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
Author Archives: Malik Merchant, Editor
Founding publisher and editor of www.barakah.com, www.simerg.com and www.simergphotos.com.
The Karakoram Highway (KKH) cuts through some of the most astounding rock faces on the planet. Often coined the “Eighth Wonder of the World”, it’s a road trip of dreams, yet few have ever heard of it, or how it came to be. The highway stretches for 1,300 km from Pakistan to China, but Samantha Shea was particularly drawn to the 194km stretch of the highway that runs through the Hunza Valley, a region surrounded by the Karakoram Mountains that give the highway its name.
“This impossibly beautiful section is where you can see pristine glaciers, alpine lakes and snow-capped peaks right from the comfort of your ride. However, as alluring as the journey is, it’s the incredible people and traditions of the Hunza Valley that make this part of the highway so special….Hunza is known for being the most liberal region, in part due to the predominance of Ismailism, a moderate sect of Islam known for promoting tolerance and women’s rights. Education and sports are encouraged for girls, and many go on to study at university and beyond.” READ MORE ON BBC TRAVEL
Featured photo at top of post: Former Daily Nation chief photographer Azhar Chaudhry (d. November 2020, aged 75) looks on as His Highness the Aga Khan signs a copy of a special souvenir publication entitled “Smiling Safari” that Azhar published in 1976 to commemorate the 49th Ismaili Imam’s visit to Kenya in the same year. Photograph: Azhar Chaudhry Family Collection. See same image in black and white below, that includes the Aga Khan’s inscription in the souvenir.
By FAISAL (FAS) NADEEM
In the early hours of November 1, 2020, my beloved uncle Azhar Chaudhry lost his battle to live and I lost one of my heroes.
Azhar was only two years old in 1947 at the time of Indo-Pak partition and his family migrated from Indian Punjab to Pakistan’s rich farmlands of South Punjab. Soon after, his father took them to Kenya as he had found work on the railways.
In his early 20’s, Azhar had to go through a personal tragedy when due to some medical complications one of his legs was amputated. But he never had this get him down as he narrates his own story in Zarina Patel’s book “The In-between World of Kenya’s Media: South Asian Journalism, 1900-1992,” a limited edition of which was published in 2016.
Azhar was a self-made man through and through. He started his professional life as an apprentice with the Kenyan newspaper, The Standard, working as a Lino Operator and trained to become a professional photographer at the London School of Arts. From 1963 he worked for The Daily Nation and later on became their Chief Photographer and Picture Editor. His love and passion for photography remained in his DNA for the rest of his life and Azhar contributed to many important publications. In 1969, Azhar’s published his first book “Jomo Kenyatta: A man and his people”.
Being a keen traveler, shooter, safari enthusiast and photographer was a combination that opened several high-profile avenues for him. He travelled with former Kenyan President Moi and also with the Aga Khan, the founder of the Nation Group of newspapers, and documented the Aga Khan’s travels to Kenya through two special souvenir issues — Smiling Safari published in 1976 and Family Safari published in 1981.
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Cover page of “Smiling Safari — H.H. The Aga Khan on Tour,” photos by Azhar Chaudhry and text by Kul Bhushan, published by Azhar Chaudhry, 1976, 80 pp.; out of print.
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Cover page “Family Safari — H.H. The Aga Khan on Kenya Tour,” pictures by Azhar Chaudhry, published by Azhar Chaudhry, 1981, 108 pp., out of print.
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This black and white image appears in Azhar Chaudhry’s Family Safari, his second pictorial souvenir which commemorated the Aga Khan visit to Kenya in 1981. The Aga Khan’s signed inscription in the book reads “With every warm wish and admiration for such wonderful work. Aga Khan.”
Azhar was a keen rifle shooter and represented Kenya’s shooting team at various world shooting events. He was part of the overseas teams that took part at the international shooting events of 1986 and 1990 at The National Rifle Association of the United Kingdom (Bisley, Surrey).
A man of many talents, Azhar had developed his love for cooking into passion and from early 1990’s Azhar had become a full-time restaurateur. He successfully ran the famous Nairobi restaurant renowned for its steaks ‘The Professional’. Located in the heart of Nairobi and just opposite the Kenyan Parliament Buildings, this famous joint was based in the Kenyatta International Conference Centre. He ran this restaurant for a decade or so.
Azhar was a colorful man in his personal life too, and for various reasons he got married about 4 times but was never able to settle in a long-term marriage. During the first decade of the 2000, when Azhar was in his 4th marriage, he left Kenya and settled with his wife and two boys Ayman and Areeb in Nelspruit, South Africa. His first venture here was to run a butcher’s shop furthering his culinary skills. By 2005 he was keeping the family in Nelspruit and had moved himself to Johannesburg.
This is the time when I had planned to do an extensive family holiday in South Africa with visits to places such as Cape Town Peninsula, Robyn Island, Nelsprut, Kruger Safari Park, Johannesburg and Sun City. During this trip, we had the pleasure of spending time with his family in Nelspruit and then visited him at his newly opened Pakistani restaurant Dawat. I must say it was one of the best restaurants that I experienced in South Africa; it not only specialised in Pakistani cuisine but also served Chinese, Thai and Continental dishes including his famous steaks. Over the years many celebrities visited the famed Dawat which was located in Fordsberg (Johannesburg). Subsequently, he opened a branch in Cape Town as well. He sold both these restaurants to settle into his retirement days.
I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Azhar in Pakistan during 2015 when he was accompanying his friend from South Africa, the world-renowned orthopaedic specialist Professor Charles Lautenbach who was in Lahore to deliver his research paper at a Conference. Professor Lautenbach had designed a procedure for treating bone infections, which he researched and continued to refine over the span of his medical career. He also trained a number of doctors from around the world in what became known as the ‘Lautenbach technique’. It was a pleasure to accompany Azhar and the Professor to a few private dinners. I was lucky enough to meet Azhar again for the last time in 2017 when he came to Lahore for dental treatment.
He then re-organised his personal life and settled in Port Alfred with his elder son Ayman who was completing his commercial pilot training there. I last spoke with Azhar on Aug 29, 2020, after he and Ayman had moved to their new place in Port Alfred by the river.
Sadly, during the last week of October 2020, when visiting his younger son Areeb in Cape Town, he felt poorly and had to be taken to the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital. He was diagnosed with COVID-19 and never recovered from this episode and passed away during the early hours of November 1, 2020. Azhar’s last resting place is at Grassy Park Cemetery, Cape Town.
Rest in Peace Azhar. You will always be my hero. Your family — the Chaudhry clan — and your friends all over the globe will miss you dearly.
Date posted: August 31, 2023. Last updated: September 1, 2023 (link updates.)
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As Chief Photographer of the Daily Nation for many years, Azhar Chaudhry was well-known by readers of the Daily Nation and widely respected by his colleagues in the East African media. Of course, many know him through his popular restaurants in Nairobi and South Africa. We invite our readers to submit their personal tributes and fond memories of Azhar Chaudhry by clicking on LEAVE A COMMENT.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Faisal Nadeem
Faisal (Fas) Nadeem is an electrical engineer and an IT specialist by profession and lives near Oxford, England. As a hobby, Fas spends his time researching on those who are near and dear to him, as well as his family who come from a humble Punjabi farming background. With facts not easy to come by, he relies on older members of his family for information gathering. Fas is widely travelled and has toured several countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Thus his interests span across many cultures and faiths. Fas, who has two grown-up sons, is surrounded by members of his extended family and has many friends in the UK who are from East Africa and the Sub-Continent. Fas may be reached by email at fasnadeem@gmail.com.
The featured photo of Jordan’s flag at the top of this post is reproduced from the website Embassy of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Tokyo, Japan. The following textual material has been gathered from the Embassy’s website as well as the websites of North Carolina’s Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology and a-z-animals, an interesting educational website on animals that also provides factual and well-researched information on other topics while describing animals in a specific country.
The Jordanian flag, in its current form, was adopted in 1922. It is inspired, in shape and colours, by the Great Arab Revolt banner, which was raised from the plains of Mecca in 1916.
Each of the three stripes represents a different caliphate, with black representing the Abbassid Caliphate, white, representing the Ummayyad Caliphate, and green, representing the Fatimid Caliphate, while the red chevron encompassing the flag’s components represents the Hashemite Family, in addition to paying homage to the Arab Revolt. The Fatimids, who ruled in North Africa and Egypt from 909 – 1171 CE are the ancestors of the current 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, His Highness the Aga Khan, who is respectfully addressed by his Ismaili followers as Mawlana Hazar Imam — Our Lord, the Present/Living Imam.
The red triangle contains a seven-pointed star to symbolize the seven verses of the Surat Al Fatiha, the opening chapter of the Holy Qur’an. The website A-Z Animals adds that the verses symbolize unity as well as include “humanity, virtue, humility, faith in one God, national spirit, social justice, and aspiration.”
The website of the Timothy S. Y. Lam Museum of Anthropology located in North Carolina, mentions that colours are used to represent beliefs, traditions, and concepts in many religious traditions. The article also notes that “the color green is associated with Islam because it is believed to have been the Prophet Muhammad’s favorite color. It is said he wore a green cloak and turban, and his teachings reference the color. The Qur’an states that green will be worn by the inhabitants of paradise.”
Article 4 of the Constitution of Jordan specifies the form and dimensions of the Jordanian flag as follows:
“The length of the flag shall be twice its width. It shall be divided horizontally into three parallel and equal stripes, the uppermost of which shall be black, the center, white and the lowest, green. At the end of the flag-staff the flag shall have a red chevron, the base of which shall be equal to the flag’s width and the altitude of which shall be half of the flag’s length. In the chevron, there shall be a white seven-pointed star of such a size that it may be one-fourteenth of the flag’s length. The star shall be so placed that its center shall be at the intersection of the lines bisecting the angles of the chevron, and the axis running through one of its points shall be parallel to the base of the chevron.”
For tourists from around the world as well as individuals and families living close to Canmore or Banff National Park, whether in Alberta or British Columbia, as well as those in “distant” cities like Edmonton — and Canadians DO love driving their cars — make it to Lake Minnewanka and Grassi Lakes during these last 7 days in August, before schools commence. With almost a full week of sunshine promised — and daytime highs in the mid to upper 20s — your children will love the trip to these amazing places and they will have a lot of fun including swimming and seeing wildlife! The loop drive to Minnewanka Lake would include stops at the beautiful Two Jake Lake, Johnson Lake and the Cascade Ponds. Near Canmore, you have the stunning Grassi Lakes, and the two separate 1.9km trails to the lakes from the parking area are easy to moderate.
Please click on the links LAKE MINNEWANKA and GRASSI LAKES — or on the images below — for full stories and photographs.
Big Horn Sheep near Two Jack Lake on the Lake Minnewanka loop drive. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
A view of the Upper Grassi Lake. Please click on photograph for complete story and more beautiful photographs.
Date posted: August 17, 2023. Last updated: August 24, 2023.
Yasser Desai’s rendition of a Naat (song) honouring the Prophet Muhammad has been making its rounds in the social media. The reaction to the Naat — that is presented below through YouTube — has been very positive from listeners around the world. Listeners wrote (selected excerpts): “The song brought tears to my eyes!….Your voice is magical and unique. I love your passion while singing this amazing Naat e Mustafa….As a Muslim [the song] melts my heart and I felt some inner peace.”
Story continues below, with lyrics of song
Born on November 15, 1989 in Mumbai, India, Yasser Desai started his journey in music from the age of 11. Completely self-taught, Yasser Desai has sung many highly acclaimed songs like “Dil Ko Karaar Aaya”, “Hue Bechain”, and “Aankhon Me Aansoon Leke”, among others; he has more than 200 songs to his credit in Bollywood movies. He has also sung several singles for Zee Music Company and many other music channels.
LYRICS
(the text of the lyrics corresponds to the flow of the song; refrains are therefore repeated in the text)
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
Tere Sadqe main Aaqa Saare jahaa(n) ko deen mila Be-deeno(n) ne kalma parha La ilaha illallah
Simt e Nabi Abu-Jehal gaya Aaqa se usne ye kaha Tum ho Nabi batlaao zara Meri muthi mai hai kya
Simt e Nabi Abu-Jehal gaya Aaqa se usne ye kaha Tum ho Nabi batlaao zara Meri muthi mai hai kya
Aaqa ka farmaan hua Aur Fazl e Rahman hua Muthi se pathar bola La ilaha illallah
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
Wo jo Bilal e Habshi hain Sarwar e dee(n) ka pyara hai Dunya kay har aashiq ki Aankho(n) ka wo taara hai
Wo jo Bilal e Habshi hain Sarwar e dee(n) ka pyara hai Dunya kay har aashiq ki Aankho(n) ka wo taara hai
Zulm hue kitne us par Seenay pay rakha pathar Phir bhi zubaa(n) pay jaari tha La ilaha illallah
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
Apni behen se bole Umar Ye to bata kya karti thi Mere aane se pehle Kya chupke chupke parhti thi
Apni behen se bole Umar Ye to bata kya karti thi Mere aane se pehle Kya chupke chupke parhti thi
Behen ne jab Qur’an parha Sun ke kalaam e paak e khuda Dil ye umar ka bol utha La ilaha illallah
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
Dunya ke insaan sabhi Shirk o bid’at kartay thay Rab ke thay banday phir bhi Buut ki ibadat kartay thay
Dunya ke insaan sabhi Shirk o bid’at kartay thay Rab ke thay banday phir bhi Buut ki ibadat kartay thay
Butt khaney hai tharraye Mere Nabi hain jab aaye Kehnelagi makhlooq e khuda La ilaha illallah
Hasbi Rabbi Jallallah Mafi Qalbi Ghair ullah Noor e Muhammad Sallallah La ilaha illallah
During my stay in Toronto between 2018-2021, the Aga Khan Park became my primary getaway place as it was so close from where I lived. The spring, summer and autumns months were particularly exciting as the park attracted lots of wildlife (see our stunning photo essays on The Hawk and The Birth of Goslings.) The sage and lavender plants in front of the Kaaba facing niche of the Ismaili Jamatkhana building attracted bees for pollination during the warm and sunny summer days. My daughter Nurin, on one of her visits to Toronto, captured some magnificent photographs of the bees. After relocating to Alberta, I read that the province produces nearly 40 million pounds of honey each year making it the fifth largest honey producing region in the world. There are 1,400 beekeepers in Alberta, managing over 300,000 bee colonies. Of course, the vast amount of honey produced is made possible by the alfalfa and clover nectar that is plentiful in the province.
Amazingly, of the 114 chapters or suras in the Qur’an, several are named after animals and insects. Examples are: Al-Baqarah (Chapter 2, The Calf, The Cow), Al-Anam (6, The Cattle), An-Nahl (16, The Bees), An-Naml (27, The Ant), An-Ankabut (26, The Spider), and Al-Feel (105, The Elephant). Many other chapters are named after objects or events in nature and the universe, including The Daybreak, The Earthquake, The Fig Tree, The Bright Morning Hours, The Night, The Sun, The Constellations, The Moon and so on.
Over time, we will endeavour to highlight the verses in the Qur’an that speak of God’s bountiful creation but we begin with the Bees and the Ants. These two insects are regarded as industrious, and they are also disciplined. They work together to support their colonies.
God speaks of The Bees in the following verses from chapter 16:
“And thy Lord revealed unto the bees, saying: ‘Take unto yourselves, of the mountains, houses, and of the trees, and of what they are building. Then eat of all manner of fruit, and follow the ways of your Lord easy to go upon.’
“Then comes there forth out of their bellies a drink of diverse hues wherein is healing for men. Surely in that is a sign for a people who reflect” — Quran, 16:68-69 (translation by A. J. Arberry, see Corpus Qur’an.)
In these verses, mankind is told about the healing power found in the different coloured honey made by the hard-working bees. The teamwork and level of organisation that goes into its production — because a single bee can’t make honey on its own — should serve us as an example on the importance of working and living together in the spirit of one-humanity.
The bees are venerated for their diligence and sacrifices. The importance that Islam holds for the insect is mentioned again in the following hadith (tradition) of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family):
“By the one in whose hand my soul is, the believer is like a bee which eats that is pure and wholesome and lays that which is pure and wholesome. When it lands on something, it doesn’t break or ruin it.”
Although chapter 27 in the Qur’an is called “The Ant”, there is only one verse that specifically mentions the hard-working ant. It is part of the story of Prophet Sulaiman (Solomon), who was gifted with the ability to speak and understand the language of animals, birds and insects.
The Qur’an tells of his encounter with the smallest of creatures as follows:
“….When they [Soloman’s army] came on the Valley of Ants, an ant said, ‘Ants, enter your dwelling-places, lest Solomon and his hosts crush you, being unaware!’
“But he smiled, laughing at its words, and he said, ‘My Lord, dispose me that I may be thankful for Thy blessing wherewith Thou hast blessed me and my father and mother, and that I may do righteousness well-pleasing to Thee; and do Thou admit me, by Thy mercy, amongst Thy righteous servants’.” — Qur’an, 27:18-19 (translation by A. J. Arberry, see Corpus Qur’an.)
The Prophet couldn’t hold back a smile as he heard the ant talk, and he thanked God for the many favours bestowed upon him, including his ability to understand and avoid trampling over the homes of the ants.
These verses and stories illustrate the importance Islam places on all God created life forms.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un “Surely we belong to God and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing on August 5, 2023, of the well-known Ismaili musician and composer Enoo in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 67, just days before his 68th birthday on August 11 — he was born in 1955. His funeral and burial ceremonies were held in Orlando on Wednesday, August 8.
Enoo is survived by his son Shehzad Ali, brothers Mushtaq and Ishtiaq and sister Rezia.
Some 8 years ago in 2015, Enoo had penned a loving tribute to his father Mohammed Ibrahim Ali who had passed away in Dallas, Texas, on March 15, 2014, at the age of 88. Eight years later, in 2022, Enoo lost his mother, Roshan Ibrahim Ali.
Shortly after his mother’s death, Enoo sent me the following message:
“I was closest at bedside when she breathed her final and I recited in her ear the Kalima, Salwaat, Ya Allah, Ya Muhammad, Ya Ali and Ya Shah Karim. As per everyone who was around her, my dearest mom was waiting for me and yes with Mawla Hazar Imam’s blessings I made it to her bedside. It was a miraculous day.”
Enoo had often expressed the wish to pen a tribute to his mother, just as he had done for his father.
Alas, and very sadly, Enoo was diagnosed with a terminal illness and was informed that he had a few months left to live. He spent the last days of his life as a patient in hospice and hospital care. He absorbed the news with courage. In a number of profound telephone conversations with me, he shared the challenges that he faced as he was coping with his illness that appeared so suddenly in his life.
Enoo pictured singing a rendition of the timeless Ismaili Ginan Sahebji Tu More Man Bhave composed by Ismaili missionary Syed Imam Shah many centuries ago. In the Ginan, the Syed expresses his deep love, faith and trust in the Imam-of-the-Time; the popular Ginan is recited by Ismailis of all ages with deep devotion and happiness. Photograph: Clipped from Enoo’s video of the Ginan’s rendition.
In one of the last conversations with him, when he called me from his hospital bed, he told me he was unafraid of death. As an Ismaili Muslim, he expressed his immense love for his 49th Imam, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and said that the music that he had composed in his honour had sustained and inspired him at this extremely difficult period in his life. While he was talking to me, a nurse entered his room and interrupted our conversation. She signalled to him that the latest tests that the hospital had carried out did not look good at all.
Enoo communicated the nurse’s message to me and said that death was inevitable and not far away. In the midst of all this news, he told me his spirits remained high and that he followed the precepts of the Imam-of-the-Time, that each day was a day that must be lived and that during that day we should fulfill our responsibilities to the best of our ability (Mumbai, India,1973). He lived up to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s expectations until the last day of his life, meeting his struggles with joy and hope. He took a firm attitude toward coping with his suffering and did not become despondent.
For the last few weeks, I have been waiting to hear about Enoo’s latest status. He had told me that I would learn about his death “from someone”. On the evening of August 5, as I returned to my car after celebrating my 70th birthday, I received a text informing me that Enoo had passed away the same morning. Having already been informed in advance by Enoo about the inevitable, the news did not come as a shock to me. My thoughts immediately turned to Enoo’s special place in the life hereafter of happiness and peace, in the presence of Divine Light. The Qur’anic verse Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un (Surely we belong to God and to Him we return), is the oft-remembered verse by Muslims on sad moments such as someone’s death.
Enoo was a musician all his life. Inspired by the voice of his mother, Roshan, Enoo’s passion for music manifested when he was still a young boy in Chennai, India. After moving to Pakistan at the age of 14, he began to cultivate a spiritual way of life, tightly interwoven with music. As a result of the steady musical influence, Enoo received awards for playing the harmonium and became a well-known artist at Radio Pakistan.
Ismaili musician and artist, Enoo (August 11, 1954 – August 5, 2023). Photograph: Enoo archives.
Over the years, Enoo built himself a great reputation as a composer and musician, and performed around the world at important events and worked with radio and TV stations as well as the film industry. After settling in the USA in the 1980’s, first in Chicago before he made Orlando his home, Enoo continued to thrive and perform with a unique blend of jazz. He commemorated the Golden Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam with a special CD. Shorty after the Golden Jubilee, The Ismaili, the official website of the Ismaili community, wrote a special piece about Ismaili musicians that also featured Enoo.
In his last weeks of his life, he sent me a number of emails that he said I should share with readers when I penned a tribute to him. On July 1, 2023, shortly after being seen by an oncologist, he wrote: “Only GOD knows but medically I have 3 weeks to most 3 months or less!” Very graciously, and I was truly touched, he wrote in the same email that he enjoyed reading my photo pieces about my adventure trips in Alberta. He also urged me to look after my health, knowing that my own health had been compromised by a serious autoimmune condition.
A week later on July 7, he said briefly in his email: “Seems very soon, Allah ki marzi” (as is God’s wish.) He then passed away a month later on August 5, 2023.
We ask all all readers to join us in our heartful prayer for Enoo that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Ameen. We convey our condolences to Enoo’s beloved family members and friends around the world and share in their sadness at this difficult time of bereavement.
Date posted: August 11, 2023.
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We invite you to submit your condolences and tributes to Enoo in the comments by clicking on LEAVE A COMMENT.
Simerg: What is behind the naming of the title of the book?
Mansoor Ladha: Off the Cuff basically means spontaneous, informal, or not prepared in advance. The book contains a collection of my selected editorial columns published in leading Canadian newspapers over several years, including Calgary Herald, Edmonton Journal, Toronto Star, Vancouver Sun, Red Deer Advocate, Medicine Hat News etc.
Some essays, for example, discuss such issues as Not all Muslims Are Terrorists, An Open Letter to President Trump, Aga Khan: King without a Kingdom, as well as other interesting and some provocative subjects. Two of my favourite columns, which had a lot of feedback from readers, are an open letter to President Trump chastising him for calling immigrants “shitholes” and ignoring their contribution in the U.S. and another urging everyone not to brand every Muslim a terrorist. Readers will be enlightened to read about many interesting problems facing the modern world.
Simerg: Why would you want me or my family members to read the book, and what will we all learn from it?
Ladha: Off the Cuff contains articles on interesting, newsworthy, contemporary, and somewhat controversial topics of the day, aimed at provoking thoughts for readers. Some of the articles propose solutions to be taken by individuals and people in authority.
I believe that writers have the responsibility and power through their words to educate and illuminate the mind. As someone mentioned, a writer educates, tames, and mends the society. It’s a wonderful but an enormous responsibility to fulfil.
Simerg: What inspired you to write the book?
Ladha: I was prompted by a friend who is an avid newspaper reader to publish my editorial columns published during my career in journalism which began in 1966 when I joined The Standard in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. I was motivated by the suggestion because as a writer, books are our most valuable legacy that can be left behind.
Simerg: How can I purchase the book and what are its available formats?
Ladha: The book is available from Amazon.ca, in softcover and eBook. Readers in the USA and other countries around the world may purchase the book at Amazon.com. I offer signed copies at a special reduced price. Please write to me at mladha695@gmail.com.
Mansoor Ladha’s “Off the Cuff” published independently, December 2022, 451 pp. Available in Softcover and Kindle.
Simerg: How did you find a publisher for the book?
Ladha: Books are usually published by traditional publishers, majority of whom ony accept submissions through a literary agent or by self-publishing companies.
It is very difficult to get a literary agent interested in your submission and many take three to four months to assess your proposal. After a literary agent accepts your manuscript, he/she will then look for a publisher interested in publishing your book. The whole process takes several months before the book is finally published. It’s a frustrating process.
There are authors whose submissions have been rejected by 20 literary agents; and this is not considered to be unusual. I have been fortunate in getting published by traditional publishers for two of my previous books, Memoirs of a Muhindi: Fleeing East Africa for the West and A Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims.
For Off the Cuff, I chose to bypass the long wait and self-publish through Amazon with the help of a friend who is an expert IT technician since I found Amazon’s self-publishing portal very complicated to follow.
Simerg: Did you hire an editor, an illustrator or did you do all the work by yourself?
Ladha: Amazon KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) provides printing and publishing templates requiring writers to submit edited manuscripts. However, Amazon provides cover design alternatives to choose from and formatting templates.
Simerg: Which was your first book and how many have you written?
Ladha: My first book was Portrait in Pluralism: Aga Khan’s Shia Ismaili Muslims published by Detselig. Memoirs of a Muhindi: Fleeing East Africa for the West was my second book published by University of Regina Press. I was also among a group of journalists and scholars invited to contribute a chapter in a book called “The Story that Brought Me Here” published by Brindle & Glass.
As I jokingly said, though I don’t play cricket anymore, I have scored a publishing hat-trick by publishing Off the Cuff!
Simerg: How long did it take you to write Off the Cuff — from start to finish and to begin marketing it?
Ladha: Getting the manuscript for Off the Cuff was easy as I had to collect copies of my published articles from my computer which didn’t involve any actual writing time.
Date posted: August 3, 2023.
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We welcome feedback from our readers. Please clickLeave a comment. Your letter may be edited for length and brevity and is subject to moderation.
Mansoor Ladha
Mansoor Ladha has held senior editorial positions as a copy editor in Canada (Edmonton Journal & Calgary Herald), features editor (The Standard in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania), copy editor (Daily Nation, Nairobi, Kenya) and was the only owner/publisher of colour of a mainstream English newspaper in Canada for 25 years. Since retiring, he has been travelling around the world as a travel writer on assignments and has published travel features in leading Canadian newspapers and magazines. He has numerous awards to his credit including being a Citizen of the Year in the Town of Morinville, Alberta; Silver Quill Award by the Alberta Weekly Newspapers for distinguished service to newspapers as well as Canada’s Caring Canadian Award for “outstanding and selfless contribution to your community and Canada” by the Governor General of Canada. He has most recently completed another non-fiction book and a novel, both of which are scheduled to be published in 2023. Ladha was also contributor to Simerg’s highly acclaimed series I Wish I’d Been There with a remarkable piece His Name is Jawhar. He has also contributed an exclusive piece for this website’s sister blog Barakah under the title Ismaili Journalist Mansoor Ladha’s Precious Moments with His Highness the Aga Khan.
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Calling all Ismaili Authors
We encourage Ismaili writers to introduce their books in a similar format as has been done in the post above. Please also see the series launch article and submit your responses to Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com. All submissions will be acknowledged. If a writer has published multiple books, each book will be highlighted in a separate article, and not combined with other books into one post. All writers should include a brief profile with a portrait photo.
We welcome feedback from our readers. Please click . Your letter may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation.
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Links to the Ismaili Authors’ Series (in chronological sequence, oldest article first):
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Featured photo at top of post: A general view of the Imam Husayn (Hussein) Mosque in Karbala, Iraq. The photo was taken between September 26 and October 12, 1932. Photograph: G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washingon D.C.
INTRODUCTION: Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, is the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, and directly descended from Hazrat Ali and his son Imam Husayn.
Imam Husayn B. ‘Aly began his reign as the 2nd Ismaili Imam* on the death of his father, Hazrat Ali on January 27, 661 CE who, 29 years earlier in 632 CE, had been publicly proclaimed by the Prophet Muhammad (May peace be upon him and his progeny) to be his successor at Ghadir Khumm.
The succession ended the cycle of the Divine Institution of Nubuwwah and ushered the world into a new era of the Divine Institution of Imamat. Thus, the Imams directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad, from Hazrat Ali to Mawlana Shah Karim, have continued to guide their murids (followers) in the ta’wil (interpretation) and talim (teaching) of the Holy Qur’an for the last 1391 years.
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A 1932 photograph showing the entrance to the great mosque at Karbala, the holy city of e Shia Muslims. Photograph: G. Eric and Edith Matson Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Washingon D.C.
Imam Husayn was martyred in the Battle of Karbala on the 10th day of the Muslim month of Muharram, or October 10, 680, at the age of 54, and was succeeded to the Hereditary throne of Imamat by Imam Zainul Abideen.
The Islamic calendar is based on the lunar cycle, and thus shorter than the 365 day solar calendar by roughly 11 days. This year (2023), the 10th day of Muharram falls on or around July 28/29, almost 1343 years since the Imam’s tragic death at the hands of Yazid’s army.
Please download the PDF version of Wilfred Madelung’s excellent piece on Imam Husayn B. ‘Ali published on the IIS website. Note: The eminent German scholar Professor Madelung passed away in May 2023 and the IIS has published an In Memoriam in his honour HERE
Date posted: July 28, 2023 (This post is an update to earlier versions of the article that has appeared periodically on this website over the past few years.)
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*Note: In the Shia Imami Nizari Ismaili tradition Imam Husayn’s brother, Hazrat Hassan, is not counted as an Imam. However, he is regarded as their second Imam by other Shia Muslims, thus making Imam Husayn as their 3rd Imam.
Editor’s note: This photo and video post that would normally appear in our photoblog Simergphotos is being published on our primary website Simerg, while we carry out essential upgrades to Simergphotos.
The author arrives at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE to the beautiful sight of two newborn grebettes to Red-necked Grebes, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Readers should note that both the male and female Red-necked Grebes share in the incubation. During the many many hours I spent at the pond over the past week, I observed that the dominant partner in the incubation was the male, and I say that because I saw the male, which is slightly larger than the female, spend more time in the nest than his female partner.
The mom’s time was mainly spent in the water, always looking out for danger through her perceptive senses of hearing and eyesight. A constant threat was a nearby resident muskrat. When she became aware of its presence, she would immediately go underwater and swim toward the muskrat to make sure it changed its direction away from the nest. The mom, as per my observation, also gathered and fed the newborns as well as participated in the upkeep of the nest. However, her food offerings to her babies were not always accepted and she would wisely retreat.
Further to my sighting on July 22 of the first baby (henceforth also referred to as a grebette) this new post now reflects my two additional visits to the pond that took place on July 24, when I sighted two grebettes, and on July 26 when I saw three grebettes swimming with their parents in the middle of the pond, at least 125 metres from the nest. It appears to me that the nest with 1 more egg still remaining to be hatched has been abandoned.
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Nest abandoned (?) by the Red-necked Grebes with one unhatched egg following the birth of 3 grebettes between July 22-26, 2023 in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE; July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg Photos.
I say this because the Red-necked Grebes never returned to the nest during my 2 hour stay at the pond. I tried to capture a video and photographs of the far-away Grebes and their babies as best as I could with the 40-150 mm lens on my Olympus camera.
Enjoy the photos from my visits to this great pond on Country Hills Blvd in NE Calgary. Of course, I shall be returning to the pond to see the grebettes in the coming days, as I have been told that they continue to ride on their parents backs for the first two weeks of their lives. From time to time, they are given the opportunity to swim by their parents side. The male parent literally flips them into the water as you will see in some of the videos. The male, I noted, exerted his authority over the family quite firmly, while at the same time being warm to his babies and showing deep attachment and love to his female partner. He was also a great educator, as you will see in one of the videos, where he appears to be instructing his baby on how to take care of the nest! I think that was amazing. There are a couple of yawns from the little baby as he was watching his father’s demonstration. Didn’t we all when we were children and even more so later in life as we began taking serious classes?
July 24th, 2023: Photographs and Videos of Red-necked Grebes and their Babies at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE
Two unhatched eggs in the Red-necked Grebes’ nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubating the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Non-threatening ducks pass by and the female Red-necked Grebe at right ensures they are away from her nest where her male partner is incubating 2 eggs in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe is beautifully reflected in the calm waters of a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe incubates the two remaining eggs in his nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The new Red-necked Grebe family of four, with 2 eggs still to hatch, next to their drenched nest in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The mom Red-necked Grebe offers food to her newborn grebettes as they have their heads out from the their dad’s wings in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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A series of 4 related photographs and a video
As mentioned earlier, the incubation of eggs in the Grebe family is shared between the male and female. This series of 4 photographs and the video after encapsulate the transition of incubation from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner.
The male stands up in the nest and decides to return to the water. The female prepares to take over the incubation process. She has one of her new-born grebettes swimming in front of her, while carrying the second newborn baby on her back — it is partially visible in this photo but fully visible in the next photo. Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The male Red-necked Grebe wades into the pond as his family watches, Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe arrives with her babies at the nest to assume her incubation role in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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The female Red-necked Grebe with her baby on her back leaps onto the nest and does some house keeping on the nest, while the second grebette is still in the Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
VIDEO 1 (This is a sequel to the 4 preceding photos)
DESCRIPTION: The following video below is a fantastic conclusion to the sequence of 4 photos shown above of the incubation transition from the male Red-necked Grebe to his female partner
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 2/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extremely short video, the mom arrives at the nest to feed her new-born grebette and returns to the pond to get some more nourishment
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 3/13
DESCRIPTION: In this interesting video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe returning to the nest, carefully jumping onto its edge, taking great care to organize it before gracefully sitting on her unhatched eggs.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 4/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, the mother fails in her attempt to feed her babies, and retreats. The 2 new born grebettes are being playful by their father’s tail. Once the tail wind opens, they slide into it and one of the babies is then seen emerging on centre of his back.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 5/13
DESCRIPTION: In this cute video, the new born gribette decides to have some fun with its mother by pushing against her such in such a way that she moves in a clockwise direction. Seemingly, the baby having been well nourished, appears to have gained enough strength to become playful since its birth in the last 48 hours.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 6/13
DESCRIPTION: In this extraordinary video, we see one bregette on the back of its mom, while the second one swims beside her. The male Red-necked Grebe decides to leave the nest where he was incubating the remaining 2 eggs. The mom then takes over the incubation duty after carrying out some nest maintenance. The bregettes who were with the mom join their dad for some play time. One easily slides into his wing while the second one has a hard time and continues with its struggle
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 8/13
DESCRIPTION: In this incredible short video, I capture the first and only instance I hear the cries of the Red-necked Grebes during my entire period at the pond. Unfortunately my camera shook and the remaining video had to be edited out.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 9/13
DESCRIPTION: In this very short video, we see the female Red-necked Grebe bathing while her male partner has the two grebettes, one on the back and the second at the end of his tail.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 10/13
DESCRIPTION: In this amazing video, we see the mom Red-necked Grebe suddenly appear by the nest. First, she looks around for any signs of danger and then she performs some maintenance on the nest before elegantly sitting down on the eggs for more incubation.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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VIDEO 11/13
DESCRIPTION: In this stunning video, we see the male Red-necked Grebe swimming with his two new born grebettes towards the nest. The female, who is left a little bit behind, catches up with him as he reaches the nest and she begins to feed her babies while they are still with the male. The male then suddenly flips his two babies into the water as he climbs onto the nest. He then commences his incubation duty, but not before performing some maintenance on the nest. The female assists in the nest maintenance. The grebettes are then playful with their mom before she finally accepts them under her wing, which she folds down for their protection.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
VIDEO 12/13
DESCRIPTION: In this last video taken late in the afternoon on July 24, we appear to see the beautiful and caring parents provide a 45 second lesson on nest upkeeping to one of their new-born grebettes. After the demonstration is over, the father lets the grebette slide underneath his wing for a a well-deserved rest! Gribettes spend their first two weeks or so on the backs of their parents and I would guess they are taught about life’s duties just as any other living thing
Red-necked Grebes Bring Their Baby Gribettes into the World, July 24, 2023, Video by Malik Merchant.
July 24, 2023, Photograph of the Day: Thanking the Maker of the Heavens and the Earth
Red-necked Grebe after the birth of 2 grebettes in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 24, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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July 26, 2023: The Red-necked Grebe Family of 5 and Other Wildlife at a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE,
Wildlife, ducks, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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Wildlife, large water birds, in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
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VIDEO 13/13
DESCRIPTION: In this video, we see the new Red-necked Grebe family of 5 in the middle of the pond, about 125 metres from the location of their nest where one egg remains unhatched. There is a grebette already swimming in the water and in a few moments we see the male flip his 2 babies that were in his wings into the water.
Video: Red-necked Grebes in a Calgary Pond, July 2023, by Malik Merchant/Simerg
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The Beautiful New Red-necked Grebe Family
A beautiful new Red-necked Grebe family of 5, with 3 newborn grebettes riding on the back of their dad in a Stormwater Wet Pond on Country Hills Blvd in Calgary NE, July 26, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Simerg.
Date posted: July 27, 2023.
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