By ABDULMALIK J. MERCHANT Publisher-Editor, Simerg.com, barakah.com and simergphotos.com The editor of Simerg, right, in a conversation with Bruno Freschi (O.C), the architect of the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby. Please see interview in Voices.Please also see:Editor Profile and ReflectionsAbout the Simerg Banner What is Simerg?" This curiosity is appreciated. Many who have an answer will still ask for verification: "It is ...
"I Wish I'd Been There" by Zahir Dharsee"Avatar" Discourses This word has all of a sudden in 2010, gained significant prominence as a result of it being the title for the Oscar nominated movie directed by James Cameron. The movie has given the word Avatar mass recognition similar to that of Coca-Cola or Nike! Historical anecdotes come from extensive reading Avatar ...
"I Wish I'd Been There" by Ameer Janmohamed Writer has lived life to the fullest To single out one scene, incident or event in Ismaili History which I would have liked to have witnessed is not easy. Even with a rudimentary knowledge of Ismaili history, I know that its fourteen hundred year span is rich with occasions which may be singled ...
"I Wish I'd Been There" By Hussein Rashid Hussein Rashid: Writer teaches in Hempstead, NY There are so many moments in history that I would love to be a part of. To be near the Prophet (SAWS) when he received the first revelation; at Ghadir-e Khumm; at the battle of Siffin; at Karbala; when Imam Jafar (AS) refused to be an ...
We asked you to be a fly on the wall and answer the question: What is the one scene, incident or event in Ismaili history you would like to have witnessed -- and why? Simerg published thirty one contributions over a period of nine weeks for this highly anticipated series. We began the series on Wednesday April 7, 2010, with Hussein ...
By Bill Fairbairn Special to Simerg. Copyright.Michael Curtis and Jack Beverley hired me on a two-year contract on the spot. I was soon enjoying my work on the Nation but disturbed by its biblical slogan THE TRUTH WILL SET YOU FREE on the front page.... His Highness the Aga Khan, Their Excellencies President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya, President Kagame of Rwanda ...
Profile of Al-Karim Jaffer (Vancouver, Canada): Decades of life's experiences have been instrumental in giving rise to a personal quest. Ignited by numerous events both personal, and by observing the challenges faced by many a people; deep transformations have evolved. A continuous search toward an inner-self has embarked the passion to inscribe. Embarked upon humble beginnings in Africa, educated in Europe, ...
Sarite Sanders Articles compiled by: Simerg.com (I) The Mysterious Radiance of a Tomb in Aswan's Fatimid Cemetery Note: All photos by Sarite Sanders may be clicked for enlargements. For those with high speed access, we recommend you view the larger images. For the past three decades, Sarite Sanders of world renown has been travelling to Egypt in the company of writers, ...
by Mohib Ebrahim 11 July 2007, Aiglemont, France: His Highness the Aga Khan addresses leaders of the Ismaili community who had come to pay homage, on behalf of his worldwide followers, on the occasion of his Golden Jubilee. Photo: AKDN/Aziz Islamshah BRIEF OVERVIEW In part one of this series (link provided below), I summarized His Highness the Aga Khan's speeches made ...
A disciple of the flower... by Aly Sunderji I was once a senseless grain thrown in burlap, I was numb and emotionless I ended up somewhere up in the Arabian Peninsula; a man who has no name had touched me. He had turned me from a grain to rizq, I was then born in the form of rozi. Deeply rooted in ...
By Sadrudin K. Hassam INTRODUCTION An attempt is made in this article to give an interpretation of the devotional Ginan Navroz na din Sohamna, which is recited by Ismaili Jamats in many parts of the world on the occasion of the celebration of the Persian New Year which falls on March 21st. In this ginan the composer, Sayyid Fatehali Shah, relates ...
A Welcome Message to My Beloved Flowers at the Ismaili Centre gardens, Lisbon. Photo: Nurin Merchant I am weaving together the flowers Shah Karim, I am making a carpet of flowers, So give them bloom and give them scent, By treading my carpet of flowers! These are the choicest flowers I have gathered for you -- But they bloom only in ...
By Dr. Karl S. Kruszelnicki For centuries the 'Exotic East' held a great allure for western travellers, but some of the tales that were told have turned out to be more than fanciful. Dr Karl has pulled back the silk curtain for a clearer view... Way back in the last century, in the Era of Free Love and lava lamps, marijuana ...
by Mohib Ebrahim The famous Ismaili jurist and scholar of the Fatimid Court, Qadi Noman explained in Majalis 19 of his Code of Conduct for the Followers of the Imam: The Imam never utters a word which is light, superfluous or meaningless. God has made the Imams free from these defects. If we imagine that a particular word uttered by the ...
A BEACON OF INSPIRATION His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him), became 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims at the age of 20 on 11 July, 1957 following the death of his grandfather, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III (2 November, 1877 - 11 July, 1957). Since ...
BOOK REVIEW Eagle's Nest - Ismaili Castles in Iran and Syria by the late Professor Peter Willey The late Professor Willey The late Professor Peter Willey is regarded as a world authority on the Ismaili castles of Iran and Syria which he had spent nearly a lifetime discovering and investigating. Eagle's Nest, his final work, which is reviewed on this page ...
by Dr. Sarfaroz Niyozov, University of Toronto (Copyright: CA & CC Press, Sweden) INTRODUCTION: THE CHALLENGE OF WRITING ON THE CENTRAL ASIAN ISMAILIS Writing an article about Central Asian Shi'a Ismaili Muslims represents a very challenging task for several reasons: In geographical terms, Central Asia includes a very broad area and this makes the region wherein perhaps the majority of modern ...
Famine, then feast for Tajik Muslim sect By Kathy Lally, Baltimore Sun, June 4, 1995 (Copyright) To make it fit for this historic moment, the Pamiris have cleared and smoothed the rocky ground with their bare hands. The sparkling Panj - shallow and swift-flowing - divides Tajikistan from Afghanistan, and the Afghans here sit on their bank of the river, awaiting ...
Devout Hindu Finds Space in Istanbul's "Blue Mosque" Which She Can Relate To by Radhika Mehta, Ottawa Special to Simerg. I so wanted to eternally hang on to those wonderfully uplifting feelings, that I went and bought a couple of beautiful Iznik tiles to bring back home with me, and even a quick daily glance at them washes my very heart ...
Hazrat Ali (a.s.) had written a comprehensive letter - articulating principles of public policy - for the guidance of the newly appointed Governor to Egypt, Maalik al Ashtar. In this fascinating directive, Hazrat Ali advises the new governor that his administration will succeed only if he governs with concern for justice, equity, probity and the prosperity of all. There is a ...
by Paulo Coelho An 1847 depiction of the Norse Yggdrasil as described in the Icelandic Prose Edda by Oluf Olufsen Bagge (Wikipedia image). The famous Persian poet Rumi tells us that one day, in a village in the north of what is now Iran, there appeared a man who told marvelous stories about a tree whose fruit made whoever ate of ...
A representation of the intricacies of life by Mary Lowe, a Canadian artist, who specializes in 3 dimensional clay sculptures. Image: I by Paulo Coelhio Many years ago, in a poor Chinese village, there lived a farmer and his son. His only material possession, apart from the land and a small hut, was a horse he had inherited from his ...
...Ismaili history provides many admirable examples of the sacrifices made by leaders, which could be a source of inspiration for those who take the trouble to learn from the past Folio from Hazrat Ali's Nahj al-Balagha (Peaks of Eloquence). Photo: Wikipedia Habituate your heart to mercy for the subjects and to affection and kindness for them. Do not stand over them ...
By Abbas Hamdani In all the work of the dais, the final interpreter and arbiter of law and doctrine remains the Imam. He ensures the continuity and progress in our thought, life, law and history. It is his greatest role for mankind, that is to keep the Sharia abreast of social change. The Imam is the symbol of change and development. ...
In their important survey work titled Islamic Art and Architecture 650-1250, the art-historians Richard Ettinghausen, Oleg Grabar and Marilyn Jenkins-Medina write: "The most striking feature of the arts under Fatimid rule was the establishment of Egypt, and more particularly of the newly created city of Cairo, as a major centre for artistic activities. The latter involved the construction of many buildings, ...
By Hakimali V. Surani 1. Introduction There should always be a common point where inter-communication could exist between man and God. About the past the Holy Qur'an says: "Lo, Allah preferred Adam and Noah and the family of Abraham and the family of Imran above all creatures. They were descendants one of another." (Holy Qur'an, 3:33-34) Allah's preference in the above ...
Excerpt of a chapter from the Da'aim al-Islam, a work by the Fatimid jurist Qadi al-Nu'man On the difference between Islam (submission) and Iman (faith), Allah the Most High says: "The Arabs of the desert declare: 'We are true believers'. Say (to them O Muhammad!): 'You are not. Rather say: We profess Islam, for faith has not yet found its way ...
by Mohib Ebrahim I think timelines exploit a compelling format which portrays knowledge as art and lets us engage in history both intellectually and aesthetically. If a picture is worth a thousand words then perhaps a picture with a thousand words is twice as valuable... An image of the entire timeline of Awards and Honours conferred on His Highness the Aga ...
Historical Photographs NOTE:The following images were submitted to Simerg for publication on this web site. While the photos may have appeared elsewhere, it would be appropriate that credit is given to www.simerg.comand the contributor should you decide to download the photo from this web site. Copyright photos may not be reproduced without permission from simerg.com or the respective copyright owner. Zanzibar, ...
ASPECTS OF LIFE IN THE ISMAILI COMMUNITY Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan with the Punjebhoy Club Sporting Team of Zanzibar. Photo: Sadruddin Khimani Family Collection, Vancouver, Canada. Historical Photographs: Aspects of Life in the Ismaili Community is intended to become a resource for rare and unique non-copyright photographs received by this web site from individuals and private collections and archives. ...
A folio from a manuscript of Ginan Vaek Moto of Pir Shams. Ms. KM 125, 463 folios, 200 x 160 mm; Copied in 1897 Samvat/1841 by Dahio Surijiani. Credit: The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London, 1. Introduction The Ginanic literature of the Ismailis emerged when Ismaili Pirs (missionaries) came to India by the orders of their respective Imams to spread ...
Collection: The Aga Khan's Horses, 1938, Signed by the Aga Khan Note:This limited edition is now unavailable. The first-ever book on the history of His Highness the Aga Khan III's horse breeding, training and racing activities was published in April 1938. Titled The Aga Khan's Horses, this book was authored by the horse racing writer, R. C. Lyle who, in his ...
Karim Master - Teacher and Alwaez - Inspired Ismaili Youth and Adults to Better Understanding of their Faith "...Your gift of this unique volume, which was prepared by your father, Alwaez Karim Pirani, and which contains articles and drawings by numerous Ismaili individuals as well as messages of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah and Mata Salamat is a veritable treasure..." (message to ...
Artist Nazmu Mamdani with his sons Rafi and KamilArtist: Nazmu Mamdani Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Title/Medium "Rafi, My little Boy"; Watercolour "Peggy's Cove"; Watercolour "Our dog, Beejoe"; Acrylic on mat board Rafi, My Little Boy A painting of my son Rafi when he was 1½ years old _______________________________ Peggy's Cove A famous sight on the Nova Scotia seaside _______________________________ Our Dog, ...
Painting wildlife is natural to Ottawa's Nazmu Mamdani, who is a vet by profession Profile and Statement: Nazmu Mamdani was born in Mbale, Uganda and 3 years after graduating as a Veterinarian from the University of Nairobi, Kenya, immigrated to Canada. Following fulfilling the Canadian Board exams he worked for 2 years basically as a 'cowboy vet' for the Department of ...
Artist: Nazmu Mamdani Location: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Title/Medium "Yellow Shafted Flicker"; Watercolour "Chippy"; Acrylic on mat board "Dozing Cougar"; Watercolour Yellow Shafted Flicker Beautiful bird of the Woodpecker family ______________________________ Chippy My boys named this chipmunk Chippy in the children's stories we conjured up about him. ______________________________ Dozing Cougar This female cougar was a resident of the Peterborough Zoo, Ontario. Not ...
As I sat waiting the call to his [the Aga Khan's] suite, I could see why it was that His Highness was so popular with the hotel staff. The porters looked upon him as their special charge...Every mention of his name, was allied with something affectionate, something human...The drawing room in which His Highness received me looked more like the work-room ...
The thoughtful study of the late Aga Khan, 48th Imam of Shia Imami Ismailis, shown above was done in clay by his wife, the Begum Aga Khan, Om Habiba. Image by © Bettmann/CORBIS In his Platinum Jubilee message, shown in the above quote, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III, had exhorted his Ismaili followers to "show their true Islamic charity ...
A Unique Opportunity to Acquire "The Memoirs of Aga Khan" - 1st Editions in Seven Languages "I can only say to everyone who reads this book of mine that it is my profound conviction that man must never ignore and leave untended and undeveloped that spark of the Divine which is in him." The autobiography of the 48th Ismaili Imam, Sultan ...
Portrait of Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, 48th Ismaili Imam whose reign of 72 years was the longest in Ismaili history. © Photo: The National Portrait Gallery In the early afternoon of 11 July, 1957, after an Imamat spanning seventy-two years, the 48th Imam, Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah, Aga Khan III, passed away in Geneva. In a leading article ...
