This photo piece at Simergphotos serves two purposes: A fond memory and reflection of the old Jamatkhana at 991 Carling Avenue, which served the Ismaili community in Ottawa for twenty-six years, and a tribute to a great new building at 3225 Conroy Road which became operational as the new Jamatkhana on Friday, July 19, 2013 with the recitation of verses from the Holy Qur’an.
Photo Essay: Ismaili Muslims Open a Beautiful New Jamatkhana in Canada’s Capital
The foyer of Ottawa’s new Jamatkhana which was declared open on Friday July 19, 2013. Please click for photo essay.
Category Archives: The Holy Qur’an
The Imamat: Essential Quotes and Readings
Two Quotes
1. THE ROLE OF MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM
Historically and in accordance with Ismaili tradition, the Imam of the time is concerned with spiritual advancement as well as improvement of the quality of life of his murids. The imam’s ta‘lim lights the murid’s path to spiritual enlightenment and vision. In temporal matters, the Imam guides the murids, and motivates them to develop their potential…..Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness Prince Aga Khan, in direct lineal descent from the Holy Prophet (s.a.s.) through Hazrat Mawlana Ali (a.s.) and Hazrat Bibi Fatima (a.s), is the Forty-Ninth Imam of the Ismaili Muslims….Clauses (F) and (G) of the Preamble of the Ismaili Constitution ordained in 1986 [1].
2. IMAM – A COSMIC NECESSITY
Imam is the Threshold through which God and the creatures communicate; Imam is a Cosmic Necessity and the earth cannot be devoid of an Imam – without an Imam the earth and the universe would crumble; The Imam is the Proof, the Manifestation and the Organ of God and he is the Means by which human beings can attain the knowledge of God — Excerpt from The Divine Guide in Early Shi’ism by Mohamad Ali Amir-Moezzi, pp 125-131, SUNY, 1994.
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Links to Six Readings
1. THE TERM IMAM IN THE HOLY QUR’AN
The term Imam is used seven times in the singular and five times in the plural form in the Holy Qur’an. It is not, however, used in the same sense every time. The different shades of meaning which it indicates therefore needs to be analysed….CLICK TO READ MORE
2. THE FORMULATION OF THE DOCTRINE OF IMAMAT
Like his father and grandfather before him, Imam Ja’far remained politically quiescent and inactive…..it was in this period of political inactivity – to an extent – that the main religious ideas and doctrinal formation of Imamate concepts really crystallised….CLICK TO READ MORE
3. THE DOCTRINE OF IMAMAT DURING THE FATIMID PERIOD
The central doctrine of the Ismaili community has always been the doctrine of Imamat because around it are built all the goals of the community and the roles of the dais, but this doctrine is also not rigid, it has been evolving, particularly in the writings and preachings of the dais….CLICK TO READ MORE
4. IMAMAT IN ISMAILI GINANIC LITERATURE
According to the Ginans the Imam is the source of Guidance for mankind. He shows them the right path, saves the people from ignorance and acts as a Divine Light in the darkness….CLICK TO READ MORE
5. THE NUR (LIGHT) OF IMAMAT
What is this special light that Allah refers to [in Holy Qur’an 4:174], which guides and makes things clear? For Shia Muslims, this light is the Light of Imamat. The Shias refer to it as the Nur of Imamat. Nur means light. The Nur of Imamat is a spiritual light….CLICK TO READ MORE
6. LOVE FOR THE IMAM
“Say (O Muhammad): No reward do I ask (for my favours) except your love for my kith and kin” – Holy Qur’an, 42:23
“He who loves us will be with us on the Day of Judgement” – Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq….CLICK TO READ MORE
Date posted: Thursday, July 11, 2013.
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Reference:
[1] Please click The Preamble of “The Constitution of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims”
Prince Rahim Aga Khan: How Muslims Can Harness the Creativity of Our Knowledge Society to Impact Humanity
“Unfortunately, in some parts of the Muslim world today, hostility to diverse interpretations of Islam, and lack of religious tolerance, have become chronic, and worsening, problems. Sometimes these attitudes have led to hatred and violence. At the root of the problem is an artificial notion amongst some Muslims, and other people, that there is, or could ever be, a restricted, monolithic reality called Islam.”….More
“Without an acceptance of diversity, without the ability to harness the creativity that stems from pluralism, the very spirit of the Knowledge Society is stifled. We must encourage, I believe, that Muslims of all communities come together, working collaboratively to tap into the vast endowment of knowledge available today, and without which progress is, if not halted, at least deferred. This cannot be done in the absence of open-mindedness and tolerance” — Prince Rahim Aga Khan….More
Preparing the Soul for Akhirat (Life Hereafter) By Ghulam Abbas Hunzai
The concept of soul is related to the concept of akhirat for the reason that it is the soul which is going to exist after the bodily death. The survival of the soul can only be possible if there are other forms of existence beyond this life and which are not physical….An enlightened, pure and healthy soul acquires satisfaction and contentment because it is through these conditions that it finds nearness to its Origin…
Please click: Preparing the Soul for Akhirat (Life Hereafter)
Please click for article
Assessing English Translations of the Qur’an by Dr. Khaleel Mohammed + www Links to Translations
Multiple English translations of the Qur’an, Islam’s scripture, line shelves at book stores….Because of the growing Muslim communities in English-speaking countries, as well as greater academic interest in Islam, there has been a blossoming in recent years of English translations….Since fewer than 20 percent of Muslims speak Arabic, this means that most Muslims study the text only in translation. So how accurate are the Qur’an’s renderings into English? The record is mixed….Read more of this informative piece
Please click on image for article.
Shia-Sunni Reconciliation and Enriching the Ummah and the World Through a Common Islamic Ethic, as Articulated by the Modern Direct Descendants of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.)
SPEECHES, STATEMENTS AND WRITINGS OF THE 48TH AND 49TH ISMAILI IMAMS
PLEASE CLICK: Modern Ismaili Imams on Shia-Sunni Reconciliation and
Enriching the Ummah and the World Through a Common Islamic Ethic
Please click on image for reading
The Blue Qur’an from the Fatimid Period, “A Spiritual Piece” @Simergphotos
On Sunday November 25, 2012, Simergphotos began a series of historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. The latest piece is on the exquisite Blue Qur’an which has been referred to as “the Picasso of Islamic Art.” More….
A folio of the Fatimid Blue Qur’an which was recently on display at an exhibition on Islamic art at Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. Please click for more images and text
Historical Images: Thomas Jefferson’s Copy of the Qur’an @Simergphotos
The latest weekly historical illustration at Simergphotos is that of a rare copy of an English translation of the Qur’an which was acquired over two centuries ago by Thomas Jefferson, one of America’s Founding Fathers as well as its 3rd President. This was the 2-volume set on which US Muslim Congressman Keith Allison rested his hand for the oath to the office on January 4, 2007. Please click Historical Images: President Thomas Jefferson’s Copy of the Qur’an or on the following image:
Keith Ellison, the first Muslim ever elected to the US Congress, took his oath of office on January 4, 2007 by placing his hand on Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the Qur’an. Please click for “Historical Images.”
A Story from ‘Pyara Imam ni Pyari Wato’: Historical Memories by Sairab Abuturabi and Jaferali Bhalwani
Loving Tales of our Beloved Imams: (I) Farazdaq’s Praise and Support of Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.)
“…This tale belongs to ages past. It goes back to the era of Hazrat Imam Zainul Abideen (a.s.), our third Imam, from whose veins was to ensue the Divine Line of the Imams. He was the Imam who, on the battlefield of Karbala, received the nass of Imamat from his father, Hazrat Imam Hussain (a.s.) with the blessing: “Through you the line of Imamat will continue till the Day of Judgment…”
Please click for story
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