Mahdaviah Insight (A Publication of Mahdavia Islamic Center of Chicago )

November 2017 (Safar/Rabi ul Awwal, 1439 H) | Vol. 3, Number 5

Editorial: Our Legacy?

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful. Inside this issue: Alhamdulillah, we are Mahdavis today because our elders have left a legacy of Iman and spirituality, a path in the right direction to reach the ultimate destiny, a volume of knowledge, both formal and informal, that can guide us from time to time to make right and difficult decisions. What would be our legacy for the next generation?

A serious thought on this question is the need of the hour. What are we leaving behind us for the younger Editorial 1 people? Are we giving them a set up where they can find answers to some of their religious questions? Are we teaching them why we are Mahdavis and why we are different from others? We have never said any- thing bad for other faiths or other points of views unless and until we were challenged with the question of Intoxication 2 our faith. Several voluminous books have been written to defend our faith and answer the questions raised by others. Today we do not have time to talk to our kids about Mahdaviah faith. This problem is some- what different in the West where we do not have institutions built to protect and safeguard our faith. We have a substantial amount of Mahdavis living in some of the places in United States and Canada but un- fortunately, there is no attempt to institutionalize our activities as a community, a community representing Silsila 3 a separate sect of Islam.

Prayer of a 4 Alhamdulillah, there are many Mahdavis in the West with much stronger faith than in other places but Child commonly we hear from people that how we are different from the mainstream Islam? While they and we believe in the same Qur’an, the Prophet SAS, the Islamic Shari’ah, the way we practice is also same so why and where is the difference. The difference lies in accepting the advent of Imam Mahdi AS, who was born in 847H. He is the Caliph of Allah and Prophet Muhammed SAS himself gave him the name of Mahdi and Recipe of the 4 asked the Ummah to go and make covenant with him even if you have to crawl on Ice, if you hear about Month his advent. Is this hadith not sufficient for us to understand the importance of the advent of Mahdi AS?

SAS Urdu Poetry 4 It is important to note that Allah commanded us not only to obey the Messenger but also to follow him. In one of the verses of Qur’an Allah says, “He, who obeys the Messenger, has indeed obeyed Allah, …” (4:80). Yet another place Allah says,” Obey God and obey the Messenger….(5:92). In the early period of Islam, the Quresh said that they also love Allah and they installed idols in Kaaba only in love of Allah. Allah responded to their claim with the Qur’anic verse: “Say (O Muhammad to mankind): "If you (really) love Allah, then follow me (i.e. Muhammad), Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Al Qur’an, 3:31)

SWT Therefore, Allah responded by saying that if you (Quresh) love Allah, you should follow (Ittiba) Prophet Muhammad SAS, then Allah will love you. Allah could have said that if you love Him, you should Editorial Team reject all the idols but Allah put a condition of Prophet’s following as an acid test of Allah’s love. When 1. Zareen Syed the same Prophet Muhammad SAS asked the Ummah to go and make the covenant if you hear about the Editor-in-Chief advent of Mahdi AS, why people do not obey, and do not follow such an important instruction of the Prophet SAS. Can we obey the Prophet on certain things and remain disobeyed on others? Is this the Ittiba of the Prophet when we ignore some of his commands and accept some? Despite the fact that we have the MICC has an Editorial Team same Qur’an, the Prophet, the Shari’ah, but if we are not accepting or even giving a secondary importance and a Review Board to AS ensure the quality of the to the acceptance of Mahdi , it means our obeying and following (Ittiba) of the Prophet is in question. AS publication. The religion of Islam includes both Nabuwat and Vilayath. Imamuna Mahdi said that he was sent by Allah SWT to present the teachings of Vilayath. How can you get the Faiz of Vilayat without accepting the The Newsletter, being a collaborative noble personality of Mahdi AS who was sent by Allah to present and explain those teachings? project, will also be available at www.miccusa.org, www.promisedmehdi.com, promisedmehdi yahoo group, and Our lives are too busy, some of us might be interested in carrying out our legacy to the kids but they don’t Promised Mehdi facebook page. have time to spare. It is therefore imperative to set up institutions (Mahdavia centers) in at least two or

The authors are responsible for the three US cities where substantial number of Mahdavis are living. These centers can carry out the responsi- contents of their article; editorial board may or may not agree with the bility of teaching our faith to our younger generations. It is already late and if we further delay this, we opinions expressed by authors. may lose our future generations to go astray for which we will certainly be accountable before Allah SWT.

Editorial Team

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Mahdaviah Insight November 2017 page 2

Intoxication

In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most The pride makes a man egoistic. It is the pride Merciful only that brought down Iblis from being teacher Quote from the of angels to the one who is humiliated and dis- The Webster dictionary has defined the word graced. Let’s refer Qur’an: “(Allah) said: "What Article) “Intoxication” as “an abnormal state that is essen- “The drunkenness of the tially a poisoning, a condition of being drunk, a prevented you (O Iblis) that you did not pros- trate, when I commanded you" Iblis said: "I am world includes the pride of strong excitement or elation”. It is also clear that the word intoxicant doesn't apply only to alcohol. It better than him (Adam), You created me from material wealth, the pride of means anything that poisons the body and soul and fire, and him You created from clay." (Allah) being superior to others, the that takes away the capacity to understand. said: "(O Iblis) get down from this (Paradise), it

pride of being highly is not for you to be arrogant here. Get out, for Let’s look at how this term is being used in Qur’an. you are of those humiliated and disgraced." (Al educated and a scholar of no Allah says: “O you who have believed, do not ap- Qur’an, 7:12-13) match, the pride of being a proach prayer while you are intoxicated until you know what you are saying…. (Al Qur’an, 4:43). highly successful person in Most of the commentaries of Qur’an has taken the Islam is a religion that is compatible with the the community, the pride of meaning of “intoxicated” as the state of mind after human nature. Initially, the drunkenness was not prohibited but slowly as the faith in Islam got being famous, the pride of taking an alcoholic drink or one who has consumed alcohol. We generally see the slogans in our daily life stronger among the believers, it was eventually being in the news more often, that says, “Don’t drink and drive”. With the con- declared as prohibited (haram). Allah says, “O the pride of being published sumption of alcohol, a person loses the ability to People who Believe! Wine (all intoxicants), and gambling, and idols, and the darts are impure – in the social media either in drive a vehicle and reaches your destination. If this is true for the material world, how can we remain in- the works of Satan, therefore keep avoiding them the form of pictures or toxicated and drive to reach our spiritual destination so that you may succeed. The Shaitan only de- videos. ” because prayer (Namaaz) is also a journey that takes sires to cause enmity and hatred to spring in us to reach our destination of seeking Allah’s near- your midst by means of intoxicants and games of

ness. However, on this spiritual journey, one has to chance, and to keep you off from the remem- be free from all kinds of intoxicants, and not just the brance of Allah and from prayer. Will you then alcohol. Let’s look at what Mahdi AS has said about desist? (Al Qur’an, 5:90-91) ———— intoxication in the above Qur’anic verse: It is clear from the above that the intoxicants Al-Qur’an Naql: It is narrated that Imam Mahdi AS, while explicating take away our sense of understanding, we don’t the Qur’anic verse, “O ye who believe! Draw not near unto realize what we are doing and what we are say- (Following prayer when you are drunken”, he AS said, “The drunken- ing, whether we are on the right path or have SAS ness (Sukara) here also means the drunkenness of the gone astray. So how can we remember Allah in a Muhammad ) world.” (Naqliyat Bandagi MiaN Abdul-Rasheed RZ, 213, state of intoxication, when remembrance of Al- page 117(Englsih version)) lah has been reminded time and again in the “Say (O Qur’an and for us (mahdavis), it is one of the Muhammad to We, as Mahdavis, believe that Imam Mahdi AS is the obligatory acts of Vilyath (Zikrullah). Allah Caliph of Allah and free from any error (Masum- warns those who do not remember Him. “And mankind): "If you Anil-Khata). Allah has entrusted him with the task do not be like those who forgot Allah – He there- (really) love Allah, of explaining the true meaning of the Qur’an (Mahdi fore put them into hardship making them forget AS being Mubaiyyin-ul-Qur’an). We can see that how themselves; it is they who are the sinners.” (Al then follow me Mahdi AS has explained the meaning of “Sukara” to Qur’an, 59:19) May Allah guide us and keep us (i.e. Muhammad), include all intoxicants and the most lethal being the humble, take away all our pride, fill our hearts drunkenness of the love of this world. Intoxication with His remembrance and Ishq, Aameen. Allah will love you also includes lust and greed for the material wealth and love to retain it. This is also a proof of him being Ahl-e-fana ko naam say hasti kay aar hai and forgive you the explainer of Qur’an. Lauh-e-Mazaar par meri katba bhi baar hai your sins. And SAS Allah is Oft- The drunkenness of the world includes the pride of JALSA-E-MILAD UN NABI material wealth, the pride of being superior to others, Forgiving, Most the pride of being highly educated and a scholar of AT MICC Merciful." no match, the pride of being a highly successful per- son in the community, the pride of being famous, the ON SATURDAY, ( Al Qur’an, 3:31) pride of being in the news more often, the pride of DECEMBER 2, 2017 being published in the social media either in the form of pictures or videos. These are the things that make (Watch for our announcement for a person drunken as explained by Imam Mahdi AS. details) Email: [email protected] | www.miccusa.org

Mahdaviah Insight November 2017 page 3

In the Name of Allah, The Most High. SILSILA ILAAQA: It looks like Ilaaqa is an Urdu or Hindi word, meaning territory or do- SILSILA is an Arabic word, meaning link, chain, main. Thus, it means that a person is connecting Hadith: connection etc. In our Mahdavia terminology it is with a different domain. This needs more re- used to define the lineage of the covenant (Ba'iath) search, to find the origin of this Term and usage made with one's Murshid. It defines the spiritual line- in our community. Silsila Ilaaqa is the silsila of a It was narrated that Abu age of the Murshid to Imamuna Mahdi Alaihis salam subsequent covenant (Bai’ath). it could be a sec- Hurairah said: "The and through him (pbuh) to Allah. ond or third covenant made with a different Messenger of Allah Murshid. Usually, a second Ba'iath is made after [SAW] said: 'If a judge A hadith about Imam Mehdi says ...... When you hear the original Murshid (Murshid-e-Tarbiyati) pass- about him go to him, make covenant (Ba'iath) with es away. This is usually done with the successor passes judgment and him, even if you had to go crawling over the snow for (Ja’nasheen or Khalifa) of the original Murshid. strives to reach the right verily he is the khalifah of Allah, the Mahdi.” - But could be done with any other Murshid, who conclusion and gets it (Mishkaat & Sunan Ibn Majah with slight variance of is competent and qualified. This subsequent right, he will have two wordings.) This hadith makes it obligatory on every bai’ath or Ilaaqa keeps the first covenant and rewards; if he strives to person to make covenant (Ba'iath) with Imamuna silsila of the Mureedi intact. Thus, a person gains reach the right conclu- AS Mahdi . more than one lineages, if the Ilaaqa is with a sion but gets it wrong, different Murshid, other than the Successor he will still have one In our Mahdavia tradition, the Silsila takes a Mahdavi (Ja’nasheen) of the original Murshid. Usually, at to the covenant of Imamuna Mehdi AS, through a the time of this subsequent Bai’ath the silsila is reward." chain and linage of Murshids. In our tradition the not read out to the mureed and not recited by silsila are of three kinds: him. The mureed would say to the murshid thus: Sunan an-Nasa'i Miyan, Allah vastey mera Ilaqa qubool kariye. Vol. 6, Book 49, Hadith 5383 SILSILA-E-MUREEDI (TARBIYATI SILSILA) (Miyan, accept my Ilaqa for the sake of Allah). If SILSILA-E-FAQEERI the murshid accepts it, he would thus respond: SILSILA-E-ILAAQA MaiN nay Allah vastey aap ka Ilaaqa qubool kiya (I accept your Ilaaqa for the sake of Allah). SILSILA MUREEDI is the one which is recited at the time of becoming a mureed. An Ilaaqa could also be done with another When a person becomes a Mureed of a Murshid Murshid, with the permission of the original (makes covenant with the Murshid), the Murshid Murshid, even during his lifetime. reads his silsila, starting from him to his Murshid to his murshid all the way to Mehdi Alaihis salam It will not be out of place to mention the im- Khaleefathullah and the mureed repeats the silsila portance and vitality of keeping the linage correct with the Murshid. Linking and connecting the mureed without any infractions. Because a lineage, if not to Mehdi Alaihis salam and through Mahdi Alaihis kept correct, is broken and does not link one to Naql: Salaam to Allah SWT. Imamuna Alaihis salam and the obligation of making Covenant (Bai’ath) with the Imamuna is Imam Mahdi AS is In this way the obligation of making covenant with also not fulfilled. Thus, it becomes very im- Imamuna Alaihis salam is fulfilled as commanded in portant to see that the SILSILA is not violated narrated to have said, “ SAS the Prophet in the above Hadith, and also the link- and is not ruptured or concocted in any way, See Bandagi MiyaN age and connection to Allah is also established. shape, or form for any reason, thus rendering it invalid. Shah Dilawar RZ if you SILSILA FAQEERI is the one which is recited at the time of performing Tark e Duniya. In the Mahdavia The authority of the Deen lies with Qur’an, say- have not seen a corpse SAS Tradition, Tark e Duniya is Farz (obligatory) for every ings and practice of Prophet Muhammad , and walking on the earth man and woman. Mehdi Alaihis salam made it oblig- sayings and practice of Imam Mahdi AS . Prophet atory according to the edicts and verses of the Quran. Muhammad SAS has left two things behind him for the ummah—Qur’an and Sunnah. In another When a Mahdavi person does Tark e Duniya version, the Prophet SAS said that he’s leaving two Hashia Insaf Nama, Naql# (Negating one’s Dhaat and Renounces the love for things behind himMarag—Qur’an is a andHyderabadi Itrat (progeny). spe- 706, page 162 cialty commonly found in this World) the person becomes a faqeer. and at this He also said that if we hold these things, we will (English version) auspicious occasion murshid recites the silsila of fa- not go astray. Inweddings. yet another Hadith, Prophet qeeri thus: I am the faqeer of so and so... he is the Muhammed SAS said, “How can my ummah will faqeer of so and so ... all the way to Imamuna Mahdi perish (Halaak) when I am at its beginning, Isa AS Alaihis salam and ...... Imamuna Mehdi Alaihis , the son of Mary, at its end, and Mahdi from Salam to Allah SWT. Thus, taking the lineage all the my progeny (Itrat) is in the middle. SWT way to Allah . Because the main aim, goal and purpose of Tark e Duniya is to strive more devotedly Any word or deed that goes against any of the and rigorously towards the Vision of Allah, one has to three sources is null and void and should not be completely free himself/herself from the love of this adopted. material world.

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Mahdaviah Insight November 2017 page 4

Kids’ Section Urdu Poetry Prayer of a Child by Dr. Iqbal

(Editor’s note: Our kids usually read prose or poetry of western writers. Here is a glimpse of an easterner , Dr. Mohammed Iqbal, an eminent Urdu poet, who wrote a marvelous poem with the title “prayer of a child”. The English translation of the original Urdu poem is given below ) for our kids to read and comprehendKids Section: a remarkable piece of poetry (translation taken from an external source)

May longing comes to my lips as supplication of mine O God! May like the candle be the life of mine!

May the world’s darkness disappear through the life of mine! May every place light up with the sparkling light of mine!

May my homeland through me attain elegance As the garden through flowers attains elegance

May my life like that of the moth be, O Lord! May I love the lamp of knowledge, O Lord!

May supportive of the poor my life’s way be May loving the old, the suffering my way be

O God! Protect me from the evil ways Show me the path leading to the good ways

Recipe of the Month Safurah Ashraf CHILLI CHICKEN (SERVES: 4 PEOPLE)

Egg -1 All purpose flour- 2 tablespoons Cornflour- 4 tablespoons Soy Sauce- 1 teaspoon Sweet Chilli Sauce- 2 tablespoon Chicken- 500 grams Salt to taste Water as required For Frying: Vegetable Oil- 300 milliliters Apoll fish is a Hyderabadi For The Sauce: specialty. Marinated fish fil- Garlic- 1 teaspoon (chopped) lets are dp fried and lightly Vegetable Oil- 2 tablespoon tossed in a masala seasoning. Onions-150 grams (cut into square) Serve as an etizer or with the Green Chilli- 4 (sliced) main course. Vinegar- 1 teaspoon Heat the Oil in a pan and deep fry the marinated chicken pieces until Sweet Chilli Sauce- 2 tablespoons goldenIngredients: brown. Drain it on an absorbent paper and keep aside. Green Capsicum- 2 tablespoons (cut into square) Red Chilli Powder- 2 tablespoons ForFish the 250gmsSauce, Heat oil in a wok on medium flame and add garlic. Stir Cornflour- 4 tablespoons fryA for cup a minute.of curry Addleaves onions and green capsicum and saute for few Salt to taste minutes.4-5 green Add chillies, green choppedchillies, chilli sauce, vinegar, red chilli powder and Water as required. salt1 andteaspoon stir fry. chopped Add the garlic dissolved corn flour to it and combine and stir Instructions: well¼ continuously.tsp turmericpowder Then finally add the fried chicken pieces. Cook on For the Marination, Combine egg, all-purpose flour, corn high1 tsp heat chilli and powder stir to the desired thickness. flour, soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce and water. Add salt and 1 tsp ginger garlic paste marinate the boneless chicken pieces with marination mixture Chilli1 egg Chicken is served best with fried rice or noodles. for 1-2 hours. 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour 1 tsp corn starch 1 ½ tsp chilli paste

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