Mawlana Hazar Imam's Key Messages on Faith and Ethics

Mawlana Hazar Mawlana Hazar Imam's Imam's

Key Messages Key Messages onon

Faith and EthicsFaith and Ethics

A presentation byKamaluddin Ali Muhammad

Future Practice of Future Practice of Tariqah-1Tariqah-1

““Much work has been done, in Much work has been done, in particular by the Institute of Ismaili particular by the Institute of Ismaili Studies, to research our diverse Studies, to research our diverse traditions in literature, folklore and traditions in literature, folklore and religious practices. My Jamats around religious practices. My Jamats around the world have strong sentiments on the world have strong sentiments on these matters. Careful analysis has these matters. Careful analysis has been made of the theological and been made of the theological and historical authenticity of our pluralistic historical authenticity of our pluralistic heritage.” heritage.”


““The same careful enquiry is being The same careful enquiry is being applied to the wide body of Tafsīr applied to the wide body of Tafsīr across the Ummah and across time, across the Ummah and across time, in order to achieve a thorough in order to achieve a thorough comprehension of the multiple comprehension of the multiple schools of interpretation of the Holy schools of interpretation of the Holy Qur’ān, including those of Fatimid Qur’ān, including those of Fatimid times.”times.”


““When these endeavours will have When these endeavours will have been completed to my satisfaction, I been completed to my satisfaction, I will make available to the Jamat will make available to the Jamat worldwide my thoughts and worldwide my thoughts and reflections in regard to the future reflections in regard to the future practice of the Shia Ismaili Tariqah of practice of the Shia Ismaili Tariqah of Islam.”Islam.”(Golden Jubilee Irshad, Aiglemont, 11-07-2007)(Golden Jubilee Irshad, Aiglemont, 11-07-2007)

Understanding of the Understanding of the Qur’ānQur’ān

There are thousands of interpretationsThere are thousands of interpretations To seek correct understanding of the To seek correct understanding of the

Qur’ān under the guidance of ImamQur’ān under the guidance of Imam Guidance on ongoing basisGuidance on ongoing basis Role of intellectRole of intellect Happiness from the books of Ta‘līm Happiness from the books of Ta‘līm

curriculum.curriculum.(Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, 17-08-2007)(Dar-es-salaam, Tanzania, 17-08-2007)

Freedom of Freedom of interpretation-1interpretation-1

"This programme is also an "This programme is also an opportunity for achieving insights opportunity for achieving insights into how the discourse of the Qur’ān-into how the discourse of the Qur’ān-e-Sharīf, rich in parable and allegory, e-Sharīf, rich in parable and allegory, metaphor and symbol, has been an metaphor and symbol, has been an inexhaustible well-spring of inexhaustible well-spring of inspiration, lending itself to a wide inspiration, lending itself to a wide spectrum of interpretations.” spectrum of interpretations.”


““This freedom of interpretation is a This freedom of interpretation is a generosity which the Qur'ān confers generosity which the Qur'ān confers upon all believers, uniting them in upon all believers, uniting them in the conviction that All-Merciful Allah the conviction that All-Merciful Allah will forgive them if they err in their will forgive them if they err in their sincere attempts to understand His sincere attempts to understand His word.”word.”


““Happily, as a result, the Holy Book Happily, as a result, the Holy Book continues to guide and illuminate the continues to guide and illuminate the thought and conduct of Muslims thought and conduct of Muslims belonging to different communities of belonging to different communities of interpretation and spiritual affiliation, interpretation and spiritual affiliation, from century to century, in diverse from century to century, in diverse cultural environments.”cultural environments.”


““The Noble Qur’ān extends its The Noble Qur’ān extends its principle of pluralism also to principle of pluralism also to adherents of other faiths. It affirms adherents of other faiths. It affirms that each has a direction and path to that each has a direction and path to which they turn so that all should which they turn so that all should strive for good works, in the belief strive for good works, in the belief that, wheresoever they may be, Allah that, wheresoever they may be, Allah will bring them together.” will bring them together.” (13-10-2003, London, UK) (13-10-2003, London, UK)

Qur'ān on freedom of Qur'ān on freedom of interpretationinterpretation

"For each We have appointed a divine "For each We have appointed a divine law and a traced-out way. Had Allah law and a traced-out way. Had Allah willed He could have made you one willed He could have made you one community. But that He may try you by community. But that He may try you by that which He has given you (He has that which He has given you (He has made you as you are). So vie for one made you as you are). So vie for one another in good works. Unto Allah you another in good works. Unto Allah you will all return, and He will then inform will all return, and He will then inform you of that wherein you differ". you of that wherein you differ". (5:48)(5:48)

True Nature of IslamTrue Nature of Islam (London, October 19, 2003) (London, October 19, 2003)

Fluid, Fluid, ProgressiveProgressive Open-endedOpen-ended Intellectually Intellectually

informed informed Spiritually Spiritually

inspiredinspired

Hardened, Hardened, MonolithicMonolithic Absolutist Absolutist Obscurantist Obscurantist

YesYes NoNo

Freedom of religion vs. Freedom of religion vs. freedom from religion-1freedom from religion-1

““A deepening sense of spiritual A deepening sense of spiritual commitment-and the ethical commitment-and the ethical framework that goes with it-will be a framework that goes with it-will be a central requirement if we are to find central requirement if we are to find our way through the minefields and our way through the minefields and the quick sands of modern life. A the quick sands of modern life. A strengthening of religious institutions strengthening of religious institutions should be a vital part of this process.” should be a vital part of this process.”

Freedom of religion vs. Freedom of religion vs. freedom from religion-2freedom from religion-2

““To be sure, freedom of religion is a To be sure, freedom of religion is a critical value in a pluralistic society. critical value in a pluralistic society. But if freedom of religion deteriorates But if freedom of religion deteriorates into freedom from religion-then into freedom from religion-then societies will find themselves lost in a societies will find themselves lost in a bleak and unpromising landscape-bleak and unpromising landscape-with no compass, no roadmap and no with no compass, no roadmap and no sense of ultimate direction.”sense of ultimate direction.”(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)

Sunless day of despair Sunless day of despair

““The day we no longer know how, nor The day we no longer know how, nor have the time nor the faith to bow in have the time nor the faith to bow in prayer to Allah because the human prayer to Allah because the human soul that He has told us is eternal is soul that He has told us is eternal is no longer of sufficient importance to no longer of sufficient importance to us to be worthy of an hour of our us to be worthy of an hour of our daily working, profit seeking time, will daily working, profit seeking time, will be a sunless day of despair.” be a sunless day of despair.” (Peshawar University, 30-11-1967)(Peshawar University, 30-11-1967)

Unity and diversity of Unity and diversity of human race-1human race-1

““Our spiritual understandings, like Our spiritual understandings, like those of your Academy, are rooted, those of your Academy, are rooted, of course, in ancient teachings. In the of course, in ancient teachings. In the case of Islam, there are two case of Islam, there are two touchstones which I have long touchstones which I have long treasured and sought to apply. The treasured and sought to apply. The first affirms the unity of the human first affirms the unity of the human race, as expressed in the Holy Qu'rān race, as expressed in the Holy Qu'rān where God... says the following: where God... says the following:


““O mankind! Be careful of your duty O mankind! Be careful of your duty to your Lord, Who created you from a to your Lord, Who created you from a single soul and from it created its single soul and from it created its mate and from the twain hath spread mate and from the twain hath spread abroad a multitude of men and abroad a multitude of men and women.” women.” (4:1)(4:1)


““This remarkable verse speaks both This remarkable verse speaks both of the inherent diversity of mankind - of the inherent diversity of mankind - the “multitude” - and of the unity of the “multitude” - and of the unity of mankind - the “single soul created by mankind - the “single soul created by a single Creator” - a spiritual legacy a single Creator” - a spiritual legacy which distinguishes the human race which distinguishes the human race from all other forms of life.” from all other forms of life.” (Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006 )(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006 )

Sayings of Hazrat Ali Sayings of Hazrat Ali (a.s.)(a.s.)

““No belief is like modesty and No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like patience, no attainment is like humility, no honour is like humility, no honour is like knowledge, no power is like knowledge, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.” reliable than consultation.” (Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)

Spiritual roots of Spiritual roots of tolerance tolerance

““The spiritual roots of tolerance The spiritual roots of tolerance include, it seems to me, a respect for include, it seems to me, a respect for individual conscience - seen as a Gift individual conscience - seen as a Gift of God - as well as a posture of of God - as well as a posture of religious humility before the Divine. It religious humility before the Divine. It is by accepting our human limits that is by accepting our human limits that we can come to see The Other as a we can come to see The Other as a fellow seeker of truth -- and to find fellow seeker of truth -- and to find common ground in our common common ground in our common quest.”quest.”(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)

Spirituality not escaping Spirituality not escaping from world from world

““Let me emphasize again, however, Let me emphasize again, however, that spirituality should not become a that spirituality should not become a way of escaping from the world but way of escaping from the world but rather a way of more actively rather a way of more actively engaging in it.”engaging in it.”(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)

Cosmopolitan Ethic Cosmopolitan Ethic

But societies which have grown more But societies which have grown more pluralistic in makeup, are not always pluralistic in makeup, are not always growing more pluralistic in spirit. growing more pluralistic in spirit. What is needed -- all across the world What is needed -- all across the world -- is a new “cosmopolitan ethic”-- -- is a new “cosmopolitan ethic”-- rooted in a strong culture of rooted in a strong culture of tolerance.” tolerance.” (Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)(Tutzing, Germany 20 May 2006)

Arrogance vs. humilityArrogance vs. humility

"In the ethical realm-as in the educational "In the ethical realm-as in the educational realm-one of the great stumbling blocks is realm-one of the great stumbling blocks is arrogance. Even the resurgence of religious arrogance. Even the resurgence of religious feeling-which should be such a positive feeling-which should be such a positive force--can become a negative influence when force--can become a negative influence when it turns into self-righteousness. All of the it turns into self-righteousness. All of the world’s great religions warn against this world’s great religions warn against this excess-yet in the name of those same excess-yet in the name of those same religions too many are tempted to play God religions too many are tempted to play God themselves-rather than recognizing their themselves-rather than recognizing their humility before the Divine.”humility before the Divine.”(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)

Personal HumilityPersonal Humility

““A central element in a truly religious A central element in a truly religious outlook, it seems to me, is the quality outlook, it seems to me, is the quality of personal humility-a recognition that of personal humility-a recognition that strive as we might, we will still fall strive as we might, we will still fall short of our ideals, that climb as we short of our ideals, that climb as we might, there will still be unexplored and might, there will still be unexplored and mysterious peaks above us. It means mysterious peaks above us. It means recognizing our own creature hood-and recognizing our own creature hood-and thus our human limitations. In that thus our human limitations. In that recognition, it seems to me, lies our recognition, it seems to me, lies our best protection against false best protection against false prophecies and divisive dogmatism.”prophecies and divisive dogmatism.”(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)(Evora, Spain,12-02-2006)

Ethics in the society-1Ethics in the society-1

““Let me reflect for a moment on the Let me reflect for a moment on the matter of ethics - and the importance matter of ethics - and the importance of ethical commitments not only in of ethical commitments not only in government but throughout society. government but throughout society. Competent civil society is a major Competent civil society is a major contributor to development contributor to development particularly where democracies are particularly where democracies are less well established, or where less well established, or where governmental efforts are inadequate.”governmental efforts are inadequate.”


““The absence of corruption or fraud The absence of corruption or fraud in government is not enough. Fraud in government is not enough. Fraud in medicine, fraud in education, fraud in medicine, fraud in education, fraud in financial services, fraud in in financial services, fraud in property rights, fraud in the exercise property rights, fraud in the exercise of law enforcement or in the courts, of law enforcement or in the courts, are all risks which can have a are all risks which can have a dramatic impact on social progress.”dramatic impact on social progress.”


““This is especially true in rural This is especially true in rural environments, where fraud is often environments, where fraud is often neither reported nor corrected, but neither reported nor corrected, but simply accepted as an inevitable simply accepted as an inevitable condition of life. This is why the condition of life. This is why the serious and sustained ethical serious and sustained ethical formation of students and teachers is formation of students and teachers is an essential dimension of the an essential dimension of the Academies program.”Academies program.”(Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22-05-08)(Dhaka, Bangladesh, 22-05-08)

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THANKSTHANKS

Special thanks toSpecial thanks to

Mr. Amir Ali Kasim Ali Mr. Amir Ali Kasim Ali

(HRD, Itreb for Pakistan) (HRD, Itreb for Pakistan) for his help in for his help in preparing the preparing the presentationpresentation

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Mawlana Hazar Imam's Key Messages on Faith and Ethics