Barakah

Note: This post will be updated on a regular basis with news and photos of events taking place at the Gulbenkian Museum. Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Amyn Muhammad, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad with members of the Master Jury and Steering Committee at Lisbon's Ismaili Centre. The wall in the background is one of two by the Centre's main entrance ...

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On this day of Navroz, I say to each and everyone of you 'Idd Mubarak' and I pray that in this New Year your worldly and spiritual progress should progress tenfold and that this should be the case every year. Each Navroz say to yourselves, "Have we done our work?" If you have, then I will be very happy indeed. Once ...

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[This piece is an aggregation of stories and news from 2018 pertaining to Mawlana Hazar Imam and members of his family that did not appear on Barakah due to the editor being away periodically. This piece therefore complements our coverage of significant events of 2018; do not leave this page without a visit to Barakah's Table of Contents.] Prepared and compiled ...

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[In 2017 Salim and Zahida Rahemtulla of Vancouver spent hours studying 140 speeches made by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, from the years 2000-2017. Their compilation, The Aga Khan's view of the World - Gems from the 49th Ismaili Imam's Speeches, was widely read and appreciated. This post and several more to come will focus on speeches that ...

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Background Marawi, in the Phillipines island of Mindanao (which is commonly referred to as Southern Phillipines), has been home to a colorful culture where objects made by brassware makers, drum carvers and weavers have attracted hundreds of visitors to the town. Predominantly Muslim, the city was in 1980 named as the Islamic City of Marawi. It may be noted that the ...

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The following are excerpts from speeches made on January 15, 2019 in Berlin, by Germany's Minister of State Niels Annen and the 49th Ismaili Imam His Highness the Aga Khan at the event "Fragile States 'Weiterdenken' ('Thinking Ahead') - Utilising Experiences from Stabilisation Measures for the Future". The event brought together leaders from the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN), of which ...

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By ZAFEERA KASSAM Under Your guidance we are emboldened; little birds taking first flight towards the Light -- Your pearls of wisdom lighting the runways towards the esoteric Gnosis. From Your encouragement we glean the courage to navigate the rough seas of duniya. Under Your preservation we are cocooned in culture, thus develop into diverse plurality -- a myriad of butterflies ...

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PHOTOS AND SPEECH EXCERPTS CONTRIBUTED BY KAMRUDIN RASHID; NARRATIVE AND TIMELINE ADAPTED FROM AN ESSAY BY JEHANGIR A. MERCHANT [As Ismaili Jamats around the world prepare to celebrate the 82nd birthday of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on December 13, 2018, we bring you the following highlights and photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam's historic first visit to Canada ...

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This article is adapted from Bashir Ladha's tribute to His Highness the Aga Khan III, which appeared in a special issue of Ilm (Volume 3, Number 2, November 1977, UK Ismailia Association) published on the occasion of the 48th Ismaili Imam's birth centenary. November 2, 2018 marks the 141st birth anniversary of Aga Khan III. By BASHIR FAZAL LADHA This thoughtful ...

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Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Ways of Seeing and Ways of Knowing - A conversation with Zainub Verjee As one of the anchor programs of the Jubilee International Arts Festival in Lisbon, International Art Gallery was located at the famous Portuguese National Pavilion. My experience visiting the Gallery was captivating. Led by Zainub Verjee, the Director of the International Art Gallery, her ...

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The editor's dilemma is what to select from hundreds of photos that are made available through the kindness and generosity of a passionate and great photographer. Montreal's Muslim Harji has contributed significantly to this blog since the commencement of the Diamond Jubilee as well as to its sister blogs, simerg and simergphotos, over the past 8 years. We have selected the ...

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By AZEEM MAHERALI Mawlana Hazar Imam receives President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa upon his arrival to the Darbar hall in Lisbon. Photo: The Ismaili/Vazir Karsan. The entire Diamond Jubilee Darbar in Lisbon on July 11, 2018, the 61st Imamat Day of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, was filled with beautiful and surprising moments that will be deeply entrenched ...

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By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT(Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) This close up photo shows a 1.24mm diamond on the Portugal Postal Service's Souvenir Sheet issued for Mawlana Hazar Imam's Diamond Jubilee. The value of this commemorative sheet is euros 20.00. Photo: Barakah/Malik Merchant. The Diamond Jubilee memorabilia store located by the entrance to the exhibition space was one of the busiest places during ...

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Barakah is pleased to present this superb collection of more than 50 photos of His Highness the Aga Khan from the website of the President of the Republic of Portugal, Dr. Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa. The President honoured him at Belem Palace and the National Palace of Queluz as well as visited the future Seat of the Ismaili Imamat at the ...

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The Lisbon Darbar By JALAL JAFFER When the welcome siren soundedMurids from far-flung areas gaspedConversations around kitchen tablesIn pedestrian homes of GujratTo lavish bungalows in NairobiIn rudimentary apartments of LondonTo water-front homes in VancouverNuclear families, or multi-generationalCentred around past jubileesThe collective wisdom cried out"How can we not go!!" There were few questions about PortugalFewer still about the Seat of ImamatImplicit in ...

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[An original version of the following piece was making its rounds on the internet through WhatsApp and caught our attention, but we didn't know who the author was -- we don't publish anonymous articles on any of our blogs. Then, Rahim Hirji contacted us and we are pleased to publish a slightly revised version of his popular narrative! - Ed.] By ...

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[If you have not yet read the stirring first part of Zafeera Kassam's account of the Darbar in Lisbon, please do so before you read this final piece. Also, re-reading Part 1 may engage you even more deeply with what you are about to read -- a fascinating journey into the Darbar of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, ...

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Introduced by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Prince Hussain Aga Khan's animal photosexhibited during Mawlana Hazar Imam's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in Lisbon drew very large crowds, young and old alike. Viewers were very surprised to learn about the Prince's interest in animal photography, and gave insights into the photos that captivated them the most. Some took the interviewing opportunity to convey messages to Prince ...

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By ZAFEERA KASSAM The word that was uppermost in my mind was the word 'FINALE' and this very small word, finale, actually gives visions and intimations of grandeur, of explosive colours and celebrations that would give a fitting end to what was certainly an epochal year. The year of our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam's Diamond Jubilee. And certainly a finale it ...

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Story and photos by ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Prince Hussain Aga Khan, like his sister Prince Zahra and brothers Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad, is well known for his work with the Aga Khan Development Network and the Ismaili Imamat. Unknown to many, including members of the Ismaili community of which his father His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th Imam, ...

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International Arts Festival. Entrance. Photo: Barakah/Malik Merchant. By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT In my earlier post today, I recommended that young and old alike must visit the "Sentiment Wall" at the International Arts Festival. It is an outdoor exhibit consisting of three thematic walls located about 150 metres from the International Arts Gallery. After spending about an hour the Sentiment Wall yesterday evening, ...

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By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Azra, Zaheeda and Cazerine -- how can I ever thank you? The 3 Allibhai sisters from Ottawa are ever so respectful and kind to me. It was a joy to meet them yesterday near the International Arts Gallery. They made my evening extraordinarily special by insisting that I visit the Sentiment Wall around 150 metres away, take some ...

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By ABDULMALIK MERCHANT Mawlana Hazar Imam's Diamond Jubilee celebrations has brought Ismailis from all over the world to Lisbon. This group represents several countries and was pictured on the terrace of Eduardo VII Park following the departure of Mawlana Hazar Imam's motorcade. Photo: Barakah/Malik Merchant. Ismailis from around the world continue to pour into Lisbon for the final celebration of the ...

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JULY 6: Welcoming the Aga Khan at Parque Eduardo VII Parque Eduardo VII FRIDAY, JULY 6: After his arrival in Lisbon, Mawlana Hazar Imam's motorcade will drive past Parque Eduardo VII -- the largest public park in Lisbon. Arrangements have been made for Ismailis to safely gather and welcome him to Portugal for his Diamond Jubilee. Time:To be announcedAddress: Praca do ...

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By SHIRAZ A. NASSER His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims (1960 photo by ullstein bild via Getty Images). Copyright. Prelude The Shia Imami Ismailis are so fortunate and privileged to have benefited from the guidance of their 49th Hereditary Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, at every turn ...

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His Highness the Aga Khan's Visit to the UK Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Amyn, Lord Ahmad, and leaders of the Ismaili Jamat observe the Nashid al-Imamah and the British National Anthem. Photo: The.Ismaili/Nayyir Damani Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in London on June 25, 2018 to commence his Diamond Jubilee visit to the United Kingdom at the invitation of the government. Mawlana ...

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By NIZAR A. MOTANI, Ph.D My first pictorial essay posted on February 18, 2017, offered some glimpses of the Aga Khan's exceptionally remarkable accomplishments since becoming the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims (henceforth the Ismailis) on July 11, 1957. His "inspiring words" (talks) and "commendable deeds" (walks) have been frequently extolled across the world conferring upon him ...

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A Review of The World of the Fatimids The World of the Fatimids at the Aga Khan Museum, Toronto. The exhibition's last day is July 2, 2018. Photo: The Aga Khan Museum. RESURRECTING A NARRATIVE OF BEAUTY AND CO-EXISTENCE THROUGH THE ARTS By SAHIR DEWJI Until July 2, 2018, the second-floor gallery of the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto is offering ...

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Introduced by AZEEM MAHERALI The late 48th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, seated on a wheelchair with members of his family with his successor, the present Imam, Prince Karim Aga Khan, standing at extreme right. Others in the photo (l to r), grandson Prince Amyn Muhammad, and the late Imams two sons, the late Prince Sadruddin and Prince Aly ...

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By KARIM H. KARIM [This is an amended version of a book chapter that was published in The Relevance of Islamic Identity in Canada edited by Nurjehan Aziz (Mawenzi House, 2015)]. Is there a place for religious discourse in secular society? Even though church and state are viewed as being separate in the public sphere, the statements of certain religious figures ...

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