Declaration – 26 Muharram 1425 (2004-03-18)

Declaration from Hazrat Dr. Nour Ali Tabandeh, Majzoub Ali Shah
On the Occasion of Nowruz

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At the beginning of the new solar year 1383 (2004), I beseech the Merciful God to grant health, prosperity, success in all worldly and spiritual matters, fulfillment, joy, the state of servitude, and a sense of need before the Truly Independent to all my believing brothers and sisters. I hope the new year brings blessings, abundance, goodness, and mercy. As in recent years, the noble people of Iran—especially the Shi‘a, the fuqara, and the devotees of the Ahl al-Bayt of purity and infallibility (AS)—while honoring the ancient Nowruz tradition, which is a legacy of Hazrat Zoroaster (AS) and a time-honored custom of the Iranian people, will also uphold the sanctity of the months of Muharram and Safar and the unforgettable memory of the uprising and movement of Hazrat Aba Abdillah al-Husayn (AS).

Since the greatest gift and celebration is to prepare one’s soul for pleasing the Beloved, for the ascension of the spirit to the celestial realm, for a journey through the garden of gnosis, for gleaning wisdom from the orchard of Divine knowledge, and for perfuming the heart with the teachings of the Quran, I offer the following points—though they may be familiar—as guidance to aid the journey of spiritual wayfaring, as a gift to the fuqara at the dawn of this new year:

1. Observing the sacred laws of Islam has always been a priority for the great figures of the path and a distinguishing mark of the Nimatullahi Order. When practiced alongside the manners of the tariqat, it becomes a means for reaching truth and gnosis.
2. Just as one cannot walk with sleeping feet, one cannot traverse the path to God with a heart that is asleep and heedless of the Truth. Thus, waking before dawn, constant remembrance, and continual contemplation illuminate the heart, strengthen faith, please the Compassionate Lord, and bring serenity to the soul.
3. The gatherings of faqr and circles of Divine remembrance are like gardens of Paradise on earth. Attending the nightly gatherings of faqr on Fridays and Mondays, visiting the elders, and meeting with fellow seekers increases knowledge, brings happiness, and leads to salvation.
4. Honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness in social services and professional duties are obligations for all fuqara and represent the highest form of collaboration and unity toward individual and communal happiness. Among the traits of the believers described in the Quran is: وَالَّذِينَ هُمْ لِأَمَانَاتِهِمْ وَعَهْدِهِمْ رَاعُونَ .
5. Gnosis and Sufism, which are the spirit of the holy religion of Islam, regard the fight against materialism, extravagance, and excess as key elements in both inner and outer reform. The root of all moral corruption and the greatest barrier to spiritual development is love of the world: حُبُّ الدُنْيَا رَأْسُ كُل خَطِيئَةٍ ("Love of the world is the root of every sin"). By reducing attachment to worldly things, personal refinement and social improvement become possible. Of course, seeking wealth, status, and authority through lawful and legitimate means, with good intentions and the aim of serving God’s creation, is praiseworthy in the eyes of God and His Prophet (PBUH). Mawlavi, may God’s mercy be upon him, says:

   If wealth you bear for the sake of the Truth,

   “How excellent is goodly wealth”, said the Messenger.

6. As has been frequently emphasized in previous declarations, the use of narcotics, being present in places where they are consumed, and any effort to promote them is destructive to faith and human dignity. It obstructs the greatness and pride of the nation and is a major barrier to the advancement of humanity toward salvation. Therefore, all efforts—especially by the fuqara—to help addicts quit and prevent others from falling into addiction is a vital duty, and the noble elders of the Order are pioneers in this struggle.
7. Spiritual training, moral cultivation, and purification of the self are the foundation of gnosis. Since true seekers of the path to God are rare, the honorable mashayekh of the Order should guide those who are not yet committed to the pure Shari‘a, especially those addicted to narcotics or those who pursue material concerns without awareness of the path’s purpose. Such individuals should first be given preliminary instructions and engaged in companionship and attendance at gatherings. In this way, the fuqara can lead by word and deed, encouraging one another to forgiveness, honesty, proper conduct, fulfilling the duties of faqr, and sincere interaction, with firm resolve, steadfastness, mutual love, and brotherhood.
8. It has been frequently reiterated that resentment and depression among believers only result in weakened faith on both sides, grief for the spiritual guides, corruption of both religious and worldly affairs, and joy for outsiders. The Quran states: فَتَفْشَلُوا وَتَذْهَبَ رِيحُكُمْ . Kindness, sincerity, and mutual warmth attract Divine mercy and favor to all parties involved.
9. Intellect and reflection are among God’s greatest gifts to humanity. The proper expression of gratitude for such blessings is not to leave them unused but to employ them in the path of God. Thinking and reasoning within the framework of Islam is one of the finest forms of worship and helps us better understand religious rulings and navigate the spiritual path. When used wisely, they reduce the need for unnecessary appeals to elders and avoid wasting their time.
10. The Noble Prophet (PBUH) said: مَا بُنِي بِنَاءً فِي الْإِسْلَامِ أَحَبُّ إِلَي اللَّهِ عَزَّ وَجَلَّ مِنَ التَزْوِيج . The family is the center of Divine love and the satisfaction of the Prophet (PBUH), who also said: أُبَاهِي بِكُمُ الْأُمَمَ يَوْمَ الْقِيَامَةِ . The family is the environment for nurturing children and preparing and offering believers to the society of humanity. Choosing a spouse is of primary importance. Attention should be given to religiosity, chastity, noble family lineage, respectable work, and lawful livelihood. Unfortunately, addiction to drugs destroys all good traits. Therefore, both parties must consider physical health, freedom from addiction, and moral compatibility. After marriage, strengthening family bonds through harmony, forgiveness, and avoiding waste and extravagance is essential for peace. Parents and the home environment, through commendable behavior, can instill spirituality in children and adolescents and lay the groundwork for their education and spiritual inclination.
11. God empowered the great Prophets to publicly declare their message within their legal traditions. However, in matters of wilayah and the spiritual path, there is no formal propagation. Often the slanders and accusations of enemies serve as unintended means of conveying the truth. The ignorant and corrupt, drawn by the rumors, enter such gatherings and unwittingly come under the influence of a peaceful and genuinely Islamic environment. The righteous come with investigative intent and enter the path of perfection. Therefore, in faqr, the issue is not the number of followers, and the elders of the Order prioritize the spiritual training of the fuqara over increasing their numbers.
12. The goal of the Dervish school is for the servant of God to attain perfection under the shelter of the state of faqr. Anyone seeking the path to perfection is accepted. Even if a person appears unworthy at first, they gradually—or rarely instantly—cleanse themselves of defects and impurities through spiritual training. Companionship has a profound impact, so we must associate with people of faith and certainty. In “Misbah al-Shari‘ah wa Miftah al-Haqiqah”, it is narrated that Imam Sadiq (AS), quoting the Prophet (PBUH), said: وال لا تَجْلِسُوا عِنْدَ کُلِ دَاعٍ یَدْعُوکُمْ مِنَ الْیَقِینِ إِلَی الشَّاکِ… (Do not sit with anyone who calls you from certainty to doubt), and then he said: تَقَرَّبُوا مِنْ عَالِمٍ یَدْعُوکُمْ مِنَ الشَاءِ إِلَی الْیَقِین (Draw close to a scholar who calls you from uncertainty to certainty).
13. Let us prepare ourselves and our society through reading the Quran and acting upon its teachings, so we may move on God’s path without fear of the devils among jinn and mankind, and become worthy of serving under the victorious banner of the Promised One, Imam al-Mahdi (AS).
14. Do not fear the plots, propaganda, and pressure of the enemies of wilayah and gnosis. The knowledge, action, steadfastness, unity, and solidarity of the fuqara are the best and most unbreakable armor and weapon of the believers. God has promised: يُبَشِّرُهُمْ رَبُّهُم بِرَحْمَةٍ مِّنْهُ وَرِضْوَانٍ .

I pray that the Merciful Lord pours down His rain of mercy upon the soil of our hearts, that the spring of love—which is the true life of the heart—may accompany the spring of nature, the life of earth and time. May the soul-refreshing breeze of His favor touch our spirits, may the gates of His blessings, mercy, grace, and forgiveness open upon us, and may He cleanse our hearts of all resentment and darkness, making our souls worthy of receiving His grace and generosity.

رَبَّنَا لَا تُزِغْ قُلُوبَنَا بَعْدَ إِذْ هَدَيْتَنَا وَهَبْ لَنَا مِن لَّدُنكَ رَحْمَةً إِنَّكَ أَنتَ الْوَهَّابُ