Beliefs Isma'ilism

1 beliefs

1.1 view on qur an
1.2 ginans , qasidas
1.3 reincarnation (druze)
1.4 numerology
1.5 imamate
1.6 pir , dawah
1.7 zāhir
1.8 bātin
1.9 aql
1.10 dasond (zakat)

1.10.1 walayah
1.10.2 taharah or shahada

1.10.2.1 taharah
1.10.2.2 shahada


1.10.3 salat
1.10.4 zakat
1.10.5 sawm
1.10.6 hajj
1.10.7 jihad

beliefs

view on qur an

ismāʿīlīs believe qur sent muhammad through angel gabriel (jibra il in arabic) on course of 23 years. believe imam has authority interpret qur in relation present time.

the ginans , qasidas

the ginans nizari religious texts. written in form of poetry pirs interpret meanings of quranic ayat languages of south asia, gujarati , urdu. in comparison ginans, ismāʿīlīs of other origins, such persians, arabs, , central asians, have qasidas (arabic: قصيدة‎) written missionaries such pir sadardin

reincarnation (druze)

belief in reincarnation exists in druze faith, offshoot of ismailism. druze believe members of community can reincarnated within community. known druze believe in 5 cosmic principles, represented five-colored druze star: intelligence/reason (green), soul (red), word (yellow), precedent (blue), , immanence (white). these virtues take shape of 5 different spirits which, until recently, have been continuously reincarnated on earth prophets , philosophers including adam, ancient greek mathematician , astronomer pythagoras, ancient pharaoh of egypt akhenaten, , many others. druze believe that, in every time period, these 5 principles personified in 5 different people came down earth teach humans true path god , enlightenment, them came 5 other individuals lead people away right path darkness.

numerology

ismāʿīlīs believe numbers have religious meanings. number 7 plays general role in theology of ismā īliyya, including mystical speculations there 7 heavens, 7 continents, 7 orifices in skull, 7 days in week, , forth.

imamate


ismāʿīlīs believe qur has 2 layers of meaning, zāhir meaning apparent, , bātin, meaning hidden.

for sect, imām manifestation of truth, , hence path of salvation god.

classical ismāʿīlī doctrine holds divine revelation had been given in 6 periods (daur) entrusted 6 prophets, call natiq (speaker), commissioned preach religion of law respective communities.

whereas natiq concerned rites , outward shape of religion, inner meaning entrusted wasi (representative). wasi know secret meaning of rites , rules , reveal them small circles of initiates.

the natiq , wasi in turn succeeded line of 7 imāms, guard received. seventh , last imām in period becomes natiq of next period. last imām of sixth period, however, not bring new religion of law rather supersede previous religions, abrogate law , introduce din adama al-awwal ( original religion of adam ) practised adam , angels in paradise before fall, without ritual or law consist merely in creatures praising creator , recognizing unity. final stage called qiyamah.

pir , dawah

just imām seen ismailis manifestation of first-created light, during period between imāmates of muhammad ibn ismail , al-madhi billah, relationship between teacher , student became sacred one, , dai became position beyond normal missionary. dai passed on sacred , hidden knowledge of imām student, use information ascend higher levels. first student loved dai, , dai learned love imām, interceder on behalf of god. in nizari ismailism, head dai called pir.

zāhir

in ismailism, things have exterior meaning, apparent. called zāhir.

bātin

in ismailism, things have interior meaning reserved special few in tune imām, or imām himself. called bātin.

aql

as other shia, ismāʿīlīs believe understanding of god derived first light in universe, light of aql, in arabic translates intellect or bind (latin: intellectus). through universal intellect ( aql al-kull) living , non-living entities know god, , of humanity dependent , united in light. contrastingly, in twelver thought includes prophets well, muhammad, greatest of manifestations of aql.

god, in isma ili metaphysics, seen above , beyond conceptions, names, , descriptions. transcends positive , negative qualities, , knowledge of god such above human comprehension. read more at: ismaili musim teachings on tawhid primary sources

for shia, light (nur) of imamate universal intellect, , consequently, imam on earth focus of manifestation (mazhar) of intellect.

dasond (zakat)

the ismailis have submitted qur anic zakat (see qur 9:103), purification due , not charitable alms, imams since death of prophet muhammad. zakat rates historically differed depending on asset type - 2.5% of animals, 5% of minerals, , 10% of crops. among khoja ismailis, zakat 12.5% of cash income , among other ismailis of iran, syria, central asia, , china, zakat 10% of cash income , other %s of non-cash assets crops , livestock. link article on dasond entire zakat amount given ismaili imam through representatives in jamatkhanas, called mukhi-sahibs. zakat/dasond funds used exclusively benefit of community — , expenses office of imamat incurs in work. , though imam has right portion of funds, personally, in fact reverse happens , imam supplements imamat funds personal resources, additional 150%. has been documented in several interviews of present aga khan.

walayah

walayah translated arabic “guardianship” , denotes “love , devotion god, prophets, aimmat , imām uz zaman, , dai.” denotes ta @ (following every order without protest, 1 s soul s happiness, knowing nothing more important command god , command of vicegerents word). in ismāʿīlī doctrine, god true desire of every soul, , manifests himself in forms of prophets , imāms; guided path, 1 requires messenger or guide: dai. true mawali of imam , dai, heaven made obligatory. , crucial walayat, believe, other pillars , acts ordained islam judged or looked @ god.

taharah or shahada
taharah

a pillar translates arabic “purity.” pure soul, includes bodily purity , cleanliness; without taharat of body, clothes , ma salla, salaat not accepted.

shahada

in place of taharah, druze have shahada, or affirmation of faith.

salat

zakat

a pillar translates “charity.” exception of druze sect, ismāʿīlīs form of zakat resembles zakat of other muslims. along zakat, twelvers pay khums, 1/5 of 1 s unspent money @ end of year. ismāʿīlīs pay tithe of 12.5%, used development projects in eastern world, benefit ismāʿīlīs and, extension, other communities living in area.

sawm

a pillar translated “fasting.” sunni , shi ite muslims fast abstaining food, drink dawn sunset purifying soul avoiding sinful acts , doing deeds, e.g., not lying, being honest in daily life, not backbiting, etc., 30 days during holy month of ramadan (9th month of islamic calendar). in contrast, nizari , musta ali sects believe in metaphorical literal meaning of fasting. literal meaning 1 must fast obligation, such during ramadan, , metaphorical meaning seeking attain divine truth , striving avoid worldly activities may detract goal. in particular, ismāʿīlīs believe esoteric meaning of fasting involves fasting of soul, whereby attempt purify soul avoiding sinful acts , doing deeds. still, many nizari ismailis around world fast during month of ramadan every year. in addition, nizari fast on shukravari beej falls on friday coincides new moon.

hajj

a pillar translates arabic “pilgrimage, meaning pilgrimage mecca, saudi arabia. largest annual pilgrimage in world , fifth pillar of islam, religious duty must carried out @ least once in 1 s lifetime every able-bodied muslim can afford so. many ismaili sects not ascribe mainstream islamic beliefs regarding hajj, considering instead metaphorically mean visiting imam himself, being greatest , spiritual of pilgrimages. however, since druze not follow shariah, not believe in literal pilgrimage kaaba in mecca other muslims do, while mustaali (bohras) nizaris still hold on literal meaning well, performing hajj ka aba , visiting imam (or in secluded time today, dai, representative or vicegerent of imam) hajj-e haqiqi.

jihad

an islamic term, jihad religious duty of muslims. in arabic, word jihād noun meaning struggle. jihad appears in qur , used in nonmilitary sense. person engaged in jihad called mujahid; plural mujahideen. when violent act intended, qur used term qattal meaning engage in killing/violence.

a minority among sunni scholars refer duty sixth pillar of islam, though occupies no such official status. in twelver shi islam, however, jihad 1 of 10 practices of religion.

for isma ilis, jihad last of 7 islamic pillars, , them means struggle against 1 s own soul; striving toward rightness, , struggle in warfare.

however, isma ilis stress none imam uz zaman [imam of time] can declare war , call followers fight.