THE TREES

His Highness the Aga Khan and Prime Minister Stephen Harper in front of the model of the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and their Park.

The artist’s rendering and model of the new Aga Khan projects in Toronto showed there would be plenty of trees planted on the grounds. However, a photo by Jim Bowie from back in April 2010, produced in  Simerg’s highly acclaimed photo essay, In the Making: The Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and their Park: PDF presentation,  showed bunches of cut-up trees ready to be removed from the project site.  “Imagine our surprise,” writes Jim Bowie who lives in a condominium building just across from the site, “when on September 14, 2011 – a short 16 months later – trees were being planted…lots of trees!”

April 2010. "No need to worry...the trees will be replaced" noted Bowie in Simerg's photo essay caption. Photo: Jim Bowie. Copyright. Please click for enlargement.

We are delighted to share with our readers Bowie’s new photos which also reflect the rapid pace of the construction effort. Jim, a hobbyist photographer, has been taking a photo everyday since Spring 2010, and his interest in the project will amount to probably one of the best documented records of the project’s evolution from its inception to its completion in the not too distant future.

September 14, 2011. The return of the trees. Photo: Jim Bowie. Copyright. Click for enlargement.

September 14, 2011. The return of the trees 2. Planting. Photo: Jim Bowie. Copyright. Please click for enlargement.

September 14, 2011. The return of the trees 3. Also, note the phenomenal progress of the construction of this project conceived by His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Imam of Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims. Photo: Jim Bowie. Copyright. Please click for enlargement.

Readers who haven’t viewed the photo essay are invited to click In the Making as well as to read the winning essays of the Al-Mahdiya essay competition organized and sponsored by this Website following the publication of the photo essay. Please click “Why I am Excited About the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and Their Park” and “Why I Like This Photo”.

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Imam Ja’far al-Sadiq: The Outstanding Merits of the Prophet and the Imams

Please click for Imam Ja'far al-Sadiq's Orations.

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Winner – Open Category

The Symbolism of the Halo

Dana Lopez is winner of Category 2 for her entry "The Symbolism of the Halo." Click image for enlargement.

By Dana Lopez

I enjoyed viewing Jim Bowie’s photo because of its symbolism. Two features are notable in particular. First, the area ringed by the halo appears calm, whereas the area outside the halo pulsates with heavy traffic. I came away with the impression that the haloed area represents a beacon in a hectic world. Second, the three bright lights inside the halo look like newborn stars, perhaps even a new universe. Viewed through this prism, the photo is asking us to make enlightenment the focal point of our daily lives. This interpretation is consistent with the desired impact of the center: to give strength to those of the Ismaili faith while beckoning others to explore the rich contributions of Islamic culture.

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About the winner: Dana Lopez is law student studying to become a child advocate at the California Western School of Law. At age 40, she recognizes that personal enrichment in and of itself means little, compared to one’s contributions in improving the lives of others. She is honored to participate in this essay contest because she too believes that replacing fear with hope for a brighter future is the best way to ensure a stable civil society.

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Winner – Youth Category

Camera in Balcony

Kathreen Anne Lelis is winner of Category 1 for her entry "Jim Bowie's Camera in Balcony." Click image for enlargement.

By Kathreen Anne Lelis

I like this photo because it depicts the rising beauty ought to be discovered and deserves a future glory. The building site is surrounded by streets and industrialized buildings to mark new development – the Aga Khan Museum, Ismaili Center and their Park built at the center to serve as EMBLEM of a country with unity amidst cultural diversity. The light from the site shows its glowing hope in building a strong foundation to create glory. The camera serves as the people’s excitement to capture the priceless beauty made for them. It is facing the horizon which means that people are ready to face the opportunities the buildings offer and travel from the past to discover the reason of their success towards the future.

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About the winner: Kathreen Anne Lelis, 21, studies at the San Pedro College of Davao City, Philippines.

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A Note from the Publisher/Editor: We offer our congratulations to Kathreen Anne Lelis and Dana Lopez on winning their respective categories for the essay “Why I Like This Photo.” We received a total of 11 entries for this topic. The winners will receive the prizes as outlined in the original announcement at 2011 Simerg Essay Writing Contest – $1000.00 in Cash Prizes. We thank everyone who participated in this competition as well as the international panel of judges for dedicating their valuable time towards this important initiative. It is hoped that the Al-Mahdiya contest (named after the first Fatimid Capital in North Africa) will become an annual event and that participation will increase over time.

The winners for the topic “Why I am Excited About the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and their Park” were announced earlier. Please click on the following links to read the two winning essays:

Essay by Emmanuel Iduma
Essay by Zohra Nizamdin

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Seeking the Forgiveness of the Imam of the Time: A Short Explanation (II)

By Ismailignosis

Please click for article “The Forgiveness of the Imam”

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A Brief Introduction to the Muslim Calendar and Major Muslim Festivals and Religious Observances

Please click for article. Image by Simerg.

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Readings for Laylat al-Qadr

I. The Noble Qur’an

Laylat al-Qadr, the Night of Power, marks the night in which the Holy Qur’an was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (SAWS) by Allah. There are different traditions regarding the exact night, but it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten odd nights of the month of Ramadan. The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims celebrate the night on the 23rd of the month (May 15 for 2020), with many Jamats worldwide spending the whole night in prayer and supplication, this year in the confines of their homes due to Covid-19. The Holy Qur’an refers to the spiritual barakah this night offers in the following five verses of Surah al-Qadr:

“We have indeed revealed this (Message) in the Night of Power:
And what will explain to thee what the night of power is?
The Night of Power is better than a thousand months.
Therein come down the angels and the Spirit by Allah’s permission, on every errand:
Peace!…This until the rise of morn!” —  97:1-5

Our first reading for Laylat al-Qadr thus reflects on the Holy Book, which His Highness the Aga Khan referred to as an “inexhaustible well-spring of inspiration” in a speech he delivered in London. Please click The Noble Qur’an –  An Inexhaustible Well-Spring of Inspiration and Knowledge for the speech excerpts.

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II. Forgiveness

Laylat al-Qadr is also a good time to ask for forgiveness, and a second piece by Ismailignosis explains the significant practice of forgiveness among the Ismailis, with the discussion primarily focusing on the act of seeking forgiveness from the Imam of the Time. Please click Seeking the Forgiveness of the Imam of the Time: A Short Explanation.

A Note to Readers: Please click Table of Contents for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.

Last updated: May 14, 2020.

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A Note from the Publisher/Editor: We offer our congratulations to Emmanuel Iduma of Nigeria and Zohra Nizamdin of the USA on winning their respective categories for the essay, “Why I am Excited About the Aga Khan Museum, the Ismaili Centre and Their Park.” We received a total of twenty entries for this topic.

The winners will receive the prizes as outlined in the original announcement, 2011 Simerg Essay Writing Contest. We thank everyone who participated in this competition as well as the judges for dedicating their valuable time towards this important initiative. It is hoped that the Al-Mahdiya contest (named after the first Fatimid Capital in North Africa) will become an annual event and that participation will increase over time. The winners of the essay “Why I Like This Photo” will be announced at the end of August, 2011.

Please click links below to read essays

WINNER CATEGORY 1: EMMANUEL IDUMA, NIGERIA

 “Why I am Excited About the Aga Khan Museum, The Ismaili Centre and Their Park” by Emmanuel Iduma

WINNER CATEGORY 2: ZOHRA NIZAMDIN, USA

 “Why I am Excited About the Aga Khan Museum, The Ismaili Centre and Their Park” by Zohra Nizamdin

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“FOR THE BENEFIT AND ENJOYMENT OF THE PEOPLE”

The Incredible Yellowstone National Park

A Must Visit Park For You and Your Family

By Malik and Nurin Merchant

The Grand Canyon of Yellowstone National Park. Please click for article. Photo: Nurin Merchant. Copyright.

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