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Updated: Dec. 11 2006

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Mowlana Hazar Imam's 70th Birthday - December 13, 2006

Happy Birthday Mowlana Hazar Imam!
Salgirah Mubarak! Khushiali Mubarak Everyone!

Mowlana Hazar Imam at Convocation - December 2006

Excerpts from his address at the Commencement Ceremony of the American University in Cairo, June 15, 2006

Most of you share with me a common cultural background. I was born into a Muslim family, educated as a Muslim and spent many years studying Muslim history. Then, almost fifty years ago, I became Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, responsible both for interpreting the faith to the community, and for helping improve the quality and security of the community’s daily life. From that day to this, my dominant preoccupation has been with the developing world, and particularly the countries of South and Central Asia, Africa and the Middle East, where Ismailis are concentrated among other Muslim populations...

From the very beginnings of Islam, the search for knowledge has been central to our cultures. I think of the words of Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib, the first hereditary Imam of the Shia Muslims, and the last of the four rightly-guided Caliphs after the passing away of the Prophet (may peace be upon Him). In his teachings, Hazrat Ali emphasized that “No honour is like knowledge.” And then he added that “No belief is like modesty and patience, no attainment is like humility, no power is like forbearance, and no support is more reliable than consultation.”

Notice that the virtues endorsed by Hazrat Ali are qualities which subordinate the self and emphasize others ---modesty, patience, humility, forbearance and consultation. What he thus is telling us, is that we find knowledge best by admitting first what it is we do not know, and by opening our minds to what others can teach us.

Transliteration and English rendition of Qasida
   Dam hama dam Ali Ali   By Mowlana Rumi                English Rendition by  Arif Babul
Saki e ba wafa manam, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali       ... 1 

Sufi e ba safa manam, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 2  

Ashike Murtaza manam, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 3 

Mutribe khushnava manam, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 4  

Adam ba safa tueen, 
Yusufe mah laka tueen  ... 5 

Khidhre rahe khuda tueen, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 6 

Shahe shariyatam tueen, 
pire tariqotam tueen   ... 7 

Haq ba hakikatam tueen, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 8 

Ham dame sayeedul basher,  
raj e shamshul qamar   ... 9 

Babe shabirro ham shabbar, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 10 

Sayeede sarware karam, 
goft bato ay ibne am   ... 11  

Lahamak lahmi  dammak dammi, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 12  

Ayah e Innama barat,  
taje la fata sarat     ... 13 
 

Shamsh gulame Kambarat, 
dam hame dam Ali Ali   ... 14

A humble poet, I am, Let me be your muse drink of me 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 
 
A Sufi, I am, Pure of heart 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

A lover, I am, of Murtaza Ali 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

My joy uncontained, I am in song 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

Adam the Pure be you, 
Yusuf the Beautiful too 

Tis you who's Khidr's guide 
 In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

His teacher, his inspiration 
Lord, Lawgiver, Teacher, True Guide 

Truth be, you are the Truth; the Absolute 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

Faithful Companion, in virtue incomparable  
In whose company pales even the Sun, the moon 

Oh, Father of Hassan, Hussein 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali  

Declared Muhammed, the Most Generous of generous 
My cousin, the son of my uncle 

My flesh is your flesh, my blood your blood 
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 

You are the Guardian, the Master of believers,  
That the Holy Quran makes clear, 
 Garbed, Crowned, Invincible, Unvanquished 

Shams, your humble servant, your Kambar Gulam, am I  
In rapture, my very being cries out: Ali Ali 


The Master and the Disciple 
By Nasir-i Khusraw 

The master turned 
my night into broad daylight 
with proofs as clear as 
radiant sunlight. 

Since he made me 
drink from the water of life, 
death has become quite 
insignificant to me. 

When I looked 
from the corner of his eye, 
I saw the earth rotating 
beneath my feet. 

He showed me 
the visible and hidden worlds, 
both located in one place, 
my own body. 

I saw the two 
guardians of paradise and hell 
inhabiting the same place, 
my own breast. 

He pointed to one 
who is the keeper of paradise 
and said to me: "I am 
his disciple." 

I saw eight gates, 
closed in the same place, 
and seven other gates open, 
one above the other.  

He said to me: 
"If you wish to enter a gate, 
you have to obtain his 
permission first." 

When I asked him 
to explain the secret to me, 
he recited its story from 
beginning to end. 

The master said: 
"He is the lord of the time, 
chosen by God from 
men and jinns."  


The Esoteric and
the Exoteric
By Nasir-i Khusraw 

The exoteric of revelation 
is like brackish water, 
but the esoteric is like pearls 
for people who are wise. 

Since pearls and jewels are 
to be found on the sea-bed, 
look for the pearl-diver 
instead of running on the shore. 

Why does the Maintainer 
of the world keep so many 
precious pearls concealed upon 
the bottom of the sea? 

He kept them for the Prophet 
with the instruction: 
"The esoteric is for the wise, 
the exoteric for the ignorant." 

You will get nothing but mud 
and salty water from 
the pearl-diver because of 
your animosity towards him. 

When you are searching for 
the meaning of revelation, 
do not be content with speech 
like a donkey braying aloud. 

On the Night of Power, 
when you kindle the lamp, 
the mosque is filled with light, 
but your heart remains pitch-dark. 

Whether you kindle the lamp 
or not, understand that 
it will not dispel the darkness 
of ignorance in your heart. 
 

"And peace on him on the day he was born, and on the day he dies, and on the day he is raised to life" Holy Quran 19:15

"And I follow the religion of my fathers, Ibrahim (Abraham) and Ishaq (Isaac) and Yaqoub (Jacob); it beseems us not that we should associate aught with Allah; this is by Allah's grace upon us and on mankind, but most people do not give thanks." [12.38]

"He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions." [9.33]

"And strive hard in (the way of) Allah, (such) a striving as is due to Him; He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any hardship in religion; the faith of your father Ibrahim (Abraham); He named you Muslims before and in this, that the Apostle may be a bearer of witness to you, and you may be bearers of witness to the people; therefore keep up prayer and pay the poor-rate and hold fast by Allah; He is your Guardian; how excellent the Guardian and how excellent the Helper!" [22.78]

"And He it is Who is God in heaven and God on earth; and He is full of Wisdom and Knowledge" [43.84]

Alhamdulillah! We are truly fortunate to be led by the progeny of Prophet Abraham and Prophet Muhammad (sas)

And even more blessed to be members of the community led by the Prince of Peace of the world. Allâhumâ salli alâ Muhammadin wa âle Muhammad (O Allah! Bestow Peace on Muhammad and his Descendants) We have every reason to rejoice on his birthday anniversary as we rejoice on the birthday anniversaries of our beloved Prophet Muhammad and Hazrat Ali.

"In Islam, the Holy Koran says that man is God’s noblest creation to whom He has entrusted the stewardship of all that is on earth. Each generation must leave for its successors an enhanced and sustainable social and physical environment. I am sure every responsible citizen in every part of the world would share this aspiration." - from Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Ninth Award Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture at the AKDN site

How can we as his Murids, do more for our world and for our spiritual uplift? Let us do our part in educating everyone about what it means to be a Muslim, this year and every year. Inshallah!

Index of Speeches made by Mowlana Hazar Imam at AKDN site

Related Pages


71st Birthday Page - 2007
70th Birthday Page - 2006
69th Birthday Page - 2005
68th Birthday Page - 2004
67th Birthday Page - 2003
66th Birthday Page - 2002
65th Birthday Page - 2001
64th Birthday Page - 2000
63rd Birthday Page - 1999
62nd Birthday Page - 1998
61st Birthday Page - 1997


50th Imamat Day Page - 2007
49th Imamat Day Page - 2006
48th Imamat Day Page - 2005
47th Imamat Day Page - 2004
46th Imamat Day Page - 2003
45th Imamat Day Page - 2002
44th Imamat Day Page - 2001
43rd Imamat Day Page - 2000
42nd Imamat Day Page - 1999
41st Imamat Day Page - 1998
40th Imamat Day Page - 1997
Verses in the Quran proclaiming the Imams - Ahl-e Bayt (Family of the Prophet)
Pan Tan Paak Ahl-e Bayt Page


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