To help you keep up with all the videos produced by the community institutions, Ismaili Digest brings together the The Ismaili, The Ismaili USA, and The Ismaili India YouTube channels. You'll find celebrations, Ismaili Centre events and live stream broadcasts, Imamat events, interviews, devotional music and more.
We're sure you'll be surprised to learn the IIS website has over 850 pages of articles, videos and news! Although a large number of their articles have topics that academics will enjoy, their videos, interviews and book summaries will appeal to everyone.
Launched in 2011, upon receiving special permission from Aiglemont to publish Mawlana Hazar Imam's speeches, NanoWidsoms is a unique website dedicated solely to the Ismaili Imamat's speeches, interviews and writings. With over 700 of Hazar Imam's speeches, interviews and writings, NanoWidsoms is, by far, the largest and most comprehensive collection, online and has been cited as a reference in books published by IIS and in other academic publications.
Perhaps the best kept secret in the Ismaili community, and NanoWisdoms' Crown Jewels, the Extended Quote collection brings together most, if not all, of Mawlana Hazar Imam's remarks (and many from prior Imams) related to some 250 topics so we can better understand the full depth of his full insights and perspectives about each of them. Topics include Hazar Imam's successor, the Imam's gender, secularism, dogma, innovation and thinking independently, marriage and children, miracles, Ayat al-Nur, tradition and modernity, dasond and Imamat finances, the Left, cautionary notes on Western social values, alcohol, accountability, reincarnation, women, and much, much more you probably never knew Hazar Imam has talked about.
A little known-hidden gem, RoundUp aggregates the best video content of interest to the Ismaili community into collections: Ismaili RoundUp, Diamond Jubilee RoundUp, Islam RoundUp, Religion Roundup. The videos are organised in lists of 7, 70 of which have been created, featuring some 500 videos in total. If you're not a reader and are interested in these five areas, you won't do better than RoundUp.
Established in late 1995, Amaana is tied with ismaili.net as the oldest public Ismaili website -- private or institutional -- and we're proud to say that a woman, Nina Jaffer, founder of Amaana, was one of these two pioneers, that led Ismailis on to the Internet. Their vision and resolute determination, in the Internet's early years, when many had doubts, fears and pressures, echoes the courageous spirit of earlier Ismaili pioneers. And just as they paved the way for others to follow, our Internet pioneers also paved the way for all the other Ismaili websites who followed them onto the Internet, a decade or more later, when it had become "safe" and "normal" to publish Ismaili websites. Amaana has published hundreds of articles about Ismailism and Islam, however, due to technical reasons, only a fraction are available on Ismaili Digest, so do spend time browsing Amaana itself. All their pieces are all as relevant today as when originally published.
AKDN has been Mawlana Hazar Imam's life's work and out of respect for the Imam, we should all better understand the depth and breadth of AKDN's work. With over 1,000 pages of galleries, personal stories, project information, press-releases and more we're sure you'll find something personally or professionally appealing to you.
To help you keep up with all the videos produced by the AKDN network, Ismaili Digest brings together the AKDN, AKF UK, AKF USA and AKRSP India YouTube channels. Combined they have published almost 500 videos ranging from Imamat events, award ceremonies, social events, project diaries and more. Videos are perhaps the best way to really see the impact AKDN has on people's lives.
While nothing can replace visiting the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, since it opened 5 years ago, they've published over 200 videos. They're the next best thing to being there so be sure to "drop by" to take in what's new each month.
Who is not moved by inspired architecture? Since it was established, in 1978, the AKAA has sifted through thousands of brilliant works of architecture to find the best of the best. Why not spend an hour every three years and see what inspired beauty and ingenuity feels like?
During a visit to the Aga Khan Library, Nairobi, after reviewing some pamphlets on our faith, Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah remarked that people did not have time to read big books, but such pamphlets were quickly read and, therefore, more effective. Today, this is perhaps even more true, and we can't think of any Ismaili website, institutional or private, who has implemented the Imam's advice more brilliantly than Nimira's Blog. Since Nimira Dewji launched her blog, in early 2019, she has already written, by herself, over 250 articles on Ismaili history and Muslim civilisations. The short, but always interesting pieces, are routinely among the most popular pieces published in the community. If you read nothing else, you owe it to yourself to read Nimira's Blog.
Simerg and Simerg Photos have been publishing exceptional articles on a wide variety of subjects and topics, from history, to personal stories, to poetry, intellectual and philosophical material for a decade. But don't wait for new content, together, they have already published some 1,200 timeless articles and we're sure you'll find something that interests you.
An initiative of Simerg launched just prior to the Diamond Jubilee, Barakah explains its theme as "His Highness the Aga Khan: A Visual and Textual Celebration." In just two years, Barakah has published over 200 memorable and enjoyable pieces, dedicated Mawlana Hazar Imam, that are sure to be popular for years to come.
Since its launch in 2012, Ismaili Gnosis has published some 100 articles on Ismaili theology, philosophy, metaphyiscs, thought and history put forward by past Ismaili Imams, Dais and scholars with a depth and detail unmatched by other Ismaili websites. If you enjoy long reads and revel in deep, philosophy then Ismaili Gnosis will keep you busy for a long time.
Almost every day, since its launch in 2006, Ismailimail posts several excerpts to a potpourri of Ismaili news, events and personalities published on the Internet. If news about people and places are your thing, then Ismailimail is for you. Although it's archive now has over 20,000 articles, Ismaili Digest's collection only goes back to the start of the Diamond Jubilee, so be sure to browse Ismailimail for older news.
Candid Insights was launched by our very own Sahil Badruddin. Sahil interviews influencers, leaders, and intellectuals to draw out their candid insights and wisdom on important issues facing society today with thought-provoking questions that hit at the heart of a matter. His interviews have been published on the.ismaili, Boniuk Institute of Rice University and Sacred Matters Magazine of Emory University. Among others, guests he's interviewed include Hasan Minhaj, Karen Armstrong, Eboo Patel, John Esposito, Aasif Mandvi, Karim H. Karim and Ali Asani. If you crave intellectual and human depth, his interviews will not disappoint.
These departments of Ismaili Digest were inspired by Hazar Imam's advice to continuously re-examine and expand our viewpoints and perspectives. He said, "knowledge is constantly changing, must ever be challenged and extended" and that we must "constantly review and revise and renew what we think we know." If Hazar Imam's advice resonates with you, then OTBT, TT and WW are for you. To date we have posted almost 600 videos, articles and quotes of little-known, unconventional, even controversial, knowledge, opinions, wisdom and insights, drawn from all of humanity, relevant to the community's well-being, intellectual and spiritual growth, as well as administrative best practices. As for Monday Madness, that's your Monday morning smile because "we are a community that welcomes the smile!"
Aga Khan Studs is the official website of Mawlana Hazar Imam's breeding and racing operations. Keep up with all the exciting news from the racetrack: the wins, the losses, the newborn foals, and the sad deaths. Be sure to also read their riveting 22-part history of the Noorani Family's passion for horses, going all the way back to Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah, which we also featured as our first Saturday Series.
An initiative of the Aga Khan Health Board for the United States of America, Recipes and More has published 60 professionally produced, generally short videos preparing a wide variety of dishes.
With 200 videos published across four different YouTube channels, the Global Centre for Pluralism has been busy since its founding. We consolidate all their YouTube channels making it easy to keep up with what's new if you have a passion for their deep intellectual deliberations about pluralism.
Mawlana Hazar Imam has said "knowledge is constantly changing, must ever be challenged and extended" and that we must "constantly review and revise and renew what we think we know." Inspired by his advice to continuously re-examine and expand our viewpoints and perspectives, Off The Beaten Track links to articles and videos of little-known, unconventional, even controversial, knowledge, opinions, wisdom and insights, drawn from all of humanity, that are relevant to the community's well-being, intellectual and spiritual growth, as well as administrative best practices. If Hazar Imam's advice resonates with you, then Off The Beaten Track is for you!
The team behind Ismaili Digest and Ismaili Ignition share the vision, insights and objectives behind these two unique projects. For example, if you've ever wondered what are the official policies regarding private Ismaili websites are, we clear up many misunderstandings among the Jamat and share guidance Mawlana Hazar Imam gave LIF Chair, Malik Talib who shared it with us and other web publishers. We also explain the new perspective of our Ismaili intellectual tradition which inspires Ismaili Ignition as well as what makes Ismaili Ignition unique: "Ignition Interviews and Questions" where we ask the hard questions facing the community today, and "Ignition Paradigm Proposals" which offer fresh, 21st Century perspectives on our faith and community. And so much more.
Do you know why there are so many Ismaili websites or what makes each of them different? Our exclusive Ismaili website guide explains it all so you can navigate the Ismaili on-line landscape and find which sites best suits your interests. Our guide highlights which websites are best for current community news and affairs, which is best for Mawlana Hazar Imam's speeches and interviews, which to visit for the best documentary and other videos related to the community, where to get short or in depth articles on our faith, culture and history, where to find the best articles related to our philosophy and tariqah and so much more.
If you're looking for the best and most interesting content published by the main Ismaili websites, then start with Ismaili Digest's exclusive Editor's Choice. Each week we publish a selection of upto 5 articles (sometimes selected by the website Editor) from the archives of just one Ismaili website or video channel. Usually the articles are related to a common theme such as "5 heartwarming stories of meeting Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah" or "An important message from Harvard, Pew Research and others for all faith communities". Featured websites include Roundup, NanoWisdoms Extended Quotes, Nimira's Blog, Ismaili Ignition, The Ismaili - Nutrition Centre, Ismaili Digest's Off The Beaten Track, Simerg, Ismaili Gnosis and the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS).
With thousands of articles and videos available, are you wondering where to start? Start here, with the Jamat's most popular new articles and videos published each month from more than 36 of the best Ismaili websites and video channels. Jamat's Choice is unique and exclusive to Ismaili Digest. Our unique technology lets us know what the Jamat found most interesting, each month, from all the Ismaili websites we monitor such as The Ismaili, Nimira's Blog, Simerg, AKDN, NanoWisdoms, The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), Ismailimail, along with many, many other Ismaili and non-Ismaili websites or institutional YouTube channels.
Another way to think of Ismaili Digest is as "Google search for Ismailis." So, even though we only link to and display short, 60-word digests of material from 36 of the best private and institutional websites and video channels, under the hood we've also stored the full text of their material. This means you can search almost 15,000 web pages from all the main Ismaili sites -- like the.ismaili, Simerg, Roundup, AKDN, NanoWisdoms, The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS), Nimira's Blog, Ismailimail, etc. -- at one go. So, for example, if you want to find out what Ismaili websites and video channels have about Fatimid coins, you can do that with one search on Ismaili Digest instead of searching each Ismaili site individually. Another exclusive Ismaili Digest service for the community.
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