YAM,
Can anyone explain the purposes of Aval Sufro and Khadakorakhi? Exerpts from Firmans and/or historical anecdotes would also be helpful.
Thank you.
Adil
Aval Sufro & Khadakorakhi
All our traditions are anchored in the relationship of love between MHI and his murids. Awwal Sufro and Khada khorakhi are expressions of this love of the murids towards their Imam either individually or collectively. The following is the explanation of Awwal Sufro and Mehmani that is available under the Religious Education section of this site.
'THAR' means a 'large tray' and 'SUFRO' means 'a variety of dishes'.
THAR-SUFRO' means 'a feast (variety of food) offered to Mowlana Hazar Imam in a tray.
'THAR-SUFRO' is offered on Chandraat, Talika Raat, Jamati Satada, Imamat Day, Salgreh, Navroz, Lail-tul Qadr, etc. and in Majlises held in Jamatkhana.
The Sufro is offered as 'AWWAL SUFRO', meaning First Sufro, to the Jamat. This offering of 'AWWAL SUFRO' gives an opportunity to a mu'min or mum'ins to symbolically take the SUFRO and offer it to Mowlana Hazar Imam.
After the AWWAL SUFRO, the announcement: "MAN MURAD SUFRO KHATO KHANAVADAN." is made to give the opportunity and benefit of SUFRO to the rest of the Jamat.
The meaning of 'MEHMANI' is 'An offering made to Mowlana Hazar Imam'.
The offering,we Ismailis make to our Imam-e-Zaman,is a humble token of our love and devotion we have for him in our hearts.
The Arabs of Mecca used to entertain Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and Hazrat Mowla Murtaza Ali at their homes.
Offering a 'MEHMANI' is a very great privilege we enjoy as we have the honour of being a host to our beloved Hazar Imam.
A 'Mehmani' is offered not only when Mowlana Hazar Imam is physically present with us, but it is also offered when he is physically away from us. 'Mehmani' is offered by a single mu'min or a group of mu'mins whenever it is desired. Jamati Mehmani is normally offered on Chandraat, Talika Raat and other occasions like Imamat Day, Salgreh, Navroz, Lail-tul Qadr etc. It is also offered at the completion of a Jamati Satado.
Mumins feel fortunate as they offer Mehmani to Imam-e-Zaman. Their joy is immense and unbounded as Imam accepts the Mehmani and blesses them.
Mehmani is a token of love of the murid for Imam-e-Zaman and in offering this humble Mehmani the murid experiences abundance love of Imam-e-Zaman.
Khada Khorakhi is an extension of Mehmani. While Mehmani means the privilege of entertaining MHI as a guest, Khada Khorakhi means food offering or the privilege of dining with MHI. Usually when something good has happened in the life of a murid, he would like to share that happiness with his Beloved. Mehmani and khadakhorakhi are meant to give expression to these sentiments. They are all voluntary and there is no compulsion to do these things. Also the nominal amount charged for the privilege varies between countries depending upon the standard of living.
'THAR' means a 'large tray' and 'SUFRO' means 'a variety of dishes'.
THAR-SUFRO' means 'a feast (variety of food) offered to Mowlana Hazar Imam in a tray.
'THAR-SUFRO' is offered on Chandraat, Talika Raat, Jamati Satada, Imamat Day, Salgreh, Navroz, Lail-tul Qadr, etc. and in Majlises held in Jamatkhana.
The Sufro is offered as 'AWWAL SUFRO', meaning First Sufro, to the Jamat. This offering of 'AWWAL SUFRO' gives an opportunity to a mu'min or mum'ins to symbolically take the SUFRO and offer it to Mowlana Hazar Imam.
After the AWWAL SUFRO, the announcement: "MAN MURAD SUFRO KHATO KHANAVADAN." is made to give the opportunity and benefit of SUFRO to the rest of the Jamat.
The meaning of 'MEHMANI' is 'An offering made to Mowlana Hazar Imam'.
The offering,we Ismailis make to our Imam-e-Zaman,is a humble token of our love and devotion we have for him in our hearts.
The Arabs of Mecca used to entertain Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and Hazrat Mowla Murtaza Ali at their homes.
Offering a 'MEHMANI' is a very great privilege we enjoy as we have the honour of being a host to our beloved Hazar Imam.
A 'Mehmani' is offered not only when Mowlana Hazar Imam is physically present with us, but it is also offered when he is physically away from us. 'Mehmani' is offered by a single mu'min or a group of mu'mins whenever it is desired. Jamati Mehmani is normally offered on Chandraat, Talika Raat and other occasions like Imamat Day, Salgreh, Navroz, Lail-tul Qadr etc. It is also offered at the completion of a Jamati Satado.
Mumins feel fortunate as they offer Mehmani to Imam-e-Zaman. Their joy is immense and unbounded as Imam accepts the Mehmani and blesses them.
Mehmani is a token of love of the murid for Imam-e-Zaman and in offering this humble Mehmani the murid experiences abundance love of Imam-e-Zaman.
Khada Khorakhi is an extension of Mehmani. While Mehmani means the privilege of entertaining MHI as a guest, Khada Khorakhi means food offering or the privilege of dining with MHI. Usually when something good has happened in the life of a murid, he would like to share that happiness with his Beloved. Mehmani and khadakhorakhi are meant to give expression to these sentiments. They are all voluntary and there is no compulsion to do these things. Also the nominal amount charged for the privilege varies between countries depending upon the standard of living.