Questions to a Pilgrim by Pir Nasir Khushraw With gratitude to the Beneficent God for His favours, the pilgrims arrived in all their glory. They had performed the Greater and Lesser Pilgrimage and had safely returned home. In that party was a friend of mine - sincere, intimate and kind. "Tell me", said I, "How you escaped the hazards of that ...
Hodja and his son went on a journey once. Hodja preferred that his son ride the donkey and that he himself go on foot. On the way they met some people who said: "Look at that healthy young boy! That is today's youth for you. They have no respect for elders. He rides while his poor father walks!" The words made ...
By David Trilling, Central Asia News Editor, Www.Eurasianet.Org Map of Tajikistan. Courtesy Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection, Please also visit source for article and slide show:Tajikistan: In Remote Badakhshan, Community Funds Spearhead Economic Independence Isolated from the rest of Tajikistan, with their own dialect and religious traditions, the people of Badakhshan have long complained of being ignored by the central government ...
Artist: Ataullah Asmate Location: Ataullah spends his time between Ottawa, Canada, and Kabul, Afghanistan. Profile: Ataullah's interest in arts goes back to his childhood when he started sketching using pencils. He then took an active interest in calligraphy and later started painting using oil and watercolour as the medium. Artist Statement: He says his inspiration is nature, especially where he senses ...
"I am a fish of the briny deep, Ah Love, hast Thou to succour me" Eji Ooncha Re Kot Bahoo Vech-Na of Pir Hasan Kabiru'd-Deen Freely rendered in English verse By (Late) Esmail Thawerbhoy (iambic tetrameter, rhyme scheme abab) Verse 1 So high the fort and climbing steep, And surging round its base the sea; I am a fish of the ...
Excerpts from Qadi al-Numan's work, Da'aim al-Islam "Say (O Muhammad): No reward do I ask (for my favours) except your love for my kith and kin" - Holy Qur'an, Sura 42, Ayat 23 "He who loves us will be with us on the Day of Judgement" - Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq 1. It is related from Imam Ja'far as-Sadiq that a group ...
By Farhad Husseinali Patni INTRODUCTION "I leave behind me, amidst you, two great things, Holy Qur'an, the 'Book of God', and my progeny (itrat). Should you be attached to these two, never shall you go astray after me, for verily, these two will never be separated from each other until they meet at the Spring of Kauthar" -- Hadith Thaqlain [1] ...
Ali Eteraz, writing in the UK's Guardian newspaper, fears that a film being made in Qatar about the Islamic mystic, Rumi, may gloss over some of the more interesting aspects of his life. He feels, for example, that there is plenty in Rumi's historical life that would be of interest to the world today including the influence Shams al-Din Tabrizi, considered ...
The term Ginan is derived from the Hindi root-word Januna meaning 'contemplative or meditative knowledge'. It is the Ismaili view that Ginans are religious poetry pertaining to the spiritual and higher values of life. Ginanic literature emerged when Ismaili Missionaries, designated as Pirs, came to India to preach in accordance with the orders of their Imams who were centered in Iran. ...
Extraordinary Books, Extraordinary Objects About two years ago Simerg began offering its viewers a magnificent book of photographs by Prince Hussain Aga Khan called Animal Voyage. This unique book became part of this website's new category called Collections. We received one hundred signed copies of the book as well as an equal number of unsigned copies. These are now sold out. ...
Two iconic figures in their own right - first, Nelson Mandela, who suffered decades in prison under former South Africa's apartheid regime; however his sacrifices and struggles eventually led to his people being freed from oppression and inequality. Bilaal Rajan met this remarkable iconic freedom fighter known for his grace, generosity as well as the noble ethic to forget and forgive, ...
President Barack Obama talks alone with Sen. Edward Kennedy in the Green Room of the White House March 5, 2009. White House Photo, Pete Souza A PROCLAMATION BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Senator Edward M. Kennedy was not only one of the greatest senators of our time, but one of the most accomplished Americans ever to serve ...
The 27th Altikat Commemoration Ceremony One minute silence on Sunday, August 23, 2009 Lale Eskicioglu Story and photos contributed by Lale Eskicioglu, shown at left. She is Executive Director of Council of Turkish Canadians. Ms. Eskicioglu also takes a keen interest in world literature and has a website Canadians of Turkish origin and their friends gathered once again in Ottawa ...
Author to visit Toronto and Vancouver in September, 2009 for Readings Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, who was interviewed recently by Simerg (Voices: 30 Questions for Columnist Yasmin Alibhai-Brown), will be visiting Canada in September, 2009, to promote and sign her book The Settler's Cookbook: A Memoir of Love, Migration and Food in two major Canadian cities, Toronto and Vancouver. The book has received ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
Key Terms: Suddh, Buddh, Chande, Suraj and Satpanth Suddho Kari Jano I. The Tale of the Lion, the Cow and the Calf Pir [1] Sadr al-Din's ginan Eji Bindrare Vann Manhe Sukh Charere Gavantri[2] is a good example of a narrative appealing to the rural folk. For the narrative, in lilting verse, is made picturesque and moving, touching the very core ...
Profile: Laila resides in Toronto and is a graduate of the Institute of Ismaili Studies. Professionally she is a teacher of ESL (English as a Second Language). She obtained her B.A. in Sociology from York University, Toronto, and thereafter, her graduate level Certificate in Teaching ESL, from George Brown College, Toronto. Besides this, she has a graduate level Diploma in Education ...
"...Each one of us is only an instrument of the will and guidance of Mawlana Hazar lmam, and our duty and responsibility is to fulfill his wishes to the best of our abilities...." On June 13, 1983, His Highness Prince Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for the USA hosted a dinner to commemorate the Aga Khan's Silver Jubilee visit to ...
Iranian Ismaili Musician, Mansour. Photo by Tom King Mansour, an Iranian Ismaili, is a skilled musician who has been living in the United Kingdom for thirty years. He is qualified as a music conductor and also teaches and writes music. Over the years living and working in the UK, he has taught students from almost every nationality. His interest in music ...
BY SHIRAZ PRADHAN The Seeker's Path and Role in Quest for Higher Reality Man has within his heart an innate desire to transcend the world of matter and seek the spiritual. This is because he perceives in the material life an impermanency. As a result he tries to seek permanency in the spiritual. This desire for spiritual understanding is strong in ...
Faith (Iman) is like a tree, the roots of which go into the heart: its trunk is in reason, and its branches are in the instincts, while imagination is its new shoots and leaves - (senses of) the body. The foundation (asl) of faith is love for the Mawla (Imam-e-Zaman). And if this foundation, that is , this love, and the ...
The Nur (Light) of Imamat While this reading is primarily aimed at the younger readership, we think everyone can benefit from it. The sun is extremely important for all life on earth. It gives us light, warmth and energy. The sun however is not the final source of life. It is Allah who gives life to all living things. It is ...
A Holy Man saw in a dream that while he was walking in the path of Truth an angel accosted him. "Whither are you going?" asked the angel. "I am on my way to the Royal Presence," was the reply. "You are engaged in so many wordly affairs," said the angel. "You have taken such a lot of baggage with you, ...
Please click for New York Times slideshow "....President Hamid Karzai flew into a remote valley in Afghanistan's central highlands Saturday (August 1, 2009) to seek the vote from the Ismaili community, on his second campaign rally outside the capital ahead of the election this month...." (New York Times) Please see complete New York Times story and photos at and watch ...
PART III - FATIMID COINS MINTED DURING THE REIGNS OF IMAMS AL-HAKIM, AL-ZAHIR AND AL-MUSTANSIR ...a significant event that occurred during the reign of imam-caliph al-Hakim was the inauguration, in 395/1005, of the Dar al-'Ilm (House of Knowledge), an institute of learning which attracted some of the foremost scholars and scientists of the time. In his historical work al-Khitat, which remains ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
PART II - FATIMID COINS MINTED DURING THE REIGNS OF IMAMS AL-MANSUR, AL-MUIZZ AND AL-AZIZ ...During the Fatimid period, there was a unique reformatting of the gold coins used in the Empire. Inscriptions on the coins were horizontal but during the Fatimid rule, there was the addition of text in concentric circles. This was highly representative of Ismaili thought and the philosophy ...
ISLAMIC ART COLLECTION IN COPENHAGEN AMONG THE TEN MOST IMPORTANT IN THE WESTERN WORLD PART I - INTRODUCTION TO THE DAVID COLLECTION AND COIN MINTED DURING THE REIGN OF IMAM AL-MAHDI Introduction The David Collection was founded by C. L. David, a prominent lawyer who left his art collections to posterity in the building that had been his own home in ...
Within the Strand of Saffron You are a vast garden... with flowers of all colours, hues, and shades. Crocuses, lavender, thyme and jasmine. You are the vast garden and I am but a strand of saffron. We are all small petals and you are the vast creation I sit in the crocus and happily sway in your majestic glory The cool ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
Yasmin Alibhai-Brown, the only non-white columnist in the UK, writes columns for The Independent, among other newspapers, as well as makes frequent appearances on BBC TV's popular Dateline London program. She is the author of a new book The Settler's Cookbook. Here are her responses to some of the questions Simerg asked her. Simerg: You have received many awards and honours ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
Artist: Mehboob Dewji Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: Digital patterns inspired by the Alhambra Medium: Electronic using Photoshop The patterns were created using Photoshop. I started with just one straight line, gave it a texture and color and used filters to create geometric patterns. Again using different colors and texture, I added layers of different geometric shapes to create a "tile" ...
Mehboob Dewji's digital Islamic patterns are inspired by Alhambra Profile and Statement: Mehboob Dewji was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, where he with his brother, Amin, ran a commercial art studio Dewart. Today, Mehboob works for a Vancouver based motion pictures firm. He writes: "Creating digital Islamic patterns is a hobby. My designs are inspired by the Alhambra. I find ...
A tiny exquisite art show with a mystical element is currently underway at the reinstalled Islamic Gallery at the Brooklyn Museum located at Prospect Park in New York. The exhibition continues until September 6, 2009 and contains a variety of paintings, ceramics, mosque lamps, books and a magnificent page from the Qur'an. The Sufis consider wine liquid sunlight. Through its intoxicating ...
Artist profile and statement: My name is Narmin Hemnani. My inspiration comes from living in Vancouver, British Columbia and having access to the Pacific Ocean, the mountains, the whales in Tofino and the rich forests of BC. Living in this province has allowed me to experience nature and the abundant creations of Allah.Location: Vancouver, British Columbia Themes: "Ahl al-Bayt family", "Remembrance of ...
By Sadrudin K. Hassam Introduction and definition of the term Munajat The tradition of reciting the Munajat, Ya Ali Khuba Mijalas, began over a hundred years ago. It was recited in various jamati gatherings (mijalas) by Ismailis in many parts of the world to commemorate the enthronement of their 48th Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah, the late Aga Khan III (1877 - ...
Two Poems by Al-Mu'ayyad fi'l-Din al-Shirazi The Pure Progeny Peace be upon the pure progeny, and welcome to their resplendent lights. I begin with peace upon Adam from whom came all mankind, whether nomadic or sedentary. Peace be upon the one who with his staff overpowered the unbelievers of the tyrant Pharaoh. Peace be upon Jesus, the Holy Spirit, who by ...
Prince Hussain Aga Khan, in his second photo book of the same name, Animal Voyage: Travels 1996 - 2007, has further refined the original photographic edit and improved the quality of the images on the printed page. Animal Voyage (editions de l'oeil, 128 pages) is a collection of travel photographs of various animals taken over a decade and from twenty-five countries. ...
