Saturday, June 27, 2009

Background to the Ismaili Dawat in the Northern Areas of Pakistan

Early life of Hakim Nasir-i Khusraw and his education:

Pir Nasir himself has referred to his vast and extensive learning in several places of his Diwan, such as:

WHATEVER KIND OF KNOWLEDGE I HEARD OF
I SAT ADJACENT TO ITS DOOR (TO ACQUIRE IT).

Not any kind of knowledge was left
Of which I did not benefit more or less

There is an interesting account of his learning in a spurious Sargudhasht (autobiography) attributed to him. In the Sargudhasht there are many things which have nothing to do with Pir Nasir’s life but the description of his ducation seems to be quite close to what is found in his Diwan, which is summarized by Mawlawi cAbd ar-Razzaq Kanpuri, who translated his Safar-namah into Urdu, as follows:

After the four stages (of growth), when he attained the rational faculty, he was sent to school in his sixth year. By the age of nine he had memorized the entire Qur’an. During the following five years he studied literature, grammar, prosody, and arithmetic. After acquiring elementary education, he studied astrology, astronomy, geomancy, Euclid and the Almagest for three years. At the age of seventeen he began his studies in literature, jurisprudence, exegesis of the Holy Qur’an and Hadith. He studied specifically Imam Muhammad Shaybani’Js amic-i Kabir and Siyar-i Kabir and in connection with his Qur’anic studies he studied some three hundred commentaries, both those included in the syllabus and others on his own initiative.


Thereafter he studied Greek philosophy for fifteen years. He remained in Balkh until adulthood. In addition to Persian which was his mother tongue, he knew Arabic, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew and Hindustani (Sindhi). His knowledge of Hebrew is confirmed by his Safar-namah.

At the age of thirty-two he studied the Old Testament, the Psalms and the Gospel under Jewish scholars and then he studied them critically himself for a further six years. He also studied the Metaphysical Logic and Physical Logic system expounded by the sage Jamasb, medicine and mathematics and finally Sufism, Spiritualism, Evocation and Talismans. At the approximate age of forty-four, Nasiri Khusraw emerged as a matchless sage, philosopher, scholar, dialectician and poet. He acquired all these sciences in Balkh, Bukhara, Iraq and in the province of Khurasan, where the leading authorities of these sciences lived at that time. Nasir was so well known in his time for his erudition that even the Jewish and Christian scholars sought his help to study their own religious books.

Hakim Nasir’s Wisdom-filled Dream:

He says in his Safar-namah: I used to drink wine. The Holy Prophet said: "Tell the truth, even if it be against your own selves". One night in a dream I saw someone saying to me:

How long will you continue to drink this wine, which destroys man’s intellect? If you were to stay sober, it would be better for you.

In reply I said: The wise have not been able to come up with anything other than this to lessen the sorrow of this world.

To be without one’s senses is not repose, he answered. He cannot be called wise who leads men to senselessness. Rather, one should seek that which increases reason and wisdom. Where can I find such a thing? I asked. He said: He who seeks, finds. And then he pointed toward the qiblah and said no more.

Some scholars think that the dream which Pir Nasir-i Khusraw has mentioned is an example of him having been influenced by an Ismaili Dai. This is most probably true, because he quite often uses allegorical and parabolic language in his writings. It is true that a great Dai prohibited him to drink and indicated to him the Imam of the time, who is the fountainhead of intellect. Such a systematic and luminous dream is not possible if one is drunk.

Pir Nasir-i Khusraw in Yumgan:

Professor Bertels in his work "Nasir-i Khusraw and Ismailis" has written that the valley of Yumgan became the true seat of the Hujjat of Khurasan (i.e Nasir-i Khusraw). He writes that it is not wrong for people to say "Shah Nasir", because the close circle of the dawat considered him to be the king of knowledge and wisdom. He says that Nasir-i Khusraw in Yumgan continued the chain of dawat.

He used to send letters inviting people to the Ismaili Tariqah, as is found in his Diwan:


HAR SAL YAKI KITAB-I DAWAT
BA-ATRAF-I JAHAN HAMI FIRISTAM

I send a letter of dawat every year to all
directions of the world;

TA DANAD KHASM-I MAN KIH CHUN TU
DAR DIN NAH DAIF-U KHWAR-U SUSTAM
So that the adversary may know that in religion
I am not weak, abject and idle like you

In many of his qasa’id he says: Although I live in a cave far from and cut off from my familiar country, in the eyes of my friends I am esteemed and respected. As he says in his Rawshana’i-namah:

ZA HUJJAT IN SUKHANHA YAD MIDAR
KIH DAR YUMGAN NISHASTAH PADSHAHWAR
Remember these words of the Hujjat
Who sits in Yumgan like a king.
The above-mentioned book notes that Pir Nasir had correspondence from Yumgan with the centre of the dawat in Egypt. It also notes that Pir Nasir wrote most of his philosophical works in Yumgan, including Rawshana’inamah, Jami u’l-Hikmatayn and Zadu’l-Musafirin (pp. 185- 86).

The Centre and Source of Dawat-i Nasiri:

It is clear as broad daylight that the light of the Ismaili dawat spread to Chitral, the Northern Areas, Sariqul and Yarqand, from Badakhshan. The fountainhead of the light of the lamps of knowledge and wisdom and recognition of Imam, which were lit by Pirs, Dais, Mucallims and their representatives was one only, which the celebrated Pir, by the command of the exalted Imam, had prepared with great difficulties in Badakhshan. The treasures of this immense light were in the form of voluminous books, as well as in the form of an army of knowledge able to fight against the darkness of ignorance having been equipped with the knowledge and wisdom of Nasir.

There is no doubt that just as Hazrat Hasan-i Sabbah had established a physical fortress (in Alamut), Pir Nasir made a fortress of knowledge and wisdom in Badakhshan which, Hulegu Khan, or even thousands like him could not destroy.

The proof of this is Pir Nasir’s precious books which are a source of pride not only to the world of Ismailism, but are also found in educational and intellectual centers all over the world. Hakim Nasir-i Khusraw accomplished the duty of dawat with great boldness and wisdom and made the best use of the time available to him. That is, when freedom and opportunity were available, he performed the dawat and jihad with his tongue and when things were made difficult by his adversaries, he used his pen, so that the chain of dawat and sincere advice would continue forever.

Beginning of the Ithna ashari Madhhab in Hunza:

In olden times the religion of Islam was alien to the inhabitants of Hunza. Their rites consisted of cremating the dead or burying them with some of their possessions. From circumstantial evidence, it seems that the traditions of Buddhism and Zoroastrianism were widespread in the area. People used to worship boyn (pl. boyo) which is a small animal like a puppy. The boyo used to live under juniper trees or on rocky land. People placed some offerings of butter, milk or the blood of sheep for them. It was considered a good omen if they appeared and liked the offerings.

It is said that when Ayashu bin Mayuritham became the ruler of Hunza, he married Shah Khatun bint Abdal Khan of Baltistan and it is because of this marriage that the dawat of Islam first came to Hunza from Baltistan in the form of Ithna asharism and then gradually spread in the surrounding areas. Nonetheless, for a long time people used to revere boyo despite being advised against idolatry by the preachers of Islam.

Beginning of the Light of the Ismaili Dawat in Hunza:

In Hunza, the first ruler from the dynasty of Ayashu was Girkis. The fifth ruler from this dynasty cAyashu Sughay bin Mayuritham married Shah Khatun bint Abdal Khan of Baltistan and the Ithna ashari madhhab began in Hunza.

The nineteenth ruler of this line was Silum Khan who, in the last days of his life, personally accepted the Ismaili madhhab and feeling lonely, asked Pir Shah Husayn ibn Shah Ardabil: "Who will perform my funeral rites and ceremonies?" The Pir answered: "God willing, at that time one of the Ismaili Dais will come".

When Silum Khan was on his death bed, he was worried about his funeral rites and prayers and waited for someone to come to fulfil the promise of the Pir. Therefore, he constantly asked his confidantes to see if anyone was coming. Finally the news came that a rider was coming from far away. He was Pir Shah Husayn ibn Shah Ardabil. He consoled Silum Khan according to the promise and when Silum died, he performed his burial rites and the funeral prayer.

Note: Huzurmukhi Khalifah Mihrban Shah (1910-1991) bin Gulbahar Shah told us on the authority of Khisanay Sayyid that during the Imamat of Mawlana Qasim Shah (a.s.), Taj Mughul conquered Hunza after conquering Gilgit. However, it appears that he did not make proper arrangements for the true dawat, and people forgot this sacred madhhab. All this happened approximately six hundred years ago.

Allama Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai,
Sunday - 11th April, 1993.

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Shariat aur Tareeqat

Talab -i Haqiqaat kay liyeah Tarqheeb

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Talab -i Haqiqaat
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Sharrait o Haqaiq e Ishq

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Sharrait o Haqaiq e Ishq
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Muqaam i Fana Fi llah

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Muqaam i Fana Fi llah
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Markaz e Tawheed

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Markaz e Tawheed
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Ishq e Haqeeqi

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Ishq e Haqeeqi
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Falsafa i- Tawheed

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Falsafa i- Tawheed
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Dawat i Haqaeeq

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Dawat i Haqaeeq
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Asrar e Khudi

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Asrar e Khudi
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Dil Ka Asman

Book : Guldasta az Mawlawi yi Mathnawi
Title : Dil Ka Asman
Poet : Mawlānā Jalāl ad-Dīn Muḥammad Balkhī
Translation by Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir Al-Din
Nasir (Hubb=i Ali) Hunzai

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Munqabaat wa Qasida on Youtube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NbKmHHlRs8&feature=channel_page
Shah Karim Diiney Shahinshaa - Burushaski Manqabat
Recite by Meherangaiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qbpKgucVduY&feature=channel
Julay Hikmat e Saa - Burushaski Manqabat
Recite by Samiullah &

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMvQRcThFPA&feature=channel_page
Guzinam Quran wa Din Muhammed - Persain Qasida
Recite by Meherangaiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tWsRWqH3OAQ&feature=channel_page
Aye Shahinsha Zadi Zahra - Urdu Manqabat
Recite by Barkat Ali Moshin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hadjrsijN98&feature=channel_page
Durz e dar e haqiqat Goharander - Persain Qasida
Recite by Meherangaiz

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfc1_yd18Xs&feature=channel_page
inay ja qalamar - Burushaski Manqabat with Urdu Translation
Recite by Meherangaiz
Translation : Syed Aftab Hussain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ykW5-haxXAU&feature=channel_page
Tajali Tajali - Urdu Manqabat
Recite by Barkat Ali Moshin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzJ0zO6qbtY&feature=channel_page
Ala e talib e by imam abdussalam - Persain Manqabat
Recite by Barkat Ali Moshin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ljOg8rC5CQ&feature=channel_page
Wasfy Mola Bayan Say - Urdu Qasida
Recite by Group

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dDFyU8DVfs&feature=channel_page
Shini Bahar Deemi - Urdu Manqabat
Recite by Barkat Ali Moshin

Mashreque anware Yazdan Nour Mowlana Karim

Mashreque anware Yazdan Nour Mowlana Karim
Author:
Allamah Nassir al din Hunzai

Mashreqe anwaare yazdaan, Nour Mowlana Karim
Matlae asraare orfaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Keswate Digar hame Poshid Aan Yaare Qadim
Jelwaha benmood dar jaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Tu Haman Sultane dini imtehaan az maa magir
Haazere har asro dawraan Nour Mowlana Karim
Makhzane ilme haqayeq Madane Nouro safaa
Aaleme asraare Quran Nour Mowlana Karim
Chashme dil begshaa wo Barqe roye zebaayash bebin
Taa shenaassi jane jaanan Nour Mowlana Karim
Zaheran aale Muhammad hamze awlaade Ali
Akmalo ashrafze insaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Rahbare Islam Imaame ma shaye din noure haq
Shahe mardaan mahe khubaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Haateme rohe sakhi wo jaane dil noure oqul
Mazdare Ikraamo ihsaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Jawhare rohe moqadass gawhare amre illah
Nayebo farzande salman Nour Mowlana Karim
Orwat ul wossdaa ketabullah hablollah ba haq
Mazhare ayaate Rahmaan Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim
Nour Mowlana Karim Nour Mowlana Karim

Sunday, June 7, 2009

Coins











Birth Centenary Of Imam Sultan Mohammed Shah Aga Khan III in 1977











After 10 Years of Imamat Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazir Imam.
Aga Khan IV- in 1967











Silver Jubilee of Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazir Imam in 1982

Imam-e-Zaman


Saturday, June 6, 2009

Picture from Past 01


Prof Dr. Allama Nasiruddin Nasir Hunzai with his two great students Dr. Faqir Mohammed and Rashida Noor Mohammed.

Thursday, June 4, 2009

Burushiski-Urdu Dictionary Launched

GILGIT: Stress laid on efforts to revive local dialects: Burushiski-Urdu dictionary launched

By Our Correspondent
October 03, 2006 Tuesday

GILGIT, Oct 2: Speakers at the launching ceremony of the first Burushiski-Urdu dictionary said that the valuable literary work would help revive dying languages of the Northern Areas as the project opened doors for research in other languages and dialects of the region.

The Burushiski Research Academy (BRA) launched the first volume of Burushiski-Urdu dictionary on Sunday at the Karakurum International University here under the aegis of Halqa-i-Arbab-i-Zouq, Gilgit.

Speaking as chief guest, Northern Areas Chief Secretary Imtiaz H. Kazi highlighted the importance of mother tongue and dialects. He said that man began progress once he was able to translate his language in written form and script.

Mr Kazi said that languages and dialects which were on the verge of extinction could be revived through folk songs, poetry and lyrics, while the addition of foreign words enhanced the beauty of a language.

Tracing the history of Burushiski language and Burushiski dictionary, research consultant and project director of the dictionary, Dr Shehnaz Hunzai, said that Burushiski was a unique language which defied classification with any other language of the world.

She said linguists considered it as one of the 12 isolated languages of Pakistan presently spoken in Hunza, Nagar and Yaseen valleys in the Northern Areas.

Ms Hunzai said that for a long time Burushiski remained just a dialect and there was no written script. She said that Prof Allama Nasiruddin Nasir Hunzai, the first poet of the Burushiski language and renowned scholar of the region, introduced Arabic alphabets and gave the language a script in 1940.

She said that apart from Burushiski poetry Dr Hunzai had also elaborated the grammar and more than nine books on Burushiski language had been printed.

She said the BRA, with the help of the Bureau of Composition, Compilation and Translation (BCCT) at the University of Karachi, collected 60,000 words during the last two decades.

Ms Hunzai said that the first volume of the dictionary, containing 20,000 words, had been printed with the contribution from motivated friends of Burushiski language.

She said special software was developed to prepare the dictionary. She claimed that Burushiski language had the capacity to absorb the translation of the Holy Quran.

Halqa-i-Arbab-i-Zouq, Gilgit, secretary Jamshed Khan Dukhi paid tributes to Dr Hunzai for the revival of dying languages and dialects in the region and added that local languages and their diversity was unique but globalization and market forces had threatened their existence.

Mr Dukhi said that local languages could be promoted and preserved only through research and the Burushiski dictionary was a first step in this regard.

He hoped that it would open doors for research in other languages of Gilgit-Baltistan and the project would encourage other language projects in the region.

He demanded that the government should set up a language board in the region, due coverage of local languages on PTV should be given and Shina, Burushiski and Balti languages should be included in primary school syllabus.

Wednesday, June 3, 2009

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Facts About Hunzai P-22

Facts About Hunzai P-21

Facts About Hunzai P-20

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Facts About Hunzai P-9

Facts About Hunzai P-8

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Facts About Hunzai P-3

Part 7: Why is the word "Shah" used for Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam?

Part 7: Why is the word "Shah" used for Noor Mowlana Hazar Imam? "You can accept that the inner and spiritual kingdom of ...