Pulling Back the Curtain on Ismaili Digest & Ismaili Ignition | A Team Interview

Rather than explain Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition just on their About pages -- which are rarely read -- we thought it would be more refreshing for the Jamat if we, as the team behind the projects, shared the vision, insights, objectives and purpose behind the projects as well as our insights on questions we feel the Jamat might have. So in this conversation we talk about:

• Overview of Ismaili Digest
• Clearing up Misunderstandings about Private Ismaili Websites
• Ismaili Digest's Policies and Vision of Leadership
• Ismaili Digest E-Mail Newsletters: There's One That Will Suit You
• Ismaili Digest Sections: About the External Knowledge and Best Practices Ismaili Digest Shares
• The New Perspective of Our Ismaili Intellectual Tradition Which Inspires Ismaili Ignition
• Ignition Paradigm Proposals: 21st Century Perspectives on Our Faith and Community
• Ignition Interviews and Questions: Asking the Hard Questions Facing the Community Today
• Clearing up Myths about Creativity and Generating New Ideas for the Community
• Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition's 25 Year Vision for the Community

Overview of Ismaili Digest

Sahil Badruddin: It's a pleasure to work and assist you with Ismaili Digest and establish Ismaili Ignition and I look forward to see the response we get for both.

I'll get to Ismaili Ignition later but, first, as the founder of Ismaili Digest, can you tell us a little about it: the vision behind it, why you created it, what's unique about it, and how you feel it will benefit the community?

Mohib Ebrahim: Think of Ismaili Digest as the Front Page of all the best Ismaili websites! What I mean by that is Ismaili Digest automatically and continuously brings together all new articles, photos, videos, etc. from some two-dozen institutional and reliable private Ismaili websites and YouTube channels into one place. This saves everybody the effort of visiting each website or YouTube channel, one by one, to see what’s new. Direct links to over 10,000 web-pages have already been pre-loaded from Simerg, TheIsmaili, NanoWisdoms, AKDN, IIS, Ismailimail, etc. We don’t re-publish any of the content except for a short 60-word digest and the original piece's feature image.

Think of Ismaili Digest as the Front Page of all the best Ismaili websites! What I mean by that is Ismaili Digest automatically and continuously brings together all new articles, photos, videos, etc. from some two-dozen institutional and reliable private Ismaili websites ... Direct links to over 10,000 web-pages have already been pre-loaded from Simerg, TheIsmaili, NanoWisdoms, AKDN, IIS, Ismailimail, etc.

In a busy world, our sense of belonging to our community can wither or fade (particularly with isolated Jamati members). So we hope the simplicity of Ismaili Digest will change this for you.

All Ismaili Digest does is aggregate the best institutional and reliable private Ismaili content (just like thousands of other website aggregators do with other thematic content, such as technology), which we hope will help keep the global community connected. Remember, all the content we aggregate is already published by the websites and all Ismaili Digest does is give it more exposure by making it more accessible while, at the same time, provide a convenient service for the Jamat. I think those who are not tech savvy, such as seniors, will be very pleased they can now keep up with all the main Ismaili content and Imamat news in one place rather than visiting two dozen sources.

I think those who are not tech savvy, such as seniors, will be very pleased they can now keep up with all the main Ismaili content and Imamat news in one place rather than visiting two dozen sources.

Generally, Ismaili Digest is not selective about content from the websites we aggregate so we link to most, if not all, their content and let the audience decide what interests them, just as they would do if they visited the website. I'd just like to mention that just because we aggregate all their content, it should not be construed to mean, and indeed it does not mean, we endorse or agree with it all.

A critical feature of Ismaili Digest are the direct links to the source websites so, like with Google, when you click on a title or feature image for any entry -- whether on the Ismaili Digest website, in a digest email or via RSS -- you are taken directly to the source website saving you time, extra page loads and clicks. In other words, you read the article on the source website, not Ismaili Digest. Taking you to the source website also allows you to continue browsing the source website for other content.

All content we aggregate is available on our website, by email on a daily or weekly basis and via RSS.

Although we only publish 60-word digests, we do, however, cache the full content, like Google Search does, so now the community is able to search all the main Ismaili sites at one go. So, for example, if you want to find out about Tajikistan, you can find what all the websites have without having to search each site individually.

Although we only publish 60-word digests, we do, however, cache the full content, like Google Search does, so now the community is able to search all the main Ismaili sites at one go.

One point I'd like to mention is that a tremendous amount of effort has been spent in ensuring the Ismaili Digest website and our email digests are very mobile friendly, so I think visitors will really enjoy using Ismaili Digest on their mobile devices or smartphones even older, slower models, like the iPhone 4s.

UPDATE: Ismaili Digest has left all social media. Here's why ...

When Ismaili Digest launched in June 2018, we pushed all the content we aggregated to Facebook and Twitter. However, as of September 1, 2019, we stopped posting to all social media platforms. This major decision was, surprisingly, not as difficult as it seemed once we looked closely at the issue. Given the now virtually irrefutable, frightening psychological and social harm from social media (especially to children) we decided we could not, in good conscience, continue to use it at the expense of the Jamat's well-being.

Click here to read our newsflash detailing this and the many other reasons behind our decision. We hope the Jamat and other publishers find it useful in their own review of the value and harm of continuing to use or publishing to social media.

Clearing up Misunderstandings about Private Ismaili Websites

Sahil: To be able to search all the websites, I think, is really going to be useful for students and researchers, in addition to the general Jamat. In fact, one teacher already told me they're going to suggest their students use Ismaili Digest as a research tool for their assignments.

So, essentially, with Ismaili Digest, the Jamat learns more and stays better informed with less effort and time -- because they can find everything in one place. And website publishers enjoy greater exposure, a larger audience, and more actual visitors on their sites reading their content.

Can you clarify if you are associated or affiliated with any of the websites that Ismaili Digest aggregates?

Mohib: First, like all other private Ismaili websites, Ismaili Digest is a private initiative and is neither associated with nor operates on the behalf of the official institutions.

As for the other websites, except for NanoWisdoms (the archive of the Imamat Speeches, Interviews, and Writings, which I run by myself and founded in 2011, after I got official permission from Aiglemont to publish Hazar Imam's public speeches), I'm not associated or involved with any other private Ismaili website, whether aggregated by Ismaili Digest or not.

As for the other websites, except for NanoWisdoms (the archive of the Imamat Speeches, Interviews, and Writings, which I run by myself and founded in 2011, after I got official permission from Aiglemont to publish Hazar Imam's public speeches), I'm not associated or involved with any other private Ismaili website, whether aggregated by Ismaili Digest or not. All websites Ismaili Digest aggregates -- such as Simerg, Ismailimail, Ismaili Gnosis, Amaana or your RoundUp project, which aggregates the best video content of interest to the Ismaili community -- are independent websites run by their individual owners and I have never been, nor am I currently, associated with any of these websites. As far as I know, they all decide, individually, what content they publish.

I've heard there seems to be some confusion and people seem to think I'm associated with Ismaili Gnosis or Simerg just because I have few articles on those sites or briefly helped with some technical issues. However, I'm not associated with either of them any more than other authors who have written articles for them are.

Similarly, you have your own project RoundUp, that aggregates the best video content of interest to the Ismaili community, but you’re also sometimes incorrectly associated with other private Ismaili publishers, such as Ismaili Gnosis and Ismailimail, when you have nothing whatsoever to do with them, just as I don't.

Besides confusing authors with websites, I am aware that even whole websites are conflated. For example, I've run into many people who think Ismailimail is actually an institutional website or that Ismailimail and Simerg are operated by the same person.

I'm not sure why all this confusion exists, although one factor may be aggressively blanket bombing one publisher's content by others, on social media, thereby confusing original ownership of the content.

And so this is an important question, not just because of all this confusion, but also because of inadvertent, but often hurtful, misunderstandings or suspicions about private Ismaili websites generally and, in particular, their legitimacy. These negative sentiments are not healthy and unfairly saps our enthusiasm.

A consequence of all the misunderstandings and suspicions is that rather than receiving appreciation and thanks for selflessly volunteering thousands of hours ... those behind private Ismaili websites are not seen as individuals with their own perspectives, approaches, and ethics. Instead they are unfairly lumped together as all the same, and all assumed as having some sinister agenda.

A consequence of all the misunderstandings and suspicions is that rather than receiving appreciation and thanks for selflessly volunteering thousands of hours of their personal time producing world class on-line publications, those behind private Ismaili websites are not seen as individuals with their own perspectives, approaches, and ethics. Instead they are unfairly lumped together as all the same, and all assumed as having some sinister agenda. Perhaps people really don't understand these websites are true labours of love used by hundreds of thousands of Jamati members around the world to virtually unanimous praise and admiration. I mean just look at Ismaili Digest itself. I've put in some 6,000 hours of development over two and half years and you've additionally put in some 1,500 hours.

Sahil: Could you explain what's the policy and what you think might be contributing to these misunderstandings?

I think if these misunderstandings could be cleared up, we can set a more cooperative and inspirational tone in the relationship between the web publishers, the Jamat and the institutions.

Mohib: Good point. So let me try and clear some of this up for the benefit of the Jamat and the publishers.

First of all, I think it would help if there was a better understanding among the Jamat and the institutions about legitimacy of private websites and initiatives. Specifically, there seems to be a misconception that private Ismaili websites are in some way illegitimate so sometimes they are not given appropriate respect.

Private Ismaili websites are officially allowed, and their publishers have sole discretion over what they publish, within the context of what is allowed by our Ismaili Constitution. That is, they do not need to seek approval in advance for original material they write and publish.

However, what is not widely known, is that private Ismaili websites are officially allowed, and their publishers have sole discretion over what they publish, within the context of what is allowed by our Ismaili Constitution. That is, they do not need to seek approval in advance for original material they write and publish.

Actually this reminds me of something critically important, from early 2013, Malik Talib, President of National Council for Canada [currently the Leaders International Forum (LIF) Chair], told me after he met with Mawlana Hazar Imam at Global Centre for Pluralism when Kofi Annan delivered its Annual Lecture that year.

Hazar Imam replied, along with other guidance, that the institutions should work with these private Ismaili media publishers on a "basis of trust." I was very grateful that, just days later, President Talib [currently the Leaders International Forum (LIF) Chair] met me to inform me of his conversation with Hazar Imam ...
 
It was very satisfying to hear Hazar Imam and President Talib have such confidence, respect, and trust in the private Ismaili media publishers, and value our work that President Talib wished to set up relationships with us and Hazar Imam gave him guidance on how to structure the relationships.

President Talib had mentioned to Hazar Imam that he wanted to establish relationships with private Ismaili media publishers -- web, print, video, etc -- to which Hazar Imam replied, along with other guidance, that the institutions should work with these private Ismaili media publishers on a "basis of trust." I was very grateful that, just days later, President Talib met me to inform me of his conversation with Hazar Imam and all this crucial guidance Hazar Imam had given him.

It was very satisfying to hear Hazar Imam and President Talib have such confidence, respect, and trust in the private Ismaili media publishers, and value our work that President Talib wished to set up relationships with us and Hazar Imam gave him guidance on how to structure the relationships.

Sahil: It was very surprising to learn that Hazar Imam gave guidance to work with the private Ismaili media publishers on a "basis of trust." Why do you think he did this?

Mohib: Well to me, private Ismaili websites are merely another place where the creativity of our Jamat can be shared and celebrated. Websites allow writers, philosophers and other intellectuals to express themselves through creative and intellectual thought and writings related to our faith or community, just as artists, musicians, photographers, academics, authors, etc. have the individual freedom to express themselves, and publish works related to the faith or community, within their domains. So, to answer your question, in my mind, really it's about what does it mean that our faith has an intellectual tradition and how that manifests itself.

Nevertheless, despite the discretion private Ismaili web publishers have, they -- like everybody in the community working on a global stage -- do need to be socially responsible and sensitive to the exposure they can bring the Ismaili community. However, that being said, having discretion necessarily means different perspectives and opinions will be in play and sometimes the website publishers and editors may not agree with concerns the institutions may have, even after much discussion over a particular piece, just as may happen with academics or authors. That is just a fact of life and normal and should not be held against the publishers or others.

Hazar Imam: "there are not openings for four or five hundred spiritual children in our institutions. We just do not have these number of places. But in the long run, you can do a lot more, if you really set your minds to it, outside the institutions than inside, simply by reacting intelligently to changes."

Let me highlight two pieces of critical guidance -- one from 1959 and one from just last year, in Toronto -- Hazar Imam has given that bear directly on this issue. Let me first quote the Imam and then explain the relevance of what he said to this issue, although I think it is obvious.

In 1959, in Kenya, Hazar Imam said:

Now I have spoken to you about the plans a little bit for the future but I want all of you here tonight, and this is a point which is particularly important, to know, that there are not openings for four or five hundred spiritual children in our institutions. We just do not have these number of places. But in the long run, you can do a lot more, if you really set your minds to it, outside the institutions than inside, simply by reacting intelligently to changes. But not only intelligently, I should say even from a conservative point of view, but an intelligent conservative point of view. In other words, use your past, use your education to move forward ...

And then last November, to the Jamat in Toronto, Hazar Imam said:

So I hope every murid that has a competence will be willing to share that competence with the Jamats around the world. And modern technologies enable you, of course, to do that.

So, since the very start of his Imamat, Hazar Imam has expressed his wish that the Jamat itself should leverage and use its education, competencies and resources for the benefit and progress of the Jamat through private activity. In other words, helping the community through volunteering in the institutions is not only volunteer work Hazar Imam honours, values and respects. But in fact, he says even more can be done to help the Jamat from outside than from inside the institutions.

In other words, helping the community through volunteering in the institutions is not only volunteer work Hazar Imam honours, values and respects. But in fact, he says even more can be done to help the Jamat from outside than from inside the institutions.
 
I think it is self-evident that the intellectual capacity, resources and competencies of the rest of the Jamat not involved in the institutions (which is probably 70%-80% of the Jamat) should not go to waste. Instead they should be put to good use for the Jamat through socially responsible, useful endeavours, initiated outside of the institutions.

I think it is self-evident that, since the institutions have limited openings, limited capacity, limited resources and specific mandates, it is important that the intellectual capacity, resources and competencies of the rest of the Jamat not involved in the institutions (which is probably 70%-80% of the Jamat) should not go to waste. Instead they should be put to good use for the Jamat through socially responsible, useful endeavours, initiated outside of the institutions. Modern technologies, of course, give those so inclined to step up tremendous leverage in those efforts.

In other words, as I have said before, I believe Hazar Imam has called for the Jamat to step up to the plate and address unmet needs but always working in cooperation with the institutions, that is, within what I have called the co-operative autonomy framework. I am committed to the two facets of the "co-operative autonomy" relationship because I am convinced of its validity. Without autonomy, creativity and capacity are hamstrung and without co-operation, communal order, cohesion, strength and unity are compromised, but when the two are combined -- with intelligence, mutual good faith and reasonableness -- progress can be very, very rapid.

Just as Hazar Imam said that "one clear lesson of the last half of the twentieth century is that governments cannot do everything," I have always felt that, similarly, with their infinitely less capacity and resources than governments, it is self-evident the institutions can't do everything either. In fact, he specifically said in 2014, that "governments and institutions must create an Enabling Environment in which hope can flourish." Hope requires change. And change requires mobilisation of a community's or nation's citizenry to undertake the necessary, socially responsible projects needed. However, they can only mobilise if the environment encourages and supports, or "enables," them to step up to the plate and then stands by them when they do step up.

So I think the misunderstandings about legitimacy and policies regarding private Ismaili websites generally are fundamental reasons to the general apprehension towards reliable, trustworthy private Ismaili websites.

Sahil: Are there other reasons that might be contributing to these misunderstandings and apprehensions towards reliable private Ismaili websites?

Mohib: Yes. I think, also, due to frustration with the content or attitude of some Ismaili web publishers, that frustration and, sometimes animosity, is unfairly or inadvertently projected onto all the Ismaili web publishers and the reliable private space, in general. This, I think, partially contributes to the unfortunate tendency, I mentioned earlier, to view all web publishers through the same lens, as if they are all part of one effort and initiative, all with the same attitude and all guilty of the sins of some. This attitude de-legitimizes the independent publishing space to the detriment of the Jamat and the publishers.

I think each of the publishers should be, as I mentioned, respected and treated as individuals each having our own visions, our own aspirations, our own objectives, our own principles, our own ethics, our own approaches, our own respect for the institutions.

I think the institutions and the Jamat are really not aware of the thousands of hours of passionate work reliable private Ismaili web publishers put, voluntarily, into their websites each year with no other motive than a deep and sincere desire to help the Jamat, which these websites do in countless ways ... For example, they help keep isolated Jamati members connected to the community with content that supplements the volume, variety and subject areas published on institutional sites.

Again, I think the institutions and the Jamat are really not aware of the thousands of hours of passionate work reliable private Ismaili web publishers put, voluntarily, into their websites each year with no other motive than a deep and sincere desire to help the Jamat, which these websites do in countless ways that may not be always appreciated. For example, they help keep isolated Jamati members connected to the community with content that supplements the volume, variety and subject areas published on institutional sites. And so these projects truly are labours of love and it really is painful and hurtful to be unfairly treated, or viewed with suspicion, when there is no absolutely no cause to be whatsoever.

Sahil: Yes, I agree with you. I don't think people really understand how much time and passion goes into these projects and it is disappointing that the efforts are not better appreciated or respected.

One thing that struck me about Ismaili Digest, are its unique features, which we'll get to later, really focus on supporting all the institutional and reliable private web publishers by helping increase exposure for all their hard work. I hope it can inspire a fresh new, collaborative, cooperative relationship between the institutions and web-publishers.

The entire design objective of Ismaili Digest was to provide a more enjoyable, more efficient, and more useful experience for the visitors while simultaneously ensuring the maximum equity and benefit for the publishers -- institutional and private

Mohib: The entire design objective of Ismaili Digest was to provide a more enjoyable, more efficient, and more useful experience for the visitors while simultaneously ensuring the maximum equity and benefit for the publishers -- institutional and private -- for all the thankless volunteer time they dedicate to their websites. It is very gratifying and satisfying to have achieved this objective and I can assure both the Jamat and website publishers -- both institutional and private -- will all find Ismaili Digest an invaluable and steadfast partner in supporting all their efforts and needs.

Ismaili Digest's Policies and Vision of Leadership

Sahil: When it comes to choosing which websites Ismaili Digest aggregates, how do you decide which websites to include and exclude while still remaining impartial?

Mohib: Well, firstly, as a private endeavour we have sole authority and full discretion over how we operate. Although I mentioned that, generally, Ismaili Digest is not selective about website content from the websites we aggregate so we link to most, if not all, their content, at the same time, however, any expectation of entitlement, because of our generosity, imposes an unfair obligation on us. Nevertheless, that being said, when it comes to how we select which websites Ismaili Digest chooses to aggregate, the policy is nuanced and flexible. Rather than being intellectually lazy with a simplistic, rigid, all-or-nothing, one-size-fits-all policy, each potential website is assessed on its own merits -- the kind of equitable and adaptable situation we all wish we saw more often.

When it comes to how we select which websites Ismaili Digest chooses to aggregate, the policy is nuanced and flexible. Rather than being intellectually lazy with a simplistic, rigid, all-or-nothing, one-size-fits-all policy, each potential website is assessed on its own merits ...

On the institutional side, we're aggregating AKDN (news, press releases and galleries), all the.ismaili content, IIS (news, videos, articles, events), and the key YouTube channels from, the.ismaili, AKDN, Global Centre for Pluralism, Aga Khan Museum, etc. Essentially, we aggregate the main institutional sources that we feel are important and/or have broad appeal or interest within the Jamat.

Although I doubt many in the Jamat follow AKDN, IIS or other institutional news or activity closely, if at all, I think, however, there is value to have at least the headlines streaming amongst other more popular content people are interested in so, at least, via the headlines, they are exposed to the depth and breadth of what is being done on the institutional front. That exposure, I think, might also spark greater interest among some who otherwise might have not had it.

Similarly, on the.ismaili, I'm sure the Jamat's main attention is focused on the home page, and perhaps the home page for their country, and therefore they may miss the vast amount of other content published in other countries and other areas of the site. So here too, I think Ismaili Digest will help expose content from all countries and all sections of the website which, apart from giving authors a greater audience -- which is always nice, it will also help keep us in touch with what is happening throughout the whole Ismaili community, globally. Let me just say that the.ismaili is a very large and comprehensive website, and we think we have discovered all its nooks and crannies from which to draw out content, but if an editor responsible for any section notices their content not appearing on Ismaili Digest, please let us know so we can be sure to monitor it and help give their content more exposure.

On the.ismaili ... I think Ismaili Digest will help expose content from all countries and all sections of the website which, apart from giving authors a greater audience -- which is always nice, it will also help keep us in touch with what is happening throughout the whole Ismaili community, globally.

On the private side, this is a much more interesting question. As I said I have adopted a nuanced policy and I'm trying to avoid the frustrating experience, we've all had, where situations are not assessed on their merits and make it impossible to adapt flexibly to new situations because the default response is essentially some variant of "no we can't do that because our policy doesn't allow it." Similarly, sometimes there is an unreasonable expectation that if one private website is aggregated, that all private websites must be aggregated. So I'm avoiding all-or-nothing, "auto-pilot" policies, lacking nuance, which rigidly stipulate that a website should be automatically included or automatically excluded and, instead, will assess each website individually.

When making that assessment, I don't have a rigid or fixed formula, but will balance a number of factors such as the quality and reliability of content, the service they provide to the Jamat (so, for example, personal and private blogs will not be aggregated), the ethics of the publisher, the number of online assets the publisher has and the overlap between them, ensuring no one publisher dominates the space, and so forth. And all the factors may not be relevant to all the websites, and there may even be a unique factor relevant to just one website.

I believe that one test of real leadership is whether or not policies are nuanced and flexible so as to allow each situation to assessed on its own merits. I think this is especially important today, when change is coming at ever increasing breakneck speeds, placing a premium on flexibility and adaptability ...

I believe that one test of real leadership is whether or not policies are nuanced and flexible so as to allow each situation to assessed on its own merits. I think this is especially important today, when change is coming at ever increasing breakneck speeds, placing a premium on flexibility and adaptability because, frankly, today there is no time for dogmatic, rigid, and inflexible policies, as Hazar himself has explained. For example, in 2014 at Brown University he said:

[P]rogress is possible when complex issues are subjected to competent, intelligent, nuanced and sophisticated analysis, free from dogmatism, and based upon what I would describe as 'empathetic knowledge'.

Nuanced policies, based on "empathetic knowledge" require, of course, openness to view the situation from the other side and then the confidence and courage to make a "competent, intelligent, nuanced and sophisticated analysis" of the situation.

However, be that as it may, I would like to emphasize the overarching objective for Ismaili Digest to lean towards including websites rather than excluding websites -- provided of course, they meet the criteria (click here to see which sources are aggregated at this time) and, thereby, do what we can to help spark an attitude of partnership, collaboration and equity towards and for reliable and trustworthy private Ismaili publishers, in the spirit of Hazar Imam's advice, in Canada, in 2010, when he said:

Surely one of the most important tests of moral leadership is whether our leaders are working to widen divisions -- or to bridge them.

Sahil: Can you explain how Ismaili Digest is different from Ismailimail since it also aggregates Ismaili content?

Mohib: Ismailimail aggregates Ismaili related content from two primary sources: Ismaili websites (institutional and private) and other non-Ismaili websites. However, from the Ismaili websites they are selective about what content they feature. So from Simerg, for example, they only take a very limited number of pieces, and often none at all for many months, so you would have still visit Simerg to see what other content that they have not featured that might interest you.

Also, when Ismailimail posts something new, their email and social media alerts all point back to Ismailimail, where they typically publish several paragraphs from the original content. More often than not, visitors are satisfied with what they have read on Ismailimail and don't click further to visit the source website to read the rest of the article. Consequently, the source website publisher loses a lot of traffic and exposure which is disappointing for them after all the time and effort (which can be considerable) they put into writing and publishing articles. Furthermore, since the visitors are not on site, the publisher loses extra exposure they might have got if the visitor decided to browse the site further. So it's really a huge loss for the website publisher, and a huge gain for Ismailimail who capture the traffic from everyone.

All links ... whether on the Ismaili Digest website, in our emails or on RSS go directly to the source article (not to Ismaili Digest). This doesn't just save the audience extra clicks and page loads to reach the source article, but is a huge benefit for the website publishers.

In contrast, Ismaili Digest is generally not selective and aggregates all the content from the two dozen sources we're monitoring and so we give all the publisher's content, and thereby their website, the maximum exposure.

Then, instead of publishing several paragraphs from the source article, as Ismailimail does, we only publish the first 60 words of the article as a teaser, to whet the visitor's appetite and entice them to click and visit the source website to read more so we don't capture traffic from the publishers.

And finally, all links (even in the titles or images) whether on the Ismaili Digest website, in our emails or on RSS go directly to the source article (not to Ismaili Digest). This doesn't just save the audience extra clicks and page loads to reach the source article, but is a huge benefit for the website publishers. Direct links ensure they get the maximum number of potential visitors reaching their content so their hard work gets the maximum exposure. And of course, once they are on site they may browse further.

Sahil: So will there be duplicate posts to content on websites that Ismailimail links to, like The.Ismaili, Simerg, etc., which Ismaili Digest is already linking to?

We have filters in place to remove all duplicate posts that go to websites Ismaili Digest is already monitoring. 99% of the time, on Ismaili Digest, there will only be one, unique direct link to the original, source page.

Mohib: Good question. We have filters in place to remove all duplicate posts that go to websites Ismaili Digest is already monitoring. 99% of the time, on Ismaili Digest, there will only be one, unique direct link to the original, source page. So if Ismailimail or Simerg, for example, expose a post on say, Simerg Photos, these extra posts are filtered out as Ismaili Digest already has the original Simerg Photos article. By the way, for IsmailiMail we only go back to the start of the Diamond Jubilee because there is just too much content otherwise.

Ismaili Digest E-Mail Newsletters: There's One That Will Suit You

Sahil: I noticed Ismaili Digest has a number of email newsletters. These services relieve web publishers of the technical headaches of professional quality email and mass mailings, so they can focus on their content. I counted five different newsletters: Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Event Alert, and Editor's Choice.

Can you explain why there are so many and the difference between them all?

Mohib: Yes exactly. Today, trying to make email newsletters professional -- so they look good in all email clients, especially on mobile devices -- as well as ensuring they are actually delivered to the in-box and not the spam folder, is not easy. So, like the Ismaili Digest website itself, a lot of effort has been spent to ensure that Ismaili Digest email newsletters are 100% mobile friendly as well as ensuring all email standards and protocols for best in-box delivery have been met. I think subscribers will be very pleased with the experience they'll have with them.

Like the Ismaili Digest website itself, a lot of effort has been spent to ensure that Ismaili Digest email newsletters are 100% mobile friendly ... I think subscribers will be very pleased with the experience they'll have with them.

With respect to all the different newsletters, we have three scheduled newsletters -- daily, weekly, monthly -- which let subscribers choose the frequency they wish to be updated with the latest posts from the websites we aggregate. I should note that due to the high daily volume of Ismailimail content, we omit Ismailimail from the monthly newsletter.

Then there is a special newsletter sent out whenever we run into a post for a live stream event -- no matter from which source we're monitoring -- to ensure all subscribers are aware of it as soon as possible. The reason we did this is that we've noticed live-stream events are often held without much exposure so the Jamat doesn't benefit from them and the host doesn't get as large an audience they should.

One challenge web publishers face is their older content is forgotten as people generally focus on new articles. However, much of the older content is not time sensitive, and is as interesting to read today as when it was first published two, three, four or more years ago. So, to help institutional and private publishers "recycle" their older content and expose it those who might not have seen it, every week we dedicate a newsletter -- called the Editor's Choice Newsletter -- to one website, in rotation. No other content from any other website is featured in this dedicated newsletter and we also allow the Editor to draft a custom subject and message for the audience. Of course, this is a free service we offer both private and institutional publishers, and I hope they take advantage of it both for the added exposure it will offer their older content and the professional image it will help create for their mailings.

To help institutional and private publishers "recycle" their older content and expose it those who might not have seen it, every week we dedicate a newsletter ... to one website, in rotation.

The Editor's Choice will start a few weeks after launch. In the meantime, if any of the Editors of the website we are aggregating wish to learn about them, please reach out to us and we'll be happy to explain what it is we will be offering to them.

Ismaili Digest Sections: About the External Knowledge and Best Practices Ismaili Digest Shares

Sahil: To create balance and variety in the information reaching the community, Ismaili Digest also aggregates selected content from elsewhere on the web in six sections: Ismaili Medley, Off The Beaten Track, Monday Madness, Tuesday's Teachings (From Life), Wednesday Wisdom, and Friday Fotos.

Can you explain what kind of content these sections have?

Mohib: Yes, but let me first say that if anyone has a passion -- or just some links to articles, videos, photographs, etc. -- related to any of these content areas, we would welcome their submissions and, for those who wish, we offer credit for any submissions.

I should add if anyone wishes to submit a link for any of these sections, we have a special form they can use to submit the details to us.

Ismaili Medley links to Ismaili related articles, videos and content from Ismaili websites we are not monitoring and also non-Ismaili websites.

Monday Madness links to pieces that will amuse you and make you smile because, as Hazar Imam said, "we are a community that welcomes the smile!"

Tuesday's Teachings (From Life) links to moving fiction and non-fiction books and movies, articles, TED Talks, etc., (even if they go against prevailing wisdom) which teach us about the richness of life, the human spirit and human condition and helps us in our own personal and emotional growth to become the best version of ourselves we can be.

Wednesday Wisdom links to timeless pearls of wisdom, from the best of humanity.

Friday Fotos links to the best Ismaili related visuals -- images, photos, art and videos -- from Flickr, YouTube, Vimeo and elsewhere. Several are published each Friday.

Off The Beaten Track links to little known, fascinating, important, and sometimes even controversial, research, knowledge and opinions relevant to the community's wellbeing, personal and intellectual growth, best practises, etc. ...

Off The Beaten Track links to little known, fascinating, important, and sometimes even controversial, research, knowledge and opinions relevant to the community's wellbeing, personal and intellectual growth, best practises, etc. (as opposed to current affairs, news, politics, etc.), in keeping with Hazar Imam's advice to keep expanding our knowledge horizon:

A wise observer once said, it's not so much what we don't know that hurts us, but also all those things that we are sure we know -- but which are just not so. (2007, Kenya)

[We must] constantly review and revise and renew what we think we know. (2006, Pakistan)

One particular area of focus for Off the Beaten Track content will be to share knowledge and best practices related to the human dimension of organisations and institutional policies and activity.

Let me however, elaborate the deeper motivation behind Off The Beaten Track as it is, actually, a critical part of Ismaili Digest.

One facet of Hazar Imam, that I think is really not widely appreciated, is that although, outwardly, he projects an image, an attitude, of caution and restraint, at the same time, there is this also this contradictory sense of swift, innovative boldness. This reason for this apparent contradiction is a powerful undercurrent hidden behind all that he does.

While we might not think of the AKDN as research organization, in the sense of pure research like is done at a university or a commercial organization, AKDN is, however, deeply involved in research, simply because Hazar Imam insists on having a sound, comprehensive and deep understanding of the relevant issues and situation before committing scarce resources to a project or committing AKDN or the community to a future direction. And it is that research that lies at the heart of his contradictory image of cautious restraint coupled with swift, innovative boldness.

The time taken to research and understand a situation creates the impression of caution and restraint but, once complete, allows swift, bold, and more often than not, novel, innovative and unconventional action. Why? Simply because very often the research uncovers new, unexpected, sometimes even profound, insights and perspectives into a situation that go against conventional wisdom, and those novel insights are what allows his bold, new, innovative approaches that break new ground.

[Hazar Imam's] relentless drive to seek out new knowledge and then courageously embracing new insights, new perspectives based on well researched and sound conclusions allows him to then push the envelope, in a sober, calculated, measured fashion, where risks are well understood and mitigated, as best as can be foreseen.

His relentless drive to seek out new knowledge and then courageously embracing new insights, new perspectives, based on well researched and sound conclusions, allows him to then push the envelope, in a sober, calculated, measured fashion, where risks are well understood and mitigated, as best as can be foreseen. In this way, the competing forces of aggressive, innovative progress and the risks that entails, can be reconciled rather than becoming paralyzing forces of fear.

However, it would be foolish to think we need to research and discover everything ourselves and so, at Brown University, in 2014, Hazar Imam said "just as you pinched Plato, from Arabic, so we intend to pinch knowledge from you today."

There is a tremendous amount of exciting research that has revealed novel, yet sound, insights and knowledge which, more often than not, goes against the conventional wisdom and so is largely ignored or lost. Off The Beaten Track aims to highlight that knowledge and bring it to the attention of the Jamat. Hazar Imam said in his seminal, 2006, AKU Knowledge Society speech "the fundamental reason for the pre-eminence of Islamic civilisations lay neither in accidents of history nor in acts of war, but rather in their ability to discover new knowledge to make it their own, and to build constructively upon it" and we hope that what we highlight through Off The Beaten Track will help facilitate personal and community progress in the same sober, yet bold, fashion that underlies Hazar Imam's own example.

There is, of course, a challenge, what I call "intellectual inertia," to overcome. That is, the comfort of the status quo, of the familiar, the common resistance to new ideas, new ways, new paradigms, especially those that challenge or overturn the conventional wisdom. Hazar Imam also noted ... "new forms of knowledge are resisted because they change society."

There is, of course, a challenge, what I call "intellectual inertia," to overcome. That is, the comfort of the status quo, of the familiar, the common resistance to new ideas, new ways, new paradigms, especially those that challenge or overturn the conventional wisdom. Hazar Imam also noted this resistance in his 2008, Vancouver Sun interview, when he said "new forms of knowledge are resisted because they change society." However, if we fail to change we then run the risk of being "frozen in a mental prison" which is when Hazar Imam then says "things actually start becoming very damaging."

And so from this standpoint, of bringing new ideas and perspectives, new insights, to the Jamat for their consideration, Off The Beaten Track is really very much a part of Ismaili Ignition rather than Ismaili Digest, but we've kept it on the Ismaili Digest side as that is where we link to external content because Ismaili Ignition is where we publish our own original content.

I should add if anyone wishes to submit a link for any of these sections, we have a special form they can use to submit the details to us.

So in a sense the different areas of Ismaili Digest appeal to the different sides of the human spirit:

• Amusement: Monday Madness,
• Personal and emotional growth, humanity, compassion: Tuesday's Teachings (From Life),
• Wisdom: Wednesday Wisdom,
• Beauty: Friday Fotos,
• Knowledge and intellect: Off the Beaten Path,
• Soul: all the Ismaili content on faith and community Ismaili Digest aggregates.

The New Perspective of Our Ismaili Intellectual Tradition Which Inspires Ismaili Ignition

Sahil: Yes, and let me now turn to Ismaili Ignition, which really excites me and it's a genuine privilege to co-found it with you. What inspired and drew me to this project was your vision and conviction to forge bold, new, innovative directions and perspectives -- whether to do with philosophy, ethics, administration, etc. -- for the community. To really push the innovation envelope.

I completely agree with you when you said, in one of your earlier interviews that "constantly challenging established ideas, pushing the envelope, thinking in new directions ... are not just nice platitudes but fundamental and imperative attitudes every community needs to adopt if it wishes to protect itself from inadvertently developing an unhealthy corpus of unchallengeable dogma which would otherwise inevitably choke thought and adaptability, and stifle progress, perhaps for generations."

Can you tell us what was the inspiration for this exciting, new venture?

Mohib: Ismaili Ignition's vision is rooted in my understanding of what we mean when we say the Ismaili Tariqah is an "intellectual faith" or has an "intellectual tradition."

Ismaili Ignition's vision is rooted in my understanding of what we mean when we say the Ismaili Tariqah is an "intellectual faith" or has an "intellectual tradition."

I asked myself what does this actually mean? Does it just mean translating and studying what has come down to us from towering intellects of our past, like Kirmani, Sijistani, Khusraw, Tusi and others? If so, then what works from prior Ismaili giants did they study and translate? And why then, did they push the intellectual landscape of their times, creating new original works with new thought, new perspectives, new ideas relevant to their intellectual context and times and not just study what was handed down to them? And why did they debate their perspectives when they didn't agree? In other words, are we to believe that our faith, as just one subject, has now been fully explained by them for all time and, indeed, all times, and there is nothing new to discover, no new perspectives or meanings to search for and gain insight and wisdom from?

And so, I believe our intellectual tradition does not lie in just studying the fruits of other people's intellectual labour -- such as the works handed down from our past luminaries -- but, rather, in the intellectual labour itself. In other words, in my mind, our intellectual tradition is not so much about what is produced or who produced it, but that it was produced in the first place. This is because the fruits of the labour -- the works produced -- may be time bound, flawed or have other deficiencies.

I believe our intellectual tradition does not lie in just studying the fruits of other people's intellectual labour -- such as the works handed down from our past luminaries -- but, rather, in the intellectual labour itself.... That is, the actual intellectual activity which produced those works that embodied new thinking ...

In fact, let me elaborate a bit on this because I think there is some semantic confusion about what the word "tradition" itself actually means in this context, when we talk of an "intellectual tradition."

In one sense, a "tradition" can be a way things have always been done -- that is, "traditionally" -- so there is a sense of past and present, such as, for example, when we talk about "tradition and modernity." The Oxford Dictionary defines this use as:

A long-established custom or belief that has been passed on from one generation to another.

But there is another use of the term tradition and that is for a way, or practice, or style of doing things, such as the Central Asian "tradition" of practicing our faith or the Indic "tradition" of Ismailism. The Oxford Dictionary defines this use as:

An artistic or literary method or style established by an artist, writer, or movement, and subsequently followed by others.

With this second use, there is no sense of past and present, but just a style or way of doing something. For example, when we say we have a "tradition" of prayer, we are not saying we have prayed "traditionally," in the past, and so we might continue to do so today. Rather it simply means this is our way, our style -- and it continues. This sense of the word "tradition" carries the notion of form, of manner, of approach as opposed to a notion of time, of past and present. And so from this perspective our "intellectual tradition" is not just about the past works produced, but as I said, the mere fact they were produced in the first place. In other words, our "intellectual tradition" is our practice, or style, of always producing new, original works.

With this second use [of the word "tradition"], there is no sense of past and present, but just a style or way of doing something.... This sense of the word "tradition" carries the notion of form, of manner, of approach as opposed to a notion of time, of past and present.... In other words, our "intellectual tradition" is our practice, or style, of always producing new, original works.

And so I believe rooting our understanding of "intellectual tradition" in the works of the past, that is the actual texts and writings themselves, as though the past works are the final say on matters they covered, not only subtly starts us down the road to cementing those works as an unchallengeable dogma but also misses the point completely. That is not to say we should not study those past works. Far from it. We absolutely must study them, but then we must carry them forward -- not physically as printed books -- but intellectually, building upon the concepts with new concepts, new ideas relevant to our context and which resonate with us. That is, for me, the "intellectual tradition" -- or our "intellectual practice", our "intellectual way" -- is the actual intellectual activity which produces new, original works, that embodies new thinking, bold new ideas and perspectives and challenges established ideas, either from scratch or building upon what exists.

When Hazar Imam speaks about the continuity of our intellectual tradition, I believe he is not just speaking about "physical continuity" -- of republishing the past works (so that important corpus of past knowledge and thought is not lost) -- but, more importantly, I believe he also is speaking about continuing the process of actually creating new intellectual works themselves because that actual labour itself is our true intellectual tradition. Think about it this way. If we're not producing new, original works today, what new works will Ismailis, a 1,000 years from now, find worthy to republish or translate from our time?

Similarly, I believe rooting our "intellectual tradition" in a particular class of people -- such as dais in the past or scholars today -- suggests the intellectual tradition is, in some sense, reserved for an elite few and narrowly focused on one area of human thought. Almost, as if you must be a member of this group to benefit from or contribute to our intellectual tradition.

When Hazar Imam speaks about the continuity of our intellectual tradition, I believe he is not just speaking about "physical continuity" -- of republishing the past works -- but, more importantly, I believe he is speaking about continuing the process of actually creating new intellectual works themselves because that actual labour itself is our true intellectual tradition.

Think about it this way. If we're not producing new, original works today, what new works will Ismailis, a 1,000 years from now, find worthy to republish or translate from our time?

And so, I believe to restricting the scope of what human thought constitutes our "intellectual tradition" to philosophical and theological works of the past -- because one thinks of them as "intellectual" -- is a very narrow and superficial view of human endeavour. All creative endeavour including artistic, scientific, literary, musical, etc. -- and not just philosophical or theological works -- all require deep intellectual reflection and effort. I believe the intellectual labour spent in these areas are no less a part of our intellectual tradition as the philosophical works we typically think of when we talk of our "intellectual tradition."

Now it is common sense that we would never dream of suggesting we should not produce new, original Ismaili artistic, literary or musical works, as though what was produced in the past constitutes the final effort in those areas. Yet, when it comes to Ismaili philosophical works that is exactly what is people think. Those past philosophical Ismaili works are taken as "final," as though, as I said earlier, Ismaili thought in those areas has been fully explained by those luminaries for all time and, indeed, all times. In other words, that there is nothing new "under the Ismaili Sun," so to speak, to discover, as if there are no new perspectives or meanings to search for and gain insight and wisdom from.

And so, just as people today use their intellects to create new Ismaili artistic works, or build upon those past works, so too people today should use their intellects to create new Ismaili philosophical works -- which I would take to mean, at the very least, "the rational investigation of truths and principles of being, knowledge, or conduct" -- or build upon those past philosophical works. To me that is the our tradition, our practice, our way: using our intellects to create new, original works, not just regurgitate the past, robotically.

Furthermore, I believe to restrict the scope of what constitutes our "intellectual tradition" to philosophical and theological works of the past -- because one thinks of them as "intellectual" -- is a very narrow and superficial, perhaps even elitist, view of human endeavour.

Sahil: And how is this related to Ismaili Ignition's vision to "help reignite the passion to think for ourselves and encourage each intellect to express itself"?

Mohib: It's at the very heart of it.

We often talk about "reviving" our intellectual tradition -- which is typically understood to mean republishing and re-explaining past works to today's audience. However, my understanding of our Ismaili intellectual tradition is about thinking itself and expressing our new and original thoughts in tangible ways in the real world, rather than just about books written by our past intellectuals and not limited to philosophical works like they wrote.

So I would say even AKDN, as it is described by the Imam, is itself an example of our intellectual tradition. In this case, by breaking new ground and pushing the envelope with new, bold approaches to development that, of course, required tremendous thought to conceive and execute. In that sense, even private Ismaili initiatives, also serving the community (like Simerg, Ismaili Ignition, Sacred Web, etc.), all reflect the spirit of my understanding of our intellectual tradition to create new works and push the boundaries of human endeavour in new socially responsible ways the new technology of the time allows.

And so with Ismaili Ignition we want to help create the space to encourage people to push the boundaries. Thinking about and expressing opinions about issues and matters related to our community -- the very act of thinking and expressing one's thoughts, one's opinions -- are at the heart of Ismaili Ignition's understanding of the Ismaili intellectual tradition. And this is why Ismaili Ignition's vision is simply:

Help reignite the passion to think for ourselves and encourage each intellect to express itself.

Note a subtle, but important nuance in the our vision statement you quoted: we do not specifically seek solutions or answers. This is not the essence nor spirit of Ismaili Ignition, but just a potential consequence. Indeed, we may not find any solutions or answers, and it would be presumptuous to assume we will.

And so with Ismaili Ignition we want to help create the space to encourage people to push the boundaries. Thinking about and expressing opinions about issues and matters related to our community -- the very act of thinking and expressing one's thoughts, one's opinions -- are at the heart of Ismaili Ignition's understanding of the Ismaili intellectual tradition.

The spirit and essence of Ismaili Ignition is to try and inspire everyone in the Jamat to have the confidence to think for themselves and genuinely honour and respect each intellect -- when they choose to express or explain themselves. We hope, thereby, to help bring every intellect in the Jamat to bear on, and reflect on, both the community's administrative side and the community's faith so we can better understand them in today's intellectual context. We also hope this will unlock the inspiration Allah has blessed us with because we do not know which intellect He has inspired with which visions and ideas that may not just improve the community, but fundamentally and profoundly alter its trajectory for decades or even centuries, or even the change course of history.

As Hazar Imam said in Pakistan, in November 2017, that:

And you should express your needs to [our] institutions. There should be a dialogue between the Jamat and our institutions, and this dialogue should be an on-going process of thinking together, of what will best serve the Jamat ... So we are seeking community wisdom, the wisdom of the Jamat, as to what are its needs, and how best we can serve those needs.

Similarly, in his 2006 AKU Knowledge Society speech, he mentioned that universities should produce new knowledge but, however, this is most often partnership research -- the sharing of ideas and insights -- and rarely achieved in isolation.

Ismaili Ignition hopes to ignite that same sense of partnership research [Hazar Imam mentioned] with the community -- only our partner is the entire community, and their full, uninhibited, impressive intellectual capacity [and it] all starts with each of us being free to think and express ourselves and, in particular, as Hazar Imam just called for, "thinking together" with the Jamat.

And in that sense, Ismaili Ignition hopes to ignite that same sense of partnership research with the community -- only our partner is the entire community, and their full, uninhibited, impressive intellectual capacity. That is why our vision is so important because everything -- confidence, courage, humility, understanding, new knowledge, new ideas, progress, partnership, cooperation, collaboration, etc. -- starts with each of us being free to think and express ourselves and, in particular, the "thinking together" with the Jamat, which Hazar Imam just called for.

Ignition Paradigm Proposals: 21st Century Perspectives on Our Faith and Community

Sahil: We're using three tools to achieve the vision -- Ignition Pardaigm Proposals, Interviews, and Questions -- through which we intend to float new perspectives, ideas and insights on various matters and issues for the Jamat to think about from the perspective of first principles. To go below the superficial surface and try to understand the relevant essences and principles at play.

Can you explain each of these and the roles they'll play in achieving the vision?

Mohib: Before I get into the answer, I just want to clarify, we merely suggest novel perspectives for everyone to contemplate and reflect over, first individually and then with a few friends, over coffee, or in small gatherings, such as book clubs, classrooms, institutional committees.

Ismaili Ignition may highlight what we feel might be unrecognized challenges or issues and offer our opinions, ideas or alternative perspectives (i.e. in a sense, just thought experiments), however, we do not insist on either our opinions over the challenges or our alternative perspectives. Although we merely float them all for everyone's consideration, some may find our opinions helpful. Nevertheless, we hope the new and alternative perspectives will spark others to build upon them in an effort to find innovative answers which we hope they will share with the community.

Ismaili Ignition may highlight what we feel might be unrecognized challenges or issues and offer our opinions, ideas or alternative perspectives (i.e. in a sense, just thought experiments), however, we do not insist on either our opinions over the challenges or our alternative perspectives ... we merely float them all for everyone's consideration ...

Each of the tools you mentioned are published within series and Ignition Paradigm Proposals are where we will float our own perspectives, ideas and insights, all grounded in Hazar Imam's advices, on various matters for others to reflect over.

Ignition Paradigm Proposals are inspired by Hazar Imam's guidance in Pakistan, 1989, where he said:

Bring forward your ideas. It is only a stupid person who does not listen to ideas. It means he is like a horse ... who lives with blinkers [and] all they can see ahead of them is a little tiny dimension of light.... It is only that sort of a horse that goes straight, straight, straight, straight, straight and it never looks for a new direction, a new idea, something creative. Let's not be a horse with blinkers.... No, that is not for our Jamat.

Sahil: Our first Ignition Paradigm Proposal is Thinking Together which, in essence, makes just one small change to better align the community with a specific administrative best practice Hazar Imam laid out in his speeches and interviews, and again in his recent farman in Pakistan 2017.

Can you give us an overview of Thinking Together?

Mohib: Actually, I'd prefer not to! I don't want to steal its own thunder and undermine it with a short explanation. It is a deeply thought out proposal which we've spent about two years developing and refining it based on the exceptionally positive feedback we've received from the Jamat, all the levels of the institutions, as well as our intelligentsia, and we are seeing indications it is starting to be tried. I should mention if anyone had the opportunity to review Thinking Together (originally called The AFTA Proposal) during its development, we strongly recommend you download and review the current version as it has gone through dozens of refinements over the past 18 months as it incorporates the latest relevant Imamat guidance from the Diamond Jubilee and has also gone through dozens of refinements over the past year.

We've spent about two years developing and refining it based on the exceptionally positive feedback we've received from the Jamat, all the levels of the institutions, as well as our intelligentsia.... [Thinking Together] will take great courage and humility to implement in a deep and meaningful way, but we believe it may well be one of the simplest and yet most important and effective re-alignments to Hazar Imam's vision the community can make.

Although the change Thinking Together suggests is small, it is, nevertheless, a deeply profound shift that will take time to be fully appreciated. It will take great courage and humility to implement in a deep and meaningful way, but we believe it may well be one of the simplest and yet most important and effective re-alignments to Hazar Imam's vision the community can make. Nevertheless, again, it is just a suggestion and I'm very keen to see the reception it receives from the Jamat and the institutions, and the discussion it will inspire.

Ignition Interviews and Questions: Asking the Hard Questions Facing the Community Today

Sahil: Fair enough. I am also eagerly looking forward to see the reception Thinking Together receives.

One area where Ismaili Ignition will really start to push the envelope, both in substance and protocol, and which I'm personally very excited about is our Ignition Interviews series.

Can you explain what we're trying to accomplish here?

Mohib: Yes, there is a lot of new ground we're breaking here. Let me first say, given your outstanding interviews published for publications such as the.ismaili (the official community website), Bounik Insitute of Rice University and Sacred Matters Magazine Affiliated with Emory University, I'm very happy you've agreed to host Ignition Interviews. You have a unique knack for putting your guests at ease despite the depth of your questions which I find, and I'm sure the audience also finds, intellectually stimulating. Can you tell us what's motivating you to do these interviews?

Sahil: Thank you!

Actually, what's motivating me is not too different from the Ignition vision.

I like to ask questions that go at the heart of a matter. Questions which force guests to reflect and think deeply. Like with Ignition interviews, I'm not interested "gotcha journalism." I'm interested in their candid opinions and insights on spirituality or important contemporary issues facing faith communities and society, generally, today. What has been particularly gratifying is how, time and time again, guests have told me how much they appreciated the questions and the opportunity to fully share their insights and perspectives comfortably and safely.

Mohib: Exactly. We have the same objectives with Ignition interviews. We want to draw out from our guests their best ideas, insights and perspectives on the full spectrum of issues and topics related the community's faith and administration. I think, the insightful and thought-provoking questions we intend to ask, will offer our guests a unique opportunity to give us their real opinions and perspectives, penetrating deep beyond superficialities, on the issues we cover. As Hazar Imam said in 1964:

If we, as a small community, are to face the challenge of the future and overcome it and make sense of it and use it for our own good, we must leave no stone unturned to strengthen ourselves in the years ahead. Individual groups, separated by thousands of miles, can no longer attempt separately to mould new ideas and new concepts into intelligible and acceptable forms. It is necessary, therefore, to have more and more consultation, discussion and investigation so as to find out what institutions, what organisations and on what foundations we can prepare ourselves to make good use of the future which Allah allows us to perceive. (1964, Pakistan)

For our interview guests, we will look for independent thinkers, well-read members of the Jamat -- irrespective of their station in life or station in the community institutions -- that have vision, insight, well-reasoned opinions and the courage to offer them candidly ... and have a genuine desire to help the Jamat move forward.

For our interview guests, we will look for independent thinkers, well-read members of the Jamat -- irrespective of their station in life or station in the community institutions -- that have vision, insight, well-reasoned opinions and the courage to offer them candidly. Individuals with creative, innovative, practical, solutions, or who are able to astutely pinpoint and identify areas for improvement, who are unafraid to challenge conventional wisdom, who are able to identify important trends and have a genuine desire to help the Jamat move forward. As Hazar Imam said in Canada in 2016 and Pakistan in 2017:

• "Public wisdom is not dependent on education." (2016, Canada)
• "So we are seeking community wisdom, the wisdom of the Jamat ..." (2017, Pakistan)

So at our launch, the first two interviews we're publishing are with Dr. Karim H Karim and Karim Lakhani. Dr. Karim was the former Co-Director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, UK, between 2009 and 2011, the current Director of the Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam, and a Professor at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication. Dr. Lakhani is an Associate Professor of Business Administration at Harvard University, Founder and Co-Director of their Laboratory for Innovation Science and the Principal Investigator of the NASA Tournament Lab at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science.

Their candid views are always very refreshing, and I hope everyone will take the time to read them. I know we learned a lot from their insights.

I should mention a couple of points about our interviews. Firstly, because our questions aim to draw out deep and thoughtful insights from our guests, our interviews are generally long, although I believe, will be well worth everyone's time to read and reflect on.

We developed our own, unique, interview protocol to, firstly, draw out our guests' best and most thoughtful insights and, secondly, to ensure they are at complete ease. We are not in the business of ambushing our guests and making them victims of sensational "gotcha journalism," as you mentioned, catching them off guard and "on the record."

Secondly, we developed our own, unique, interview protocol to, firstly, draw out our guests' best and most thoughtful insights and, secondly, to ensure they are at complete ease. We are not in the business of ambushing our guests and making them victims of sensational "gotcha journalism," as you mentioned, catching them off guard and "on the record." Specifically, not only do we provide our guests with our questions in advance, so they can advise us which questions they would prefer rephrased or do not feel comfortable answering at all, but also, prior to publication, we provide our guests with the transcript to review and approve to ensure there are no remarks which, perhaps, on reflection, they'd prefer to re-phrase, or even remove altogether. Therefore, our visitors have confidence that every they read, our guests intended to say.

Sahil: Our Ignition Interviews and Questions have a novel symbiotic relationship. Can you explain what Ignition Questions are, the symbiotic relationship and how it came about?

Mohib: Yes, yes! This is something I'm really excited about.

Ignition Questions are a unique tool we have conceived of and will serve as the primary way we hope to realise our vision, and indeed Hazar Imam's remarks I mentioned about tapping and harnessing community wisdom, the Jamat's wisdom.

As you know from our work on our key interview questions, they are deep and often take us several weeks to craft. One day it struck me that rather than just using them once, with one guest, they would benefit from wider exposure and the reflection that would bring, so I thought why not recycle them. So Ignition Questions are the interview questions, as well as other questions worthy of discussion, reframed so everyone, not just our interview guests, can reflect on them and the issues they raise.

Through Ignition Questions we offer forward looking questions, ideas, concepts and perspectives, related to the faith or the community, for the Jamat to reflect over individually in an effort to find innovative answers which we hope they will share with the community.

Through Ignition Questions we offer forward looking questions, ideas, concepts and perspectives, related to the faith or the community, for the Jamat to reflect over individually in an effort to find innovative answers which we hope they will share with the community. Ignition Questions are inspired by Hazar Imam's 1986, USA guidance where he said:

In dealing with the issues that lie ahead of us, we will look at them straight in the face, we will ask the hard questions. If we cannot find immediate answers, we will go on asking the same questions until In'sh'allah, we are inspired to find the answers, but we will not give up. We will not go back to an obscurantism, to a form of intellectual retreat into something which is neither beneficial for the present and certainly not constructive for the future ... we must have the courage to ask the questions and to seek the answers.

On the flip side, once we have published sufficient Ignition Questions, we will allow our interview guests to choose one or two Ignition Questions they feel they can offer unique, well thought out perspectives, insights or wisdom that, we would, otherwise, not think to ask them about. And, similarly, our interview guests may draw attention to important challenges in their answers which we will re-frame as Ignition Questions for broader reflection.

We hope that eventually, individuals will come together and start discussing Ignition Questions with a few friends, over coffee, or in small gatherings, such as book clubs, classrooms, institutional committees, and we encourage those discussions be driven by the spirit of humility expressed in this proverb:

Discussions are always better than arguments, because an argument is to find out who is right, and a discussion is to find out what is right.

Perhaps the institutions and others -- who appreciate the profound personal, intellectual challenges we hope Ignition Questions will instigate -- will also start framing similar, deep questions. If they do, we hope they will do so, like we try, to frame questions that encourage and inspire intellectual growth by offering fresh perspectives to ponder and reflect on, as well as encourage mutual understanding, compassion and respect, rather than pose questions which create discord, undermine community cohesion, or further personal agendas.

When it comes to faith related Ignition Questions, we would be cautious over claims suggesting that such and such is the "authoritative," "definitive," "proven," "true," "final", etc. answer.... Similarly, we would be equally cautious over suggestions that there are no definitive answers ... because we are each on our "personal searches."

Nevertheless, I think we need to clear up a couple of important points about Ignition Questions, especially those related to faith issues. Firstly, many of the questions and perspectives we float, even those related to the faith, are universal and not unique to our faith so other faith communities may also find them useful and thought provoking.

And secondly, as I mentioned earlier, Ismaili Ignition does not insist on our opinions and merely float them for everyone's consideration. When it comes to faith related Ignition Questions, we would be cautious over claims suggesting that such and such is the "authoritative," "definitive," "proven," "true," "final", etc. answer. The exception being when Hazar Imam's guidance directly answers the question. Similarly, we would be equally cautious over suggestions that there are no definitive answers, as if all interpretations, even opposing ones, are not just equally legitimate, but also equally correct because we are each on our "personal searches." This essentially recasts relativism (which Hazar Imam has specifically denounced as "unprincipled") as personal search.

Indeed, we open this very issue for reflection and discussion in one of our first Ignition Questions: No Black & White Answers, Absolute Proof or Intellectual Satisfaction. Where Does the Ismaili Tariqah Stand? [click here].

[

ED: Also related to this topic is our two part Ignition Question from August 2019:

• Part 1: If "there are no wrong interpretations," then why do we even need Hazar Imam to interpret our faith for us? | Ignition Question #5a (click here)
• Part 2: Have you ever changed your own interpretation of Hazar Imam's guidance after hearing someone else's point of view? | Ignition Question #5b (click here)

]

Clearing up Myths about Creativity and Generating New Ideas for the Community

Sahil: Is there a reason why you've not created an Ismaili Ignition discussion forum, as it would seem like an obvious tool for brainstorming ideas?

Mohib: While these forums are sometimes useful, I feel discussions in such forums tend to be dominated by the opinions of a few individuals and disagreements often lead to a toxic, stressful environment not conducive to quiet, individual contemplation and reflection we seek and necessary for true innovation.

While conventional wisdom suggests group brainstorming is the best approach to creativity, innovation, insight and understanding, real world experience, research from the last 40 years, and even the greatest creative minds in history, all testify that real creativity, real innovation, real insight first happens when we work with our thoughts, alone, not in groups, teams or committees.

Real world experience, research from the last 40 years, and even the greatest creative minds in history, all testify that real creativity, real innovation, real insight first happens when we work with our thoughts, alone, not in groups, teams or committees.

Steve Wozniak, co-founder of Apple and the engineer behind Apple's first computers, famously said in his memoir, "I don't believe anything really revolutionary has ever been invented by committee."

Similarly Albert Einstein said, "although I have a regular work schedule, I take time to go for long walks on the beach so that I can listen to what is going on inside my head."

And Nikola Tesla, namesake of Tesla electric cars and best known for his many revolutionary developments in the field of electromagnetism, astutely noted "The mind is sharper and keener in seclusion and uninterrupted solitude. Originality thrives in seclusion free of outside influences beating upon us to cripple the creative mind. Be alone -- that is the secret of invention: be alone, that is when ideas are born."

So if there was just one message I would hope everyone will take away from Ismaili Ignition is to understand the absolutely essential need for individuals to begin reflecting on faith and community issues on their own, alone, by themselves, before coming together. I feel it's so critical we've formalised this notion in Ismaili Ignition's vision statement.

So if there was just one message we would hope everyone will take away from Ismaili Ignition is to understand the absolutely essential need for individuals to begin reflecting on faith and community issues on their own, alone, by themselves, before coming together. We feel it's so critical we've formalised this notion in Ismaili Ignition's vision statement.

Often we think we don't have the confidence or knowledge or experience to do think for ourselves, or that only "experts" should think about such things, but that, in my view, is fundamentally mistaken and precisely why, I believe, Hazar Imam said in Pakistan in 1989:

Have confidence in your own judgement, confidence in your ability to analyse problems, confidence in your ability to develop solutions to those problems.... Listen to ideas, develop ideas, create ideas and bring them forward for the service of the jamat.

Time and time again, he has emphasised this and again, just last year, in Pakistan, when he said, as I mentioned earlier, that "we are seeking community wisdom, the wisdom of the Jamat, as to what are its needs, and how best we can serve those needs."

In my mind, there is no greater tragedy than to waste human intellectual resources and capacity, for whatever reason. We just do not know who Allah has inspired with what ideas and therefore, as an article of faith, let alone out of basic human respect, it is imperative that we honour and cherish each and every intellect of the community. We must do everything possible to encourage everyone in the Jamat to have the confidence to not only think for themselves, but also provide them -- and most especially the quieter ones among us, who are often the deepest thinkers -- a space to express themselves so we can all learn and benefit from their insights.

We talk a lot about pluralism but, for me, sincerely honouring each intellect is where the hardest form of pluralism, intellectual pluralism and the intellectual courage and humility it requires, starts.

Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition's 25 Year Vision for the Community

Sahil: In Toronto, at the Silver Jubilee, Hazar Imam said we should have a "clear perception" of what the Jamat's position should be in 25 years. He asked us to think about this if we do not have that vision.

Can you tell us what you feel are the top 2 or 3 challenges -- whether administrative, social, societal, intellectual, religious, educational, economic or any other areas -- the community faces and what specific vision would you have for the community, let's say, in 25 years hence?

Mohib: Let me answer your last question, about my vision for the Jamat 25 years hence, first as that would set the context for what I would see as our top challenges.

In 25 years I would like to be able to list 25 profound and permanent achievements the community accomplished that fundamentally moved the community forward in ways we could not anticipate in advance because we chose to tap the full intellectual capacity of the community.

In 25 years I would like to be able to list 25 profound and permanent achievements the community accomplished that fundamentally moved the community forward in ways we could not anticipate in advance because we chose to tap the full intellectual capacity of the community. To paraphrase the late Steve Jobs, these would be 25 achievements that each made a "dent in the Community's universe." In fact, it's not even a 25-year vision but, rather, I would make it a permanent yardstick of the community's dynamism that would be measured every 5 to 10 years.

And so to come back to your first question about what are the top 2-3 challenges the community currently faces, I would have to say that if my objective was the vision I outlined, then it seems to me we face two overarching cultural challenges which thwart that vision.

The first challenge is ... nurturing a culture and mind-set that truly looks to marshal and leverage the community wisdom, that Hazar Imam recently spoke of, from across the entire Jamat and not just small segments.... So too a culture that truly respects and actively encourages socially responsible, reliable, trustworthy private initiative, that helps serve the Jamat, needs to be nurtured.

The first challenge is that we really need to start nurturing a culture and mind-set that truly looks to marshal and leverage the community wisdom, that Hazar Imam recently spoke of, from across the entire Jamat and not just small segments. If we can do that, and I mean not in just a superficial way that pays lip service to the notion, but with real sincerity and respect for each view and intellect, and execute on the best ideas, I think we will be shocked at where the community could be in even 10 years.

The second challenge is nurturing a culture that values and encourages socially responsible private initiative within the community. Hazar Imam has said socially responsible private initiatives are fundamental for societal progress. In my opinion, our human need and desire to be free to engage in independent, creative intellectual activity is a fundamental pillar of the Human Condition but, as Hazar Imam says again and again and again, it requires an Enabling Environment to flourish. For example he's said:

It is my profound conviction that steps to strengthen institutions and the linkages between them are critical to the freedom of the individual to be creative and productive in a socially responsible manner. This is the essence of the Enabling Environment.

What a sound Enabling Environment must do is to create a favourable framework in which human creativity can flourish.

We must show greater faith in the ability of the individual to be creative.

When private initiative is not actively encouraged, instead of an Enabling Environment we end up with a disabling environment in which confusion and fear discourage people and hinder private initiatives. This applies equally within the community as well as outside. Just as central governments are not, cannot, nor ever will serve all of society's needs, so too our central institutions are not, cannot, nor ever will meet all the of the Jamat's needs. And so, just as a culture to tap and respect community wisdom needs to be nurtured -- the first challenge I mentioned, so too a culture that truly respects and actively encourages socially responsible, reliable, trustworthy private initiative, that helps serve the Jamat, needs to be nurtured.

The Jamat must dare to imagine, boldly, the new future we wish to create for ourselves, our families and community.... And, I hope the central institutions will do more to encourage, support and help all those who have the courage to act boldly and execute on their visions to help the Jamat.

Earlier, I mentioned earlier Hazar Imam's remarks from 1959 and juxtaposed them to his recent remarks in Toronto, late last year. From these two and my long study of his speeches and interviews, it is my profound conviction that the view of socially responsible private initiative and its importance to community development, I just mentioned, is closely aligned with his own view. I also believe firmly that he has held that view right from the start of his Imamat because, I believe, he views it as an intrinsic way societies and communities have always functioned, and must function, because this is a fundamental aspect part of the Human Condition.

The Jamat must dare to imagine, boldly, the new future we wish to create for ourselves, our families and community. Albert Einstein said "Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." And, I hope the central institutions will do more to encourage, support and help all those who have the courage to act boldly and execute on their visions to help the Jamat.

If we can start to address these two challenges, I have no doubt what we can accomplish can fundamentally change the trajectory of the community such that, in a 1,000 years from now, when historians look back to what led the community to be where it is at that time, they will pinpoint it was these two culture changes which unleashed the community's wisdom as Hazar Imam has called for.

Sahil: And finally, could you share what inspires you to conceive of and execute all these projects. First NanoWisdoms and now Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition?

Mohib: As I've mentioned elsewhere, my father used to regularly quote me that farman Hazar Imam made in 1959 in Kenya, where he said that there just aren't enough openings within the institutions for hundreds of volunteers, and that in the long run the jamat can do a lot more, if we really set our minds to it, outside the institutions than inside by simply reacting intelligently and conservatively to changes and using our education to move forward and support the institutions.

And so at one level, it's not so much inspiration but just noticing a need in the community, feeling that I think I can do something about it, and then just working to fill it. Really, it just feels as though something is obvious and needed, so I just get on with doing it, if I have the capacity, time and the potential excites me. I'm particularly motivated if the solution really breaks new ground, while also helping foster the brotherhood and unity in the community as Hazar Imam is always emphasising.

I'm particularly motivated if the solution really breaks new ground, while also helping foster the brotherhood and unity in the community as Hazar Imam is always emphasising. At personal level, it's just thrilling and exciting for me to have the opportunity, and that's what it really is, to push the envelope and try something new -- the bolder the better ...

At personal level, it's just thrilling and exciting for me to have the opportunity, and that's what it really is, to push the envelope and try something new -- the bolder the better -- and be able to bring something valuable to the community. At the end of the day it's really all about passion. And I have no doubt others feel the same way and I hope, in some small way, my work inspires and encourages them to have the courage to also come forward and execute on their visions and ideas too. As Nike says so aptly "Just do it!"

But if I had to say what actually inspires me, it would have to be my grandfather, Rai A. M. Sadaruddin, whom some of the older members of the Jamat from Nairobi may remember. He really was in a class by himself when it came to Ismaili scholarship, journalism, religious education, community service -- both inside and outside the community, and so much more.

In a biographical article in Africa Ismaili magazine (which he founded in 1969) he said, 'The happiest week of my life was in 1957 when I travelled with the Aga Khan IV as his Secretary during his first tour as an Imam in East Africa'.

And as a 16-year-old, he gave a two-hour lecture, at the newly established Recreation Club Institute of Bombay (later the Ismaili Association, and now ITREB), on the subject of Imamat. In referring to this term and introducing him, Vazir Mahomed Mecklai said:

Please do not wait for a "Maulvi" with a "juba" (gown) and a beard. This young boy is in fact our 'beardless' Maulvi who will prove to you the significance and the need of Imamat from the Holy Qur'an and the Hadith.

Simerg published a small article, about the invitation card to that event and said of my grandfather that:

He continued his literary pursuits with passion and determination until his demise in London in 1980 while attending a review meeting of the Institute of Ismaili Studies. That the 48th Imam always held Rai A.M. Sadaruddin in high esteem is shown by a personal message that the prodigious literary figure received from the Imam on the occasion of the publication of the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir in 1948. Indeed, Rai Sadaruddin's services were also recognized by the current 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, who sent a personal message to his family describing the late Rai as a "pillar of strength and example."

Those who may want to read more about him, Mumtaz Ali Tajdin included my grandfather in his "101 Ismaili Heroes."

If I had to say what actually inspires me, it's [my grandfather's legacy] and the deep respect he had from both the current and previous Imams. It is profound source of pride and happiness that really does inspire me.

And so, yes, if I had to say what actually inspires me, it's his legacy and the deep respect he had from both the current and previous Imams. It is profound source of pride and happiness that really does inspire me.

Sahil: Is there anything the Imam has said that motivates you?

Mohib: Yes! So much, but if I had to point to one thing, it would have to be Hazar Imam's 2014 Aiglon College graduation ceremony speech. In my mind that is one of his most inspiring, but least known, speeches and is a must read for everyone. His confidence in the chain reaction of positive change that just one individual can unleash is truly inspiring. Specifically, he said:

[Y]ou will be asking yourselves how, as nano-players on the global scene, you could cause positive change to happen for yourselves, your families, your peoples. My answer is: hope. Fortunately, just as fear can be infectious, so hope is infectious.

When individuals and families and communities, or even nations, come together around new found hope, ... that new momentum can be unstoppable. The smile replaces the frown. Conversation replaces silence. Fear of the future is replaced by confidence to respond to its challenges....

[T]he actual process of replacing fear with hope rests with every individual in his or her society. And once individuals begin to express their own sense of hope and to act on a common outlook then they begin to discover a common cause that they can support.

At the end of the day, both Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition are focused on bringing that hope, confidence and "positive change" Hazar Imam spoke of through fresh new ideas, new thoughts, new perspectives, new visions.

About Mohib Ebrahim

Mohib Ebrahim leads the research and design of MasterFile, an innovative system designed for academic research, investigation or litigation. Previously, between 1981-1983, Mohib was one of a two person volunteer team evaluating hospital information system solutions for the then new Aga Khan University Hospital and Medical College, Karachi. The solution was implemented as recommended. Mohib is an Honours graduate in Computer Science and Mathematics from Simon Fraser University.

In 2007, at Aiglemont's request, Mohib wrote a 25 page summary of His Highness the Aga Khan's speeches and interviews that was published in the official Golden Jubilee Communications Kit. In 2011, upon receiving special permission from Aiglemont, Mohib launched the NanoWisdoms Archive, a unique and respected website dedicated solely to the Ismaili Imamat's speeches, interviews and writings.

In 2018, Mohib launched the Ismaili Digest.Think of it as the Front Page of all Ismaili websites (a type of "Google for Ismailis"). He also co-founded Ismaili Ignition to "help reignite the passion to think for ourselves and encourage each intellect to express itself."

Personally, Mohib enjoys amateur astronomy and reflecting over the nature of truth and balance, and the role of intellect in faith.

About Sahil Badruddin

As host of the series Candid Insights, Sahil Badruddin conducts interviews of influencers, leaders, and intellectuals for their deeper insights and wisdom with thought provoking questions that hit at the heart of a matter. Some of his interview guests, among others, include Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Karen Armstrong, Hasan Minhaj, and Eboo Patel.

He is also the co-founder of Ismaili Ignition and host of its Ignition Interviews series and the Managing Editor at Ismaili Digest. Sahil's RoundUp Video Series assembles the most interesting and credible spirituality and religion-related content for general audiences. He is a graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with degrees in Chemical Engineering, Religious Studies, and History.