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Hundred Questions - Straight Path
Straight Path
Q56 If our faith is true and makes us walk on the straight path and unites us with God, why are people not invited towards it, so that it facilitates the ending of religious differences and quarrels and accomplishes the duty of well-being?
A56
- The da`wat (invitation) of the Qur'an and Islam, in the language of wisdom (hikmat), is the da`wat of Isma`ilism, which continues from the time of the Prophet to the time of Resurrection. Now, it is the responsibility of the people to accept this practical da`wat of the true religion, Islam, and to have recourse to the Teacher of the Qur'an, the Imam.
- When Islam and Isma`ilism are not hidden from the eyes of the people, and they make it the subject of their discussion, if this is not da`wat then what is it? If today, despite having made it the subject of their discussion, people consider it a farce, would it be possible for them on the Day of Resurrection to offer the excuse that they were not aware of this faith in the world?
- In addition to this, our pirs and da`is in accordance with the commands and farmans of the Imam of their times, have done their best to spread the true knowledge. That is, they introduced the true religion to many people, the main purpose of which was to protect and strengthen the faith from the attacks of the opponents, and not the fulfilment of the argument (itmam-i hujjat) regarding the conveying of the true faith.
- There is a Prophetic Tradition: "The door of repentance (babu't-tawbah) will not close till the sun rises from the West (i.e. the time of Resurrection)". It should be known that the door of repentance is the true da`wat, which will be closed near the time of the Resurrection.
- If this question implies, for what reason have the entire virtues of Isma`ilism not been revealed through knowledge and action, so that the true guidance of Islam may be evident to all, the answer is that the epitome of all the virtues of the true religion is the Imam of the time and he is manifest and apparent before the people of the world: what, after this, is left hidden?
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