How To Create Angels: Good Deeds Manifest Spiritual Entities
Ismaili Wisdoms on Angels, the Grave, Resurrection, and Spreading Joy
“Remember that every little service
you perform for your brothers and sisters
will be rewarded to you many times over.”
— Mawlana Shah Karim al-Husayni (s.a.)
Message to H.H. Aga Khan
Shia Imami Ismailia Welfare Society
Uganda, March 31st, 1959.
Precious Gems, vol. 2, p. 31.
The above inspiring reminder by Mawlana Hazar Imam, reflects guidance and encouragement that is well known to Ismaili Muslims, whose lives, from very early on, are shaped by the wise words of their Imams. This tradition of guidance, particularly as it relates to the ethical life of Muslims who follow the Imam of their time, has a long, in fact, perennial history. We see this in a magnificent hadith of the early Shi‘i Imam, Mawlana Muhammad al-Baqir⁽ᶜ⁾, included in the Fatimid Ismaili book of law, Da‘a’im al-Islam by al-Qadi al-Nu‘man, which is sure to bring inspiration to murids (followers) of Imam-i Zaman (as well as to others) who feel called to act in a beautiful, cordial manner with exemplary ethics.
In addition to the ethical reminder, depending on how literal one takes this particular example of Imam al-Baqir⁽ᶜ⁾’s religious guidance, the hadith can give spiritual seekers who are searching for ultimate truth some insight into the astonishing ways that God — “the best (ahsana) of creators” — can and does create (see 23:14 and a ta’wil of it).
In a section titled, “The Acts of Kindness Towards Mankind”, in volume 2 of Da‘a’im al-Islam (The Pillars of Islam), al-Qadi al-Nu‘man reports that Imam al-Baqir⁽ᶜ⁾ said:
When God resurrects a faithful [mu’min] from the grave, there emerges with him a beautiful apparition [mithalᵘⁿ hasanᵘⁿ = beautiful, subtle/imaginal entity]. When he [the faithful mu’min] comes across tribulations, the apparition will say, “Fear not; no harm will come to you.” The apparition will not cease to console him and to give him glad tidings until he takes him to God. Then God will take his reckoning lightly, and command him to be taken to Paradise.
The believer will exclaim, “Who are you? May God have mercy on you! For you have promised me [good things], and declared me to be faithful and protected me from fear.” And the apparition will say, “I am a creation of my Lord who created me from that joy which you used to give to the faithful, and so today, I give you joy.”
al-Qadi al-Nu‘man, Da‘a’im al-Islam, tr. Asaf A.A. Fyzee, completely revised by Ismail K. Poonawala as The Pillars of Islam (vol. 2), 314.