Simerg is an independent initiative dedicated to Ismaili Muslims, the Aga Khan — their Hereditary Imam — and the Ismaili Imamat, and Islam in general through literary readings, photo essays and artistic expressions
How many titles does the Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) have under its banner since its founding in December 1977? Its first publication was in 1983 — Henry Corbin’s Cyclical Time and Ismaili Gnosis. The answer: 208! As many countries around the world observe UNESCO’S World Book Day on April 23, we present a link that provides a brief overview of the IIS’s 200+ titles. Please click IIS Publications or on the image below. There are filters of how you want the books to be listed, such as newest to oldest, by category and there is also a search function. For a detailed description of the book, click on the book title or its corresponding front cover image shown on the summary page. Some books may be out of print. The literature counters in Jamatkhanas in Canada and other parts of the world have many titles in stock. Pick up a book on World Book Day and make reading part of your daily habit.
Please click on image for list of books published by the IIS since its founding in December 1977.
Featured photo at top of post: Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, in conversation King Charles (then HRH The Prince of Wales), Lord Ahmad, Mayor Sadiq Khan, and Head Librarian of the Aga Khan Library Dr. Walid Ghali; June 26, 2018, opening day of the Aga Khan Centre. Photograph: The Ismaili/Shyrose Bhanji.
Simerg and its sister website Barakah are pleased to launch a permanent PODCAST series that will contain timeless words from 65 years of speeches, interviews and messages that His Highness the Aga Khan has delivered since he became the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957. The Aga Khan’s perennial words accentuate the common goal of societies living in the spirit of one humanity as well as flourishing in all areas of human endeavour. Appropriately, with Muslims commencing the auspicious and happy Eid ul-Fitr festivities from Friday, April 21, 2023, following the end of the month of Ramadhan, the first Podcast is of a written holy message (or Talika) that the Aga Khan sent to his followers on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr in May 2020, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The full English text of the Talika with its translation in eight languages can be read HERE.
The Aga Khan’s special Eid ul-Fitr message of May 23, 2020
His Highness the Aga Khan’s Eid ul-Fitr message of May 23, 2020.
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Inline images below represent the Imam and his bond with his spiritual children
TEXT
My beloved spiritual children,
On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I send my special loving blessings to my Jamats throughout the world for your happiness, peace, safety, and good health. My family joins me in wishing you all Eid Mubarak.
At this difficult time, I applaud, with the highest admiration and gratefulness, the selfless services of all my Jamati volunteers, as well as the doctors, nurses, paramedics and support workers in the AKDN and other health facilities and related programmes: Their exemplary courage, commitment and dedication in extending care and comfort to my Jamat and others, and especially to those who are vulnerable and sick, is an outstanding actualization of the human values and ethics that all faiths cherish.
It is my wish that my Jamat should look to the future with hope and courage, in keeping with its age-old tradition of unity, generosity and mutual support which has at all times enabled it to move forward to a position of enhanced strength and resilience, from generation to generation.
My spiritual children should always remain mindful that it is the principles of our faith that will bring peace and solace in these times of uncertainty. I am with my Jamat at all times, and each of you, individually, is always in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.
I send my most affectionate paternal, maternal loving blessings to all my Jamat – for happiness, good health, confidence and security in your lives ahead, and for mushkil-asan.
Yours affectionately,
Aga Khan
Date posted: April 21, 2023. Last updated: April 26, 2023 (improved version of podcast reading.)
As Muslims around the world prepare to end the fast of the month of Ramadhan, with the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr expected to take place on Friday April 21, 2023, we recall a historic day in the life of Mawlana Hazar Imam who, on or around September 19, 1944, recited the Eid ul-Fitr Namaz (lit. prayers) at the Nairobi Chief (Darkhana) Jamatkhana now known as the Town Jamatkhana. Prince Amyn, Mawlana Hazar Imam’s younger brother, was also present on the festive day. Their religious education tutor, Missionary Kaderali Patel, recorded the day’s events in his diary. Please click HERE or on photo below to read the story.
As we prepare to celebrate Eid, may we draw our readers’ attention to the beautiful Eid Mubarak stamp, shown at left, that was issued by Canada Post on April 3, 2023, ahead of the Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, which will be celebrated at the beginning of July after the completion of the Hajj. The stamp was featured in our special post HERE.
On the auspicious occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, we convey our heartiest felicitations to Muslims around the world and wish everyone Eid Mubarak with prayers that Allah may fulfill all your wishes, and that He may in His Infinite Mercy shower His Creation with peace, tranquility and happiness. We also pray for the peace and rest of departed souls. Finally, we pray that Allah give us the strength and courage to face difficulties that we may be facing or that may come our way, and that He may ease our difficulties. Ameen.
Prince Karim, now the 49th Imam of Ismaili Muslims, leading the Eid prayers in 1944 at the age of 7. Please click on photo for story.
Date posted: May 11, 2021. Last updated: April 19, 2023.
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat, and Simergphotos.
“It may seem unusual that an ancient artifact from medieval Iran would make its way onto a Canadian stamp, but it’s really not at all. This is a wonderful reflection of who we are as Canadians and how diverse our country is. We celebrate cultures from across the world here.” — Dr. Fahmida Suleman, curator of the Islamic World collections, Royal Ontario Museum, Toronto, as quoted in Canada Post Magazine article.
Crafted nearly 700 years ago in medieval Iran, the elegant, hand-painted ceramic bowl on this year’s Eid stamp was made during Ramadan — one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar, when Muslims in Canada and around the world fast as an act of worship, self-purification and spiritual growth. This is Canada Post’s fifth Eid issue. The 2023 stamp also features, in calligraphy, the words Eid Mubarak, a traditional Arabic greeting that means “have a blessed Eid”. Its issue date is April 3, in advance of both Eid al-Fitr which is expected to be observed on Friday, April 21, and Eid al-Adha, the Festival of Sacrifice, which marks the end of the Hajj pilgrimage to the Kaaba in Mecca. The 2023 Hajj is scheduled to take place between June 26 and July 1…. PLEASE READ MORE IN CANADA POST MAGAZINE.
To buy stamp (in booklet of 6), please click Eid (2023): Permanent domestic rate stamps. The link includes an image of the stamps booklet and describes the two Islamic Eid festivals in more detail. The booklets should be available at Canada Post locations around the country. The specifications for the stamp are as follows:
Designer: Subplot Design Inc; Issue date: April 3, 2023; and Quantity produced: 55,000.
On Monday. April 17, 2023, Simerg’s sister website Simergphotos will launch a special 4-week series on Cairo — a city founded more than a 1000 years ago by the Fatimids, ancestors of the present 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, His Highness the Aga Khan.
Lanterns in Islamic Cairo. Photograph: Muslim Harji.
Muslim Harji’s photographs will cover Islamic Cairo, the city’s popular foods including its street foods as well as the beautiful Al-Azhar Park that has captured the hearts of Cairo’s residents. He will conclude the series with photographs of his memorable visit to Aswan, the burial place of the 48th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (d. July 11, 1957.)
Fellucas on the Nile in Aswan. Photograph: Muslim Harji
As a forerunner to the Cairo series, we invite our readers to view a selection of Muslim’s highly acclaimed photo essays that have appeared in Simerg and its sister blogs over the last decade. Muslim’s dazzling pictures will capture your imagination and leave a permanent mark on your minds.
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TRAVEL THE WORLD WITH MUSLIM HARJI TO CANADA, SPAIN, THE MIDDLE EAST, CENTRAL ASIA, IRAN, INDIA AND MORE
Please click on the hyperlink or corresponding image for full story
“We have indeed sent it (the Qur’an) down in the Night of Power! And what will make you understand what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. The angels and the Spirit (Ruh) descend therein with the permission of their Lord, to regulate all things. It is peace until the rising of the dawn” — Qur’an, 97:1-5 (Surah al-Qadr)
The Qur’an affirms in the final two verses of this very short Surah of Qadr — The Night of Power — that angels and luminous spirits descend to earth on the blessed night, expressing the Grace and Mercy of Allah.
What symbolic dimension and esoteric meaning should we give to this night of the angels in the blessed Islamic month of Ramadan?
Of course, during this crucial night, as Shia Imami Ismaili Mulsims, under the spiritual authority of the Imam-of-the-Time, we will devote our time in congregation as well as individually to spiritual exercises that will especially help us to enter into communion with our soul and succeed in opening our heart to the vision of God.
The recitation of verses and surahs of the Qur’an, Ginans and Qasidas, special Tasbihs (invocations), the Hadiths (the traditions of the Prophet), the Farmans (guidance) of Mawlana Hazar Imam, as well as the remembrance of Allah, the Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali and his (Hereditary) successors, as we commemorate this special event, will support our spiritual search.
On this Holy Night it is necessary to be in tune, by reason and with our hearts, with the angels and the luminous entities sent in mission as providential messengers.
Musicians know this phenomenon well. Here are two absolutely identical tuning forks: you touch one of them, it vibrates, and the other, which has not been touched, also vibrates. We say that there is a resonance.
Well, a similar phenomenon occurs with the human beings: if each one of us manages to tune our physical and psychic being to the most subtle vibrations of the universe, we can reach the celestial powers to make an exchange with them and thus receive help and comfort.
We also know that there is no true listening without the fundamental attitude of humility!
During this night of the angels, we can even touch certain currents of forces to make them come to us. As soon as we know this law (of tuning), we understand how important it is to surpass ourselves — to surpass ourselves to touch the most subtle chords of our being and to make them vibrate, because there will be forces that will respond by making us benefit from their knowledge.
Through Ibadat (worship), special Zikr prayers and Bandgi (meditation and contemplation), we can communicate and be heard! We have to make the sincere effort to enter the sacred silence of interiority and to understand the importance of the spiritual quest by going down to the bottom of our soul.
This Night of the Angels remains precious for introspection, awareness, offers moments of purification, forgiveness, enlightenment, contemplation, submission, renewing our act of allegiance to the Spiritual Authority of the Imam-of-the-Time.
Laylat al-Qadr is a night of the angels where Allah in His Great Mercy and Glory has concentrated His Blessings and entrusted the angels and the invisible light entities to make the night the centre of His Favours.
Laylat al-Qadr is a night that is conducive to our spiritual maturity because these hours of worship, allow us to see the treasures of knowledge and recognition.
We conclude by offering our prayers and sincere fraternal thoughts for a complete, serene and satisfying night of Laylat al-Qadr.
Date posted: April 12, 2023. Last updated: March 22, 2025.
Featured image shown at top of post: In his Khamsa, Shab-i Qadr (the Night of Power), the renowned Persian poet Amir Khusraw Dihlavi (d. 1325 CE) tells the story of a saint who made a failed attempt to stay awake until the Laylat al-Qadr. This image is taken from a folio in the Aga Khan Museum collection in Toronto, Canada.
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Born and raised in Madagascar, Mohez Nato went to France in the late 1960’s to pursue his university education. Political tensions in Madagascar prevented him from returning to his home country, where he had planned to teach and carry out research on medicinal plants. Instead, he remained in France and completed his PhD, following which he worked as a teacher-researcher in Plant Biotechnology at the University of Paris Sud XI from 1971 to 2011.
Now, in his retirement, Mohez does voluntary work giving courses in French-speaking Universities in countries like Burkina Faso, Lebanon, Benin, Algeria and Tunisia. He is also the president of a Humanitarian Association which has been active in Madagascar since 1993. Within the Ismaili community, Mohez was Secretary General of the Ismailia Association for France (with President Mohamad Peera) which organized Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to Paris in 1980. Thereafter, he devoted time for the opening of a Jamatkhana in Antony in southern suburb of Paris, where he also held the position of Kamadia from 1981 to 1983. After the Golden Jubilee celebrations in 2007-08, Mohez was bestowed with the title of Alijah by Mawlana Hazar Imam. Mohez is married to Farida, with whom he has two daughters, Farahna and Rahima. We invite you to read his earlier piece Ode à l’Imam du Temps Présent / Ode to the Imam of the Present Time published in Barakah.
“From the first Costeau film I saw and the fish I started keeping at the age of five, the first octopus and cuttlefish that squirted ink at me….I knew I couldn’t, wouldn’t stop exploring the sea,” says Prince Hussain. Read more about his marine expeditions and exciting encounters in the underwater world as well as his contributions to the work of the Ismaili Imamat by clicking on photo shown above or APRIL 10: PRINCE HUSSAIN AGA KHAN.
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Prince Hussain’s nephew, Prince Irfan, is 41 years younger! His recent photo with his grandfather, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims and direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family), brought immense joy to Ismailis around the world. Our piece on the young Prince includes the meaning of his beautiful name Irfan. Please click on photo or APRIL 11: PRINCE IRFAN AGA KHAN.
On April 9, 2023, Christians around the world will observe Easter Sunday as mark of their faith that Jesus Christ — Prophet Issa (may peace be on him) as he is known in Islam — was resurrected three days after his death by crucifixion. Simerg presents a selection of photos related to Easter traditions and the Christian faith captured by Montreal’s Muslim Harji during his travels around the world. The photographs shown on this page are part of a broader presentation of Harji’s highly acclaimed and must-read photo essay SACRED SPACES in world faiths that appears on Simergphotos.
[The following piece was originally published on March 30, 2023, in The Ismaili Portugal, the Portuguese component of the official website of the Ismaili Muslim community. It has been adapted with minor changes; the photographs produced below are not part of The Ismaili Portugal piece. The sources of the photographs have been mentioned in their corresponding captions — Ed.]
Português/Portuguese (English follows)
Após o choque inicial do incidente no Centro Ismaili em Lisboa no início desta semana, os pensamentos da comunidade Ismaili voltaram-se para as duas mulheres que tragicamente perderam as suas vidas.
As vítimas do ataque — Farana Sadrudin, 49 anos, e Mariana Jadaugy, 24 anos — trabalhavam para a FOCUS Assistência Humanitária no Centro Ismaili com os refugiados recém-chegados para os ajudar a estabelecerem-se em Portugal.
A Farana era a Country Manager da FOCUS para Portugal. Engenheira de profissão, tinha anteriormente desempenhado uma série de funções voluntárias, servindo o Jamat há mais de 20 anos. Farana era também membro do National Council desde 2015.
“O seu sorriso era contagioso”, disse a sua prima Fara Nazim. “A dedicação da Farana, a paixão por ajudar os outros, e a generosidade são apenas algumas das qualidades dela que não vamos esquecer. Fomos abençoados por tê-la nas nossas vidas”.
A Mariana trabalhava como caseworker, tendo começado a trabalhar na FOCUS em 2022. Mariana era licenciada em Ciências Políticas e Relações Internacionais e tinha um mestrado em Ciências Sociais e Desenvolvimento.
“Ela não era apenas minha colega, mas também minha amiga”, disse a colega de trabalho Nalina Ali. “Ela sempre ajudou a tornar o nosso local de trabalho num ambiente acolhedor e reconfortante para todos. Aprendi muito com ela”.
“Os nossos pensamentos estão com as famílias da Farana e da Mariana. Eram ambas bem conhecidas entre o Jamat”, disse Rahim Firozali, Presidente do National Council para Portugal. “O trabalho de ambas foi de vital importância para ajudar os migrantes a estabelecerem-se e integrarem-se neste país, tendo muitas vezes ido além das suas funções para oferecer cuidados e atenção aos necessitados”.
Nos últimos dias, as famílias das vítimas receberam apoio e conforto dos membros da Jamat de todo o mundo. Também o National Council recebeu mensagens de condolências e apoio de parceiros e amigos da comunidade de todos os cantos do mundo. As cerimónias fúnebres da Farana realizaram-se na passada sexta-feira, 31 de março, e as da Mariana no sábado, 1 de abril.
“Iremos recordá-las pelo seu profissionalismo e empenho no seu trabalho e para com o Jamat”, acrescentou o Presidente Rahim. “Elas representaram o espírito de serviço e sentiremos muita falta delas”.
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English (Spanish follows)
“Farana’s smile was contagious… her dedication, passion for helping others, and generosity are just some of the things we won’t forget about her” — Fara Nazim
“Mariana was not only my colleague but also my friend. She helped to make our workplace a welcoming and comforting environment. I learned a lot from her” — Nalina Ali
The valorization and the empowerment of women is an important issue, especially for those who come from countries where the role of women is relegated to second place. In this sense, a session was held on July 20, 2022, at the Ismaili Center in Lisbon, under the motto: “All women have the power to become a success story”. In this session, topics such as hygiene care and make-up were also discussed in partnership with Dressforsuccess, with hygiene and make-up products being offered to the participants. In this photo, FOCUS Country Manager, Farana Sadrudin (d. March 28, 2023, aged 49) is seen 2nd from left with participants. Photograph: The Ismaili, September 10, 2022.
Following the initial shock of the incident at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon earlier this week, thoughts of the Ismaili community soon turned to the women who tragically lost their lives.
The victims of the attack — Farana Sadrudin, 49, and Mariana Jadaugy, 24 — were employed by FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance. Based at the Ismaili Centre, they worked with recent arrivals to help them settle in Portugal.
Farana was the FOCUS country manager for Portugal. An engineer by profession, she had previously performed a number of voluntary roles, serving the Jamat over a period of 20 years. Farana had also served as a National Council member since 2015.
“Her smile was contagious,” said her cousin Fara Nazim. “Farana’s dedication, passion for helping others, and generosity are just some of the things we won’t forget about her. We were blessed to have her as part of our lives.”
Mariana Jadaugy (d. March 28, 2023, aged 24), pictured on June 12, 2019 with her degree in Political Science and International Relations from Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas, a unit of Universidade NOVA de Lisboa. Photograph: NOVA/FCSH.
Mariana was a caseworker, having begun work at FOCUS only this year. Prior to this, at University she had studied Political Science and International Relations and held a Masters in Social Sciences and Development.
“She was not only my colleague but also my friend,” said co-worker Nalina Ali. “She helped to make our workplace a welcoming and comforting environment. I learned a lot from her.”
“Our thoughts are with the families of Farana and Mariana,” said Rahim Firozali, President of the Ismaili Council for Portugal. “Their work was vitally important to help migrants settle and integrate in this country, and they often went above and beyond their assigned duties to offer care and attention to those in need.”
In recent days, the grieving families have received an outpouring of support and comfort from members of the Jamat worldwide. The Ismaili Council for Portugal has also received messages of condolences and support from partners and friends of the community from all corners of the world. Funeral ceremonies were held on Friday 31 March and Saturday 1 April for Farana and Mariana respectively.
“We will remember them for their professionalism and commitment to their work and to the Jamat,” added President Rahim. “They embodied the spirit of service and will be greatly missed.”
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Español/Spanish
Tras la conmoción inicial por el incidente ocurrido en el Centro Ismailí de Lisboa a principios de esta semana, los pensamientos de la comunidad ismailí enseguida se volvieron hacia las mujeres que perdieron trágicamente la vida.
Las víctimas del atentado, Farana Sadrudin, de 49 años, y Mariana Jadaugy, de 24, trabajaban para FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance. Con base en el Centro Ismailí, trabajaban con los recién llegados para ayudarles a establecerse en Portugal.
Farana era la responsable de FOCUS en Portugal. Ingeniera de profesión, había desempeñado anteriormente diversas funciones de voluntariado al servicio de Jamat durante 20 años. Farana también había sido miembro del Consejo Nacional desde 2015.
“Su sonrisa era contagiosa”, dijo su prima Fara Nazim. “La dedicación, la pasión por ayudar a los demás y la generosidad de Farana son solo algunas de las cosas que no olvidaremos de ella. Tuvimos la suerte de que formara parte de nuestras vidas”.
Mariana era asistente social y había empezado a trabajar en FOCUS este mismo año. Antes, en la Universidad había estudiado Ciencias Políticas y Relaciones Internacionales y tenía un máster en Ciencias Sociales y Desarrollo.
“No sólo era mi colega, sino también mi amiga”, afirma Nalina Ali, compañera de trabajo. “Ayudó a hacer de nuestro lugar de trabajo un entorno acogedor y reconfortante. Aprendí mucho de ella”.
“Nuestros pensamientos están con las familias de Farana y Mariana”, declaró Rahim Firozali, Presidente del Consejo Ismailí para Portugal. “Su trabajo era de vital importancia para ayudar a los inmigrantes a establecerse e integrarse en este país, y a menudo iban más allá de sus obligaciones asignadas para ofrecer cuidado y atención a los necesitados.”
En los últimos días, las familias en duelo han recibido una avalancha de apoyo y consuelo de miembros del Jamat de todo el mundo. El Consejo Ismailí para Portugal también ha recibido mensajes de condolencias y apoyo de socios y amigos de la comunidad de todos los rincones del mundo. El viernes 31 de marzo y el sábado 1 de abril se celebraron las ceremonias fúnebres de Farana y Mariana, respectivamente.
“Las recordaremos por su profesionalidad y compromiso con su trabajo y con el Jamat”, añadió el Presidente Rahim. “Encarnaban el espíritu de servicio y las echaremos mucho de menos.
Simerg invites readers to submit their thoughts, reflections and condolences to Farana Sadrudin and Mariana Jadaugy. We would especially like to hear from their friends, colleagues and family members whose lives they touched through their warmth, friendship, love as well as services that they rendered during their lifetime. Please pen your reflections by clicking on Leave a comment.
Editor’s note: In the aftermath of the knife attack at the Ismaili Centre in Lisbon that killed Farana Sadrudin and Mariana Jadaugy, condolences have been expressed to the families of the victims privately, in public statements or through the media. One such expression was received by Simerg from Paris based Moez Nato in response to our report on the funeral of Farana Sadrudin that took place in Lisbon on Friday, March 31, 2023. We publish Nato’s expression of sympathy that we feel is representative of how hundreds of thousands of members of the Ismaili community in Portugal and around the world feel about the tragedy that has taken place. The image at top of this post features Mariana Jadaugy (left, photo credit: NOVA FCSH) and Farana Sadrudin (photo credit: Polytechnic Institute of Setúbal).
By MOEZ NATO
French (English follows)
Chers soeurs et frères de foi, Chers amis,
Cette horrible nouvelle de Lisbonne ne peut que nous fendre le coeur et nous attrister profondément. Nous sommes touchés dans notre chair. Quelle douloureuse nouvelle! Quels malheurs! Mais pourquoi ce geste fou, violent?
Nos prières et nos pensées pour les parents et les proches des innocentes victimes. Nos prières pour que Allah, dans toute Sa Miséricorde et Sa Clémence ouvrent à leurs âmes en paix le Royaume de Lumière.
Que les Bénédictions de Mowlana Hazar Imam soient pour les parents des victimes une source de réconfort spirituel.
Nos condoléances attristées à toute la communauté ismailie de Lisbonne . Nos pensées et notre soutien moral au Peuple Portugais et aux Autorités Politiques Institutionnelles qui ont toujours manifesté leur bienveillance à l’ Imamat Ismaili et soutenu l’ intégration loyale, harmonieuse de notre Jamat au sein de la société civile portugaise.
Avec nos affectueuses pensées et l’ expression de notre solidarité, de notre fraternité, à toutes les personnes qui ont acceuillie cette affreuse nouvelle de Lisbonne avec beaucoup de tristesse.
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English
Dear sisters and brothers of faith, Dear friends,
This horrible news from Lisbon can only break our hearts and sadden us deeply. We are touched in our flesh. What painful news! What misfortunes! But why this crazy, violent gesture?
Our prayers and thoughts for the parents and loved ones of the innocent victims. Our prayers that Allah, in all His Mercy will open the Kingdom of Light to their souls in peace.
May the Blessings of Mawlana Hazar Imam be a source of spiritual comfort to the relatives of the victims.
Our heartfelt condolences to the entire Ismaili community of Lisbon.
Our thoughts and our moral support to the Portuguese People and to the Institutional Political Authorities who have always shown their benevolence to the Ismaili Imamat and supported the loyal, harmonious integration of our Jamat within Portuguese civil society.
With our loving thoughts and the expression of our solidarity, our fraternity, to all the people who have received this dreadful news from Lisbon with great sadness.
Date posted: April 2, 2023.
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As a follow up to Moez Nato’s message of condolence posted above as well as others that we have received, Simerg invites its readers to submit their thoughts, reflections and condolences on the tragedy that took place on March 28, 2023, in Lisbon. Please submit your feedback by clicking Leave a comment. Also, please click HERE to read other messages of condolence.
Before departing this website, please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought-provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos. The editor may be reached via email at mmerchant@simerg.com.
My beloved spiritual children,
On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I send my special loving blessings to my Jamats throughout the world for your happiness, peace, safety, and good health. My family joins me in wishing you all Eid Mubarak.
At this difficult time, I applaud, with the highest admiration and gratefulness, the selfless services of all my Jamati volunteers, as well as the doctors, nurses, paramedics and support workers in the AKDN and other health facilities and related programmes: Their exemplary courage, commitment and dedication in extending care and comfort to my Jamat and others, and especially to those who are vulnerable and sick, is an outstanding actualization of the human values and ethics that all faiths cherish.
It is my wish that my Jamat should look to the future with hope and courage, in keeping with its age-old tradition of unity, generosity and mutual support which has at all times enabled it to move forward to a position of enhanced strength and resilience, from generation to generation.
My spiritual children should always remain mindful that it is the principles of our faith that will bring peace and solace in these times of uncertainty. I am with my Jamat at all times, and each of you, individually, is always in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.
I send my most affectionate paternal, maternal loving blessings to all my Jamat – for happiness, good health, confidence and security in your lives ahead, and for mushkil-asan.
Yours affectionately,
Aga Khan
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 