Barakah introduces a new page to inform its readers of the three most recent articles posted on its two sister websites Simerg, launched in 2009, and Simergphotos, launched in 2012. Please click HERE or on the following photo to follow new articles on the sister blogs. Date posted: February 5, 2023. _____________________ ...
Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (1877-1957), the 48th Hereditary Ismaili Imam, was born on November 2, 1877, in Karachi. He succeeded to the Throne of Imamat in August 1885 at the age of 7. He passed away on July 11, 1957, at the age of 79, bequeathing the Imamat to his grandson, the present 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini who, ...
Compiled by MALIK MERCHANT [This post will be updated as more details become available in the coming hours -- Ed.] "A Feast of Culture" is how the official website of the Ismaili Community, The.Ismaili, introduced events and the presentations of the Aga Khan Music Awards and the Aga Khan Award for Architecture in Muscat, Oman, from October 29 to 31, 2022. ...
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Youth (MCSY) in cooperation with Oman Post on Sunday October 30, 2022, launched two special stamps commemorating the Sultanate of Oman's hosting of the 2022 editions of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the Aga Khan Music Awards. The stamps were launched at the Aga Khan Award for Architecture Winners' Seminar that was held ...
[The following material has been compiled from the websites of the Aga Khan Development Network, the Ismaili.Oman Info of the Sultanate of Oman, and Oman News Agency-- Ed.] The great medieval Arab philosophers, many of whom were also music theorists and even talented musicians, had a profound understanding of the power of sound to affect the human psyche and emotions. We ...
I am ambitious for you in the right way, just as a father and mother are ambitious for their children. Both a father and a mother want their children to work well, properly and ethically, and to carry these values throughout their lives. These are thoughts that I share with you, and although I will be leaving you physically today, I ...
Prince Rahim Aga Khan (left), representing the Ismaili Imamat, and British Columbia's Premier John Horgan display the accord to the audience after the signing ceremony as Princess Zahra and BC's Minister of Forest Katrine Conroy look on. The event was hosted on September 29, 2022, at the Pan Pacific Hotel located at the iconic Canada Way in Vancouver's beautiful waterfront. Photograph: Malik ...
[The following book review by Nizar Motani of His Highness the Aga Khan's "Where Hope Takes Root" has been adapted from Barakah's sister website, Simerg. The book was originally published during the Aga Khan's Golden Jubilee Year which was celebrated from July 11, 2007 to December 13, 2008. When originally released, the book was readily available at numerous on-line stores such ...
A replica of the service set that was presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, during his Silver Jubilee Service visit to the UK in July 1983. Photograph: Zulfikar Mukhida for Gulshan Parekh, owner of the set shown in the photo. See close-ups of items in the set in the photos that follow. By GULSHAN PAREKH I am delighted ...
BY MICHAEL HAMILTON MORGANLost History: The Enduring Legacy of Muslim Scientists, Thinkers and Artists by Michael Hamilton Morgan with a Foreword by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan. When I published my book Lost History in 2007, only 6 years after the attacks of 9/11 and while the US and allies were still fighting wars in the ancient Islamic treasure-houses ...
Reports on this page compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simergphotos, Simerg and Barakah Barakah, a website dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat launched this page on July 13, 2021 to highlight the latest news on Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family that is published in the official websites of the Ismaili Imamat, the ...
[We are pleased to present excerpts from a tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam penned 50 years ago by renowned Pakistani scholar, A. K. Brohi, that appeared in the July 11, 1972 issue of Ismaili Mirror of Pakistan. Hazar Imam was then 35 years old, and had been married to Begum Salimah for close to 3 years. Mawlana Hazar Imam had two ...
Steel Processional Standard ('Alam) on stand presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on the occasion of his 65th anniversary of accession to the Imamat of the Ismaili Muslims. Photograph: © Steve Wakeham. By MALIK MERCHANT Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos In the space of seven days, Ismaili Muslims around the world have come together in their respective Jamatkhana ...
Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada July 11, 2022 Ottawa, Ontario The Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, today issued the following statement on Imamat Day: "Today, we join Ismaili Muslims in Canada and around the world to celebrate Imamat Day. This day marks the milestone 65th anniversary of the accession of His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV as the 49th ...
By KARIM ISMAILwith MALIK MERCHANT Barakah conveys heartiest felicitations to Ismailis around the world on the auspicious occasion of Mawlana Hazar Imam's 65th Imamat anniversary. According to well-known Muslim traditions, the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S) said: "I am leaving amongst you two weighty things after me, the Qur'an and my Progeny (ahl al-bayt). Verily, if you hold fast to them both you ...
Cover page of a souvenir published on the occasion of the 21st birthday of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, by His Highness the Aga Khan's Education Departments for Tanganyika, Kenya and Uganda. SOUVENIR CONTRIBUTED BY AMIN JAFFER, EDMONTON MATERIAL COMPILED AND PREPARED BY MALIK MERCHANT Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos About a week ago, Edmonton's Amin Jaffer sent me ...
This epic volume and once in a life time publication should be an occasion of immense pride and happiness for every Ismaili murid and should belong in our homes.....Even we, his murids, will be be astonished and overjoyed to learn so much that we cannot possibly already know about or have seen images of his multifarious undertaking, as well as his ...
By MOBINA MARANI (nee JAMANI) In the early spring of 1957, at age 27, our mother Daulat Hassanali Jamani (lovingly known as Dolly), with encouragement from our dad, left Kampala, Uganda, to pursue a professional seamstress course at the Paris School of Dressmaking in London, England. She was one of the first Ismaili women from East Africa to go abroad for ...
Introduced, prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT(Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) As more than 1.5 billions Muslims around the world prepare to celebrate Eid ul-Fitr of 2022 on or around May 2, we take this opportunity to remind our readers of the holy written message (Talika) that Ismaili Muslims around world received from their beloved Imam, Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim ...
Prepared and Compiled by MALIK MERCHANT(Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, watches as President Mwai Kibaki signs the guest book commemorating the inauguration of the Heart and Cancer Centre at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, July 25, 2011. Photo: AKDN/Aziz Islamshah (The textual material for this piece has been compiled from numerous sources including ...
Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor,Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) [Prince Irfan, grandson of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and oldest child of Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa turns seven on April 11, 2022. His younger brother, Prince Sinan, became 5 years old on January 2, 2022. The princes' parents, Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa, were born on ...
From the first Costeau film I saw and the fish I started keeping at the age of five, the first octopus and cuttlefish that squirted ink at me....I knew I couldn't, wouldn't stop exploring the sea -- Prince Hussain Aga Khan On photo of the dolphin on the front cover of his photo book Diving Into Wildlife: This image is burned ...
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan. Photo: Alzheimer's Association. THE 34TH ANNUAL RITA HAYWORTH GALA, SATURDAY APRIL 23, 2022, HILTON CHICAGO (An in person event with Princess Yasmin in attendance) By SADRUDDIN NOORANI Member of the Rita Hayworth Gala Steering Committee "The fight to end Alzheimer's hasn't stopped, and neither have we" were the concluding words spoken by Princess Yasmin Aga Khan during the ...
Editor's note: Over the coming several months and beyond, Barakah will bring to its readers a special series entitled "Historic Days in the Life of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan". The series which was first announced more than a year ago, is now being launched on the auspicious occasion of Navroz, which will be celebrated by the Ismaili ...
The photographs represent members of Mawlana Hazar Imam's family we have covered in Barakah. This is an ongoing project, and this page will continue to be updated in the weeks and months ahead. Photo collage: Malik Merchant/Barakah. Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos The recent publication of two posts in quick succession on Mata Salamat, Begum Om Habibeh ...
During my first meeting with Mata Salamat, Begum Om Habibeh Aga Khan, in Aswan in 1982, she asked me, "Do you know what is the greatest gift of Allah to humankind?" I pleaded ignorance and humbly asked her if she would enlighten me. Her response was, "Yes, the greatest gift of Allah to humankind is intelligence." -- Nizar Harji Mata Salamat, ...
Introduced, compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and SimergphotosThis beautiful rendition of Prince Aly Muhammad's painting by Azeez Khanbhai is based on two events: The facial features are rendered from a photo of the Prince taken at the World Partnership Walk in Toronto in June 2018 (see photo below) and the suit is based on the white outfit (or ...
By ZAHIR DHARSEE with MALIK MERCHANT The 49th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is also an enthusiastic and energetic sportsmanHis Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, pictured in his traditional gown at the commencement of his Silver Jubilee on July 7, 1982. As the 2022 Winter Olympics are winding down in Beijing, China, with the remaining skiing races ...
7 Seas Episode 1 -- Egypt, is shot in Sataya Reef, along Egypt's Red Sea coast, where Prince Hussain Aga Khan, son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, spent time swimming with and photographing spinner dolphins, against a backdrop of crystal clear waters. Story continues belowPrince Hussain Aga Khan in conversation with guests at an event hosted by ...
Princess Yasmin Aga Khan, daughter of Prince Aly Khan (1911-1960) and Ms. Rita Hayworth (1918-1987), and younger sister of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Prince Amyn Mohamed pictured at Alzheimer's fundraiser in New York in December 1984. Photo: Bernard Gotfryd via Library of Congress (LOC). Id: . Inset photo, at top right of portrait (larger version not accessible, ...
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, seen holding one of the two 19th century porcelain vases presented to him by Ismaili leaders on behalf of the global Ismaili community on the occasion of his 85th auspicious birthday on December 13, 2021. Photo: Fernando Costa / IPL via The Ismaili. Compiled and Prepared by MALIK MERCHANT Publisher/Editor Simergphotos, Simerg and Barakah ...
Allah did choose Adam and Noah, the family of Abraham, and the family of Imran above all people -- offspring, one of the other, and Allah knows and hear all things. Holy Qur'an, 3:33-34, Surat al Im'ran (The Family of Imran); read seven parallel translations in Corpus Quran hereIn this calligraphy to commemorate the 85th Salgirah of Mawlana Hazar Imam on ...
Today, l am speaking to you in a city and in a country which have a particular meaning to my family and myself. On 2nd November, 1877 my beloved grandfather was born here in Karachi. Through 72 years of Imamat, he guided his spiritual children to happiness and prosperityMawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Karachi, ...
Prepared by MALIK MERCHANT Publisher/Editor Simergphotos, Simerg and Barakah [A version of this post post was originally published in Simergphotos on November 2, 2014 to mark the 137th birth anniversary of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III. We have updated the original post as we mark the 48th Imam's 144th birth anniversary on November 2, 2021. Several ...
Ismaili artist Azeez Khanbhai is surrounded by his artistic renderings of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. Khanbhai began drawing and painting portraits of Mawlana Hazar Imam in 1959. His works adorn many Ismaili homes around the world. His art work is derived from portraits and photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam that appeared in Ismaili publications around the world. ...
By NAFFISA GILANI I am originally from Arusha and the daughter of late Gulshan and Kamrudin Mohamed Jivan. I was looking through my papa's albums, and came across some very special tiny black and white photographs of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, Prince Aly Khan and Rita Hayworth. I vaguely remember the late Arusha Jamatkhana and the library in the photos; I ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-EditorBarakah,Simerg, and Simergphotos) Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan (left), and Secretary of State Colin Powell (d. October 18, 2021), touring Samarkand Square, one of the main pavillions set up on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., to celebrate the weeklong Silk Road Festival that was launched on June 26, 2002. Photo: AKDN/Zahur ...
A portrait of Prince Rahim Aga Khan taken in 1979 when he was 8 years old. Photo: Bahadur Hirji/Ilm, December 1979, Vol 5. Nos. 2 & 3, published by UK Ismailia Association (now ITREB) Introduced and Compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) Many fond memories come to mind as we think of Prince Rahim, eldest son of Mawlana Hazar ...
Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) Most of the Ismaili Jamat that is now settled in Canada and other western countries were still in Africa, Asia and the Middle East when Prince Zahra was born on September 18, 1970, almost a year after Mawlana Hazar Imam got married to Begum Salimah in October 1969. We received ...
...it is with deepest admiration that I thank the person whose guiding hand has been so important at every stage of this project: a member of my family, my brother, Prince Amyn Aga Khan -- Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Opening of Ismaili Centre, September 12, 2014. Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Opening day, September ...
