By Ameer Janmohamed The front of the printed program. Courtesy Amir A. Kassim-Lakha archives. PREAMBLE I have often marvelled at this thing called 'happenstance' whereby one thing leads to another, which in turn leads to another, and so on. A recent example was my essay on "51 Kensington Court" - 1953-1957: Ismailia Social and Residential Club and Jamatkhana at 51 Kensington ...
TAJIKISTAN'S RURAL ISMAILIS By Ali M. Rajput Special to Simerg Eighty-eight year old Dr. Ali M. Rajput pictured at his quarters in Khorog, Badakhshan, where he makes annual visits from Birmingham, England, to serve the Jamat in his own capacity. Introduction For over six decades, from the time that I crossed my teenage years, I have sought to develop bonds of ...
PLEASE CLICK: "Christian and Muslim Perpectives on Jesus" and "Shia Ismaili Islam" Orthodox chapel on a background of a Muslim mosque in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Photo: Istockphoto. Copyright. A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What's New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to ...
"Touched by the Essence" by Naznin-Virji Babul, Vancouver, Canada. Simerg wishes to partner with Ismaili artists from around the world to feature a selection of their visual representations on this website. Artists are invited to submit two or three small to medium sized images of their works for a special compendium which will be published on this blog during summer of ...
A folio of the Fatimid Blue Qur'an currently on exhibit in Provo, Utah. The Brigham Young University (BYU) Museum of Art, in Provo, Utah, has just welcomed on campus the exhibition Beauty and Belief: Crossing Bridges with the Arts of Islamic Culture, assembled and presented by Dr. Sabiha Al-Khemir. Among the 250 items is a single page of the Blue Qur'an, ...
Jehangir Merchant's Thank You Letter to the Fatimid Ismaili Icon, Da'i Al-Mu'ayyad al-Shiraziby Jehangir A. Merchant (UK/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) * * * A Thank You Letter Inspired by Prince ...
By Abdul Mamdani Standing L-R: Mohamed Teja (Nairobi, Kenya), Amir Aly Karim (accountant), Mohamed Jaffer (lawyer, Vazir Chhotubhai's son, Pakistan), Late Shamshudin Jaffer Ladak (Dodoma), Individual Name Not Currently Available, and youthful Abdul Mamdani. Sitting L-R: Mrs. Shirin Esmail (lawyer, Uganda), Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (His Highness the Aga Khan), Mata Salamat Om Habibeh Begum Aga Khan, Zool Nimji Javeri (Kamadia, ...
Recently we announced a unique new series to celebrate this website's third anniversary. Please click Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures. Numerous readers who wish to contribute have asked us to provide samples that may serve as good examples for their own messages of thanks. We have one website that you might wish to visit to assist you in formulating your Thank you ...
IMAM WRITES VERSE OF HAFIZ ON DINNER MENU By Ali M. Rajput A recent portrait of 88 year old, Dr. A. M. Rajput Editor's note: Ameer Janmohamed's piece (1953-1957: Ismailia Social and Residential Club and Jamatkhana at 51 Kensington Court) was read by hundreds of readers around the world, and some offered their own stories and insights of the building. For ...
By Hussein Rashid Some months ago when I first wrote this piece, I was thinking about the beginning of Ramadan. Today, a few months on I am thinking about the beginning of Navroz, the Persian New Year. There are beginnings everywhere. The Qur'an begins with the fatihah. There is a tradition that the entirety of the knowledge of the Qur'an can ...
I. THE SUPREME BEING By Asif Ali Khowaja Horizon there in the east turns crimson bright, As day of New Year will majestically soon rise. Parrots up there in the tress are singing a welcome song, The peacock appears enchanted as he merilly dances along. Yes, my thoughts naturally turn towards Him who creates everything, Nothing in the world is beyond ...
By Nadim Pabani Special to Simerg Introduction "Say: O People of the Book! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God." (The Holy Qur'an, 3:64) In this study, the author will firstly ...
THE ORIGINS OF ISMAILI IDENTITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A PERSPECTIVE By Ameer Janmohamed Special to Simerg 1952: The late Prince Aly Khan with the London Jamat gathering at Javeri residence at 39 Lyncroft Gardens, Hampstead, London NW5. Note: A number of people who feature in this picture are mentioned in the narrative below. For ease of recognition 'grid reference' numbers ...
His Islam was such that "he neither desired evil and harm to anyone" By Barnaby Rogerson Special to Simerg Hasan bent down to kiss his father's wounded brow. He then went out from the house to announce the death of their Imam to the people of Kufra. It was still Ramadan and so the streets around the great central mosque, and ...
"Alamut was the place which really raised my passion to astronomy and sky imaging." - Babak Tafreshi A panoramic image of the Milky Way arching across the night sky shot from a dark sky location. See below for a view from across the Ismaili fortress of Alamut. The stellar disk of the Milky Way galaxy is approximately 100,000 light-years in diameter. ...
An update has been made. Please visit A "Thank You" Letter to an Ismaili Historical Figure - Examples to Assist You. ___________________ A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What's New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near ...
Scientists and satellites hold vigil on a newborn lake in Hunza By Natasha Vizcarra On 4 January 2010, a rockslide 1200 meters long, 350 meters wide, and 125 meters high dammed the Hunza River in Attabad, in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan, and formed Lake Gojal. The initial mass movement of rock buried the village of Attabad, destroying 26 homes ...
By Muslim and Nevin Harji Editor's note: Muslim and Nevin Harji of Montreal, PQ, Canada, visited Iran for a period of 4 weeks in October 2011. A magnificent collection of photos portraying the people and foods of Iran appeared in the first instalment of this series. The Harjis summarized their unforgettable journey as follows: "There are no words to describe the ...
With Iran so much in the limelight, Simerg seems to have been drawn into the country too, but for a different reason - to showcase some of the country's rich and vibrant culture with a portrayal of its people, foods, and historical treasures. Nevin and Muslim Harji's photos of Iran that we are publishing this and next week bring to light ...
"Iranian hospitality has stolen our hearts" By Muslim and Nevin Harji Muslim (right) and Nevin Harji just before their journey from Istanbul to Tehran. The Harjis write: 'We have travelled by train in China, Africa, India, South East Asia, Europe, Canada, the United States and many other places in the world, but this train ride from Istanbul to Tehran tops them ...
By Michael Wolfe Jesus of Nazareth is the most widely revered religious figure in the world. Not only is he central to Christianity, the largest religion in the world, he is also venerated throughout Islam, the world's second largest faith. Christians may be surprised to learn that Muslims believe in the Virgin Birth and Jesus' miracles. But this shared interest in ...
By Nadim Pabani Context As Shi'ism was still in its formative and defining period, it was constantly developing and no concrete ideas concerning notions of Imamate had yet been laid down prior to the arrival of the 5th (Muhammad al-Baqir) and 6th (Ja'far al-Sadiq) Shia Imams*. The Abbasid Dynasty (750-1258 CE) came to power by preying on the hopes and aspirations ...
By Michael Wolfe A lot of non-Muslims who know something about Islam as a religious practice are nonetheless in the dark when it comes to real knowledge of Muhammad. This, despite the fact that Muhammad is the guiding, human spirit of the religion. Muslims see Muhammad as a human being who became a prophet and yet remained human all his life. ...
I. In Praise of Prophet Muhammad (May Peace Be Upon Him) By Izzat Muneyb Author's note: This song introduces us to some of the titles by which Prophet Muhammad came to be known. They are: 'Ahmad', 'Mustafa', 'Rahmatan li'l-'aalameen and 'King of law laak'. The words 'law laak' in Arabic mean, "Were it not for..." There is a Hadith of Prophet ...
By Mohezin Tejani Special to Simerg Machu Picchu In ancient days, Inti--the sun god--dives down into the depths of Lake Titicaca. He raises his son Manco Capac to the surface and Builds a city for the Quechua tribe that will worship him With temples and corn fields and virgins. Cuzco is born. The goddesses of food, fertility and war, Help the ...
By Mohezin Tejani Special to Simerg I: New Hampshire Twilight "What! You've never seen the fall leaves peaking? We can't have that!" my four Michigan dorm mates insist. I think to myself...Uganda has more trees than Michigan but only one dry and one rainy season all year round. What could be so great about seeing a bunch of leaves falling? We ...
Compiled by Malik Mirza His Highness the Aga Khan addresses the University of Ottawa convocation, where he was awarded an honorary doctorate on Friday, January 13, 2012. Photo: University of Ottawa. Copyright. The following 8-point summary prepared by Malik Mirza is taken from His Highness the Aga Khan's speech on January 13, 2012 when he was conferred with an Honorary Degree ...
By Mohezin Tejani(Special to Simerg) Photographers of the 1880's would pose, crimp hair, and position the Ute subjects until the picture was perfect in their eyes. This group could be one family or a mix of several families. The subjects were paid little or nothing. Two things to note in the photo are the cradleboards with little babies, and the panoramic backdrop ...
Joyous Day for His Highness the Aga Khan as He is Conferred an Honorary Degree by the University of Ottawa His Highness the Aga Khan received his first Honorary Degree on November 30, 1967 at the University of Peshawar, Pakistan, when he was 31. Today, January 13, 2012, he was presented with his 20th honorary degree by Ottawa University's Chancellor Huguette ...
An earlier portrait of His Highness the Aga Khan. Compiled by Azeem Maherali "Wisdom, Versatility, Sagacity and Statesmanship - Characteristic of His Highness the Aga Khan's Noble and Great family" To date, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, has been awarded 20 honorary degrees by universities from 11 different countries. The latest, the 20th, ...
I. THE SETTING Mawlana Hazar Imam amongst the UK Jamat in London Olympia in 1979. Photo: Jehangir Merchant collection. By Jehangir A. Merchant July 7th, 1979 was a day of immense joy and special happiness for the Ismailis of the United Kingdom as they gathered in London and other parts of the country to celebrate the 22nd Imamat Day anniversary of ...
AN ISMAILI MONUMENT - THE DAWR SATR PERIOD Jabal Mashhad in Salamiyya, Syria, is thought to hold the tomb of the 8th Ismaili Imam Wafi Ahmed. Photo: Henna Budhwani ~~~~~ PROTECTION AND SECURITY FOR THE IMAM Visitors looking into one of the tunnels in the Maqam al Imam in Syria. The Maqam is thought to hold the tombs of Imams Taqi ...
Simerg published over one hundred fine pieces in 2011. Simerg Blend is a varied selection from these readings for you to enjoy during the holiday period leading into the New Year - 2012! The coming year.... As Simerg prepares to mark its third anniversary in March, we propose to launch an exciting new educational series under the title The Name Is....The ...
At the Ismaili Centre by Izzat Muneyb As soon as I enter the Ismaili Centre, What do I see in Arabic calligraphy? Bismi'llaahir-Rahmaanir-Raheem Is what I see. "In the name of Allah Most Kind, Most Merciful." In the name of Allah I begin all things, In the name of Allah I conceive all thoughts; In the name of Allah I complete ...
ISMAILI SCHOLARSHIP, RESEARCH AND RELIGIOUS EDUCATION FOR THE JAMAT "Founded in 1977 by H.H. Prince Karim Aga Khan, the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, UK, functions today as a gathering point for the Ismaili community's interest in its own history and in its relationship with the larger world of Islamic scholarship and contemporary thought. His Highness the Aga Khan pictured ...
"The authority of the Imam in the Ismaili Tariqah is testified by Bay'ah by the murid to the Imam which is the act of acceptance by the murid of the permanent spiritual bond between the Imam and the murid. This allegiance unites all Ismaili Muslims worldwide in their loyalty, devotion and obedience to the Imam within the Islamic concept of universal ...
"Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness Prince Aga Khan, in direct lineal descent from the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (a.s.) and Hazrat Bibi Fatima (a.s), is the Forty-Ninth Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. By virtue of his office and in accordance with the faith and belief of the Ismaili Muslims, the Imam enjoys full authority ...
By Nizar Motani His Highness the Aga Khan's "Where Hope Takes Root" (Where Hope Takes Root: Democracy and Pluralism in an Interdependent World by His Highness the Aga Khan, with an introduction by The Right Honourable Adrienne Clarkson, published by Douglas & McIntyre, Vancouver, Canada, 2008. 153 pp). Who is the Aga Khan? And why should one buy this rather expensive ...
By Akber Premji May 1951: Mr. Akber Premji was asked to sit himself between His Highness the Aga Khan and the Begum during his audience at the Ritz in London with the late 48th Ismaili Imam. Photo: Akber Premji Collection. Copyright. My family known as the Premjis, is popularly known in India as Tyrewala. My late father has been included in ...
Historical Reflections for the 75th Salgirah of Mawlana Hazar Imam Mawlana Hazar Imam's Salgirah and the Depth of His Love for the Jamat The term Salgirah is of Persian origin. Sal means anniversary and girah means knot and hence Salgirah literally means 'an anniversary knot added on to a string kept for the purpose'. This article approaches the subject of Mawlana ...
