Du‘ā' Karāwī is a Nizari Isma'ili ceremony during which the Ismaili asks God for His forgivness through the Imam of the Time. The Qur'an states that the Muslim must repent of their sins; it further stipulates that the believer (mu'mins) must approach the presence of the Prophet Muhammad and seek forgiveness and that the Prophet must also seek forgiveness on their behalf. This is evident in several Qur'anic verses including the following:

We sent not a Messenger, but to be obeyed, in accordance with the will of Allah. If they had only, when they were unjust to their souls, come unto you [Muhammad] and asked God’s forgiveness, and the Messenger had asked forgiveness for them, they would have found Allah indeed Oft-returning, Most Merciful.” - Quran 4:64

in Nizari Ismailism, the Imam of the Time is the inheritor of the authority (amr) and knowledge ('ilm) of Prophet Muhammad. Therefore, Nizari Ismailis seek God's forgiveness through their Imam. This can be practically done by going to Jamatkhana and approaching the mukhi/mukhani or kamadhia/kamadhi (leaders in charge of the jamatkhana chosen by the Imām-e Zamān to represent him). When approaching them, one can offer a token amount of money (usually a coin or two). The token can be as little as a penny. Once the token is in the hands of the mukhi/kamadhia, the person who is asking for forgiveness says the following lines:

I repent, I repent. I am sinful from head to toe. Lord, please forgive me, you are the forgiver of sins.
Tobho tobho taksidar, bando sirta paguneghar, ya Shah, tu bakshi bakshan haar.
(Persian:

من توبه ميکنم. من سر تا پا گناهکار هستم خداوندا. من را ببخش تو هستي بخشاينده ي گناه ها)

The leader then replies, "May the Lord forgive your sins."

In a similar ceremony called chanto, water is splashed in the person's face to symbolise the purification of the person via the act of seeking forgiveness.

[edit] References

• Ali Muhammad, Kamaluddin; Zarina Kamaluddin (translator) (2008). Practices and Ceremonies. Ismaili Tariqah Board. 

[edit] External links

• blog