Hundred Questions - Introduction (Part 1)
Introduction (Part 1)
In the Name Of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful
O my Sustainer! May I be sacrificed for the luminous miracles and great bounties of Your Supreme Name and Remembrance! O True Lord! O the most Just of judges! How full of wonders and marvels are the manifestations of Your power and mercy! What a lofty place Your help causes the weak and the helpless to reach! And how marvellously Your grace and support work within the infirm and the feeble!
Praise belongs to God that the esteemed members of Khanah-yi Hikmat are very pleased, content and satisfied with the services rendered by their sacred institution, and with the progress that has been granted to it in the few months between 1977 and 1978. They humbly want to express their deepest gratitude to their most Holy Lord (khudawand-i quddus) for His infinite mercies and favours, for whatever service has been rendered for the sake of knowledge during this short span of time has been satisfactorily effective, very useful, highly productive, exceedingly far-reaching and extremely all-embracing.
Thus the present book Hundred Questions, which consists of four parts dealing with a hundred questions giving well- grounded and convincing answers, is a link in the chain of this same service. The reason for writing this book is that last year (1977), I was invited by the Eastern Canada Regional Committee of His Highness The Aga Khan Shia Imami Isma`ilia Association for Canada to go on a tour of the reputed Jama`at there. Jan-i `Aziz Faquir Muhammad Hunzai, as well as Honorary Secretary Dr. Shiraz Ismail received this invitation. Thus in accordance with this auspicious invitation, I arrived in the great country of Canada on 7th December 1977. This excellent chance to render services for the cause of religion, knowledge and spirituality given to this indigent servant by the bounty and beneficence of the True Lord, will be remembered forever with gratitude and appreciation.
The questions that were asked in the lectures, seminars and in major and minor discussions during this tour, numbered around a thousand altogether. The questions were answered on the spot. However, in addition to this I wanted the answers to selected questions to be presented in a book form. In view of this I have completed the book Hundred Questions in four parts, each consisting of 25 questions, and God willing, they will be published consecutively.
I am grateful to the Eastern Regional Committee and to the entire Jama`at, for not only have they availed me a chance to render such a rare Jama`ati service, but they have also co- operated with me in rendering this service to my entire satisfaction. I will never forget the forbearance, sincerity and affection of the leaders of the Jama`at.
I must ever pray, with soul and heart, for all the members of that esteemed and reputed Jama`at, who in order to know the issues of religion and knowledge paid attention to me with increasing confidence. And special prayers, not only mine but also of the entire Jama`at, are for those blessed houses (families) without whose superb residential and office facilities and unprecedented services, it would not have been possible to accomplish any of my and Jan-i `Aziz's work for knowledge. I wish I could describe adequately how profoundly religious, and how staunchly devoted to the True Imam the members of their families are, and how perfect and consummate their faith is.
On this occasion our purpose cannot be achieved without the pleasant mention of Jan-i `Aziz Faquir Muhammad Hunzai. Most of my friends and (`azizan) students are aware of the fact that I consider him the angel of mercy for myself, the reasons for which I would have mentioned instantly had there been only one or two of them, but there are too many. It is due to him that my journey to the West became easy and successful; and it is he who made my tour in a developed country like North America possible. Once again I say that his kindnesses to me are too many.
At the end of this Introduction I humbly pray that may the Sustainer of the world grant the entire Jama`at utmost success and high ambition in advancing in the field of knowledge and practice and in progressing in religious and worldly good deeds. Amin! O the Sustainer of the worlds!
The servant of the Jama`at for knowledge,
Nasir al-Din Nasir Hunzai
29th May 1978.
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