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THE HOLY IMAM (SA), HIS HOLY IMAMAT
AND THE HOLY QUR'AN!  1 OF 2

Date: Monday, March 13, 2000 11:38 AM
 

Bismillaahir Rahmaanir Rahiim
In the Name of Allah, Rahman, Rahiim

Salaamun alaykum and Ya Ali Madad

this is in reply to 2 important emails i have just received from my
Ismaili brothers.  a few non-ismaili muslims have asked me similar
questions as well:

>>
To: "Navroz Vatansi" ,"Navali"
 Subject: Help
 Date: Fri, 10 Mar 2000 16:15:56 +0500
 

Hello Mr Vatansi (Vasanji, navali)

I am indeed very happy to be getting mails from you , and is
more delighted that you are totallt tearing the SATAN apart.

NOW I NEED YOUR HELP . I HAVE TO GIVE A LECTURE TO
MY CLASS WHICH IS CLASS 12 . THEIR LEVEL OF
UNDERSTANDING IS PRETTY HIGH.

THE TOPIC IS REALTED TO IMAM AND QURAN , BASICALLY
PROVING IMAMAT THROUGH QURAN ,WHY DO WE NEED THE IMAM AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH IMAMAT  ......

I am sure after listenign to the lecture many more students from
my class will try to get in tocuh with you .

Thankyou and Ya Ali Madad
------
>>

>>
To: Navali@fcmail.com
Subject: (no subject)
Date: Thu, 9 Mar 2000 06:47:30 EST

Navroz Ya Ali madad, this Akberali has asked me a question
THAT I CANNOT ANSWER. Maybe you can throw some light
on the below question.

Akber:  Who were the Imams with Hadhrat Adam a.s., Yaqub
a.s., Ayub a.s., Yunus a.s. Isa a.s. to name just a few???

Ya Ali madad
>>
------

NAVALI:  Mowla Ali Madad and Mubarak to you both.

thanks for your above emails, which i will endeavour to reply from
the Holy Qur'an ONLY -- since not only is it Allah's FINAL
Revelation for mankind per se, but also it is the ONLY TRUE
HADITH on earth which every faithful muslim follows in one form
or another.

on the other hand, please note that akbarally meherally is nothing more than a trouble maker and a misguided individual in our midst. despite his incredible claims and show of piety on the net, etc., his QUR'ANIC KNOWLEDGE at best -- IS MINIMAL. he believes only that which he likes and hence, vacillates between this and that all the time.

rest assured, i have in my possession and can give you/him a complete list of the imams, he is asking for. but nothing will satisfy him. the said list and a comprehensible one at that, was originally compiled some  40--50 years ago by a Russian scholar.

_THE QUR'ANIC FOUNDATION OF ISLAM_

regardless, what *ELSE* did Allah REVEAL during the Holy Month
of Ramadan AND WHY, **IF** the Holy Prophet (SAS), HIS MESSAGE and the Holy Qur'an ONLY  -- were enough for mankind's guidance THEN AND THEREAFTER?  Says Allah:

002.272 The guiding of them IS NOT thy duty (O Muhammad), but Allah guideth whom He will. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^.
-----

this in no way undermines his stupendous prophetic mission which
lasted for 23 years or so. rather, IT COMPLEMENTS and
supplements that MISSION AND REVELATION OF ISLAM like so:

002.185 The month of Ramadan in which was revealed
1. the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind,
:                   ^^^^^^^^^
2. THE MANIFEST  PROOFS _OF THE_ GUIDANCE,
   WA BAYYINAAT _MINAL_ ^^^^^^^  HUDAA
:
3. and the FURQAN
---

the Holy Qur'an was "a guidance for mankind."  whereas the
OTHERS WERE *THE MANIFEST PROOFS _OF THE_ GUIDANCE --  WA BAYYINAAT _MINAL_ HUDAA.* i am sure you can see the difference between these two Qur'anic statements as is.

in 1982 akbarally meherally asserted that the word *FURQAN*
applied both to the Scripture and the IMAM--PERSON* --
[From Abraham to Aga Khan, pp. 38].

this then, clearly ESTABLISHES THE NEED  AND NECESSITY
OF THE PRESENT LIVING IMAM (SA) IN ISLAM AT all times!
and with respect to HQ 17:71,72, there are several shia and
sunni Hadiths which confirm that *he who dies without RECOGNIZING THE IMAM of his age hath died a death
of *Jaahiliyya--ignorance*.'

>>
 'The following are some of the injunctions of Muhammad
   regarding the Imam or Khalifa:

 a. "whoever QUITS OBEDIENCE TO THE IMAM and divides a
body of muslims, dies like the  people in ignorance (jaahiliyaa)".
 b. "he who FORSAKES OBEDIENCE TO THE IMAM, will come
before God on the day of resurrection without a proof of his faith".
' (vide dictionary of islam, by t.d. hughes - pp. 266)

 "the dictionary is for the most part an EXPOSITION OF
OPINIONS OF THE SUNNI SECT...very special attention has
been given to the views of the wahabis, as it is the author's conviction that they represent the earliest teachings of the muslim faith as they came from mohammed and his immediate successors" - (ibid-preface).
>>
------

apparently, we can draw similar or perhaps, a deeper conclusion
from verses 17:71,72 as well.

allow me to continue with the other aspect of Islam:

002.151 Even as We have sent unto you
1. a MESSENGER from among you, 

2. who reciteth unto you OUR REVELATIONS
3. AND PURIFIES you,
:
4. and teacheth you the SCRIPTURE
5. and wisdom,
:
6. and teacheth you *MAA -- HE WHO -- THAT* which ye knew not.
---

 please note this analysis very carefully because there are several other verses in the Holy Qur'an which touch on these very specific matters. meaning: there was much more to Islam than just the Holy Prophet (SAS), His Message and the Scripture.

in short, the Holy Prophet & Messenger's (SAS) mission-(1) and the Holy Qur'an-(4) above -- made up only a third of the overall Islamic mission THEN. if so, what about the other 2/3rds or  items 2--5 listed mentioned above? see also verses 2:129,151,185; 3:164; 4:113; 62:2-5.feel free to compare the same with this UNWAVERING ASSERTION and you be the judge.

23 YEARS LATER ALLAH SAID:

005.067 O Messenger! MAKE KNOWN -- *MAA--HE WHO--
THAT* -- which hath been revealed unto thee from thy Lord, IF
THOU DO IT NOT, thou wilt NOT HAVE conveyed his message.
----

what could be more shocking and devastating in the Holy Prophet's (SAS) mission and lifetime then? on the other hand, what was that ONE DECLARATION UPON which DEPENDED the very outcome of His 23-year old mission? did He not deliver the Holy Qur'an to his followers? despite that, this stun warning was given to the Holy Prophet (SAS) just before the end of His Mission. He passed away in less than 3 months after the above.

And in spite his ANTI-ISMAILI & ANTI-ISLAMIC stand today,
this is what akbarally meherally PUBLISHED before:

>>

'PROPHET MUHAMMAD HAD TO FACE SIMILAR
CHALLENGES AS DID HIS PREDECESSORS. IN HIS FINAL
DAYS GOD COMMANDED HIM TO DELIVER HIS IMPORTANT
AND FINAL MESSAGE. THE  MESSAGE WAS SO VERY
IMPORTANT AND SIGNIFICANT FOR ISLAM THAT ALLAH
CHOSE TO USE THE FOLLOWING COMPELLING WORDS
FOR ITS PROCLAMATION: "OH APOSTLE! PROCLAIM THE
MESSAGE WHICH HATH BEEN SENT TO  THEE FROM THY
LORD. IF THOU DIDST NOT, THOU WOULDST NOT HAVE
FULFILLED AND PROCLAIMED HIS MISSION.' (QUR'AN
5:70).  [THIS DISTORTIVE TRANSLATION ADOPTED BY HIM
IS WRONG AND MISLEADING ALTOGETHER, NAVALI,] -
[PP. 33].
-----

 HE CONTINUES;
 

 'ACCORDING TO SHIAH BELIEF ON THE 18TH DAY OF JILHAJ  IN HIJRAH 10  (632A.D.) AFTER HIS FINAL PILGRIMAGE, PROPHET  MUHAMMAD GAVE THE MESSAGE OF ALLAH AND DECLARED HIS NEPHEW AND SON-IN-LAW ALI

    A.     AS 'MAULA'  --
    B.     'ULLU'L AMR', I.E., LEADER (IMAM).
    C.     IN THE BIBLICAL TERMS 'PARAKLETOS' -
    D.     AN ACTIVE INTERCESSOR.

elsewhere he says:

*6.     'He shall shew you things to come'.
MUHAMMAD LIKE moses and jesus, was COMMANDED by God to convey his final message and DECLARE the things to come,

            TO SHOW THE EVERLASTING GENERATION
         OF PARAKLETOS -- AN ABIDING INTERCESSOR 
       MANIFEST LEADER -- [IMAM-E-MOOBIN in arabic].

 IN 632 A.D. (10 HIJRAH) after his FINAL pilgrimage,
 MUHAMMAD ASSEMBLED his fellow pilgrims on the grounds
 called gadir-e-khum. here HE DECLARED THE COMMAND OF
 ALLAH which was to HOLD FAST TO 'QURAN' AND HIS 'ITRAT' (GENERATION OF ALI, HIS SON-IN-LAW) till the Day of Judgement.  [From Abraham to Aga Khan -- pp. 22-23].
>>
---------

NAVALI:   but that is not all. we have ample evidence from the sunni sources as well, to substantiate the aforesaid. allow me to quote a couple here:

 AHMAD IBN HANBAL-MUSNAD AL ANSAAR-HADEETH #20596

  *__I AM LEAVING IN YOUR MIDST _2--TWO_CALIPHS__*

 1. the BOOK OF ALLAH  which is a ROPE
 extending from the  heavens to the earth of
what is in the heavens to the earth
 2. And MY PROGENY, MY AHLUL-BAYT.

THESE TWO WILL NEVER SEPARATE UNTIL THEY
REACH  ME AT THE POND (HAWD). ---------
-----

AHMAD IBN HANBAL-MUSNAD AL KUFIYYEEN- HADEETH #18464

SO HOLD ON TO THE BOOK OF ALLAH AND HOLD FAST TO IT. THEN HE ENCOURAGED US ABOUT THE BOOK OF ALLAH
AND HE EMPHASIZED ON IT HE SAID AND MY AHLUL-BAYT.

         I REMIND YOU CONCERNING MY AHLUL-BAYT.
         I REMIND YOU CONCERNING MY AHLUL-BAYT.
         I REMIND YOU CONCERNING MY AHLUL-BAYT.

           THEY ARE THE CHILDREN OF 'ALI, ......
---------
 

following the above VITAL & RESOLUTE declaration, which was an intrinsical and integral part of ISLAM per se, Allah revealed:

5:3 This day have I PERFECTED your religion for you and
COMPLETED MY favour unto you, AND HAVE CHOSEN FOR YOU
AS RELIGION AL-ISLAM.
----

so, ISLAM WAS NOT really about JUST delivering the Holy Qur'an! rather, it was about the DECLARATION OF THE HOLY IMAM (SA) AND HIS IMAMAT in succession to Nabbuwat --Prophethood.

the Holy Qur'an automatically applied to both and more, as you know. and as such, with the above explicit declaration -- every aspect of Islam mentioned herein was included and, will continue to be a part and parcel of the TRUE ISLAM TILL THE DAY OF JUDGMENT.

but that is not all!  unfortunately, 99% of the muslims believe/d then and now that with HQ: 5:3 -- 'Perfection and Completion of Islam' and the Holy Qur'an -- they need NOTHING MORE. that they were quite capable of understanding Islam and continue its practice and interpretation on their own. alas! nothing could be further from the truth. allow me to remind you again:

002.185 The month of Ramadan in which was revealed
1. the Qur'an, a guidance for mankind,
:            ^^^^^^^^^
2. THE MANIFEST  PROOFS OF THE GUIDANCE,
   WA BAYYINAAT _MINAL_ ^^^^^ HUDAA.
:
3. and the FURQAN
---

the Qur'an was a guidance for mankind. whereas the OTHERS
*WERE THE MANIFEST PROOFS OF THE GUIDANCE* --  "WA
BAYYINAAT _MINAL_ HUDAA." i am sure you can see the
difference between these 2 Qur'ani statments as is.

akbarally meherally asserted in his book viz, 'From Abraham to Aga Khan,' 1982 -- that the word *FURQAN*  applied both to the Scripture and the IMAM--PERSON.
----

                                 A NEW PHASE OF ISLAM

anyway, with the declaration of HQ: 5:3,  BEGAN A NEW
PHASE OF ISLAM BECAUSE the Holy Qur'an had declared that
Allah had REVEALED *THE MANIFEST PROOFS OF THE
GUIDANCE -- WA BAYYINAAT _MINAL_ HUDAA* AS WELL.
obviously meaning, that the Holy Qur'an ALONE was not enough
for the guidance of mankind.

in order to help my muslim brethren understand this aspect of Islam, let it be known that the Holy Prophet (SAS) Himself had been declared as the MANIFEST PROOF from Allah (98:1,2). and as such, WHO WERE THE OTHER 'MANIFEST PROOFS OF THE GUIDANCE' REVEALED WITH HIM BECAUSE Their revelation was vital to Islam's very own existence until the Day of Judgment?

*PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES*
*EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD--IMAMAT*

Exodus 28:41 And thou shalt put them upon AARON THY BROTHER, AND HIS SONS WITH HIM; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the PRIEST'S [IMAM] office. Exodus 40:15 And thou shalt ANOINT THEM, as thou didst ANOINT THEIR FATHER, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD [IMAMAT] --THROUGHOUT THEIR GENERATIONS. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.
Deuteronomy 18:19 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will
not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name,
I will require it of him.
------

not only did Allah CONTINUE with the above in Islam but also He
had shown throughout the Holy Qur'an that the Holy Prophet (SAS) was indeed the prophesied *PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES.* and that being the case, WHY SHOULD His mission be any less than His counter-part and predecessor's.

1. 073.015 Lo! We have sent unto you a messenger as witness against you, even as We sent unto Pharaoh a messenger.

2.     11.017 Is he (to be counted equal with them) who relieth on a
a.     MANIFEST PROOF - [BAYYINATIM] -  from his Lord,
b.     and a WITNESS - [SHAAHIDUM] - FROM HIM reciteth it,
c.     and before it was the Book of Moses,
d.     IMAMANW WA RAHMA -- IMAM AND MERCY?
Such believe therein, and whoso disbelieveth therein of the clans,
the FIRE is his appointed place. So be not thou in doubt concerning it. LO! IT IS THE TRUTH from thy Lord; but most of mankind BELIEVE NOT.
--------

now please reflect on these issues very seriously:
i.     IF, the Holy Prophet (SAS) was the MANIFEST PROOF meant here;
ii.    then WHO WAS THE *WITNESS FROM HIM*?
iii.    also, why did  Allah refer to the Book of Moses
iv.    and IMAMANW WA RAHMAH
       in the same verse, if they were irrelevant to Islam?

on the other hand, was this not a clear indication that the Holy
Prophet (SAS) was the prophesied *PROPHET LIKE UNTO MOSES*? and if so, why should the Holy Prophet's (SAS) mission be any less? in other words, if  the *AARONIC PRIESTHOOD--IMAMAT WAS REVEALED* with Moses then WHY should the Holy Prophet's (SAS) Mission be without one??

more importantly, an intelligence study of the Holy Qur'an shows that Allah referred to a PERSON -- AS THE IMAM AND MERCY and not the Book, as akbarally meherally would have us believe. See HQ: 32:22-25 and:

019.053 And We bestowed upon him of OUR MERCY HIS BROTHER AARON, a prophet (likewise).

021.107 We sent thee [MUHAMMAD] not save as a MERCY UNTO THE WORLDS.
----

this is plainly MERCY PERSONIFIED!!

and please note further that despite all the alterations, additions
and deletions that have crept into the Bible, one thing that
STANDS out clearly therein is the CONCEPT OF ETERNAL
IMAMAT. this is also true about the TRUE ISLAM revealed in
the HOLY QUR'AN.
 

says akbarally meherally:
>>
http://www.mostmerciful.com/rebuttal.htm
here is navali's response as sent to me. i have used red color to
highlight some important texts:

non-ismaili rendition:
*_w_a_* kulla shay-in *ah-saynaahu* fii imaamim mubiin*
-- [?] everything have we *accommodated* in the manifest imam
(guide)* 36:12 [s. v. mir ahmed ali's translation, pp. 182a, 6].
[emphasis [?] added by navali]

please note AGAIN that the second half of this Holy verse 36:12 begins with - *WA KULLA SHAY-IN--AND EVERY THING.* and that the first part of the verse is joined to the second with a conjunction --*WA--AND* BY NONE OTHER THAN ALLAH HIMSELF:

now, what is 'AND EVERYTHING--WA KULLA SHAY-IN' and the meaning thereof - and how do we determine that? would it have a beginning, middle or an end - at any point in ALLAH's own Divinity, thought, will, estimation and/or universal creation? this is not only ALLAH's unfathomable mystery but also it shows that THERE IS NO DICHOTOMY BETWEEN *MATTER AND SPIRIT IN ISLAM.*

as such, the first part which says - *LO! WE IT IS WHO BRING THE DEAD TO LIFE* - IS ALSO VESTED IN THIS IMAAMIM MUBIIN, since both parts of this verse have been joined together by ALLAH Himself.
>>
-----------

having said that, now allow me to address this grave issue from a
much broader perspective because akbarally meherally FAILS TO
UNDERSTAND all this and continues to harass ismaili muslims without any provocation. but then, had it not been for him, most ismailis would have taken their God-given religion for granted and thereby deprived themselves of higher spiritual elevation and nearness to Allah which comes exclusively with the RECOGNITION OF THE IMAM (SA) OF THE AGE AND TIME -- see 17:71,72 & 36:12.

       _QUESTION TO ALL FAITHFUL MUSLIMS_

and although he [akbarally meherally] may or may not be aware of that list of the imams from adam down to our present holy imam [pbuth],

1.    let anyone tell us how many prophets have had passed BETWEEN JESUS (AS) AND THE HOLY PROPHET MUHAMMAD (SAS)?
2.    let any faithful muslim historian or exponent of the Holy Qur'an answer this question.

it says clearly that there were PROPHETS AFTER JESUS (as).

002.136 say (o muslims): we believe in allah and that which is
revealed UNTO US and that which was revealed unto abraham,
and ishmael, and isaac, and jacob, and the tribes, and that which
moses AND JESUS RECEIVED, AND THAT WHICH THE PROPHETS received from their lord.  

003.084 say (o muhammad): we believe in allah and that which is
revealed UNTO US and that which was revealed unto abraham and ishmael and isaac and jacob and the tribes, and that which was vouchsafed unto moses and JESUS AND THE PROPHETS from their lord.                                
---------

how many prophets did ALLAH SEND AFTER JESUS AND BEFORE THE HOLY PROPHET (pbuth)? what were their names, when and where did Allah send them? elsewhere, Allah says that a prophet or messenger had passed through every nation.  and according to the islamic traditions --  there have been some 124,0000 prophets and some 100,000 adams, etc.

4:165. and we sent some messengers whom we have already
mentioned to thee AND SOME MESSENGERS WHOM WE HAVE
NOT MENTIONED TO THEE - and to moses allah spoke at greatlength - 4:166. messengers, bearers of glad tidings and warners, SO THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE NO PLEA AGAINST ALLAH AFTER THE COMING OF MESSENGERS. and allah is mighty, wise.
-----

will someone care to list all those "messengers whom we have not
mentioned to thee ...... so that people may have no plea against
allah after the coming of messengers"?? this then, is the basis of our FAITH in the UNSEEN MESSENGERS [57:25], and in the
Word of Allah in ISLAM, regardless of one's sect or creed!

now let us look at the following aspect  of the qur'anic revelation:

    _IMAM & IMAMAT_

2:124. and remember when his lord tried ABRAHAM with words-
-kalimaatin -- which he fulfilled, he said, `I WILL MAKE THEE A IMAM OF MEN.' abraham asked, `AND FROM AMONG MY
OFFSPRING?' he said, `my covenant does not the evil doers--
ahdiz-zaalimiin.'
-----

if the above is the qur'anic truth and it is,  HOW MANY IMAMS
did Allah send between abraham and the holy prophet (pbuth) --
and/or when did He DISCONTINUE the said imamat or revoke
His Commandment?

                     SEVERAL PROPHETS & IMAMS IN
                  ABRAHAM'S FAMILY SIMULTANEOUSLY

if abraham was already a prophet and an imam (as) for mankind
why  did Allah chose his sons and grandson as the prophets,
messengers and imams at the same time? here's the qur'anic
proof to this effect:

19: 42. and relate the story of abraham as mentioned in the book.he was a truthful man and a PROPHET.

19: 50. we bestowed upon him isaac and JACOB [YAQUB] and each of them we made a PROPHET.

019.054 And make mention in the Scripture of Ishmael. Lo! he was a keeper of his promise, and he was a MESSENGER, A PROPHET.

2:133. the same did ABRAHAM enjoin upon his sons, - and jacob
[YAQUB] 2:134. were you present when death came to jacob [yaqub], when he said to his sons.
----

21: 73. and we bestowed upon him isaac, and a grandson, JACOB
[YAQUB, and we made all of them righteous.
21: 74. 021.073 and WE MADE THEM IMAMS who guide
by our command,
------

Allah says that abraham, his sons and grandson [yaqub] were
PROPHETS, messenger AND IMAMS SIMULTANEOUSLY.  as
muslims, we should and must believe in this aspect of the Holy
Qur'an because it is Allah's  REVEALED WORD!

                       _LEADERS--IMAMS WHO GUIDED_

in addition to MELCHISEDEC'S ETERNAL PRIESTHOOD --IMAMAT  -- [see below] -- the most high God instituted the aaronic priesthood like so:

exodus 28:41 and thou shalt put them upon aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the PRIEST'S [IMAM] OFFICE [IMAMAT].
exodus 40:15 and thou shalt anoint them, as thou didst anoint their father, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office: for their anointing shall surely be an EVERLASTING PRIESTHOOD [IMAMAT] -- throughout their generations.
--

the holy qur'an asserts plainly that although Allah gave moses the scripture, furqan and aaron as his wazir--deputy and khalifa --  HE ALSO APPOINTED IMAMS from aaron's family [pbuth] for the children of israel.
 
032.023 we verily gave moses the SCRIPTURE; so be not ye in doubt of his receiving it [meeting him]; and we _APPOINTED IT A GUIDANCE_ for the children of israel.
032.024 and when they became steadfast and believed firmly in our revelations, we APPOINTED from among them _LEADERS --IMAMS WHO GUIDED_ by our command.
----

and if this is the case and it is, then the divine concept of *IMAM & IMAMAT* should and must *APPLY TO A LIVING PERSON--BEING ONLY* and _NOT_ the book or scripture, as our misguided akbarally meherally would have us believe.

furthermore, just a prophet and the scripture  were ADEQUATE
FOR GUIDANCE IN ISLAM.  in fact,  from times immemorial Allah sent IMAMS to supplement that need. this was Allah's Law  from before and there is no change in His laws. the holy scripture adds:

028.005 and we desired to show favour unto those who were oppressed in the earth, and to make them IMAMS and to make them the inheritors, 028.006 and to ESTABLISH THEM in the earth,
----

meaning: not only did Allah make a covenant with abraham AND FULFILL IT but also both scriptures have shown ALLAH DID NOT LEAVE THIS WORLD WITHOUT AN IMAM at any time since that was ALLAH'S IRREVOCABLE PRE-REQUISITE.

                   ETERNAL IMAM AND HIS IMAMAT

25: 75. and those who say, `OUR LORD, grant us of our wives and children the delight of our eyes, and _MAKE US IMAMS_ for the righteous.'

17:71. call to mind the day when we shall summon EVERY PEOPLE
WITH THEIR IMAM. .... 17:72. but whoso is BLIND IN THIS
- wa man-maa kaana FII HAZIIHII - [IN THIS RECOGNITION, navali] shall be BLIND in the hereafter, and even more ASTRAY FROM THE WAY.
------

please READ AND REVIEW 17:71-72 with some intelligence. note that according to these great verses, only the IMAM'S PATH IS THE TRUE PATH IN ISLAM. in other words, every aspect of THE TRUE ISLAM resonates around the HOLY IMAM (SA) OF THE AGE AND TIME AND HIS IMAMAT IS ETERNAL.

remember what Allah said in the case of the messengers? He said, "SO THAT PEOPLE MAY HAVE NO PLEA AGAINST ALLAH AFTER THE COMING OF MESSENGERS."

in the like manner,  *PEOPLE MAY HAVE NO PLEA AGAINST
ALLAH AFTER THE COMING OF IMAMS.*  and that being the case, who was the FIRST NON-HUMAN IMAM (SA) and  from what, when and where did Allah create him??

                 ALLAH, THE FIRST GUIDE OR IMAM

COULD IT HAVE BEEN ALLAH HIMSELF SINCE HE IS ALSO
THE FIRST HAADI--GUIDE MENTIONED IN THE HOLY QUR'AN??  well, consider the following and draw your own conclusions:

002.031 And HE TAUGHT Adam all the names;

002.037 Then ADAM RECEIVED FROM HIS LORD WORDS;

002.002 This is the Scripture whereof there is no doubt, A
GUIDANCE ..
:
02.005 These DEPEND ON GUIDANCE FROM THEIR LORD.

002.038 We said: GO DOWN, all of you, from hence; but verily
there cometh unto you FROM ME A GUIDANCE; and whoso
followeth MY GUIDANCE,

001.006 GUIDE us the straight path;
001.007 The path of those ....
-----

COULD THIS LORD BE THE FIRST IMAM HIMSELF? did He GUIDE ADAM, the Angels and all those who believed before they were removed from the Paradise??

007.172 And (remember) when thy Lord brought forth from the
Children of Adam, from their reins, their seed, and made them testify of themselves, (saying): Am I not your Lord ? They said: Yea, verily. We testify. (That was) lest ye should say at the Day of Resurrection: Lo! of this we were unaware;

hebrews 7:1-3  for this melchisedec, king of salem, priest [imam] of the most high god, who met abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; to whom also abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation king of righteousness, and after that also

[see also, "understanding the bible - through koranic messages," by akbarally meherally, 1989, pp. 98].
-----

although some of my muslim brethren may be tempted to ignore the above, let me remind them of allah's exhortation in this regard because islam is not a faith of convenience, as akbarally meherally and his mindless likes would have us believe. it is a faith of conviction that comes WITH understanding, individual search and knowledge. *there is no compulsion in religion.*

004.136 O YE WHO BELIEVE! BELIEVE in allah and his messenger
1.     and the scripture which he hath revealed unto his messenger,
2.     AND THE SCRIPTURE WHICH HE REVEALED AFORETIME.
3.     whoso DISBELIEVETH in ..... and HIS SCRIPTURES  ....
       he verily hath WANDERED FAR ASTRAY.
----

this needs no further elaboration.

according to a prophetic hadith HZT. ALI  (AS) WAS  HIDDEN
WITH EVERY PROPHET BEFORE THE HOLY PROPHET
(SAS) AND BECAME MANIFEST WITH HIM!

meaning: there was/is ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE WORLD A LIVING IMAM (SA) OF the age and time.  the need and necessity of HIS CONTINUOUS PRESENCE per se, is established clearly in these scriptures, hadith and the dead sea scrolls.

hence,  a muslim's salvation in the hereafter depends on THIS
 RECOGNITION ALONE -- i.e., RECOGNIZING THE HOLY IMAM [SA] of the age and time -- since ALLAH HAS NOT LEFT THIS WORLD WITHOUT HIM.

'he who is BLIND  *_I_N__T_H_I_S_  --  [recognition, navali]  --_FII HAAZIHII_* -- will be BLIND IN THE HEREAFTER,' says the holy qur'an. meaning: all other rites and rituals are simply futile without this recognition. it is like building castles in the air or a house without any foundation at all.

               THE HOLY IMAMATE FROM ALLAH'S NOOR

THE HOLY IMAMATE [HIGH PRIESTHOOD], CAME INTO BEING  FROM ALLAH OR ALLAH'S DIVINE NOOR--LIGHT -- [HQ. 24:35; 4:175,176; 5:16; 7:157], from that primordial beginning and long before "man's or adam's" creation. this inference may be drawn from  the qur'anic revelation viz., 'on the day when we shall SUMMON ALL MEN WITH THEIR IMAM.'

meaning: THE HOLY IMAM [SA] --  WAS PRESENT long before
that primordial beginning. hebrews 7:1-3 quoted above confirms
this as well. anyway, even *ADAM--MAN* -- will be summoned
with his IMAM. and if, otherwise, he may have A CASE AGAINST ALLAH on that day!

now please review the following in this light only, if you will:

commentary:

 hq 27:40. it is recorded in 'khulasatul-manhaj' of thalahi who is
one of the renowned sunni commentators that abdullah bin salam
asked the holy prophet as to who that was who presented the
queen of sheba  on her throne to solomon.

 the holy prophet said, 'it was none else but ali-ibne-abi talib,' and  addressing ali he said,

            "O ALI, THOU HAS BEEN HIDDEN WITH
            THE APOSTLES OF GOD, PRECEDING
             ME, AND WITH ME THOU ARE MANIFEST."

[the holy quran text, translation and commentary, s.  v. mirahmed ali, pp. 1156-57].
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hq. 18:65  then found they [moses and his companion, navali]  one of our slaves, unto whom we had given mercy from us, and
had taught him knowledge from our presence.
 -----

commentary:
2411.   one of our servants: his name is not mentioned in the qur'an, but tradition, gives it as KHIDHR. ......  *KHIDHR*  means  *green*; his knowledge is fresh and green - drawn ....... from god's own presence.  HE IS A MYSTERIOUS BEING, WHO HAS TO BE SOUGHT OUT. .....

the NEAREST EQUIVALENT FIGURE in the  literature of the people of the book is MELCHIZEDEK OR MELCHISEDEK [the greek form in the new testament). in gen 18:20, he appears as king of salem [peace-- islam, navali]; priest [imam] of the most high god [el-elyon or al-aliyyun -arb, navali], he blesses abraham, and abraham gives him tithes.

st. paul allegorizes him in his epistle to the hebrews (v.6-10;  vii:1-10): 'HE WAS WITHOUT FATHER, WITHOUT MOTHER, WITHOUT DESCENT HAVING NEITHER  BEGINNING OF DAYS NOR END OF LIFE.' THAT IS TO SAY , HE APPEARED MYSTERIOUSLY, NEITHER HIS PARENTAGE NOR PEDIGREE IS KNOWN, AND HE SEEMS TO LIVE FOR ALL TIMES. these qualities are also attributed to KHIDHR in MUSLIM TRADITION [the holy qur'an translation and commentary, a. yusuf ali pp. 748].
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allow me to explain the aforesaid ETERNAL DIVINE CONCEPT from another perspective as well:

 hq.  033.045 o prophet! lo! we have sent thee as a witness and
a bringer of good tidings and a warner. hq 033.046 and as a
summoner unto allah by his permission, and as a lamp that giveth
light--siraajam muniraa.
-------

the holy prophet (sas) --  [siraajam muniraa] -- is compared with the universal sun -- [lamp--sirajaa].  see also hq.  25:61;  71:16. apparently, THE FOUNDATION OF ISLAM AND THE HOLY QUR'AN IS *NOORUN ALA NOOR -- LIGHT UPON LIGHT* [surah noor 24:34-36]. surah noor is the only surah--chapter -- in the holy qur'an which allah had *enjoined* upon muslims -- hq. 24:1, regardless.

having said that, let us now consider another divine aspect that
allah has revealed with regards to the holy prophet (sas):

  hq. 004.041 but how (will it be with them) when we bring of every people a witness, and we bring thee (o muhammad) a witness against these ?
-------

commentary:
 hq. 4:41.  a proper and an intelligent study of the matter of this verse guides the reader to a very important factor about the personality of the holy prophet. the word 'shaheed' means a witness. when 'shaheed is followed by 'ala' it means 'raqeeb' or 'mohaimim' meaning a close watcher, a careful observer and a witness in the pure and most perfect sense as used in 2:143, 22:17, and 5:117. the address in the verse is to the holy prophet. the question arises can anyone who was not present on any event bear witness over the situation. the verse says that a witness will be called of every people of every age and the holy prophet would be called to bear witness over all those witnesses.

this statement of the holy qur'an clearly indicates the  holy prophet was essentially present with every prophet in every part of the earth and in all times. and according to 2:141 he remains similarly present with every holy imam until the day of judgment to bear witness over them all. it is a serious matter for an intelligent study  of the personality of the holy prophet that when the word of god so strongly establishes the spiritual or the essential existence of his presence during all times and in all places ..... .... there is the saying of the holy prophet:
 
 "kunto nabiyyan wa adama bainal ma' wattin"
 i was a prophet when adam was still in water and clay,
i.e., i existed as the apostle of god even before adam
was yet to be created.

the essential existence of the holy prophet with all apostles and in all times, has been referred to in 2:143; 16:84,89 -- [ibid. pp. 376].
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  hq.  016.089 and (bethink you of) the day when we raise in every nation a witness against them of their own folk, and we bring thee(muhammad) as a witness against these. and we reveal the scripture unto thee as an exposition of all things, and a guidance and a mercy and good tidings for those who have surrendered (to allah).
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as muslims, we believe and/or accept the above as well, submit to
the holy qur'an because it is allah's revelation and commandment.
 

ya ali madad,

navali
 
 
 

Email me on:
Navali@fcmail.com