Editor's Choice

Editor's Choice -- Ismaili Digest -- The brainstorming myth: why you shouldn't brainstorm in teams or committees and what to do instead Has your group, committee or organization ever held a "brainstorming" meeting to come up with "the best ideas" to solve some problem your facing? You know, the meetings where you're told, for example, "there are no bad ideas?" ...

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Editor's Choice -- RoundUp -- Spirituality in Islam for Humanity Today Today, Islam tends to be articulated in terms of its political, ritual, and legal doctrines, and its deep and profound spiritual dimensions are largely neglected. Consequently, the impact Islam's spirituality can have on our well-being today is larely unexamined. The following talks introduce some aspects of Islam's spirituality. We ...

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[ISMAILI DIGEST ED: This piece was written and emailed a month ago, at the end of June. However, during July the controversy over opening American schools exploded and has become stranger, rather than clearer, making the material even more relevant.] ARTICLE: As the Politco article, linked below, makes crystal clear, the USA the 2020-2021 academic year is in chaos, disarray and turmoil -- both at the school and university level. At the school level, surveys have revealed that: • up to 20% of teachers may not return; • states are anticipating a 20%-30% cut in aid; • schools have no clear ...

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Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III (r. 1885-1957) established a research institution, the Ismaili Society (Anjoman-e Esma'ili), on February 16, 1946 in Bombay (now Mumbai), India. According to the Charter, its primary objective was "the promotion of independent and critical study of all matters connected with Ismailism with the stated policy of refraining from all religio-political missionary activities" (Daftary, Anjoman-e ...

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Sawm: The Esoterics (Bāṭin) of Fasting Shahru ramaḍāna alladhī unzila fīhi'l-qur'ānu hudan lilnasi wabayyinātin mina'l-hudā wa'l-furqāni fa-man shahida minkumu'l-shahra falyaṣumhu "The Month of Ramaḍān in which was sent down the Qur'ān a guidance for mankind, and manifest proofs of the guidance and the criterion (between truth and falsehood). So whomever among you witnesses the Month, let him fast it." (Holy Qur'ān 2:185) Fasting (ṣawm) is among the ...

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Chuqander are usually a deep red colour but there are varieties ranging from white, orange and even striped. Both the beets and their greens can be eaten as they are tasty and full of unique nutritious properties. One large chuqander (approximately 100 grams) contains only 43 Calories and 25 per ...

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The following videos share two significant events of Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah's life. In 1892, he built the Aga Khan Palace, in Pune, as an act of charity to help the poor in the neighbouring areas. It is also where Mahatma Gandhi was kept prisoner after he launched the Quit India movement. In 1930, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah led the ...

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Of all the Ismaili communities which have survived to our own times, those of the Iranian lands and Yemen have had the longest continuous histories. This study, presented respectfully to Professor C. Edmund Bosworth, who has so meticulously studied over several decades the history and cultures of the peoples of the Iranian lands, provides a historical overview of the mediaeval ...

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Click here to view in your web browser if this email does not display properly Editor's Choice Parable: For Hodja, Pretending to be Foolish has its Rewards... Hodja: A Fool or Intelligent? The Hodja had already become a sort of attraction at the main market in the town. Whenever he went there to beg, people would show him a large ...

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In 1967, Mawlana Hazar Imam said "Western Europe and North America ... face social and moral conflicts which are far more daunting than known in Asia or Africa." In 1976, he said "I have observed in the Western world a deeply changing pattern of human relations. The anchors of moral behaviour appear to have dragged to such depths that they ...

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Salgirah Mubarak! To celebrate this happy occasion, we bring you our popular collection of 50 jokes by Mawlana Hazar Imam -- many with video or audio. During the Golden Jubilee, Hazar Imam said in Vancouver, "from time to time I have joked with my Jamat, and it has come to them in a rather unexpected way! And I said to ...

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In today's skeptical, secular world, many Ismailis wonder how complete and accurate is the historical record that documents and traces the Ismaili Imamat back to Prophet Muhammad and the first Shia Imam, Hazart Ali. Like all hereditary offices, at times there was disagreement over who was the legitimate successor to a previous Imam. Indeed, in his 1986 Man Alive interview, ...

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Parable: Learning from Tragedy, the Story of the Imprisoned Parrot Parrot in a cage There was once a merchant who owned a beautiful parrot. The parrot's ability to sing kept the merchant very happy for years. The merchant looked after the parrot very ...

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A fundamental aspect of our faith is the idea of "personal search." However what does this actually mean? Does "personal search" mean there are "no black and white answers" to faith related questions we have? That every interpretation is automatically correct? This is also known as relativism. Relativism claims there is no absolute truth, no single correct interpretation, but Hazar ...

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With all the cold weather we're having in North America, it seems winter has come early. And on these winter days, what could feel better than a steaming hot bowl of dhal? Here are four recipes that are sure to hit the spot with your family. Warm regardsIsmaili Digest

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Sacred Web Editorial - The Transhumanist Fallacy GOOGLE.COM -- SACRED WEB -- Transhumanism can be defined as the ideology which seeks to modify or improve the human race. A very basic question that must be asked before we presume to tamper with humanity ...

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