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April 2, 2022: What did you learn about the inimitability of the Qur'an?

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April 2, 2022: What did you learn about the inimitability of the Qur'an?

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The inimitability of the Qur'an is a very interesting idea to me. I feel like it is the perfect way to explain to people of other faiths who maybe do not understand why we value the Qur'an so much why we regard it to such a high esteem. In Jamathkhana, a phrase we hear a lot is "divine knowledge," which, in a way, is synonymous to the idea of the inimitability of the Qur'an. Mawlana Hazar Imam has been bestowed this gift from Allah and he shares this gift to guide his jamat. The Qur'an is similar to this in the sense that it is a vessel through which the Imam of the Time is able to do this. They both have this special light that cannot be replicated and work side by side to educate murids on the ethics of Islam and how to stay on Sirat al-Mustaqim.

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March 5, 2022: What do you think it means to be in the "presence of the divine?" Have you experienced any moments in your life where you felt close to Allah? What was the experience and how did it impact your life?

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March 5, 2022: What do you think it means to be in the "presence of the divine?" Have you experienced any moments in your life where you felt close to Allah? What was the experience and how did it impact your life?

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To be in the "presence of the divine," to me, means to have a feeling of inner peace. The world is filled with distractions, stresses, and difficulties and can often be overwhelming but however you find yourself in the presence of the divine can give you a sense of calmness. It is as if you know that no matter what struggles you may face, you always have the support of Allah and your faith to ensure you always have the strength to continue. Therefore, rather than worrying about how you can make it another day, you know to let life run its course because Allah has his divine plan and will guide you. When three of my grandparents passed away, I went to Jamathlhana for forty days in a row. Each time, I felt like I was able to build on my strength of faith even more. On the fortieth day each time, I felt a sensation of passion and gratitude in my heart, feeling like I was touched by Allah in some way. As a result, I have grown close with my faith and it has been a source of great comfort.

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February 5, 2022 CONTINUED: How did the esoteric interpretations help me understand the story of Nabi Musa and al-Khidr in a different way?

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February 5, 2022 CONTINUED: How did the esoteric interpretations help me understand the story of Nabi Musa and al-Khidr in a different way?

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The esoteric interpretations highlighted for me the value of looking at the reason or the purpose behind things as a way to understand the themes they present. Recognizing that it was al-Khidr's goal to show Nabi Musa, using his knowledge, that there are esoteric meanings behind things despite how they may seem encourages me to stop and think about how hasty I can be regarding my first impressions of things and think about what went into that thing that I may be unaware of. For instance, with part of "the Boy," al-Khidr's slaying of him seems outrageous and unnecessary but when he explained his reasoning for it he proved to have had knowledge about the boy's situation that I did not, which is why he did something I did not understand.

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February 5, 2022: Poem relating to "the Boy" and "distracting human desires"

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February 5, 2022: Poem relating to "the Boy" and "distracting human desires"

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The light shines bright,
But I fear that darkness can be an equally captivating sight.
I wonder, is it enough to live in the wonder of spiritual delight
Or will I succumb to the misery of distracting human blight?

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January 8, 2022: Reflection to quote by Mawlana Hazir Imam

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January 8, 2022: Reflection to quote by Mawlana Hazir Imam

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I think this quote by Mawlana Hazir Imam is quite relevant to Ismailism. I feel like we are viewed as a "progressive" group within Islam for a few reasons, but mainly because we are seen as adhering to the Qur'an. That is in part because we have a living Imam who continuously tells us through his Farmans that we must use the ethics and values displayed in the Qur'an to lead our lives. So, it is not simply about the words, but it is about what we can take from them and how they help us to lead a better life. Context is also extremely important to us. When Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) received the revelations, the circumstances he was dealing with were different than what we are now. It is therefore crucial we look at the exoteric principles behind rather than relying on only what is written. While I'm not trying to disagree with the Imam (lol) I think that Ismailis heavily look beyond the esoteric meaning and use the inner meaning of the Qur'an to give us a better understanding of life.

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October 30, 2021: To what extent do you feel that we as human beings are responsible for our own actions?

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October 30, 2021: To what extent do you feel that we as human beings are responsible for our own actions?

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Regarding this idea, there are two main perspectives. Some believe that certain Qur'anic passages suggest that is Allah’s will of who is guided on the right path and who is not. In that case, we as human beings are hardly responsible for our own actions. On the other hand, others think that different verses imply that Allah guides a person a certain way based on their actions, meaning it is not predetermined and they are more responsible for their actions.  My perspective is more in line with the second way of thinking. Although, it is still a bit different. I believe that humans being are almost entirely responsible for their own actions. However, I do not agree with the idea that ALL a person's actions decides whether or not Allah will lead them towards the right path. God's guidance is present in the Qur'an and through the Farmans of Mawlana Hazar Imam, so it is up to the individual if they will listen to that guidance. In my opinion, that is the ONE action that makes humans responsible; if they decide to take God's guidance to heart. If they do, God will essentially take care of the rest as He will assist the person in doing good and staying away from bad habits. If they do not pay mind to the guidance of Allah, only then will He let them go astray.

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October 2, 2021: How was the Arabian/Bedouin moral code impacted by Qur'anic ethics?

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October 2, 2021: How was the Arabian/Bedouin moral code impacted by Qur'anic ethics?

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Rather than being completely changed, the Arabian/Bedouin moral code was simply altered by the application of Qur'anic ethics. Arabian/Bedouin moral code already incorporated many of the same qualities expressed in the Qur'an, including loyalty, trustworthiness, courage, self-restraint, generosity, and hospitality, but they were of course geared to the tribal content. So, they would ultimately shift from that tribal context to relate more to Allah and the Prophet. For instance, loyalty towards Allah and the Prophet became more of a priority than unparalleled loyalty to one's tribe. Moreover, generosity shifted from being about recognition and being considered "noble" to assisting others out of humility and desire to help others become self-sustainable. Overall, actions grew to be more about accountability to Allah now and in the hereafter.