Declaration – 23 Jumada al-Thani 1419 (1998-10-14)

Mystical Message and Spiritual Directive from Hazrat Agha Haj Dr. Noor Ali Tabandeh, Majzoub Ali Shah
to the Fuqara of Iran at the Time of His Departure for Europe

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Honorable brothers and dear sisters,

With this message, I bid farewell to all my faithful brothers and sisters, as I will, God willing, be blessed with the opportunity to visit the brethren in Europe. We will depart for Sweden on Wednesday. I wished to use this moment to say goodbye and to ask for your prayers. God willing, may you pray that Allah grants all of us the success to worship and serve, so we may fulfill the commands and duties entrusted to us in the best manner.

One recommendation that has long been emphasized since the time of the late Hazrat Agha Reza Ali Shah and then the late Agha Mahboub Ali Shah — may Allah elevate their ranks — and which I too have consistently reiterated, is more necessary than ever given the current circumstances. That is: strive not only to avoid conflicts with fellow believers, but even if you harbor the slightest resentment or bitterness in your heart, try to remove it. God states in the Quran that “the true believers worthy of Paradise, if they have any resentment between them,” He will cleanse their hearts of that darkness and they will sit across from each other in Paradise, in perfect love and brotherhood.

If we achieve this state in this world, it will itself become paradise for us. Discord among the brethren may be exploited by enemies — from their perspective, they are making “good use” of it, though in truth it is misuse — and they attempt to magnify such bitterness so as to distance both sides from the heavenly path. Moreover, if this darkness remains untreated, it can grow into deeper resentment and possibly even animosity. This, in turn, intensifies division and conflict, involving more and more people, as each side begins to form factions. The most damaging blow is this: that division and discord arise among the fuqara.

The main cause of the decline of Islam and Muslims was this very division. It was even to avoid such disunity that Imam Ali (AS), despite being the most deserving person to lead and succeed the Prophet, did not insist upon his right. He said that if we want the name of the Prophet and Islam to remain alive, the sword of Ali must remain sheathed. When Ali (AS) refrains from asserting his rightful position to prevent division, how much more must we uphold unity in our current age. I hope that during my absence, affection and unity among the fuqara will increase and any bitterness or discomfort will be resolved.

Another point is about participating in the spiritual gatherings — especially the Friday and Monday night sessions. These offer the benefit of companionship with friends and elders, and spiritual progress through contemplation on the meaning of the books being read. I hope you will fully observe this and not abandon the gatherings.

May all of us, with careful reflection on the words and phrases of Pandeh Saleh, strive to align our behavior accordingly, and not become those who tarnish the legacy of honor. You’ve noticed that others expect dervishes to be adorned with every virtue, and even a minor fault in a dervish leaves a very negative impression in their minds — a fault they then associate with dervishhood itself. Our enemies and the enemies of Islam actively seek to attribute all our individual shortcomings or failures to the foundation of the order.

Therefore, be mindful that if, God forbid, even a mistaken act occurs — even unintentionally — and others become disillusioned with dervishhood because of it, we share in the sin of having misguided that soul. As expressed in اِتَّقوُا مِنْ مَواضِعِ التُّهَم , which is also emphasized in Pandeh Saleh, beware of even appearing in situations that raise suspicion. Do not do anything that might be misinterpreted, bringing doubt upon yourselves or your path. May God grant us all the success to be an adornment to dervishhood, not a stain upon it.