shivaathervedi wrote:Our Tariqa is not derived from deductions and inductions. It is a simple and easy Tariqa which is made difficult by old missionaries and so called Ismaili intellectuals. In second part of Du'a it is clearly mentioned OBEY ALLAH, OBEY RASUL, AND ULIL AMR WHICH IS IMAM OF THE TIME. THESE ARE 3 ENTITIES MENTIONED IN DU'A. In SAJADAH, we say, ALLAHUMA LAKA SUJUDI WA TA'ATI..
So now you are denying the role of intellect in understanding of our faith. This is contrary to many Farmans of the Imam. One of them being:
"And let me today remind you also of some of the principles of interpretation which Hazrat Ali brought to our interpretation of Islam. One of the essential principles that he brought, was that Islam is not a faith only of rote, it is a faith of the intellect, it is a faith of individual search, it is a faith of commitment to others in society. In this intellectual search, Hazrat Ali did not divide faith and intellect Hazrat Ali said that intellect is another facet of faith. And it is upon us, upon you, to use your intellect within the ethic of our faith in whatever time and whatever place you live. Therefore, you have no division between intellect and faith. Thc use of intellect is the proper behavior in society at any given time." (Moscow, 1995)
Esoteric or mystical matters are never easy, otherwise everyone would be an Ismaili.
In his ITV interview MHI was asked:
ITV: One of the myths surrounding you is that some people in the West think of you as a living God. Not only is that not true, it is also blasphemous.
To which MHI replied:
AK: Absolutely. I mean as you know the faith of Islam was revealed at a time when the Arabian continent was idolatrous and idolatry, all forms of idolatry, are totally prohibited by Islam.
It is certainly true to say that the Western world doesn’t necessarily understand the theology of Shi’ism nor indeed the theology of many mystical sects whether they are Shia or Sunni or Christian. Mysticism, in its, in its essence is difficult.
Hence from the above statement, while MHI acknowledged that idolaratory is blasphemous, he also said that mysticism is not easy in its essence, it is difficult.
In one of his Farmans the Imam indicated the difficulty of understanding esoteric and exoteric terms:
"I would like in the years ahead to feel that if I ask you, it may be difficult for you in the English language, but if I ask you what is the difference between Esoteric faith and Exoteric faith, you should be able to tell Me.
These are difficult matters, but the better and the deeper your knowledge of your faith, the better and the deeper your understanding of our faith, the stronger you will be and the stronger our Jamat will be."(Bombay, Nov (, 1967)
In any case I am not being Nafarmani by saying Imam is Malikinaas and hence Illahinaas and Rabanaas. I am applying my intellect as per his Moscow Farman
shivaathervedi wrote:
Quran is compiled in book form and not in parts. The farman of Imam was taken out of context. Imam referred to parts which were recited or Imam asked questions about the parts of recitation and he encouraged the students and teachers to learn Quran and its meaning, even today ( in my opinion ) 70% of Ismails khojas don't know meaning of Du'a.
You wrote," I would be BLASPHEMOUS from an exoteric point of view...". That what I am trying to explain. KEEP YOUR BATIN IN YOUR BATIN, "DHANDHORA PITTNEY KI ZARURAT NAHI. Already Ismailis in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and in Arab countries are dubbed heretics and kafirs.
You and your like minded families are settled in safe haven of USA or Canada, it may not hurt you people but definitely the Ismailiis living in hostile countries. NOW YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY IMAM MADE CHANGES.
The Imam has always told us to study parts of the Quran in all his Farmans. This Forum discusses the Batini aspects of our faith. It is a batini forum and therefore it is appropriate to discuss such matters here.
If it was not due to batini aspects of our faith, this forum would not exist!
Can you elaborate on what changes the Imam made?