May 12, 2012. Dear Editor, Going through the pages of Ismaili history, there have been countless examples of Ismailis who have inspired me with their courage, with their inventions, with their faith in our Imams and for being trail blazers in every sense of the word. Equally, there have been women who have gone beyond their traditional roles and have achieved ...
"Today in the Occident, the Muslim world is deeply misunderstood by most. The West knows little about its diversity, about the religion or the principles which unite it, about its brilliant past or its recent trajectory through history. The Muslim world is noted in the West, North America and Europe, more for the violence of certain minorities than for the peacefulness ...
News story -- The Asian Chapter Groupof the IIS Alumni Association held its three-day Annual Meeting in Dushanbe, Tajikistan from 18- 21September 2011. The meeting provided an opportunity for alumni from across the region to discuss the activities of the Alumni Association and learn about the traditions of the Ismaili community in Central Asia. The meeting began with opening remarks from Shiraz ...
Washington, DC, USA, 11 May 2012 -- On May 29, Smithsonian Folkways and the Aga Khan Music Initiative will celebrate the tenth and final release of their award-winning "Music of Central Asia" series, a groundbreaking CD/DVD set entitled "Borderlands: Wu Man and Master Musicians from the Silk Route". Wu Man, an internationally renowned virtuoso of the pipa (a pear-shaped, short-necked lute ...
By Izat Velji A youthful portrait of the Ismaili missionary, Meghji Maherali (1881 - 1941), of Mombasa, Kenya. Photo Credit: Archives of the family of Meghji Missionary. Copyright. My profound gratitude and thanks [to Ameer Janmohamed] for sharing so much about Pir Sabzali - it is indeed a living history. The personal comments and recollections made his Thank You Letter to ...
Portugal -- Lisbon, 9 May 2012 - Representing Mawlana Hazar Imam, Prince Amyn signed the renewal of a partnership agreement between the Aga Khan Foundation and the Patriarchate of Lisbon. Programmes implemented under the partnership, which aims to improve the quality of life of marginalised groups in Greater Lisbon, benefited almost 43 000 people in 2011. "The renewal of this partnership ...
Canada -- Ottawa, 9 April 2012 - The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat in Ottawa has been named a recipient of the 2012 Governor General's Medals in Architecture. The award recognises outstanding design in projects by Canadian architects, and is administered by the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada and the Canada Council for the Arts. "[The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat] ...
Imam Jafar as-Sadiq commenting on the verse: 'Who hear advice and follow the best thereof,' (Q, 39:18) said: It is the person who hears the tradition and conveys it to others without tampering with it. -- Imam Jafar al-Sadiq (p) Usul al-Kafi, Book 2, Chapter 17, Tradition 1 Imam Jafar as-Sadiq was told by a narrator of tradition: May I elaborate ...
RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON ON THE RECIPIENTS OF THE 2012 MEDALS David Johnston becomes the 28th Governor General of Canada during the installation ceremony on October 1, 2010. Photo: Governor General of Canada "The recipients of the Governor General's Medals in Architecture have distinguished themselves as visionary Canadian architects. They have designed spaces where communities are forged, memories are enshrined and ...
Afghanistan -- Marking Navroz, some 2 500 Ismaili volunteers gathered on 30 March to plant 5 000 trees in the city's Afshar area. Organised by the Ismaili Council for Afghanistan, the tree planting took place in the presence of Kabul's mayor, Eng Mohammad Younus Nawandesh, and was part of an ongoing effort to make the city more beautiful and greener for ...
Greffulhe and Tetrarch successes for Aga Khan pair. The Aga Khan Studs duo of KESAMPOUR and TAKAR demonstrated their Classic potential at the weekend with victories in the Gr 2 Prix Greffulhe and Listed Tetrarch Stakes respectively. The unbeaten KESAMPOUR was successful back at Saint-Cloud racecourse where he has recorded all four of his career wins to date. Taking on Group ...
Lisbon, Portugal, 9 May 2012 - The Patriarchate of Lisbon and the Aga Khan Foundation today renewed a partnership agreement to improve the quality of life of marginalized groups in Greater Lisbon. The agreement was signed by the Cardinal Patriarch of Lisbon, His Eminence Dom José Policarpo, and Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Highness the Aga Khan, and ...
Following the very successful inaugural webinar last week, NanoWisdoms is pleased to announce it will be holding two additional webinars in May. The 60 minute presentations will cover the Archive's history, its collection, tips on how to use it effectively, the supplementary quote services and documents and also simple ways you can help increase awareness of the Archive in your jamat. ...
"Itmadi Sabzali has served me in such a manner that after his death, I honour him with the title of a Pir" - Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan, 48th Ismaili Imam CLICK FOR A VERY GOOD ENLARGEMENT. This historical photo was taken in India in March 1936 on the occasion of the presentation of a casket by a group of ...
[Enabling Environments have] been a central theme of my Imamat; (2) that many developing countries of Africa and Asia could one day become countries of opportunity ... is precisely the objective that I have been pursuing during the past 50 years. (3) The [Enabling Environment] concept [grew] out of my impatience with overly simple myths about how development really works. The ...
by Mohezin Tejani Special to Simerg UN Map of Belgium. Country area: 30528 sq. kms; Currency: Euro; Population: 10,647,000; Capital city/population:Brussels (1,892,000); UN membership: December 27, 1945. Credit: UN data. Belgium is a country steeped in rich European history that goes far beyond the stereotype of beers and chocolates that it is typically known for. It is an enchanting, magical land ...
"[W]hat we must seek and share is what I have called 'a cosmopolitan ethic,' a readiness to accept the complexity of human society. It is an ethic which balances rights and duties. It is an ethic for all peoples. It will not surprise you to have me say that such an ethic can grow with enormous power out of the spiritual ...
Sourabad, Zaidpour and Mourad effective over jumps, while Manighar flies the flag in Australia. Aga Khan-bred horses have been busy across the globe and under both codes in recent days, demonstrating once again the versatility of the breeding operation. SOURABAD has been something of a revelation in French jumping circles in 2012, and the four-year-old son of Halling has now won ...
Aga Khan Studs sires on form early in the season. Stallions from the Aga Khan Studs have made a good start to the European flat season, led by Azamour whose son COLOMBIAN took the Gr 3 Gordon Richards Stakes at the weekend. Dalakhani's progeny RELIABLE MAN and Wilddrossel were both Stakes placed and Sinndar's Arc runner-up daughter SHARETA finished third on ...
The first centre since the Fatimid era specifically dedicated to Ismaili Research came into being in 1977 when His Highness the Aga Khan announced the establishment of The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, England. From its modest beginnings some thirty-five years ago, the IIS functions today as an internationally recognized academic centre. In this continuing series on Thank You ...
News story -- Dr Alessandro Cancian, Research Associate in the Institute's Qur'anic Studies Unit, attended the 7th European Conference of Iranian Studies (ECIS 7) held in Cracow, Poland. In his presentation, Dr Cancian introduced the main exegetical work of Sultan Ali-Shah Gunabadi (d. 1909 CE) from Bidukht in Khurasan, entitled Tafsir bayan al-sa'ada fi maqamat al-'ibada. Highlighting its hermeneutical principles, structure and ...
"Academic discussions among my servants are a means of enlivening the hearts provided their aim is to understand my commandments." -- Holy Prophet (p) Usul al Kafi, Book 2, Chapter 9, Tradition 6 "Get together and advise each other and hold discussions. Such discussions refine your hearts. Hearts become rusted like swords and their refinement lies in academic religious discussions." -- ...
A few days ago we listed twelve pieces that have been very popular with the readers since this blog was launched three years ago. We now present twelve more popular readings. In addition, we are also providing links to three completed series consisting of over one hundred articles. Each of the series is also available as an excellent PDF publication. Readers ...
"In a world where quality of life is increasingly measured in material terms there is risk that the essential value system of Islam will be eroded, or even threatened with disappearance. Political situations with a theological overlay are also causing disaffection or antagonism between communities of the same faith, and even more so amongst different faiths. "At the centre of this ...
Editor's note: The following are excerpts from a remarkable speech delivered by the late Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan in Vancouver, Canada, on January 22, 1975. Published in numerous Canadian Ismaili newsletters during the mid 1970's, the speech has also been widely distributed on the internet over the past few years as email attachments. Many of his thoughts some 37 years ago ...
By Muslim and Nevin Harji Editor's note: Muslim and Nevin Harji of Montreal, PQ, Canada, visited Iran for a period of four weeks in October 2011. A magnificent collection of photos portraying the people and foods of Iran appeared in the first installment, followed by a series of historical photos of the ruins of Alamut, the 13th century Ismaili stronghold. The ...
News story -- Dr Nuha Al-Sha'ar, from the Qur'anic Studies Unit at the IIS, organised a Pre-Conference Workshop entitled Cultural Responses to the Qur'an in association with the American Academy of Religion (AAR) Qur'an Group. The workshop explored the reading and interpretation of the Qur'an in the wider social and cultural context. The papers presented looked at the ways in which concepts, ...
A believer asked Prophet Muhammad: O Prophet of God, what is knowledge? The Prophet: Silence (refraining from unnecessary gossip). The Believer: Then what? The Prophet: To listen (to the learned). The Believer: Then what? The Prophet said: To memorize (what he has heard). The Believer: Then what? The Prophet: Act on it. The Believer: Then what? The Prophet: To disseminate it. ...
To mark this blog's third anniversary, we recently launched the series, "Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures," with the publication of three letters by Andrew Kosorok (Makers of the Fatimid Blue Qur'an), Mohezin Tejani (Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan) and Aziz Kurwa (The Person of the Institution of Imamat). Several "Thank You Letters" will be published over the coming weeks and months, and cover ...
The NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat speeches, interviews and writings is a unique website which last week celebrated its first anniversary and we at Amaana.org are privileged to interview the Archive's founder and editor, Mohib Ebrahim, as part of those celebrations. His unique all-encompassing perspective is truly inspirational in helping us grasp how the Archive, and projects like it, fit in the ...
"A man may have performed prayers, fasting, almsgiving, pilgrimage and all other religious duties, but he will be rewarded only in proportion to the common sense, which he employed." -- Holy Prophet (p) Marmaduke Pickthall, 1927 Madras lecture on Islamic Culture. "The ink of scholar is more holy than the blood of martyr." -- Holy Prophet (p) Marmaduke Pickthall, 1927 Madras ...
The following traditions of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s) speak about the Person of the Institution of Imamat: "I am leaving amongst you two weighty things after me, the Qur'an and my Progeny (ahl al-bayt). Verily, if you hold fast to them both you will never go astray. Both are tied with a long rope and cannot be separated till the Day ...
Portugal -- Dedicated to promoting harmony among peoples of all faiths, World Interfaith Harmony Week is observed around the world each year during the first week of February. In Portugal, the UN Alliance of Civilizations sought to present a unique multicultural perspective on the week. The Ismaili Muslim community was among 15 religious traditions represented at the event. Spread across the ...
The NanoWisdoms Archive of Imamat speeches, interviews and writings is pleased to announce its Thematic Quote Browser, the first on-line reference of quotes by His Highness the Aga Khan, and earlier Ismaili Imams, organised by theme. New quotes are continuously posted to the collection and broadcast via e-mail and Facebook. Quotes are also available in an attractive PDF format for posting ...
In their quest to broaden their relationships with religious communities, the prestigious Chautauqua Institution in New York state reached out to the Muslim community. With a mind to creating greater awareness about Islam and Muslim cultures, members of the Ismaili Muslim community responded, drawing in Muslim intellectuals to Chautauqua, who could share an understanding of Islam that is hard to find ...
Kenya -- Nairobi, 16 April 2012 - A Memorandum of Understanding was signed yesterday by Prince Hussain on behalf of the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to collaborate in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Nairobi City Park to international standards in terms of architecture, landscape and horticulture.Signatories included Prince Hussain Aga Khan on behalf of the Aga Khan Trust for ...
Nairobi, Kenya, 16 April 2012 -- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed yesterday between the Government of Kenya, the Ministry of State for National Heritage and Culture, the City Council of Nairobi and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture to collaborate in the rehabilitation and restoration of the Nairobi City Park to international standards in terms of architecture, landscape and ...
Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan. Photo: Unesco Courier. Copyright Described as "a citizen of the world," Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan (January 17, 1933 - May 12, 2003), became the longest serving head of UNHCR, the United Nations Refugee Agency. Morals, ethics and tolerance along with improving the lot of humanity was the essential part of the credo of the late Prince, son ...
