['Aalim Network QR] Ismailis

["Akil M. Karim" <amk@ican.net>]

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|       In the Name of Allah, the Compassionate, the All-Merciful       |\
|  Greeting of Allah be upon Muhammad and the pure members of his House |\
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Salamun 'Alaykum

The following question was kindly answered by Shaykh Hasnain.


Fee Amaanillah,

Akil Karim
Moderator - 'Aalim Network

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

QUESTION:

What is the ruling about nijasat on Aga Khan's follower?


ANSWER:
Any one who believes in Tawhid (the absolute unity of God), Nubuwwah
(Apostleship of Prophet Muhammd -s) and the Day of Judgement is a Muslim and
thus Tahir (ritually pure). However, such a person becomes najis (impure) if
s/he were to deny any of the necessary tenets and laws of Islam. Also Najis
are those who believe that one or more of the 12 Imams are either God or
incarnations of God.

To which category the Aga Khani Ismailis belong to, is difficult to say.
Their beliefs and to an extent the practices are of an esoteric (batini)
nature. Consequently, it is not easy to ascertain whether they deny any of
the neccessary tenets and laws of Islam. Nor is it easy to say that they
believe, say, Imam `Ali (a) to be God incarnate.

Going through the old literature of the Aga Khanis we come accross a lot of
objectionable items. For instance they belive that the Qur'an is incomplete.
Or that it contains a lot of additions, which did not belong to the original
Qur'an. If you read the 'dhua' (i.e. du`a) which they invoke daily, it has
no resemblance whatsoever to the daily obligatory prayers (salat/namaz).
Furthermore when we talk to some them they openly confess that for them the
saying of the daily Salat and fasting in the Holy month is not
obligatory/necessary. Some of them also do not see the need of peforming
Hajj. Whether these are the official teachings from their Imams or practices
and beliefs found only in a section of the community is difficult to
confirm. We can also have look at their Homepage. Here, you will notice that
the author/s have tried their best to portray a good Islamic picture about
the beliefs and practices of the Aga Khanis Ismailis. Qur'anic quotes are
found in plenty and the recitations of various surahs can be downloaded.

In light of the above it is difficult to ascertain both, their being tahir
or najis. Until that time that their exact beliefs are not known we have to
rely on what is apparent (zahir) and overlook the concealed. Since the Aga
Khanis claim that they believe in Tawhid, Nubuwwah and Qiyamah we have to
consider them tahir. For those who have evidences (say, through personal
encounters) that some Aga Khanis deny the necessties of Islam, then it is
advisable for them to stay away from such people (i.e. not eat their food,
etc.).

God knows the best.

Hasnain Kassamali
Humble servant of the Ahlul Bayt (a).