The Resolve of Hazrat Ibrahim To Go To His Lord

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Ya Ali Madad. On the occasion of Shab-e Mi’raj, the commemoration of the journey in which our Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) attained the status of fana fi’llah and baqa bi’llah using ism-i azam (symbolized by Burraq, the mystical horse), please accept our heartfelt felicitations!

On this night, may Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, the 49th direct lineal descendant of the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.), grant peace, prosperity, happiness, barakat, higher spiritual enlightenment, spiritual & luminous tayid (help) and empowerment to the global Jamat in this year. Ameen.

Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad
(O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants).

Introduction

This post examines the resolve of Hazrat Ibrahim (a.s.) to return to his Lord. Further analysis of his path shows how the process of Mi’raj (ascension) takes place in persons who are advancing on the path of higher spiritual enlightenment.

This post has six parts

1. Ayat from Surah As-Saffat and Commentary on this Verse;
2. One Who Follows The Path of Religion;
3. Ayat from Surah Al-An’am and Commentary on this Verse;
4. The Salik (traveller) of the Path of Spirituality:
5. Salik (traveller) of the Firm Religion; and
6. Global prayers and Three Grand Aspirations.

1. Ayat from Surah As-Saffat and Commentary on this Verse

Ayat 37:99

This ayat reads as follows:

‘And he said: Verily, I am going to my Lord, He will guide me. ‘

Holy Quran Ayat 37:99

Explanation of Ayat 37:99

‘It is mentioned in verse (37:99): “And he said: Verily I am going to my Lord, He will guide me.” In this blessed verse there is a great light and a great secret unveiled to people of knowledge. That is, Islam is the religion of nature, namely, it is the religion of progress externally and internally. Therefore, it is necessary to act upon the shari’at in true sense and then reach tariqat, haqiqat and the desired destination of ma’rifat. Thus, this is the meaning in the firm resolve of a great muwahhid [one who is focused on tawhid, the unity of God] such as Hazrat Ibrahim: ‘I am going to go to my Lord.’

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 351, p. 190

2. One Who Follows The Path of Religion

The following tawil describes the ranks or stages of our spiritual journey:

‘The path of religion is the progressive ladder of the order of nature which is the example of a spiritual ladder as well as the example of the straight path and the rope of God. The wisdom-filled allusion is it is that as long as the world of unity is far away, there are only ranks on ranks: there are ranks of knowledge of the Quran, there are ranks in the deeds of Islam, there are ranks in the spiritual journey and proximity of God. Thus it is true that there are four major destinations of religion, namely, shari’at, tariqat, haqiqat and ma’rifat and it is also true that Hazrat Ibrahim went to his Lord walking from one destination to another on the path of religion.’

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 355, pp. 192-193.

3. Ayat from Surah Al-An’am and Commentary on this Verse

Ayat 6:75

This ayat reads as follows:

‘And⁷⁷⁴ thus did We show Abraham (the
governing) of the Kingdom of the heavens
and the earth and that he may be of those
who are sure.’

Holy Quran Ayat 6:75

Explanation of Ayat 6:75

Here is the footnote from S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali’s translation of the Holy Quran:

Footnote 774

‘Showing Abraham the kingdom of the heavens and the earth. God caused the kingdom of the heavens and the earth to manifest to Abraham so that he may himself get sure about the glory of God and use the knowledge to guide the people.’

Footnote 774 S. V. Mir Ahmed Ali, p.525

The Holy Prophets and Holy Imams are bestowed wisdoms from God so that they can fully guide the people of their time. Therefore, we look towards Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam for guidance on all matters.

4. The Salik (traveller) of the Path of Spirituality

The following tawil describes the ranks or stages of the spiritual journey of Hazrat Ibrahim:

‘The first destination of the blessed spiritual journey of Hazrat Ibrahim is the night of the esoteric aspect of religion (batin), the second destination is the star, the third is the moon, the fourth is the sun and then he had the great bliss of Mi’raj (study carefully verses 6:75-79).’

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 353, 191.

In the Holy Quran, we encounter terms which have an inner meaning. The day represents the Zahir (apparent, visible) while the night represents the Batin (hidden). Since we are in an esoteric or a batini Tariqah, we need to develop esoteric knowledge within ourselves. The stars, the moon and sun represent the ranks of spiritual hierarchy. The stars represent advanced souls; the moon represents Prophets and Pirs; and the Sun represents Noor Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.), the Holy Imams and Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam. During our spiritual journey, it is possible to see the spiritual and luminous forms of such advanced beings and also get their help to advance to the final destination of merging into Allah. We are on a long journey to the Abode of Eternal Peace!

5. Salik (traveller) of the Firm Religion

The following tawil describes the work of the true guides:

‘It is extremely difficult, but not impossible, to reach the treasures of recognition walking in the footsteps of Prophets and Imams. This is why an extremely important and most special, wisdom-filled prayer is taught in the essential and fundamental teaching of Islam, which is: “(O Lord of honour!) Guide us upon the right path, the path of those upon whom you have bestowed your bounties.” (that is, the path of the Prophets, Asases, Imams and Hujjats – 4:69)

A Thousand Wisdoms, Tawil No. 352 p. 191

In the esoteric path of Ismailism, the mechanism is to be pious, pure, obedient and practise Ism-i Azam with great rigor, consistency and concentration. It is through the Noor of Mowlana Hazar Imam (a.s.) and the Noor of Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) that we are seeking to come close to He Who Is Above All Else. Let us offer gratitude for being under the umbrella of a present and living Imam in our ascent to Paradise and beyond!

Shukhran Lillah Wal Hamdu Lillah
(All thanks are due to Allah, and all praises are due to Allah)

Shab-e Mi’raj Mubarak!

May Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam fill our spiritual hearts (Qalb) with his Noor and nothing else! May this enable all of us to present Spiritual and Luminous Nazranas described below.

6. Global Prayers and Three Grand Aspirations

Through the barakat of recitation of Holy Quran, Qasidas, Holy Ginans and voluminous prayers and Angelic Salwat by many, many individuals of the global Jamat, O Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam, bless the global Jamat with:

1. Spiritual and luminous tayid (help) to advance materially, spiritually and intellectually;
2. Sunshine in our spiritual hearts and actualization of the inner vision of the Truth;
3. Empowerment to present a Material Nazrana of time, knowledge and financial resources;
4. Empowerment to present a Spiritual Nazrana in the form of a pure heart which is in a state of constant dhikr; and
5. Empowerment to present a Luminous Nazrana in the form of a sound heart (qalb-i salim) which is in a state of constant dhikr and enlightenment.

Al-Hamdu lil-lahi Rab-bil Aalamin (All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds)

Angelic Salwat Supplication

Let us now start supplicating with angelic salwat, Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace on and through Muhammad and his Descendants) to our beloved NOOR Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam for mushkil aasan for material and spiritual upliftment.

Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful

Haizinda — Qayampaya
(Our Present Imam is Living and His NOOR is Eternal)