The Ismaili is pleased to present Badle gi, performed by Fitoor the Band. The song's lyrics represent a monologue influenced by the current pandemic. It touches on how human actions -- often driven by greed and self-interest -- are negatively impacting the natural environment and our own wellbeing, and expresses hope and optimism that things will now change for the better. ...
At first glance, our Curator's Pick this week appears to be a simple yet elegant candlestick from 16th-century Turkey. Its brass surfaces may be muted, but as the Museum's Dr. Filiz Çakır Phillip reveals, the object beams with cultural and religious significance. Learn more about the object (accession number AKM2017.2.1): Bringing online Museum experiences to you is part of our mission to ...
Global -- Responding to crises often requires us to think quickly; providing agile and adaptable solutions that can evolve with a changing context. In India, when the pandemic forced the closure of schools and Religious Education Centres, AKEB and ITREB in India took their learning programmes online for the first time ever. Supported by a network of over 1,600 volunteer teachers ...
ITREB USA presents ElevateU - Jamatkhanas: Practices, Privacy, Connections. For more, see ...
![[Oct 6]Today in history: Imam Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, President of the League of Nations, delivered the adjournment session](https://ismailidigest.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/b91fa0d914-1024x576.jpeg)
"The tribulations of one people are the tribulations of all. That which weakens one weakens all." Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, October 6, 1937President of the League of Nations Imam Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III succeeded as Imam on August 17, 1885 at the age of eight years, leading the Nizari Ismailis as Imam for seventy-two years, ...
Global -- Life is dependent on a healthy environment, not least for people in the developing world, and the wildlife whose habitats are under threat. For a long time, nature has needed a voice, and thanks to a group of young filmmakers trained and supported by the Aga Khan University, that voice is beginning to be heard. At a speech made ...
Global -- The Aga Khan Agency for Habitat (AKAH) and Focus Humanitarian Assistance (FOCUS) have been working to ensure that Pakistan and Tajikistan's most vulnerable communities, volunteers, and patients have access to information, food, and essential supplies needed at this crucial time. Pakistan's Covid-19 response teams are working to address the country's large population and limited health services. AKAH immediately jumped ...
Sottsass, Tarnawa and Valia highlights of a fine weekend for the Aga Khan Studs. The Aga Khan Studs were present on all fronts during Arc weekened at ParisLongchamp. SIYOUNI's son Sottsass was the hero of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and TARNAWA scored her second Group 1 victory in the Prix de l'Opéra, while VALIA, by Sea The Stars, lifted ...
A virtual book launch hosted by the Global Centre for Pluralism about recognizing ethnic identity as a strategy for building peace. ...
This year's theme for World Habitat Day, Housing for All: A Better Urban Future, is an opportunity to reflect on the state of housing in our towns, cities, and communities, exploring how we can build stronger, more resilient settlements. The Covid-19 pandemic highlights how fundamental our homes and neighbourhoods are to our quality of life. Are our homes safe and comfortable? Do ...
Bio: Robert Simms is an ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist specializing in Middle Eastern and West African traditions. He plays setar (long-necked lute), ney (reed flute), 'oud (short-necked lute), kora (harp), guitar, and various percussion instruments. His research interests include maqam (West Asian modal) repertoires, Mande music (West Africa), improvisation and creative processes. Professor Simms joined the faculty in York University's Department of Music in ...
As one of seven artists participating in the inaugural Field Trip Artist Residency, fibre artist Emily Jan gives us a peek into her work and processes as an artists. This v-log entry, the first of four, gives viewers a tour of her studio and workspace, and showcases examples of materials, artifacts and projects she's undertaken over the past several years. About the Residency: The ...
In celebration of World Teachers' Day, The Ismaili presents a new short film featuring Bait-ul Ilm teachers and students in the UK jurisdiction Jamat, discussing the value of religious education and the recent adaptation to online classes. ...
USA -- A lifetime of service capturing and recording the Imam's visits, and helping our youth. The idea of volunteerism is ingrained deep in our hearts and for many of us, it is a part of our daily lives. One of those volunteers is Mahedi Lalani. Born in Kenya and arriving in the US in 1968. As a student, he received ...
Global -- Since the announcement of lockdowns earlier this year, Bait-ul Ilm centres quickly transitioned to an online learning model. This has significantly impacted the routines of students and teachers as they experiment with new ways of working and communicating. To mark World Teachers' Day, 5 October, we spoke to IIS-trained secondary religious education teachers around the world to find out ...
This year's theme for World Habitat Day, Housing for All: A better Urban Future, is an opportunity to reflect on the state of housing in our towns, cities, and communities, exploring how we can build stronger, more resilient settlements. The COVID-19 pandemic highlights how fundamental our homes and neighbourhoods are to our quality of life - are our homes safe and comfortable, ...
Beliefs are the central aspect of any religious tradition. This is video 2 in the series on the aspects of religion. ...
Features a short clip on various personal stories of Muslims; a documentary of The Caliph (Al-Jazeera, Part 3); a lecture on the path of extreme love in Persian Islam by Omid Safi; a discussion on radicalism (UpFront); a talk on Islamic liberation theology by Farid Esack; a conversation on Distant Muslims by Akeel Bilgrami...and more. ...
[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- EVOLUTIONNEWS.ORG -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah, 1956: "The young Waezin should each try and find new arguments based on the discoveries in all branches of science for keeping the human soul like [sic] the ocean with the Divine wisdom and power."] ARTICLE: Cells and organisms come pre-equipped with repair mechanisms. It takes foresight to make complex tools and procedures that can restore the functions of other tools. But can a blind, unguided process -- like evolution -- recognize a problem? Furthermore, blind process can only see the immediate present; they are unconcerned about what happens next. Repair implies something worth saving. The easiest thing for evolution, when a problem occurs, is to let the organism die. Uncaring evolution owes it no further existence. Life comes equipped with repair mechanisms far more complex than ever expected. "It is remarkable that embryos can do this," Caltech scientists said. Lawrence Berkeley scientists were surprised by a "master sculptor" surgically straightening DNA before their eyes. If they assume these wonders ...
[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- EVOLUTIONNEWS.ORG -- In cells, complex multi-part machines find errors and fix them. The very concepts of proofreading and repair imply accuracy for a pre-defined purpose. How can cells do that? How do they know what is an error and also how to fix it, know how things should be? Processes like proofreading and repair can't appear by blind material processes. They take foresight. But blind material processes don't have forsight or anticipation, by definition. Only intelligence or minds have foresight. We look at at five different errors that are repaired by five different systems of cellular molecular machines. Each system must not only recognize the error but also know how to fix it. In each case, the machinery is well designed and finely tuned to rapidly and efficiently solve the problem. Behold in wonder ...
Moist, veggie-packed and easy to pull off. Learn how to make Handvo at home. Desi~licious RD, Shahzadi Devje's version of this traditional Gujarati savoury cake is made with a blend of ...
THEFEDERALIST.COM -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: Hazar Imam, 1976: "The anchors of moral behaviour appear to have dragged to such depths that they no longer hold firm the ship of life: What was once wrong is now simply unconventional, and for the sake of individual freedom must be tolerated. What is tolerated soon becomes accepted."] ARTICLE: [Former] presidential hopeful Kamala Harris can't get herself to support legislation that compels doctors to give an infant who survives an abortion the same care they would provide any other human being born. 44 Democrats, including [former] presidential candidates Cory Booker, Kirsten Gillibrand, Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders, blocked Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse's Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act that would save all such babies. Bills in both Virginia and New York specifically provide legal protections for doctors who terminate babies who are born-alive and survive an abortion. Gov. Ralph Northam of Virginia, ...
GOOGLE.COM -- Be on your guard against listening to exaggerated praise of yourself: an odour spreads therefrom that corrupts and debases the heart. ~~ Do not flatter: it is no sign of faith. ~~ The ugliest verity is that used to praise oneself. ~~ Beware of praising anyone for qualities that he lacks: his acts betray him, and give you the lie. ~~ One who praises you for qualities you lack, will next be found ...
President's message on Multi-Generational Wealth Management and Protection (MWMP) ...
[This piece is an aggregation of stories and photographs pertaining to members of Mawlana Hazar Imam's family from the first three months of 2020 that Barakah was unable to cover due to the editor's "nomadic wanderings" during the period.] Prepared and compiled by MALIK MERCHANT (Publisher/Editor Barakah, Simerg and Simergphotos) I. FEBRUARY 25-26, 2020, CAMBRIDGE AND LONDON, UK Princess Zahra Aga ...
YOUTUBE.COM -- THE FOOD RANGER -- Today, we're traveling to Iran for street food! Iran has some of the best street food around the world, and today, we're flying in direct with Mahan Air to Tehran, Iran to meet up with our friend Mr.Taster! He is bringing us for tons of Iranian street food in Tehran! Get ready for some of the BEST Street food in Iran in our Iran Food Tour ADVENTURE!!! Persian food is famous around the world, so we flew in DIRECT to try it, AND we got to fly in the COCKPIT!!! After landing in Tehran ...
USA -- During the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, when personal protective equipment (PPE) was scarce and in order to curtail the spread of the virus, patient interaction with medical care providers and visitation by family and loved ones was extremely limited at facilities. Many of the sick did not see an unmasked person or sunlight for weeks. To compound this ...
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Originally scheduled to be a live, in-gallery performance as part of a PA series where artists responded to the themes of the Sanctuary exhibition, the project by SlowPitchSound and Lybido has been reconfigured and reimagined for a COVID-19 reality. Turned into a virtual presentation, this video was conceived by the artists and filmed in the Museum's second-floor galleries in mid-August. "I am a first ...
How does art deepen our collective understanding of the converging global crises we face in the 21st century? Can the arts provide sanctuary for people seeking opportunity in a new country or culture in the age of COVID-19? Explore the interplay between contemporary art, migration, and rapid global change in this talk with two contributors to the Museum's Sanctuary exhibition, Ranu Mukherjee and ...
[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- YOUTUBE.COM -- PRAGERU -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: Hazar Imam, 2006: "Public integrity cannot grow out of authoritarian pronouncements. It must be rooted in the human heart and conscience." 1959: "The message I will always give is that humanity cannot deal with present day problems without a basis of religion." 2001: "But the jihad is before anything else, a personal discipline."] ARTICLE: A major difference between the Right and the Left is how to improve society. Conservatives believe the best way is almost always through individual moral improvement -- each person doing battle with their own weaknesses. The Left, on the other hand, believes the best way is almost always through doing battle with society's moral failings. However, as John Adams, the second American president, said: "Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to any other." And President Benjamin Franklin said: "Only a virtuous people are capable of freedom." Why? Because, freedom requires self-control. From its founding until the 1960s, American schools concentrated on character education. But, today children are not taught to focus on their flaws but on America's. Social issues have replaced character education. Another consequence ...
[H/T MOHIB EBRAHIM] -- FS.BLOG -- [ISMAILI DIGEST ED: Hazar Imam, 2008: "There are societies where the educated woman will not find a husband because she's educated. So you need to be very, very careful in handling these things, because they can be a real boomerang if you get them wrong.... So there are a lot of criteria there and it's a difficult problem."] ARTICLE: When we seek to change something, if we don't understand how we got "here," we run the risk of making things much worse. Before changing anything, we should know if the original people used second-order thinking when making their decisions and choices. Second-order thinking means not just considering the consequences of our decisions but also the consequences of those consequences so we don't go for quick fixes and end up making things worse. Humility says assume those earlier people knew things we don't or had experience we can't fathom. Their reasons for making certain choices might be more complex than they seem at first. Everyone can manage first-order thinking ...
JollyGul.com presents Nargis Balolia's beautiful rendition of Pir Sadardin's ginan "Utar Khandd Maanhe" (In the North Continent). This melodious ginan beautifully recited by Nargis Balolia is about meditation to gain the ...
On 21 September, 2020, UN Secretary-General António Guterres appointed Zahira Virani of Canada as the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Angola, with the host Government's approval. Ms. Virani brings to the ...
The Song, "Bolo Ali Ali" signifies the grandeur of Mawla Ali's persona, His strength, intellect and unbelievable victories that history has ever witnessed. It also reveals the remarkable power of his ...
After a long and hard search, Marvel has found its Ms. Marvel. The studio is tapping newcomer Iman Vellani to star in its Disney+ series based on the comic-book character. Marvel ...
