Transcript TARIQAH AND CONSTITUTION

TARIQAH
AND
CONSTITUTION
A presentation by
Kamaluddin Ali Muhammad
National Council Hall, Karachi
15-11-2008
AKNOWLEDGEMENT
I thank my following colleagues for their
most valuable help in preparing this
presentation:
• Alwaiz madad Ali Karami, Itreb for Sindh,
Hyderabad
• Alwaiz Zulfiqar Jessani, Itreb for Pakistan
• Alwaiz Akbar Abdul Majeed, Itreb for
Karachi and Balochistan
UNDERSTANDING
OUR
TARIQAH
SOME BASIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM-1
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Freedom of interpretation
No compulsion in religion 2:256
Concept of ease in practice 2:185, 22:78
Create easiness and not difficulty (Hadith)
Use of intellect
No responsibility to convince others
SOME BASIC
CHARACTERISTICS OF ISLAM-2
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Concept of majority and minority in religion
A natural religion
Different dimensions of Islam
Relationship between Imam and Qur’an
Understanding the context in which
questions are asked.
• True nature of Islam; Hazar Imam’s
speech
HAZAR IMAM’S MESSAGE ON
ESSENCE OF ISLAM
“This message is still potent in the Muslim world
today, although it is sometimes clouded,
distorted and deformed by political interests and
by struggles for power over the minds and
hearts of people. There are attempts at
transforming what are meant to be fluid,
progressive, open-ended, intellectually informed,
and spiritually inspired traditions of thought, into
hardened, monolithic, absolutist and
obscurantist positions .” (London 19-10-03)
TRUE NATURE OF ISLAM
(London, October 19, 2003)
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Yes
Fluid
Progressive
Open-ended
Intellectually
informed
Spiritually
inspired
No
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Hardened
Monolithic
Absolutist
Obscurantist
UNDERSTANDING
OUR
CONSTITUTION
DEFINITION OF CONSTITUTION
“A body of fundamental laws and
principles according to which a state /
organization is governed. A constitution
determines the organization of a
government, the function and power of the
government in general, its subdivisions
and officers and how these functions and
powers are to be exercised.”
ISMAILI CONSTITUTIONS-1
• 1905, first constitution was given by Imam
Sultan Muhammad Shah (s.a.) which was
later revised in 1926.
• 1962, Mawlana Hazar Imam gave
constitution to the Jamats of Africa
• 12 August 1962, constitution was given to
Pakistan Jamat.
ISMAILI CONSTITUTIONS-2
• 1967, constitution was given to the Jamat
of India.
• 13 December 1986, new constitution given
by Mawlana Hazar Imam to Jamat
worldwide .
• 11 July 1998, current constitution was
revised by Mawlana Hazar Imam.
TALIQA MUBARAK-1
“On the 13th of December, I will ordain a
new Ismaili Constitution, which will be
known as “The Constitution of the Shia
Imami Ismaili Muslims”. The Ismaili
constitution will be applicable throughout
the world, linking all members of My Jamat
wherever to the Imamat.”
(December 10, 1986)
TALIQA MUBARAK-2
“I have also taken account of recent
significant developments such as the
increasingly international dimension of the
Jamat’s settlement, and specially my
aspiration for the Jamat to play an even
more active part than in the past in the
mainstream of life in the societies in which
it lives.” (December 10, 1986)
TALIQA MUBARAK-3
“It is my belief that the Ismaili Constitution
will provide a strong institutional and
organizational framework through which
My Jamat will be able to contribute to the
harmonious development of the Ummah
and of the societies in which the Jamat
lives.”
(December 10, 1986)
TALIQA MUBARAK-4
“I hope that the Ismaili Constitution will
become an enabling document for all my
spiritual children for an active role in
institution building, for creative application
of their abilities, for personal development
and for intellectual and spiritual
satisfaction.”
(December 10, 1986)
TALIQA MUBARAK-5
“The Ismaili Constitution recognizes and
addresses many of the Jamat’s present and
future needs, but it is to be expected that some
adjustment will need to be made in the practical
application of the Constitution to meet local
circumstances. These adjustments will be made
on a case by case basis, in the Rules and
Regulations, which will be provided in respect of
each country.”
(December 10, 1986)
TALIQA MUBARAK-6
“ I am confident that the Ismaili
Constitution will give stronger integrated
identity to My Jamat worldwide, and that in
abiding by it in letter and spirit, the Jamat
will achieve greater peace, unity,
happiness, security and wellbeing.”
(December 10, 1986)
ACCESS TO THE CONSTITUTION
Announcement made at the time of promulgating the
constitution in 1986
“After the Rules and Regulations have
been sanctioned and all parts of the
constitution have come into force, copies
of the constitution, incorporating the
relevant Rules and Regulations for each
country will be freely available to members
of the Jamat.”
PREAMBLE - 1
(A) “The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims affirm the
shahādah lā ilāha illa-llāh, Muhammadur rasulullāh, the Tawhid therein and that the Holy
Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) is the last and final
Prophet of Allah. Islam, as revealed in the Holy
Quran, is the final message of Allah to mankind,
and is universal and eternal. The Holy Prophet
(s.a.s.) through the divine revelation from Allah
prescribed rules governing spiritual and
temporal matters.”
SALIENT POINTS
• Tawhid-unity of Allah, Suratul ikhlās
• He is beyond all attributes, and is
Incomprehensible
• Finality of Prophethood-khātamunnabiyyin
• Qur’an, final message of Allah to mankind,
universal and eternal.
• The Prophet prescribed rules for spiritual
and temporal matters (Sharī‘ah)
PREAMBLE - 2
(B) “In accordance with Shia doctrine, tradition,
and interpretation of history, the Holy Prophet
(s.a.s.) designated and appointed his cousin and
son-in-law Hazrat Mawlana Ali Amiru-l-Mu’minin
(a.s), to be the first Imam to continue the Ta’wīl
and Ta‘līm of Allah’s final message and to guide
the murids, and proclaimed that the Imamat
should continue by heredity through Hazrat
Mawlana Ali (a.s) and his daughter Hazrat Bibi
Fatimat-az-Zahra, Khātun-i-Jannat (a.s).”
SALIENT POINTS
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Prophet appointed Ali (a.s.) as successor
To continue Ta’wīl and Ta‘līm
To guide the murids
Imamat to continue by heredity in his
progeny
• Spiritual and temporal authority of the
Prophet. The spiritual continued with the
Imamat.
PREAMBLE - 3
(C) “Succession
of Imamat is by
way of Nass, it being the absolute
prerogative of the Imam of the
time to appoint his successor
from amongst any of his male
descendents whether they be
sons or remoter issue.”
SALIENT POINTS
• Appointment of Imam
• Meaning of Nass
• (Verb: to lay down, fix, stipulate, appoint,
provide, determine etc.
• Noun: text, wording, version, expression,
provision etc.
• Direct male descendent
PREAMBLE - 4
(D) “The authority of the Imam in the Ismaili
Tariqah is testified by Bay‘ah by the murid to the
Imam which is the act of acceptance by the
murid of the permanent spiritual bond between
the Imam and the murid. This allegiance unites
all Ismaili Muslims worldwide in their loyalty,
devotion and obedience to the Imam within the
Islamic concept of universal brotherhood. It is
distinct from the allegiance of the individual
murid to his land of abode.”
SALIENT POINTS
• Meaning of Bay‘ah (contract, buying and
selling, giving allegiance)
• An old tradition in Islam, based in the
Qur’an
• Acceptance of the authority of Imam
• Meaning of murid (eager, hopeful,
follower, disciple, devotee, obedient)
PREAMBLE - 5
(E) “From the time of the Imamat of Hazrat
Mawlana Ali (a.s), the Imams of the Ismaili
Muslims have ruled over territories and
peoples in various areas of the world at
different periods of history and, in
accordance with the needs of the time,
have given rules of conduct and
constitution in conformity with the Islamic
concepts of unity, brotherhood, justice,
tolerance and goodwill.”
PREAMBLE - 6
(F) “Historically and in accordance with
Ismaili tradition, the Imam of the time is
concerned with spiritual advancement as
well as improvement of the quality of life of
his murids. The imam’s ta‘lim lights the
murid’s path to spiritual enlightenment and
vision. In temporal matters, the Imam
guides the murids, and motivates them to
develop their potential.”
SALIENT POINTS
• Worldly and spiritual development of
murids
• Imam’s ta‘lim lights the path to spiritual
enlightenment
• Guidance in temporal matters and
motivate to improve their potential.
PREAMBLE - 7
(G) Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah
Karim al Hussaini, His Highness
Prince Aga Khan, in direct lineal
descent from the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.)
through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (a.s.) and
Hazrat Bibi Fatima (a.s), is the FortyNinth Imam of the Ismaili Muslims.”
PREAMBLE - 8
(H) “By virtue of his office and in
accordance with the faith and belief of
the Ismaili Muslims, the Imam enjoys
full authority of governance over and
in respect of all religious and Jamati
matters of the Ismaili Muslims.”
PREAMBLE - 9
(I) “It is the desire and Hidāyat of
Mawlana Hazar Imam that the
constitutions presently applicable to
the Ismaili Muslims in different
countries be superseded and that the
Ismaili Muslims worldwide be given
this constitution in order better to
secure their peace and unity,
PREAMBLE – 9 CONTINUE
religious and social welfare, to foster
fruitful collaboration between different
peoples, to optimise the use of
resources, and to enable the Ismaili
Muslims to make a valid and
meaningful contribution to the
improvement of the quality of life of
the Ummah and the societies in which
they live.”
ARTICLE-1
1.1 Power and authority of Mawlana Hazar
Imam.
Mawlana Hazar Imam has inherent right
and absolute and unfettered power and
authority over and in respect of all
religious and Jamati matters of the Ismailis
ARTICLE-1
1.2 Mawlana Hazar Imam has the sole authority
to:
a. Determine all questions that may arise as
regards the meaning and interpretation of any
religious or Jamati tradition or custom of the
Ismailis and amend or discontinue it at any time;
b. Confer a constitution on the Jamat and amend
or discontinue any such constitution or any
provision thereof;
ARTICLE-1
c. Determine all questions that may arise as
regards the meaning and interpretation
of any such constitution and grant
dispensation therefrom;
d. Constitute or discontinue any body or
organisation under any such constitution
and define or change its composition,
functions, jurisdiction or powers;
ARTICLE-1
e. Constitute or discontinue offices under
any such constitution, make
appointments to any such office and
terminate such appointments which shall
all be held at Mawlana Hazar Imam’s
pleasure; and
f. Prescribe the rules and regulations to be
made under this constitution.
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