The Ginan Gist – By Karim Maherali
This Ginan is a Khushyally Ginan which is recited only during the auspicious days of Imamat Day and the Imam’s Salgirah (birthday). It conveys the happiness of attaining true recognition and understanding of God in the form of the Living and Present Imam, through spiritual enlightenment and gnosis. Spiritual enlightenment is the transformation of a soul from the darkness of ignorance and forgetfulness to the light of knowledge, constant awareness and joy and therefore, it is symbolized as the dawn of the soul. The guidance, grace and mercy of the Imam enables a murid to attain Deedar (Spiritual Vision) which is the highest aspiration and the realization of the fullest potential. Hence he is referred to as the Lord of the Dawn in whose company, refuge and protection is sought from the cheating and the thieving world. This is a reflection of the verses of the Holy Qur’an that are recited in Ziyarat-e-Mayyat:
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Raheem
Qul A’uzu bi-rabbil falaq
Min sharri ma khalaqa
Wa min sharri ghasiqin iza waqaba
Wa min sharrin naffasati fil uqad
Wa min sharri hasidin iza hasad
In the name of Allah, the most Beneficent, the most Merciful
Say: I seek refuge with the Lord of the Dawn
From the mischief of created things
From the mischief of Darkness as it overspreads
From the mischief of those who practice Secret Arts
And from the mischief of the envious one as he practices envy. (113: 1-5)
The composer of this Ginan was Pir Sadardeen and Hazar Imam during his time was Sri Islamshah the 30th Ismaili Imam who resided in Alamut (see image).
dhan dhan ājano dāḍalore
Audio: Shamshu Bandali Haji (Alwaez)
Transliteration, Translation and Commentary
| eji dhan dhan aaj no daadd lore ame harivar paayaa ji chaar jug naa kasamal paap-j taalleeyaa ji het no mellaa vaddo re aapnnaa satgur su(n) keeje ji man no mellaav ddore aapnnaa baargur su(n) keeje dhutaaro sa(n)saar parale – chhoddee mukeeje bhaai tthagaaro sa(n)saar shaah jine naame tareejiye enne sa(n)saare bhalaa(n) sukaram kaam keeje……………1 |
O momins! It is an auspicious day today, a day of joy full of fortunes, for we have attained the recognition of God as our Imam, the Protector and Provider. All the impurities of the sins of the four ages have been removed. Have a gathering full of love with the True Guide. Have a gathering full of heart’s desire with the Baargur. Keep aside the world which is only but a cheat. O brothers, with the Name of our Mowla cross over the world which is only but a thief. And do good deeds in this world.
Comment: Through the Deedar (Spiritual Vision) all impurities and sins of the present and past lives are eliminated. The mention of four ages alludes to the cycles of time moving in phases encompassing the four Yugas and hence is symbolic of all ages. The mention of Baargur refers to Pir Sadardeen who was Master for the salvation of 12 crore souls during his time. The soul is protected by being in the company of the True Guide – the Imam who is always present in JamatKhana, and performing good deeds.
| eji aalmot gaddh paattann, delam deshajee teeyaa avtareeyaa shaah maankhaa veshjee…….het no……………2 |
O momins! In the Fort of Alamut the capital of Delam Desh, God has manifested as a human being.
Have a gathering…
Holy Qur’an (4:174):
O mankind! Verily there hath come to you a Convincing Proof (Hujja) from your Lord: For we have sent unto you a Manifest Light (Nurun Mubeen).
| eji unchaa unchaa parabat veesamee chhe gaatt jee tee-aa chaddee jo-u nur satgurnee vaatt jee….het no……………3 |
O momins! The mountains are high and the mountain passes are difficult.
There I climb and wait for the True Guide and the bearer of the Noor.
Have a gathering…
Comment: There are two ways of interpreting this verse – the literal and the metaphorical. In the literal sense, at the time of Sri Islam Shah, the dignitaries of the Imam including the Pirs used to travel from India to Iran on foot and had to negotiate difficult physical terrain to reach their Imam. The Fort of Alamut itself was built on a rock located in a mountainous region. When they arrived at the vicinity, they had to wait until the Imam himself determined when it was the best moment to grant the Deedar (physical audience). In a metaphorical sense the difficult journey represents the struggles of life that one has to endure before being granted the ultimate reward of the Deedar (Spiritual Vision). Although physical effort is required, the ultimate success is entirely a matter of Grace.
Holy Qur’an (94: 5-6):
But Lo! With hardship goeth ease, Lo! With hardship goeth ease
| eji unchaa unchaa tarovar paan vinaa hinnaa jee tem bhulyaa bhame maankhaa jeev ddaa gur geenaan naa hinnaa jee ……het no……………4 |
O momins! Useless are the tall trees which are without leaves, so also are human beings who roam about misguided without the knowledge of (from) the Spiritual Guide.
Have a gathering…
Holy Qur’an (58:5):
Those who oppose Allah and His Messenger will be abased even as those before them were abased; and We have sent down clear tokens, and for disbelievers is a shameful doom.
| eji chovattadde chovattadde aapnno samee raajo aavyaa jee aavee karee jumalaajeemaa malee karee betthaa jee.het no……………5 |
O momins! Our Lord arrives in the open grounds, he comes and sits amidst his assembled Jamat.
Have a gathering…
Comment: The enlightened one perceives the presence of the Imam in all walks of life whether in mundane worldly activities or in JamatKhana.
| eji saamalee bajaare aapnno, saamee raajo deetthaa jee sonaa ne si(n)gaasanne aapnno, saamee raajo betthaa jee. hetno……………6 |
O momins! Our Imam is seen in the marketplace, and our Imam is seated on the golden throne.
Have a gathering…
Comment: While the Imam occupies the throne of Imamat, he is also engaged in worldly activities to uplift humanity.
| eji aale kaa(n)se neele vaa(n)se choree chitraavo jee choree chitraavee shaah naa lagan lakhaavo jee lagan lakhaavee shaah ne thaall bharaavo jee thaall bharaavee shaah ne moteedde vadhaavo jee paranne aapnno pruthvee raajo vishva ku(n)vaa ree jee.hetno……………7 |
O momins! Prepare an arbour and decorate the canopy. Decorate the canopy and fix the Lord’s wedding.Fix the Lord’s wedding and fill up the Lord’s tray.Fill up the tray and shower the pearls on the Lord..Our Lord, who is the Master of the universe, weds the unwed universe.
Have a gathering…
Comment: The moment of spiritual enlightenment in an individual’s existence is symbolized by the marriage between the individual soul and the Imam. When the marriage happens, the individual soul’s unwed universe becomes filled with light and protection and providence of the Imam.
All the preparations for the Lord’s Wedding mentioned in this verse, are symbolic of the spiritual preparations one needs to engage in both individually and communally in order to glorify it. Although the moment of enlightenment is a personal one, murids can assist each other in this search for the light through sharing of knowledge, BUI/REC, JamatKhana attendance and institutional involvement which would be considered as preparations for the Wedding.
| eji bhanne peer sadardeen ame vannjaaraa jee joi joi voro viraa vannaj hamaaraa jee pashu jeevddaa keeyaa jaanne vann-j hamaaraa jee……hetno……………8 |
O momins! Peer Sadardeen teaches: we are travelling tradesmen. See carefully and purchase the goods we offer. What would the human beings attached to flesh know about our trade (spiritual trade).
Have a gathering…
In the Holy Qur’an, two kinds of contrasting trades are mentioned:
1) O ye who believe! Shall I lead you to a bargain that will save you from a grievous penalty? That ye believe in Allah and His Apostle, and that ye strive (your utmost) in the cause of Allah, with your property and your persons: That will be best for you, if ye but knew! (61:10-11)
2) These are they who have bartered guidance for error: But their traffic is profitless, and they have lost true direction. (2:16)
Ginan Series – By Karim Maherali
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Ismailimail 
Ginan Dhan Dhan Aajno Dadlo recited all over Pakistan JKs in Khushiyali Mijlas on December 13 and other various Khushiyali Mijalsis of Salgirah Mubarak ONLY and not on the occasion of Imamat Day. For Imamat Day we recite Munaja’at “YA ALI KHUB MAJALIS ZINNAT KERKE “. Thanks.
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