text of MSM's speech can be referenced at: http://ismaili.net/sultan/5msms.html

[star_munir]

I recieved notification from ismaili.net about private message. I click on the link but it was written that page not found. When I open ismaili.net and login I not got any message. I think there is some error. I think Shamsu you sent me private message but I not got message. I will come for chat with you tommorow.

[arzimood]

i would like to seek reference on one of the replies posted which state that Imam has the rite to change the way prayers are offered .e. earlier it was in form of namaz n now in form of dua'a. i realize n have faith in this that Maula can. but i wanted certain Quranic verse or hadith.

Secondly about changing the way praers are offered.. id like to add that wht is stated as basic requirement for Salat(Prayer) in Islam is that the Salat should comprise of Surah Fatiha. and just as there are rakats in namaz we have parts of Dua.

[ShamsB]

i would like to seek reference on one of the replies posted which state that Imam has the rite to change the way prayers are offered .e. earlier it was in form of namaz n now in form of dua'a. i realize n have faith in this that Maula can. but i wanted certain Quranic verse or hadith.

Secondly about changing the way praers are offered.. id like to add that wht is stated as basic requirement for Salat(Prayer) in Islam is that the Salat should comprise of Surah Fatiha. and just as there are rakats in namaz we have parts of Dua.

I don't meant to be antagonistic..but i'd like a quote of your sources for the second statement..can you quote a Qur'anic ayat that states that prayer should comprise of Suratul Fateha..i believe our Imams in numerous farmans have said that if one doesn't know how to recite the dua..taking out Pirshah tasbih a certain number of times will suffice.

Shams

[star_munir]

It is in Ismaili Constitution that,"Mawlana Hazar Imam has inherent right and absolute and unfettered power and authority over and in respect of all religious and Jamati matters of the Ismailis."

[unnalhaq]

It is in Ismaili Constitution that,"Mawlana Hazar Imam has inherent right and absolute and unfettered power and authority over and in respect of all religious and Jamati matters of the Ismailis."

Ali_765, Star is right and just to add Quran confers the Authority on to the Imam as the Authority (manifested) holder and if the Authority holder constitutes the constitution then you got your answer.