Hundred Questions - Ism-i a`zam (the Supreme Name)
Ism-i a`zam (the Supreme Name):
Q52 Is it possible to attain salvation without ism-i a`zam? Is it compulsory to take ism-i a`zam?
A52 Where ism-i a`zam means the Imam of the time himself, salvation is impossible without this living and supreme name of God. Where it means a verbal name, salvation can be obtained even without it. For to practice with such a verbal ism-i a`zam and to achieve success with it is only a virtue, i.e. an additional merit.
If it were not possible to attain salvation without the ism-i a`zam, the Imam would have enjoined it upon all his followers as being obligatory and compulsory. All know that such is not the case, and rather, this special `ibadat is for additional spiritual progress.
Kar-i buzurg (the great work, i.e. to practise ism-i a`zam) is necessary for those Isma`ilis who want to see the spiritual miracles of the Imam of the time, or it should be undertaken by those mu`allims or teachers who have been able to acquire spiritual knowledge.
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