VIDEO: This Giving Tuesday, Aga Khan Foundation asked how YOU see change
We asked people from all over the country to share their visions of change. Read their responses and learn more about our Giving Tuesday campaign here: ...
Simergphotos: Celebrating Mawlana Hazar Imam's 78th Salgirah (Birthday) With a Rich Collection of Photos and Quotes
Compiled and Prepared by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos and Simerg The images and quotes published below represent: Mawlana Hazar Imam’s family; the Imam’s affection and love for all his murids; the breadth and scope of his Imamat work around the world through the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN); the worldwide admiration, respect and warmth that is shown to him by ...
11 Year Old Boy Aspiring to Become an Astronaut Interviews India's Iconic Singer Salim Merchant
BY QAYL MAHERALI Special to Simerg Qayl's FaceTime interview with Salim Not very long ago, Simerg had featured a photo piece about my interest in space and the dream I have to become an astronaut one day. The feature, Photo Essay: A 9 Year Old Ismaili Boy's First Steps of Becoming an Astronaut, followed my momentous meetings with some of the ...
VIDEO: Architecture and values shared during Open House at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon
Global -- The Ismaili Centre, Lisbon took part in Lisboa Open House, an annual event to raise awareness about spaces of architectural and cultural value. Visitors learnt about the relationship between the architecture of the building and the history and values of a Muslim community that has been in Portugal for decades. ...
Aga Khan urges support for civil society at Afghanistan Conference
London, United Kingdom, 4 December 2014 - His Highness the Aga Khan on Thursday (December 4th) reaffirmed the Aga Khan Development Network's commitment to Afghanistan and emphasized the importance of civil society in securing the country's prosperous future. "An effective enabling environment for civil society should seek to foster meritocracy, ethics and mutual accountability," he said. The spiritual leader of the ...
Video: Speech: Address to the Conference on Afghanistan (London, United Kingdom)
Allow me to highlight four areas for consideration [vis a vis Afghanistan's development]: First, we must focus on inclusive economic participation.... Second, we must accelerate human resource capacity creation from early childhood to tertiary education, including in particular, market-relevant skills development and vocational training.... Third, women's participation in society is vital to ensure an improved quality of life.... Fourth, we recognise ...
A Bridge Between Two Epochs -- Aga Khan III, by Rashida Noormohamed Hunzai
Brave indeed would be a person to undertake a book on Hazrat Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah al-Husayni, `alayhi's-salam! It would take much more than an ordinary literary talent to do justice to a life crammed with so many unprecedented events and achievements, a life which he himself describes as being so full that he was never for an instant bored! This ...
Social Responsibility as Explained in the Quran -- Ali Asani
by Dr. Ali S. Asani Ali Asani (AKH 73-84) was the recipient of one of His Highness the Aga Khan's personal scholarships while studying at Harvard. Since finishing his doctorate in 1984, he has pursued an academic career at his alma mater where he is currently Professor of the Practice of Indo-Muslim Languages & Cultures. Ali chose to speak about Islam ...
Dalakhani's Vedouma lifts Listed Isonomy
Juvenile Stakes 1-2-3 for Aga Khan Stud sires. DALAKHANI secured his ninth Stakes winner of the season, and 41st of his career, at Chantilly on Tuesday as his daughter Vedouma ran out an impressive winner of the Listed Prix Isonomy in the colours of H.H. the Aga Khan. Aga Khan Stud stallions made a clean sweep in the mile event as ...
Group 1s galore in Aga Khan Studs Arqana draft
Sisters to Shareta and Dalkala, and the dam of Behkabad feature in December sale. Arqana's breeding stock sale on 6th to 9th December offers breeders and investors some wonderful opportunities to enrich their bloodlines. The Aga Khan Studs are strongly featured in the catalogue, with some excellent pedigrees represented by proven and potential broodmares. Among the 33 Aga Khan Studs graduates, ...
New Qur'anic Studies Publication Explores Translations of the Qu'ran in Turkey
News story -- The IIS is pleased to announce the publication of M. Brett Wilson's book Translating the Qur'an in an Age of Nationalism: Print Culture and Modern Islam in Turkey,the eleventh in the Qur'anic Studies Series. The book focuses on the emergence of translations and printings of the Qur'an in a period comprising the end of the Ottoman Empire to the ...
Scholars from IIS, Indiana and Harvard host two Ismailism Panels at MESA Conference on November 23
MESA's 48th annual meeting will commence in Washington, DC at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel on November 22-25, 2014. This year's panel presentations feature several scholars from the IIS, Harvard and Indiana including Nadia E. Jamal, Shainool Jiwa, Paul E. Walker, Khalil Andani, Daniel Beben and others. Both Ismailism panels take place on Sunday, November 23 at 8:30 AM and 4:30 ...
VIDEO: Opening Ceremony of the Aga Khan Museum
Global -- The opening ceremony of the Aga Khan Museum took place on 12 September 2014, following the opening of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto earlier in the afternoon by Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Mawlana Hazar Imam. They also marked the opening of the museum, together with Prince Amyn and the Honourable Shelly Glover, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official ...
Simerg's Photo Features: Iran and Alamut Like You Have Never Seen Before and the Seal of the Aga Khan University
As part of the 3rd anniversary of Simerg's photo blog, we bring you two previous features portraying the rich culture and history of Iran, and the meaning behind the logo of the Aga Khan University. Please click on the links or images shown below. 1.Iran and Alamut Like You Have Not Seen Before 2.The Magnificent Aga Khan University, its Symbolic Logo ...
Makfi on Stakes scoresheet
Prolific Cornwallville lifts Criterium du Languedoc. First season sire MAKFI opened his black-type account earlier in the week thanks to his son Cornwallville, winner of the Listed Criterium du Languedoc in the colours of Pearl Bloodstock. This precocious colt has enjoyed a busy and productive juvenile season, beginning his racing career on the opening day of the turf season in Britain ...
Aga Khan Academy selected as a Microsoft "Showcase School"
Mombasa, Kenya, 14 November 2014 - The Aga Khan Academy, Mombasa has been selected by the Microsoft Corporation to be a Showcase School. This elite status is given to only 150 schools across 75 countries worldwide and the Academy is the only school in Eastern Africa and one of two schools in Sub Saharan Africa to be selected. The Academy was ...
IIS Scholar Delivers Papers at International Conferences
News story -- Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor delivered a paper as part of the lecture series, Political Violence: Beyond the Secular/Religious Divide organised by the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW) at Leiden University, Netherlands, on 19th September 2014. The paper, entitled Imaginative Anachronistic Leaps and Secular/Religious Myths of Terrorism: The case of Nizari Ismailis of the Alamut Period, addresses ...
Survey: Ismailism Topics of Interest
Ismaili Gnosis has created a short survey to determine the sort of topics, subjects and issues most relevant to those wishing to learn more about Ismailism. Please take one minute to fill out the survey as this information will allow Ismaili Gnosis to gear its future articles to your needs. The survey is completely anonymous. Please note that this survey is ...
Simerg's Photo Features: Prince Amyn Aga Khan, Fatimid Glass, Alamut and Bagamoyo Jamatkhana
This website's photo blog, Simergphotos, was launched just over three years ago. Together, Simerg with Simergphotos, has achieved a combined viewership of over two million - 1.8 million and 306,000 since 2009 and 2011 respectively. During the course of this time we have published memorable photo essays covering a vast array of subjects. Beginning this week, we bring you links to ...
Why Faith Must be Validated with Reason and Knowledge
[Y]ou must have in every walk of your life a logical concept. This does not mean to wipe away faith, but the real principle of Islam is that faith is logical. Islam would not be what it is if it were not logical and this is something you must keep in mind. [B]ecause the very heart of Islam is logical. There ...
VIDEO: Professor Andrew Rippin- Interpreting Interpretation: Understanding Muslim Exegesis
The lecture elaborates on the importance of Tafsir tradition in the study of the Qur'an. The primary focus of the lecture is on the distinction between the acts of 'translation' and 'interpretation' in relation to the Tafsir traditions. Reflecting on the inescapable need of referring to Tafsir works in understanding the Quran, Prof. Rippin suggests: "Tafsir is not about extracting or ...
VIDEO: Amyn Sajoo - A Companion to Muslim Cultures
This 21-minute video interview with Dr Amyn Sajoo on his book entitled, A Companion to Muslim Cultures, elaborates on the diverse historical, cultural and geographical contexts in which Muslims live and understand their faith. A Companion to Muslim Cultures is the latest volume in the Muslim Heriatge Series. An accomplished group of writers have shared their thoughts and reflections on how ...
VIDEO: Eid celebrations fill the Ismaili Centre, Toronto with the sounds of qawwali
Global -- The lyrical sounds of qawwali music filled the social hall of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto on the occasion of Eid al-Adha. Guests were treated to a special workshop and performance by the Rizwan-Muazzam Qawwali Group. ...
The Shia Imamat: A Timeline of Major Divisions and Developments
From that early division, a host of further distinctions grew up, but the question of rightful leadership remains central. In time, the Shia were also sub-divided over this question, so that today the Ismailis are the only Shia community who, throughout history, have been led by a living, hereditary Imam in direct descent from the Prophet. Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga ...
2015 Stallion Fees
The Aga Khan Studs announce their 2015 Stallion fees GILLTOW STUD, IRELAND: SEA THE STARS €125,000 DALAKHANI €17,000 HARAS DE BONNEVAL, FRANCE: MAKFI €17,500 SINNDAR €4,500 SIYOUNI €20,000 Champion SEA THE STARS has achieved great success with his first crop of three-year-olds and counts three Group 1 winners, including ten-length German Derby winner Sea The Moon and Sheikh Hamdan Al Maktoum's ...
The Modern Pace of Life and the Place of Faith and Religion - A Reflection by Farouk Topan
THE FUNDAMENTAL MESSAGE OF RELIGION By Dr. Farouk Topan The pace of life today is said to be much faster than it was just a few decades ago. This is an axiom of our times. What, however, is not axiomatic is the corollary that is often assumed to stem from it, namely that spiritual value and worth get diminished in proportion ...
RAYS OF LIGHT set to open in Australia before travelling to New Zealand
Global -- Beginning this week, Australia plays host to RAYS OF LIGHT:Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamat. Opening first in Sydney, the photographic exhibition will travel to centres across the country in November and December, and on to New Zealand in the new year. For Ismailis in both countries, the exhibition promises to be enlightening and inspiring. The Golden Jubilee International Programme, ...
Zarkandar's Gr 1 win a boost ahead of Arqana
Aga Khan Studs November draft features a close relative of the top hurdler. The success of ZARKANDAR in the recent Gr 1 Grand Prix d'Automne hurdle provides a timely boost for the Aga Khan Studs consignment at the forthcoming Arqana November mixed sale. The Azamour half-brother to champion Zarkava was sold privately by his breeders before going on to win nine ...
The IIS Welcomes New GPISH and STEP Students
News story -- The new students enrolled on the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities (GPISH) and the Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP) have arrived at the IIS and commenced their studies. These students were selected from a large pool of applicants and have been awarded scholarships to pursue postgraduate degrees, learning from some of the leading scholars in Ismaili and ...
Aga Khan reviews progress of University of Central Asia's Naryn Campus
Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, 3 November 2014 - His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the University of Central Asia (UCA) today visited the Naryn campus, the first of UCA's three new undergraduate campuses spread across the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. The UCA Chancellor was accompanied by Kyrgyzstan's Minister for Education Mr Kanat Sadykov, Naryn Governor Mr Amanbay Kayipov, Mayor Mr ...
GALLERY: Aga Khan reviews progress of University of Central Asia's Naryn campus
Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, 3 November 2014 - His Highness the Aga Khan, Chancellor of the University of Central Asia (UCA) today visited the Naryn campus, the first of UCA's three new undergraduate campuses spread across the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan and Kazakhstan. (Captions in Kyrgyz and Russian) ...
GALLERY: His Highness the Aga Khan in Kyrgyz Republic
Kyrgyz Republic, 3 November 2014 - His Highness the Aga Khan is on a four-day visit to the Kyrgyz Republic to review AKDN activities in the country. AKDN has been engaged in the Kyrgyz Republic since 2000 operating the Aga Khan School in Osh, the Aga Khan Music Initiative, the First Microcredit Company, the Kyrgyz Investment and Credit Bank (KICB), Jubilee ...
GALLERY: University of Central Asia's Naryn Campus
Naryn, Kyrgyz Republic, 3 November 2014 - The first UCA campus currently employs 350 construction professionals, with over 50% from Naryn. In 2012, all of the construction site preparatory works were awarded to contractors from Naryn providing over 48,000 days of employment to the 100% local workforce. (Captions in Kyrgyz and Russian) ...
A Collection of 48 (Plus 1) Memorable Images from the Life of the 48th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, His Highness the Aga Khan III
Prepared by Abdulmalik J. Merchant, Editor, Simergphotos and Simerg High up on the west bank of the Nile in Aswan stands the tomb of Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III, who died in 1957, and of his wife the Begum, who died in 2000. The Mausoleum is a very elegant pink granite structure of late 1950 ...
Aga Khan III -- Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah with Historical Photos
His name was Muhammad Sultan, also known as Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, the Aga Khan, G.C.S.I., G.C.I.E., G.C.V.O., G.C.M.G., LL.D., was born at Honeymoon Lodge in Karachi on Friday, the 25th Shawal, 1294/ November 2, 1877 at 5:30 pm. When the news of his birth was routed to the Aga Khan I in Bombay, he said: "Name him Muhammad Sultan. He ...
Mawlana Hazar Imam in Kyrgyzstan to review AKDN activities
Global -- Bishkek, 2 November 2014 -- Mawlana Hazar Imam arrived in the capital of the Kyrgyz Republic this evening for a four day visit to review Aga Khan Development Network activities in the country. He was received on behalf of the government by the Kyrgyz Minister of Education, Kanat Sadykov. The head of the AKDN Representation in the Kyrgyz Republic, ...
3 Suggested Readings, by Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III, in commemoration of his 137th birthday anniversary
In commemoration of Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah, Aga Khan III"s 137th birthday we are pleased to present 3 articles with advices for happiness and long life which are as relevant today as they were when given decades ago: Photographer: Sir (John) Benjamin Stone. Source: National Portrait Gallery, CC BY-NC-ND 3.0 license. POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...
Aga Khan III -- Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah
It is my great honor and pleasure to present, on his birthday anniversary which falls on November 2nd, the gems from our beloved 48th Imam Mowlana Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan III, a collage of his wonderful words of wisdom. His life has been a great legacy for humanity. His Highness the Aga Khan -- Mowlana Hazar Imam, pays tribute to ...
A Collection of Readings on Imam Hussein and Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan - Two Ismaili Imams Who Lived 1250 Years Apart
IMAM SULTAN MAHOMED SHAH, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN (1877 - 1957) Our beloved 48th Imam, Hazrat Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah (a.s.) was born in Karachi on November 2, 1877. He assumed the Imamat at the age of 7 in August 1885, and became the longest serving Imam in Ismaili history. He passed away on July 11, 1957, at the age ...
Quality Aga Khan Studs fillies and mares at Goffs
Gr. 1 dam features in blue-blooded Goffs consignment. Some of the Aga Khan Studs most renowned bloodlines will be on offer at the forthcoming Goffs Breeding Stock Sale, in a nineteen-strong draft that includes the dams of a Group 1 winner and of a Group 1 performer. The quintet of broodmares are almost all proven in the paddocks, with the highlight ...
