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
Carpentry is traditionally considered a man’s job in Pakistan, but a few brave women are changing that mindset, from carving unique wooden utensils to building an entire house. In two short films, VOA and BBC Urdu Services spoke to several women who wanted to hammer home the point that not only are women integral to their community and the economy, they can also build things as well as men.
Video 1: Women Carpenters in Pakistan by VOA Urdu Service
“Carpentry is considered a man’s work in Pakistan and women are often discouraged from doing it. Wherever women go, they face issues that affect their honour, religion, culture, and social norms. However, when they step out and do something in order to take care of their family, then they realize that their honour, religion, culture and everything is still in place” — Excerpt from the video below, which has been reproduced from the VOA website. Bezhan Hamdard narrates the report in English.
“Much like Kim’s Convenience, The Wrong Bashir offers characters familiar to and loved by their communities…and a laugh-yourself-silly evening.” — JoLedingham.ca
Zahida Rahemtulla’s play The Wrong Bashir, which ran to packed houses when it was launched a year ago in Vancouver, is premiering at Toronto’s renowned Crow’s Theatre on May 21, 2024. It will run until June 9, 2024. The Theatre picked up Zahida’s new play as part of its bold, ambitious and imaginative 2024-2025 season following The Wrong Bashir’s successful Vancouver showing. It then issued a special call for Ismaili actors based in Eastern Canada to audition for some roles. Crow’s Theatre has been home to groundbreaking and award-winning productions.
The Wrong Bashir is Burnaby-born Ismaili playwright Zahida Rahemtulla’s debut play.
The play delves into the life of Bashir Ladha, a young philosophy major who has strayed from his Ismaili Muslim roots. The story takes a hilarious turn whenBashir’s parents receive a call that their unconventional podcaster son has been chosen as the student’s Mukhisaheb, a significant role in Ismaili Jamatkhanas. They dutifully accept the role on behalf of their son. Before Bashir can argue, two official committee representatives arrive at the Ladha household. The representatives soon realize a mistake in selection, adding to the comedic chaos. The doorbell rings, and Bashir’s excited grandparents and family friend make a surprise visit, having caught wind of the news at their Jamatkhana.
With its heartwarming and humorous portrayal of an intergenerational, transitional moment in the life of a family and community, the play is a must-see for all Ismaili community members. The Wrong Bashir affectionately shows much humour within the worldwide Ismaili community. The play elicited ample laughs and resonated widely with Ismaili and broader audiences in Vancouver.
Vancouver’s world premiere featured Ismaili actors Sabrina Vellani, Shera Haji, Salim Rahemtulla, and Hussein Janmohamed. The Toronto premiere will feature Ismailis Nimet Kanji, Zaitun Esmail, and Salim Rahemtulla alongside a large cast (click The Team link on the page). Supporting sponsors for the production are Shabin and Nader Mohamed and Tazmin Merali and Nasir Noormohamed.
A scene from Zahida Rahemtulla’s The Wrong Bashir.
“The Wrong Bashir found the right audience on opening night if gales of laughter are any indication. From the curtain opener to the surprise at curtain fall, the sold-out crowd at the Firehall had a grand time. The Wrong Bashir is going to be a big hit; for some, it will be a laugh-yourself-silly evening” — Jo Ledingham, Vancouver Theatre Review.
The play is directed by award-winning Toronto director Paolo Santalucia. Crow’s Artistic Director, Chris Abraham, who was already familiar with the Ismaili community in Toronto, championed its inclusion in the 2024 season and brought it to the theatre.
Playwright Zahida says she is excited to see it premiere in Toronto, where the story has shifted from its original Vancouver setting to Toronto’s Don Mills.
Special Discounts: Purchase Tickets for The Wrong Bashir
For tickets for all shows from May 21 to June 9, 2024, please click Buy Tickets for The Wrong Bashir and use the following promotion codes, as applicable:
May 21 to May 26, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior Tickets can be purchased 2-FOR-1. Please use promotion code WRONG241;
May 21 to June 1, 2024: General Admission Adult and Senior tickets will be discounted 25%. Please use promotion code BASHIR25; and
Throughout the entire run (May 21st-June 9th), there is also a 20% discount for groups of 8+ anytime, which can be obtained by contacting the Crow’s Theatre box office at boxoffice@crowstheatre.com or calling (647) 341-7390.
Date posted: May 13, 2024. Date updated: May 14, 2024 (added promotion codes for discounted tickets).
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PLAYWRIGHT ZAHIDA RAHEMTULLA AND DIRECTOR PAOLO SANTALUCIA
Zahida Rahemtulla
Zahida Rahemtulla is a playwright and short story writer. Her debut play, The Wrong Bashir, premiered with Touchstone Theatre in Vancouver in May 2023 and makes its Toronto premiere on May 21, 2024, at the Crow’s Theatre, which has been a leading force in new play creation in the Canadian theatre landscape. Zahida currently facilitates Parragon Theatre’s East of Tarragon Project in Scarborough and is passionate about education and working on new plays and with new playwrights.
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Paolo Santalucia
Paolo Santalucia is an award-winning actor, director and writer. He is a graduate of the Soulpepper Academy, and has been a member of Soulpepper’s ensemble for the past ten seasons. Paolo is a co-founder and Artistic Leader of the award-winning Howland Company. Paolo also teaches classical performance with the University of Toronto’s Theatre and Drama Studies Program, and is the recipient of two Dora Mavor Moore Awards in acting, one nomination for direction, and has been shortlisted for the John Hirsch Award for Directing.
“As mayor, Nenshi embraced innovative solutions to urban issues like public transit, affordable housing, and sustainable development. He proved his leadership abilities during the devastating 2013 Calgary floods, rallying the city through the crisis with compassion and resolve. Now, Nenshi wants to bring that same progressive, consensus-building approach to the provincial level as leader of the NDP. His vision is an Alberta that works for everyone — not just a few.”
For over a decade, Naheed Nenshi has been a trailblazer in Canadian politics. Now, he’s setting his sights beyond Calgary on an even more significant challenge — leading Alberta’s New Democratic Party (NDP) and charting a new course for the province.
To do that, Nenshi’s team is reminding residents across Alberta to purchase an NDP membership on nenshi.ca by April 22nd — for just $10. This will allow them to vote for Naheed Nenshi as the party’s next leader in June and have their voices heard.
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Naheed Nenshi offers guidance and reflections to members of the Ismaili community gathered at the Ismaili Centre Toronto, 2017. Photograph: Shameela Karmali-Rawji collection.
Nenshi’s rise has been an inspiring underdog story. After initially trailing far behind in the polls during Calgary’s 2010 mayoral race, his campaign of bold ideas and grassroots engagement struck a chord. He defied the odds to become the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city. Nenshi’s journey has been one of resilience, hard work, and a steadfast commitment to public service rooted in the importance of family and community values.
The son of immigrants from Mwanza, Tanzania, he grew up witnessing his parents’ struggles to build a better life. This instilled in him that opportunity shouldn’t be taken for granted.
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Naheed Nenshi with parents Kurban and Noorjah Nenshi after Mayoral swearing-in ceremony, 2010. Photograph: Shameela Karmali-Rawji collection.
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The Ismaili community of Mwanza, Tanzania, celebrates Naheed Nenshi, 2015. Photograph: Shameela Karmali-Rawji collection.
As mayor, Nenshi embraced innovative solutions to urban issues like public transit, affordable housing, and sustainable development. He proved his leadership abilities during the devastating 2013 Calgary floods, rallying the city through the crisis with compassion and resolve.
Now, Nenshi wants to bring that same progressive, consensus-building approach to the provincial level as leader of the NDP. His vision is an Alberta that works for everyone — not just a few.
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Calgary Mayor Naheed Nenshi, Alberta Premier Alison Redford and Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper review plans with emergency management personnel during Calgary 2013 floods. Photograph: Shameela Karmali-Rawji collection.
Nenshi believes the NDP can rally widespread support by promoting pro-business and pro-worker policies focused on diversifying the provincial economy beyond oil and gas. His entrepreneurial approach aims to drive collaboration between industry, government, and communities to secure Alberta’s future.
At his core, Nenshi is driven by a passionate belief in service, equality, and doing what’s right — regardless of political convenience. He champions initiatives that bring the public directly into governance through participatory budgeting. He advocates bold climate action rooted in environmental science. He understands that prosperity must be sustainable and inclusive to all cultures and communities. He also embraces Alberta’s place as part of a pluralistic Canada united in its diversity.
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Alberta NDP Leader Rachel Notley presents Naheed Nenshi with the Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee Medal, 2023. Photograph: Shameela Karmali-Rawji collection.
With his unique perspective forged from lived experiences, Nenshi could be the dynamic leader to reinvigorate the NDP’s vision for a fairer, greener, and more innovative Alberta. But he needs the grassroots support of Albertans who share that vision.
Alberta stands at a crossroads. By choosing Nenshi, the province can embrace a leader who sees its boundless potential and will fight to uplift all of its people. The path ahead won’t be easy — but few leaders are better prepared to forge it than Naheed Nenshi.
Date posted: April 20, 2024.
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Shameela Karmali-Rawji
Dr. Shameela Karmali-Rawji, MS MD CCFP FCFP, is a global health consultant, entrepreneur and family physician. She has established multiple medical clinics and telemedicine platforms and oversaw several retirement and assisted living facilities in Ontario and Alberta. She launched the first Urgent Care Clinic in a public-private partnership in primary care with Calgary Health Services in 2006. She has worked as a policy advisor and consultant with WHO, UNICEF, and AKDN, and she led the development of a groundbreaking, collaborative health agenda in the First Nations community of T’suu Tina, which resulted in the establishment and expansion of health services, including a medical centre. She has also planned several medical centres and hospitals in East Africa and community-based primary and secondary healthcare systems in Northern Pakistan serving over 1 million people.
Dr. Karmali-Rawji had served as a member of the His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada, where she established its first Women’s Portfolio, and as Chairman of the Aga Khan Health Board for Canada. She co-convened the International Ismaili Women’s Forum in Toronto with Princess Zahra Aga Khan. She was Vice Chairman of the commissioning Board of Generations Calgary, an assisted living and long term care facility. Dr. Karmali-Rawji obtained her MD at McMaster University and her MS in International Health at Harvard University.
Naheed Nenshi, the esteemed former mayor of Calgary, is paving his way to lead Alberta’s New Democratic Party (NDP) in the Party’s June 2024 Elections. To have a say in this crucial decision, it’s essential that you register as an NDP party member before Monday, April 22. This simple step, which costs only $10.00, will enable you to cast your vote in the June elections. Please visit Nenshi.ca to become an NDP member.
One morning last summer, I joined hundreds of Ismaili Muslims to celebrate the 66th anniversary of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, as the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslim community with chai, sherbet and delicious snacks at a Calgary Jamatkhana’s social hall. Considering my compromised immune system, I sat in an area with only a few people around me. I glanced to my left multiple times and asked myself: “Can it be? Is the guy next to me Naheed Nenshi?” I could not hold back and told him. “You look like Naheed Nenshi.” And he answered, “You are right, I am.”
Seated next to him was his beloved mother. I remembered how, a few years earlier, I would take my mum to the Ismaili Centre and Jamatkhana in Vancouver and, on celebratory occasions, take her to the social hall upstairs to enjoy Ismaili delicacies and chat with community members. Naheed’s care, love and warmth for his mum touched me on this significant day in Ismaili history. In the few minutes I had with him, I dared to suggest that he should, one day, seek to lead a Federal Party. His brief response told me that the idea wasn’t exactly in his mind!
On two earlier occasions in Ontario, when Nenshi was still Mayor of Calgary, I briefly introduced myself to him with a handshake: first at the Aga Khan Museum opening in Toronto in September 2014 and three years later at the Global Centre of Pluralism’s First Award Ceremony at the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat Building in Ottawa in November 2017. At the first meeting in Toronto, I expressed my interest in interviewing him one day, and he welcomed the idea. However, I have yet to approach him and request an interview.
Since relocating to Alberta two years ago, I’ve witnessed the profound impact of Naheed Nenshi’s leadership as Calgary’s mayor between 2010 and 2021. As the first Muslim mayor of a major North American city, Nenshi garnered widespread respect and admiration from both Calgarians and residents of the Bow Valley for his significant achievements and profound connection with the people. Despite his decision not to seek re-election for a fourth term, his legacy remains robust, and his leadership skills are undeniable.
Naheed Nenshi’s announcement on March 11, 2024, to stand for the election to become the new leader of Alberta’s New Democratic Party (NDP) is a significant development. His decision has sparked a wave of anticipation across the province. Nenshi is up against Kathleen Ganley, Sarah Hoffman, Jodi Calahoo Stonehouse and Gil McGowan to replace Rachel Notley as Alberta’s NDP leader. Notley, who led the party for a decade and served as the province’s premier from 2015 to 2019, announced in January 2024, eight months after her party lost the provincial elections to the United Conservative Party, that she would be stepping down as the leader of the NDP. She will continue to lead the party until after the June elections, when her successor will be decided.
It is noteworthy that even before Nenshi had declared his interest, a Pollara poll revealed that “One in three (33%) Albertans who say they are likely to buy an NDP membership would be “excited” if Nenshi became the next NDP leader, significantly higher than the 10-to-14% who feel that way about the three declared candidates” [at the time]. The report further highlights that “Feelings towards Nenshi are largely positive province-wide, with about twice as many Albertans feeling positive (41%) rather than negative (22%) at the prospect of him leading the NDP.” This positive sentiment underscores the potential impact of Nenshi’s leadership. His leadership has always been driven by strong values and ethics of building community, integrity and honesty and is founded on human justice and cosmopolitanism.
Since entering the race, Nenshi has graciously praised all the other candidates. Still, he feels he would be the best person to lead the NDP and defeat Premier Danielle Smith in the next provincial election in 2017.
Whether you decide to vote for Naheed Neshi or any other candidate in the June 2024 election, it is crucial that you first become an NDP party member by April 22, 2024. This is the date of the membership deadline for voting eligibility. Your participation is vital in shaping the future of the party. Please click on Nenshi.ca to become a member. As Nenshi urges in his video below, you do not need to pay more than $10.00 at this time, as options are available to submit to membership at higher and more significant amounts.
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Naheed Nenshi’s Important Message to the Ismaili Community
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Naheed Nenshi: Tweets
We live in one of the most amazing places on Earth. It’s time we start talking about what we stand FOR, not what we’re against. For Alberta. For all of us. Join the movement today and purchase your membership at https://t.co/OqpFCojan7. pic.twitter.com/1260AdBpwn
The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) in London, England, was established by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, on December 13, 1977. For more than 45 years, the IIS has sought to promote scholarship and learning on Islam in historical and contemporary contexts and contributed to a better understanding of Islam’s relationship with other societies and faiths.
The Institute has also dedicated a significant amount of time and resources to studying the history of the Ismaili branch of Islam in all its aspects, including its intellectual, scientific, artistic and commercial activities. The Ismaili Imams ruled over vast territories such as the Fatimid Empire in North Africa and Egypt and the Nizari Ismaili state of Iran and Syria during the Alamut period. Under the Fatimid rule, the Ismailis created one of the world’s oldest learning seats, the Al-Azhar University in Cairo; today, the university is a major Sunni institution.
The IIS’s research and publications, led by both Ismaili and non-Ismaili scholars, have had a profound impact over the past 30 years. They have fundamentally reshaped the perception of Ismailis, who, for centuries, were primarily understood through the lens of works by medieval heresiographers and polemicists, who were generally hostile towards Shias and particularly the Ismailis.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, met with leaders of the Ismailia Association and Ismaili scholars in April 1975 in Paris. A decision was taken at the world conference to establish the Institute of Ismaili Studies. Photo: Ilm magazine, October 1975.
Aside from research papers, scholarly publications and participation in essential conferences worldwide, the IIS has conducted significant programmes such as the Waezeen and Teacher Education Programme (WTEP), the advanced curriculum-planning programme with the University of London’s Institute of Education, the joint IIS-McGill University programme, the Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Islamic Humanities (GPISH), and the Secondary Teacher Education Programme (STEP). Some eight hundred individuals have graduated from IIS’s educational programmes since the Institute began receiving postgraduate students in 1980.
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Professor Zayn Kassam, the current director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, presents the inaugural IIS Alumni Recognition Award to Professor Karim H. Karim during the IIS’s 2024 graduation ceremony, March 23, 2024, at the Ismaili Centre in London. Photograph: Farid Daya.
Several IIS alumni have made remarkable achievements in different parts of the world. On March 23, 2024, the IIS had its first ever Alumni Recognition Award at the Ismaili Centre in London, UK, during its 2024 graduation ceremony.
The Award celebrates those who have demonstrated a career of exceptional service and leadership. A panel of senior management and academics from the AKDN and IIS reviewed the nominations for the Award and selected Professsor Karim H. Karim as the recipient of the First Award based on the following primary criteria:
Professional or Academic Accomplishment: Achieved a high degree of prominence and leadership in their respective field, which may or may not be directly relevant to the work of the IIS.
Contributions to Community Service: Distinguished service to their professional or faith community.
Professor Zayn Kassam, the Institute’s current director, presented the inaugural Award to Professor Karim.
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Citation Honouring Karim H. Karim on Being the First Recipient of the IIS’s Alumni Recognition Award
Professor Karim H. Karim holding the first Alumni Recognition Award that was presented to him by the Institute of Ismaili Studies on March 23, 2024, at the Ismaili Centre London. The sculpture was designed by Mohammed Adra (AKDN Geneva) and is inspired by (Late) Karl Schlamminger’s Hepta Globe sculpture, which is placed at the entrance of the Aga Khan Centre in London. Photograph: The Institute of Ismaili Studies via Karim H. Karim.
The citation for the award read as follows:
“Professor Karim has an extensive record of over three decades of scholarship, service, and leadership. His designation as Chancellor’s Professor is the highest honour given by Carleton University for scholarship of outstanding merit with substantial international impact, research leadership and continued active participation in the development of research excellence. Professor Karim has a worldwide reputation as a leading scholar of media representations of Muslims and diasporic communications. He has had visiting appointments at Harvard, Aga Khan, and Simon Fraser universities. Professor Karim has delivered keynote addresses in several countries and his critically acclaimed publications are cited widely. He was the inaugural winner of the Robinson Book Prize and has received media coverage in six continents.
“Dr. Karim has served as Director of Carleton’s renowned School of Journalism and Communication and its Centre for the Study of Islam, respectively. He was also the Institute of Ismaili Studies’ first alumnus to lead it in a directorial capacity. He spearheaded founding initiatives on Accessibility to Digitized Collections and the Canadian Race Relations Foundation as a Senior Policy Officer in the Canadian Government, which endowed him with awards for exceptional public service and for fostering collaboration between ethno-religious communities.
“Karim has an extensive record of international service to academic, community, government, and civil society institutions, including Aga Khan University (Kenya) and Central Asian University; AKDN Higher Education Forum; Canadian Parliamentary Committees and government boards; and Ismaili community organizations (Kenya, USA, and Canada). He has also held an International Ismaili Studies Conference at Carleton University; founded a prize for research in Ismaili Studies’ understudied aspects; and has been a mentor and external Ph.D. examiner for IIS alumni.”
We take this opportunity to congratulate Professor Karim on his accomplishments over the past several decades and on receiving the First Alumni Recognition Award from the Institute of Ismaili Studies. We are proud to have published several of his pieces on our websites (follow the links below).
Below are excerpts from his acceptance speech upon receiving the IIS’s inaugural Alumni Recognition Award.
“Let the Truth Infuse Your Words”
Professor Karim H Karim delivering his remarks on March 23, 2024, at the Ismaili Centre in London upon being presented Inaugural Alumni Recognition from the Institute of Ismaili Studies. Photograph: Institute of Ismaili Studies via Karim H. Karim.
By KARIM H. HARIM March 23, 2024, Ismaili Centre, London
Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim.
I would like to thank the Institute of Ismaili Studies for selecting me as the recipient of its inaugural Alumni Recognition Award. This is a profound honour, which takes me back 40 years when I was a student at the IIS. This beautiful building, the Ismaili Centre London, was under construction at that time.
Congratulations to all the GPISH and STEP students who have graduated today. You carry enormous potential and promise. Allow me to speak about an event in my life that underlined the long-term impact that an individual can have. I attended the funeral of Professor Amin Amershi, a mathematician, two weeks ago in Vancouver. He taught me one class as a guest lecturer in a religious class in Nairobi, when I was 12 years old. It was a singular experience that opened my mind and sparked my imagination because his explanations had the ring of truth. I have found it remarkable that I continue to think about his ideas some 55 years later. You, too, have the potential of a long-lasting impact that will span decades and range as far into the future as the 22nd century. Let the truth infuse your words.
As you may know, our tradition adopted the name “Ismaili” in the early 20th century. Prior to that it was called Da’wat al-Haqq — which means Invitation to Truth, Summons to Truth, or Mission of Truth. In India, the Pirs named it Satpanth — Path of Truth or the True Path. Our aspiration is to have truth manifest our worldview and actions. It underpins our ethical outlook.
We are thrown many challenges throughout our lives. We face success, failure, joy, and frustration. The organizations that we work for pressure us to get the job done and we are often tempted to take shortcuts in order to fulfill expectations. But this is where critical thinking, which you have discussed extensively in your studies, becomes pertinent. How does one balance the imperative to get the job done, on the one hand, and remain ethical, on the other? His Highness the Aga Khan, Mowlana Hazar Imam, instructed the community’s leaders at a gathering in the United States in 1986, that “we will ask the hard questions.” Fulfilling your tasks ethically is one of the hard issues that you will face constantly in your careers.
Let the truth infuse your words, your music, your art, and your actions as you go ahead to fulfill your potential and promise.
Date posted: April 17, 2024.
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Featured image at top of post: Professor Zayn Kassam, the current director of the Institute of Ismaili Studies, presents the inauguralIISAlumni Recognition Award to Professor Karim H. Karim during the IIS’s 2024 graduation ceremony, March 23, 2024, at the Ismaili Centre in London. Photograph: Farid Daya.
The following are links to articles by Karim H. Karim published in Simerg and its sister websites:
NOTE:The map of Afghanistan and Prince Rahim Aga Khan’s photograph with the World Bank President are not part of the news release issued by the World Bank.
A grant in the amount of $16 million from the Afghanistan Resilience Trust Fund (ARTF) has been approved by the World Bank to support financing for micro and small enterprises in Afghanistan, with a focus on women and women-led businesses.
The project will help revive microfinance providers active in Afghanistan by clearing their balance sheets of old loans that cannot be repaid due to economic conditions arising after August 2021. This will help increase their liquidity so they can provide new financing to micro and small enterprises. The project will also provide technical assistance to the microfinance providers to strengthen the micro-finance sector, digitize business proceses, and train staff to prioritize lending to women and women-led businesses.
“Supporting micro-finance providers in Afghanistan is one of the few viable options at this time to promote access to finance in Afghanistan, especially for women,”said Melinda Good, World Bank Country Director for Afghanistan. “This project aims to strengthen the microfinance sector in Afghanistan so that small business owners and women-led businesses can access the credit they need to rebuild their businesses, rebuild their lives, and help revive the private sector.”
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Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Ajay Banga, President of the World Bank, meet in Washington DC on February 6, 2024. Photograph: The World Bank via The Ismaili. Please read report of the meeting HERE.
The project will also provide business development services that focus on building a pipeline of bankable micro and small enterprises and enterprises that proactively create jobs for women. These services will help women-led small businesses transition from informal savings groups to formal credit channels.
The project will also establish a Credit Viability Fund (CVF), implemented by the Aga Khan Foundation USA’s Office in Afghanistan. The CVF will help eligible micro, small and medium-size enterprises that have benefited from the business development services to access formal financial channels.
“The EMERGe project was developed after extensive stakeholder consultations, including microfinance providers and chambers of commerce, especially those led by women. This helps to ensure it offers solutions to unlock access to finance for small businesses in Afghanistan and to make the flow of donor funds into the sector more sustainable,” said Namoos Zaheer, Senior Financial Sector Specialist and World Bank Task Team Leader for the project. “The vision is to foster and sow seeds for sustainable solutions to support livelihoods, particularly for women.”
Financial inclusion is a persistent challenge in Afghanistan, with nine out of 10 Afghan adults excluded from the financial system — meaning they have no bank account or access to credit or loans. Only 5 percent of Afghan women have some form of financial transaction account, compared to 10 percent of men. This is a tremendous barrier to women’s economic empowerment and their participation in economic life.
The EMERGe project, as with all World Bank and ARTF-supported projects since August 2021, includes specific provisions to ensure that women benefit from project activities.
The project will focus on 15 provinces (Badakhshan, Baghlan, Balkh, Bamyan, Daikundi, Faryab, Herat, Jowsjan, Kabul, Kunduz, Nangarhar, Parwan, Samangan, Sar-e-pol, and Takhar — see map at top of page — Ed.) where the Aga Kkan Foundation is currently working and where microfinance providers are active.
The ARTF grant is provided to the Aga Khan Foundation USA and will be implemented by two implementing partners: The Aga Khan Foundation-Afghanistan and the Afghan Credit Guarantee Foundation (ACGF). The ACGF was established in 2004 and works to enhance access to finance for Afghan micro, small, and medium enterprises by providing credit guarantees and technical assistance.
Simerg wishes Muslims worldwide and friends of the Muslim community a very happy Eid Mubarak for 2024. We welcome Canada Post’s special Eid Stamp and First Day Cover publications for the auspicious occasion featuring images of a delicious Middle Eastern cookie — the maamoul.
We sincerely hope and pray that wars will be replaced by peace so that children everywhere, especially in war-affected zones, can experience the sweet delights that Eid offers everyone and begin to live with hope for the future. It is up to humanity to ignite the unfortunate ones with the spark of hope over a life of continuing degradation and despair.
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2024 Commemorative Eid Stamp Issued by Canada Post
Canada Post’s Commemorative Eid Stamp for 2024, issued March 27. Photograph: Canada Post.Please click BUY 2024 EID STAMPS BOOKLET OF 6($5.52).
On March 27, 2024, Canada Post issued a new stamp to mark two important Islamic holidays: Eid ul-Fitr, which will be celebrated this week from April 10 after the month of Ramadhan after the sighting of the New Moon on April 9, and the upcoming Eid ul-Adha, which will be held from June 17 to mark the Festival of Sacrifice commemorating Ibrahim’s (Abraham) willingness to sacrifice his son to God. The Eid ul-Adha will be held at the end of the annual pilgrimage to Mecca.
The 2024 issue is Canada Post’s sixth Eid stamp; the others were issued in 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
The 2024 stamp was designed by Kristine Do, photographed by Maya Visnyei, and food-styled by David Grenier. Printed by Colour Innovations, the issue includes six Permanent™ domestic rate stamps booklets and an Official First Day Cover cancelled in London, Ontario. The new stamp and collectibles are available at canadapost.ca and postal outlets across Canada.
Celebrated by more than one million Muslims in Canada, both events can last several days and include communal prayers and feasts, visits with family, gift-giving and acts of charity. The 2024 commemorative stamp features maamoul, Middle Eastern cookies, and a traditional carved wooden mould used to make them.
Melt-in-your-mouth cookies stuffed with a delicious walnut, pistachio or date filling, maamoul are a sweet staple during Eid celebrations. They are traditionally handmade from semolina and flavoured with fragrant rose or orange-blossom water and mahlab — a spice made from ground cherry pits. Before baking, the dough balls are stuffed with walnut, pistachio, or date filling and formed with specially carved wooden moulds. Early versions of maamoul can be traced back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. Today, family and friends often gather before Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha to bake the cookies together.
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Canada Post 2024 Eid Stamp Booklet
2024 Eid booklet of six stamps issued by Canada Post on March 27, 2024. The stamps can be detached from the booklet and used to mail letters. Please click BUY 2024 EID STAMPS BOOKLET($5.52).
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Canada Post 2024 Eid Stamp First Day Cover
2024 Eid Stamps First Day Cover issued by Canada Post on March 27, 2024. Please click BUY 2024 EID FIRST DAY COVER ($1.92).
The Eid stamp is one of several stamps Canada Post issues each year to mark annual celebrations important to Canada’s culturally diverse population – others include Diwali, Hanukkah and Christmas. To buy the stamp online, please click Buy 2024 Eid Stamps Booklet of 6. Most postal outlets do not carry Eid stamps and are not aware of their release. I recommend that you obtain them online, where postage is free if you order 5 booklets or more.
Date posted: April 8, 2024. Last updated: April 21, 2024 (typos).
Simerg’s introduction of “Books by Ismaili Authors” continues with Boustan Hirji’s translation of Sijistani’s “Al-Risalah al Bahirah.” We follow the same Q/A format as our earlier presentations of books, which are listed chronologically below. We encourage Ismaili authors worldwide to participate in this series, regardless of when their books were published. See details of the series HERE and submit your responses to Simerg’s editor, Malik, at mmerchant@simerg.com.
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Simerg’s Interview with Ismaili Scholar Dr. Boustan Hirji
Dr. Boustan Hirji
“Al-Risalah al Bahirah is such a profound, fathomless space of intellectual ideas and crucial for understanding the depth of the Ismaili tradition, that I would hope that it makes for interesting reading for both Ismailis and anyone curious about syncretic traditions that have an impact on our current lives and societies” — Boustan Hirji
Simerg: What is behind the name and title of the book?
Boustan Hirji: The book’s title is a translation of the title given to the treatise by al-Sijistani himself.
Simerg: Why would you want me or my family to read the book, and what will we learn from it?
Boustan: This treatise in particular makes for a very interesting reading because Sijistani writes on the subject of Resurrection from a wider perspective on the history of ideas yet stays focused on the Isma’ili point of view. He is an original thinker who draws from the Buddhist, Hindu, and Hellenistic traditions and yet is uniquely representative of the Badakshani Ismaili tradition.
Simerg: What inspired you to write the book?
Boustan: My Professor and thesis supervisor at McGill University, Dr Hermann Landolt, shared this manuscript with me when I spent some days with him and his family in Pany, Switzerland. It is a manuscript that is very dear to his heart, and I am indebted to him for introducing me to the world of Sijistani. Ever since then, Sijistani has been my constant companion, a treasure waiting to be revealed.
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Print Edition
Front cover of the print edition of Boustan Hirji’s translation of Fatimid philosopher al-Sijistani’s epistle al-Risalah al-Bahirah, published by Olduvai Publications, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, 2024, pp. 167. Foreword by Mohamed Abualy Alibhai.
Thanks to the pioneering and lifelong studies by Paul Walker, we are becoming increasingly knowledgeable about the Fatimid daՙi and philosopher Abu Yaՙqub al-Sijistani. Based on two manuscripts, Dr. Boustan Hirji has prepared an English translation and critical edition of the Arabic text of Yaqub al-Sijistani’s al-Risalah al-Bahirah (‘The Epistle on the Radiance‘). The book is free of charge in print and PDF through an email request to olduvai.publications@gmail.com. The free distribution has been made possible by a generous donor. Kindly note that only limited copies of the print edition are available.
Electronic Edition (PDF)
Front and back covers of the PDF edition of Boustan Hirji’s translation of Fatimid philosopher al-Sijistani’s epistle al-Risalah al-Bahirah, published by Olduvai Publications, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada, 2024. Foreword by Mohamed Abualy Alibhai.
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Simerg: How can I purchase the book, and what are its available formats?
Boustan: The book is available in paperback and ebook (pdf) formats.
(We are pleased to inform our readers that both versions of Dr. Boustan Hirji’s book are free due to a generous donation. Please write to Dr. Mohamed Alibhai at olduvai.publications@gmail.com for more details about obtaining the book. Note that the availability of the print edition is limited — Ed.)
Simerg: How did you find a publisher for the book?
Boustan: My friend and fellow Sijistani scholar, Dr. Mohamed Alibhai, is a publisher, and he was keen to publish it. He was my editor, my Socrates, my friend and my taskmaster!
Simerg:Which was your first book, and how many have you written?
Boustan: This is my first book in the academic field of Ismaili philosophy. The first edition of the manuscript al-Risalah al Bahirah, its translation and Introduction to it was originally published by the Tehran branch of McGill University. Earlier, I had published a book on Gender stories in Syria, Egypt and Bangladesh. It is available from Amazon under the title Sands Under a Relentless Sun.
Simerg: How long did it take you to write the book — from start to finish?
Boustan: The current work has accompanied me on a long journey as I lived my tumultuous life! I kept re-reading, rethinking passages and ideas, until I agreed to have it published. Al-Risalah al Bahirah is such a profound, fathomless space of intellectual ideas and crucial for understanding the depth of the Ismaili tradition that I would hope that it makes for interesting reading for both Ismailis and anyone curious about syncretic traditions that have an impact on our current lives and societies.
Date posted: April 3, 2024.
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About the Author
Dr. Boustan Hirji
Boustan Hirji was born and grew up in Bangladesh and attended the convent-run Holy Cross School and Holy Cross College until she was 18. She completed a Bachelor of Arts at St. Mary’s at Notre Dame, cum laude, majoring in Political Sociology.
Boustan obtained a Master of Theological Studies at The School of Theology (a Methodist Seminary) Boston University. Her thesis compared the Exodus and the Hijrah.
She then proceeded to join an MA-PhD programme at the Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University. The MA was in Islamic Theology (Kalam). The PhD was in Ismaili philosophy, focusing on al-Sijistani. Her doctoral dissertation (upon which her book is based) was recommended by the external examiner, Dr. Abbas Hamdani, for the university’s Dean’s List.
Boustan Hirji was appointed to teach in the joint programme of McGill University and The Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, England in the 1980s. After this, Dr. Hirji taught in the Religious Studies department of McGill University.
She was given The Alumni Award of the Year in 2016, for Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Skills by the School of Theology, Boston University, USA.
Until she retired in 2020, she taught in the Liberal Arts Honours Programme at Dawson College, Montreal, Canada.
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.
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Links to the Ismaili Authors’ Series (in chronological sequence, oldest article first)
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.
Aunt, Nurumasi, at 100! Acrylic, 16″ x 20″, March 2020. Painting by Mobina Marani, Crystal Beach, Ontario, Canada.
By MOBINA MARANI
Two years ago, I introduced a selection of my paintings on this website as part of its Artistic Expressions category, which encourages Ismaili Muslim artists to showcase their works of art. Among the paintings on the website was a portrait that I had painted of my aunt when she turned 100. The work was completed for her 100th birthday, celebrated on March 4, 2020.
Recently, I exhibited at the Illume Festival — an event showcasing talented Ismaili artists from across Canada — at both the regional and national levels. Out of the four paintings shown at the regional event, one was picked for display at the National Illume Festival held in November 2023 at the Ismaili Centre Toronto. It was that of my beloved aunt! This couldn’t have made me happier. My aunt, carrying a tasbih (rosary), honoured me by attending the event.
Nurbanu Esmail — popularly known as Nurumasi — was born in Uganda and married Haiderali Esmail, who passed away in Kampala on December 28, 1971, when she was only 51. All their children — daughters Khatoon, Parin, Firoza and Laila, and son Sultan — are still alive. She has 9 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren. Nurumasi, at 104, may be among the oldest living Ismailis in Canada.
My aunt dedicated her life to serving the Ismaili community, its institutions, and the Imam-of-the-Time, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. She has served as a congregational leader in an Ismaili Jamatkhana and held many voluntary positions in Ismaili institutions. She was also a member of the ghusal committee that oversees all the funeral arrangements and preparations for deceased Ismaili community members. This is one of the noblest services one can perform.
Nurumasi has also keenly followed all the worldwide Imamat projects and travelled widely to see them.
Ismaili artist Mobina Marani pictured with her aunt, turning the beads on her tasbih (rosary), at the National Illume Ismaili Art Festival held at the Ismaili Centre Toronto in November 2023. On the wall is Mobina’s painting of her aunt, completed in March 2020, when she turned one hundred on March 4. Photograph: Mobina Marani Collection.
Nurumasi’s immense strength has come from regularly attending the Jamatkhana for prayers and services and her devotion and love for Mawlana Haza Imam. She has come to be adored by the community members who seek her out for prayers for strength in all aspects of their and their family’s lives.
It is a privilege for me and all the family members to have been blessed with an outstanding lady who has been with us for so long. Her presence and inspiration have been a source of strength and courage to all of us. Nurumasi is indeed one of the elders who has lived by Mawlana Hazar Imam’s guidance to both the young and older community members, in which he asked us to fulfill our material and spiritual responsibilities to the best of our abilities. He told the old that they were never too old and that as long as they were alive, every day must be lived, and we must seek to fulfill our responsibilities. That message has guided her throughout her life, leading to the age of 104.
May Allah, in His Infinite Mercy, continue to shower our beloved Nurumasi with strength, courage and faith and bestow her with the Light (Noor) of the Imam-of-the-Time in the days and weeks to come. Ameen.
Date posted: April 2, 2024.
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Is anyone in your family a centenarian? We would like to hear from you, with a story and a photograph or two! Please write to the editor Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com.
We welcome feedback/letters from our readers. Please click Leave a comment. Your feedback may be edited for length and brevity and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
“I should emphasize that a total solar eclipse is probably THE most spectacular celestial phenomenon that earth-based human beings can experience. It is truly a miracle of nature. The sun is hugely larger than the moon and yet, viewed from the earth, one is just far away enough compared to the other that they both subtend exactly the same size in the sky” — Arif Babul, University of Victoria Distinguished Professor of Physics and Astronomy
The total eclipse of the sun, a rare celestial event where the moon completely obscures the sun for a brief period, is set to occur on April 8, 2024. Tens of millions across North America who will be on the path of the total solar experience will witness this once-in-a-lifetime experience. After crossing Mexico and the U.S., it will enter Canada in Southern Ontario on its eastward path to other parts of Ontario, Quebec and the Atlantic provinces, where the sun’s light will be completely blocked out by the moon. Many other parts of Canada, such as Alberta, will only experience a partial eclipse, where not all of the sun’s light is obscured.
With the sun’s incredibly bright face fully eclipsed by the moon, its faint, normally invisible, corona of hot gases pops up. Zooming further reveals red features in two or three places on the dark rim. These are solar prominences. Photograph: Arif Babul. Please click on the image for Arif Babul’s story and photographs.
In Ontario, the solar eclipse is expected to start just minutes after 2:00 p.m. and last for about two and a half hours. The sun will be fully eclipsed at approximately 3:20 to 3:25 p.m. EDT (Eastern Daylight Time). The anticipation is so high that Niagara Falls is preparing to welcome over 1 million visitors for this extraordinary event. Reuters writes: “From vintage train rides costing almost $4,000 per person to hotel rooms listed at $1,600 a night, businesses in and around majestic Niagara Falls are preparing to cash in on the April 8 total solar eclipse – with around a million visitors expected.”
This is a rare chance, as the next total solar eclipse won’t grace North America until 2045.
The solar eclipse has prompted school closures in many parts of Ontario for the well-being of students and staff during the solar eclipse. As many students would be getting on the bus or walking home from school during this timeframe, their risk of looking directly at the solar eclipse would be significantly increased.
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Watching the solar eclipse safely with solar eclipse glasses. Photograph: Al-Akhbar weekly newsletter, His Highness the Aga Khan Council for Canada.
Everyone will need to be careful as looking directly at the eclipse, could damage your eyes. However, the solar eclipse is a spectacular sight and a significant educational opportunity. Ottawa’s Canada Aviation and Space Museum will throw open the doors of an aircraft hangar tohost an eclipse viewing event. The museum will also provide free eclipse viewing glasses with admission, along with educational activities and crafts for children.
The beautiful Aga Khan Park on Wynford Drive in Toronto hosts what the Al-Akhbar Ismaili community newsletter calls “a celestial gathering like no other.” The sold-out, awe-inspiring solar eclipse event will occur on April 8 from 1:45 to 4:30 p.m. The Park will provide a pair of solar glasses and will have a special guest speaker who will discuss solar eclipses and their significance.
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The Diamond Ring effect is a breathtaking sparkle of the sun’s radiance coming from a tiny exposed sliver of the sun’s surface. It is seen 15 seconds before and again just after totality. Photograph: Arif Babul. Please click on the image for Arif Babul’s story and photographs.
In 2017, our sister website Simergphotos published Professor Arif Babul’s eyewitness account of his experience of the total solar in Idaho. The 2017 eclipse lasted close to 3 minutes. This year’s eclipse will differ from the 2017 eclipse, as the moon will be closer to the Earth. Thus, it will cast a more enormous shadow onto the Earth and cover the sun longer. The April 8 eclipse will last for more than four minutes.
Interestingly, the New Moon that will be seen on April 9, the day following the total solar eclipse, will also mark the end of the month of Ramadhan. On April 10, hundreds of millions of Muslims will observe Eid ul-Fitr, the most important festival in the Muslim calendar. Simerg and its sister website will provide updates leading to the total solar eclipse and the celebration of the Muslim Eid festival.
Featured image at top of page: Artist’s representation of a total solar eclipse, with a new moon in the foreground and the Sun’s corona visible in the background. Photograph: NASA/Vi Nguyen. Click Download the Poster.
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