Ismaili religious beliefs

Society Religion & Philosophy
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I know this is somewhat controversial thread, but please stay on topic & discuss only different aspect of Ismaili religious beliefs. Also, I want to point out ( and I don’t mean any offense to anyone who is Ismaeili), but there lot of things here that are totally against mainstream Islamic schools of thoughts.

http://www.shariati.org/messages/3236.html

THE MESSAGE
OF AGA KHANI
RELIGIOUS WORSHIPS

Ya-ali Madad to the real Momins (Believers)!

We belong to the Ismaili organization whose responsibility is to provide religious information to the people. We are writing full explanatory details of the religious worships we perform in the Ismaili Jamatkhanas in the light of the religious teachings given to us under the patronage of Mukhi Sahibs:-

Our Salam (greeting) is: “Ya-ali Madad” and the reply thereto is “Mowla-ali Madad”.
Our ‘Kalima’ (Testimony) is: "Ashhado an la ilaha il-Allaho wa ashhado anna Muhammad-ur-Rasool-Ullahe wa ashhado anna Ameer-ul-Momineen Ali-Ullah (i.e. I testify that there is no god except Allah and I testify that Muhammad is Allah’s Messenger and I testify that ALI IS ALLAH = H.H. The Aga Khan).
We need not to perform ‘Wudhu’ (ablution) because our ‘Wudhu’ is of heart (i.e. not of action).
Instead of ‘Namaz’ it is mandatory for every Aga Khani to attend the Jamatkhana to chant the ‘Dua’ (Prayer) three times a day in place of five times’ incumbent ‘Namaz’ (Canonical Prayers). Standing and knealing is not required in our prayers. Nor we need to face Qiblah, we can pray with our face in any direction for which it is very important to bring the Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) in our perception in the prayers. (We enclose herewith the prayer book which please read and also give to other spiritual brethren).
Fast (Roza) is fundamentally of eye, ear and tongue. It cannot be broken by eating and drinking. Our ‘Roza’ (Fast) is for one-and-a-quarter ‘Pahar’ (about 4-1/2 hours) which is broken at 10.00 A.M. and that too is optional for the ‘Momin’ (believer) otherwise fast is not incumbent. Of course, we keep fast on the first day of the month whenever it happens to fall on Friday through sighting of the moon in the whole year.
In place of Zakat we pay two annas per rupee (“Dasond”) in the Ismaili Jamatkhana considering it mandatory.

Our Hajj (Pilgrimage) is the vision (sighting) of Hazir Imam {(H.H. The Aga Khan) (that is because Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan is the only incarnation of the God on the earth)]}.
Rather we have with us speaking/talking Quran, that is Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) who is present, but the Musalmans (Muslims) have got merely a void Book i.e. Quran.
Mukhi Saheb dissipate our sins for (the period from) morning to evening by sprinkling drops (of water"i.e. Chantta"). If any person amongst us cannot attend the Ismaili Jamatkhana every day, he can get his sins atoned by getting the drops spinkled (on him) by Mukhi and by drinking ‘GHATPAT’ (holy water) on Fridays against payment of money in the Ismaili Jamatkhana, and if anyone cannot attend Ismaili Jamatkhana on Fridays he can get the sins of or the whole month condoned by means of the said ceremonies on the night the moon is sighted, against payment of money.

The mode of our worship is:- The Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) gives us a ‘Word’/ISM-E-AZAM for which we pay Rs.75/- the worship whereof we perform in the later past of the night. For atonement of worships for 5 years we pay Rs.500/-, for 12 years Rs.1,200/- and for Life Membership (to get the worships for the whole life pardoned) we pay Rs.5000/- in the Jamatkhanas. NOORANI: To obtain the ‘noor’ (light) of Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) we pay Rs.7,000/- in the Jamatkhanas, whence we got the ‘Noor’ of Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan). FIDAYEEN: To get ourselves pardoned on the Day of Judgement (Qiyamat) by Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) i.e. (linked) towards the expenses (to be incurred) for getting our ‘Noor’ linked with that of the Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) we pay Rs.25,000/- in the Ismaili Jamatkhana. NANDI: (Auction) We call charity as ‘Nandi’ (Auction) The best dishes prepared in our homes, clothes of finest kind and ornaments we contribute as ‘Nandi’ (Auction) are auctioned by the Ismaili Jamatkhana people and the proceeds are deposited in the Ismaili Jamatkhanas. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO EXPLAIN THAT:

Our religion is centuries old. No one has criticized it till this date. Had our religion been untrue it should have come to an end long ago. Now, if the Musalmans (Muslims) or their Ulemas (Religious Scholars) see any flaw in our religion or if they have any objection, why do not they seek explanation from our office bearers of the H.R.H. Prince Aga Khan Federal Council for Pakistan? The Ulemas (Religious Scholars) of the Musalmans (Muslims) also criticize but why they hesitate in seeking explanation from our Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan)? Are they afraid of our Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan)? For centuries the Ulemas (Religious Scholars) of the Musalmans (Muslims) have never criticized our Ismaili religion then from where have the Ulemas (Religious Scholars) of the fifteenth century awaken to criticize us. During every period, we have enjoyed the support of the Government of the time. Then this is the very fact of the genuineness of our Ismaili religion.
O REAL MOMINS (Believers)! Adhere to our Ismaili religion if you are truthful. In (this) world such temptations will continue to come and go. We pray that the ‘Noor’ (light) of Mowlana Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) may keep you in comfort and prosperous and may you be fortunate to see (have sight of) the Hazir Imam (H.H. The Aga Khan) (Aameen).

LAST KALIMA: Ya Shah Karim-al-Hussaini (H.H. The Aga Khan) Ant-al-Imam-ul-Hazir-ul-Moujudo (Sujudo) Allahumma laka sujudi wa Taa-ati.
We authenticate the above message of Aga Khani Religious Worship previously dictated by Mr. Ashiq Ali H. Hussain The Ex-President of H.H. The Aga Khan Federal Council for Pakistan. Should anyone desire to seek any clarification or elaborations in this behalf the entire authority vests in H.H. Aga Khan himself and H.H. The Aga Khan Federal Council for Pakistan only who may be contacted in this behalf on the following addresses:
1.His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan,
The Aga Khan Information Department,
Secretariat Aga Khan, Aiglemont, Gouvieux 60270,
France.
Phone Nos:+33.3.44.58.40.00
Fax Nos:+33.3.44.58.11.14
E.mail: [email protected]

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While some of the content of this post seems to be in line with what my Ismaili friends described of their belief, I have some doubt whether a post made on a web forum (such as the link given from which this post was made) is an accurate source, or an inaccurate one.

Aaj Kiss Baat Par Gussa Aaya ??????
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Ismaili and thier beliefs are "totally deviated beliefs with full of innovations"...first of all the greetings is about Ali, not Allah. secondly the Kalima is totally innovated.
To make addition and deletion in Islam is Kufr, I suggest this post be deleted, since it is not a religion from Allah swt, it is man made belief.....and besides all the long drawn out article seems like a Ismaili dawa to me. ............should not be permitted !!!!!

Of what interest might this be to someone who alreeady is following a religion given by Allah swt????

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ADMIN .....
..Why is Ismaili dawa being tolerated in this forum......Should this not be removed from here. .....????????????????????
Discussioin is something different, but a "long drawn out article" imposes ones religion on another. ...Tsk Tsk !!! Not acceptable. !!!!!!!!!!!!

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Til now only thing I knew about Ismaili Mazhab was that one Ismaili's child was sick and he needed assisstance and the Agha Khan was visiting Karachi. this follower was taken to see the Agha Khan....The Agha Khan was drinking from a cup of tea, after taking one sip he gave this follower the cup...........follower left the Hotel Room......in the hallway outside the devotees of Agha Khan auctioned off that cup of tea for a very large sum of money and the needy person got enough funds to get help for his child.........
am not a supporter of Ismaili Mazhab....the story I got was from an ex Ismaili who had converted to Sunni Islam.....

May Allah Guide us all.......

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There is nothing to impose here, but just to have meaningful discussion on the issue. I'm not Ismaili, but as I pointed out there are things that are totally contrary to both Shia and Sunni Islamic schools of thoughts especially the Kalma, and the fact that they believe that "Aga Khan is the only incarnation of the God on the earth"?

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One of my friend when he was study world religions in college wanted to visit Jamatkhana, but he was not allowed. The told him only that only Ismailis can go inside. I was wonder if there is specific reason for that?

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You would have to ask one..........
Only an Agha Khani person can answer that one..........wallah Alam.

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I don’t know where you got all that from and a lot said is absolutely wrong … There are many muslims who say wrong things about muslims and Islam … but that doesn’t mean that what ever they say is correct …

Here is the official website of ismailies

http://www.theismaili.org

As Muslims, the Ismailis affirm the fundamental Islamic testimony of truth, the Shahada, that there is no God but Allah and that Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) is His Messenger. They believe that Muhammad was the last and final Prophet of Allah, and that the Holy Quran, Allah’s final message to mankind, was revealed through him. Muslims hold this revelation to be the culmination of the message that had been revealed through other Prophets of the Abrahamic tradition before Muhammad, including Abraham, Moses and Jesus, all of whom Muslims revere as Prophets of Allah

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Just a thought guys.....

What is more important.... Pointing out all the controversial sects in Islam or perfecting our own practice first ??

I am not criticising, really want to know which one is more imoprtant.

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The Ismāʿīlī (Urdu: اسماعیلی Ismāʿīlī, Arabic: الإسماعيليون al-Ismāʿīliyyūn; Persian: اسماعیلیان Esmāʿīliyān) branch of Islam is the second largest part of the Shī’a community, after the Twelvers (Ithnāʿashariyya). The Ismaili get their name from their acceptance of Ismail bin Jafar as the divinely appointed spiritual successor (Imam) to Jafar al-Sadiq, wherein they differ from the Twelvers, who accept Musa al-Kazim, younger brother of Ismail, as the true Imam. The Ismaili and the Twelvers both accept the same initial Imams from the descendants of Muhammad through his daughter Fatima Zahra and therefore share much of their early history.

Tracing its earliest theology to the lifetime of the Prophet Muhammad, Ismailism rose at one point to become the largest branch of the Shia religion, and climaxed as a political power with the Fatimid Empire in the tenth through twelfth centuries.[1]
After the passing away – or occultation (according to Sevener Ismailis) - of Imam Muhammad ibn Ismail in the 8th century CE, the teachings of Ismailism further transformed into the belief system as it is known today, with an explicit concentration on the deeper, esoteric meaning (batin) of the Islamic religion. With the eventual development of Twelverism into the more literalistic (zahir) oriented Akhbari and later Usooli schools of thought, Shiasm developed into two separate directions: the metaphorical Ismaili group focusing on the mystical nature of the Imams and the mystical path to Allah, and the more literalistic Twelver group focusing on divine law (sharia) and the deeds and sayings (sunnah) of Muhammad and his successors (Ahl al-Bayt).[2]
Though there are several sub-groupings within the Ismailis, the term in today’s vernacular generally refers to the Nizari community, who are followers of the Aga Khan and the largest group among the Ismailis. While many of the branches have extremely differing exterior practices, much of the spiritual theology has remained the same since the days of the faith’s early Imams. The Ismaili are found in India, Pakistan, Syria, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia[3], Yemen, China[4], Jordan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, East Africa and South Africa, but have in recent years emigrated to Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and North America.[5]
Beliefs
Concepts
View on the Qur’an
Main article: Esoteric interpretation of the Qur’an
The Ismailis understand the Qur’an to have several layers of meaning, but generally divide those types of meanings into two: the exterior (zahir) meaning and the interior (batin) meaning. While a believer can understand the batin meaning to some extent, the Imam alone has the complete understanding of the Qur’an and it is to him alone to interpret it according to the times.
The Ginans
Main article: Ginans
The Ginans are Nizari Ismaili religious texts. They are written in the form of poetry by Pirs to interpret the meanings of Qur’anic ayat into the languages of the Indian subcontinent, especially Gujarati and Urdu. In comparison to Ginans, Ismailis of other origins, such as Persians and Arabs have Qasidas (قصيدة) written by Dai’s داعي (جمع دعاة)ـ.

Reincarnation
Main article: Reincarnation (Ismailism)
The belief in reincarnation in the Satpanth tradition of Nizari Ismailism is attested to in the Ginans and Ismailis perform chantas monthly, which is done for the forgiveness of the sins committed in the last month but only those sins which are committed unintentionally; and strictly not for the forgiveness for sins committed in past lives. The system of the four Yugas viz. Sat, Treta, Dwapar and Kali is a Hindu belief. Descriptions of each yuga are codified in the various Puranas, a set of holy books of Hinduism. However, it must be mentioned that the Ginans of Nizari Ismailism do not assert the doctrine of rebirth, but rather, invoke the doctrine in their attempts to teach the message of Ismailism to the people of India.
Reincarnation also exists in the Druze branch of Ismailism. The Druze believe that only the members of their community will be reincarnated as humans in the form of future descendants. It is also known that Druze believe in five cosmic principles, represented by the five colored Druze star: intelligence/reason (green), soul (red), word (yellow), precedent (blue), and immanence (white). These virtues take the shape of five different spirits which, until recently, have been continuously reincarnated on Earth as prophets and philosophers including Adam, the ancient Greek mathematician and astronomer Pythagoras, and the ancient Pharaoh of Egypt Akhenaten, and many others. The Druze believe that, in every time period, these five principles were personified in five different people who came down together to Earth to teach humans the true path to God and nirvana, but that with them came five other individuals who would lead people away from the right path into “darkness”.
Panentheism
Main article: Panentheism (Ismailism)
With the exception of the Mustaali Ismailis, most Ismaili believe in panentheism, meaning God is both reality and transcendent of it. While the figure of the Godhead is beyond this universe, the Godhead has created reality, which is God itself. All living beings exist in this reality, however reality in its entirety is invested in the form of the Imam.

Numerology
Main article: Numerology (Ismailism)
Ismailis believes that numbers have religious meanings. The number seven plays a general role in the theology of the Ismā’īliyya, including mystical speculations that there are seven heavens, seven continents, seven orifices in the skull, seven days in a week, seven prophets, and so forth.
Imamate
Main article: Imamah (Shi’a Ismaili doctrine)
In Ismailism, the Imam is seen through the Qur’anic phrase, “The Face of Allah.” It is through the Imam that the individual believer can truly know the light of Allah, and hence he is their one true desire in this world. [22]
Old Ismaili doctrine holds that divine revelation had been given in six periods (daur) entrusted to six prophets, who they also call Natiq (Speaker), who were commissioned to preach a religion of law to their respective communities.
Whereas the Natiq was concerned with the rites and outward shape of religion, the inner meaning is entrusted to a Wasi (Representative). The Wasi would know the secret meaning of all rites and rules and would reveal them to a small circles of initiates.
The Natiq and the Wasi are in turn succeeded by a line of seven Imams, who would guard what they received. The seventh and last Imam in any period would in turn be the Natiq of the next period. The last Imam of the sixth period however would not bring about a new religion of law but supersede all previous religions, abrogate the law and introduce din Adama al-awwal (“the original religion of Adam”) practised by Adam and the Angels in paradise before the fall, which would be without cult or law but consist merely in all creatures praising the creator and recognizing his unity. This final stage was called Qiyamah.[23]

Pir and Dawah
Main article: Da’i al-Mutlaq
Just as the Imam is seen as the Face of Allah, from which his light shines through, the guide to that light is known as the Dai. During the period between the Imamates of Muhammad ibn Ismail and al-Madhi Billah, the relationship between the teacher and the student became a sacred one, and the Dai became a position much beyond a normal missionary. The Dai passed on the sacred and hidden knowledge of the Imam to the student who could then use that information to ascend to higher levels. First the student loved the Dai, and from the Dai he learned to love the Imam, and by learning to love the Imam he learned to love Allah. In Nizari Ismailism, the head Dai is called the Pir. [14].

Zahir
Main article: Zahir (Islam)
In Ismailism, things have an exterior meaning, what is apparent. This is called zahir.

Batini

Main article: Batin (Islam)
In Ismailism, things have an interior meaning that is reserved for a special few who are in tune with the Imam, or are the Imam himself. This is called batin.

Aql

Main article: Aql (Shiasm)
As with other Shias, Ismailis believe that the souls of the Prophets and the Imams are derived from the first light in the universe, the light of Aql, which in Arabic roughly translates as knowledge. It is through this knowledge that all living and non-living entities know Allah, and all of humanity is dependent and united in this light. [24]](Ismailism - Wikipedia) [20]](Ismailism - Wikipedia)

** Taqiyya**

Main article: Taqiyya
Ismailis believe in taqiyya, which means to hide one’s true religious beliefs. This has been pivotal to the survival of Ismaili groups since they have been small minorities in many countries and empires hostile to them.

** Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop**

Main article: Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop
Niranjan Nirakar Swaroop is a Sanskrit term and refers to the Satpanth idea (found in the Ginans of the Ismaili religious tradition) that the true spiritual teacher is esoteric and all-pervading, found by the Mureed when meditating upon special mantras given by the exoteric spiritual teacher (Bandagi).

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Seven Pillars
Main article: Seven Pillars of Islam (Ismaili)

** Walayah**

Main article: Walayah
A pillar which translates from Arabic as “guardianship.” It denotes, “Love and devotion for God, the Prophets, the Imam, and the Dai.” In Ismaili doctrine, Allah is the true desire of every soul, and he manifests himself in the forms of Prophets and Imams, and to be guided to his path, one requires a messenger or a guide: a Dai.

** Taharah or Shahada**

** Taharah**

Main article: Taharah
A pillar which translates from Arabic as “purity.” The Druze do not believe in this pillar and instead substitute shahada in its place.

** Shahada**

Main article: Shahada
In place of Taharah, the Druze have the Shahada, or affirmation of faith.

** Salah**

Main article: Salah
A pillar which translates from Arabic as “prayer.” Unlike Sunni and Twelver Muslims, Nizari Ismai’lis do not necessarily follow the mainstream Ummah in regards to the number of daily prayers. Nizari Ismai’lis reason that it is up to the Imam of the time to designate the style and form of prayer, and for this reason current Nizari prayer resembles a dua (translated word of Salah from the Quran) and is done three times a day. These three times have been related with the three times that have been mentioned in the Holy Quran, i-e, Sunrise, before Sunset, and After Sunset. In this regard, Imam of the time has the right to amend the prayers according to the needs of the time. The Druze choose not to follow Islamic sharia hence have attributed a solely metaphorical meaning to salah. In contrast, the Mustaali (Bohra) branch of Ismailism has kept five prayers and their style is generally closely related to Twelver groups.

** Zakah**

Main article: Zakah
A pillar which translates as “charity.” With the exception of the Druze branch, all Ismailis form of zakat resembles mainstream Muslims, only with the addition of khumms, which is 1/8 of one’s unspent money at the end of the year. This resembles Twelvers who after the believed occultation of Muhammad ibn Hassan al-Askari pay khumms to their Ayatollahs under whom they do taqleed, meaning religious emulation. In addition to khums, Ismailies pay 12.5% of their monthly gross income to the Hazir Imam, which goes to the central accounts and then spent on welfare of the humankind like education and health projects. One of the major examples of these projects is the Aga Khan Development Network, that is one of the biggest welfare networks of the world. Thus, Ismailies believe that as Prophet Muhammad was designated to take Zakah from the muslims in the past, it is now the duty of muslims to pay their Zakah to the Imam of the time.

** Sawm**

Main article: Sawm
A pillar which translates as “fasting.” The Nizari and Mustaali believe in both a metaphorical and literal meaning of fasting. The literal meaning is that one must fast as an obligation, such as during the Holy Month of Ramadan, and the metaphorical meaning being that one is in attainment of the Divine Truth and must strive to avoid worldy activities which may detract from this goal. In particular, Ismailiese believe that the real and esoteric meaning of the fasting is the fasting of soul by avoiding devilish acts, and doing the good deeds everytime. The fasting by not eating during the month of Ramadan has been considered as a metaphorical implementation of fasting, and has been appreciated, but has not been considered compulsory for the Ismailies, as the real challenge of a Muslim is the fasting of his emotions and fantasies, rather than his hunger.

** Hajj**

Main article: Hajj
A pillar which translates from Arabic as “pilgrimage.” In Ismaili sects this has come to metaphorically mean visiting the Imam himself, and that this is the greatest and most spiritual of all pilgrimages. However, as the Druze do not follow shariah, they do not believe in a literal pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca like other Muslims do, while the Mustaali still hold on to the literal meaning as well. [25]](Ismailism - Wikipedia)

** Jihad**

Main article: Jihad
A pillar which translates from Arabic as “struggle.” The definition of jihad is generally controversial, with it having two meanings and dispute concerning which is the correct or literal one. One meaning is that of personal struggle, while the other is that of “holy warfare”, similar to the English word crusade. In general, in contrast to other Muslim groups, the Nizari group is primarily pacifist hence uses the former definition, and does not encourage the warfare interpretation of the Jihad. The Druze have been engaged in warfare with other religious and ethnic groups even into the 20th and 21st centuries. It is unclear what the Mustaali believe.

!! Mera Jee Chahta Hai !!
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The later is most important but there is nothing wrong in learning about other religions, sects or cults.

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The person who has posted the info on ismaili sect is grossly ignorant and uneducated about her own sect. I have ismaili friends and have been told many of the things she has mentioned in her post but they do not even begin to tackle the essentials of this madhab. It is a very surface look at the practices (from what i've been told).

I mean come on people, are you really going to believe the rants of a person who refers to the sect of ismaili as a 'religion' and distinguish's herself from the ummah by calling non-ismailis as musalmans (thereby implying she herself is not a muslim)?

The fact of the matter is we do not have the right to declare who is or is not a muslim (even the ahmadies;though them believing mirza ahmad was the last prophet is hard to swallow). Only Allah rab ul izzat can/will decide on the day of judgement the fate of each one of us.

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Well, I don't think it can be catagorised as a 'dawah' thread. I view in it an opportunity to learn about other sects. My dear, we certainly do not allow anyone to procelytize here, however, let me just add that if your "imaan" is strong then nothing should come between you and your God and influence your belief/s. **
**There is no need to feel threatened by a harmless thread. :--)

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That official website of ismailis doesn’t say that bolded part anywhere.

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I took a look at that site - if you click on the link at the left labelled "The Ismaili Community" you come to a page with that bolded part.

Urdu harf game
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It doesn't matter if they believe in One God and the finality of Prophet Muhammad(SAW), they believe in pantheism which is Shirk.

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Peace Basit

The official website of the Ismailis is irrelevant for this thread as the website is engineered for their political point of view not their religious belief system.

It is also a core belief element in the 'Aqeedah of Muslims that Salah is incumbent on us. The Ismailis have their own version of Salah which nullifies their belief in Salah. I can confirm that this is the case as an Ismaili person my sister knows tells her that she does not pray like the ‘other’ Muslims.

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For anyone to be a Muslim, one has to say the "Shahada" the Kalima .. AND no one in the WORLD can claim this man or a woman to be a non muslim ...

Anyone who does NOT Believe in ONE GOD is committing SHIRK and thefore is not a muslim.

From what I understand from the belief system of Agakhanis / Ismailies is that they are Muslims, because they believe in "SHAHADA" and I know this for a Fact, since I live with them and I have been involved in many of their International Projects ....

BUt then, when I read what you just mentioned .. . Are you implying that Aga khanis are non muslims ? Despite the fact that they believe in Shahada ?