::ISMAILISM-INSIDEOUT::

Who are the Muslims?

All the Prophets who were sent to this earth always spread the deen of Islam, and their followers were always called by the name Allah had chosen for the believers: Muslims!

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 22 (Surah Hajj) verses 77-78:

O you who have believed, do ‘rukooh’ (bow down), and do ‘sajdah’ (prostration), and worship your Lord Allah Alone, and do righteous deeds: it may be that you attain true success! Exert your utmost for the cause of Allah, as one should. He has chosen you for His service, and has not laid on you any hardship in your religion. Therefore, be steadfast in the religion of your father Abraham. Allah has named you “Muslims” before this, and has named you (Muslims) in this Qur’an also, so that the Messenger may be a witness in regard to you, and you may be witnesses in regard to the rest of mankind.

Allah says in the Holy Qur’an, Chapter 3 (Surah Ale Imran) verse 67:

Abraham was neither a Jew nor a Christian, but he was a Muslim, sound in his faith. And he was not one of those who set up partners with Allah.

‘Ismailis’ on the other hand are those who pray to Hadrat Ali/ the Imam {their greeting of Ya Ali Madad; Giryazari Tasbihs (supplications to Ya Ali Ya Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al Husseini); Chanta Ceremony (confessions to Shah Pir – the Imam); Nad-e-Ali tasbih (Invoking Ali in times of difficulties); absence of Rukooh (bowing) in their act of worship, etc. all underline that fact} and merit the title “Alids” or the “Agakhanis” or whatever they deem appropriate but not Muslims!

It is worth recalling the circumstances in which the Surah (chapter) 109 was revealed.

The idolaters of Makkah came to the Prophet (pbuh) and offered a compromise. Previously they had made an offer to appoint him as their king and marry any woman of his choice if he gave up preaching Islam. He had declined their offer.

They said: You pray to our idols for six months and in return we (the idolaters) would pray to Allah for the other six months.

Allah forbade such compromise and told the idolaters to go their way!

However, the Prophet (pbuh) never told any of those who questioned him on the matters of the Deen (Muslim Faith) to leave him alone. On the contrary, he took great pains to explain and clarify all aspects of the Deen and its practice until no doubt remained!

The position of the Muslims is best summed up in the Ayat (verse) 64; chapter III (The Family of Imran).

“Say: O people of the Scripture! Come to an agreement between us and you: that we shall worship none save Allah, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside Allah. And if they turn away, then say: Bear witness that we are they who have surrendered (unto Him).”

Are the ‘Ismailis’ able to come to such agreement with the Muslims?

If not, the ‘Ismailis’ indeed do not belong with those who

“worship none save Allah - ascribe no partner unto Him – take none as their lord beside Allah – and have surrendered to Allah Alone”.