"The Smile of a Prince" By President Léopold Sédar Senghor Léopold Sédar Senghor (9 October 1906 - 20 December 2001) was a Senegalese poet, politician, and cultural theorist who for two decades served as the first president of Senegal (1960-1980). Senghor was the first African elected as a member of the Académie française. Before independence, he founded the political party called ...
Introduction: The series "Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures" continues with Khalil Andani paying a tribute to the School of Ismaili Philosophers who lived in a vibrant age of intellectual thought during which they reasoned, debated and wrote on a wide range of philosophical and theological issues. In his thank you note, Andani takes some key Islamic and Ismaili concepts as expounded by ...
Honouring Lives Lived By Malik Merchant Publisher-Editor, www.simerg.com See details below for Simerg's new initiative. Top portion of image shows plaque commemorating Ismailis who were killed in a WWII raid in Burma. Bottom half is a surreal image by Sarite Sanders of Aswan's Fatimid cemetery. Commencing September 15, 2012, Simerg will be offering to all its Ismaili readers around the world ...
By Ahamed Ismail Ahamed Ismail, left, recited Qur'anic suras in the presence of His Highness the Aga Khan, centre, at the opening of the Aga Khan Primary School in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania (then Tanganyika). At right is Alnoor Kassum, the education administrator. Photo: Ahamed Ismail Family Collection. I have noted with interest the numerous tributes in response to Simerg's informative and enlightening ...
"FIRE" By Mohezin Tejani Fire Travel Spiraling yellow plumes sizzle into the Salween night. Crickets, cicadas and mynah birds add to the jungle chorus and the thwacking sounds of the fire gutting itself. The wind, like an invisible ghost, swooshes and shimmers between the logs. A swerving headlight of a motorcycle suddenly appears, the only reminder of urban life. Six figures ...
By Khizar Hayat The Shamsi Ismailis in Punjab, who were converted by Hazrat Pir Shams Sabzwa'ri, mostly practiced the Ismaili faith in solitude in the garb of the Hindus, and became known as the Gupti (secretive). These Gupti Ismailis mostly resided in different cities, towns and villages in Punjab and Frontier. [1] In 1910 a young man in twenties went to ...
By Badrudin Alibhai Adatia The late Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III pictured with Badrudin Adatia. Recalls Adatia: "I wanted to take picture of him with us and I asked his permission. The room was dim, however, and I didn't have a flash on my camera. Although he was very sick and could not even walk, he told me he ...
Text and photos by Malik Merchant Editor-Publisher, www.simerg.com Badlands National Park, South Dakota. Photo: Malik Merchant using Canon Powershot A2200. If readers were wondering, I am making a 4500km road-trip across the continent, and will resume blog updates with highly interesting readings once I reach my destination - Vancouver. Starting my journey in Ottawa, Canada, I have covered about half the ...
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 Ali, through the prophet's daughter Bibi Fatima (a.s). The ...
October 25, 1996. Prince Amyn Mohammed Aga Khan (left) pictured wiith his brother His Highness the Aga Khan at the Hadrian Award Ceremony. Introduction: Though discreet and always working behind the scenes, Prince Amyn's contribution to the Imamat institutions have been influential and impactful. In Simerg's continuing series on thanking Ismaili historical figures, Azeem Maherali of Atlanta, USA, gives a rare ...
On Saturday, June 30, 2012 at 1 p.m., Their Excellencies the Right Honourable David Johnston, Governor General of Canada, and Mrs. Sharon Johnston, along with Ms. Suzanne Pinel, C.M., launched "Storytime at Rideau Hall". In celebration of the 75th anniversary of the Governor General's Literary Awards, families and visitors settled in under a tree, at a picnic table or under the ...
SPECIAL TO SIMERG AN EXCERPT FROM RSVP RICE AND STEW VERY PLENTY By Nazlin Rahemtulla Map of Uganda. Credit: Wikipedia (The Free Encyclopedia). As a youngster, I especially adored shopping on the Main Street of Jinja. Simply strolling along the sidewalks was magic. We mingled with Indian women in their beautifully draped sarees of vibrant fuchsias, blues, and magentas; African ladies ...
An Introduction to the Ode In its entirety, Pir Hasan Kabirdin's composition Anant Akhado is a description, perhaps historical, perhaps extrapolated, of the meaning of life from a Greater Bird's Eye view. That is, life is not merely as we see it. The allusion to batin (hidden or esoteric) is continual. Through 500 verses, of which the Nav chugga (the Nine ...
By Nurin Merchant Happy Father's Day Card for my Dad. Ottawa, Sunday June 17, 2012; sunny, 30 degrees C. Our day commenced at Chapters in the South Keys Mall on Bank Street. But just before then, I had presented my dad with an artistic card for Father's day and a nicely packed gift box that was a little too heavy for ...
By Muslim and Nevin Harji Exclusive to Simerg During the past 8 years, we have visited dozens of cities in over forty countries all around the world. We have to say that the magical quality of the Old City of Jerusalem is unsurpassable. Perhaps it is due to the glorious history of the towering stone walls and ancient buildings, or the ...
Abstract: Miraj-e-Rasul falls on the 27th night of the Muslim month of Rajab (which, in 2016, falls on Wednesday, May 4th). The Qur'an states that on this night, the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) was transported from Mecca to Jerusalem, and then taken to the heavens until he came to the Lote Tree (see note 4 below) before finally reaching the Divine Throne. ...
Olivier Galibert of France spent three weeks in Tajikistan in July 2010 to participate in a caving expedition in the Pamir and visited Rangkul Skaja, the 5th highest cave in the world at 4600 m. He met many people along the way in the Wakhan corridor, the Panj valley and Murghab, and took their portrait photos with his D700 nikon + ...
By Muslim and Nevin Harji (Special to Simerg) CONGREGATION-SPACE (I) A view of the main entrance hall of the Ismaili Centre, Dubai, which draws architectural inspiration from the Fatimid mosques in Cairo. At the centre of the colourfully patterned marble floor is an ornamental fountain crafted from a solid block of Carrara marble. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, PQ. Copyright. "The congregational ...
Queen Elizabeth II in her coronation robes, 2 June 1953. Photo: Wikipedia By Ameer Janmohamed The population of these islands is caught up in the celebrations and excitement relating to the Diamond Jubilee of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. We have a virtual close down of shops and offices as the nation embarks on four days of festivities beginning Saturday June ...
By Barnaby Rogerson Special to Simerg At the very moment of Muhammad's death the two traditions of Islam each branch out with their own rival stories. The Sunni believe that the Prophet died resting on the lap of Aisha. The Shia believe that he expired leaning against the shoulder of Ali. This contradiction is emblematic of the whole schism within Islam ...
Yaum e-Ali - The Birth Anniversary of Imam Ali (a.s.) This panel praises Hazrat Ali and his famous double-edged sword with the topmost statement executed in black ink: "There is no victory except 'Ali and there is no sword except Dhu al-Fiqar (la fath ila 'Ali, la sayf ila Dhu al-Fiqar). Image: Wikipedia Commons The birthday anniversary of Hazrat Imam Ali ...
INTRODUCTION: Nahj al-Balaghah is regarded as one of the masterpieces of Arabic prose. The hundreds of sayings, sermons, letters and speeches which appear in the book are attributed to Hazrat Ali. The work is difficult to translate, yet by carefully reading through the book one comes across passages that will appeal to everyone, including children and young adults. This is a ...
By Shariffa Keshavjee (Special to Simerg) A stunning view of the Indian Ocean from the roof-top of the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana. Please click on photo for enlargement. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee, Nairobi, Kenya. Copyright. When I was a little girl, one of my favourite pastimes was to be in the presence of adult company. As the youngest in the family I was too ...
Editor's note: The first two sets of photographs from The Ismaili collection of the late Master Khimani, pictured at left with his wife, were described by Simerg's readers as brilliant, very impressive and a veritable treasure trove. One reader from Mwanza, Tanzania, wrote: "Thanks to the Khimani Family for preserving these historical magazines and photos, some of which relate to Sir ...
The late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan with Secretary-General U Thant at his home on 23 June 1971. Photo: Teddy Chan, United Nations. The late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan, as Mohezin Tejani noted in his Thank You letter published earlier as part of Simerg's Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures, was "a man for all seasons." Tejani thanked the late Prince for his multifarious ...
Editor's note: Our readers described the first piece of this series on historical photos from the collection of the Late Master Khimani as a veritable treasure trove, excellent and amazing, rare and inspiring. One reader noted, "these brought back lots of past memories of our forefathers and elders almost a century ago." Simerg is pleased to present the second set of ...
The late Rai Sadruddin Khimani (19 May 1917 - 15 September 2011) and his beloved wife Raibanoo Malek Khimani (28 April 1919 - 17 November 1997) were affectionately known as "Master" and "Masi" by the South African Ismaili Jamat, which they served for a period of 36 years from 1944-1981. Photo: The Khimani Family Collection, Vancouver, Canada. Master Khimani: A Man ...
The crucial role of early Ismaili migrants to Africa in identifying the needs of the community, mobilizing resources, and taking the steps to build the foundations for a strong socio-economic infra-structure have over the past century resulted in a fairer, more resourceful and productive Ismaili community. In this continuing series on Thank You Letters to Ismaili Historical Figures, Salim J. Kanji ...
May 12, 2012. Dear Editor, Going through the pages of Ismaili history, there have been countless examples of Ismailis who have inspired me with their courage, with their inventions, with their faith in our Imams and for being trail blazers in every sense of the word. Equally, there have been women who have gone beyond their traditional roles and have achieved ...
By Izat Velji A youthful portrait of the Ismaili missionary, Meghji Maherali (1881 - 1941), of Mombasa, Kenya. Photo Credit: Archives of the family of Meghji Missionary. Copyright. My profound gratitude and thanks [to Ameer Janmohamed] for sharing so much about Pir Sabzali - it is indeed a living history. The personal comments and recollections made his Thank You Letter to ...
RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON ON THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2012 MEDALS David Johnston becomes the 28th Governor General of Canada during the installation ceremony on October 1, 2010. Photo: Governor General of Canada "The recipients of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture have distinguished themselves as visionary Canadian architects. They have designed spaces where communities are forged, memories are enshrined and ...
"Itmadi Sabzali has served me in such a manner that after his death, I honour him with the title of a Pir" - Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, 48th Ismaili Imam CLICK FOR A VERY GOOD ENLARGEMENT. This historical photo was taken in India in March 1936 on the occasion of the presentation of a casket by a group of ...
by Mohezin Tejani Special to Simerg UN Map of Belgium. Country area: 30528 sq. kms; Currency: Euro; Population: 10,647,000; Capital city/population:Brussels (1,892,000); UN membership: December 27, 1945. Credit: UN data. Belgium is a country steeped in rich European history that goes far beyond the stereotype of beers and chocolates that it is typically known for. It is an enchanting, magical land ...
The first centre since the Fatimid era specifically dedicated to Ismaili Research came into being in 1977 when His Highness the Aga Khan announced the establishment of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, England. From its modest beginnings some thirty-five years ago, the IIS functions today as an internationally recognized academic centre. In this continuing series on Thank You ...
A few days ago we listed twelve pieces that have been very popular with the readers since this blog was launched three years ago. We now present twelve more popular readings. In addition, we are also providing links to three completed series consisting of over one hundred articles. Each of the series is also available as an excellent PDF publication. Readers ...
Editor's note: The following are excerpts from a remarkable speech delivered by the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan in Vancouver, Canada, on January 22, 1975. Published in numerous Canadian Ismaili newsletters during the mid 1970's, the speech has also been widely distributed on the internet over the past few years as email attachments. Many of his thoughts some 37 years ago ...
By Muslim and Nevin Harji Editor's note: Muslim and Nevin Harji of Montreal, PQ, Canada, visited Iran for a period of four weeks in October 2011. A magnificent collection of photos portraying the people and foods of Iran appeared in the first installment, followed by a series of historical photos of the ruins of Alamut, the 13th century Ismaili stronghold. The ...
To mark this blog's third anniversary, we recently launched the series, "Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures," with the publication of three letters by Andrew Kosorok (Makers of the Fatimid Blue Qur'an), Mohezin Tejani (Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan) and Aziz Kurwa (The Person of the Institution of Imamat). Several "Thank You Letters" will be published over the coming weeks and months, and cover ...
The following traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s) speak about the Person of the Institution of Imamat: "I am leaving amongst you two weighty things after me, the Qur'an and my Progeny (ahl al-bayt). Verily, if you hold fast to them both you will never go astray. Both are tied with a long rope and cannot be separated till the Day ...
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. Photo: Unesco Courier. Copyright Described as "a citizen of the world," Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (January 17, 1933 - May 12, 2003), became the longest serving head of UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. Morals, ethics and tolerance along with improving the lot of humanity was the essential part of the credo of the late Prince, son ...
