Du'a Timings

[shak00]

Ya Ali Madad.

I live in the UK, and I would like to know that if Jamat Khana if far to get to, then what times should we recite the Du'a (Morning and Evenings) at home. Should this be according to the Jamat Khana that we normally attend?
For instance if Du'a is at 7.30pm mon-fri, and 6.30pm Sat & Sun, should we go by this?.
Also I normally recite morning Du'a at 5.15am sharp, is this about right?

I ask because Hazar Imam has emphasized reciting Du'a at the appropriate times, and as the Azhan is easily accesible via tv nowadays, should we go by these times? (Maghrib) etc. As I have heard in a Farman by Imam SMS (AS) to say the Maghrib Du'a on time.

I do try to attend as much as I can according to Hazar Imams Farmans on the regularity of attendance in Jamat Khana, but the distance, traffic etc prevent me from reaching on time. Which brings me onto another Farman by Imam SMS (AS) that if Jamat Khana is far then say your Du'a at home (1905).

Also Imam SMS (AS) has said that there must be a Jamat Khana even if there are only two Ismailis - please elaborate

[kmaherali]

While it is beneficial and important to maintain the times of formal prayer, we should also keep in mind that the consciousness of submission should not be only in the formal sense but it should be at every moment of the day. This is what I heard from a Farman yersterday. We are also told that if we cannot make it for the formal prayer or maintain the time thereof we can at least call the name and recite tasbi....So although it is beneficial as a matter of discipline to try to maintain the time of formal prayers, we should not feel too guilty if we cannot do that and do our best...

Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah says in his memoir:

"Ismailism has survived because it has always been fluid. Rigidity is contrary to our whole way of life and outlook. There have really been no cut and dried rules; even the set of regulations known as the Holy Laws are directions as to method and procedure and not detailed orders about results to be obtained. In some countries..."

[ShamsB]

While it is beneficial and important to maintain the times of formal prayer, we should also keep in mind that the consciousness of submission should not be only in the formal sense but it should be at every moment of the day. This is what I heard from a Farman yersterday. We are also told that if we cannot make it for the formal prayer or maintain the time thereof we can at least call the name and recite tasbi....So although it is beneficial as a matter of discipline to try to maintain the time of formal prayers, we should not feel too guilty if we cannot do that and do our best...

Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah says in his memoir:

"Ismailism has survived because it has always been fluid. Rigidity is contrary to our whole way of life and outlook. There have really been no cut and dried rules; even the set of regulations known as the Holy Laws are directions as to method and procedure and not detailed orders about results to be obtained. In some countries..."

Whilst i agree with you Karim, I have issues with folks that use the farman of MHI to their advantage, I think MHI has given us an out if AFTER MAKING EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO GET TO JAMAT KHANA WE CANNOT, and AFTER EVERY POSSIBLE EFFORT TO SAY OUR DUA on TIME we CAN NOT, then we can take that split second option.
I often have people telling me..oh..but MHI has said if you can't recite dua..it is forgiven...and I am like..did you even TRY to SAY your DUA?
i mean..if you own your own convience store..schedule someone else to work, or saying dua takes 3-4 mins...can't one do that?
or if one's a student..can't one try to schedule classes around Dua time?
our FAITH should be our FIRST PRIORITY in OUR LIVES..
OUR TAN/MAN/DHAN BELONG TO HIM..yet..HE is not our first priority.
I quote a Nairobi Farman (1964 I believe)
Nothing makes me happier than to know that my spiritual children are regular in their attendance to Jamat Khana, and nothing makes me sadder than to know that they are not. (I paraphrased).
and please don't think that I am just preaching, I practise what i preach.
I used to be someone that could never make it to Khane except for chaandraat... a friend gave me a lecture..said TRY to arrange your schedule so you can attend. I work with Asia and Europe and North America plus running 2 businesses - scheduling hell right?
once i made the effort and I tried...guess what..I am able to attend Jamat Khana on a daily basis.
We should TRY to attend Jamat Khana...if that is not possible, THAN whe SHOULD TRY to SAY DUA ON TIME..before resorting to the out that MHI has given us.

Shamsb

[shak00]

I often have people telling me..oh..but MHI has said if you can't recite dua..it is forgiven...and I am like..did you even TRY to SAY your DUA?

There's no excuse for not knowing the Du'a, as Du'a cassettes are available for a few Pounds/Dollars if they were really bothered to learn it. I am surprised at the amount of youngsters/seniors who still do not know their Du'a or have poor pronunciation and do not even know the meaning of the Du'a. Afterall this is one of the main foundations that will help us in the hereafter.

Imam Jafar As Sadiq (AS) has said - Our Intercession will not be extended to the one who is careless in performing prayers.

i mean..if you own your own convience store..schedule someone else to work, or saying dua takes 3-4 mins...can't one do that?

Whoever is reciting Du'a this quick is obviously mumbling like a parrot, without a clue as to what he/she is saying or doing. The average time it takes for morning Du'a is at least 9 - 10 mins including Subah Ji Tasbih and Mushkil Aasan Ji Tasbih.

While it is beneficial and important to maintain the times of formal prayer, we should also keep in mind that the consciousness of submission should not be only in the formal sense but it should be at every moment of the day. This is what I heard from a Farman yersterday. We are also told that if we cannot make it for the formal prayer or maintain the time thereof we can at least call the name and recite tasbi....So although it is beneficial as a matter of discipline to try to maintain the time of formal prayers, we should not feel too guilty if we cannot do that and do our best...

I believe this is to be done throughout the day between the Du'as, remembering the names that Hazar Imam has told us in the Farmans, because an Ismaili really has little to do after reciting Du'a in regards to the Spiritual (if not visiting the sick or praying for the deceased at the graveyard), so while working etc we should take a tasbih wherever we go and remember the Holy names and or recite Salawaat trying not to waste a second, while we are engaged in our daily activities.

But there is no excuse in not learning the Du'a or correcting it, as well as saying it on time, brothers and sisters, as this is the way to remove our problems, difficulties and sorrows, according to Hazar Imam's Farman (Precious Gems Nairobi 7th September 1963), and we will be judged on this and what we have done to try and recitfy this.

[ShamsB]

But there is no excuse in not learning the Du'a or correcting it, as well as saying it on time, brothers and sisters, as this is the way to remove our difficulties and sorrows, and we will be judged on this and what we have done to try and recitfy this.

You forget to mention that it is the farman of the Imam and a pillar of our faith.

Shamsb

[shak00]

You forget to mention that it is the farman of the Imam and a pillar of our faith.

Thank you brother shamsB - Mowla forgive me.

I was actually looking up references from Farmans of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Imam SMS (AS) regarding Du'a.

My main point was actually regarding Du'a timings, and I did not want to discuss other Du'a related topics here, else I would be told that this topic already exists elsewhere on this site.

[ShamsB]

You forget to mention that it is the farman of the Imam and a pillar of our faith.

Thank you brother shamsB - Mowla forgive me.

I was actually looking up references from Farmans of Mawlana Hazar Imam and Imam SMS (AS) regarding Du'a.

My main point was actually regarding Du'a timings, and I did not want to discuss other Du'a related topics here, else I would be told that this topic already exists elsewhere on this site.

MSMS Chaandraat farman...still read as per MHI's farman on every chandraat..
"pratiak vakte..be minit ni dua sivay..bhiji bhadi bandgiyo paya vagar ni che"

Key words - Pratiak Vakte.
I believe that means appropiate time.

Shamsb