Questioning

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aminL
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 3:59 pm
Location: Toronto

Questioning

Post by aminL »

I was just talking with some friends of mine, and would like to know other peoples opionion on this matter. My friend was telling me that it is okay to question the Farmans of the Imam as long as it is in a constructive manner. However, my belief is that the Imam of the time, is the Akl-E-Kul, the universal intellect. If you will refer to Hazar Imam's speech that he made at the Aga Khan Universities opening of the Health Sceinces Facility he said "The universal intellect, Akl-E-Kul both transends and informs the human intellect." So for me, once you have excepted the Imam to be the Akl-E-Kul, and you know that his intellect informs yours, why should questions arise, because you know that His intellect is greater and far more superior than yours, so why question something when the person who is telling you knows everything (Quaranic Ayat: "And we have vested everything into the manifest Imam" - Sura Yaseen Ayat 12).
Can you guys shed some light and gimme ur thoughts
ShamsB
Posts: 1117
Joined: Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:20 pm

Re: Questioning

Post by ShamsB »

aminL wrote:I was just talking with some friends of mine, and would like to know other peoples opionion on this matter. My friend was telling me that it is okay to question the Farmans of the Imam as long as it is in a constructive manner. However, my belief is that the Imam of the time, is the Akl-E-Kul, the universal intellect. If you will refer to Hazar Imam's speech that he made at the Aga Khan Universities opening of the Health Sceinces Facility he said "The universal intellect, Akl-E-Kul both transends and informs the human intellect." So for me, once you have excepted the Imam to be the Akl-E-Kul, and you know that his intellect informs yours, why should questions arise, because you know that His intellect is greater and far more superior than yours, so why question something when the person who is telling you knows everything (Quaranic Ayat: "And we have vested everything into the manifest Imam" - Sura Yaseen Ayat 12).
Can you guys shed some light and gimme ur thoughts
Amin,
If you study my posts you will find that I am of the view and opinion..
once you have given baiyat..you don't question..you do...
however..since we've been "educated" and are "intelligent"..some of us feel the need to intellectualize the faith..to utilize logic..when for me faith isn't dependent on logic...faith is faith..you either have it..or you don't..
and for those that question the farmans..i usually say..well first follow the simpler ones..than question the complex ones...
Say your dua on time..Jamat Khana Attendance..Ethics...Stop Smoking and Drinking..
and when you are fulfilling those..you can question..
though i don't think you should ever question the farman of the Imam..

Intellect is part of the faith yes..but faith isn't dependent on intellect, rather intellect is dependent on faith.

Shams
kmaherali
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Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Post by kmaherali »

Unlike the times of the previous Imams, MHI makes very complex Firmans which require a great deal of reflection and analysis. They are not very straight forward 'do this' and 'do not do this'. For example, He makes Farmans such as be regular in attendance as opposed to attend Jamatkhana daily. Hence there is room for personal interpretation. Even on ethics he makes general remarks as opposed to specifics.

I think there is an inherent recognition of the diversity of life within our Jamat. Hence general Farmans are made to allow individuals to interprete them according to their circumstances.

The above notwithstanding, there are issues that are universal for the Jamat such as Dasond and Dua. On these there is no ambiguity.
aminL
Posts: 84
Joined: Sat May 22, 2004 3:59 pm
Location: Toronto

Post by aminL »

Thank you .... i feel the exact same way because in my up-bringing, i have been tought that you dont question anything that the Imam does, weather it be his farmans, his jokes, anything.
star_munir
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Post by star_munir »

Imam Sultan Mohamed Shah said,"You must not argue as to why such a type of Farman is made. If I say it a day then it is a day and if I say night then it is a night. You should act according to Imam's intelligence. Only those who live according to My Farmans are my true momins."
kmaherali
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Joined: Thu Mar 27, 2003 3:01 pm

Post by kmaherali »

There are two types of questioning; one with the intent to understand better and seek clarification, the other with the intent to doubt and disobey. I was referring to the former. The Imam's Farman refers to the latter.
karimqazi
Posts: 78
Joined: Thu Dec 18, 2003 2:53 pm
Location: Houston, Texas

Post by karimqazi »

YAM to All,

I agree with Kmaherali.

In one of the farmans of Mowlana Sultan Mohammad Shah, he says that jaem thame ginan ni mayna kadho cho them amara farman ni mayna kadhjo aek momin aek mayna kade bije mayna kade them tamne asal ni kabar parse

In english Mowla says one can make an interpertation of my farman, like you do for ginan, one interprets one way and the other another way, that way you will find out the true meaning of farman. This is for the majalis or satsong, this is not an open discussion on the net.
nagib
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Feb 02, 2003 3:07 am

Post by nagib »

Mowlana Sultan Mohamed Shah:
Dar-es-Salam, Tanzania
September 26th 1899

My Farmans have thousands of meanings, but I am not compelled to explain everything openly. But in the same way as you are finding the meanings of ginans, in the same way find out the meaning of My Farmans. Then understand the secrets and miracles hidden in them. Find the meaning of each word of My Farmans. There are many secrets which you should understand. Always read the Farmans that I make, find their meanings. Continue to think (about them). Do not forget.
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