Maulana Abbas Met Jethmalani’s Kashmir Committee

Srinagar, Jun 04, 2011: Kashmir Committee headed by noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani today met separatist leader & Chief Patron of jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari, here and held detailed discussions on the prevailing situation in Kashmir valley.
Jehtmalani and his team visited Maulana at his residence in Nawakadal area of the city.
Maulana told the Committee that Kashmir issue cannot be resolved through bilateral talks between New Delhi and Srinagar and involvement of Pakistan in the dialogue process is inevitable.
“Kashmir issue can only be settled by trilateral talks because bilateral talks could not prove result oriented up till now. Kashmiris would not accept Kashmir resolution against their desires”, Maulana told the visitors.
Kashmir Committee was constituted during the Prime Ministership of A B Vajpayee in 2002 to open a channel of dialogue mainly with senior separatist leaders. The committee had several visits to Kashmir until suspension of its operations. Apart from Jethmalani, other members of the panel are senior counsel Shanti Bhushan, academic and editor Madhu Keshwar and journalist M J Akbar. The panel members who are on five-day tour of the state will try to work out a solution by meeting every stakeholder in the political sphere of Kashmir and cross sections of Kashmiri society.
In his interaction with the visting Kashmir Committee, JKIM chief said that activating the Kashmir Committee was a ‘good step’ for Indian civil society groups to make headway on the Kashmir issue. He said that Indians as well as Indian parliamentarians have a great role in resolution of Kashmir. Flanked by other party members including Masroor Ansari & General secretary Ghulam Hussain, JKIM also called for restoration of fundamental rights of the people and annulling of draconian laws prevalent in the state.
Maulana reiterated that Kashmir was a political issue and not communal or law and order problem.
Maulana told the panel that the future of India, Pakistan and Kashmiris was linked to the Kashmir issue, and stability could not be expected in the region until an acceptable solution was found.
“63 years have lapsed but Kashmir dispute remains unresolved. During this period, besides several military standoffs, two full fledged Indo-Pak wars and two localised conflicts took place on account of Kashmir issue. Today Kashmir has turned into a dangerous nuclear flashpoint. Until Kashmir issue was not resolved in accordance with the wishes and aspirations of the people, peace will continue to elude the south Asia”, Maulana said.

Ittihadul Muslimeen Yet to decide on re-joining Hurriyat Conference

Srinagar, June 2: Miffed at the “double standards” of Hurriyat Conference chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, Jammu & Kashmir Ittihdul Muslimeen (JKIM) today said it will decide on rejoining the amalgam only if the Working Committee of the party authorizes it.
“We will decide on rejoining the Hurriyat only after a meeting of the Central Working Committee of the party,” a spokesman of the JKIM, which was suspended last month for meeting Centre’s interlocutors against the amalgam decision, said.
The Executive Committee of the Hurriyat Conference revoked the suspension of JKIM during a meeting yesterday.
“The revocation of the suspension order is a welcome step. The decision has not only cleared the misgivings but also vindicated our stand,” the JKIM spokesman said. “Since the issue has been sent to the CWC of the party, it is the only authority to decide the future course of action,” he said adding an “extraordinary meeting” would be called shortly.
Accusing the Hurriyat chairman of adopting “double standards”, the spokesman questioned why no action is taken against those constituents who are involved in parallel activities and issuing such statements which even violate the Hurriyat constitution.
“It is surprising that the Hurriyat chairman observes silence when parallel activities are being carried out by some constituents despite a leader speaking about division of the state which is not only unrealistic and unacceptable but also against the Hurriyat constitution,” the spokesman said.
“When our leader (Ansari) demonstrated traditional Kashmiri gesture to the guests in accordance with the Islamic teachings, he is shown the exit while no action was initiated against others,” he said.
Criticizing the separatist leaderships for meeting one delegation and leaving another, the spokesman said, “There are several committees active on Kashmir. After Dileep Padgoankar led interlocutors, another committee headed by Ram Jethmalani has reached Kashmir.
“Although both committees are similar and designed to recommend measures after holding talks, they cannot take a decision. But if Hurriyat stand is that the dialogue process can prove result-oriented and purposeful only when initiated at a higher level, then what is the meaning of ignoring one and meeting the other,” the spokesman said.
He said members of such committees are “government employees” and there is no difference whether they are appointed by government or not.
The spokesman said Pakistan’s involvement is imperative for a final solution to the Kashmir issue.
“We strongly believe in unity and our stand on Kashmir issue is clear that it cannot be resolved through bilateral talks. Pakistan is a historic party and sidelining it cannot help in reaching a final settlement,” he said.

Highway to Muslim Unity

All praise is to Allah who has ordered us to take refuge in His book and reminded us of the abundance of His blessings and the magnitude of His bounty. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah alone without associate. He made faith beloved to us and beautified it in our hearts, and made disbelief, wickedness and rebellion loathsome to us. We ask Him Most High to make us among those who walk in righteousness.

I bear witness that our Master Mohammed is the servant of Allah and His Messenger. He gathered the hearts of the believers in love, and joined them with ties of co-operation and affection, until they were to each other like a single structure, each supporting the other.

O Allah, praise, bless and give peace to our Master Mohammed, his family and companions, who united in truth and so succeeded. They helped each other in righteousness and piety and so became powerful and dominated. May they all receive the satisfaction of Allah the Most High.

O you who believe: Fear Allah as He should be feared and do not die except as Muslims. Hold fast, all of you, to the Rope of Allah and do not be divided, and remember Allah's blessing upon you, for you were enemies and he brought your hearts together until you became brothers by His blessing, and you were on the edge of a pit of fire and He saved you from it. In this way, Allah clarifies His signs to you that you be guided.

O Muslims: Know that union is strength and division is weakness. A building will not be strong except by the cohesion of its bricks. A tower will not arise except on correct foundations and solid principles. Because of this, the Prophet saw that to build the Islamic state after his emigration from Mecca to Medina, it would be necessary to build it on cohesion and cooperation between the Muslim community of Aws and Khazraj, and the Emigrants and the Partisans. He overcame the hatred, ill will and continual conflict that existed between Aws and Khazraj before his emigration, and made filial ties between the Emigrants and the Partisans until they assimilated in a single path united by the profession of monotheism. They were one against any who opposed them, loving each other, merciful upon each other and affectionate with each other, each feeling the others pain, living in happiness, stability and tranquility.

Brothers in Islam and belief: The Jews from the beginning of history have born a buried loathing of Islam and its followers. There is nothing more indicative of this than the saying of the Most High to His Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, 'And the Jews and the Christians will never be satisfied with you until you follow their community. Say, 'Allah's guidance, it is guidance.' And if you follow their whims after what has come to you of knowledge, you will have no supporter or protector from Allah.'

Because of this, the Jews from time to time stoke the fires of enmity and hatred between the Muslims. 'They want to extinguish the light of Allah with their mouths and Allah rejects except that He should complete His Light, even though the Unbelievers detest it.'

They tried it in the time of the Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, igniting the fuse of war between Aws and Khazraj after the Messenger of Allah may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him had made amends between them. It was almost a tribulation were it not for the Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him taking control of the matter by saying, 'Will you respond to ignorance and I am among you?' The two sides returned to their senses, cast aside their weapons and asked their Lord for forgiveness.

The aggression against Muslims, expulsion, destruction and annihilation that is happening now is only a ring in chain of repression and oppression to which the Jews and their supporters have become accustomed. I wish my people understood!

I wish my people understood that Allah has promised them victory. He Most High said, 'O you who believe, if you support Allah he will support you and make firm your feet.'

O Muslims: Do not forget that the Jews have you in their sites. The Messenger of Allah may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him may have put out the fire of tribulation that they lit between Aws and Khazraj, but how many tricks have they played after the Messenger may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him. The greatest of these was the tribulation that killed the third Khalifa our Master Uthman and the fourth Khalifa our Master Ali, may Allah be satisfied with them. The Jews continue according to their plans that were drawn up a long time ago to destroy Muslim unity because they know the danger that Muslim unity represents to them. We have Allah who said in His Book about those Jews, 'Every time they kindle the fire of war, Allah extinguishes it. And they strive to spread corruption in the earth. And Allah does not love those who spread corruption.'

Muslims are still heedless of all of this. They divided into groups and parties, until nations called each other to them as the Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him informed us when he said, 'Nations shall soon call each other to you as people eating call each other to the plate.' Someone said, 'Are we few on that day?' He said, 'On that day you are many but you are froth like the froth of a flood. And Allah will wrench awe of you from the hearts of your enemies, and Allah will cast weakness into your hearts.' Someone said, 'O Messenger of Allah, what is weakness?' He said, 'Love of this world and hatred of death.' Where are they from the saying of the Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, 'The analogy of the believers in their kindness, mercy and affection for each other is that of a body. If one limb complains the rest call each other to it in vigilance and feverishness.'

What we see now in Muslim countries makes hearts break with pain and regret. Muslim blood is spilled, their dignity violated, their Holy sites denigrated, for murder to expulsion, from destruction to annihilation. All of this and Muslims around the world look on as spectators. The annihilation of a people does not push them to act, nor do they shed tears over the remains of a martyr. Is this Islam? Is this in accordance with the saying of Allah Most High, 'Mohammed is the Messenger of Allah and those with him are harsh against the unbelievers, merciful among themselves. You see them bowing and in prostration, seeking bounty from Allah and satisfaction'? Or with the saying of His Noble Prophet may Allah's peace and blessings be upon him, 'Muslims are to each other as a building, each supporting the other'?

Is this the unity of which the Lord of Power, Mighty is He, said, 'This is your nation, one nation and I am your lord, so worship me'?

The first Muslims were cohesive and merciful to each other. They felt each other's pain no matter how far apart their countries were. As the poet said:

If a calamity befalls the plains of the Nile
The mountains of the Levant shake because of it

So why are the mountains of the Levant now too busy for that which has befallen the plains of the Nile?

The civil wars that have befallen Sudan are part of the chain of events that are happening now in the land of Palestine and other Muslim lands. It is the work of the children of Zion and their supporters.

What a loss for the servants! How can they sleep soundly while their brothers are slaughtered and expelled? What will they say to their Lord on the Day of Judgment when he asks them about the right of a Muslim upon his brother Muslim? What will they reply? I wish they understood the poet who said:

Be together my children should a
Disaster befall you and do not split up
Spears if they gather together refuse to break
And if they separate they break individually

O Allah, lift up our torment! We are believers! Save us from the plotting of oppressive tyrants, and gather the Muslims. Unite the ranks of the Mujahideen, and write victory and triumph for the weak. You are the best protector and the best supporter.

I say this and I ask Allah the Almighty's forgiveness for you and me. Ameen

Ittihadul Muslimeen Responds To Hurriyat Show Cause Notice

IuM Takes Mirwaiz Head On Over Suspension
Srinagar, Apr 27, KONS: Hurling a slew of charges against Mirwaiz Umer Farooq for serious constitutional improprieties in the past, suspended Hurriyat (M) constituent, the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (IuM), on Wednesday formally challenged the alliance chairman’s “discretionary powers” to take action against the party and its patron for receiving New Delhi’s interlocutors on Kashmir.
In reply to a show cause notice issued against it by the alliance, the IuM sought to turn the tables on the Mirwaiz, citing his overturning the Hurriyat (M)’s original policy on 2009 general elections, meeting the all-party parliamentary delegation from New Delhi during the unrest last summer, and his silence on taday’s Panchayat Elections as instances of his numerous arbitrary decisions which, according to the party, had gone without censure.
It said that the decision to suspend Maulana Abbas was “devoid of munificence and mutual respect” as, according to it, the name of the IuM patron had been played up in an unfavourable light by “irresponsible” statements from the Mirwaiz.
Maintaining that the interlocutors had dropped in at the residence of Maulana Abbas totally unannounced, and that the latter’s hospitality in keeping with Islamic mores in no way violated the Hurriyat policy on the issue, the party rejected its suspension by the Mirwaiz as “unconstitutional, peremptory and one-sided,” saying that the decision had been taken without giving it a chance to clarify its position.
“Your decision is unconstitutional, as according to section 2 of the Hurriyat constitution the authority on such measures is vested solely in the majlis-e-shura,” the IuM chief Maulana Masroor Ansari wrote to the Mirwaiz in his 6-page response today, asserting that his party’s suspension had been the Hurriyat (M) chairman’s personal move and not of the alliance.
“It is altogether a different matter that three days after the IuM’s suspension, the Hurriyat majlis-e-shura decided that the chairman had discretionary powers in such matters. Legal experts deem the decision as a total violation of the 1993 charter of the Hurriyat Conference,” he said.
“The unseemly haste with which you have suspended the IuM is surprising and without precedent in forum politics, particularly in a diverse formation like the Hurriyat Conference,” he said.
“Constitutional violations by alliance constituents have never been decided with such haste, but action has been taken only after discussing them in the majlis-e-shura,” he said.
“And there are several instances pertaining to you personally or to your party which have never been raised,” he said.
“In a majority decision on the 2009 parliamentary elections, the Hurriyat executive had declared the polls as a non-issue, and the acting chairman had made the announcement in a press conference on April 15. But only a few days later, this unanimous policy was altered and a new announcement made. Had any formal session of the Hurriyat Conference been convened to overturn the previous joint decision?” Maulana Masroor asked.
“And today, when panchayat elections are being held in the state, why has the Hurriyat Conference tacitly upheld the same decision and not bothered to utter a single word? Why this criminal silence?” he said.
“During last year’s uprising, when the Hurriyat had unanimously decided not to meet the all-party parliamentary delegation from New Delhi, why did you receive them when they called on you at your residence?” he said.
“Did you not have prior notice of the visit? The black arm bands that you wore (at the meeting) to protest against the killing of Kashmiri civilians and other circumstances indicate that you had,” he said.
“Only a few days ago, one of New Delhi’s interlocutors had disclosed that they were in contact with separatists, and that a representative delegation from your party had met the team during its Rajouri visit. Why did you not take any action in this case?” he said.
“The manner in which you have dragged the name of Maulana Abbas is an attempt to impair the public image of the leader and the party which have been fighting for the Kashmir cause since 1960,” he said.
“Maulana Abbas, who had worked alongside Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah during the Plebiscite Front days but parted ways even with him when he reneged on his stand, needs no introduction,” he said.
“He has also been shoulder-to-shoulder with Sofi Muhammad Akbar and your own revered father, the martyred Maulana Muhammad Farooq, after the Mo-e-Muqaddas episode,” he said.
“The Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen has been active for the resolution of the Kashmir issue since 1960, and has a brilliant and unimpeachable record. Its leaders and activists have undergone untold suffering and tragedy,” he said.
“While its top leadership and functionaries have repeatedly become the target of circumstances, Maulana Abbas himself has spent nearly 10 years in jail for demanding the right of self-determination for Jammu and Kashmir,” he said.
“His position in the Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen is much greater than a constitutional authority, and you are fully aware of it,” he said.
(Daily Kashmir Observer, Srinagar)

Abbas’s suspension, IuM terms move unconsitutional
Srinagar, April 27: Responding to the “show cause” notice issued by Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq over meeting between the interlocutors and Maulana Abbas Ansari, Ittehad-ul-Muslimeen (IuM) chairman termed the suspension order as an “unconstitutional and unfortunate”.
Mirwaiz had last week suspended IuM after its patron Moulana Abass Ansari held deliberations with the interlocutors at his residence at Nawa Kadal.
In the 6-page letter to Mirwaiz, IuM chairman Masroor Abbas said the issue was blown out of proportion. “Our party will not accept this because the one-sided action has led to a serious jolt to our credibility. We have been up for the Kashmir issue since 1960 and our party is working sincerely for the cause,” he said.
He termed the suspension of IuM from Hurriyat as unconstitutional and unfortunate.
Referring to Moulana Abbas Ansari’s meeting with the interlocutors headed by journalist Dileep Padgoankar, Masroor said the party patron neither violated the Hurriyat decision nor held talks with them. “He only welcomed the guests in lieu with Muslim tradition,” he said adding that the meeting was not a ‘secret’ one.
“We have also attached a copy of email in which Moulana Abbas Ansari has rejected offer by the interlocutors,” he said.
He further said the allegations leveled against the party and its leader are baseless and untrue. “They (interlocutors) had earlier sent us invitation via email for a meeting which we rejected. But when they arrived at our residence without any prior appointment how could we have turned the guests away,” Masroor wrote to Mirwaiz.
He said the IuM has declared that Hurriyat is an asset of Kashmiri nation and his organization will remain part of it. “We will work to make it (Hurriyat) stronger,” he said.
Meanwhile, Hurriyat (M) has called a meeting of its executive and general councils to discuss the issue.
(Daily Rising Kashmir, Srinagar)

IuM challenges suspension, Ansari Responds To Hurriyat Notice
Srinagar, Apr 27: The Ittehad-Ul-Muslimeen on Wednesday responded to the show-cause notice of Hurriyat Conference (M) saying that its suspension was ‘in contravention to the constitution of the conglomerate’ and they had rejected talks with the interlocutors.
In a six-page reply to the notice served by Hurriyat (M), the IuM president Masroor Abbas Ansari said that their suspension was against the constitution of the amalgam.
“We wouldn’t tolerate the way in which the name of our party patron Moulana Abbas Ansari was blown. Due to this unilateral action, some quarters tried to damage the reputation of the party and its patron,” the letter stated.
The party said that they had rejected talks with the interlocutors appointed by the Centre in the wake of last year’s unrest in which 117 youth were killed by forces. Copy of an email turning down the interlocutors’ invitation has also been attached with the letter, IuM said.
About the meeting of Abbas Ansari with the interlocutors on April 20, the party said they had neither violated the constitution of the amalgam nor held talks with them.
“But he only received guests, which is the duty of Muslims," the letter said.
Masroor further said that Moulana had made it clear to the interlocutors that talks should be held directly with the Prime Minister and not with ‘any employee of Government of India.’
“We also told them that for any dialogue on Kashmir the proposal of Hurriyat Conference should be implemented to show the seriousness of New Delhi and the issue should be solved through tripartite talks,” it added.
Hurriyat (M) is now meeting on Thursday to discuss a number of issues including the IuM letter.
“This issue would also come up for discussion tomorrow. It is a general meeting,” Hurriyat (M) chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq told Greater Kashmir.
(Daily Greater Kashmir, Srinagar)

United Nations had accepted Kashmir as an international dispute

Srinagar: In an extraordinary meeting held at Jammu & Kashmir Ittihadul Muslimeen (JKIM) head office Srinagar, chaired by its President, Maulana Masroor Abbas Ansari and attended along with General Secretary Ghulam Hussain by other senior members, the Party unanimously decided that they will continue their door to door campaign in order to strengthen the organization from ground level.

While addressing a party meeting Masroor Abbas Ansari said that India is not sincere to settle the Kashmir dispute and is using delaying tactics. Maulana Ansari said that the United Nations had accepted Kashmir as an international dispute and passed resolutions for its solution. “The intransigent stance of India on Kashmir is the main hurdle to resolve the long-pending dispute,” he added. He said that the lingering dispute could only be resolved through implementation of the UN resolutions and India must take concrete steps in this regard. “The people of Kashmir have never accepted the illegal Indian occupation and will continue their struggle to achieve their right to self-determination”, Ansari maintained.

Ansari urged India to end its policy of oppression in Kashmir and create a conducive atmosphere for tripartite resolution of the Kashmir dispute.

Masroor Ansari said that the recent disclosures of Wikileaks about gross human rights violations were not new to the people of Kashmir who themselves were witnessing and bearing various forms of torture being inflicted upon them by the Indian police and troops for the last two decades.

Masroor Ansari appealed UN, OIC and human rights organizations including Amnesty International and Asia Watch to put pressure on India to stop human right violations and settle the Kashmir dispute.

24 Zilhajja: Eid Mubahilla

"But whoever disputes with you in this matter after what has come to you of knowledge, then say: come let us call our sons and your sons and our women and your women and ourselves and yourselves, and then let us invoke the curse of God on the liars." (3:61)

This Quranic verse refers to the famous event of ' Mubahila ' which took place in the year 10 A.H. against the Christians of Najran.

A deputation of 60 Christians of Najran headed by Abdul Masih their chief monk priest came and discussed with the Holy Prophet (S) the personality of Prophet Jesus (A). The Holy Prophet (S) told them not to deify Jesus for he was only a mortal created by God, and not God Himself. Then they asked who the father of Jesus was. By this, they thought that since he was born without a father the Holy Prophet (S) would helplessly accept Jesus' father being God himself. In reply to this question was revealed the Verse:

“Verily, similitude of Jesus with God is as the similitude of Adam; He created him out of dust then said He unto him BE, and he became.”

When the Christians did not agree to this line of reasoning, the top-mentioned verse was revealed enjoining upon the Holy Prophet (S) to call the Christians to Mubahila. To this the Christians agreed. They wanted to return to their place and would have the Mubahila the next day.

Early next morning the Holy Prophet (S) sent Salman al-Farsi (R) to the open place that was fixed outside the city for the historic event to erect a small shelter for himself and those he intended to take along with him for the contest.

At the appointed hour, the Christians witnessed the Holy Prophet (S) entering the field with Imam Hussain (A) in his lap, Imam Hasan (A) holding his finger, and walking beside him Lady Fatima (A) and followed by Imam Ali al-Murtada (A). The Holy Prophet (S) on reaching the appointed spot stationed himself with his daughter, her two sons and her husband, raising his hands towards the heaven said:

“Lord these are the People of my House.”

The Chief Monk on knowing that the baby in the lap of the Holy Prophet (S) was his young grandson Imam Hussain (A), the child walking holding the Prophet (S)’s hand was his first grandson Imam Hasan (A), the Lady behind him was daughter his only surviving issue was Fatima (A) the mother of the two children, and the one who followed the Lady was his son in law the husband of Fatima (A), addressed the huge crowd of the people who had gathered on the spot, and addressed them saying:

“By God, I see the faces which, if they pray to God for mountains to move from their places, the mountains will immediately move!

O believers in the Jesus of Nazareth, I will tell you the truth that should ye fail to enter into some agreement with Muhammad (S) and if these souls whom Muhammad (S) has brought with him, curse you, ye will be wiped out of existence to the last day of the life of the earth!”

The people readily agreed to the advice counseled by their Leader. They beseeched the Holy Prophet (S) to give up the idea of the agreed Mubahila and requested for themselves to be allowed to continue their faith, offering to pay ' Jizya'.

18th Zilhajj - Eid-E-Ghadir

On 18th Zilhijjah of the year 10 A.H. (10 March 632 CE) ,after completing the last pilgrimage ,the Holy Prophet(pbuh) along with around 100,000 Muslims reached a place called 'Ghadir-e-khumm' near Mecca. The following verse was revealed:

Ya 'ayyuhar Rasoolu ballig maa unzila ilayka mir-Rabbik. Wa illam taf'al famaa ballagta Risaalatah. Wallaahu ya'simuka minan naas. Innal'laaha laa yahdilqawmal kaafiriin.

O Messenger! deliver what bas been revealed to you from your Lord; and if you do it not, then you have not delivered His message, and Allah will protect you from the people; surely Allah will not guide the unbelieving people. [Quran 5:67]

On receiving the above verse, the Holy Prophet stopped at that very place & delivered a speech an extract of which is :-

[....It seems the time has approached when I shall be called away (by Allah) and I shall answer that call. I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me. They are the Book of Allah and my Progeny, that is my Ahlul Bayt. The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise)." Then the Holy Prophet (pbuh) in an attempt to remind Muslims of his own authority over them said: " Do I not have more right over the believers than what they have over themselves? " Muslims answered unanimously " Yes, O' Messenger of God ". This served as a stepping stone for the announcement of his hier and vicegerent. The Holy Prophet(pbuh) held out the hand of Ali(as) and said:

"Man Kuntu Mowlahu fa haza Aliyun Mowlahu"

"For whoever I am his Leader, 'Ali is his Leader."

The Holy Prophet then continued to say:

"O' God, love those who love him, and be hostile to those who are hostile to him."

Prophet Muhammad had been discoursing all the other revelations among the muslims regarding the tenets and practice of the faith and about material life, and what could this verse of surpassing urgency mean and why was he admonished that if he did not reveal that message then his mission would be unfulfilled! Why had he been warned so strongly by Allah to deliver the message right away.

According to Shia tradition, Prophet Muhammad had been apprehensive about declaring his own son-in-law and cousin Ali ibn Abu Talib as his spiritual (Amirul Momineen, Commander of the believers) and secular (Caliph, King) heir, for fear that it would divide the nascent Muslim community. The rich Muslims were already jealous of Hazrat Ali's favored position with Prophet Muhammad (being married to Hazrat Fatima, being his cousin, appointed as Commander at many important battles) and in the above revelation God reassures him.

Al Muayyad talks about the Gadhir-e Khumm appointment in his Majalis as follows:

"It must be borne in mind that after the death of the Prophet the belief in the Wilayat of the Imams from his progeny is as important a part of our religion as the belief in the Wilayat of the Prophet in his lifetime. This is supported by the Tradition according to which the Prophet is reported to have said at ‘Ghadeer Khum', "Am I not more precious to you than your own-selves." This is an echo of the Qur'anic verse which says, "The Prophet is more dear to the ‘Momins' than their own-selves to them." It is said, that in response to this question by the Prophet, when the ‘Momins' said "Yes, you are dearer to us than our own lives", the Prophet said, "O God, be witness to their admission". After this he said, "‘Ali is the master of one who acknowledges me to be his master. O God love those who love ‘Ali. Help those who help ‘Ali. Desert those who desert ‘Ali. Let the truth accompany ‘Ali wherever he goes."

Prophet Muhammad felt great relief upon accomplishment of his mission of declaring Hazrat Ali his successor and legatee, wasi, and thereupon received the final revelation:

"This day have I perfected for you your religion and completed My favor on you and chosen for you Islam as a religion" Quran 5:3.

"Surely those who swear allegiance to you do but swear allegiance to Allah; the hand of Allah is above their hands. Therefore whoever breaks (his faith), he breaks it only to the injury of his own soul, and whoever fulfills what he has pledged with Allah, He will grant him a mighty reward." Quran (48:10)

"And, He it is who made the stars for you that ye maybe rightly guided by observing them in the darkness of the land and the sea; Indeed we have made plain the Signs for the people who can know. Qur'an (6:98)

The Holy Prophet (sas) said:

"As the stars in the sky are the source of guidance to the travelers, the Holy Ones of my Ahli-Bayt (the Imams descended from the Prophet's family) are the source of guidance for the people. And, as the stars will remain in the sky until the day of judgment, the earth will never be without a Divine Guide from my Ahl al Bayt, that is an Imam".

Several verses in the Quran speak about the Light of God and Rope of Imamat which is a continuous chain (Hablillah) since Hazrat Adam, through all the Prophets including, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammad and after him through the hereditary Imams. The Mahdi - Savior that is referred to by all Prophets and religions is referred to the Noor of Allah, Living and present in Mowlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam. Allahuma Salli 'ala Muhammadin wa Ahl-e Muhammad.

In the Fatimid era, Eid-e Ghadir became an even more important holiday as the Imams were also the Caliphs and many blessings were showered on the community.

"Morale and enthusiasm were kept up by the observance of various festivals of general Islamic nature; particularly those of Shia and Ismaili. Fridays and the two Idd days were the days of festivity. Moreover, the Shia festival of Idd-e-Ghadeer Khum and the 10th of Muharram were also observed.

Birthdays of the Ahli-Bayt (the Prophet's family) and the Imams and certain important dates of the year were celebrated. Imam took part in the celebrations of the festivals. Local festivals of secular origin, like the "Flooding of the Nile" and "Navroz" (beginning of spring) were also encouraged by the Imam. Imam al-Muiz would hold huge receptions at his palace; processions were taken through the town and the whole town was illuminated". - From History of the Imams

Everyday, we repeat in our prayers:"Guide us to the right path: The path of those whom Thou hast blessed." Quran (1:6-7)

Every time I read the Quran, I find more and more passages, pointing to this Grace of Allah, to the presence of the Everliving Guide.

"And say those who disbelieve: "why hath not a sign been sent down unto him (Muhammad)"; Verily thou art a warner and for every people there is a guide" Quran (13:7)