"I am also concerned there is still too little attention being paid to design for communities to protect residents from the effects of earthquakes, many of them in remote rural areas. Two million people died as a result of earthquakes in the last century and 100 million were severely affected. There are vast populations that live in seismic-sensitive high-mountain areas where ...
Tokyo, Japan, 21 March 2012 - The Aga Khan Agency for Microfinance (AKAM) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement today for the entry of JICA into the shareholding of the First Microfinance Bank (FMFB) in Pakistan, which is one of the largest microfinance banks in the country. This agreement will see JICA invest approximately US$ 2.23 million ...
"I would ... say that the inability of human society to recognise pluralism as a fundamental value constitutes a real handicap for its development and a serious danger for our future. Since the end of the Cold War, a number of factors appear to have been common and significant ingredients, if not the primary cause, of many of the conflicts we ...
By Hussein Rashid Some months ago when I first wrote this piece, I was thinking about the beginning of Ramadan. Today, a few months on I am thinking about the beginning of Navroz, the Persian New Year. There are beginnings everywhere. The Qur'an begins with the fatihah. There is a tradition that the entirety of the knowledge of the Qur'an can ...
I. THE SUPREME BEING By Asif Ali Khowaja Horizon there in the east turns crimson bright, As day of New Year will majestically soon rise. Parrots up there in the tress are singing a welcome song, The peacock appears enchanted as he merilly dances along. Yes, my thoughts naturally turn towards Him who creates everything, Nothing in the world is beyond ...
Manighar takes Australian Gr 1 while Majestic Falcon wins Hong Kong Gr 3. Aga Khan-breds have been active around the globe in recent days, with MANIGHAR and Majestic Falcon heading the team for important Group victories. In France, LIDARI picked up one of the first Parisian Stakes races of the season while over jumps, Sourabad lifted an Auteuil Listed and Edeymi ...
"Lo! men who surrender unto Allah, and women who surrender, and men who believe and women who believe, and men who obey and women who obey, and men who speak the truth and women who speak the truth, and men who persevere (in righteousness) and women who persevere, and men who are humble and women who are humble, and men who ...
16 March 2012 The Bamyan Ecotourism Programme, supported by Afghanistan's Ministry of Information and Culture, the Bamyan provincial government, the Aga Khan Development Network and New Zealand's Aid Programme, is therefore developing sustainable tourism in Bamyan to help preserve and develop the history and culture of the region, to provide employment and to give local people the ability to improve their ...
By Nadim Pabani Special to Simerg Introduction "Say: O People of the Book! Come to a common word between us and you: that we shall worship none but God, and that we shall ascribe no partner unto Him, and that none of us shall take others for lords beside God." (The Holy Qur'an, 3:64) In this study, the author will firstly ...
Marseille, France, 15 March 2012 -- The 2012 France Music World Music Prize has been awarded to the Tajik Artist, Abduvali Abdurashidov, at the international Babel Med Music forum in Marseille.Mr. Abdurashidov was honoured for his mastery of the tanbur and sato, the main accompanying instruments for the performance of the Shashmaqom, the classical music of the Tajik and Uzbeks of ...
Antonio Marujo/Faranaz Keshavjee: The Ismailis are known as a very generous community in material terms. However, during these Golden Jubilee celebrations, you have introduced the notion of Time and Knowledge. What is it about? Aga Khan: In Shia Islam, intellect is a key component of faith. Intellect allows us to understand the creation of God. We live in a world in ...
Nutrition Centre -- When talented, well-trained and enthusiastic athletes meet in competition, attention to detail can make all the difference between defeat and victory. What you eat and drink affects how well you train and whether you can compete at your best. Registered dietitian and sports nutritionist Linia Patel shares some tips. Good food choices support intensive training while limiting risk ...
"I am convinced that the best way for media, in Africa and elsewhere, to maintain their independence is to prove their indispensability. This is not an easy task. Information flows more quickly, over longer distances at lower cost than ever before. But sometimes more information, in and of itself, can also mean more misinformation, more confusion, more manipulation, more superficial snapshots ...
Geneva, Switzerland, 13 March 2012 - The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, considered by many architects and urban planners to be the most important award for architecture, has announced a doubling of its prize to US$ 1 million. On the occasion of the announcement, His Highness the Aga Khan remarked that the doubling of the Award is meant to assist and ...
Healthy Hints You don't need to be a genius to recognise that this drink has a lot of sugar and calories. But when you need an energy boost, it is far better to reach for this banana and strawberry energiser than grabbing a chocolate bar. And there's no added sugar -- all the sweetness comes naturally from the fruits. 1 banana ...
News story -- Drs Yahia Baizaand Najam Abbas of the Institute's Central Asian Studies Unit presented papers at the 12th biennial conference of the European Society for Central Asian Studies (ESCAS) entitled, Central Asia: A Maturing Field, at the University of Cambridge. Dr Baiza's paper, International Aid and Education in Afghanistan, analysed the role and influence of international aid in the field ...
This week's selection is His Highness the Aga Khan's 1981 Opening Remarks to the Aga Khan Award for Architecture's Sixth Seminar, The Changing Rural Habitat held in Beijing, People's Republic Of China. Although made in 1981, this extensive speech on the plight of rural peoples and strategies for rural development is as relevant today as it was then. Noting that 80% ...
Aga Khan: I think the reintegration of areas of countries like Pakistan after -- 1947 to 2010, what's that, over 50 years? -- reintegrating areas which have not been under control after 50 or 60 years of quasi-autonomy is pretty tough going. And it's not an Asian phenomenon, this is true of Africa also. Globe and Mail: What elements are needed ...
THE ORIGINS OF ISMAILI IDENTITY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM: A PERSPECTIVE By Ameer Janmohamed Special to Simerg 1952: The late Prince Aly Khan with the London Jamat gathering at Javeri residence at 39 Lyncroft Gardens, Hampstead, London NW5. Note: A number of people who feature in this picture are mentioned in the narrative below. For ease of recognition 'grid reference' numbers ...
Unbeaten hurdler Zarkandar heads the Festival team. Already winners of three championship contests at the Cheltenham Festival as breeders, the Aga Khan Studs will be represented by a strong delegation for the forthcoming meeting. ZARKANDAR is no stranger to Cheltenham Festival glory as this half-brother to Zarkava lifted the Gr 1 Triumph Hurdle last March before picking up a further Gr ...
News story -- Several IIS scholars took part in the third World Congress of Middle Eastern Studies (WOCMES), held in Barcelona from 19 to 24 July, 2010. This year's Congress was hosted by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. IIS publications were also on display at the book fair accompanying the conference. A number of IIS scholars contributed papers to the panel organised ...
"[W]e have been searching for a definition of Islamic architecture. One of our first conclusions has been that no single definition exists. Islamic architecture has reflected different peoples, different climates, different times and materials ... We have, however, sought the essentials that go beyond regional factors of climate and materials and the limitations of period technology. What have we found? "One ...
Nutrition Centre -- Eating out at an Indian or Pakistani restaurant can be nutritious; however, it is less healthy when food items are deep-fried, cooked in excess oil, or prepared in ghee, coconut oil or coconut milk. Here are some tips for making healthier choices. Accompany your meal with plenty of salad. Courtesy of The Ismaili Nutrition Centre Eating out at ...
Tokyo, Japan, 8 March 2012 -- The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) signed an agreement today to deepen and widen their partnership in international development. The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Tokyo by Mr. Aly Nazerali, the Aga Khan Foundation's CEO and AKDN's Senior Advisor on Policy and Institutional Relations, and Mr. Masato ...
His Islam was such that "he neither desired evil and harm to anyone" By Barnaby Rogerson Special to Simerg Hasan bent down to kiss his father's wounded brow. He then went out from the house to announce the death of their Imam to the people of Kufra. It was still Ramadan and so the streets around the great central mosque, and ...
"In my presidential address [to the 1976 Seerat Conference in Karachi], I appealed to our ulama not to delay the search for the answers to the issues of a rapidly evolving modernity which Muslims of the world face because we have the knowledge that Islam is Allah's final message to mankind, the Holy Qur'an His final Book, and Muhammad, may peace ...
Ismaili Centre Dubai -- RAYS OF LIGHT: Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamat will be opening in Dubai later this month. A Golden Jubilee International Programme, the exhibition depicts 50 years of Mawlana Hazar Imam's Imamat, against the backdrop of the Jamat's 1 400-year history. A family takes in the RAYS OF LIGHT exhibition, which will be at the Ismaili Centre, Dubai ...
News story -- The Institute of Ismaili Studies sponsored a workshop entitled Approaches to the Qur'an in sub-Saharan Africa which took place in Toronto, Canada in May. The workshop forms part of the Qur'anic Studies Unit's project on Regional Approaches to the Qur'an and was the result of a collaboration with the Textile Museum of Canada and York University, Canada. Organised by ...
"Alamut was the place which really raised my passion to astronomy and sky imaging." - Babak Tafreshi A panoramic image of the Milky Way arching across the night sky shot from a dark sky location. See below for a view from across the Ismaili fortress of Alamut. The stellar disk of the Milky Way galaxy is approximately 100,000 light-years in diameter. ...
Pakistan Television: And what would be your ideal world view of the future of Islam? And what kind of world, Islam as a faith and followers of Islam would envisage where really we can say that yes this is an Islamic country with the best of ideals and practices? Aga Khan: I would like [the] essence of the faith to be ...
Healthy Hints Although this is a traditional recipe, it is less rich than regular seero, which could give you up to 500 calories per serving! To make it even healthier, you could try using skimmed milk, low fat unsaturated spread and less sugar. Adding some sultanas will deliver sweetness and fibre. 400 ml whole milk 130 g sugar ⅛ tsp nutmeg, ...
News story -- Dr Eric Ormsby, Deputy Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications, and Professor Wilferd Madelung, leading Islamic scholar and Senior Research Fellow at the IIS, were invited to speak at an international interdisciplinary conference entitled Islam and Rationality: The impact of al-Ghazaliat Ohio State University, USA. The conference came about in recognition of Al-Ghazali's influence on Islamic, ...
News story -- Dr Jamal has a long-standing relationship with the IIS as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Graduate Studies and through her active involvement in the development of the IIS' Secondary Curriculum. She brings to her new role a strong academic background and her extensive experience with institutions of the Ismaili Community in Europe and North America. Dr Jamal ...
News story -- The IIS, in conjunction with the Institute of Oriental Manuscripts (IOM) of the Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), organised an international conference in Saint Petersburg to commemorate the 125th birth anniversary of Wladimir Alekseevich Ivanow, the pioneer of modern Ismaili Studies. The conference 'Ismaili Traditions and Spirituality of the People of Pamirs in the Works of Russian Scholars' brought ...
"[M]y sense is we are looking to the future for a massive increase in nuclear use around the world. To me, that's on the cards. And it's on the cards in the industrialised world, it's on the cards in the Third World. (1) ... I think we have to make the intellectual effort to jump ahead of that issue and ten ...
An update has been made. Please visit A "Thank You" Letter to an Ismaili Historical Figure - Examples to Assist You. ___________________ A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What's New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near ...
Healthy Hints For good health, it's important to eat fruit and veg of different colours. The colour in beetroot provides a powerful anti-oxidant which you only get from vibrant red or violet colours. Beetroot juice has been shown to be helpful in lowering high blood pressure. Nuts and seeds in small amounts are heart-protective. 2 tsp sesame seed 2 raw beetroot ...
Scientists and satellites hold vigil on a newborn lake in Hunza By Natasha Vizcarra On 4 January 2010, a rockslide 1200 meters long, 350 meters wide, and 125 meters high dammed the Hunza River in Attabad, in the Hunza Valley of northern Pakistan, and formed Lake Gojal. The initial mass movement of rock buried the village of Attabad, destroying 26 homes ...
News story -- The IIS is pleased to announce the award of its Dissertation Writing Scholarship to Shatha Almutawa who is studying at the University of Chicago Divinity School, USA. Shatha Almutawa's dissertation, The Use of Narrative in Rasa'il Ikhwan al-Safa': Imagination at the Intersections of Religion, Philosophy and Science, focuses on an aspect of the Epistles of the Brethren of Purity ...
Meydan Classic success for Burano. Dalakhani took the honours at Dubai on Thursday 23rd February as his son BURANO opened his account in the Listed Meydan Classic. Ridden by Frankie Dettori, the three-year-old colt made steady progress throughout the straight in this mile event on the Meydan turf, and took the lead just before the line ahead of former Group 3 ...
