Thursday, July 24, 2014

The Aga Khan, the Model and the Mystery Baby by Drew Bagley

The brothers Grimm wrote some grim fairy tales.

They made Snow White share a pad with seven peculiar dwarfs. They fed Red Riding Hood's grandma to a wolf that swallowed her whole. They burned up an old lady in her gingerbread oven and conceived scenes of mayhem, seem tame.

But one thing the Grimm boys never did was wrecking  a love affair. 

No matter how many obstacles their lovers had to overcome, they always got together in the end and lived happily ever after.  

Real life, however, is often grimmer than Grimm. And it can now be reported that the fairytale romance of Annouchka von Meks did not have a fairytale ending.

Annouchka's Prince Charming jilted her.

She was left with her memories-and a mystery baby.

But it was quite a romance while it lasted. There were gay parties, yacht cruises to exotic ports, private plane flights to exciting places, horse races, sports car rallies, water-skiing on the Mediterranean, snow-skiing in the Alps. This entire plus furs, diamonds and other fringe benefits.

Annouchka's fairytale came true in 1959, when she was 16. Blonde, blue-eyed with the fragile beauty of a Dresden doll, she was a Paris schoolgirl spending her summer vacation on the bikini coast of the French Riviera.

One night, at a St. Tropez nightclub, a young man approached her table and asked her to dance.

"I'm the Aga Khan," he said. 

Annouchka thought that was the funniest thing she had heard all night. She laughed, giggled, tittered and practically came apart at the seams. She had seen pictures of the Aga Khan in the Paris papers and she recalled that he was a huge, bald old man nearly 80 years old and weighing around 259 pounds. And here was this skinny kid claiming to be the fabulous Aga.

Annouchka's exact reply has not been recorded for posterity. But it was something like: "Oh, sure, and I'm Princess Margaret."

Then one of her friends whispered in her ear and the blonde's ivory skin turned scarlet.  She had been told that the old Aga was dead, had in fact died two years previously, and that this shy, smiling stranger was indeed Prince Karim, the new Aga Khan.

When she recovered from the shock, she apologized for laughing and told her admirer that her name was Annouchka von Meks. In a way, this was almost as unbelievable as Karim's introduction.

Before the evening was over, Annouchka had agreed to have lunch with the Aga next day.  One date led to another and soon they were a steady twosome.

Annouchka's parents were White Russians who immigrated to France before she was born. Her father runs a Paris dress shop - not haute couture but ready-made.

When Karim first began courting her, Annouchka's folks were a bit flabbergasted. They realized he was probably the richest, most eligible bachelor in the world. But Annouchka, after all, was only 16. Her parents weren't sure she was ready for marriage.   

As things turned out, it was Karim who wasn't ready.  The romance lasted five years - perhaps the best years of Annouchka's young life. 

As she blossomed into womanhood, she became even more beautiful. She was offered jobs as a fashion model and movie starlet, but she turned them all down for Karim. Being his playmate was practically a full-time occupation.

Annouchka because she had caught the Big One. Only she couldn't drag her Khan to the altar. "Just because I date a girl doesn't mean I am on the verge of matrimony," Karim once told a reporter who asked his intentions toward Annouchka. "Anyone who travels six months a year as I do cannot think of marriage." Other girls in the Jet Set social whirl were jealous of He travels for pleasure to the Jet Set playgrounds - Rome, Paris, Gstaad, St. Tropez, the Greek Isles, and Sardinia, where he is building luxury resort. On these jaunts, and on cruises abroad his king sized yacht, he often took Annouchka along.

But when he travels on business, the handsome young Aga travels alone with nary a girlfriend in sight.

His business is religion. He is the Imam, or spiritual leader, of 20 million Ismaili Moslems scattered through Africa and Asia. They regard him as a living god and once a year pay him his weight in gold.

In naming Karim as his successor to the god-king throne, the old Aga bypassed his two sons, Prince Aly and Prince Sadruddin. Karim, he said, "is a young man who has been brought up in the midst of a new age and who brings a new outlook on life to his office as Imam."

But thought his outlook may be as modern as mini-skirts, Harvard educated Karim must also respect Ismaili traditions, some of which date back almost 1,000 years.

Among them is the Secret Order of Assassins.

"Assassin" is derived from an Arabic word meaning "one who is under the influence of hashish."

The original assassins were a secret society of Ismaili Moslems whose bloody rites including drug taking and murder.

Ismaili chief Hassan Sabah founded this killer cult around 1090. It quickly spread terror through the Moslem world. The hundreds slaughtered imams and sheiks that opposed the Ismaili sect.
Later, the hashish-chewing fanatics battled and Crusaders who were trying to capture the Holy Land.  Led by Sheikh el-Jabal, the Old Man of the Mountains, the assassins - or hashishin, as they were originally called - inflicted heavy losses on the European invaders. Today, most Ismailis live peacefully with their neighbors in Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Libya, Indonesia and other parts of the Moslem world. The assassin cult has been almost forgotten.

But it still exists. And its terrorists have been keeping Prince Karim in line. One of their favorite reminders is a bouquet of red roses. When he checks into a hotel on his frequent travels, Karim often finds a bouquet in his room.  This is the assassin cult's way of saying: "Big Brother is watching you."

On one occasion, when Karim returned to his Paris town house from a ski vacation in Switzerland, he found a photo album on his desk. In it were photos of six pretty girls. All had large, dark eyes and jet-black hair. All were Ismaili Moslems. Although Karim did not know any of them, a note attached to the album advised him to take one of the six girls as his bride.  The note also warned him to stop running around with Continental cuties. Especially Annouchka von Meks.

Though he is also a playboy like his father, Karim has inherited Aly's preference for blondes. But Ismaili leaders, and particularly the assassins, are determined that this Aga Khan shall marry within his religion even though is father and grandfather did not.

While she still had hopes of becoming the Aga Khan's Begum or queen, Annouchka took instructions towards becoming a Moslem.

The hashishin, however, made it clear that she was not acceptable.

They threatened to kill both Annouchka and Karim unless the romance broke up. Perhaps Karim used this as an excuse for ceiling his longest love affair. In any event, it became increasingly clear that Annouchka would never become his Begum.

While she stayed alone and dateless in Paris, turning down countless invitations from other men, the Aga began running around with several other beauties. At first, he always returned to his blue-eyed blonde.  Then his absences grew longer and longer.  Finally, another lovely blonde succeeded Annouchka - Dolores von Furstenberg Guinness, described by Women's Wear Daily as "the most beautiful girl in Paris."

Dolores and Karim are semi-related though the relationship is somewhat difficult to explain. His mother, British socialite Joan Yarde-Buller, was Aly Khan's first wife (before Rita Hayworth). Before she married Aly, Joan was wed to multimillionaire Loel Guinness. They had a son, Patrick, who became Karim's half-brother and a close friend.

Patrick's father, Loel Guinness, married socialite Gloria Rubio after his divorce from Joan. Gloria had been previously wed to Count Franz con Furstenberg, by whom she had a daughter, Dolores.

So when Gloria's mother married Patrick's father, Dolores became Patrick's stepsister. They were so fond of each other that eventually they married.

In 1965, the 34-year-old Patrick was killed when his car crashed into a tree in Switzerland. Naturally, the Aga Khan hastened to console Pat's widow, who was also Karim's stepbrother's stepsister. 

He has been consoling her ever since. Despite renewed warnings from the assassin cult, the Aga seems serious about Dolores. Society columnist Suzy Knickerbockers recently reported that Karim and Dolores "are together every night as they have been for more than a year."
"Yes, yes, yes, I know all about the Ismailis," Suzy added, "but they're still together every night."
Annouchka, meanwhile, has been quietly learning how to mix baby formula and change diapers. Her mystery baby was born in a private clinic in Paris early this year. The birth was registered in the residential suburb of Neuilly, where Annouchka is living with her parents.
Normally, certificates of birth, death and marriage are public records in France. Anyone who wants to examine them may do so. But officials at Neuilly Town Hall have been ordered not to show anyone the birth certificate for Annouchka's baby, unless the inquiring person has a written letter of authorization from the von Meks family.

Parisian and Jet Set socialites have been wondering out loud whether Karim took time out from Dolores to give Annouchka a farewell gift that will last her a lifetime.


Saturday, July 19, 2014

Reconstituted Quranic verses in Ismaili Prayers

يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Translation (as mentioned in Ismaili Dua):
O ye, who believe, obey Allah and obey the Apostle and holders of authority from amongst you, And We have vested (the knowledge and authority of) everything in the manifest Imam. 

The above is an example of that Ismailis recite in their daily Ismaili Prayer (Ismaili Salat). The above are two separate, incomplete verses of the Quran scotch-taped together to deliver an altered message. The text in blue comes partially from Surah an-Nisa Chapter 4:59, while the text in red comes partially from Surah al-Yasin Chapter 36: 12.

The actual two verses of the Quran from which the above is taken out are mentioned below. Here is the actual complete text of Surah an-Nisa Chapter 4:59:
يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۖ فَإِن تَنَازَعْتُمْ فِي شَيْءٍ فَرُدُّوهُ إِلَى اللَّهِ وَالرَّسُولِ إِن كُنتُمْ تُؤْمِنُونَ بِاللَّهِ وَالْيَوْمِ الْآخِرِ ۚ ذَٰلِكَ خَيْرٌ وَأَحْسَنُ تَأْوِيلًا
Translation: O ye who believe! Obey Allah, and obey the Messenger, and those charged with authority among you. If ye differ in anything among yourselves, refer it to Allah and His Messenger, if ye do believe in Allah and the Last Day: That is best, and most suitable for final determination.

Below is the actual complete text of Surah al-Yasin, Chapter 36:12:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِيإِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ  
Translation: Verily We shall give life to the dead, and We record that which they send before and that which they leave behind, and of all things have We taken account in a clear Book (of evidence).

Here is an excerpt from the book 'Understanding Ismailism' explaining the above:

Reading the entire text, it is quite simple and easy to see what was expunged and why.

The object was to hide that part of the Original Message that could open a door for Ismailis to step forward and question the decisions taken by "those who hold authority from among you" (Ulil amr minkum). The obedience to Aga Khan, the "Ulil amr minkum", would no longer remain unequivocal and unopposed.

Friday, July 18, 2014

Ali is The Wise

On page 128 of 'Ismaili Tariqah’ appears an English translation of the Quranic verse 4 of chapter 43. I have gone through various English, Urdu and Gujarati translations of the Quran and I have yet to find a single translation that would come close to the one the author has published in his book. His Unique Translation reads:
 "Indeed, to Us, Ali is the Wise as stated in the Mother-book"
Below is the translation of the same verse done by Abdullah Yusuf Ali:
"And Verily it is in the Mother of the Book, in Our presence, high (in dignity), full of wisdom."
Going through the Arabic text, it appears that the author Abualy has translated the words "Aliyyun Hakiim" (لَعَلِيٌّ حَكِيمٌ) as "ALI IS THE WISE".

In the language of the Quran (Arabic):
Al-‘Aliyyu (العلى) means The Exalted or Most High.
Al-Azizu (العزيز) means The Mighty or Supreme.
Al-‘Aziimu (العظيم) means The Grand or Tremendous.
These are adjectives, as well as the attributes of Allah. At the same time, Ali (علي), Aziz (عزِيز) and Azim (عظيم) are proper names for individuals. The author has substituted one adjective with a proper name and manipulated the entire translation. If his translation mode was to be applied to the Quran, then the entire Quran would read differently e.g. Azizun Hakim would read "Mr. Aziz is Wise". In the celebrated ‘Verse of the throne’ -- Ayat-ul Kursi i.e. chapter 2 verse 255 - the last line which reads "He (Allah) is the Exalted, the Grand" ( الْعَلِيُّ الْعَظِيمُ) could be translated by a dishonest or unscrupulous translator in the following different ways:
a) "Exalted Azim is He (Allah)"
b) "Grand Ali is He (Allah)".
c) "Ali, Azim (both) are He (Allah)".
Similarly the popular Takbeer "Allahu Akbar" (الله اكبر) meaning "Allah is Great" could be deceitfully and dishonorably translated by a prevaricating translator as:
"Allah is Akbar" or "Akbar is Allah"
(May Allah forgive us for reading these blasphemies).

Allah has given every individual the wisdom to distinguish the truth from falsehood. A missionary's duty is to propagate what he is expected or asked by his superiors or masters to propagate. A reader's duty is to verify the facts with original sources or roots, and then decide what to believe and what not to believe. There is always among us a section who would distort the Scripture and Allah says:
 "There is among them a section who distort the Book with their tongues: (as they read) you would think it is a part of the Book, but it is no part of the Book; and they say, "That is from Allah. But it is not from Allah: It is they who tell a lie against Allah, and well) they know it!" 
 Holy Quran 3:78
(The above article is an excerpt from 'Understanding Ismailism' by Akberally Meherally. The full book can be downloaded from www.mostmerciful.com)

Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Why are Ismailis not Muslims?

1. Declaring believe in Allah, and believe in the Prophet is the basis of faith, however it is NOT enough and lots of other ‘nice’ things does not suffice to save onself from Hell.

2. The Aga Khan of the Ismailis presents Farmans and they are accepted as doctrine. This is a recorded Farman of Aga Khan III wherein he says:
“If I say it is night, (you are to believe) it is night. If I say it is day (you are to believe) it is day.”
In contrast Allah (SWT) says:
“Give the warning to those in whose (hearts) is the fear that they will be brought (to Judgement) before their Lord, for whom there is no protecting friend nor intercessor beside Him (Allah), that they may ward off (evil)” “… and who can forgive sins except Allah?”  
Holy Quran 6:51 and 3:135
This speech is also documented well in Ismaili books you can check it out for yourself if you doubt what I say. You don't have to be a genius to know that this is clear heresy.

August 10, 1164 Declared as Youm-el-Qiya'ma or the Day of Resurrection

Mowla’na Ima’m Hasan Ala’Zikrihis Salaam (23rd Ismaili Imam) declared the Youm-el-Qiya’ma, the Day of Resurrection, which was held on the nineteenth of Ramaza’n, 559 a.h. (10th of August, 1164). Thousands upon thousands of Ismai’ilis came from all corners of the world to attend this important day of resurrection of the holy faith. The Holy Ima’m declared:
“Today I have explained to you the Law [shari'at] and its meaning. I make you free from the rigidity of the Law and resurrect you from the bondage of the letter to the freedom of the spirit of the Law. Obey me and follow my farma’n…. Break your fast and rejoice. This is the day of utmost happiness and gratitude.”
In contrast to this Allah (swt) says:
“O you who believe! Fasting is prescribed for you as it was prescribed for those before you, that you may become Al-Muttaqun (the pious)."
(Fasting) for a fixed number of days, but if any of you is ill or on a journey, the same number (should be made up) from other days. And as for those who can fast with difficulty, (i.e. an old man, etc.), they have (a choice either to fast or) to feed a poor person (for every day). But whoever does good of his own accord, it is better for him. And that you fast, it is better for you if only you know.” (2:183-84)
“The month of Ramadan in which was revealed the Quran, a guidance for mankind and clear proofs for the guidance and the criterion (between right and wrong). So whoever of you sights (the crescent on the first night of) the month (of Ramadan), he must fast that month, and whoever is ill or on a journey, the same number (of days which one did not fast must be made up) from other days.Allah intends for you ease, and He does not want to make things difficult for you. (He wants that you) must complete the same number (of days), and that you must magnify Allah for having guided you so that you may be grateful to Him” (2: 185).
3. Another shocking statement by an Ismaili Imam (the grandfather of current Aga Khan IV is reproduced below: 
(Interestingly the father of the currect Aga Khan was NOT made Imam because he had numerous affairs with hollywood actresses during his time and was an embarassment even to Ismailis)
“Do not at all reflect about the future and do not at all think about whether you shall receive the Heaven or the Hell in the afterlife. Because, all things — the Heaven and the Hell — [to give] is in my hand."
20 February 1910, at Rajkot, India, Aga Khan III

Well that quote was so ridiculous. Let there NO doubt that saying such a thing is shirk. There are there are just too many passages from the Quran regarding the ultimate Judge being Allah (swt) on yaumul qiyaam that there is not enough space to post so to make the quote above look laughable. Malik i yaum i deen is ONLY and will ONLY ever be Allah (swt). Anyone claiming to be otherwise will be destined for Hellfire.
4. The Ismailism all professedly believes that the Qur’an was time bound and was not meant to be a Universal message for all times. They believe that their spiritual leader, Karim Aga Khan, is the “walking – talking Qur’an” and his “religious pronouncements”, whatever they may be, are the “guidance” for the present times. The fundamental article of faith that there will not be any NEW revelations or “wahy” after the Qur’an, is being completely violated by the Ismailis.
5. The Aga Khan has officially Declared himself, before his followers, as the “Mazhar of Allah on Earth”. The word “mazhar” means “copy” or “manifest”. Consequently, these Ismailis who call themselves Muslims do “sujood” before him. So even the primary axiomatic principle of Tawheed is being fundamentally and formally violated by them.
6. The Ismailis are not instructed to offer the Islamic Salaah, observe Saum or perform Hajj. They have replaced Salaah with certain shirk-infested Ismaili Dua (thrice a day) and praying in the form of Hindu-inspired ‘Ginans’. To the people that do not know it is NOT Salaat. It is NOT doing wudhu and other things that the Shariah commands. It is a series of songs which are sung in "Jamatkhanas" (because they do not have Masjids). They are told that their Hajj is a personal “Glimpse” (Deedaar) of Karim Aga Khan.
“From whencesoever thou startest forth (for prayer) turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque: That is indeed the truth from thy Lord. And Allah is not unmindful of what ye do. So from whencesoever thou startest forth, turn thy face in the direction of the Sacred Mosque; among wheresoever ye are turn your face thither: That there be no ground of dispute against you among the people, except those of them that are bent on wickedness; so fear them not, but fear Me; and that I may complete My favours on you, and ye may be guided”.
Holy Quran 2:149-150
Ismailism says:
“Facing Qibla in prayer is not a fundamental principle of Islam, it is a tradition.” ‘Ismaili Tariqah’ page 184.
7. The Aga Khan and his appointees ‘forgive the sins’ of the followers on regular basis. Ismailis are misled into believing that they will not be questioned on the Day of Judgment for the sins that are already forgiven in their Jamatkhanas. Forgiving of sins is the exclusive prerogative and privilege of Allah (swt) alone. Qur’an 3:135.

8. Against this backdrop, most of the poor (spiritually poor) Ismailis who are not introduced to al-Furqan are confused and misguided. Hence, Ismailis are very easy prey to missionary efforts by various Christian groups and Baha’is. I have known a couple of young ex-Ismailis who are today preaching “Pauline Christianity” to Ismailis as evangelical missionaries.
9. Karim Aga Khan’s own daughter Zahra having married a practising Christian has opened the gates for young Ismailis girls to follow the footsteps of a family member of their beloved Imam-e-Zaman. The parents of the Ismaili girls who wish to marry outside of Islam have no recourse but to let them go.
10. The Aga Khan has made Halaal for the Ismailis that which Allah has made Haraam for the humans. Taking of interest (usury) is not forbidden by the religious instruction classes run by the “Tariqaah” board of the Ismailis. As a matter of fact, the much publicized “Venture Capital” program (details on the website of FORBES Magazine – search under “Aga Khan”), of loaning funds on interest by the AKFED (Aga Khan Fund & Economic Development), has been a great success. Similar entrepreneurial projects are now being actively promoted and introduced to poor Muslims of Tajikistan and neighboring areas.
11. The Muslim Ummaah and the various Muslim leaders are not fully aware of these Un-Islamic acts and beliefs of this community of less than two million members, who claim to be the Ismaili Muslims. Surprisingly, their leader Aga Khan claims himself to be a spiritual leader of 15 million Muslims and a direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).
12 Earlier, one did not have authentic books on Ismailism, but it is not so anymore. There are two authentic books as well as one comprehensive web site exposing the inner practices of the Ismailis and the Proclamations (Farmans) of the Aga Khans. Hence, now you have no “hujjah” argument or excuse left before Allah (swt) for not taking up the task of inviting the misguided “Ismaili Muslims” towards the Deen of Allah (swt) and not safeguarding them from committing unpardonable sin of Shirk.
13. The Aga Khan in collaboration with so many Western powers and aid, has set up the world-wide Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) which runs several institutions and service companies both in the profit and not for profit sectors. This network is very actively operating in Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Bangladesh, and has now started concentrating its efforts in Tajikistan and the neighbouring areas where there is a concentration of Muslims who have not known or openly practised Islam for the decades. By taking up economical, social, educational and rural development efforts through NGOs (Non-Government Organizations) within the AKDN, the Ismailis and the Aga Khan have gained wide acceptance amongst these countries and masses. Hence this urgent appeal.
14. Now all these beneficiaries are “obliged and grateful” to the Aga Khan and his followers and his organizations for the much-needed schools, medical centers, hospitals, various projects and programmes. In this manner they are penetrating and infiltrating the support system – and one fine day, the Muslim Ummaah will wake up to the unexpected realization that they have a community of so called Muslims, practicing the Un-Islamic Tariqaah, in charge of all core and support activities. Each of these much-needed projects will have the photos of Aga Khan decorating the walls.
So brother honestly Allahs law as outlined in the Quran, and the Sunnah of the prophet in authentic Hadith is the only authentic thing we have. Thats why its outside Islam when you chop and change, and reject obligatory laws like sawm and hajj and say they are not obligatory and spin an interpretation on salaat. As well as declare heaven and hell are metaphoric. These are the pillars of Islam. They are what is required to be called a Muslim to accept Allah.
In the name of Allah (swt) and Islam, kindly urge our Brothers and Sisters to do Da’wah to the Ismailis, who otherwise will, on the day of judgement, hold us responsible for not conveying the Revealed Truth to them. It hurts to see the misguided simple minded people die on shirk because we did not amply warn them before their deaths.
To spread the “Truth” and eradicate “Tagoot” is a significant, major Sunnah of the prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).
I want to ask the Ismaili brother an honest question, do you honestly, really believe that this man is Allah’s hujjat on the earth, and the current Imam and successor of the Prophet Muhammad ?
The above article is an excerpt from what was originally posted on http://islamforeveryone.wordpress.com. For the complete article, please visit http://islamforeveryone.wordpress.com/2010/08/27/why-the-ismaiilies-are-declared-non-muslims%E2%80%A6/

Monday, July 14, 2014

Ismaili Prayer or Ismaili Dua

Method of Ismaili Prayer

Ismailis do not recite the usual salah offered by either the Shia or the Sunni Muslims. Instead, their version of the prayer is called the "Dua" which is unique.

Since the daily prayer is something which all Shia and Sunni Muslims offer in congregation, Ismailis are sometimes confronted with the question that why do they not offer the prayer ('namaz' in Urdu or Persian) with other Muslims in congregation. Their usual reply is that the word 'namaz' appears nowhere in the Quran and that they offer their own version of the Salah in their place of worship or the Jamatkhana, and that they do not call it 'namaz', but call it the 'Dua'.

Three Prayers, Twice Daily  instead of Five Prayers, Five Times Daily

Little do the Shia or Sunni Muslims know that not only the Ismailis' method of prayer is completely different then the Shia and Sunni Muslims, but they also do not offer five prayers. Instead Ismailis only offer prayers twice a day - one "Dua" in the morning and two consecutive "Dua's" in the evening.

Time for Prayer Not Connected to Sunrise or Sunset

The time for the Ismaili Prayer, or Dua is neither connected to sunrise, nor sunset. It has been a long-time practice in South Asian countries like India and Pakistan to have the morning prayer fixed at 5:20am (even in the winter when the actual time of sunrise is much later than 5:20am) and the evening prayer fixed at either of the three times of 6:30pm, 7:00pm, or 7:30pm. The evening prayers might or might not be after the sunset.

Format of Ismaili Prayer

The usual Muslim prayer contains 'Raka' or 'Units' of prayer, with Fajr, Duhr, Asr, Maghrib and Isha prayers having 2, 4, 4, 3 and 4 compulsory (fard) units of prayer with each of them having additional units for Sunnah and Nafil prayers.

The Ismaili Prayer has no concept of fard, sunnah or nafil. Each of their prayer is same and contains six units of prayer. Within the Ismaili community, each unit is either called "Paat" (traditionally) or "Part".

Position of the Worshiper

Muslims face the direction of the Qibla while praying. However, Ismailis may face any direction during their prayer. In fact, the person leading the prayer is always facing the worshipers.

Content of the Ismaili Prayer

The usual Muslim prayer begins with al-Fatiha (The Opening) which is the first chapter or the Holy Quran, followed by another Chapter or a few verses. The person offering the prayer then assumes the bowing position (ruku), follwed by two prostrations (sujood). This is repeated for each unit of prayer until the prayer is concluded with Tashahud, Durood and a supplication from the Quran.

The Ismaili prayer is nothing like this. The first of the six "Parts" does begin with al-Fatiha, but then is followed by several Arabic phrases which appear nowhere in the Quran or authentic Hadith literature, and this content is scotch-taped with some verses of the Quran, taken out-of-context. A classical example of this is verse 12 of Surah al-Yaseen, the following part of which is mentioned in the Ismaili Dua :

 وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Transliteration: Wa kulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee Imamin Mubeen
Translation: And We have vested (the knowledge and authority of) everything in the Manifest Imam

Taken into context, the complete version of the above verse is as follows:
إِنَّا نَحْنُ نُحْيِي الْمَوْتَىٰ وَنَكْتُبُ مَا قَدَّمُوا وَآثَارَهُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍ أَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ
Transliteration: Inna nahnu nuhyeealmawta wanaktubu ma qaddamoo waatharahumwakulla shay-in ahsaynahu fee imamin mubeen
Translation: Indeed, it is We who bring the dead to life and record what they have put forth and what they left behind, and all things We have enumerated in a clear register.

It is evident from the complete verse that Allah is mentioning the deeds of the humans and is emphasizing that none of the deeds are hidden and that the deeds are "recorded" ("Naktubu" in Arabic) in a clear book or register. However, the earlier part of this verse is ignored by the Ismailis and only the last seven words are taken out-of-context and read as a part of the Ismaili Prayer.

For a complete audio of the Ismaili Dua, please click the following link:

Further Reading

For further analysis and full transliterated content of the Ismaili Prayer, visit http://www.mostmerciful.com/dua-one.htm

Noorum-Mubin or Noor-e-Mubin

'Noorum-Mubin' is a voluminous book of the history of 50 Ismaili Pirs and 49 Ismaili Imams. It was written by A. J. Chunara and first published in 1936 by the Press Department of an Aga Khan religious institution called "Recreation Club", Bombay India (later the Ismailia Association), It has since been revised and reprinted many times. It contains numerous tales of supernatural feats performed by Ismaili Imams and Pirs. This book was recommended as "a must" for his Jamat by Aga Khan III, and the apocryphal Unique Legends it records are accordingly popularly accepted by Ismailis as their official history.

In April 1975, Aga Khan IV, the 49th Imam of Ismailis, passed the under mentioned Resolutions at the Ismailia Association Conference in Paris which he chaired:
Resolution No. 3.3.1 "The Nooran Mubeen no longer to be made available to the Jamat as a standard textbook of Ismaili history"
Resolution No. 3.3.2 "Notwithstanding the above, the Nooran Mubeen to remain as a document for research purposes."
A history of Ismaili Imams and Pirs highly recommended by the 48th Imam in 1936 was thereby withdrawn from circulation by the 49th Imam, within 40 years of its publication.

Another revision of the official position of Ismailis on critical literature concerns the Holy Quran itself, a book 1400 years old and ever in its original form. In 1899, the 48th Imam spoke of it as "1300 years old", "outdated" and "for people of Arabia only"; in October 1986, his successor declared over a television interview: "The only miracle which you have in Islam is the Quran". One must then wonder how matters as fundamental as the importance of the Quran could be the subject of such a radical change of opinion by the infallible and continuous Noor of Imamat!

Going through the history of Ismaili Pirs I have found more legends ascribed to Pir Shamshuddi’n (popularly known as Pir Shams) than to any other Pir. Out of the dozen or so recorded, below are brief accounts of a few the detailed accounts of which are recorded by A. J. Chunara in "Noorum-Mubin" (Gujrati), and in part by Abualy in "A Brief History of Ismailism" under the chapters ‘Imam Shamshuddin Muhammad', ‘Imam Kassam Shah’ and ‘Pir Shamsuddin’, respectively.

(Excerpt from 'Understanding Ismailism' by Akberally Meherally. The full book can be downloaded from www.mostmerciful.com)

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Article published on www.ifoundislam.net

Dear Brothers-Sisters,

As-Salaamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuhu

May I for the sake of Allah (swt), His Deen and the Muslim Ummaah, request you to please consider the following facts very carefully and decide on your responsibility before Allah (swt) in this matter.
I am a revert to Islam. I was an Ismaili before - a follower of the Aga Khan. And I perceive an important Da'wah responsibility which the majority of Muslims are for some reason or other are ignoring. I am not getting you into petty sectarian issues, but a very important matter - please judge for yourself:

1. The Ismailis (followers of the Aga Khan) all professedly believe that the Qur'an was time bound and was not meant to be a Universal message for all times. They believe that their spiritual leader, Karim Aga Khan, is the "walking - talking Qur'an" and his "religious pronouncements" , whatever they may be, are the "guidance" for the present times. The fundamental article of faith that there will not be any NEW revelations or "wahy" after the Qur'an, is being completely violated by the Ismailis.

2. The Aga Khan has officially Declared himself, before his followers, as the "Mazhar of Allah on earth". The word "mazhar" means "copy" or "manifest". Consequently, these Ismailis who call themselves Muslims do "sujood" before him. So even the primary axiomatic principle of Tawheed is being fundamentally and formally violated by them.

3. The Ismailis are not instructed to offer the Islamic Salaah, observe Saum or perform Hajj. They have replaced Salaah with certain shirk-infested Dua'as (thrice a day). They are told that their Hajj is a personal "Glimpse" (Deedaar) of Karim Aga Khan.

4. The Aga Khan and his appointees 'forgive the sins' of the followers on regular basis. Ismailis are misled into believing that they will not be questioned on the Day of Judgment for the sins that are already forgiven in their Jamatkhanas (community centers). Forgiving of sins is the exclusive prerogative and privilege of Allah (swt) alone. Qur'an 3:135.

5. Against this backdrop, most of the poor (spiritually poor) Ismailis who are not introduced to al-Furqan are confused and misguided. Hence, Ismailis are very easy prey to missionary efforts by various Christian groups and Baha'is. I have known a couple of young ex-Ismailis who are today preaching "Pauline Christianity" to Ismailis as evangelical missionaries.

6. Karim Aga Khan's own daughter Zahra having married a practising Christian has opened the gates for
young Ismailis girls to follow the footsteps of a family member of their beloved Imam-e-Zaman. The parents of the Ismaili girls who wish to marry outside of Islam have no recourse but to let them go.

7. The Aga Khan has made Halaal for the Ismailis that which Allah has made Haraam for the humans. Taking of interest (usury) is not forbidden by the religious instruction classes run by the "Tariqaah" board of the Ismailis. As a matter of fact, the much publicized "Venture Capital" program (details on the website of FORBES Magazine - search under "Aga Khan"), of loaning funds on interest by the AKFED (Aga Khan Fund & Economic Development) , has been a great success. Similar entrepreneurial projects are now being actively promoted and introduced to poor Muslims of Tajikistan and neighboring areas.

8. The Muslim Ummaah and the various Muslim leaders are not fully aware of these Un-Islamic acts and beliefs of this community of less than two million members, who claim to be the Ismaili Muslims.  Surprisingly, their leader Aga Khan claims himself to be a spiritual leader of 15 million Muslims and a Direct Descendant of Prophet Muhammad (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).

9. Earlier, one did not have authentic books on Ismailism, but it is not so anymore. There are two authentic books as well as one comprehensive web site exposing the inner practices of the Ismailis and the Proclamations (Farmans) of the Aga Khans. Hence, now you have no "hujjah" argument or excuse left before Allah (swt) for not taking up the task of inviting the misguided "Ismaili Muslims" towards the Deen of Allah (swt) and not safeguarding them from committing unpardonable sin of Shirk.

10. The Aga Khan in collaboration with so many Western powers and aid, has set up the world-wide Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) which runs several institutions and service companies both in the profit and not for profit sectors. This network is very actively operating in Pakistan, India, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya and Bangladesh, and has now started concentrating its efforts in Tajikistan and the neighbouring areas where there is a concentration of Muslims who have not known or openly practised Islam for the decades. By taking up economical, social, educational and rural development efforts through
NGOs (Non-Govt. Organizations) within the AKDN, the Ismailis and the Aga Khan have gained wide acceptance amongst these countries and masses. Hence this urgent appeal.

11. Now all these beneficiaries are "obliged and grateful" to the Aga Khan and his followers and his organizations for the much-needed schools, medical centers, hospitals, various projects and programmes. In this manner they are penetrating and infiltrating the support system - and one fine day, the Muslim Ummaah will wake up to the unexpected realization that they have a community of so called Muslims, practicing the Un-Islamic Tariqaah, in charge of all core and support activities. Each of these much-needed projects will have the photos of Aga Khan decorating the walls.

In the name of Allah (swt) and Islam, kindly urge our Brothers and Sisters to do Da'wah to the Ismailis, who otherwise will, on the day of judgement, hold us responsible for not conveying the Revealed Truth to them. Dear Brother/Sister, you know much more on the subject ?than what little I have learnt since reverting to the Deen of Allah (swt). It hurts to see the misguided simple minded people die on SHIRK because we did not amply warn them before their deaths.

I request you to seriously consider this request and initiate all steps that you consider Wajib and appropriate. To spread the "Truth" and eradicate "Tagoot" is a significant, major Sunnah of the prophet (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam).

May I also request you to please forward this e-mail to at least five (if not all) of your Muslim friends and activists so that greater awareness of this issue is created, and this request reaches a wider audience. Please do so. JazakAllah.. "

May Allah (swt) shower His Choicest Blessings on the entire Muslim Ummah. May Almighty Allah bless you and keep you in the service of Islam and Muslims. Aameen.

Jazak'Allah and Was salaam,

Yours in the Service of Islam,

- Akbarally Meherally

Originally published on www.ifoundislam.net
Link: http://www.ifoundislam.net/revert-supports/articles-by-subject/165-sects-in-islam/505-description-of-the-misguided-ismaili-beliefs-from-a-former-ismaili-message-from-brother-akbarally-meherally.html