When we read this, we feel this is a very good explanation, with all the references and the logics and justifications and everything, but it is still fails miserably to address the actual concern. All the ismailis who are not comfortable with awwal sufra is not against the core idea, but the way it is being done in all JKs. It is simply a tool to showcase your wealth and satisfy your ego in JK. If tariqaah board wish they can change it in a way where the whole process can not be exploited by members just to boost their ego, but then they won't do it as it will result in decrease of revenue. This is the bitter truth of today's jamati activities. any activities which is generating good amount of revenue for jamatkhana will not be tampered with. No matter how disgusting it looks or becomes.
Thanks for sharing this much needed explanation. Unfortunately the way soofra is conducted in most Jamat Khanas (especially Pakistan) it mainly looks like a show of wealth.
Further, the verse/statement referred to in the article as “Qur’an repeatedly instructs the believers to compete with one another in doing good works” needs to be interpreted wholistically. My 2 cents on or about doing good work would be in the light of the verse/sunnah “Let not the left hand know what thy right hand does” i.e. do it silently and without a show off as reward for good deeds is between the soul and its creator.
Lastly, my 2 cents on the awal soofra process could be that if this can be done via back stage i.e. anyone and everyone is allowed and invited to mention how much they want to give before th jamati karawai begins and mukhi sahab or mukhiany maa can then bless that mureed after jamat khana. This is just a thought and I am sure each process comes with its own history and complexity however the current process has at least made me uncomfortable several times to go for awal soofro due to the reasons mentioned above.
It seems that on days when Awaal Sufro ceremony is performed from the Podium, that it appears to be repeated at the beginning of the Nandi ceremony. On most days when there is no Awaal Sufro ceremony, it makes sense that Nandi should start with a Mehani opportunity but I never understood why they do it on majlis days when there was already an Awaal Sufro conducted.
Wow that’s amazing! ❤️🙏
When we read this, we feel this is a very good explanation, with all the references and the logics and justifications and everything, but it is still fails miserably to address the actual concern. All the ismailis who are not comfortable with awwal sufra is not against the core idea, but the way it is being done in all JKs. It is simply a tool to showcase your wealth and satisfy your ego in JK. If tariqaah board wish they can change it in a way where the whole process can not be exploited by members just to boost their ego, but then they won't do it as it will result in decrease of revenue. This is the bitter truth of today's jamati activities. any activities which is generating good amount of revenue for jamatkhana will not be tampered with. No matter how disgusting it looks or becomes.
Thanks for sharing this much needed explanation. Unfortunately the way soofra is conducted in most Jamat Khanas (especially Pakistan) it mainly looks like a show of wealth.
Further, the verse/statement referred to in the article as “Qur’an repeatedly instructs the believers to compete with one another in doing good works” needs to be interpreted wholistically. My 2 cents on or about doing good work would be in the light of the verse/sunnah “Let not the left hand know what thy right hand does” i.e. do it silently and without a show off as reward for good deeds is between the soul and its creator.
Lastly, my 2 cents on the awal soofra process could be that if this can be done via back stage i.e. anyone and everyone is allowed and invited to mention how much they want to give before th jamati karawai begins and mukhi sahab or mukhiany maa can then bless that mureed after jamat khana. This is just a thought and I am sure each process comes with its own history and complexity however the current process has at least made me uncomfortable several times to go for awal soofro due to the reasons mentioned above.
Thanks again for explaining this concept.
It seems that on days when Awaal Sufro ceremony is performed from the Podium, that it appears to be repeated at the beginning of the Nandi ceremony. On most days when there is no Awaal Sufro ceremony, it makes sense that Nandi should start with a Mehani opportunity but I never understood why they do it on majlis days when there was already an Awaal Sufro conducted.
Thank you for the article my only question is why bring competition of donation and a lot of times wealth in between our prayers.