In all four ages, I went about, looking hard. I found none to match you, my lord. My lord, my heart is fond of you. Ginan Saahebaji tu(n) more man recited by Late Alwaez Shamshu Bandali Haji. Translation of verse 2, above, from Scent of Sandalwood by Aziz Esmail ~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~ My love for my Jamat is a lot stronger than ...
Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor,Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa were married on 31 August 2013 on the shores of Lake Geneva in Switzerland. Photo: Gary Otte/The Ismaili. AUGUST 31, 2013: Prince Rahim, the eldest son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, marries Princess Salwa (née Kendra Spears) on 31 August 2013 in Geneva, ...
By MALIK MERCHANT with contribution from NURIN MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) Just moments ago, The Ismaili published a message from Chairman Malik Talib of the Ismaili Leaders' International Forum which includes the following blessings from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan: "Please convey my best paternal and my best maternal loving blessings to my worldwide Jamat, and ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) As Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, how can we grow closer to the Noor of Imamat and experience spiritual growth? No doubt, our spiritual practices aid us in the process of spiritual development. However the fruit of that practice for spiritual barakah (happiness) multiplies many folds when we seek to apply ...
We are once again deeply indebted to Amin Jaffer for sharing with readers of Barakah this rich and rare collection of photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam's visit to Arusha, Tanzania, in 1966. Barakah is dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family as well as the Ismaili Imamat. Jaffer's previous exclusive contributions have been widely read around the world, and we ...
Nizar Harji of Vancouver receives Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, at a mulaqat in Vancouver during his first visit to Canada in 1978. Photo: Late Noorali Harji Family Collection. By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) The historical photos in this article are from the collection of Late Noorali Harji (1912-2006). They were presented for publication in Barakah ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) 1. Life: An exalted destiny Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny. 2. Seek harmony with God First, I would place spiritual happiness. A man must be at one ...
Barakah published 64 posts in 2019. Below we provide links to 16 interesting, thoughtful and inspiring pieces. Please click on link or photo to see the corresponding article in full. A VISIT TO A LAB IN CALIFORNIA ~~~~~~~~~~~ A FASCINATING SPEECH IN THE PHILIPPINES ~~~~~~~~~~~ A BEAUTIFUL REGALIA ~~~~~~~~~~~ THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD ~~~~~~~~~~~ THE FIRST MUSIC AWARDS ~~~~~~~~~~~ PRINCES AND PRINCESSES ...
Introduced and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Portrait of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan (1877 - 1957), in the special souvenir "H.R.H. Prince Aga Khan's visit to Iran 1951," published by the Ismailia Association for Pakistan. The text and photos in this post are compiled and adapted from a special souvenir which was published ...
By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Kamarbai Premji Ramji (1906 - 2007) receives a helping hand from her daughter to cut her 100th birthday cake during a party held in her honour in Burnaby, British Columbia. Photo: Late Kamarbai P. Ramji Family Collection. My emotional visit to the family of Mrs. Kamarbai Ramji (1906 - 2007) By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, ...
By AMIN JAFFERPhoto Credits: Amin Jaffer Collection (1968, Arusha Visit) and Shiraz Nasser Collection (1968, Egerton College Visit) [Editor's Note: Amin Jaffer's last photo piece for Barakah was a magnificent collection of Rare photos of Prince Aly Khan's visit to Arusha, Tanzania in 1951. This new piece by him has photos and images of Prince Amyn Aga Khan's visit to Arusha ...
By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Sakerkhanu Velji garlands Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, moments before he blesses her marriage to Sadruddin Velji during his Takhtnashini visit to Dar es Salaam in October 1957. Photo: © Sadruddin Velji Family Collection. Two framed photos of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, hang prominently on a wall ...
By FAROUK ESMAIL "When I leave, each and everyone of you will be in my heart, in my prayers, in my thoughts....you must remember that Imam loves you more, much more than you can ever love him and you must be strong in this knowledge." -- Mawlana Hazar Imam, Karachi, December 13, 1964 Introduction: Festive celebrations Festive celebrations are an integral ...
By SADRUDDIN K. HASSAM INTRODUCTION Spread in various countries around the world, the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims have their own innumerable ways for celebrating important religious occasions according to their various cultural, social and religious traditions and backgrounds. One very important occasion in the annual calendar of the Ismailis is the Salgirah, or the birthday of their spiritual leader His Highness ...
Letter from publisher By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) The Ismaili community is a dynamic community with the Imam-of-the-Time guiding his followers according to the time. The essence of the faith remains the same but the form may change over time in cognizance of differences in traditions, cultural, social or other factors. Similarly, there could be changes over time ...
Prince Aly Khan and Rita Hayworth alight from their plane upon arrival at Arusha airport in 1951.Photo: Amin Jaffer Collection, Edmonton, Canada. Introduced by AMIN JAFFER Barakah's appeal to readers to share their photo archives of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and the Imam's family prompted me to approach numerous individuals in Edmonton, Canada, to seek out rare historical ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) In recent years, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, has received numerous honours from the Government and institutions of learning in Portugal. During his Diamond Jubilee visit to Portugal he established his Seat of Imamat in Lisbon, and declared on the morning of July 11, 2018, his 61st ...
"It is worthy to note that in almost every speech that His Highness has made this century, the subject of pluralism has never failed to escape his vision for a better and more harmonious world. He has referred to it as being part of the cosmopolitan ethic, and as an Imam and a global citizen that he is, the Aga Khan ...
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and world leaders gathered for the first edition of 2018 Paris Peace Forum all look to the sky as an aerial photograph is taken to mark this historic event. Photo: AKDN/Cécile Genest. 1. 2018 Paris Peace Forum The 1st edition of the Paris Peace Forum was inaugurated on the centenary of the 1918 Armistice ...
"The drawing room in which His Highness received me looked more like the work-room of a busy philosopher....On a table were piled documents and books, and at the moment of my hesitating entrance, I noticed His Highness busy with his correspondence....Not more than a minute had elapsed before I was at my ease and talking to him with a freedom of ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)"It was from him, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan, that I inherited my present role in 1957. I also inherited from him a deep concern for the advancement of education." - His Highness the Aga Khan speaking on April 18, 2008 at the annual meeting of the International Baccalaureate. Photo: ...
Acknowledgement: We are deeply indebted to Joy Partain, Asia Society's Vice President, Marketing and Communications, for forwarding us the following press release as well as photographs for publication in Barakah as soon as it was officially released. Award to Princess Zahra Highlights Her Commitment to Pluralism, Education, and Medical Access Around the WorldAsia Society Texas Center's Huffington Award Dinner honoring Princess ...
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge paid a trip to The Aga Khan Centre in London on Wednesday, October 2, 2019. William and Kate were met by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, outside the centre, before heading inside to learn about modern Pakistani culture. The visit was arranged with the cooperation of the High Commission of Pakistan. The ...
By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simergand Simergphotos) Prince Hussain, second son of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, married Ms Elizabeth Hoag in a private ceremony on September 29 2019, in Geneva, Switzerland. "This is a very happy occasion for us and I am delighted to welcome Elizabeth into our family," said Mawlana Hazar Imam. On Friday September 20, ...
By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos)Prince Hussain Aga Khan and his fiancée Ms. Fareen Hoag pictured in February 2019 at the inauguration of his exhibition of marine photos at Nairobi's Town Jamatkhana. In a special message that was read out on Friday September 20, 2019, in Jamatkhanas across Canada, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, has announced that ...
His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: Press Service of the President of the Republic of Tatastan. Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. By HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN Prayer, greeting and welcome Bismi'l-lahi'r-rahmani'r-rahim As-salamu 'alaykum, Peace be upon you Your Excellency Mintimer Shaimiev, Your Excellency Eleonora Mitrofanova, Respected Members of the Government, Distinguished Guests What an enormous pleasure it is to welcome all of ...
[Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, is visiting Kazan, the capital of the Tatarstan Republic of Russia, to preside over the presentation of the 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture on Friday, September 13. Barakah will endeavour to provide regular updates of the visit from numerous local and international sources as well as websites of Ismaili Imamat institutions. Please ...
By MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos) Further to our earlier story Kazan in Tatarstan, Russia, to host 2019 Aga Khan Award for Architecture, Barakah is pleased to report from official media sources of the President of Tatarstan that Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, will arrive in the capital, Kazan, on September 11 (see links below), to participate ...
The President of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov (left), being briefed about the Aga Khan Award for Architecture at the Kazan Expo Exhibition Centre during the Russia-Islamic World Summit held in April 2019. At right is Shams Kassim-Lakha of the University of Central Asia. Photo: President of Tatarstan/Creative Commons Attribution 4.0. Report compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos) On April ...
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos)His Highness the Aga Khan and Begum Salimah with Sultan Jessa (d. August 22, 2019) at the bungalow of the late Diwan Sir Eboo Pirbhai during their 1972 visit to Kenya.Photo: © Azhar Chaudhry / Sultan Jessa Collection. The photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and members of his family ...
"MUHAMMAD SAID: 'HE OF WHOM I AM THE MAWLA (PATRON), ALI IS HIS MAWLA. O GOD, BE THE FRIEND OF HIM WHO IS HIS FRIEND AND BE THE ENEMY OF HIS ENEMY.' THIS BECAME THE PROOF TEXT FOR THE SHIA CLAIM THAT ALI, THE PROPHET'S COUSIN AND SON-IN-LAW, WAS THE PROPHET'S RIGHTFUL SUCCESSOR AFTER THE PROPHET'S DEATH IN 632. THE MEANING ...
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT(Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos) Prince Hussain Aga Khan speaking at EAT Food Forum held on June 12-13, 2019, in Stockholm, Sweden. Photo: EAT Forum (Extracted from video). Prince Hussain Aga Khan, son of His Highness the Aga Khan and Princess Salimah Aga Khan, and brother to Princess Zahra, Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad, was born on April ...
Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg, and Simergphotos The doctrine of Imamat has been central in Shia Islam since the designation by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) as his successor at Ghadir-Khumm. Among the various interpretations in Shia Islam, the Ismaili Muslims believe in the continuity of the Imamat through a living hereditary Imam descended from Hazrat ...
By NIZAR A. MOTANI, PH. D This July, make pluralism part of parades and picnics for greater peace and progress across the planet. Let us ponder what pluralism means and its critical need for stability and tranquility in our shared interdependent world. Pluralism was clearly recognized by President Ronald Reagan in his remarks at the International Convention of B'nai B'rith, Washington, ...
Compiled and prepared by ABDULMALIK MERCHANTPublisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos Victoria Day Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria's birthday. Queen Victoria was born on May 24, 1819. Following the death of three uncles and her father, she became Queen of the United Kingdom on June 20, 1837 ...
In our first installment, In memory of Prince Aly Khan and Prince Sadruddin: Two brothers who passed away on same day 43 years apart, we carried excerpts of a speech on Islam made by Prince Aly Khan, father of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. In this second and final installment, we produce a tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam's ...
Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos Ismaili leaders and Late Alwaez Jehangir Merchant (right) look on as Prince Aly Khan signs the Visitor's Book in the Ismaili Council Chambers during his visit to Lourenço Marques in 1957. Photo: Jehangir Merchant Family Collection. I was a young boy of seven years old when one very early morning, as I was ...
The importance of preserving our photographic heritage by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakahand Simergphotos It is our great honour and privilege to present to our readers four rare photos of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and Prince Aly Khan that have been in the collection of Mr. Jan Karmali of Edmonton, Canada, for many decades. The (5th) photo at the top of this ...
A Note from the Master Calligrapher The six triangles that form the Aga Khan Music Awards logo are each a stylization of a word rendered in Kufic script, designed in collaboration with master calligrapher Samir Sayegh. Starting bottom right and going clockwise, Samaa' (Listening), Zaman (Time), Sharq (East/Orient), Wahi (Inspiration), Taa'leem (Teaching) and Nafas (Breath/Soul). See also individual triangle representations with ...
Compiled and prepared by ABDULMALIK MERCHANTPublisher-Editor, Simerg,Barakah and Simergphotos February 2019: Prince Hussain Aga Khan in Nairobi Prince Hussain and his fiancée Miss Elizabeth Hoag enjoy a light moment with members of Ismaili institutions and the AKDN during a tour of the Exhibition Gallery, held at Nairobi's landmark Town Jamatkhana. Photo: AKDN / Hussein Jiva. During the month of February 2019, ...
