Monday, October 31, 2016

MY QUEST TO UNDERSTAND TAWHEED




The mountain beckoned and knowing the path to be trekked will be difficult, I was confident that my QUEST will open up some hidden trails among the difficult and rugged mountain terrains, which will lead me to understand the truth. My climb was not in vain,as you will surely agree if you trek along with me. Believe me you will surely rise into and above the clouds and witness the amazing radiance of knowledge.

The mountain which beckoned was the Book : Hyperspace – A scientific Odyssey Through Parallel Universes by Dr. Michio Kaku.



Not being a student of science you will now understand why the trek was so daunting, but if you trek along, you will find how I found some hidden trails that led me to better understanding. The hidden trails are the insights I was blessed with. They are giving in the brackets, as I managed to read a scientific best selling book.

This book is about a scientific revolution created by the theory of hyperspace, which states that dimensions exist beyond the commonly accepted four of space and time. There is a growing acknowledgement among physicist, that the universe may actually exist in higher dimension space.

For me personally although not a student of science, the Book provided deep insights into my belief, science seems to be finally starting to accept long held spiritual truths.

In the very onset of the Book in Chapter 1 Dr. Kaku gives a brilliant example from his childhood days, when he used to watch the carps, in the shallow pond in a Japanese garden.

‘Living their entire lives in the shallow pond, the carp would believe that their ‘universe’ consisted of the murky water and the lilies. Spending most of their time foraging on the bottom of the pond, they would be dimly aware that an alien world could exist above the surface. The nature of my world was beyond their comprehension. I was intrigued that I could sit only a few inches from the carp, yet separated from them by an immense chasm. The carp and I spent our lives in two distinct universes, never entering each other’s world, yet were separated by only the thinnest barrier, the water’s surface.

I often think that we are like carp swimming contentedly in our pond. We live out our lives in our own “pond”. We smugly refuse to admit that parallel universes or dimensions can exist next to ours, just beyond our grasp. (Great Spiritual Masters and mystics have experienced and visualized and some have tried to convey the unseen dimensions and universes. Now scientists are accepting in theory )

Another striking example is given by Peter Freud, who has stated that laws of nature become simpler and elegant, when expressed in higher dimensions, which is their natural home (A’lam al Ibda – ten dimensional A’lam al Amr which came into existence by the Command ‘kun fayakun’ )

Freud, in explaining why higher dimensions are exiting the imagination of the scientific world, uses the following analogy. ‘Think for a moment of a cheetah, a sleek beautiful animal, one of the fastest on the earth, which roams freely on the savannas of Africa. In its natural habitat, it is a magnificent animal. Almost a work of art, unsurpassed in speed or grace.

Now think of a cheetah that has been captured and thrown into a miserable cage in a zoo. It has lost its original grace and beauty, and is put in the cage for our amusement. We only see the broken spirit of the cheetah, not its original power and elegance. The cheetah likewise can be compared to the laws of physics, which are beautiful in the higher dimensions. However, because of human limitation, we can only measure the laws of physics, when they are broken and placed on display in a cage, which is our three dimensional laboratory. We only see the cheetah when its grace and beauty have been stripped away.

(From this I infer how the Spiritual Masters are able to experience the Higher Truths, as they can ‘home in’ to the higher dimensions, and be able to comprehend, whereas we laymen, miss the bus as we have not the knowledge to comprehend, as we are used to seeing and understanding at our own level )

The advantage of ten dimensional space is that we have enough room in which to accommodate all the four fundamental forces.

The leading scientists like Alan Guth and Freund are of the opinion that the energy scale necessary to investigate the higher dimensions is far beyond anything available on earth. The energy necessary to probe the tenth dimension is a quadrillion times larger than the energy that can be produced by our largest atom smasher!!

Introducing higher dimensions may be essential for prying loose the secrets of Creation. According to this theory, before the Big Bang, our cosmos was actually a perfect ten dimensional universe. (Is Dr. Kaku talking of A’lam al Ibda ?) However, this ten dimensional world was unstable, (read Sayedi Sadikali sahib Nashihat - ' khatir na varq par likh hiqmat ni kahani ne ' pages 321 to 323 ) and eventually it ‘cracked’ in two, creating two separate universes; a four and six dimensional Universe. The Universe in which we live was born in that cosmic cataclysm. Our four dimensional Universe expanded explosively (‘huboot’ tenebrosity according to our belief ) while our twin six dimensional universe contracted violently, until it shrank to almost infinitesimal… this six dimensional universe may ultimately be our salvation !!

(Reading this made me wonder is this some theoretical physicist talking or a Spiritual savant. Science and Spirituality are coming so close. Hope in near future with the help of both, we will be able to understand Tawheed – ONENESS )

How fortunate are we in this internet age. Information on practically all topics under the Sun, for ordinary guys like me is so very easy to acquire. Just Google it – and hey presto! It is there.

Let me share with you an interesting story. How difficult it was for the best of minds in the bygone era. They had to sweat and burn midnight oil just to crave for information. But still the bottom line is that, they were original thinkers, and torch bearers.

Let me share with you an interesting story. Dr. Albert Einstein’s proudest piece of work, even more than is celebrated equation
 E = MC2 was the simple yet profound equation ‘ Matter – energy determines curvature of space- time’

This deceptively short equation is one of the greatest triumphs of the human mind. From it emerge the principles behind the motions of stars and galaxies, black holes, the Big Bang and perhaps the fate of the Universe itself.

Nevertheless Einstein was still missing the piece of the puzzle. He had discovered the correct physical principle, but lacked a rigorous mathematical formula powerful enough to express this principle.

He discovered the physical principle but lacked mathematical apparatus. He spent 3 long frustrating years, from 1912 to 1915 in a desperate search for mathematical formula powerful enough to express the principle.

The world’s most powerful mind was in search for 3 long years.
 ( How I wish Google was there during his time, it would have made it a child’s play, and would have given him space to concentrate on other weighty problems.)

Einstein in desperation wrote to his close friend and mathematician Marcel Grossman, pleading “ you must help me or else I’ll go crazy !” Poor soul !

Fortunately Grossman, to help his friend, combed through library for clues to Einstein’s problem, and fortunately accidentally stumbled upon the work of Riemann. His work had been ignored by physicist for over 60 years, but to Einstein joy he found the mathematical formula that was long evading him. The celebrated 1854 lecture by Riemann was the key to the problem.

He found that he could incorporate the entire body of Riemann’s work in the reformulation of his principle. Almost line for line, the great work of Riemann found its true home in Einstein’s principle.

Riemann’s great contribution was that he introduced the concept of metric tensor, a field that is defined at all points in space. The metric tensor is not a single number. At each point in space, it consists of ten numbers !! ( Now this is exiting for me – ten numbers in all points of space. The Tenth Intellect – Sayedi Sadik ali sahib in his Nashihat says “ aa duniya na A’shir ne havala chhe” )

Now let us look back on little Albert while he was growing up. The life of Albert Einstein appears to be one long series of failures. His mother was distressed at how slowly he learnt to talk. His elementary school teacher thought of him as a foolish dreamer. They complained that he was constantly disrupting classroom discipline with silly questions. He had few friends, and dropped out of high school.

He took special exam to enter College but he flunked and had to take it the second time. On graduation he applied for teaching jobs, but was rejected several times. Finally with the help of a friend, he landed a clerical job at the Swiss Patent office and the rest is history.

Likewise, the life struggle of George Riemann who gave the world the theory of higher dimensions, which Albert Einstein would use after six decades to explain the creation of Universe, also makes an interesting reading.

The core of Riemann’s work was the realization that physical laws simplify in higher dimensional space, the very theme of this book.

Riemann was born in 1826 at Hanover, Germany, the son of a poor Lutheran pastor, the second of his six children. Life was a day to day struggle.

At the very early age, Riemann exhibited his famous traits, fantastic calculation ability, coupled with timidity and life long horror of public speaking. He set out to become a student of Theology, but his thoughts always drifted back to mathematics.

He was an avid reader and he completed reading of a ponderous 859 page masterpiece Theory of Numbers in just under 6 days.

Beset by daily struggle to put food on the table, Riemann’s father might have sent the boy to do menial jobs and help the family finances. Instead he scraped together enough funds to send the 19 year to the renowned University of Gottingen, where he met and befriended the acclaimed Mathematician Carl Gauss.

Life for Riemann, however, was an endless series of set backs and hardships, coupled with frail health. Eventually, Riemann was able to give his famous lecture on June 10, 1854 before the faculty of University of Gottingen and a new Geometry was born.
Riemann’s lecture exposed the world to the dazzling properties of higher dimensional space.


My dear fellow trekkers, hope you found the trek both rejuvenating and exiting. A learning experience. Feel free to share your views and experience.

Saturday, October 29, 2016

THE FOUR RIVERS OF JANNAH






On 8th Muharram 1438 H the world wide community of mumineen received the sharaf of video relay of 1411 H Muharram Dar es Salaam Vaaz Mubarak of Hay'ul Muqaddas Mohammad Burhanddin Moula (RA). 

Moula did bayan of the four rivers of Jannah in the context of Fatemi uloom. These everflowing and overflowing rivers of Jannah, nurtures our souls, they are all encompassing - the knowledge contained in their swirl and whirl, in their ebb and flow, everywhere at the same time, at the source, at the mouth, at the waterfall, it widens and deepens as it rubs and scours. At times meandering slowly and blissfully, at times bursting the banks with spiritual joy, flows into Hauze Kauther which symbolises Tawheed - ONENESS. 

The contents of each of these four rivers is different, but the purpose is the same. Our ultimate emancipation, freeing our bondage souls, from the ever enticing cage of the body, and although being in this world, our souls begin to experience spiritual joy and bliss. 

I am indebted to Bhen Khadija Chunawala of Pune a young artist, who has studied Fine Arts and has received her Diploma from University of the Arts London. She has very artistically portrayed my concept.




The Garden of Eden has been referred by historians as the fertile land watered by the four rivers Euphrates - Tigris- Gihon & Pison, the land of Mesopotamia where the mighty Babylonian and Assyrian civilisations flourished. 

Bhen Khadija was tasked to depict the true Jannah in the context of Fatemi Uloom - the four rivers of knowledge, which has nourished countless souls and will continue to do so, till the day of Kayamah. She has concepulized perfectly.

The knowledge of the four rivers in our time flows from the presence A'li Qadr Muffadal Saifuddin Moula (TUS) as in each age and time from the presence of Dai us  Zaman of that time. 

In the context of Fatemi Uloom, the river of water, which remains fresh for ever, is the Rasaa' il ikhwan al safa. 
The Brothers of Purity. 

The river of milk - the one that does not sour is the esoteric works of Dai al ajal Sayedna Qadi Noaman (RA)

The river of 'khamr ' - wine that is always delectable to its drinker. It does not lead to intoxication or stupor is the teachings of Sayedna Moyyad al Shiraji (RA) 

The river of honey - pure and full of curative properties (shifa) is the writings of Sayedna Ahmad Hameed al Deen Kirmani. 

A mumin should always strive for knowledge and for better and more in depth understanding, let us learn more about these four rivers of Fatemi uloom, with which we are blessed with in this world. 

The river of water symbolises Rasaa'il ikhwan al Safa, attributed to the 9th Fatemi Imam Ahmed al Mastur (SA) and the Brothers of Purity in the reign of Abbasid Caliph Mamun in the 3rd Century Hijra.

In all there are 52 rasa'il ( epistles) 
14 on Mathemetics 
17 on Natural Sciences 
10 on Psycological and Rational Sciences 
11 on Theological Sciences

Primarily at the core it answers the profound question of humanity - what is the purpose of life on earth ? The knowledge contained in each epistle is like fresh water, which nourishes the soul of a true seeker. It attracted the best intellectuals of its time, it continues to do so, and has saved and protected the true religion of Islam from the heritical inroads.

It provides unrefutable proof that if 'tawil' is carefully studied, similarities with philosophical tools, the essence of Islamic teachings can be discovered logically. 

Many Islamic and Orientalist scholars have studied the Rassa'il in great depth and written learned commentaries, which have added to the grandeur of this river of Fatemi uloom.

The river of milk, that nourishes the mind and body, makes it steadfast and strong is the esoteric works of Dai al ajal Sayedna Qadi Noaman (RA)

His long and illustrious khidmat spanning in all 66 years (297 H to 363 H ) during the reign of four Fatemi Immams (SA) provided a firm bedrock for the Deen. In all he wrote 44 kitabs on different subjects, most of his works are present in the archives of Dawat and many in libraries around the world.

His most famous corpus Daim ul  Islam is regarded as the most important reference point for Fiqh. The Republic of Iran has incorporated Daim in their Constitution. 

Sayedna Qadi Noaman ( RA) by virtue of his stature and position received the sharaf of being in the radiant presence of the Imams of his zaman, most of the time, be it in majalis or when the Imam (SA ) set out for travel through his domain. 

His other famous Kitab - ' Al Maja'lis wal Mussairaat' is a treasure trove of the hidayats and sayings of the Imams, meticulously noted down, whenever Sayedna Qadi Noaman Saheb was in the presence of Imam (SA) and it was most of the times. 

This ever gushing river of milk has strengthened Dawat and the Ikhlas of the mumineen, and will continue to do so till the Day of Kayamah.

The river of 'khamr' that delectable wine, which does not lead to stupor or intoxicate, but makes the souls of the mumineen of knowledge and awareness, soar high and carol with spiritual beautitude and joy are the teachings of Sayedna Moyyad al Shirazi (RA) 

His full name was Abu Nasr Hibat Allah bin Ali and was from Fars (Iran) where he spent his early years, thereafter lived in the court of Buyid King Abu Kalijar, who was converted to our Deen, and finally he arrived in the Court of Imam Mustansirbillah ( SA) in 1046 AD., and by his delectable khidmat became ' Bab al awbab' ( the Gate of gates) of Imam (SA) 

His famous work is referred as DIWAN and contains largely qasidas (odes) a few short pieces ( qita) in all 62 literary masterpieces, which enfuses spirituality, they are grounded in the Fatemi esoteric tradition, guiding the seeker on the true path of Tawhid.

His supplications ( Munajats) direct adress to Allah for succour, forgiveness, invocations and salavat on Muhammad(SA) and his progeny are full of pathos and poignant imagery which makes a mumineen though not well versed in uloom, feel the nearness of Allah and Panjatan Pak (SA)

Each Thursday ( khamis ) between the years 450 AH to 470 AH Sayedna Moyyad used to address majalis attended by the learned and the dignatories in the domain of Imam ( SA) 
In these majalis he gave wide ranging discourses, on Theology - Philosophy and gave very logical replies to questions and unfounded arguments put forward by atheist and professors of other faith. 

His compendium of 800 majalis divided into 8 books of 100 each is like cascade, spectacular, magnificiant and awe inspiring. For the one who strives and drinks from this cascade of knowledge, his thirst for ever is quenched for sure. 

Al - Moyyad by his teachings rendered a great service to the Fatimid cause, his forte was logical and purposeful dissemination of Fatemi doctrine. As a Dai, his primary mission was proselytising on behalf of the Fatemi Dawat.

Al Moyyad's singular khidmat was the transmission of Fatemi uloom to the Tayyibi Dawah. He gave sabaks to Moulana Lamak bin Malik, who taught his son Moulana Yahya who transmitted the knowledge to the First Dai of satr to Sayedna Zoeb bin Musa (AQ ) 

The river of honey - pure and full of curative properties (shifa) is the teachings and writings of Sayedna Ahmad Hameed al deen Kirmani. 

He was a resident of Kirman, and the greater part of his life was spent in Baghdad and Basra as a Fatemi Dai. He rose into prominence durin the reign of Imam Hakim bi Amr Allah (SA) 

Sayedna Al - Kirmani's hall mark of teachings, to sum up in one word is 'ibadatayn' - the observation of both knowledge and practise. ( Ilm and Ama'l) He was a philosopher and an intellectual.

The year of his arrival to Misr was either 405 /406 AH ( 1014 or 1015 AD) 

The intellectual writings of Sayedna Al - Kirmani greatly helped in thawarting the dangerous and more populist trends resulting from the teachings of al - Darazi ( the founder of Druz) and dissident Dais al - Akram and Hamza. 

Sayedna Al - Kirmani's teachings like honey gave 'shifa' to many troubled souls influenced by the Druz movement. 

Sayedna Iris Imad ud Din ( AQ) in his Uyun al Akhbar (Volume 6) provides the list of Sayedna Al - Kirmani's works, which after detail research and cross examining has been established to have all been written in the period of 12 years between 399 AH to 411 AH (1008 to 1020 AD)

His magnum opus Rahat al 'aql is said to be written in 400 AH and revised subsequently in later years. 

So dear readers, hope you have come thus far with me and I sincerely hope and pray that reading about the rivers of Jannah will make you strive to understand and be refreshed and nourished by these four rivers of Fatemi Uloom. 

These four rivers which were ghusing forth in spiritual abandon from the Imami takht in Muharram 1411 H at Dar es Salaam are the same which cascaded and moved the hearts and minds of mumineen, as never before, from the same Imami takht this Muharram 1438 H from Dar es Salaam.Alhamdolillah!