Global -- What do a policy advisor at the US State Department, a lecturer at Oxford University and the Head of Graduate Studies at The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) have in common? All of them have pursued postgraduate studies the IIS. The Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) offers students two years of challenging and rigorous study at ...
News story -- This year's cohortadmitted to the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) are the first to follow a new curriculum aimed at further improving the course and the way students develop a discourse based on a civilisational approach to Islam. Three years ago, the Institute's Academic Steering Committee initiated the work to devise a programme where Shi'i and ...
The reference by the Persian Ismaili Missionary, Fida'i Khurasani, of the distribution of healing water by Imam Islamshah (a.s.), the 30th Ismaili Imam, is significant, as the practice of drinking water blessed by the Imam is frequently attested in Ismaili Ginans and continues to form part of the Ismaili tradition to this day. The use of such consecrated water is widely ...
"Frankly, this so-called freedom of the press has reached a state of such license that virtually anything can be printed." His Highness the Aga Khan's 1989 India Today Interview (India) ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ "A free press is not simply a press free to criticise as an end in itself. In many developed countries, freedom of the press has often ...
Fargana Qasimova, vocal, daf Rauf Islamov, kamancha Zaki Valiyev, tar Rafael Asgarov, balaban, clarinette Javidan Nabiyev, nagara For Fargana Qasimova, the passionate lyrics of Azerbaijani mugham and spirited songs of the bardic ashiq tradition provided the soundscape of her childhood. Now a consummate vocalist in her own right, Fargana has developed her own distinctive style that builds on the formidable artistic legacy bequeathed ...
Byambajargal Gombodorj, vocal (Mongolia) Ulzhan Baibussynova, vocal, dombra (Kazakhstan) Raushan Orozbaeva, qyl-qobyz (Kazakhstan) Adinai Kudabaeva, komuz (Kyrgyzstan) Nodira Pirmatova, vocal, dutar, tanbur (Uzbekistan) Tawus Annamyradova, vocal, dutar (Turkmenistan) Fargana Qasimova, vocal, daf (Azerbaijan) Ozoda Ashurova, vocal, doira (Tajikistan) "Bardic Divas" celebrates the artistic talent and diverse performance traditions of exceptional female singers and instrumentalists from Central Eurasia. The "divas" presented in this concert ...
Kinan Azmeh, clarinet Basel Rajoub, saxophone Jasser Haj Youssef, violin, viola d'amore Feras Charestan, qanun Various artists, percussion This adventurous programme brings together eminent performer-composer-improvisers from Syria, Tunisia and Lebanon, who create new music inspired by the rich cultural heritage of the Arab lands. Performing on Middle Eastern and Western instruments, they exemplify the talent, achievement, and breadth of a rising generation of ...
By Rashida Noormohamed-Hunzai This paper seeks to demonstrate the underlying teachings of the holy Qur'an in the Ginanic Literature, therefore it is essential, first of all to describe the nature of the Qur'an, as well as that of the Ginans in order to understand better the relationship between them. The holy Qur'an is the Divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s. ...
Peter Hahne: Your Highness, Islamic believers are spreading fear and terror across the world in the name of Allah, as witnessed again most recently on the island of Bali. What does all this have to do with religion? Aga Khan: Nothing at all. Islam and terror have not the slightest thing in common. Islam does not teach terrorism any more than ...
By Prof. Dr. Allama Nasir al Din Nasir Hunzai In his firman to Surat Jamat on 12th October, 1903, NOOR Mowlânâ Sultân Muhammad Shâh (a.s.) said "If you always read religious books, you will come to know that the throne of Imamat is continuous, perpetual and everlasting." Therefore, the subjects of Imam and Imamat are of paramount importance for all believers ...
Nutrition Centre -- Healthy Hints You may notice that the portion recommended for this recipe is a little more than a cup, which may seem small; however, add a salad or kachumber along with some yoghurt and you have a well-balanced satisfying meal. Another option is to try adding frozen peas, potatoes or other vegetables in step eight (when you add ...
His son Marky Mark opens Group account in New Zealand. Bonneval sire MAKFI lost no time in making an impact in 2015 as his son Marky Mark provided him with a first Group success on New Year's Day. From MAKFI's first crop of Southern Hemisphere two-year-olds, Marky Mark soundly beat a strong field in the Gr. 3 Eclipse Stakes over six ...
He will stand alongside his half brother Sea The Stars. The Directors of Sunderland Holding Inc. today announced that Born To Sea is relocating to Gilltown Stud to stand with his half brother SEA THE STARS. Christopher Tsui said in his statement that "Rathasker Stud and the Burns family did a wonderful job with Born To Sea and we are very ...
Originally aired on PBS to a word-wide audience exceeding 150 million people "CANDID, THOUGHTFUL AND VISUALLY STUNNING" - Los Angeles Times Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s) changed world history in 23 years and continues to shape and inspire the lives of more than 1.4 billion Muslims around the world. Simerg is pleased to make available for its readers around the world a link ...
By Annemarie Schimmel In the Turkish tradition, the best-known early mevlût was written by Süleyman Chelebi of Bursa around 1400. But more than a century earlier, Yunus Emre had already promised heavenly reward to those who recite mevlût, which shows -- provided the verses are genuine -- that mevlûts were popular among the Turks at a rather early stage. Süleyman Chelebi's ...
News story -- In 2014, IIS scholars and publication authors participated in an array of book launch events and scholar visits. The IIS' Department of Communications & Development facilitated thirty-four events in Canada, India, Portugal, Tajikistan, United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom and the USA. Over 3,000 individuals attended these events, including leading figures in academia, university students, dignitaries and members of ...
Come, I will show you that which is truly the House of God, Not what you imagine to be the House of God. Is a House of stone more sacred than the chosen guide [Muhammad] who established the House? Sayyidna al-Mu'ayyad al-Shirazi (Diwan al-Mu'ayyad, tr. M. Adra, Mount of Knowledge, Sword of Eloquence , 189) This article will explain the exoteric ...
News story -- This feature will provide an in-depth look into the new GPISH curriculum and how it was developed. ...
PLEASE CLICK: Ameer Kassam Janmohamed (1931-2014) or photo for tribute. ~~~~~~~ PLEASE CLICK: "Conversations on Three Continents" ~~~~~ PLEASE CLICK: Rediscovering a Lost Piece of Ismaili History -- First Steps in the Migration of Tanzanian Ismailis to Canada ~~~~~~ PLEASE CLICK: To the Memory of Roshan Thomas and Zeenab Kassam PLEASE CLICK: Roshan Thomas - Acting in the Path of God ...
"I have seen situations where there has been an attempt to marginalise the intelligentsia of a given community and that of course is an extremely unwelcome feature of a society." His Highness the Aga Khan's 2015 Samuel L & Elizabeth Jodidi Lecture and apres lecture conversation with Diana L. Eck, Harvard University (Cambridge, USA) [Emphasis added] ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ...
Please click on for wonderful photo essays.
News story -- Drs Shainool Jiwa and Arzina Lalani presented papers in Ankara, on 18-22 August 2014, as part of a panel at the World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES)..The panel was entitled One Empire, Many Religions: Religionand Society under Fatimid Rule and was organised by Almut Höfert and Serena Tolino.The Fatimid empire (909 -1171 CE) became a leading power in ...
The NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat Speeches, Interviews and Writings wishes all happy New Year (click on the image to view the card). Over the past 57 years, His Highness the Aga Khan has, time and time again, emphasised the critical importance of new ideas for solving the pressing problems of our times -- whether communal, local, national, regional or global. Albert ...
Aqnazar Alovatov, vocal, rubab Sahiba Davlatshaeva, vocal and dance Shodikhon Mabatkulov, daf Olucha Mualibshoev, vocal, tanbur Mukhtor Muborakkadamov, setar Gulomsho Safarov, tanbur ...
Homayun Sakhi, afghan rubab Rahul Sharma, santur Sirojiddin Juraev, dutar, tanbur Mukhtor Muborakqadomov, badakhshani setar This programme features a musical collaboration that represents a modern-day encore of the remarkable artistic synthesis cultivated by the emperors who ruled the Mughal Dynasty, founded at the beginning of the 16th century by Babur. Inspired by visual images and literary descriptions of exuberant music-making in the Mughal ...
Homayun Sakhi, rubab Seiar Hashimi, tabla Abbos Kosimov, doyra and qayraq Afghan rubab virtuoso Homayun Sakhi teams up with percussionists Seiar Hashimi on tabla and Abbos Kosimov on doyra (Central Asian frame drum) for a performance devoted to the traditional Kabuli style of Indian raga performance of which Homayun Sakhi is arguably the greatest living exponent. Throughout this ebullient performance, Hashimi and Kosimov ...
