Idd-e-Gaddir: A Time to Reflect on the Declaration of Imamat 2

Idd Mubarak on the occasion of Idd-e-Gaddir, the first Imamat Day of our first beloved Holy Imam, NOOR Mowlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.). Let us now reflect on the following items:

Definition of Wilayat

“”Wilayat,” derived from wila’, means power, authority or a right of certain kind. In Shí’a theology, “wilayat” is the authority invested in the Prophet and the Ahlul Bayt as representatives of Almighty Allah on this earth.” (Source: Sayyid Muhammad Rizvi)

The Three stages of Religion

“It is related that the Prophet said: “I enjoin upon those of you who have faith in God and in me and have declared me to be truthful, the walayat of the Commander of the Faithful, Ali bin Abu Talib. For, truly, the devotion to him is devotion to me, a command my Lord has given me and a covenant which he has made with me and has ordered me to convey to you from Himself.” The greatest wisdom in this luminous teaching of the Holy Prophet is that belief in God and the Prophet is the first stage of religion, that affirmation of the Prophethood and Messengership is the second stage, and that affirmation of wilayat of Mawla Ali is the third stage.” (Fruit of Paradise, page 36)

The Importance of Divine Remembrance

“God says: “And he who is blind to the remembrance of God, We assign him a Satan who becomes his comrade.” (43:36). The pure Imam is the living Supreme Name (ism-i azam) of God and His luminous remembrance, because it is from him that mu’mins obtain the light of Divine remembrance, which rescues them from the clutches of Satan. For the Imam of the time is in the position of Ali and is the gate to the city of knowledge and wisdom.” (Fruit of Paradise, page 29)

The Mechanism and Importance of Salwat
The verse (ayat) of the Holy Qur’an [Lo! Allah and His angels shower blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe! Ask blessings on him and salute him with a worthy salutation. (33:56)] indicates that the major entities which are involved in the execution of this prayer are: Allah, Angels, the Holy Prophet, the Holy Imams and believers. This mechanism of salwat is presented in the following diagram:



According to the ahadith of the Holy Prophet, whenever the name of the Holy Prophet is recited, his family, his offspring and their successors are automatically invoked. According to the Ismaili Muslim constitution, the successors of the Holy Prophet are the Imams who are his direct descendants through Hazrat Mawlana Ali Amiru-l-Mu’minin (‘Alayhi-s-salam) and his daughter Hazrat Bibi Fatimat-az-Zahra, Khatun-i-Jannat (‘Alayhi-s-salam).

The question then arises: Are the blessings for the Prophet and the Imams or are they for the believers? The answer is given in the following verse of the Holy Quran:

“He it is who confers upon you His Blessings, and likewise do the Angels, that He may bring you forth from darkness (of infidelity) into the Light (of faith): and He is to believers All Merciful” (33:43)5

Huwallazii yusallii ‘alay-kum wa malaaaa-’ikatuhuu liyukhrijakum-minaz – Zulumaati ‘ilan-Nuur: wa kaana bil-Mu’-miniina Rahiimaa.