News story -- The IIS is pleased to announce the publication of The Spirit of Tolerance in Islam by Reza Shah-Kazemi. In the book, the author demonstrates, using predominantly western historical sources, that religious tolerance was in fact the historical norm which characterised the relationship between Muslims and non-Muslims, and that intolerance was a clear deviation from this norm. He further argues ...
"I'm afraid I have some awful, awful news to share. Our dearest, most beloved Mo passed away today on New Year's Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2013, at approximately 2.30 a.m. in our home here in Chiang Mai, Thailand" -- Lisa S. Keary....Read More Mohezin Tejani - author and humanitarian Advertisements ...
News story -- The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the publication of Pearls of Persia: The Philosophical Poetry of Nasir-i Khusrawedited by Dr Alice C. Hunsberger. This volume combines articles from a range of contributors on different aspects of Nasir-i Khusraw's philosophical poetry, including its rhythm, self-reference, structure and speech. Dr Hunsberger currently lectures on Islam and Sufism at ...
News story -- February 2014 News Story: IIS Publishes the Ninth Volume in the Qur'anic Studies Series Encyclopaedia Article: Bab by Dr Farhad Daftary Spotlight: The Safar-Nama Of Nasir Khusraw; A New Interactive Gallery January 2014 New IIS Multimedia Interactive Gallery: The Safar-Nama Of Nasir Khusraw News Story: IIS Website launches multimedia project based on the Safar-nama Forthcoming Events:The Emergence of Islam ...
here's to crystal magic, clink! and starlight. shimmering cool and clearest, p e a c e in the vacuum of purple night of unseen and unheard a magic so hidden you scarce believe in its reality.. for they say, it is the most real thing there is. look! light of all light shimmering .... impenetrable, but yes, conscionable. clinking glass and ...
Please click for links to 2012 pieces contributed by authors listed above.Advertisements ...
The NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat Speeches, Interviews and Writings wishes all happy New Year. In keeping with the theme of our New Year's card, we would like to share with you some of our favourite, previously published, quotes of His Highness the Aga Khan on thinking independently and searching for new knowledge -- the spirit of adventure. Please click on the ...
Compiled by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com & Simerg.com INTRODUCTION: On Sunday November 25, 2012, Simergphotos began a weekly/bi-weekly series of historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. This fourth piece is on the Blue Qur’an, an exquisite work of art, which has been referred to as “the Picasso of Islamic Art, because the folios (leaves, ...
"If we judge from Islamic history, there is much to encourage us. For century after century, the Arabs, the Persians, the Turks and many other Islamic societies achieved powerful leadership roles in the world -- not only politically and economically but also intellectually. Some ill-informed historians and biased commentators have tried to argue that these successes were essentially produced by military ...
There is one writer Simerg would like to single out just before 2012 ends, and the person is Mohezin (Mo) Tejani for his thought-provoking contributions both in prose and poetry. Tejani, a global nomad who has lived and worked in humanitarian aid in five continents of our planet, writes with insight and brilliance on many themes and topics including nature, social ...
HAPPY NEW YEAR TO SIMERG READERS WORLDWIDE Editor's note: From over one hundred articles published in 2012, the following pieces were the most viewed by our readers, based on statistics derived from the WordPress platform. Excluded from the list are readings that appeared earlier this week in the postHoliday Reading: 9 Inspiring Ismaili Stories That You SHOULD Read and SHARE with ...
"There is an often quoted ayat [of the Qur'an] which says that you should leave the world in a better environment than you found it. You have a responsibility of legacy of God's creation of the world, to improve that legacy from generation to generation. So there's an ethical premise to it." His Highness the Aga Khan's 2008 PBS/E2 programme interview ...
....AND A MESSAGE ON HOPE BY THE 48TH ISMAILI IMAM, HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN (1877-1957) "You must remember that life will have for you many disappointments. If one-fifth of one's hopes are realised, one is extremely lucky and fortunate, so do not be discouraged by disappointments. Failures should be forgotten and new efforts made. Despondency is a sin, and hope ...
Antonio Marujo / Faranaz Keshavjee: Are we looking at powerful businessman or a religious Muslim leader? Aga Khan: No, I have nothing to do with entrepreneurship; in Islam, an Imam, whether Shia or Suni, has responsibilities, firstly for the safety of the community; secondly, he is responsible for the quality of material life, for the daily lives. The nature of Imamat ...
By Barnaby Rogerson Special to Simerg* Muhammad was armed with the fortitude that came from his own direct experience of the divine. Though even he could at times be driven to fury by the petty savageness of the attacks. One neighbour in particular, whose wife used to bury thorns along the sandy paths that she knew the Prophet would walk along ...
"[A] healthy sense of public integrity, in my view, will be difficult to nurture over time without a strong religious underpinning. In the Islamic tradition, the conduct of one's worldly life is inseparably intertwined with the concerns of one's spiritual life and one cannot talk about integrity without also talking about faith. For Islam, the importance of this intersection is an ...
Epsom Derby hero's first generation aim to follow their sire. Gilltown Stud's 2009 Epsom Derby winner is strongly represented by his first crop among entries for the 2014 edition of the English Classic. SEA THE STARS, who also counts the 2000 Guineas and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe among his haul of six Group 1 titles, has 33 yearlings engaged in ...
Editor’s note: During the short 4 month period since its launch in September 2012, Simergphotos has published over twenty remarkable photo stories as well as historical images. A few of the published photo essays have been adapted for this blog from the original pieces which first appeared at the companion literary website, Simerg.com, both during and before 2012. The following ...
Don Cayo: You've become in many ways a bridge between the Muslim and the non-Muslim world. Can we talk about the relationships between those two large groups, and the difficulties and the prospects for improvement? Aga Khan: I think there are real prospects for improvement. But I think it's a question of the two groups knowing each other better than they ...
Author's note: This trilogy of poems is based on Shakespeare's "The Seven Ages of Man" and looks at the life of an Indian, African, and American in 2012 in contrast to Shakespeare's man of 1538. Shakespeare's poem begins the collection followed by the three poems. _____ The Seven Ages of Man 1538 by William Shakespeare All the world's a stage, And ...
News story -- The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce the publication of a critical edition and summary English translation of the Yamani third da'i al-mutlaq, Hatim b. Ibrahim al-Hamidi's Tuhfat al-qulub wa-furjat al-makrub. This book, edited by Professor Abbas Hamdani, has been published under the title, The Precious Gift of the Hearts and Good Cheer for Those in Distress: ...
Eric Chol / Christian Makarian: As the leader of the Ismaili community, you have always emphasised the development of social, economic and cultural activities not only for your followers, but for the benefit of all. What do you make of your development organisation? Aga Khan: It needs to permanently adapt! The idea of development is comparable to a kaleidoscope: you twist ...
Healthy Hints Skinless chicken breast meat is low in saturated fat and rich in protein. A balanced meal at just over 500 Calories and not a red traffic light in sight. Try whole-grain couscous if you want this to be even healthier. 750 g chicken breast, skinless 1 tsp salt 1 tsp black pepper 2 tbsp olive oil lemon 200 g ...
Compiled by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com & Simerg.com INTRODUCTION: On Sunday November 25, 2012, Simergphotos began a weekly/bi-weekly series of historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. This third piece in the series is based on Wellcome Library’s Arabic manuscript collection, and includes the well-known medical encyclopedia, the Canon of Medicine, by the famous Ismaili ...
BY NOORANI DATOO Dear Mowla, We never imagined the day would come so fast Seventy-six glorious years outclassed Together we celebrate your birthday! As one united, global jamat Dear Mowla, You pray for us You breathe for us You work for us You dream for us Your murids, we are. Dear Mowla, Your efforts unite us Your prayers ignite us We ...
Jean-Jacques Lafaye: People like to compare and contrast Presidents Sarkozy and Obama. What do you think of them? Aga Khan: Before these two men came to power, it seemed to me that major international issues were suffering a kind of paralysis. Fortunately, things have changed. The two presidents belong to a younger generation. Each certainly possesses a young man's determination and ...
TKN -- My one year TKN assignment was to help new immigrants and the Jamat in general with preparing their curriculum vitae (CV). By profession I am an Information Technology (IT) Recruiter and I usually go through 100 to 150 CVs on any given day. Poorly presented CVs always make me sad and so when in August 2010, I received my ...
Gr 1 success kicks off jumps season for Aga Khan breds. ZAIDPOUR served a timely reminder of the quality of Aga Khan Studs graduates in the jumping discipline as he lifted one of the first Group 1 events of the Anglo-Irish season. Willie Mullins' charge accelerated away from his rivals to lift the Gr 1 Hatton's Grace Hurlde at Fairyhouse, and ...
"The Imām knows from which drop of sperm the Imām after him will come" "His sperm was kneaded along with his intellect." "And we come from the Light of God." (Imām Ḥasan 'alā dhikrihi al-salām) December 13 marks the 77th birthday of Mawlānā Shāh Karīm al-Ḥusaynī (Aga Khan IV), the HaḍirImām (Present Imām) of the Shī'ī Ismā'īlī Muslims. Imām Shāh Karīm ...
Global -- Based in Auckland, New Zealand, Azim Mitha is a matchmaker of sorts: he matches offerings of time and knowledge made by volunteers with the opportunities and needs of Jamati and Imamat institutions. In doing so, he helps qualified and capable professionals in the Jamat to offer meaningful voluntary service in their own field, while strengthening institutional capacity. Azim Mitha ...
By Gulnor Saratbekova Special to Simerg Ismaili girls in Central Asia proudly display a decorated frame holding a photo of their beloved 49th Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: Matthieu Paley. Copyright. I can still remember how our usual summer vacation in 1990 became a complete nightmare in the blink of an eye. My oldest brother and I were sent ...
His Highness the Aga Khan Mowlana Hazar Imam - Spiritual Leader of Shia Ismaili MuslimsThe first Imam Hazrat Ali was appointed as as his successor by Prophet Muhammad at Ghadir e Khumm when he declared: He of whomever I am the Master-Lord Mowla, Ali is his Master-Lord Mowla! Imam Ali plays a pivotal role in the spiritual lives of his followers as ...
Mawlana Hazar Imam's Salgirah and the Depth of His Love for the Jamat The term Salgirah is of Persian origin. Sal means anniversary and girah means knot and hence Salgirah literally means 'an anniversary knot added on to a string kept for the purpose'. This article approaches the subject of Mawlana Hazar Imam's birthday in terms of the Imam's love for ...
The NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat Speeches, Interviews and Writings wishes all Salgirah Mubarak. POSSIBLY RELATED READINGS (GENERATED AUTOMATICALLY) ...
"My interest in launching the Global Centre for Pluralism reflected my sense that there was yet no institution dedicated to the question of diversity in our world, and that Canada's national experience made it a natural home for this venture." His Highness the Aga Khan's 2010 10th Annual LaFontaine-Baldwin Lecture, Institute for Canadian Citizenship (Toronto, Canada) ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ~~~~~~~~~~ ...
INTRODUCTION: The piece below by Zayn Syed is an edited version of his original essay that was shortlisted for the 2011 Wellcome Trust Science Writing Prize. The Wellcome Trust is a UK based charity funding institution for research to improve human and animal health by supporting the brightest minds in biomedical research and the medical humanities. In addition to funding biomedical ...
Compiled By Malik Merchant, Editor From time to time Simergphotos will publish historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. This second piece introduces readers to a rare copy of the Qur’an which was purchased by Thomas Jefferson, and shows his insight and vision for religious freedom and worship, a right in America which was reiterated ...
With more than 55 million items, the Manuscript Division of the US Library of Congress contains the papers of 23 presidents, from George Washington to Calvin Coolidge. In this article, originally published in The Library of Congress, Information Bulletin, May 2002, Manuscript Division Chief James Hutson draws upon the papers of Washington, Thomas Jefferson and other primary documents to discuss the ...
News story -- A fourth volume in the bilingual Epistles of the Brethren of Purity (Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa') series, a joint venture between the IIS and Oxford University Press(OUP) is now available. In this fresh translation of the fifth epistle, On Music, Professor of Musicology of the Middle East at SOAS, Owen Wright contextualises the theory of music and explains the technical ...
"[AKDFED's] main purpose 'is to contribute to development,' [the Aga Khan] adds. 'It is not a capitalist enterprise that aims at declaring dividends to its shareholders.' Central to his ethos is the notion that his investments can prompt other forms of economic growth within a country or region that results in greater employment and hope for the poor. "Economic developments experts ...
