How publicizing doctrine and practice can be detrimental

[ONiazi]

Assalamu aleikum min Mowla Hazir Imam!

Some time ago, at a family function, a cousin of mine told some of our relatives how he had read that the Imam would be getting a divorce. The conditions of the divorce were quite high, and this interested him to do more research on the Aga Khan. (He was born and raised in Karachi, so he was no stranger to the person of the Aga Khan, as Ismailis have a prominent presence in Karachi.) He said that subsequent to what he was able to gather about the Ismailis, he has concluded that Ismailis are not Muslim. Not praying the usual salaat, belief in Nur in the Imam, not fasting, etc., were points he raised to justify his characterization.

I found that to be very sad indeed. Instead of looking at the beauty of Ismaili doctrine and practice, he decided to compare it strictly to the Islam he was aware of; and, since there were differences, concluded without further research that the Ismailis are not Muslim. Such Muslims are also wont to declare any Muslim group that differs from their interpretation (other Shias, Ahmadis, Sufis, etc.) as non-Muslim - ignoring that there is a thriving diversity within Islam that holds the Muslim worldwide community together.

As the Imam is wont to say, one cannot say that Islam is this or that, or that Muslims believe this or that, because like in all religions there is a wonderful diversity in Islam. "Islam" and "Muslim" are not narrow categories. But these words evidently will fall on deaf ears regarding a majority of the Muslim worldwide community - so many are so eager to narrow the definition of "Muslim."

This also shows the dangers of making Ismaili doctrine and practice public. Now, if this cousin had gone through the trouble of reading the book on Ismailis written by Daftary, perhaps he would have had a different interpretation. But instead he goes and find information online, without serious study or introspection. Very dangerous indeed. This shows that the Ismaili Imams were very wise in counseling their followers to keep their religion hidden - people who are not prepared will misinterpret it, which may cause undue persecution for them.

My immediate family, though, appreciates the Ismailis and their religion. My father worked with Ismailis for a number of years. Although certain practices may baffle them, they still hold Ismailis and Ismailism in high regard.

Well, I had no real point with this - just to point out that either Ismailis need to continue to keep their religion hidden or engage in a widespread program of education for non-Ismailis about their religion and how it actually is Muslim. (I toyed with the idea of writing an Urdu tract on how Ismailis are Muslim, but put that aside. I don't know if it will be beneficial or detrimental to the Ismaili cause - and, thus, I am extremely reluctant to even discuss Ismailism, let alone write about it, with other Muslims.)

Mowla hafiz,
ON

[kmaherali]

Well, I had no real point with this - just to point out that either Ismailis need to continue to keep their religion hidden or engage in a widespread program of education for non-Ismailis about their religion and how it actually is Muslim. (I toyed with the idea of writing an Urdu tract on how Ismailis are Muslim, but put that aside. I don't know if it will be beneficial or detrimental to the Ismaili cause - and, thus, I am extremely reluctant to even discuss Ismailism, let alone write about it, with other Muslims.)

Mowla hafiz,
ON

Salaam Alaykum,

I think it would be very unwise to hide our religion at a time when everyone is seeking an enlightened understanding of Islam. Offcourse there are always hardline fundamentalists and extremists in all religions. We just have to live with that fact, but I think more and more Muslims are realising the need to reinterprete the faith in light of the changed circumstances.

If we can project our faith appropriately in the light of reason, then I believe we will be at least accepted as a valid interpretattion of Islam. What we should avoid is to articulate Batini concepts in a Zaheri context. That is what creates problems and misunderstanding.