Hundred Questions - Asas and Samit
Asas and Samit
Q82 What is the meaning of Asas and Samit? How many have there been? Please explain.
A82 Asas literally means foundation, and according to Isma`ili terminology he is the Imam who becomes the legatee to a natiq (a speaking) Prophet and successor to him. From asas starts a new cycle of Imamat. The same asas is also called samit (silent) in relation to the natiq Prophet, when he himself interprets the Book and the shari`ah (law). However, with respect to the silent book, i.e. the Qur'an, the same samit [asas] later on becomes the speaking book (kitab-i natiq).
There have been six Asases, who are as under:
The first asas of Hazrat-i Adam (May peace be through him) was Mawlana Habil (May peace be through him), but when Qabil martyred him, Mawlana Shith (May peace be through him) was appointed. Hazrat-i Nuh's (May peace be through him) asas was Mawlana Sam (May peace be through him), Hazrat-i Ibrahim's (May peace be through him) asas was Mawlana Isma`il (May peace be through him), Hazrat-i Musa's first asas was Mawlana Harun (May peace be through him) and when he expired in his lifetime, he appointed Mawlana Yushi` bin Nun (May peace be through him), Hazrat-i `Isa's (May peace be through him) asas was Mawlana Sham`un (May peace be through him) and Hazrat-i Muhammad's (May Allah send blessings and peace through him and his progeny) asas was Mawlana `Ali (May peace be through him).
These are the six asases of the six natiqs.
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