Eid - the Spirit and Symbolism of This Day Announcements Newsand Amal & Events Detail Lailatulmilad Imam-Uz-Zamanqadar Highlights & Photos

A Weekly Newsletter by Fatemi Dawat

1January July 2016 22nd 2016 Issue:Issue: 125 27 Ramadan13th Rabi al Moazzam al-Aakhar 1437H 1437H

Updates

Syedna TUS Doa Message Attacks in Istanbul, Turkey

SijillUpdates Article Eid - The Spirit and Symbolism of this Day Announcements Newsand Amal & Events Detail LailatulMilad Imam-uz-zamanQadar Highlights & Photos

Announcement & Amal DetailsNews and Events 30miShz DrRaat Abdeail of Ramadaan Bs leads & Eid-ul-Fitar Janaza namaaz in London Night & Day

Syedna TUS Doa Message Fatimid History Series Eid-ul-FitarDawat CelebrationsHistory Seriesin the time of Attacks in Istanbul, Turkey theSijill-ul-Bisharat Fatemi Imams – in The Cairo (From Sijill In the wake of the horrific and tragic bombings at Ataturk international airport in 24)Announcement of Imam Istanbul, Turkey, Syedna Taher Fakhruddin, the leader of the Dawoodi Bohra commu- Tayyib’s SA Birth nity, strongly condemns this act of violence and prays for the victims and their families. Announcement May God give them strength to bear their tragic loss. Syedna Fakhruddin prays that SyednaQasida TUS WeeklyIn Translation Qadambosi & Happinessmay God guard in his safekeeping Captures the people of Turkey Loveand all people all over the world. Araz Bethak – Sunday 3rd July Milaadu Maulana-l-Imam-it- Syedna hopes and urges communities and governments to unite towards the cause of 19mi Ramadaan Amirul Mumineen SA universal brotherhood and peace, and to defeat the forces and ideologies of violence, Tayyibi Shahaadat Waaz Broadcast hatred and division. AmalFatemi Details Madrasa for the Last Sijill Article Wazeefa Multi Media eModule (Amirul Mumineen SA) Ten Days of Shehrullah Eid - The Spirit and Symbolism of this Itqun minan naar no Dasko & Nabi na A Mumin is always cheerful and happy naam Day Rasulullah SA narrated the account his heart” (al-muminu bishruhu fi wajhihi his heart” (al-muminu bishruhu fi wajhihi of a day when Eisa Nabi AS met Yahya Nabi. wa huznuhu fi qalbihi). To cope with the wa huznuhu fi qalbihi). To cope with the Eisa Nabi smiled at Yahya Nabi, but Yahya sadness and sorrow in our heart, we seek sadness and sorrow in our heart, we seek Nabi frowned in response and said, “O refuge in sabar and the remembrance refuge in sabar and the remembrance Spirit of Allah, you laugh as though you of Imam Husain SA. Syedna Burhanuddin’s of Imam Husain SA. Syedna Burhanuddin’s have no fear of Allah’s punishment!”Surat Eisa al-Maida: 114 RA doa always echoes in our ears: “ay RA doa always echoes in our ears: “ay Nabi replied, “O Nabi of Allah, you frown as O Allah! Send us from heaven a table spread parwardigaar,with food that it tumay muminmark a feast,ne hameshaone of parwardigaar, tu mumin ne hamesha thougha kind you for have those no before hope usin Allah’sand for thoserehmat after us, as a sign from You; and provide us our and mercy!” Allah Ta’ala then revealed to khush-u-khurram raakhje, ek Husain na khush-u-khurram raakhje, ek Husain na sustenance, You are the best Sustainer. both Yahya Nabi and Eisa Nabi: “The one I gham siwa koi gham na dikhawje.” gham siwa koi gham na dikhawje.” love most is the one who smiles most” These hadith and sayings encour- These hadith and sayings encour- (ahabbukumaid is a time ilayya to abashshukuma).rejoice; a time to offer ageing andan congregation/assembly.”overall positive and optimistic thatage thesean overalldays themselves positive areand inanimate,optimistic Ethanks In thisfor shorthaving anecdote completed is a thegreat 30 outlookSyedna in life. al-Mu’ayyad The smile on al-Shirazi an individual’s writes butoutlook they in life.fact Therepresent smile onreal an individuals, individual’s lessondays of and fasting, philosophy: and a time be happy to come and together hope- facein one is ofan his essential doas that manifestation it is because of of that Al- hudud,face is and an theiressential distinction manifestation over other of days that fuland in rejoicelife. It is in not our the common case that belief, this world values, is outlook.lah’s wisdom Rasulullah that allsaid: species "When have a mumin some makesoutlook. sense Rasulullah because said: of their"When symbolism. a mumin freeand ofpath. sadness In the and doa grief that – butwe ourpray Hudaat on the meetssorts ofhis abrother capstone mumin, or pinnacle.he should callFor outex- Themeets days his of brother Ramadan mumin, are hespecial should because call out encouragemorning of us Eid to afterbe happy sunrise, and Imam hopeful Ali Zaiin - theample, salaam the greetingzenith of to all him, tree grasp species his hand,is the ofthe the salaam Imams greeting they represent. to him, grasp his hand, keeping faith in Allah Ta’ala, His mercy and nul Abedeen says, “allahumma – O Lord we anddate lookpalm, at in himminerals with (rocks)a happy it isface. the ruby,This and Thelook dayat himof Eid with is speciala happy because face. This it rehmat. Remembering and counting our beseech your forgiveness on this day that appliesand in allto of our the landsinteractions it is Baitullah. with fellow Simi- representsapplies to an our Imam interactions whose status with amongfellow blessings and ne’mat helps us to be happy we break our fast (Fitar). For Mumineen Mumineenlarly, there butare also days applies that are to howmore we special meet peopleMumineen is like but the also day applies of Eid to amonghow we other meet and hopeful. You made Eid a day of joy and happiness. andthan greet others people and inthese all aspects are known of our life.as the To days.and greetJust aspeople Eid isin alla day aspects of rejoicing, of our life. the To Even in times of grief Amirul For all Muslims You made it a day of gather- thisdays effect, of Allah. Amirul Syedna Mumineen al-Mo’ayyad has said, explains “be presencethis effect, of theAmirul Imam Mumineen is a cause has for said, eternal “be Mumineen SA asserts that, “a mumin’s smiling and happy with everyone” (al-bishru smiling and happy with everyone” (al-bishru 1 rejoice. Just as Eid is a gathering of the faithful, the presence of the Ta’ala for the blessings of the ta’eed of Imamuz-zaman we received Imam is the magnet for all the souls of the faithful. through his Dai in Shehrullah. We offer thanks to Allah Ta’ala for We celebrate and rejoice on Eid not only in the context of its guiding us and enabling us to observe and fast the 30 days of being an inanimate day, but because it represents a living Imam. Shehrullah. We offer thanks for He has enlightened us with the In the Imam’s seclusion the presence of the Dai is Eid for recognition and ma’rifat of the symbol (the day of Eid) and the Mumineen. His presence is the magnet of our souls. From his pres- great being it symbolizes (our Imam). We offer thanks for the feast ence we receive the spiritual feast of Eid. We received these bless- that we will enjoy on that day that will quench our thirst and satiate ings throughout Ramadan in Syedna’s bayaans, his Munajaat, his our hunger. wasilas – especially in Lailatul Qadar - and through his continuous We wish Eid Mubarak to all Mumineen. May this day’s bless- doas. Though we may be separated by physical distance, we will ings shower upon you and fill you with its barakaat. all gather spiritually with our Dai on the day of Eid and rejoice in By virtue of this day and by virtue of the Imam that this day its blessings. represents, may Allah Ta’ala unite the community of faith under As we soon approach Eid-ul Fitar we offer thanks to Allah the banner of Da’wat.

News & Events Lailatul Qadar Highlights & Photos

Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS led Mumineen in namaaz and doa on the eve of Lailatul Qadr, 23rd Shehre Ramadan 1437H, in Iwan-e Fatemi, Darus Sakina, Mumbai. After the 20-rak’at washeq—a gift we present to Rasulullah and Maulatuna Fatema—Syedna supplicated Allah ta’ala in an im- passioned, humble and heartfelt wasila. Imam uz zamaan’s ta’eed was visible in each and every word of his precious doa. The following summary highlights some of the eloquent wasila’s main points: With Imamuz zamaan’s ta’eed, with depth, clarity and pas- sion, Syedna Taher expounded the exalted station of Maula Ali. rank, rutba, in the Dawat spiritual hierarchy). Her sta- Among the multitude of authentic reports, mustanad bayaans, from tion is higher than a thousand other Hujjats. She is the Allah’s Awliya, he narrated, are the following: mamthul of (i.e. the one signified by) Lailatul Qadr. Syedna began by imploring Allah to forgive our sins, including the greatest sin, which caused our fall from the heavenly abode. 2. The Hujjat of the Sahib al-Qiyama is Lailatul Qadr. He beseeched Allah for forgiveness in the name of the 3. Tayyib Imam’s Dawat during his concealment, Dawat us Panjetan Paak - Muhammad, satar, is Lailatul Qadr. who is the intercessor for sin- ners (shafi’ al-mudhnibin) and With reverence and love, Syedna explicated Maulatuna Fate- Allah’s mercy for all the world ma’s virtues, shaanaat, and her afflictions, museebat. He recount- (rehmatun lil-aalamin); Maula ed her grief at her father Rasulullah’s demise, the heartbreaking Ali who is the best helper for all calamities she endured, and her valorous khidmat for her revered creation (madadgaar), Fatema, husband Maula Ali. With pouring tears, Syedna prayed Maulatuna who saved her precious tears to Fatema’s poignant shahadat. save Ali’s Shia from the fire; and Syedna narrated Fatema’s three final acts of loving care for Husain, who offered his life for her two sons, Hasan and Husain, and he prayed to Allah ta’ala with their salvation. their wasila, quoting Syedna Taher Saifuddin: Similarly, Syedna invoked the wasila of all the Imams - 1. Fatema heated water and bathed Hasan and Husain: Imam Mansur declared that if Syedna prayed to Allah that with the wasila of each of a Mumin is thrown into the fire the droplets that fell of their paak bodies, purify us of for his sins, he will put his hand our many sins, for we are the humble servants of the into the fire and draw him out. Syedna invoked the wasila of their Panjetan Paak. Duat Mutlaqeen, and their Hudood, among whom one [Maulaya Raj] put on the cloak of a beggar in order to have access to people 2. Fatema clothed Hasan and Husain: Syedna prayed to and guide them back to the true Dai. Allah to grant us the cloak of piety, taqwa for the time Syedna recited the Surah of Inna Anzalnaho and expounded of our death, and the garment of health for our lifetime. the deep meaning of ‘Lailatul Qadr’ whose station is higher than a thousand months. Lailatul Qadr is mentioned three times in the 3. Fatema cooked bread, roti, and fed Hasan and Husain: Surah of Inna Anzalnaho, and it has three exalted spiritual denota- Syedna prayed to Allah that we have grown up in the tions. This is the gist: shade of the Almighty’s benevolent sustenance, rizq, but if any mumin has fallen on hard times, remove his 1. Maulatuna Fatema, is Maulana Ali’s Hujjat (a high hardship and open the doors of your rozi for him.

2 Syedna invoked the wasila of the Duat, especially the three Dais that many of us have seen, Syedna Taher Saifuddin, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin, and Syedna Khuzaima Qutbuddin. Duaat are mala’ikat, celestial angels, who are infused with the rooh of Nass, they are the hours (sa’at) of Laylatul Qadr. Syedna said that Maulana Qutbuddin had established that the Dai performs Nass with the Imam’s inspiration, ilhaam. It is because of Syedna Qutbuddin’s guidance that we walk the path of truth. It has been just three months since he passed away, and we remember him dearly, his luminous face, his worship of Allah, his ficulties, and grant all our wishes, including shaadi, farzand, hap- doas, his wasilas, his waaz, his salaami, his shafaqat. piness in family life and qurratul ain in spouse and children, rozi, Syedna also narrated with anguish the Shahadat of Fatema’s hajj, namaaz in Misr, Bayt ul Muqaddas, Mawali ziyarats, Raudat beloved Husain. He declared that we are Mumin today because of Tahera ziyarat of Maulana Taher Saifuddin and Maulana Muham- Husain’s doa. We gather in Laylatul Qadr, Allah accepts our suppli- mad Burhanuddin. cations and doas—all this is because of Husain’s doa for us in his He prayed with the wasila of Imamuz zaman, jami ush sha- last sajda. He prayed to Allah that by Husain’s wasila, may our chil- mal, to bring back those who have strayed and unite them under the dren be Mumin, generation after generation, who recite the names banner of Dawat ul haqq. of the Panjetan Paak. Syedna beseeched Allah to accept our namaaz and roza in Syedna implored Imamuz zaman to bless us all with his doa in Shehre Ramadan. this mubarak night. He beseeched Allah for Nasre Azeez and Fathe Syedna said he included every single Mumin, no matter where Mubeen with Imamuz zaman’s wasila, and to keep the banner of they lived, in his doa. He asked mumineen to pray for him, that may Dawat flying high. He prayed for success in the court cases against Allah give him strength to dedicate his life for Imamuz zaman and the imposters. his Dawat. Syedna said: Allah, this humble servant has come with this Towards the end of the wasila, Syedna declared with warm ship of mendicants (miskeen) to the door of your mercy. If you do affection to Mumineen that, “you have love for me, and I have even not have mercy on us, where will we go? more love for you. You live in my heart. You are with me. You are Syedna offered shukur to Allah taala, saying even our praying with me in Imamuz zaman’s presence. Shi’atuna minna.” to you is your blessing, nemat, on us. Syedna ended the vasila with this prayer: Allah, we answer Syedna bestowed the most precious pearls of doa for mumi- your call and say “na’am”, ya raadda ma qad faat, shower us with neen, that may Allah forgive all our transgressions, solve our dif- your blessings (ni’am).

Announcement & Amal Details 30mi Raat of Ramadaan & Eid-ul-Fitar Night & Day

Syedna Fakhruddin TUS will lead Maghrib Isha and Washeq as per the detailed Bihori section on FatemiDawat.com and Namaaz on 30mi raat (Sunday 3rd July) and Eidul Fitar raat (Mon- listen to Wasila Mubaraka of Syedna Mohammed Burha- day 4th July) at Darus Sakina, Thane, inshaallah. nuddin RA after Nisful Layl Namaaz and Doa. Syedna will also lead ihyaa’ul layl (Bihori Namaaz) on 30mi • Mumineen should also pray Syedna Hatim RA doa also on raat inshaallah. 30mi raat before Shaf’a. (PDF is available on FatemiDawat. On Eid day (Tuesday, 5th July), Syedna TUS will lead Fajr com.) Namaaz and Eid Khutba followed by Eidul Fitar Khushi Majlis and • Mumineen should also pray the Salaam written by Syedna Iftaar breakfast. Mumineen will receive sharaf of qadambosi of Qutbuddin for rehmat, maghfirat, and itqun minan naar. Aqamaula TUS inshaallah. (PDF is available on FatemiDawat.com). All Mumineen are invited for salawaat jaman on 30mi raat, Eid-ul-Fitar raat and Eid day. Eid-ul-Fitar Night - (Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 142 – 144) By the raza mubarak of Syedna Fakhruddin, Imamat namaz • Mumineen should pray Maghrib Isha Namaz – with Sunnat will also be held in Pune, Secunderabad, London, Leicester, Toron- and Naafilat – and pray TAKBEERA after each Faraz. to, Detroit, Chicago, Bakersfield, Poconos, New Jersey, San Jose, • Then Mumineen should pray Washeq 24 Rak’at (Niyyat Houston, Boston, Singapore, Los Angeles and other cities. On the in Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 143) and 10 Rak’at Tatawwu’ auspicious occasion of these layali fazela, Mumineen, Muminaat Namaz (as per instructions in Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 143). and their children who are not able to attend are advised to do the • Mumineen should pray Tasbeeh of Doa prayed after Ruku following amal: Sujud in Tatawwu’ Namaz – 100 times, and Astaghferullah Tasbeeh – 1000 times. 30mi raat • Then they should pray Sajada Wajhi Doa/ Rabbana fol- • Mumineen should pray Maghrib Isha Namaz – with Sunnat lowed by the recording of Syedna Qutbuddin’s RA wasila and Naafilat mubaraka. • Then Mumineen should pray Nabi na naam followed by 10 rakaat tatawwu’ namaaz (see Bihori Hafti Part 1, pg 129) Eid-ul-Fitar Day • Mumineen are also encouraged to pray Bihori on 30 mi raat • Mumineen should pray Fajr Sunnat, Faraz and ta’qeeb doa

3 – and pray TAKBEERA after each Faraz. (Also pray Tak- stead, or if that is also difficult then they may pray Inna beera after Zohor/Asar). anzalnaahu and Wat-teen ni surats. Mumineen should be • After sunrise, Mumineen should pray “allahuma inna sure to review qunut doa in hafti before starting namaaz natubo” (Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 145). (Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 148) • Then pray “allahuma ya mo’tias-sualat” iftaar doa, and do • Then Mumineen should pray ‘Ewazil-Khutbatayn’ – two ift aa r. Raka’ats – and NOT Imamat – (Niyyat in Bihori Hafti, Part • On Eid-ul-Fitar Day Mumineen should take out Silatul- 1, pg. 148). Imam AS. • Then they should pray Doa of Imam Ali Zaynul Abedeen • Mumineen should pray Eid Namaaz 2 Rak’ats – with Ima- SA, while standing towards the Qibla. (Bihori Part 1, Pg. mat where there is raza (Bihori Hafti, Part 1, pg. 147) View 149 – 154). video presentation on the Eid Khutba Namaz. For those • Then Mumineen should pray Sajada Wajhi Doa/Rabbana, who do not remember Wash-shams and Hal-ataaka surats, followed by recording of Syedna Qutbuddin RA wasila they may pray Inna anzalnaahu and Wad-duha surats in- mubaraka.

Fatimid History Series Eid-ul-Fitar Celebrations in the time of the Fatemi Imams in Cairo (From Sijill 24) This is an excerpt from a captivating historical account of Fatimid celebrations and customs written by Shehzadi Dr. Bazat Saifiyah Baisaheba. The article first offers a brief historical setting of Fatimid Cairo and then continues to describe in great detail the nature and significance of processions and banquets. The article also contextualizes the social, political, economic, cultural implica- tions of such traditions. It then focuses on specific occasions and their festivities. Two years ago, we featured the Eid-ul-Fitar section of this article on FatemiDawat.com. Here is an excerpt from the full article: Two banquets were held in Eid-ul-Fitr. The first one was for the common people, it was held in a huge columned hall known as the ‘Iwan al-Kabir’ in which a long ma’aidat was laid, piled with different kinds of ‘fitra.’ After the morning prayer, the Caliph would sit in the cial care was taken over this banquet, it was decorated with flowers ‘window’ of the Iwan looking on to the people as they ate the ‘fitra’ and covered with dishes of gold and silver and china porcelain filled and took away some as ‘baraka.’ Sometime later, another custom was with delicious aromatic foods (21 fatly roasted sheep in 21 very long introduced: those who did not break their fast that day (for example, platters, 350 birds – chicken and pigeon, etc. all kinds of confection Sunnis, if the moon had not yet been sighted) took the fitra but placed in elaborate shapes: a tree made totally-branches leaves and fruits- of it in their sleeves, and took it away with them. sugar, 1000 figures made of sugar, 2 palaces made of halwa, etc.; There was another banquet for the Caliph, the nobility, aristoc- the khubz was placed on the edge of the simat, each weighing 3 ratl.) racy, and officials of state in the ‘Golden Hall’ after the salat al-’Id We look forward to continuing this article series on Fatimid a silver ma’aidat madroora was placed for the Caliph in front of the Cairo and will present further pieces on Fatimid Cairo soon, throne, and stretching from it right to the door another, ma’aidat– re- inshallah. sembling a long heavy, very low table – of painted wood was laid. Spe-

Announcement & Amal Details Syedna TUS Weekly Qadambosi & Araz Bethak

As earlier stated in the philoso- 6.00pm at Darus Sakina, Mumbai, followed by Imamat namaaz phy of Da’wat and the Guiding Princi- and Iftaar Jaman. In the Qadambosi and Araz Bethak Mumineen ples, access to the Dai is available for may also present their zakaat and other huqooq and wajebaat. all Mumineen. Bethak audience with Syedna Bethak is scheduled on the following Sundays insha’allah: Taher Fakhruddin TUS is scheduled in Shehrullah on every Sunday at • Sunday 29th Ramadaan – 3rd July

19mi Ramadaan Amirul Mumineen SA Shahaadat Waaz Broadcast Syedna Taher Fakhruddin TUS delivered waaz Mubarak and prayed Maghrib Isha and Washeq Namaaz at Darus Sakina, Thane. shahaadat of Amirul Mumineen Maulana Ali bin Abi Talib SA Syedna’s TUS waaz is available for viewing and playback using the on 19mi raat of Shehre Ramadaan (Wednesday, 22nd June) after following link, for a limited time.

4 Amal Details for the Last Ten Days of Shehrullah Itqun minan naar no Dasko & Nabi na naam

The last ten days of Shehrullah are known as the ten days of ‘itqun-minan-naar (freedom from hellfire) based on the khutba of Rasulullah SA in the last days of Shabaan. In these ten days, as in Shehrullah as a whole, Mumineen are encouraged to do the following: 1 – ROZA: Continue Shehrullah Roza.

2 – NAMAAZ: Pray all five Farizat namaaz on time with their respective Sunnat and Naafilat. Click here to read further details.

3 – DUA: Pray allahumma haadha shahru Ramadaan after each faraz (text and translation available on website). Pray doa namaaz and doa for ‘itqun-minan-naar (freedom from hellfire). of Imam Ali Zainul Aabideen SA after Fajr namaaz (text, transla- Details of how to pray Bihori with accompanying translation and tion and audio of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin RA and Syedna audios of some doas have been published on FatemiDawat.com Taher Fakhruddin reciting this doa available on website). Pray doa of Syedna al-Mo’ayyad after Zohor Nafilat (text available on web- 6 – NABI NA NAAM: Do tasbeeh of Salawaat on Anbiyaa’ site). Allahumma ya mu’tiy as su’aalaat after Maghrib Namaaz, be- SA (Nabi na naam) and pray two Rak’ats for “ibtighaa’ al-Fadl was fore iftaar (text available on website). sawaab” after nabi na naam every night until and including 30 mi raat starting with the last Jumo’a raat (Friday eve) in Shehrullah 4 – QURAN: Pray at least one sipara of Quran Majeed a day (27mi raat – 30th June). On Friday (27th Shehrullah) pray Nabi na so that you can complete one full Quran in the month. naam before Zohor Namaaz as well (Text & audio is published on FatemiDawat.com). 5 – BIHORI: Pray Bihori as much as possible, especially

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Sijill is an Arabic word which literally means official letter. It was a term often used in the Fatimid chancery. The name is inspired by the most auspicious letter ‘Sijill-ul-Bisharat’.