Simerg

Material compiled and presented by Abdulmalik J. Merchant (Publisher-Editor, www.simerg.com) "Our Government is honoured to once again welcome His Highness the Aga Khan to Canada. Our country has a warm and lasting friendship with His Highness, who was granted honorary Canadian citizenship for his leadership as a champion of international development, pluralism and tolerance around the world." - Prime Minister Stephen ...

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By Sadru Meghji (Special to Simerg) President Julius Nyerere and his fellow countrymen in a march following the announcement of the Arusha Declaration of 1967. Many such marches were held across the country to connect people with the Tanzanian leader's vision of socialism to develop the nation's economy. Over the years the Declaration became hugely unpopular politically and socially and was ...

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A Canvas for Light "When the sun moves across the sky, the shadows dance along the building's surfaces." Photo: Maki and Associates/Moriyama and Teshima Architects. By Kristopher Benes As an architect I often get asked to name my favourite Ottawa building! Being a fan of minimalism I was often hard pressed to find anything non-residential that came immediately to my mind ...

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By Andrew Kosorok (Special to Simerg) Holy (Al-Quddus). Photo: Andrew Kosorok. Copyright. Looking at our neighbors and those around us, it is obvious each of us see the world and view our relationship with the universe and our Creator in different ways. When the tragedy of 9/11 happened and 3000 lives were ended because of the heartless actions of two dozen ...

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Shimshal Valley in summer. Photo: Wikipedia. INTRODUCTION: The Oral Testimony Programme of the Panos Institute, London, England, conducted over 300 interviews with people who live in mountain and highland regions round the world, including numerous individuals from the Ismaili community in Shimshal, which is located in the Karakorum mountains of Pakistan. The interviews were carried out by local people in local ...

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REMEMBERING AN ISMAILI MAN OF LETTERS Born in Kisumu, Kenya, to Rabhiabai and Kassam Janmohamed on June 6, 1931, Ameer Kassam Janmohamed was kind and generous and true to the responsibilities he had to his family and friends, his faith and the noble causes he undertook in public life from his youthful days. His long time service to the Rotarians was ...

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The front cover of M.H. Velshi's new book "Conversations on Three Continents." The cover was designed by his artistic wife Najma Velshi. Please click on image to purchase book. MIGRATIONS: OUT OF INDIA AND AFRICA By M. H. Velshi 1. Mumbai, 1934. They took a long walk during the last afternoon of his stay in Mumbai. The hot day suddenly felt ...

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The following image is a copy of the original message sent to Ismaili youth by the 48th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan (1877 - 1957) on the occasion of the Students' Rally held in Nairobi, and appeared in the Diamond Jubilee Souvenir, 1946. Another version of the image along with the cover page of the souvenir issue can be ...

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by Shiraz Pradhan Photo: Istockphoto.com With "Kesri Sinha" I want to continue the exploration of the Spiritual Dimensions of Ismaili Ginans. "Kesri Sinha" is a parable of a lioness, which as she jumped upon a flock of sheep, gave birth to a cub and died. The cub grew up in the flock of sheep, eating grass and bleating like a sheep. ...

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LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER Abdulmalik Merchant, Publisher-Editor, Simerg. Click photo for profile. To mark Simerg's 3rd anniversary, a special series "Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures" was launched because I have felt that learning about outstanding Ismaili figures can help us to make better decisions as members or leaders of the community to which we belong, and instill in us greater sense of ...

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Jehangir Merchant's Thank You Letter to the Fatimid Ismaili Icon, Da'i Al-Mu'ayyad al-Shiraziby Jehangir A. Merchant (Canada) * * * Jalaledin Ebrahim's Gratitude to Amira Dharrab, Abu Najm Sarraj and Hasan-i-Sabbahby Jalaledin Ebrahim (USA) * * * Khalil Andani's Thank You Letter to the School of Isma'ili Philosophersby Khalil Andani (USA/Canada) * * * Navyn Naran's Ode to Pir Hasan Kabirdin ...

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IMPORTANT PUBLISHER'S NOTE Thursday, May 15, 2014. The rich history and literary traditions of the Ismaili community in China have been inadequately studied in modern times, and so it was a distinct honour for this website and its sister blog, www.simergphotos.com, to feature and publish, on January 1st 2014, the essay and photographs about the Ismailis in China by Kenyan-based Ghulam ...

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THE NEW OTTAWA JAMATKHANA The new Ottawa jamatkhana marks a new chapter in the life of the Ismaili community of the National Capital Region and will become a symbol of the community's commitment to Ottawa... QAYL'S ENCOUNTERS WITH ASTRONAUTS Exploring space...learning about what's there and how to get there, is something that I am interested in. I decided to do a ...

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"Christians may be surprised to learn that Muslims believe in the Virgin Birth and Jesus' miracles".....Read Michael Wolfe's Piece Left: Virgin Mary nurtured by a palm tree in a Turkish miniature, as described in the Qur'an; right: Mary and Jesus in a Persian miniature. Please click on image for Michael Wolfe's article "Jesus Through a Muslim Lens." Images: Wikipedia. _____________ Muhammad, ...

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THE AGA KHAN UNIVERSITY An aerial view of the Aga Khan University in Karachi, Pakistan. The University was chartered as Pakistan's first private international university in 1983 during the reign of President Zia ul-Haq. Photo: Aga Khan Development Network. When the Charter of the University was first granted in 1983, His Highness the Aga Khan concluded his speech on the occasion ...

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ThE NOOR OF IMAMAT....OOops By Navyn Naran The arc of the Milky Way with over 100 thousand million stars hangs over the imposing mountain fortress of Alamut in this starry scene. Photo: Babak Tafreshi. Copyright. Find your space, under a trillion stars In the crystal quiet of the night, no thoughts, no bars, Breathe softly, abreast of a beating heart, Under ...

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(English translation follows this transliteration from Hindi) ALI By Sherali Kara Hum jiyenge aur jiyenge sirf ALI tere liye. Ruhani bache tere hai, Haath thaam ke rakhna ALI. Tub bhi ALI he thaa, Ab hai tu Hazar Imam ALI. Taa qayamat tak rahenga Hayul Qayum ALI ALI. Kya tariqat shaan hai teri. Khub haqiqi jalwa hai tera. Kya noorani tevar tere ...

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Spread in various countries around the world, the Shia Imami Ismailis 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 (Imam). His Highness the Aga Khan is their ...

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"There can be no keener revelation of a society's soul than the way in which it treats its children" - Nelson Mandela A close-up of a detail of a South African Hundred Rand banknote, featuring an engraving of the face of iconic statesman Nelson Mandela, giving his trademark smile. South African wildlife and African designs form the watermarked background. Photo: Istockphoto. ...

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"HE IS NOW AT PEACE" A ZAR 5 coin, manufactured in South Africa on Nelson Mandela's 90th birthday, resting on the South African flag. Photo: Istockphoto.com In announcing the passing away of Nelson Mandela, the South African President Jacob Zuma said: "Our beloved Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela, the founding President of our democratic nation has departed. He passed on peacefully in the ...

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Please click: Royal Architectural Institute Awards Gold Medal to 49th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, for his contribution to Canadian architecture Please click on image for a report of the RAIC Gold award ceremony on November 27, 2013 in Ottawa, Canada.Advertisements ...

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Introduced by Malik Merchant Publisher-Editor, Simerg and Simergphotos Born in Woking, United Kingdom, Martin Bloomfield is a designer photographer and an expert in 3D animation. He has travelled the world over, and now lives with his family in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. Before leaving for Africa in 2012, Bloomfield spent some time in Ottawa where he took a series of powerful and stunning ...

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Please click: Muslim and non-Muslim Expressions on Imam Hussein (a.s.) This image of an oil on canvas painting by Abbas Al-Musavi commemorates the martyrdom of Imam Hussein at the Battle of Karbala. Its focus is his half-brother Abbas ibn Ali on a white horse. This image was uploaded into Wikipedia Commons as a donation by the Brooklyn Museum and is a ...

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By Salman Ashraf Bheriyani A Volunteer Day medal for Gulamhusen Jamani who has served the Jamat since childhood. What makes an individual a proud member of his community? One simply has to look around and observe the dedication of the very young, the youth and elderly alike towards the community through their honorary or voluntary services. This spirit of service to ...

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Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III. Photo Copyright National Portrait Gallery, London. Editor's note: To mark the 136th birth anniversary of the 48th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), which falls on Saturday, November 2, 2013, we are pleased to publish two pieces of first visits made by the Imam to two continents in the span of ...

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"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 prosperity....Many many memories come to our minds as we think of him. He achieved in his life, for our community that which could only have been accomplished normally in a period of many generations. The tributes ...

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"The car door was left open waiting for him to sit in, but Hazar Imam was instead moving around the compound as if unwilling to leave the premises.....This is a sight that is difficult to erase from the mind, an unforgettable experience, appearing again and again in our vision, lifting us away from this world." By Toral Pradhan A young girl ...

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Excerpt adapted from Ilm magazine, December, 1989* The twelve months of the Muslim calendar and major Muslim festivals. Image by Simerg. 'Id-e-Ghadir is celebrated by the Shi 'ite communities to mark the event that took place at Ghadir Khumm (Valley of the Pond) on the 18th Dhul-Hijjah. This event commemorates the designation (appointment by way of nass) of Hazrat All as ...

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"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 hears all things." (Holy Qur'an, 3:33-34) I. PREAMBLE OF THE ISMAILI CONSTITUTION His Highness the Aga Khan seen ordaining a new constitution for the Ismaili community worldwide. Clause (G) of the Preamble states: ...

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AN INSTALLMENT FROM SIMERG'S MUST READ SERIES ABOUT NASER-E KHOSRAW'S MEMORABLE JOURNEY TO FATIMID EGYPT "....The tallest mountain near Mecca is Abu Qubays, which is round like a dome, so that if you shoot an arrow from the foot of the mountain it reaches its top....Having come into the city, you enter the Haram Mosque, approach the Ka'ba, and circumambulate..... always ...

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By Toral Pradhan Special to Simerg Daman (pop. appx. 40,000) is located about 193 kms North of Mumbai. Physiographically, Daman is a small part of the South Gujarat coastal land. Bounded by the Kolai river on the North, the Kalu river on the South, Sahyadri hills and the Valsad district to the East and the Arabian Sea to the West. [1] ...

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As part of Simerg's special series on Jamatkhanas, we published a piece under the title Happy Days in Hasanabad(please click to read the historic piece). We mention this because the Jamats in Western India have just witnessed and experienced the happiest days of their lives in the historic Hasanabad complex in the intimate company of their beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah ...

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"We are a long way from the democratization of nuclear energy. Maybe I'm naïve but I advocate another approach, which I call "positive proliferation." The positive proliferation that I would dearly love to see happen is based on a simple principle: yes to energy, no to arms....Iran could even contribute to the worldwide removal of nuclear energy for military use. That ...

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INTRODUCTION: Thousands of Ismailis around the world pledged a Nazrana (the term means an offering, a gift or a present) of Time and Knowledge (TKN) to their 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, during the celebration of his Golden Jubilee from July 11, 2007 until December 13, 2008. Numerous Ismaili individuals have since dedicated their time ...

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A girl is helped by police officers inside the Westgate Mall in Nairobi where 59 people are reported killed during Saturday's terrorist attack. Please click on next image, see below, for a slide show at the Denver Post website. Viewer discretion is advised as some of the images are disturbing. Links are also provided to the websites of Al-Jazeera and the ...

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PLEASE CLICK:Simerg's Imamat and Didar Series INTRODUCTION: His Highness the Aga Khan, or Mawlana Hazar Imam as he is affectionately and respectfully addressed by his Ismaili followers, will be visiting Bangladesh and India during the coming month. In July 2011, the 49th Ismaili Imam who is the direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) made a highly successful visit to East ...

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BY SHIRAZ A. PRADHAN Gujarati transliteration of the Ginan Ek Shabada Suno Mere Bhai attributed to Pir Shams. Image Credit: The Institute of Ismaili Studies. Author's note: The Ginan Ek Shabda Suno Mere Bhai by Pir Shams is a summary of the initial step of Ismaili Spirituality. An MP3 of the Ginan rendered by Mohammad (Mac) Virjee of Vancouver accompanies this ...

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IMPORTANT LINKS FOR THE WORLD'S MOST UNIQUE AWARDS The logo of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture was designed by Karl Schlamminger, a German Muslim of the Shia tradition. The Name of Allah in Kufic Script, reflecting Itself and repeating Itself, forms the basis of the logo design. ~~~~~ AGA KHAN AWARD LATEST NEWS Please click on the following links for ...

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Earlier in August, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of Ismaili Muslims announced that the Nikah of his eldest son, Prince Rahim Aga Khan, to Ms. Kendra Salwa Spears would take place in Geneva on August 31, 2013. Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa and members of the Imam's family pose for a photograph with the members of ...

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Editor's note: The poem below was spontaneously written by Jalal Jaffer in 2011 at the time of the 25th anniversary of the Ismaili Centre and Jamatkhana, Burnaby, in recognition of the enormous amount of work the Ismaili volunteers do, day in day out. Simerg is pleased to publish it as part of its 4th anniversary special series, Stories of Ismaili Volunteers ...

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