Imaam Ja'far us Saadiq SA addressed to some of his Shi'a and said, 'Keep our secret hidden and do not publicize it because, indeed, Allaah will honor him in this World and the Hereafter who keeps our secret hidden and doesn't divulge it.' Allaah will humiliate him in this World and the Hereafter who discloses our secret and He will take away the Light (Noor) from his eyes.

My father Imaam Mohammad ul Baaqir SA used to say, "Dissimulation (keeping one's beliefs and faith secret from undeserving people during the time of threat or fear) is my Religion and the Religion of my forefathers, and the one who doesn't practice Dissimulation has no Religion." Undoubtedly, Allaah wishes to be served in secret in the same way that he wants it to be in public. Secrecy is more desirable than publicity.  One who discloses our affairs is like him who disowns us.

During the era of Maulaana Aadam Safiyullaah and Maulaana Nooh Najiyullaah the vast Indian land did not have the evil custom of Makhlooq-parasti or the act of worshipping things created by Allaah Ta'aala. Intelligent and wise people were residing on this land who were knowing the demarcating line between the Creator and the Creation. Many folks of different ethical and cultural background came to this holy land of prosperous Hindustaan for the purpose of trading and business through famous and safe sea routes.

Gradually their localities and societies were established where temples were constructed and eventually by gaining local support and maintaining good social relations they brought about changes in the traditional Indian culture and likewise they adopted Indian social practices. In this way an innovative mutual social system was mooted for future generations.

Siqat ud Da'wat il 'Alaviyah Mukaasir Maulaa Saiyedi Mohammad Nuruddin saheb DM presided the Flag Hoisting event at the 74th Republic Day, 26th Jan 2023, Thursday at Taiyebi Masjid, Ajwa Road, Vadodara. Baroda Cyclopedians organized this program where along with Mumineen, Madrasah Taiyebiyah students too participated.

Mukaasir Maulaa said that, "India is our Mother-land. Its flag is our recognition in the World. We must respect it and sacrifice everything possible for its Dignity and Progress.  Our Nation, India is multi-cultural, multi-lingual, multi-religious, multi-ethnic pluralistic society.  Being children of a Great Unique Nation, we all are brothers and sisters related with the strong bond of multi-dimensional Indian Constitution.  We, the people of India enjoy all the rights and adhere to all the responsibilities meant for the National interest and integrity.  Our place of birth will remain our place of livelihood."

He is completely aware of the fact that Aqaa Maulaa holds the distinction of the Final Authority in the literary world of Shi'i-Isma'ili-Taiyebi studies.  His aim of having one-to-one meeting with Aqaa Maulaa is to take concrete steps in strengthening the bilateral literary relations between the Iranian scholars and the works of our Du'aat e Kiraam AQ.  Aqaa Maulaa requested him to focus on the unique works of Saiyedna Qaazi No'maan saheb (355 AH/966 AD) of Egypt and Saiyedna Haatim Mohiyuddin saheb (570 AH/1175 AD) of Yemen.  Both Da'is did great efforts in subduing anti-Shi'i propaganda and in establishing firmly the harmonious atmosphere of the Shi'i-Isma'ili principles for Tawheed and Imaamat.

This book tells the story of a manuscript repository found all over the pre-modern Muslim world: the Khizaanat ul-Kutub, or treasury of books. The focus is on the undisclosed Arabic manuscript culture of a small but vibrant South Asian Shi’i Muslim community, the Alavi Bohras of Taiyebi branch of Isma'ilis having Yemen as the work-force and energy-house for literary activities. It looks at how books that were once part of one of the biggest imperial book repositories of the medieval Muslim world, the Khizaanah of the Fatimids of North Africa and Egypt (909CE-1171CE) ended up having a rich social life among the Bohras across the Western Indian Ocean, starting in Yemen and ending in Gujarat.

As it is perceived for other Bohra sects that their Khizaanah has remained unread or untouched for years together, it's not the case with Alavi Bohras.  Reading, Copying, Transmitting and Assimilating of manuscripts is a common tradition of a Da'i.  As per the mental capabilities of his believers-mumineen, Da'i always try to make them understand the intricacies and depth of Shari'ah espoused by the holy texts of these unique manuscripts. 

"O Mumineen! This is not the only Saalgirah-Milaad of your Da'i uz Zamaan Aqaa Maulaa TUS, but this is the Milaad Mubaarak of Nabi, Wasi, Imaam, Baab, Hujjat, Du'aat e Balaagh and Du'aat e Mutlaqeen SA.  These 7 Darajaat of our Isma'ili-Taiyebi mazhab are the 7 days between the Milaad of our beloved Nabi Mohammad Rasoolullaah SAWS, 2nd Rabi' ul Awwal, and the Milaad of your Da'i uz Zamaan TUS, 8th Rabi'ul Awwal.  All these days of this month are mubaarak and maymoon to you.  I dedicate all my Milaad masarraat to you and for the Khushi of your family.  A small piece of Khajoor that you offered me was a great treasure of Mawaddat and Mahabbat."  These are the golden words Maulaa delivered during the memorable speech of Milaad in Nooraani masjid.

He became Mehmaan e Khusoosi of our Maulaa Saiyedna Haatim Zakiyuddin Saheb TUS. He is a member of Shuraa Council of Yaman. Also, he is the rector and research scholar of the Hamdaani Institution and studies the Isma'ili literature in depth by the assistance of Saiyedna saheb TUS.  He has a special interest in Isma'ili studies and has typed, edited and printed many Isma'ili books of our Yamani Du'aat.  He accepted our invitation and came to India all the way back from Yaman to meet Saiyedna saheb TUS in Vadodara, India. He expressed his gratitude and wish to meet Hudood e Da'wat in the Nooraani presence of Maulaa.  To fulfill this to build the feeling of mutual understanding and healthy cooperation, a special majlis was held in which he opened up with his interesting experiences and views of our Maulaa and mumineen.

Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna saheb TUS fondly remembered his days in the Madrasah when he took special classes of grown-up students nearing to the age of Bay'at.  Maulaa vividly explained the method of teaching at that time.  Those students are now parents and they cherish those years when Aqaa Maulaa being on the darajah of Ma'zoon, still gave such dars o ta'leem that is hard to forget.  He further elaborated to the defects and flaws of the present mu'allims in teaching pattern, weakness in adopting innovative techniques, reluctance in building rapport with the students and their parents, negligence in imparting the basic ma'lumaat for faazil days and nights etc.

Kharaas is always coupled with Mithaas.  It is made from vegetables, mutton, chicken or fish.  Served in a single plate or pieces that suffice all of the invitees sitting in the thaal.  As it is salty/oily in nature, care is taken that its quantity does not exceed the need.  Chicken dishes are favourite and evergreen.  It could be prepared with variety of combinations and taste.  As it is easily available and the ease in its making puts it on the top charts. Mithaas-Kharaas are the two inseparable sides of a single coin of Maa’edat e Aal e Mohammad (sa).  Likewise the beautiful coin of the Zindagi e Mu’min has two sides of Ghami-Khushi.  The moment of celebration is coupled with the moment of sadness.  Both are important and good to face and bear with gratitude and solidarity.

From today onwards this majlis will be included in Rusoomaat e Haatemiyah named as “Maa'edat o Salawaat e Faatemah az-Zahraa AS."  In the past it was called Mithi Shitaabi that was defaced with bid'aat and customized as per the whims and fancies.  What you all witness today here is as per the Rusoomaat e Da'wat endorsed by Aqaa'id and Faatemi principles.  I hope that by the esteemed wasilah of our Maa Faatemah AS this majlis e Salawaat will become an annual event.

We faithfully recollect our Muqaddas Maulaa’s wise words pertaining to this worrying trend, “Previously houses were smaller in size but members were large in number,  still there was support, love and Barakat in the house. But in the present situation, houses are large in size with too many rooms but members are few to occupy it. Too many walls in the house acts like barriers in the hearts of the family members. Only namesake love prevails and there is no trace of Mahabbat-o-Barakat in the house. This is a reality of revolution with decaying family values.”

By the joint venture and efforts of ad-Da’wat ul-Haadiyat ul-‘Alaviyah and Heritage Trust of Vadodara, on 9th Feb 2020, 15th Jumaadi ul-Ukhraa 1441, Sunday evening, the Alavi Heritage Walk was organized in which around 50 heritage enthusiastics participated.  They got a great opportunity in knowing the cultural, historic and religious aspects of our Alavi Bohras.  Apart from Devdi Mubaarak and Nooraani Masjid, the group visited different houses that were constructed before 80 years during the time of 42nd Da'i ul Mutlaq Saiyedna Badruddin saheb (aq).

Saiyedna saheb Aqaa Maulaa (tus) addressed the gathering at Devdi Mubaarak and said that, “We should work as a Team for the preservation of our city Vadodara’s rich and unparallel heritage.  You all people of Heritage Trust are doing well-planned great job by culturally bringing all the communities of Vadodara together and spearheading the awareness drive for the importance of safe-guarding our splendid heritage.  Our city is 2000 yrs old and so its historical impact on Indian social arena.  I hope, you and we have a common path to see our city throbbing with cultural liveliness.”

On this Mubaarak day 4th Rabi' ul Aakhar 1441 AH/1st December 2019 AD, the 917th Saalgirah of Imaam uz Zamaan AS Imaam Taiyeb AS and 91th Milaad of al-Maulaa al-Muqaddas Saiyedna Taiyeb Ziyauddin saheb AQ, the Beautiful Garden of the Residence of Aqaa Maulaa Saiyedna saheb TUS "Daar us Salaam" has been conferred the best Garden of Vadodara under the title "Green Awards".  Plants of great numbers of Fruits, Vegetables, Medicinal Plants have been grown in the city area. Involvement of the owner of the garden, zero use of pesticides, home-made manure and cleanliness were the main criteria of judging the best garden.

After Maghrib Namaaz and Misaaq, Aqaa Maulaa addressed the gathering collectively that, “This is the ‘azeem karam of Allaah Ta’aala that mumineen are spending wholeheartedly in the noble cause for the Didaar and Arkaan of these Maqaamaat e Muqaddasaat.  Otherwise, people lavishly spend lots of money for outings and exploring new tourist destinations only for worldly pleasure and to get some break from their routine work.  But before getting indulged in such a huge expenditure, mumineen should first think of something that gives them spiritual boost by undertaking blissful and soulful journey.  This is called wise spending.   Spiritual gain is far more long-lasting than physical comfort as it has a direct relation with the life hereafter.”