Re: Ismaili religious beliefs
First and foremost, there has to be an element of respect when you communicate ... what do you mean by "Don't kid yourself. You either are an Ismaili ..." I am relaying to you the facts, that you perhaps dont know and are just speculating rumors ...
Peace again Basit
The facts that you have relayed so far are not the facts that we are looking for. Please provide an in-depth discourse on the belief system of the Ismaili ... if you cannot comply then you will need to explain why the links from Wikipedia are incorrect, seeing that they have not been contested thus far. With regards to respect well it is also respectful to answer questions aptly and to be honest with ones disposition i.e. religious affiliation.
If you already have your ismaili contact make sure he or she is educated enough to share info to you ...
Nice one! I have had a few associates in the past who profess to the Ismaili persuasion none of them are 'educated enough' ... I wonder why?
I say educated enough cos there are many other ppl for eg: sunnis who don't actualy know the details and they may share wrong info ... For instance Bin Laden or Al Qaida, they have their own interpertations that differ within the Muslim in large or even Sunnis ... Their interpretation of Jihad is different ...
But you didn't answer the question regarding Jihad and by the way provide evidence of the conclusion you come to also please.
I know that some of the Ismailies have their own place where they worship ... they have their own Namaz different from others .... BUT does that QUALIFY them NOT TO BE A MUSLIM ? or a lesser Muslim ? Does that mean that their communication/ SALAAT to GOD/ ALLAH is wrong ? who decides that ? You? me? a scholar ?
Actually if their prayer methods cannot be found in the Sunnah then Muhammad (SAW) has not performed their methods, which means it is an abomination of prayer if it is done differently. All of the acceptable prayer methods use some sort of link with the Sunnah. To pray incorrectly is just ignorance, but to believe that an invalid form of Salaah is valid, is incorrect.
You need to study suffism where you will see that there are some Muslims and I am not talking about Ismailis but there are few who have their own way of performing Salaat/, they have their own places of worship ... for eg Khanaka and many more ...
The deviancy of others does not justify the deviancy of oneself.
My only point initially was to share that It's not you or me or anyone here to say someone to be a non muslim, if they are Saying Kalima ...
That is true! However, if a Christian says he is monotheist or believes in One God, but insists that Jesus (AS) should be worshipped, then his claim to monotheism is plain lip service. Though I will out of respect not call him a mushrik, I will still indicate where his belief system is taking him astray. Which rather inconveniently I cannot do with Ismailis as effectively because getting to the core beliefs of this group is proving to be quite difficult, if Wikipedia is being denounced.
What you mentioned about being a muslim is your interpretation and I totally agree with you ... Nevertheless, THAT is NOT the requirement to be a Muslim confirmed by many scholars ... The Only requirement to be a muslim is to Say KALIMA / Shahada ...
The Shahadah is the taking of a covenant. It is a promise that all of the tenets of Islam are going to be adhered to after it is said, it does not simply mean that one believes in the heart that there is One God and Muhammad is the Messenger, it means that this should be manifest in our actions also. To prove what I am saying please refer to the Qur'an ... Surah Al-Baqarah. The example is here with the Jews, but the logic is transmutable.
YUSUFALI:
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When it is said to them, "Believe in what Allah Hath sent down, "they say, "We believe in what was sent down to us:" yet they reject all besides, even if it be Truth confirming what is with them. Say: "Why then have ye slain the prophets of Allah in times gone by, if ye did indeed believe?"
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And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai): (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken (to the Law)": They said:" We hear, and we disobey:" And they had to drink into their hearts (of the taint) of the calf because of their Faithlessness. Say: "Vile indeed are the behests of your Faith if ye have any faith!"
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We have sent down to thee Manifest Signs (ayat); and none reject them but those who are perverse.
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Is it not (the case) that every time they make a covenant, some party among them throw it aside?- Nay, Most of them are faithless.
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As can be seen the people who have given lip service saying they are believers have themselves been refuted by Allah (SWT) in the Qur'an. Are we falling into the same trap as the people who came before us?
If someone says Shahada / Kalima he or she is considered to be a MUSLIM ... regardless if he or she prays 5 times etc .... even the methods ... even within the Shiate Tradition and interpretation they have different ways and methods to practice their faith ...
Agreed! I have emboldened the word considered. Man may consider them Muslim, but is it not more important what Allah (SWT) considers them as? If not praying 5 times a day is done through negligence then is it sin free? If however one believes that they do not have to pray 5 times a day to be Muslim is that not kufr?
Also, the belief system is there so that one can practice ..... AND, it's not that ONLY muslms are good or nearer to ALLAH ... or can only pray to ALLAH and rest of the ppl in the world other than muslims have a wrong way of praying .... Your CONDUCT is pivotal, your intereaction wih ALLAH and Humanity will be judged ... and all this in QURAN ...
I am out ! - peace and YES, if i am an Ismaili, believe me I WILL SAY --- I wish I was ....
If it is not only Muslims who are nearer to Allah (SWT) then how can we agree with the Qur'an that tells us the life of Muhammad (SAW) holds for us an excellent example. If Muslims actually do what Muhammad (SAW) did then there is no reason to doubt that Muslims are closer to Allah (SWT). The rest I agree with you!
Now please comply with the thread title ... What do Ismailis believe?