al-'Aqaa'id ul-'Alaviyah (The Book of 100 Alavi Principles)

   
 

"Taaj ul-‘Aqaa'id wa Ma'dan ul-Fawaa'id" is a well-known treatise compiled by the 5th Da'i ul-Mutlaq Saiyedna Ali bin Mohammad al-Waleed (QR) in Yemen. He is also the author of many other works which are regarded as very informative, authoritative and are still studied by the Isma'ilis and worldwide scholars alike. This book describes the 100 principles and beliefs, which belong to the practices of our Shi'i Isma'ili Taiyebi faith. The book is categorically divided into a set of “aqaa'id” (pl. of ‘aqeedah meaning belief) starting from the 19 basic tenets related with the oneness-tawheed of Allaah Ta'aala. Each belief is numbered and its heading indicates the subject matter discussed therein. In his introduction Saiyedna states that, “As there are many heretical movements in the Isma'ilism, and much danger of the pious falling into its trap, great need is felt for a work which would give a clear idea as to what are the true beliefs and doctrines of our Isma'ili Taiyebi Imaams.”  We, as an Isma'ili-Taiyebi-Alavi Bohras abide to the principles as mentioned in this highly acclaimed book.

It is to be noted that, Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna Haatim Zakiyuddin saheb TUS had a long wish to make Mumineen understand our Taiyebi tenets in a simple way beautifully written with effective, lucid and flowery language. To get this wish into action, in 1432 AH/2011 AD, Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna saheb TUS started dictating these principles to Mukaasir Maulaa Mohammad Nuruddin saheb DM from different sources maintaining the centrality of the work Taaj ul-Aqaa'id. In this process after making three drafts, the final draft was okayed and publications started of this esteemed project. In the beginning of each book, an impressive introduction speaks about the need, importance and authenticity of our principles in the time of the Concealment of our Imaam. Introduction maintains an important place in this project followed by the description of 25 principles.

   
   
 
  Shahrullaah il Mo'azzam 1444 AH/03-2023 AD - 1st Part - 1 to 25 Alavi Principles
   
 
Doctrines & Tenets of Taiyebi Isma'ili Shi'i Faith
   
 

In Shahrullaah 1444 AH, the first 25 principles of this book is published named as "al-'Aqaa'id ul-'Alaviyah". This is the first part and we wish to deal with the remaining principles in its next parts. Mishkaat ul-Haadi Deeni Newsletter published series of these principles since its 146th issue of Rabi' ul-Awwal/Rabi' ul-Aakhar 1440 AH i.e. Nov-Dec 2018 AD. At a time when this book is published, the series has reached 41st Alavi principle in Mishkaat ul-Haadi. Mumineen gets their copy from Devdi Shareefah along with the Waajebaat Safaai card.

   
  25 Alavi Principles:
   
 

1. This world is created.  It has a creator.

2. The creator is powerful and complete.

3. The creator Allaah Ta'aala is One.

4. The creator is old and experienced.

5. Allaah Ta'aala doesn’t have Body.

6. He is neither a Substance nor Accidence of things created.

7. He is neither matter, nor form of created things.

8. He does not in any way depend on His creatures, He exist only through His will.

9. There are no deities or God besides Him.

10. He does not resemble anything in this transient world.

11. No names i.e. attributes, can be associated with Him. 

12. He has no limits, by which He could be confined or limited.

13. Negation of properties, which people ascribe to the Creator, is a correct form of belief.

14.  He is not in Space or any Place.

15. He is not in Time.  No Tense apply to Him.

16. Allaah Ta'aala is eternal, living, the One, Indivisible, the Head of the Universe. He never ceases to be the First.

17. There cannot be two (or more) Gods, sharing the position which the faithful recognize as that belonging to only One Allaah.

18. Human speech is powerless to express the ideas which are connected with the real nature of Allaah Ta'aala.

19. The visible world comes from the primal source endowed with perceptible properties or attributes.

20. The Primal Source of the world is infinite, but has a beginning in time. It is only one, has no rival, and is unchangeable.

21. There cannot be two primal sources; if they were, there would be a split and no balance in the world.

22. The Primal Entity is not self-existing and it depends for its existence on the Most High status.

23. Belief in Angels. They exist, and are of different ranks and kinds, known under different names, entrusted with different duties.

24. Belief in Jinns. They also really exist; there is no doubt about this. They are of different varieties.

25. Belief in Wahy or Divine inspiration, is what the heart or soul (nafs) of the Rasulullah SAWS receives through his intellect (‘aql), in the way of revelation, from the Will (amr) of the Allaah Ta'aala.

 

 
  Shahrullaah il Mo'azzam 1446 AH/03-2025 AD - 2nd Part - 26 to 50 Alavi Principles
   
 
Ijraa of "al-'Aqaa'id ul-'Alaviyah" at different masaajid in Vadodara
   
 
Doctrines & Tenets of Taiyebi Isma'ili Shi'i Faith

List of 25 Doctrines & Tenets of Taiyebi Isma'ili Shi'i Faith
   
 

In Shahrullaah 1446 AH, the second part of other 25 principles of this book is published named as "al-'Aqaa'id ul-'Alaviyah" starting from 26th to 50th principles. We wish to deal with the remaining 50 principles in its next parts. Mishkaat ul-Haadi Deeni Newsletter published series of these principles since its 146th issue of Rabi' ul-Awwal/Rabi' ul-Aakhar 1440 AH i.e. Nov-Dec 2018 AD. At a time when this book is published, the series has reached 51st Alavi principle in Mishkaat ul-Haadi. Mumineen gets their copy from Devdi Shareefah along with the Waajebaat Safaai card.

   
  25 Alavi Principles:
   
 

26. Apostleship-Risaalat is an eternal divine institution-Darajah.

27. Prophets are never born from parents of loose morals, or in the family of wicked people.

28. The rank of Prophet Hood (nubuwwat) is the highest which human being can attain.

29. Mohammad Rasoolullaah SAWS is the greatest (afzal) of all the Apostles.

30. Maulaana Ali AS is appointed by Saiyed ul-Mursaleen Mohammad Rasoolullaah SAWS as the executor of his will (Wasi) after him.

31. One who is appointed by the Prophet as the wasi, i.e. the executor of his will, is the greatest (afzal) of all men after the Prophet of Allaah.

32. Imaamat remains in the family (Ahl-ul-Bayt) of the Rasoolullaah SAWS, to the exclusion of everybody else.

33. The Imaam is the heir of the Prophet and his wasi, and the executor of his will.

34. Prophethood or Apostleship (Risaalat) is not continuous like Imaamat but Prophets come at designated intervals.

35. The rank of the Wasi or the executor of the Prophet's will, is not transferred after the death of Wasi, but comes to an end.

36. Imaamat, contrary to the Prophethood and Wasaayat, is a permanent divine institution in the world. 

37. There is no Ghaybat, i.e. the time when the Imaam entirely disappears from the world. The Imaam cannot disappear completely.

38. The world will never remain without a “Proof of Allaah” (Hujjatullaah), i.e. either a Prophet, or Wasi, or Imaam or his representative as a Da'i.

39. The reason of the steps been not taken by Maulaana Ali AS after the death of Rasoolullaah SAWS, to take upon himself the rank or the office of Khilaafat, was neither due to his inability nor due to his neglect.

40. One who is in some respect inferior to others cannot be an Imaam.

41. Imaam cannot be elected by the community. He is the absolute ruler, who imposes his final commandments (hudood) upon his followers.

42. Everyone who makes an attempt or claim on the rights of an Imaam is like Taaghut (the demon).

43. The Ummat, or all the Mohammedan nations in their entirety, became split and fell into disagreement (ikhtelaafaat) after the death of Rasoolullaah SAWS.

44. The principle of ra'y (opinion), or using commonsense in the religious matters; the principle of qeyaas, (lit. deduction by analogy) or using logical analogy in deciding religious questions is unlawful.

45. Swearing allegiance (Bay'at, Misaaq) to the Imaam is obligatory to every mu'min.

46. Obedience (taa'at) to all dictates of the religion is the most important duty of the faithful.

47. Complete surrendering or submission of oneself (tasleem) to the Imaam is compulsory.

48. The people who really obey Allaah and His Rasool, and are therefore entitled to receive the great reward to keep their covenants.

49. Whoever breaks his covenant (misaaq) and violates his oath of allegiance, disobeys Allaah and His Rasool, and by doing so, is cursed and punished by “painful punishment”.

50. The fast of Ramazaan and the days of Hajj should be started with the direction of Imaam who is in true sense the sighting of Moon.

   
   
   
   
   
   
 
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