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 family of Ajmal Andani (1949 – 2021) originally of Tanzania (known as Tanganyika until 1964) has shared Ajmal’s collection of the Tanganyika Standard newspapers that carried reports of the celebration of the Diamond Jubilee of the late Aga Khan in 1946, his death in 1957 after a reign of 71 years, and the succession of his grandson, the current Aga Khan, as the 49th Ismaili Imam. Our sister website, Barakah, brings you a selection of Jpeg images from the newspaper along with a PDF file. Please click HERE or on the image below for the memorable post.
Today, in this post, I honour Calgary city’s police force by providing a photo of some of the police officers that were on duty for the annual Ismaili Muslim Stampede Breakfast. Yes it is “THE TOP” breakfast event in Calgary during the Stampede. On Saturday July 8, 2023, the breakfast even brought the political heavyweights in Canada — from the Prime Minister of Canada to the Premier of Alberta to the Leader of the Official Opposition of Canada — to the grounds of the Ismaili Muslim Headquarters Jamatkhana for a superb breakfast consisting of the East African dish, bharazi! Malik Merchant knew about the bharazi, the pancakes, and the chai but the sirens that he heard as he reached closer to the grounds were not of those of fire brigades and ambulances…but that of the Prime Minister’s motorcade! Please see his story and photographs.
External link(s) to story after photo
The Ismaili Muslim community’s self-discipline creates a stress free environment for everyone including police officers. They are seen at the annual stampede breakfast held in Calgary on Saturday, July 8, 2023. Please click om image for story and more photographs.
God chose Adam and Noah and the House of Abraham and the House of Imran above all beings, the seed of one another; God hears, and knows — Qur’an, 3:33-34, translation by A. J. Arberry, see Corpus Quran for multiple translations.
Today the Ismailis are the only Shia community who, throughout history, have been led by a living, hereditary Imam in direct descent from the Prophet — His Highness the Aga Khan, Parliament of Canada, Ottawa, February 27, 2014.
On Wednesday June 28, 2023, corresponding to the 10th day of the Islamic month of ‘DhuI-Hijjah, Muslims around the world celebrated the Festival of Sacrifice or Eid al-Adha at the completion of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
Little is it known in the broader context and understanding of Islamic history, that on the 18th day of ‘DhuI-Hijjah, a week following his final pilgrimage, the Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon him and his family) — based on a divine command from Allah — designated Hazrat Ali as his successor and the first in the continuing line of Hereditary Imams. This event took place in 632 CE and is observed by all Shia Muslims, including the Ismailis, as Eid-e Ghadir, because the event itself took place at a place called Ghadir Khumm, a valley between Mecca and Medina.
The majority of the Muslims, the Sunnis, do not accept the Shia version of this historic event and do not associate it with Ali’s succession to Muhammad. Thus, the world’s lack of knowledge about a pivotal historic moment in Islam.
For the Shia Ismaili Muslims, who will be commemorating this historic day on or around July 5, 2023, this event is of added significance as they are led by a living Hereditary Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, whom they lovingly and respectfully address as Mawlana Hazar Imam (Our Lord the Present/Living Imam).
The Aga Khan in a rare interview with France’s journal, Politique International, has comprehensively described the general Shia understanding of Imamat, the Sunni belief as well as his own status as follows:
“The religious leadership of the Ismaili Imam goes back to the origins of Shia Islam when the Prophet Muhammad appointed his son-in-law, Ali, to continue his teachings within the Muslim community. The leadership is hereditary, handed down by Ali’s descendants, and the Ismailis are the only Shia Muslims to have a living Imam, namely myself. The other Shia — the Twelvers — revere a “hidden” Imam who will return on the Day of Judgment to take part in the final judgment.
“It is the presence of the living Imam that makes our Imamat unique.
“The Sunni are completely different in that they do not accept the idea of continuity of religious leadership by members of the Prophet’s family.”
“The Ismaili Imamat is a supra-national entity, representing the succession of Imams since the time of the Prophet. But let me clarify something more about the history of that role, in both the Sunni and Shia interpretations of the Muslim faith. The Sunni position is that the Prophet nominated no successor, and that spiritual-moral authority belongs to those who are learned in matters of religious law. As a result, there are many Sunni imams in a given time and place. But others believed that the Prophet had designated his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, as his successor. From that early division, a host of further distinctions grew up — but the question of rightful leadership remains central. In time, the Shia were also sub-divided over this question, so that today the Ismailis are the only Shia community who, throughout history, have been led by a living, hereditary Imam in direct descent from the Prophet.”
In historical sources, it is recorded that on the way back to Medina after performing a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Prophet received a revelation that Ismaili Muslims recite in their daily prayers:
“O Messenger, deliver that which has been sent down to thee from thy Lord; for if thou dost not, thou wilt not have delivered His Message. God will protect thee from men. God guides not the people of the unbelievers” — Qur’an, 5:67, translation by A.J. Arberry, see Corpus Quran.
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“We search for a union with the family of the Chosen (Prophet Muhammad). We search for the truth of son after son. We are totally obedient to his offspring, one of the other. There is no other thing we can add to this but itself. We endeavour in our faith so that we do not turn out to be faithless.” — Ismaili poet Nizar Quhistani in reference to the Qura’nic verses mentioned at top of post
Upon receiving this revelation, the Holy Prophet stopped at an oasis known as Ghadir Khumm, and addressed a large gathering of Muslims who had accompanied him.
In History in Quotations M. J. Cohen and John Major write:
“Muhammad said: ‘He of whom I am the Mawla, Ali is his Mawla. O God, be the friend of him who is his friend and be the enemy of his enemy.’
“This became the proof text for the Shia claim that Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, was the Prophet’s rightful successor after the Prophet’s death in 632. The meaning of Mawla here probably implies the role of patron, lord or protector.”
In an entry for the Encyclopaedia of Islam, 2nd edition, (EI2), under the title Ghadir Khumm, L. Veccia Vaglieri writes:
“Ghadir Khumm is famous in the history of Islam because of a sentence (or some sentences) in favour of ‘Ali which the Prophet uttered there during a discourse….Taking ‘Ali by the hand. he asked of his faithful followers whether he, Muhammad, was not closer to the Believers than they were to themselves; the crowd cried out: “It is so, O Apostle of God!”, he then declared. “He of whom I am the mawla, of him ‘Ali is also the mawla (man kuntu nawlahu fa-‘Ali mawlahu)
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Images of some stamps and coins issued by the Islamic Republic of Iran between 1990 and 2010 commemorating the Idd-e-Ghadir. The inscriptions inlude the Shahada, Qur’anic ayats and the declaration made by Prophet Muhammad at Ghadir Khumm, “Mun Koontu Mawla, Fa Hada, Aliyun Mawla” meaning “He of whom I am the Mawla Ali is also the Mawla.”
“Most of those sources which form the basis of our knowledge of the life of the Prophet pass in silence over Muhammad’s stop at Ghadir Khumm….Consequently, the western biographers of Muhammad, whose work is based on these [Sunni] sources, make no reference to what happened at Ghadir Khumm. It is however certain that Muhammad did speak in this place and utter the famous sentence…the hadiths are so numerous and so well attested by the different isnads that it does not seem possible to reject them.” (Note: special access is required to read articles in EI2. Vaglieri’s piece was reproduced in full in the UK Ismaili Association’s publication Ilm, December 1976, pages 28-30, with the permission of E.J. Brill, publishers of EI2.)
The Prophet, about 90 days before his death, was transferring his own spiritual authority bestowed upon him by Allah to Hazrat Ali, making him — and all the Imams that follow — the Amirul Mu’minin, or Master of the Believers.
On instruction from Prophet Muhammad, Hazrat Ali received baiyat (the oath of allegiance), from the Muslims assembled there, including Umar b. al-Khattab, Islam’s second Caliph, as stated in Vaglieri’s piece in EI2.
According to Shia traditions and sources, following the proclamation, the final verse of the Qur’an was revealed to the Prophet:
“Today I have perfected your religion for you, and I have completed My blessing upon you, and I have approved Islam for your religion” — Qur’an 5:5/3, translation by A. J. Arberry, see Corpus Qur’an.
This marked the end of the period of Nabuwwa, or Prophethood, and the historical beginning of the Institution of Imamat.
Eid-e Ghadir is an anniversary of special significance to all Shia Muslims, as it is also associated with the well-attested tradition in which the Prophet is said to have proclaimed:
“I am leaving among you two matters of great weight (al-thaqalayn), the Book of Allah and my kindred (itrati), the People of my House (Ahl al-Bayt), and these two shall never be separated until they return to me at the Pool [of Kawthar in Paradise on the Day of Judgement]…”
The Shia Ismaili tradition bears witness to the continuity of the authority vested at Ghadir Khumm. Today, this leadership and authority is vested in Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. The rope of Imamat has continued over 1,400 years, from Hazrat Ali, to the present 49th hereditary Imam and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad through Hazrat Ali and Hazrat Bibi Fatima al-Zahra, Khatun-i Jannat.
In commemorating Eid-e Ghadir, the Ismaili Muslims celebrates the seminal event of Ghadir Khumm, reaffirming their allegiance to the Imam-of-the-Time as the direct lineal successor and inheritor of the authority of Hazrat Ali.
Date posted: July 4, 2023.
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A selection of further readings on Ghadir Khumm and related topics in Simerg and its sister websites:
Featured image at top of post: An Arabic-script ambigram, where ‘Muhammad’ upside down is read as ‘Ali’ and vice versa.
A special note about the Encyclopaedia of Islam, Second Edition (EI2): Finished in 2005, the EI2 is a massive resource spanning five decades of scholarship. It sets out the present state of our knowledge of the Islamic World. It is a unique and invaluable reference tool, an essential key to understanding the world of Islam, and the authoritative source not only for the religion, but also for the believers and the countries in which they live.
For the 156th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation, our sister website Barakah has presented a collection of photographs of the Aga Khan with Canadian Prime Ministers since the Aga Khan’s first first official visit to Canada in November 1978. A collage of the photographs is shown below.
His Highness the Aga Khan with Prime Ministers of Canada. Please click on image for full story.
The post also includes a video of former Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s remarks on the recommendation for Honorary Citizenship of Canada to the Aga Khan. The Prime Minister in reflecting on the motion that was unanimously approved in the House of Commons on June 19, 2009, said:
“….the motion also recognizes the exquisite symmetry between your values and Canadian values, and our deep appreciation for the extraordinary contributions you are making to Canada and the world through the delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, the global centre for pluralism and the Aga Khan Museum. It is therefore my great honour and pleasure, on behalf of the Government and people of Canada, to formally present you today with that honorary Canadian citizenship.” Click HERE for more.
Eid al-Adha is celebrated around the Muslim world on the 10th day of the twelfth month of ‘DhuI-Hijjah, after the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca. The Muslim Association of Canada announced that in 2023 the Eid will be observed on Wednesday, June 18. The Canadian Ismaili Muslim community will also celebrate the Eid on the same day. It is customary, especially in Muslim countries, to celebrate the Eid for 3 to 4 days, after its first observance when special Eid Namaz (prayers) are offered.
In an earlier post we informed our readers of the new Eid stamp that Canada Post issued on April 3, 2023, in advance of the celebration of both Eid al-Fitr as well as Eid al-Adha (see featured image at top of this post). The stamp is only available as part of a beautiful booklet of six stamps and can be ordered on-line. The following is a brief presentation about the significance of the two Eid festivals and the image of the historic artistic bowl that is featured on the stamp.
We convey our heartiest felicitations to all our readers and friends on the auspicious occasion of Eid al-Adha and wish everyone Eid Mubarak. We offer our prayers for the fulfilment of all your wishes, for good health as well as for barakah (happiness) and success in your endeavours. We also pray for the eternal rest of all the deceased souls.
To mark the auspicious day, we present a thoughtful poem by Farah Tejani as well as a lighthearted story that she has written for children.
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POEM
The Great Sacrifice
By FARAH TEJANI, B.A. and M.F.A.
Omnipotent and Merciful is He, Allah knows what is best, At certain times He chooses To put us through certain tests
He observes our response To His Rightful Command, And on this He Judges, Just exactly where we stand.
It is not meant to be easy, What would be the purpose, So we are challenged in truth, Our response to Him defines us.
Reflect and recall a time when, We chose not to obey His Laws, He being of course, All-Forgiving, No doubt, forgave us our flaws.
But what is to be said, Of Hazrat Ibrahim, The One, On the day he was commanded, To take the life of his own son!
Put yourself in his place, Could you do the same, Take the life of who you hold most dear, The ultimate sacrifice in Allah’s name.
Eid al-Adha celebrates Ibrahim’s loyalty, To The Great and Loving Wise One, Though surely riddled with fear and pain, He placed Ismail, his most precious son,
In front of him, and said a prayer, In the Name of Allah, Lord of All Things, He swang the knife and opened his eyes, And “Oh, But what Mercy God Brings.”
In the place of his very own son’s head A miraculous goat’s head had fallen, Allah rewarded Ibrahim’s obedience, Without even a moment of stalling.
Try to imagine the emotions he went through, Ibrahim was elated and held Ismail near, Most Merciful is Our Most Gracious Creator, Humbled by Allah’s Grace he held back a tear.
Abraham would we if we could, Be as loyal as you are to Allah’s Laws, You stand as a testimony of Great Faith, Without even a moment to pause.
Let it be our endeavour, to faithfully honor, The Words from Above they are in our best interest, Take a moment to reflect this Eid al-Adha, And we, too, will surely be at our best.
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A STORY FOR CHILDREN
Oh, I Would Love To…But I Am Just So Totally ZOSTED!
By FARAH TEJANI, B.A. and M.F.A.
The sun was setting in Gifford Park and the air was still crisp; it was the birth of Spring. Tulips, Daisies, African violets, Daffodils and other beautiful flowers would wake from a Winter’s slumber, just like bears coming out of hibernation. The day was done, but for Siegfred squirrel, the day was just beginning. Siegfred excitedly waited every evening around this time for his Dad to come back from work at the Big Al’s Nut Factory.
Now, you have to understand, Siegfred was not your average run of the mill SQUIRREL. Yes, he loved to hunt and gather nuts and seeds like all the other squirrels, and then have competitions on who gathered the most in number, as well as the most in variety.
But Siegfred’s other true passion was fashion. And every single day meant a new chance to wear one of his own individual styles and creations.
On any given day, Seigfred would wear anything from cut off faded blue jean overalls with different colour and pattern bandanas tied in a knot to the side, with high cut sneakers with red laces loosely tied so he could just slip them on; to hawaiian short sleeve silk shirts with flowers, palm trees, and “Hang Loose” written on the back with dark black denim boot cut Levi’s, and shiny leather beatles boots and his hair either toselled in soft curls or held up in a no nonsense hair sprayed “mohawk.”
Today, Mom was preparing her famous specialty: Acorn and walnut salad with assorted green vegetation, topped with dressing made from conifer cones and finally sprinkled with pumpkin and sesame seeds.
Even though this was one of his favourite meals; Sig wanted to wait for his dad. Filled with excitement Siegfred went outside and climbed up the tree so he could see. And then, there he was; Dad’s big smiling face came around the corner, with his work bag slung over his shoulder.
“Here we go!” Sig squealed with joy, “Daddy!” Sig could not help but run to his Dad, while his Dad would also be running towards him. Same thing every day except Saturday and Sunday when he would have the day off; just like all the other Squirrels that were employed at Big Al’s Nut Factory.
Today was Friday, and this was what the whole family would wait for and enjoy. When Sig reached his Dad, his Dad would pick him up and spin him around and give him a big hug saying, “I sure missed you, Siggy.” That’s what he called Siegfred with so much love in his heart; And Sig would say, “Not as much as I missed YOU, Dad!!!” And then he would put Sig down and they would hold hands and walk towards their tree house.
And it was the same every evening. It was their father and son ritual. Siggy always knew he would NEVER EVER get tired of it.
“Come on , son”, he ruffled Sig’s stylish Mohawk. “Let’s go and see what Mom’s up to. Whatever it is, it sure smells good!” “Well, it always does now, doesn’t it ?” Siggy said.
After dinner, both Siggy and his dad rubbed their tummies…
“That was delicious, Mom!” Siggy said.” Absolutely!,” said his father. “Thank you, Mom.”
After the food was put away, Siggy’s dad made his way to the big hammock they all shared and closed his eyes.
“No, Dad!,” Siggy said, “Wake up! Wake up!” Sigfreid climbed on top of his dad. “We always play cloud spotters!”
Cloud spotters was a game where you lie back on the grass and look up into the sky and see if you can find shapes of things in the clouds.
Siggy’s Dad opened his eyes very slowly, “Aw, Sig, I’d love to, but I am just so totally exhausted, let me just rest for a while.”
His eyes began to close again. “I promise I’ll read you your favorite bedtime story, okay?”
“I guess so…” Siggy was disheartened.
He went right up to his mom who was knitting him a scarf for the winter and asked, “Hey, Mom, what is “Zosted?”
“ZOSTED?!?” she furrowed her brows and scratched her head and repeated, “ZOSTED?”
“I really don’t have any idea, Sig,” she asked him bluntly, “Where on earth did you hear that?”
“Dad.” Siggy stated matter of factly. “When I asked Dad to come outside and play with me, he said, ‘he’d love to but he was so totally ZOSTED!'”
Mom let out a little giggle, ” Oh, EXHAUSTED!”
Siggy said abruptly, “Yeah, whatever! What does it mean?”
He was just letting you know that he was exhausted, meaning too tired, or worn out.
“Oh.” Siggy repeated to himself, “ZOSTED”
“Hey, Mom, can I go out and play?”
“Sure, but be careful and make sure you are home by seven.”
“Okay.” He said and he was out the door. Sig smiled to himself, he just got a great idea. Siggy was going to try out his new word with his buddies.
He was headed to Beatrice Bunny’s Mound. But before even getting close, he messed up his hair some more, rolled down one of his socks and let his eyes get droopy and heavy.
He walked slowly making sure to look tired and all tuckered out. Beatrice’s ears perked up and formed two coils facing straight up beside one another. This is what Beatrice Bunny did when she was curious or worried. And as Sig got closer, this is exactly what they did.
Sig made his eyes even heavier and slouched his back and walked even slower, almost falling over.
Beatrice Bunny squealed, “What is going on, Sig? Are you okay?”
Sig acted like he never even heard her, his eyes just barely open now.
Beatrice Bunnie’s ears dropped down at either side of her head now.
“Sig!” Nothing. “SIG!” she walked up to her dear friend and shook him gently, at which point Sig opened his just a tiny bit more.
“Yeah.” he mumbled, while still shuffling ever so slowly in no apparent direction.
“Hey, Seigfred, What on earth is going on? Are you okay?” Beatrice Bunny was genuinely concerned. “Talk to me!”
Sigfried took this as the perfect opportunity to use his new word and impress her with his ever-growing vocabulary.
He circled around and with heavy eyes, said, “Oh, I’d really love to, Beatrice Bunny but I am just so totally ZOSTED.” And with that he continued with his back hunched over and still shuffling.
Beatrice Bunny had never seen him like this before. “ZOSTED?!?” She repeated the word and called out to him, “ZOSTED?!?” I wonder what he means by that?
But Siegfred was already shuffling up the grass towards Ozzy Owl’s tree. And this time he was going to really lay it on thick.
Ozzy’s keen eyes spotted him right away, shuffling in small steps with his eyes barely open.
“What on Earth could you be up to now, Sig?!?”
Siegfried came almost to a full stop and then just flopped on the ground, and bent over. Now he was going to really try out his new word on Ozzy.
“Sigfried,” he called out loudly, “Snap out of it! Are you okay, was it something you ate? Tell me?”
At which point, Sig rolled over onto his back and began to snore softly.
“You have got to be kidding!” Ozzy flew down beside his friend and helped Sig get up. “Shake it off, little buddy! Just tell me how you got like this?”
And here was Sigfried’s chance to use the new word he learned from his father.
He opened his eyes a very tiny bit, and answered Ozzy, “Oh, I’d really love to, but I am so totally ZOSTED!”
“Zosted?” Ozzy repeated. And by then Beatrice made her way to them.
“Yeah,” she said to Ozzy, “That’s exactly what he told me!” Beatrice Bunnie’s ears formed a t.v. antenna on her head. This is what she did when she was looking for answers. She knew Ozzy Owl would solve this problem.
“Exhausted,” Ozzy smiled and with his wings fanned air onto Sig’s face. “The word is EXHAUSTED, Sig! Not ZOSTED! And how did you get so exhausted anyway?”
Sigfried was so excited to show off his new word and he blushed with embarrassment that it did not turn out as he had planned.
Ozzy Owl winked at Beatrice Bunny, “Well now, Beatrice, it looks like we will have to go to movie night without him…there’s just no way he will be able to make it, just look at him.”
Siegfred Squirrel had forgotten: “Wild Kingdom,” he had been waiting for a month for it to come out.
“Movie night?” he whispered, As his eyes began to open, one first and then the other.
“Wow! Look at that, guys! I am not ZOSTED after all!,”
Ozzy cleared his throat and fluttered his black, white, and golden wings and looked right into Siggy’s eyes with that piercing stare all owls have.
“Oh yeah,” Siggy kicked at the ground beneath his feet. And with a sheepish grin said, “I mean exhausted, anymore!…let’s go!”
Beatrice Bunny started hopping on the trail to the theatres, “I’ll pay for the tickets!” Her ears flopping up and down with excitement.
Ozzy confirmed, “Well there is no way I am paying for the popcorn! We all know it’s Sig’s turn. “Ain’t that right, Sigfried?”
“You got it! I can’t wait! It was so hard for me to keep that whole ZOSTED thing going!!!” He said, “I was so excited that I would be using a new word that no one knew.”
“Well, Siggy,” Ozzy Owl chimed in, “You’ve got to get up pretty early in the morning to pull a fast one on this owl! I eat dictionaries for BREAKFAST!”
And with that final note, the three friends made their way to the movies…neither one of them ZOSTED in the least bit, now!!!!
Date posted: June 27, 2023.
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Farah Tejani
Farah Tejani is a creative writer based in Vancouver. She graduated with her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in English Literature and her Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in May of 1997 and earned top Honors for her Thesis on Short Fiction. Farah then went on to publish a collection of short stories published by Trafford, called, “Make Your Own Chai, Mama’s Boy!” — ten short stories dealing with different dilemmas South Asians face. Farah also wrote and co-directed her stage play, “Safeway Samosas,” which won “The Best of Brave New Playwrights Award” in July 1995. Her short story, “Too Hot” won third place in the “Canada-Wide Best Short Fiction Award” and was read at The Vancouver Writers Festival. She has been contributing poems and stories for Simerg and its sister website Barakah since 2020. We invite our readers to read some of Farah’s poems by clicking on Elastic Embrace;The Fragrance of Spring, “In Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Eyes” and her story Mr. Sneaky Peeky and the Two Red-Tailed Monkeys.
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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, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos.
Kananaskis Country is my second home; so thrilling and beautiful that I like to escape to it frequently. I love the beautiful nature, the mountains and the wildlife. I also love being a spectator — to watch others enjoy in activities that give them thrill and excitement and makes others say “WOW”. My latest outing was to Canoe Meadows and Widow Maker Trail by the Kananaskis River. Here are my photographs and videos from a spectacular day. I have seen more wildlife here than in any other provincial or national park in Alberta. Please click KANANASKIS or on the photo below. I strongly urge you to visit this beautiful part of Canada!
Please click on image for spectacular videos and photographs.
Toronto’s Shafin Valla was at the Ismaili Centre Toronto at dawn to capture photographs of Prince Hussain Aga Khan’s exhibition The Living Sea — Fragile Beauty, while Montreal’s Muslim Harji presents his exclusive photographs from a recent trip to Cairo. Here are the links to their insights and photographs:
On April 3, 2023, Canada Post issued a special stamp to commemorate two Muslim Eid Festivals: The Eid al-Fitr which was celebrated on April 21 at the completion of the month of Ramadhan and the upcoming Eid al-Adha which will be held between June 26 to July 1 to mark the Festival of Sacrifice that is held at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
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Front (at right) and back of booklet of Eid stamps issued by Canada Post on April 3, 2023 to commemorate Eid al-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. Booklet size, opened as shown above, appx. 190 cms x 105 cms. Please click on image for enlargement.
In our special post announcing the Eid stamps, we had recommended to our readers that they should obtain the stamp from postal outlets in drug stores such as Shoppers Drug, at actual Canada Post offices or order them on-line. As I soon found out, in Calgary as well as during my visit to Toronto, none of the retail postal outlets or post offices that I visited sold the stamp separately or even stocked the booklets of 6 stamps (each booklet is priced at $5.52). I placed an on-line order for 6 booklets that arrived by mail within a couple of days. Any order that amounts to $25.00 or more is shipped free within Canada, with tracking.
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Eid stamps as presented by Canada Post in special booklet issued on April 3, 2023. The stamps can be detached from the booklet and used to mail letters. Booklet size, opened as shown above, appx. 190 cms x 105 cms. Please click on image for enlargement.
The six stamps inside the booklet can be used to cover the cost of standard letter shipping within Canada — it may be noted that the stamp is of permanent value which means that even if the cost of mailing a 1st class standard letter (less than 30 gms) within Canada goes up, you can use the stamp without having to pay extra. The stamps will be a pleasant surprise to recipients of your letters at home as well as abroad, a great item for collectors of Islamic stamps, a personal keepsake or to give it as a gift that will be appreciated and cherished for years.
I am delighted to present the outside and inside images of the stamp booklet. You may order the booklet(s) by clicking on Purchase Eid Stamps at Canada Post. Remember postage is free for orders $25.00 and higher — and you may combine the booklet orders with purchases of other items available on-line. For single or multiple booklet purchases totalling less than $25.00, there is a shipping charge of $4.99 (all prices quoted in CAD $.)
Date posted: June 10, 2023. Last updated: June 11, 2023 (added note on shipping charge.)
[Simerg is delighted to present a selection of beautiful paintings by Houston based Ismaili Muslim artist Parviz Dhanani. She becomes the third sister from the Jamani family to be portrayed on this website, following our earlier pieces on Mobina Marani of Crystal Beach, Ontario, and Nabat Pirani of Vancouver, British Columbia. We welcome Parviz, and invite Ismaili artists from around the world to introduce themselves by submitting clear images of some 6-8 paintings in JPG format along with their profiles to the editor Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com. This post reflects how artists are introduced in Simerg — Ed.]
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Paintings by Parviz Dhanani
Beauty of the Divine, 11″ x 14″. This work was exhibited at the U.S. National Jubilee Arts Festival in Los Angeles during the Diamond Jubilee of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. Painting by Perviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Deeer in the Forest. Oil, 20″ x 16″. Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Fir Tree and Mountain. Oil, 12″ x 16″. Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Watching the Waves. Oil, 36″ x 26″ Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Unknown Man. Oil, 16″ x 20″. Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Clown. Oil, 12″ x 24″. Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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A Pleasant Walk. Oil, 8″ x 6″. Painting by Perviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
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Flock on a Walk. Oil, 20″ x 16″. Painting by Parviz Dhanani, Houston, Texas.
Date posted: June 4, 2023.
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Parviz Dhanani of Houston Texas.
Originally from Kampala, Uganda, Parviz Dhanani completed her secondary schooling in Bath, England, earning a law degree (LL.B with honors) from London University. She later pursued graduate business studies in M.I.S. and Finance earning an M.B.A. from the University of Saint Thomas in Houston, Texas. With only a few private lessons from a kindly senior citizen, Parviz was always attracted to oil painting as a hobby. She also creates various three dimensional works ranging from ceramics to shadow boxes. Art was always a relaxing respite from hectic studying days or managing family and medical practice matters with her physician husband, Zul. They have two sons and two grandsons and settled in Houston. During the Aga Khan’s Diamond Jubilee festivities, Parviz’s painting “Beauty of the Divine” (shown above) was selected for exhibition at the U.S. National Jubilee Arts Festival in Los Angeles. Parviz is thankful for such opportunities and appreciates the worldwide platform provided by Simerg. She feels it is important to exhibit different artistic talents and perspectives from around the world.
Parviz Dhanani has two artistic sisters whose art works have been published on Simerg. Please view them by clicking on Mobina Marani and Nabat Pirani.
The editor invites Ismaili artists to submit a selection of their paintings and other works of art for publication in Simerg. Please submit clear images of no more than 8 objects in Jpeg (1200 x 900) along with your profile to the editor Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
On September 17, 2012, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed June 1 as the Global Day of Parents to be observed annually, honouring parents throughout the world. On May 27, 2023, the entire Merchant family remembered their loving dad and grandfather, Jehangir, on the 5th anniversary of his death.
Alwaez Jehangir (d. May 2018) and Alwaeza Maleksultan “Mrs. Merchant” (d. January 2021).
I was personally by his side in 2018 when he left this world peacefully to return to his original abode. Of course, we also remembered our mum. She passed away on January 21, 2021. Were she alive today, the family would be celebrating her 92nd birthday a week from today, on June 9th.
I became aware of the Global Day of Parents late into the night of Thursday June, 1, through a tribute — along with a picture — that the United Nations Secretary General General, António Guterres, paid to his late parents in LinkedIn. He wrote:
“This Global Day of Parents I think of my mother Ilda and my father Virgílio. I will always cherish their nurture, encouragement and unconditional love. I am grateful for them and all parents worldwide committed to raising their children in a peaceful and healthy world.” Inspiring words, indeed.
While June 1 is Global Parents Day, we must be mindful that parents need care and support regularly. Many of us have lost one or both our parents, while others have both parents alive, some in good health and others facing extraordinary challenges. They depend on their children, the spouses of their children as well as grandchildren to provide them with comfort and companionship as they age.
Islam places a particular emphasis on devotion and being good to parents, as shown by the following verses in the Qur’an:
“Serve God, and associate naught with Him. Be kind to parents, and the near kinsman” — 4:36.
“Thy Lord has decreed you shall not serve any but Him, and to be good to parents, whether one or both of them attains old age with thee; say not to them ‘Fie’ neither chide them, but speak unto them words respectful, and lower to them the wing of humbleness out of mercy and say; ‘My Lord, have mercy upon them, as they raised me up when I was little.“ — Quran, 17:23-24.
“(And We have charged man concerning his parents — his mother bore him in weakness upon weakness, and his weaning was in two years — ‘Be thankful to Me, and to thy parents; to Me is the homecoming.” — 31:14.
‘You shall not serve any save God; and to be good to parents, and the near kinsman, and to orphans, and to the needy — 2:83.
“They will question thee concerning what they should expend. Say: ‘Whatsoever good you expend is for parents and kinsmen, orphans, the needy, and the traveller; and whatever good you may do, God has knowledge of it” — 2:215.
“Our Lord, forgive Thou me and my parents, and the believers, upon the day when the reckoning shall come to pass.” — 14:41.
“Lower to them the wings of humility out of compassion” — 17: 24.
“O John, take the Book forcefully; and We gave him judgment, yet a little child, and a tenderness from Us, and purity; and he was godfearing, and cherishing his parents, not arrogant, rebellious.” — 19:12-14.
“Give them company in the worldly affairs with appropriate courtesy and kindness” — 31:15.
These are beautiful verses for us to keep in mind. In this regard, mutual support between spouses for the care of both their parents is critical for family unity and harmony; it will ensure barakah (happiness) in both the worlds and give us peace of mind in our daily lives.
Date posted: June 2, 2023. Last updated: June 3, 2023 (added Qur’anic verse 17-24.)
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English translations of Qur’anic verses quoted above by A. J. Arberry. Please visit Corpus Qur’an for upto 7 different translations of every verse in the Qur’an.
