By MALIK MERCHANT
Calgary, Alberta
The author has adapted this article from the March 1982 issue of Al-Misbah Magazine, published by the Ismailia Association for the UK. The original article, which was under the title Navroz, has been edited and improved for clarity and includes additional material.
Navroz, meaning New Day or New Year, marks the start of the Persian spring festival. It occurs on or around March 21 of the March equinox. The United Nations has designated March 21 as the International Day of Nowruz annually (the Secretary General’s 2024 message can be read HERE.)
It is an occasion of great rejoicing among people in Iran, many parts of the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and the Shi’a communities worldwide. Besides being New Year’s Day, it is also celebrated as the Festival of Spring because it is at this period that winter makes its exit for the colourful spring season.
Navroz holds a significant place in history, dating back some 2,500 years to the reign of King Jamshed. Despite a temporary halt after the rise of Islam in Iran, it was reintroduced by the Abbasid Caliph Mansoor in 770 AC (153 AH, or Hijri). Since then, Navroz has been a cherished national occasion and custom, celebrated with zeal by more than 300 million people worldwide.
In Fatimid Egypt, the state ruled by Ismaili Imams, the Spring Festival was a national celebration during the reign of the first eight Fatimid Imams/Caliphs from 969 to 1094 AC (358 to 487 AH). Although the Fatimid Imams ruled over Egypt, this festival was not exclusively Ismaili because the Ismailis, even at that time, were a minority group in the Caliphate.
The actual celebration of Navroz among the Ismailis could be said to have started in Iran during the Alamut Period of Ismaili history. Ismailis living in Alamut were farmers; hence, in the spring season, they would look forward to preparing their farms for a good harvest.
The glorious transformation of nature at the time of Navroz, the start of the spring season, reminds us of Allah’s creative power and the bounties He continually showers on us. The arrival of spring, with its sprouting seedlings, blossoming buds, vibrant colours, and rushing waters, is a vivid reminder of our true inner essence.
Like these elements of nature, we, too, have the potential to bloom and grow under the nurturing care and warmth of Imam-of-the-Time. The Preamble of the Ismaili Constitution proclaims that the Imam’s ta‘lim (guidance/teaching) lights the each follower’s path to spiritual enlightenment and vision.
Born as Ismailis, with the recognition of the Imam, this life is the spring season of our souls. The Divine Noor shines brightly over our souls. We must cleanse ourselves of unrighteousness and cultivate an original, spontaneous, and permanent relationship with the Noor (Light) of Imamat so that every breath and activity of our life becomes the worship of the Merciful. The festival of Navroz should result in a spiritual rebirth for each of us and inspire greater love for our Imam.
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Navroz is an auspicious time to initiate self-improvement because nature, so to speak, is turning a new page in the book of life. It is a time to review our lives and determine necessary improvements. In a detached, objective way, we should analyze our positive and negative traits and then resolve to change bad habits into good ones.
Our covenant with Mawlana Hazar Imam is a promise we have given him to endeavour to achieve a proper balance between our material and spiritual lives. When choosing our resolution, one idea should always loom before the rest: ask ourselves, “What do we want from life, and what will earn Mawlana Hazar Imam’s divine pleasure?” A straightforward answer to this question should be: “To govern our lives by his deep desire for us to live within the Islamic concepts of unity, justice, tolerance, goodwill, generosity and the regularity by which we practice our faith.”
Mowlana Hazar Imam’s message spells out the meaning and significance of this auspicious day for us. He says: “I say to you all on Navroz, ‘Navroz Mubarak,’ and I want you, at the beginning of this New Year, to try to think a bit ahead in your future. Each Navroz, say to yourselves, ‘Have we done our work?’ If you have, then I will be very happy indeed. I say Idd Mubarak to all of you and give you most affectionate blessings.” — Rangoon, Burma, March 21, 1960.
By steeping our consciousness in love for the Imam-of-the-Time and wisely directing our activities, we shall make our lives one unending act of worship. Therefore, let this Navroz be a New Day on the path of spiritual glory, material well-being, and progress. Let each New Day be a Navroz to strengthen our spiritual bonds with Imam-e-Zaman, reminding us that his blessings are always with us.
We conclude with our beloved Imam’s final words spoken in Rangoon: “On this day of Navroz, I say to each and every one of you, Idd Mubarak, and I pray that in this New Year, your worldly and spiritual happiness should progress tenfold and that this will be the case every year.” — Rangoon, Burma, March 21, 1960.
Date posted: March 18, 2024.
Last updated: March 20, 2024 (inserted link to UN Secretary General’s 2024 Nowruz message in 1st paragraph).
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Simerg - Insights from Around the World 
Thanks! ❤️ Navroz Mubarak! Nowruz Blessings 2024.
A good post. Thanks for sharing.
A happy Navroz Mubarak to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan and members of his family. Also Navroz Mubarak to Ismailis worldwide. We wish everyone peace, love, kindness, wealth and prosperity. We hope that the New Year brings further advances in medicine, high tech, business, and culture. Ameen.
21 Mars 2024
Recevez nos Sincères vœux et nos prières pour ce Nouvel An, malgré cette dramatique réalité mondiale que nous vivons. On découvre , impuissants, au lot de malheurs, de violence sans nom au Moyen-Orient et ces bruits de botte et ces horreurs de la guerre.
Que Mowlana Hazar Imam, un Être de Lumière, dans Sa grande Bienveillance, protège et garde Son Jamat globalisé sur la voie droite du Siratal-Mustaquim. Et qu’Il continue à nous protéger , à nous guider par Ses Hidayaths et Ses précieux Farmans vers plus de sérénité, de courage, de confiance et de paix intérieure. Ameen
A l’ occasion de ce Renouveau Printanier béni, nous avons à adopter de bonnes résolutions, à les chercher plus particulièrement dans les Perles Précieuses des Farmans du Jubilé de Diamants.
Au quotidien, il y a longtemps que Mowlana Hazar Imam nous a demandé de faire un choix intelligent “d’un mode vie”, qui fait la part équilibrée Din/ Dounia, sans jamais oublier sa foi et avec un tasbih, se remémorer la Présence permanente d’Allah. Résolument, adoptons les “best practices” dans tous nos engagements Jamati, familiaux et socio-professionnels , qui honorent l’Ethique de notre foi ésotérique Shia ismaili Imami Nizari.
En ce qui concerne notre quête spirituelle, un engagement devient crucial , indispensable, avec les temps difficiles que nous traversons. Ce choix réfléchi, personnel,8 nous permettra de faire face aux difficultés quotidiennes qui sont devant nous.
Et ce bonheur spirituel est la garantie certaine de notre succès matériel.
Les Farmans du Bhaytoul-Khayal recèlent des mots clés, des trésors de réflexions qui doivent nous encourager à nous mettre en recherche, en toute humilité, nous asseoir en paix, en confiance et avec bonheur. Ameen
Nawroz Mumbarakis
Mohez nato
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March 21, 2024
Please accept our sincere wishes and prayers for this New Year despite the dramatic global reality we are living through.
We’re watching helplessly as we witness the untold misery and nameless violence in the Middle East, the sound of boots and the horrors of war.
May Mowlana Hazar Imam, a Being of Light, in His great Benevolence, protect and keep His globalized Jamat on the straight path of Siratal-Mustaquim. May He continue to protect us and guide us through His Hidayaths and His precious Farmans toward serenity, courage, confidence, and inner peace. Ameen
On this blessed Spring Renewal, we must reflect on a choice of good resolutions to look for more, particularly in the Precious Pearls of the Diamond Jubilee Farmans.
On a daily basis, Mowlana Hazar Imam always asked us to make an intelligent choice of “a way of life” that balances Din/ Dounia without ever forgetting our faith and, with a tasbih, remembering Allah’s permanent Presence. Let’s always adopt “best practices” in all our Jamati, family, and socio-professional commitments, which honour the Ethics of our esoteric Shia Ismaili Imami Nizari faith.
Regarding our spiritual quest, a commitment becomes crucial and indispensable in these difficult times. This thoughtful choice will enable us to face up to the daily difficulties that lie ahead. And this spiritual happiness is the sure guarantee of our material success.
The Farmans of Bhaytoul-Khayal contain keywords, treasures of reflection that should encourage us to set out in search, in all humility, to sit down in peace, confidence, and happiness. Ameen.
Nawroz Mumbarakis
Mohez nato
First and foremost, heartiest felicitations on the auspicious occasion of Navroz on Thursday, March 21, 2024 to all around the world.
Earlier, I have sent a group email to my contacts across the globe wishing Navroz Mubarak. The following requests to access your blogs was included in the said email:-
“Please click on the following links for the educational blogs on http://www.barakah.com and http://www.simerg.com:-
Reading #1: Please click Hazrat Ali on Piety and the Aga Khan’s Navroz Messages
Reading #2: Please click Seeking to Grow Spiritually and Materially Under the Care and Guidance of Mawlana Hazar Imam.”
Our gratitude Malik for providing these blogs for the benefit and knowledge of all.
Kamrudin A. Rashid – Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
March 18, 2024.
Happy Nawruz has arrived; O Lord! May it be blessed! Purity has come in abundance; O Lord! May it be blessed!
Winter’s bitterness has come to an end; the heart is now aware of Spring; every moment say a hundred times: O Lord! May it be blessed!
The veil has been lifted from the way and the heart is now filled with certainty; the nightingale of the soul is now singing; O Lord! May it be blessed!