Wisdom of Gratitude

WISDOM # 1

We ismailis believe that the light of imamat is present and living form the time of Hazrat Adam to the Day of Resurrection and this belief is an extremely great favour of God upon us.

WISDOM # 2

According to the Hadith of the Holy Prophet, Ahl-I Bayt, Namely the imam of the time, is like Hazrat Nuh’s ark for us and therefore we are saved from the deluge of ignorance and deviation.

WISDOM # 3

The glory with which are praised the progeny of Hazrat Ibrahim in the Wise Qur’an (4:54), today belongs to the progeny of Hazrat Muhammad (s.a.s), namely, the Imam of the time. In this sense it is incumbent upon us to thank God that we are linked to the Treasures of Qur’anic wisdom.

WISDOM # 4

Mawla ‘ Ali was like Hazrat Harun and the Imam of the time has the Light of Mawla ‘ Ali. Thus millions of thanks to God that we are the followers of the True Imam, who has been praised in every respect in the Noble Qur’an.

WISDOM # 5

The religion of Islam become perfect with the Holy Prophet and this perfection of religion as well as the completion of favour continue intact because of his true successors, namely, the pure Imams.

WISDOM # 6

We ismailis believe that the light of imamat is present and living form the time of Hazrat Adam to the Day of Resurrection and this belief is an extremely great favour of God upon us.

WISDOM # 7

A mu’min is born to remain alive forever, and the purpose of his coming to this world is to attain ma’rifat (Recognition of God). So that he may attain the hidden treasure as the ultimate purpose of life.

WISDOM # 8

There is a world hidden in the spirit and spirituality of every mu’min and mu’minah which is equal to the external world and in which is the personal kingdom of paradise with every kind of bounty.

WISDOM # 9

In the exoteric aspect and esoteric aspect of religion there are so many favours of God that we can neither count them, nor duly thank Him for them, so the best way is to accept our weakness and shed tears.

WISDOM # 10

The Chain of the Light of immamat is the Rope of God which we the Ismailis have held firmly. And this act is so fundamental and essential that in it is hidden the accomplishment of all fundamental injunctions.

WISDOM # 11

God’s wisdom is wondrous in that, He not only keeps His things spread, but also enfolds them whenever  He wants, just as the Holy Qur’an is spread out in 114 surahs and is also enfolded in the Umm’l Kitab (Suratu’l Fatihah). Therefore, the rewards of its recitation is equal to that of the entire Qur’an. 

WISDOM # 12

The Holy Qur’an says; “if you are grateful (to me), I will increase (My Favours) upon you”. (14:7). It so happens that by gratitude light is shed on the favours of God and their value and greatness increase, whereas due to ingratitude they are overcast by darkness.

WISDOM # 13

There are representative verses of the Wise Qur’an in which the entire Qur’an is epitomized, such as the verse (36:12): “And we have encompassed everything (of intellect, soul, knowledge and wisdom) in the Manifest Imam”.

WISDOM # 14

“The Qur’an is with ‘Ali and ‘Ali is with Qur’an”. This means that when we study the Qur’an, we also find the Light of Mawla ‘Ali and when we recognize him, we also attain the ma’rifat of the Qur’an.

WISDOM # 15

The true Imam is the fountainhead of Light. If in the external sun there is everything for the creatures of the solar system, how can there be a lack of anything in the True Imam who the mazhar (manifestation) of Divine Light?

WISDOM # 16

The greatness and eminence of spiritual bounties are such that without wisdom they can neither be recognized nor be thanked for. It is because of this that God has said: “And we gave wisdom to luqman; (and said): Be grateful to Allah.” (31:12).

WISDOM # 17

The spiritual ocean can come to and be contained in a drop of it, whereas the material ocean can neither go to, nor can be contained in a drop of it.

WISDOM # 18

Our religion is the religion of well-wishing. We like the betterment and well-being of Islam and humanity. Because people are like the household of God and the most beloved to God is he who helps His household and makes them happy.

WISDOM # 19

In our Holy Tariqah there are excellent examples of shari’at, tariqat, haqiat and ma’rifat.

WISDOM # 20

Islam is the universal religion. Its examples and proofs are found in the Ismaili Tariqah. Because in this Tariqah there is the concept that eventually all people will have salvation and therefore the well-wishing of all human beings is sought.

WISDOM # 21

The system of the exoteric and esoteric guidance of the Imam of the time is unique and unprecedented, due to which our fortunate jama’at is attaining the success and eminence of this world and the next.

WISDOM # 22

The True Imam has conferred immense favours upon us through our great Pirs, who made us drink the water of life of ma’rifat (recognition of God) and gave us true life, for otherwise, we would have remained dead.

WISDOM # 23

The many organized institutions which the holy and pure Imam has established for the religious and worldly services to the fortunate Ismaili Jama’at cannot be found in any other community. Form these institutions of the exalted Imam, not only does the Jama’at benefit, but there is also great honour for ‘amaldars and members.

WISDOM # 24

Physical hardship is temporary and spiritual comfort is permanent. This world is ephemeral and the next is everlasting and eternal and divine mercy comprises everything.

WISDOM # 25

In religion the greatest skill is to develop humility and soft-heartedness and the greatest science is giryah-u zari, because by this practice the heart and soul are purified, and innumerable benefits are hidden in this.

WISDOM # 26

Those who are true lovers of Light, get up at night for the luminous ‘ibadat. They say in their hearts: We have to go for the didar of our spiritual beloved. The spirituality of such lovers progresses day by day.

WISDOM # 27

By the blessing of the pure love for Mawla, every difficulty becomes easy and those that do not have this wisdom-filled love, find every religious duty difficult. Thus a mu’min should melt in the sacred love of the Imam of the time.

WISDOM # 28

In reality, love for the Light is special for a mu’min. It is a matter of immense happiness that by knowledge and ‘ibadat the fire of love blazes with more and more intensity and the beloved’s elegance and beauty appears in a different from each time

WISDOM # 29

All of us are the exalted Imam’s spiritual children. Reflecting on this we will come to realize how truly excellent this is, but it is also important to realize our responsibilities.

WISDOM # 30

Du’a has the status of the essence of ‘ibadat. Thus those who are commanded to recite du’a are granted the gift of the ‘ibadat of angels, because angels continue to do du’a and dhikr.

WISDOM # 31

The exalted Imam has two doors: the external and the internal, so that it may be possible for all murids of both near and far to have access to his presence.

WISDOM # 32

The secret of secrets of the Light of Imamat is that in this Tariqah it is commanded to do luminous ‘ibadat so that the pure souls may receive the knowledge of names (ilmu’l-asma’).

WISDOM # 33

A mu’min always remembers God whether he is in comfort or in hardship, for it is by this that his heart remains satisfied (13:28). He is aware of the reality that he has to remain engaged in Divine remembrance always.

WISDOM # 34

The ‘ibadat of mu’mins reaches the Supreme Throne and merging into the Word of “Be (kun)’ becomes the power of the Divine command, and thereby conditions are improved.

WISDOM # 35

The fundamental and key wisdom of the Ismaili Tariqah is that every individual should progress spiritually by attending Jama’at Khanah, because it is an extremely sacred and blessed place.

WISDOM # 36

Jama’at Khanah is the workshop of Light, where Light is created from dhikr and ‘ibadat, from knowledge and advice, from love for the Imam of the time, from every kind of good deed and service and from bol, baytu’l-khayal and naqsh.

WISDOM # 37

Angels and good souls are present in Jama’at Khanah, because the sacred and pure Light of the imam of the time is there, just as there are moths around a candle and butterflies around the flowers. Thus there is always an army of souls and angels with the Light of Imamat.

WISDOM # 38

The Imam of the time has all the treasures of knowledge and wisdom. Thus the wisdom of every mu’min lies in the fact that he should recognize his Imam of the time spiritually and acquire knowledge and wisdom from him.

WISDOM # 39

It is our greatest bliss that we are under the influence of the spiritual cycle. That is to say that, the time of Hazrat Imam Mawlana Sultan Muhamamd Shah and Mawlana Shah Karim al-Husayni Hazir Imam, is the time of spiritual and luminous knowledge and in receiving blessing form this is the greatest fortune of mu’mins.

WISDOM # 40

Every mu’min knows what the real bounty of Islam is and is also grateful for it. Thus let us pray that the Lord of the worlds grants us courage and success to recognize the bounties of religion!  Amin, O the Lord of the worlds! 

Reference: 40 Wisdoms of Gratitude by Nasir Uddin Nasir Hunzai 

                  London 29th June, 1993