Every Prophet has had a Legatee (wasi) in whom the Light of the Imamate has been firmly set and established with surety, and to whom the knowledge of prophecy has been temporarily entrusted through trusteeship. Nasir al-Din al-Tusi, (The Paradise of Submission, 136) The disciples said to Jesus, 'We know you will leave us. Who is going to be our leader ...
Through the centuries, the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat has been formally designated in one or more locations by the Imam-of-the-Time, depending on the requirements of the day. It has known many homes over the years - throughout the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East, in South Asia, and in North Africa. It moved to Cairo in the tenth century, when ...
The future of the Ismaili Faith rests in the hands of the youths of your age and mine. Are we to follow the example of those, who in Egypt, Iran and Sind raised the flag of Ismaili Imams high enough for the world to see its glory? I say, 'Yes'. We should not fail where our ancestors achieved glorious success. - ...
"The night of mi'raj is the one on which the Prophet revisited his original abode ... It is not that only Hazrat 'Ali's progeny can attain this status. Whoever is determined enough will be able to reach the goal. It can come in stages, through repeated efforts." Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III (Dar es Salaam, September 29, 1899) In ...
You see, my mission is situated on three levels. Firstly, religious: it concerns a symbolic exegesis of the Qur'an: interpreting the Divine Word, the adapting the needs of each community to the time; refashioning the law, constantly and relentlessly. Wherever one finds an Ismaili community, there exists a commission of theologians that engages in this research. But nothing is decided without ...
The Question Why do certain majlises cost certain amounts in "entrance fees"? How does this relate to the notion of "equality" and "equal opportunity" in our faith? Isn't this practice discriminatory against those Isma'ilies who cannot afford to join majlises? The Answer This question is best answered by going back to the origin and concept of the majlis. The word majlis ...
O towering mountain of knowledge, incapacitating the aspiring climber. You have surpassed the compass of the earlier [da'is]. Your like cannot be found among those that have gone--among all people--nor those that remain. Imam Mustansir (Qasida) In a constellation of brilliant philosophers like Hasan bin Sabbah, political geniuses like Rashid al-Din Sinan, and talented philosopher-poets like Nasir Khushraw, al-Mu'ayyad al-Shirazi is ...
The Question What does Mawlana Hazar Imam do with all the religious dues and offerings -- such as dasond and mehmani -- made by the community? Shouldn't there be financial transparency or disclosure over these funds? The Answer We consider these questions from three perspectives: What is the "appropriate" or "best use" of the Imamat funds? Mawlana Hazar Imam's own explanations ...
The Question What is the meaning/significance of dasond (zakat) in the modern context? What is this dasond used for? The Answer The concept and meaning of dasond or zakah remains the same in modern times since the origin of the practice. The Qur'an mentions the phrase - "Establish the prayer and give the zakah" in over 20 verses. That zakat is ...
Our previous article, here discussed the spiritual functions of the Prophet Muhammad as revealed in the Qur'an, including his role in guiding the Believers on behalf of God, interceding for the Believer's forgiveness (4:64), accepting offerings from them to purify their souls (9:102-104) on God's behalf, sending blessings upon them for their tranquillity (9:103), pardoning them for their errors and shortcomings ...
What is Time? We explain the difference between Physical Time (zaman) and Spiritual Time ('asr) in a new article hosted by Ismailimail. Ismailimail IsmailiGnosis.com Exclusive. There are two levels of time: Physical Time called Zaman and Spiritual Time called 'Asr. This is why Mawlana Hazar Imam is Sahib al-Zaman wa'l-'Asr, meaning, "Master of Physical Time and Spiritual Time." Spiritual Time is ...
The Second International Ismaili Studies Conference is being held at Carletion University on March 9-10, 2017. The Conference Convener and Organizer is Professor Karim H. Karim of Carleton University and the Conference Coordinator is Nasreen Rajani. Below is the conference program as copied from the Official Conference Website. MARCH 9, 2017 8:00 am - 8:30 am (Conference package pick-up & coffee ...
Harvard University is offering a course on Ismaili Muslim History and Thought in the Spring 2017 Term. This will be the third offering of this course which was designed and will be taught by world class Professor Ali Asani - Professor of Indo-Muslim and Islamic Religion and Cultures at Harvard University. The course is open to all Harvard students. Course Website:RELIGION ...
As 2016 comes to a close, Ismaili Gnosis presents the website's 7 most popular articles in 2016 based on the number of views from our readership. 1. The Aga Khan's Direct Descent from Prophet Muhammad: Historical Proof Read Here: 2. Why Ismaili Jamatkhanas are only open to Ismailis for Prayers Read Here: 3. The Secret Life of the Aga ...
This article continues from and assumes the conclusions of our previous article on the Proof of the Existence of God as Unconditioned Reality. We request readers not familiar with this argument and the concept of God as Unconditioned Reality to read it first before this article. We also recommend readers consult our earlier article 10 Surprising Facts to Know about the ...
One of the ways in which Ismailis have expressed their identity wherever they have lived is through their places of prayer, known today as the Jamatkhana. Other Muslim communities give their religious buildings different names: from ribat and zawiyya to khanaqa. And, in addition, there are other places where Muslims of all interpretations can come together, such as non-denominational mosques. Imam ...
This article presents ten little-known all-important facts about the Holy Qur'an (the scripture of Islam), which both Muslims and non-Muslims remain generally unaware of. For those who remain skeptical about the historical existence of Prophet Muhammad and the dating/transmission of the Qur'anic Text, we first present historical evidence that Prophet Muhammad lived and preached in Arabia in the first half of ...
I am the 49th hereditary Imam in direct lineal descent from the first Shia Imam, Hazrat 'Ali ibn Abi Talib through his marriage to Bibi Fatimat-az-Zahra, our beloved Prophet's daughter. Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV, (Letter to International Islamic Conference, Amman, July 2005, Read at NanoWisdoms) The purpose of this article is to present the independent historical documentation that ...
The Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam is pleased to announce that an international Ismaili Studies conference will take place on March 9 and 10, 2017 at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada. It will build on the remarkable success of the Ismaili Studies Conference: State of the Field held at the University of Chicago in 2014. These multidisciplinary gatherings are ...
To the Imamat, the meaning of "quality of life" extends to the entire ethical and social context in which people live, and not only to their material well-being measured over generation after generation. Consequently, the Imamat's is a holistic vision of development, as is prescribed by the faith of Islam. It is about investing in people, in their pluralism, in their ...
Say: He is God, the Unique (al-ahad). God is Absolute (al-samad). He does not beget nor is He begotten and there is none like unto Him. - Holy Qur'an Surat al-Ikhlas The Imam Ma'add [al-Mu'izz] summons to the absolute oneness of God (tawhid), the Absolute (al-samad). - Fatimid Coin Inscription Note to Reader: This article presupposes the existence of God according ...
Harvard University is offering a brand new course by Professor Ali Asani on Muslim Devotional Literature in South Asia, featuring the study of the Ismaili Ginans in their historical, cultural, and devotional contexts. The Ginans stem from the Satpanth Ismaili tradition of South Asia and Ismaili tradition attributes the authorship of the Ginans to the Pirs (the babs or supreme hujjats ...
The discourse of the Qur'an-e-Sharif, rich in parable and allegory, metaphor and symbol, has been an inexhaustible well-spring of inspiration, lending itself to a wide spectrum of interpretations. Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV You see, my mission is situated on three levels. Firstly, religious: it concerns a symbolic exegesis of the Qur'an...Our religion is esoteric, you understand. It is ...
I think that monotheistic religions, having a common reference to One God, should and must dialogue. The three religions which Abraham inspired have many more common facets than those which divide them. Religion must be the means by which to affirm the ethical significance of existence, regardless of one's profession of faith. Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV, (Interview with ...
Poetry is the voice of God speaking through the lips of man. If great painting puts you in touch with nature, great poetry puts you in direct touch with God. It is not a soft indulgence, you need to be wide awake, with all your wits about you, to share the poet's joys. And, indeed, happiness is never a negative affair; ...
MESA's 49th annual meeting will commence in Denver, Colorado at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel on November 21-24, 2015. This year's panel presentations feature several scholars from the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), Harvard University, University of Chicago, and Nazarbayev University including Farhad Daftary, Samer Traboulsi, Shainool Jiwa, Paul E. Walker, Daniel Beben, Khalil Andani, Paul Anderson, and others. The Fatimid ...
ISMAILI WOMEN come from a proud and rich heritage of intellectual prowess, spiritual illumination, and strength against adversity. Ismaili Gnosis @ Instagram presents a series on the history of strong Ismaili women starting with Hazrat Khadijah, the wife of Prophet Muhammad. On Instagram this can be viewed at (). In Ismaili history, women have not only played important material and political ...
The recent visit of Pope Francis to the United States is a suitable occasion to consider the often invoked comparisons between the Ismaili Imam and the Catholic Pope.The institution of the Imamat is the succession to the Prophet Muhammad and recognizes Hazrat 'Ali ibn Abi Talib as the first Imam. The Imamat is a hereditary office where each Imam is appointed ...
Through his words, through his actions, and through the results obtained by the institutions that he has founded and encouraged and nourished, he has become a light in much of the world's conflicting darkness. The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson Watch: Five Minute Video by Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson (Former Governor General of Canada) on the Aga Khan's Life and Work: His ...
Ismaili Gnosis shares two testimonials from two Ismaili Muslims youth who are regular readers of the blog. Like many young people in the modern world, both readers had many questions about their faith and found answers to such questions through Ismaili Gnosis. "I finally came upon a website called Ismaili Gnosis and I began to read the various articles about topics ...
Ismaili Gnosis presents the Story of Imamat Day through pictures and quotes from Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah and Mawlana Hazar Imam. On July 11, 1957, Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV succeeded his grandfather Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III as the hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. Shia Ismaili Muslims around the world commemorate July 11 every ...
Ismailimail Image via Simerg.com The Ismaili Gnosis Book Club is an online platform for Ismailis to discuss a book with a particular interest to Ismailis. We discuss a chapter at a time and bring in relevant pictures, newspaper clippings, articles and other book excerpts to add context to the quote being discussed. Currently we are reading Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah's Memoirs. ...
Often persecuted and oppressed, the faith of my ancestors was never destroyed; at times it flourished as in the epoch of the Fatimite Khalifs, at times it was obscure and little understood. Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III In 1975, the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (uncle of Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV) urged the Ismaili Muslims of ...
In honour of the Aga Khan's upcoming Jodidi Lecture at Harvard University, Ismaili Gnosis presents the following primer on the Aga Khan and the Shia Ismaili Muslims. We encourage our readers to share this article widely. I have the great privilege of representing the Ismaili Imamat -- this institution which has stretched beyond borders for more than 1400 years and which ...
We are the Gates of God. We are the medium for His people. He who approaches Him through us is brought near Him. He who seeks our intercession is interceded for. He who seeks His favours through us is favoured by Him. He who turns away from us goes astray. - Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq The purpose of this article is two-fold: ...
How can we inspire people to reach beyond rampant materialism, self-indulgent individualism, and unprincipled relativism? Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV, New York, 2006 reason and faith-w656-h328Image source: theismaili.org MOHIB EBRAHIM UPDATED: APRIL 28, 2015 -- In the original version of this article the author, Mohib Ebrahim, mentioned pluralism but had not addressed it. He has now done so and we are pleased to amend ...
Come, I will show you that which is truly the House of God, Not what you imagine to be the House of God. Is a House of stone more sacred than the chosen guide [Muhammad] who established the House? Sayyidna al-Mu'ayyad al-Shirazi (Diwan al-Mu'ayyad, tr. M. Adra, Mount of Knowledge, Sword of Eloquence , 189) This article will explain the exoteric ...
Ismaili Gnosis conveys Khushali Mubarak on the occasion of Mawlana Hazar Imam's birthday. As December 13 is a time when Ismailis all around the world reflect upon the occasion of the birth of the Imam of the Time, Ismaili Gnosis offers a selection of readings on the intellectual validation and esoteric understanding of the Ismaili Imamat. Readings: Validating and Establishing the ...
MESA's 48th annual meeting will commence in Washington, DC at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on November 22-25, 2014. This year's panel presentations feature several scholars from the IIS, Harvard and Indiana including Nadia E. Jamal, Shainool Jiwa, Paul E. Walker, Khalil Andani, Daniel Beben and others. Both Ismailism panels take place on Sunday, November 23 at 8:30 AM and 4:30 ...
Ismaili Gnosis has created a short survey to determine the sort of topics, subjects and issues most relevant to those wishing to learn more about Ismailism. Please take one minute to fill out the survey as this information will allow Ismaili Gnosis to gear its future articles to your needs. The survey is completely anonymous. Please note that this survey is ...
