Introduced by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimerg Photos We have received a very reliable report by an Ismaili individual (name withheld) of the ground realities in Afghanistan following the recent swift and generally peaceful takeover of the country by the Taliban. The author is in contact with numerous Ismaili individuals in Kabul and around the country, and will be sending regular ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) PRESS RELEASE In a press release issued in Kabul, Afghanistan, on August 25, 2021, the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) stated as follows: "The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is firmly committed to its core mandate of undertaking a range of innovative programmes and projects to improve the quality of ...
The Islamic phrase "Umm ul Muminin"(Mother of the believers) is followed in the centre by"Khadijah"; the bottom contains the Islamic honoric phrase "Radhi allahu anha" (May Allah be pleased with her). Credit: Maajid Shafi (own work), Wikipedia Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International. Note: This art work is not part of the article posted below. ********* When her father died, the young ...
A former Ismaili refugee from Afghanistan, Malik Malikzada, who runs Jamila's Kitchen and Grill in Coquitlam, one of 21 municipalities in Greater Vancouver, Canada, says he is fearful for some members of his family as his homeland is seized by the Taliban. But, he says, having spoken to a cousin in Afghanistan, the situation in Kabul is calm. Read complete report ...
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimerg Photos I first met met Bruno Freschi, the architect of the Ismaili Centre Vancouver, in Washington D.C., when Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, was awarded the Vincent Scully Prize in January 2005 at the National Building Museum. After meeting him at the door, I politely intruded into a conversation the Aga ...
INTRODUCTION: The Muslim New Year begins with the month of Muharram. In most of the countries, the celebrations are not marked by a public holiday. However, the coming of the New Year is observed by offering of special prayers at night and reflection on the life and times of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S.). His emigration (Hijrah) from Mecca to Medina ...
Nurbanu Abdulrasul Rashid (1923-2019) celebrating her 95th birthday in Toronto. Photo: Kamrudin Rashid & Family Collection. Submitted by KAMRUDIN RASHID & FAMILY Nurbanu Abdulrasul Rashid, our dearest mother, mother-in-law, grandmother and great-grandmother and an extremely respected elder in the entire family passed away on July 15, 2019 at the age of 96. She enjoyed a wonderful life with her entire family, ...
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un "Surely we belong to God and to Him we return" -- Holy Qur'an, 2:156 "Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny." -- Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th ...
We have two short pieces on the festival of Eid-e Ghadir, which is commemorated on the 18th of the Islamic month Dhul Hijja (in 2021 falling on or around Tuesday July 27). The first piece, along with the ambigram at the top, is reproduced from The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili Muslim community. The ambigram, which is in the ...
"For brief period of history, the Fatimid Caliphate based in Egypt presided over arguably the most powerful empire in the Mediterranean. Yet because the legacy of this Ismaili dynasty was erased or downplayed by its Sunni rivals and successors, the Fatimids are often misunderstood. As we show in this installment of "The Making of the Islamic World," the Fatimid period and ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with USA writer Shelina Shariff-Zia's book "Nairobi Days". We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Ali Lakhani, Nizar Sultan, Nargis Fazal, Nazlin Rahemtulla, Azmina Suleman, Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We invite Ismaili authors ...
[We begin story telling in Simerg with stories exclusively written for this website by Vancouver based creative writer Farah Tejani, who has contributed inspiring poems for Simerg, including one last year on the occasion of Eid al-Adha titled The Great Sacrifice. This beautiful story of the Ladybug is being presented to our readers at a time when Muslims will be celebrating ...
A Personal Reflection by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Dr. Vali Jamal I have learnt with deep sadness that Dr. Vali Jamal, a noted economist at the United Nations from the 1970's to 1990's, an author and a valuable contributor to Simerg's acclaimed series on Ismaili Jamatkhanas and Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures, passed away in Kampala, Uganda, on July 11, ...
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) Shia Ismaili Muslims all over the world will commemorate the 64th Imamat Day anniversary of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on Sunday July 11, 2021. From the day our beloved Prophet Muhammad (S.A.S.) passed away on June 8, 632, and Hazrat Ali (A.S.) became the first Imam on the ...
As Ismaili Muslims prepare to commemorate the 64th Imamat Day anniversary of their 49th Imam on July 11, 2021, we bring you these fine piece by Ismaili and non-Ismaili authors that provide a rich account of the work of His Highness the Aga Khan in different areas of human endeavour. The first piece by Shiraz Nasser is a narrative that provides ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer M. Ali Lakhani's book "Faith and Ethics: The Vision of the Ismaili Imamat". We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Nizar Sultan, Nargis Fazal, Nazlin Rahemtulla, Azmina Suleman, Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and ...
By (Late) Malek J. Merchant Adapted and edited by Malik and Nurin Merchant This religious dialogue on Ya Ali Madad is adapted and edited from the original piece by Mrs. Merchant (1931-2021). It was presented by her students at their respective religious education centres and Jamatkhanas in London, England, and also appeared in the 1977 Navroz issue of UK ITREB'S prestigious ...
Once an isolated region barely touched by the hands of time, Afghanistan's Wakhan Corridor stands on the brink of great change with the building of a new road linking it with China. Study map below and click on the map or HERE to read BBC's new photo travel piece by Simon Urwin.The Wakhan Corridor is an area of far north-eastern Afghanistan ...
Submitted by RASHIDA and FARAH TEJANI, Vancouver Originally from Uganda, Jehangir and Rashida Tejani together with their two year old daughter Farah immigrated to Vancouver, Canada, in August 1970, two years before the Ugandan refugee crisis in 1972. After working in paint sales, Jehangir opened his own business, JR Imports, until his retirement in 2015. Jehangir was an avid golfer and ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer Nizar Sultan's book "The Roots and the Trees". We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Nargis Fazal, Nazlin Rahemtulla, Azmina Suleman, Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We invite Ismaili authors around ...
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, will deliver a virtual address at the University of Central Asia's first-ever convocation on Saturday June 19, 2021 that is expected to commence shortly (8AM Toronto Time). Watch on UCA Website: Click HERE or on Image Below _______________________________ Watch on Ismaili TV: Click HERE or on Image Below Date posted: June 19, 2021. ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer Nargis Fazal's book "Coughdrops". We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Nazlin Rahemtulla, Azmina Suleman, Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We invite Ismaili authors around the world to participate in this ...
Compiled and introduced by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotosThe Simurgh ceramic vase at the Aga Khan Museum, Bellerive Room. In our "Photo of the Day" feature published in Simergphotos on June 2, 2021, musician, author and artist Afraaz Mulji picked out the ceramic object Simurgh as his favourite piece among 60 other ceramic works of art that make up the beautiful ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer Nazlin Rahemtulla's book "RSVP Rice and Stew Very Plenty" (carrying the subtitle "The Story of an Ismaili Girl's Expulsion from Uganda and Acceptance in Canada"). We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Azmina Suleman, Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen ...
Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos)Alwaez Jehangir and Alwaeza Maleksultan Merchant pictured at Gatineau Park during their visit to Ottawa in 2007. Thursday May 27, 2021, will be the 3rd anniversary of the passing of Jehangir Merchant (December 13, 1928 - May 27, 2018), father of Malik (publisher and editor of this website), Fahar and his wife Nina, ...
Submitted by LAYLA MOLEDINA and Members of LATE MUKHI FAZAL MOLOO (MOLEDINA) Family Mr. Fazal Moledina arrived in Zanzibar from Kutchh Nagalpur, India, in the late 1930's at the age of 18 years. He worked hard, saved money and sent money to his mother back home in India. He moved to Morogoro and later worked for Mr. Bhimji Ladha in Chunya, ...
Ismaili Muslims observe Laylat al-Qadr on the 23rd night of Ramadhan, which falls on Tuesday, May 4, in 2021. Jamati members across North America are cordially invited to participate in a special Laylat al-Qadr program that will be held in three sessions as highlighted in the poster below (click on image for enlargement). Please also click HERE for the institutional events ...
By MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotosAlwaeza Malek J. Merchant pictured in Lisbon, Portugal, in July 2018 during the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. As I reached the burial sites of my parents on Thursday, April 29, 2021, I was deeply gratified when a Bangladeshi woman walked over to me and offered me two stems of ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer Azmina Suleman's book "In the Name of Justice - Portrait of a 'Cowboy' Judge." We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Alnasir Rajan, Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We encourage Ismaili authors to ...
By MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos On the morning of Friday April 16, 2021, as I quickly glanced at the subject column of new emails that I had received overnight, my heart sank when I saw "Carnegie Corporation of New York Mourns the Death of President Vartan Gregorian." As a personal tribute to him, I would like to share three beautiful ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with Canadian writer Alnasir Rajan's book "Invisible Birthmarks." We follow the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Shafeen Ali, Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We encourage Ismaili authors to participate in this series, regardless of when their books were published. ...
This matter has been on my mind for 12 months, and this piece was prepared some 3 months ago. I have now decided to post it after patiently waiting for Jamati institutions, and specifically ITREB, to provide an absolutely essential service to the Jamat -- availability of Farman books, important objects (eg. tasbihs) as well as Dua recordings with meanings, and ...
The Chief Justice of Canada, His Excellency the Right Honourable Richard Wagner, P.C., is currently serving as the administrator of the Government of Canada until such a time as the next governor general is installed. His message on the death of His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh was released by him on Friday April 9, 2021, and is reproduced after ...
Editor's note: Simerg does not generally publish or encourage anonymous articles on any of its websites but in this particular case we have decided to protect the author's identity, as it concerns a health matter. The editor has verified the content of the article, and wishes to assure readers that the facts that are noted by the author are correct. Any ...
by MALIK MERCHANTPublisher/Editor Simerg, Barakah andSimergphotos Simerg's series entitled "Books by Ismaili Authors" continues with USA based Shafeen Ali's acclaimed book "To be One with God: Seven Journeys to the Meaning of Life," in the same Q/A format as our recent presentations of books written by Mansoor Ladha, Zeni Shariff and Shamas Nanji. We encourage Ismaili authors to participate in this ...
"Awaken, the morning Nowruz breeze is showering the garden with flowers" -- Saadi According to the popular reference book The Old Farmer's Almanac, Saturday, March 20 marked the start of the spring season in 2021 in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun crossed the equator line heading north at 5:37 A.M. EDT. This event is referred to as the spring equinox or ...
By FARAH TEJANI Open your doors and let the honeyed fragrance of Spring, Enter your household while the seraphic birds sweetly sing, All life is born again now that the gruelling winter is done, Raise hands and praise Allah under the melting rays of the sun. Navroz Mubarak, the New Year begins, We welcome it with wonder and repent for our ...
Murghab's installation represents a 50 percent increase in daytime electricity - meaning communities are now able to pursue activities throughout the day, children can attend heated schools, and homes have power and heat during the long and bitterly cold winter months. Most of the material for this post has been obtained from an article prepared by USAID, with additional material and ...
A hands-on workshop designed for sixteen years and older will be conducted on Saturday, March 13, 2021 from 1-3 pm (Eastern Time USA/Canada) by Sayeh (Saya) Behnam, an Iranian American artist based in northern Virginia who works with materials from nature, such as flowers, spices (saffron, turmeric), teas, and minerals to paint decorative eggs and postcards with Persian motifs. No art ...
Compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher-Editor, Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) With March 21, 2021 only ten days away, Simerg is pleased to compile this list of Navroz books for children. The books will give families opportunities to experience the different aspects of the great cultural tradition of Navroz. All the books listed here can be delivered as early as next ...
