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
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, with his children Prince Sinan Aga Khan (left, born January 2, 2018), and Prince Irfan (born, April 11, 2015)
For stories about Hazrat Ali, Prince Sinan Aga Khan and the Aga Khan’s forthcoming visit to the U.K., please click HERE
On New Year’s Day, January 1, which coincided with 13th Rajab in the Muslim lunar calendar, Ismailis worldwide gathered in Jamatkhanas to honour the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali (Peace be upon him). This annual celebration reinforces their deep connection to the first Imam and the Hereditary Institution of Imamat, a core part of the Shia Ismaili Muslim faith, helping the community feel spiritually rooted. The occasion also featured a Talika, a holy written message, from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 50th Imam in direct succession to Mawlana Ali, announcing his upcoming visits to the UK and Germany in February. In his Talika, Mawlana Hazar Imam also conveyed his blessings that 2026 would bring happiness, peace and good health to the Jamat. On January 2, his younger son, Prince Sinan Aga Khan, turned nine.
Please read these stories on our sister website Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat.
My beloved daughter, Farah, sadly passed away on December 17, 2025, at the age of 57. As a creative writer and storyteller, she contributed several pieces to Simerg and its sister website Barakah, one of which elicited a response from Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, then Prince Rahim.
Farah’s arduous personal journey over the past 27 years was intertwined in 2025 with the profound events of the Ismaili Imamat — the passing of Mawlana Shah Karim and the succession of Mawlana Shah Rahim Hazar Imam — both of which are central to the community’s modern history.
Rashida Tejani with her daughter, Farah, who passed away in Vancouver on December 17, 2025, aged 57. Photograph: Rashia Tejani Collection.
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Farah Tejani (d. December 17, 2025) with her younger brother Faizal, 50. Photograph: Rashida Tejani Collection.
For Farah, the most significant shock in her life was the loss of our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim, on February 4, 2025. I vividly recall breaking the news of his passing over the phone. It tore her heart, and I can’t express the shock she felt or the depth of her grief until the announcement the following day that Prince Rahim was the new Mawlana Hazar Imam of the Ismailis. As the new Imam took over the reins and marked his Takht-nishini a week later, her emotions began to settle, and she penned a tribute to Mawlana Shah Karim while reflecting on the eternal rope of Imamat, whose new holder was Mawlana Hazar Imam.
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV (d. February 4, 2025, aged 88) and his successor Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan.
This tribute — the piece below — was Farah’s last story, shaped by the tragic event of the 49th Imam’s passing and the succession of the 50th Imam. With the piece, she scanned several photos of Mawlana Shah Karim from Gary Otte’s pictorial biography, “Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens,” and, in two images, she wrote her own touching reflections on the late Imam. I am gratified that the editor of Barakah is publishing this piece by her before 2025 ends. It is a fitting conclusion to her series of articles published on this inspiring platform.
For me, as for any other parent, the death of my beloved daughter has been the most hurtful episode in my life. I ask you to join me in praying for the eternal peace of my daughter, and for my courage and fortitude to bear her loss. I also invite you to read Simerg’s tribute to Farah published on December 19.
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Reflections on Mawlana Shah Karim and Mawlana Hazar Imam
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, addressing Ismailis worldwide on his Takht-nishini (ceremonial installation) held at the Diwan of Imamat, the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat, in Lisbon, Portugal, February 11, 2025. Photograph: AKDN.
By FARAH TEJANI
As I begin this piece, I humbly say to my 50th Imam, Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Rahim al Hussaini: I hold fast to the Rope of Imamat and offer my devotion and allegiance to you.
The moment I learned that my Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, had passed away, my heart was pierced with profound grief and a sense of tragic loss. I remember my mom calling me on the phone and saying with a sense of urgency, “Farah, I have some very tragic news.” I immediately called out the name of one family member after another, to which she would sob and say, “No! Way Worse!”
She did not want to torture me anymore; she just wanted to somehow prepare me. But there was no way to prepare for this. “WHO?!?” I demanded. She blurted out, “Mawla Bapa!” The news struck me with awe, like a thunderclap, shattering the peace of my world. Mawlana Shah Karim’s face of Pure Nurani Light filled the inside of my eyelids. I responded “NNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!”
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, at work in the office at his residence, Gstaad, Switzerland, 1963. Photograph: Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, page 112. Farah Tejani submitted this photo for publication, sharing a personal message to encourage her readers to write, just as Mawlana Shah Karim does in this historic image.
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Mawlana Shah Karim His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in the start area for a giant slalom ski race that prepared him for participation in the 1964 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria. Photograph: Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, page 81.
I saw his face again. And then I saw pictures of him from my copy of “Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens”: The one of him working intently at his desk at his residence. Then, the black-and-white photo of him competing in downhill skiing in preparation for the Olympics, to represent Iran. Then, the iconic one of him greeting to his Jamat, with a big smile and waving lovingly for all His Beloved Spiritual Children to see. Then, focusing on a view from the Great Wall of China. Then giving a mulaqat to his spiritual children in Bartang, Tajikistan, amidst the Pamir mountains under blue skies. Then, standing in front of the entire House of Commons in the Canadian Parliament, humbly, after giving a powerful speech and being met with a unanimous standing ovation. These pictures and moments connect him with us, his community, and his Imamat at different times. There are countless faces of him at so many ages, and there are so many meaningful expressions of hope, discipline, determination, celebration, deep thought, peaceful divinity, and inner joy. So many expressions.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, addresses his community and others present during a mulaqat in Bartang, Tajikistan, September 1998. Photograph: Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, page 112. Farah Tejani submitted this photograph, expressing her grief over Mawlana Shah Karim’s passing, with a prayer and a teary eye, in her own writing.
My heart could not take it. I felt lonely in my studio apartment, and tears filled my eyes as I envisioned him, with his gentle, loving, tender hands that had touched and blessed millions of people all over the world. The world at large was grieving the loss of one of the most significant humanitarians on this globe today, who put the needs of the impoverished, economically downtrodden and educationally unfortunate at the forefront. As the Founder and Chair of the Aga Khan Development Network, the Aga Khan University, the University of Central Asia, Aga Khan Hospitals, and hundreds of Aga Khan Schools, their impact was felt across the globe.
I will never forget my travels to East African Aga Khan Schools in Nairobi, Kisumu, Mombasa and Tanzania in 1992, with 26 other Ismaili youth. We were all armed with a Bachelor’s Degree in one of the areas of service, such as English, Education, Science, Algebra, or any of the other core subjects. I distinctly remember the Aga Khan, my spiritual father, encouraging me to question, take time, offer our service in an area not as fortunate, and study the Aga Khan Schools and Institutions to see what it is all really about. His words of wisdom and encouragement continue to inspire and motivate me to this day. I even went to Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah’s burial site in Aswan, and along with 26 others, we were graciously permitted to enter the Mausoleum and see the long-stem red rose that Begum Aga Khan, Om Habiba (Mata Salamat), arranged to have placed daily on her late husband’s coffin.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, focuses on a view from on top of the Great Wall of China during a tour that was part of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture International Seminar, October 1981. Photograph: * Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, page 125.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, acknowledging volunteers as he leaves a ceremony at Dar es Salaam’s Darkhana, Tanzania’s main Jamatkhana, July 2011. Photograph: Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, page 167.
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Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, receives a standing ovation during his speech to a joint session of the Canadian House of Commons and the Senate in the Parliament Building in Ottawa, February 27, 2014. Photograph: Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, ed. by Gary Otte, pages 100-101, a two-page spread.
I was also fortunate enough to work at the Aga Khan University and the Institute for Educational Development in Karachi, Pakistan, thanks to a cousin who sent me a detailed day-to-day itinerary for the entire month of 1997. I was grateful to have received a few job offers, but my true heart’s desire was to serve in one of the Aga Khan Schools in East Africa, where I was born and had already visited in 1992. Nevertheless, I will never forget the sense of awe, absolute inspiration, and wonder I felt when I first saw the beautiful pink marble university with students going from here to there with so much pride in holding their textbooks and knapsacks. The Aga Khan University was poetically beautiful and architecturally designed, and even had courtyards that were non-discriminatory, with benches where you would see less fortunate people sleeping. With gardeners who would give their time to keep up the meticulous landscaping, I was always thinking about my Mawlana Shah Karim.
February 4th, 2025, will always be a sombre day for everyone around the world. For 67 years, Mawlana Shah Karim devoted his life to health, education, rural development, economic growth, institution-building, and enhancing the quality of life. Due to his spiritual and material guidance, Ismailis are settled in the countries in which we live. At the same time, he has shown deep concern for his Jamats, who are poverty-stricken, and has been asking his institutions, for as long as I can remember, to assist them in overcoming their plight.
The resting place for Mawlana Shah Karim was in Aswan, in the same mausoleum as his grandfather, Shah Sultan Mohammed Shah, Aga Khan III. Mourners and especially his family were grief-stricken but poised and gracious under the circumstances.
We are so blessed and fortunate to have the Rope of Imamat to hold on to for over 1,400 years of unbroken Hereditary Imamat. The auspicious occasion of the Takht-nishini (ceremonial installation) on February 11, when the Oath of Allegiance (Baya’h) was given to the 50th Imam, Mawlana Shah Rahim, took place at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat in Lisbon. At this moment, our community stood united, filled with joy and anticipation for our new Present Living Imam’s guidance and love despite the grief of losing our Beloved Shah Karim.
The momentous ceremony moved many to tears of joy and hope, especially the first Farman made by Mawlana Shah Rahim, when he also reflected on his father’s Imamat. The significance and meaning of his poignant, solemn, sensitive, timely, authoritative words were so powerful, endearing and comforting. The Farman was detailed and covered subjects like pluralism, diversity, world peace and order, climate control, taking care of the less fortunate, volunteerism and his solemn vow and commitment to the protection and security of his global Ismaili Jamat. Every youth in the community should seek to read the Farman, as official printed copies are now available.
Ismailis truly are very blessed. The Divine and Sublime beauty of it all is that I feel Shah Karim’s eternal ever-lasting presence in his son, Mawlana Shah Rahim. Shah Karim always promised us that he would never leave us: “Always remember…I am always with you,” he would often tell us, whether he was physically around us. Throughout the Takht-nishini ceremony, I felt his genuine promise come true. I felt this through the same Nur vested in the Rope of Imamat from the time of Hazrat Ali (A.S.) I hear his words echoing in my head. And now they are Mawlana Rahim’s words. He even went on to say, “If you have any worries and concerns, then turn to your Imam.” These are powerful soothing words full of comfort and inspiration.
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The students Mukhi and Kamadia from Belgium, and Mukhiani and Kamadiani from Switzerland — who serve as congregational leaders in periodic Jamatkhana student gatherings — welcome Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, to the youth mulaqat (meeting) in Paris, France, July 12, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
Glory Be to Allah, and All Praise Goes to Allah, the Lord of All Worlds. Mashallah. Ya Hazar Imam, Oh Mawlana Shah Rahim, bless us with your Wisdom, your Experience, your Nurani Deedar, your Holy Blessed Guidance, Spiritually and Materially and your Divine and Physical Protection from any ill fate or disposition. Ameen.
I feel secure in the knowledge that our faith will be practiced and interpreted as it should be by the Nass that Shah Karim conferred to Him as Imam-of-the-Time, and by the Nur that he is carrying with him from the very moment of Shah Karim’s passing.
With no doubt in my mind, heart and soul, I have complete faith in Mawlana Shah Rahim, and I feel so Physically and Divinely protected by our beloved 50th Imam just as I did by his father, Mawlana Shah Karim Aga Khan IV.
Date posted: December 31, 2025.
A version of this post appears on Simerg’s sister website Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un “Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can, but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.
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A TRIBUTE TO AHAMED ISMAIL (1942 – 2025)
Prepared by MALIK MERCHANT (The family of AHAMED ISMAIL and FAROUK VERJEE contributed to the tribute)
It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Ahamed Ismail of Vancouver, Canada, on December 5, 2025, at age 83. He is survived by his wife, Nasim; his son, Aly, and his wife, Sarah; his daughter, Feyzi, and his grandchildren, Adam, Alysa, and Latifa.
Ahamed was born on March 8, 1942, and grew up in Musoma, Tanzania. In 1956, he moved to Dar es Salaam for further studies. A defining moment during this period came when his religious education teacher, Karim Master, selected him to recite Qur’anic verses before Mawlana Shah Karim during the Imam’s second visit to Dar es Salaam in 1957, the first being for his ceremonial installation (Takht-nishini).
Ahamed Ismail is seen reciting Qur’anic verses during the opening of the Aga Khan School in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, with the school’s patron, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, standing next to him. Photograph: Ahamed Ismail Family Collection. Click HERE for the story.
This event was a profoundly meaningful and happy moment in Ahamed’s life. When he shared his inspiring story with the editor, Malik Merchant, during their meeting in Vancouver, it left a lasting memory on him. Malik’s rich memory of Ahamed is that of a devout murid of the Imam-of-the-Time, demonstrating purity of heart and thought, and being very humble and sincere.
Upon completing his studies, Ahamed returned to Musoma, where he pursued a career in banking. He was then promoted and transferred to Dar es Salaam, where he married Nasim in 1970 in the presence of Mawlana Shah Karim.
In June 1972, Ahamed moved with his wife to Vancouver, where the Ismaili population was only 50 people at the time. Immigrants faced many challenges finding suitable jobs, but with his background in banking and a sound secondary education, Ahamed was able to secure a job with CIBC within a month and progressed in the banking industry to become the branch manager of Van City’s main branch, the largest credit union in Vancouver, where one of his roles was to approve mortgages. Highly regarded by his community, he was sought out for advice on financial and mortgage matters.
Ahamed Ismail and his wife, Nasim, with their children, Aly and Feyzi, in a photo taken in the 1980s. Photograph: Ahamad Ismail Family.
Seeing the potential of Ahamed as a highly motivated and talented individual who could serve the Ismaili community well in an administrative capacity, the newly appointed President of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, Farouk Verjee, and the Hon. Secretary, Bashir Jaffer, enlisted Ahamed into the Council for Canada, which at the time was headquartered in Vancouver. Ahamed did excellent work in his position under the Council’s inspiring leadership. Unassuming in his role, Ahamed played a vital role in the construction and opening phases of the Ismaili Centre in Burnaby. His dedication and efforts were instrumental in preparing for the momentous historic opening ceremony on August 23, 1985, which was graced by Prime Minister Brian Mulroney and Mawlana Shah Karim. The same evening, Mawlana Shah Karim declared to the delight of the Jamath of some 20,000 at BC Place that it would henceforth be the Darkhana — the chief among all Jamatkhanas — of Canada.
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Ahamed Ismail (in beard) is seen following Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, accompanied by Princess Salimah, after he arrives in Vancouver for the historic opening ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Vancouver, in August 1985. Farouk Verjee, the President of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, is seen walking beside Mawlana Shah Karim at left. Photograph: Farouk Verjee Collection.
When Mawlana Shah Karim was departing Vancouver, President Farouk Verjee humbly requested that Mawlana Shah Karim formally appoint Ahamed as CEO of the Aga Khan National Council, highlighting the strategic importance of the role. Mawlana Shah Karim immediately agreed, making Ahamed the first CEO of the Aga Khan National Council of Canada, a milestone for the Ismaili institution.
At the end of Verjee’s term as Aga Khan Council President, Ahamed and Bashir Jaffer accompanied him to his final and most significant meeting at Aiglemont, France, with Mawlana Shah Karim, reflecting on the meaningfulness of their leadership and service. As Verjee notes, “We were very privileged to serve the House of Hazrat Ali during the early years of our settlement in Canada.”
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Farouk Verjee, left, the President of the Aga Khan Council for Canada, introduces Ahamed Ismail to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, as he departs Vancouver after the opening ceremony of the Ismaili Centre. At President Verjee’s humble request, Mawlana Shah Karim formally appointed Ahmed Ismail as the CEO of the Aga Khan National Council. Photograph: Farouk Verjee Collection.
In May 1987, Mawlana Shah Karim made the significant decision to relocate the Aga Khan National Council’s headquarters to Toronto, marking a substantial shift in its history. A few months later, in August 1987, Ahamed moved there with his family. He worked tirelessly, sincerely, and with dedication. Still, his term with the Council ended in a major disappointment for him and his family, who had uprooted their lives in Vancouver to relocate to Toronto. He then joined Revenue Canada (now known as the Canada Revenue Agency or CRA) and, with his wife, became an Investment Executive at ScotiaMcLeod and an associate at First Associates.
In 2005, while still in Toronto, Ahamed was diagnosed with Parkinson’s, which led him to leave his job. His wife also left her position, and they began working as travel agents from home at a much slower pace due to his illness.
In 2011, Ahamed moved back to Vancouver with his wife to be with his son, Aly, and his first grandchild, Adam. His life was deeply rooted in family, and he cherished these moments, spending his last 14 years in peace and happiness, surrounded by the love of his family and friends. He managed Parkinson’s well and, with strength and grace, inspired everyone around him.
However, his health took a turn for the worse. On November 28, 2025, he experienced some severe internal bleeding, which damaged his intestines, and he left this world a week later, on December 5. The news of his passing saddened all those who knew him and worked with him. Abdul Rahemtulla, the Chair of the Edmonton Ismaili Administrative Committee in the 1980s, described Ahamed as a kind, calm, and intelligent gentleman, a good listener, and someone with whom he had the pleasure of working.
The Ismaili community has lost a giant of a leader, a pure-hearted, sincere, and humble individual whose qualities of compassion and humility left a lasting impression. His funeral at the Burnaby Lake Jamatkhana on December 11, attended by hundreds of community members and friends, and his burial at Victory Memorial Cemetery in White Rock, reflect the community’s respect and gratitude for his life.
We pray that Ahamed Ismail’s soul may rest in eternal peace and that his family continues to find strength and courage to face the significant loss of their beloved husband, father and grandfather. Ameen.
Date posted: December 26, 2025.
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We invite our readers to express condolences and tributes to Ahamed Ismail. Please click LEAVE A COMMENT.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un “Surely we belong to God, and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can, but a lofty and exalted destiny.” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Ismaili Imam.
A PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO A FANTASTIC AND TALENTED WRITER, AND A PURE SOUL
Farah Tejani (d. December 18, 2025)
UPDATE, DECEMBER 21, 2025: Dilsoji (condolences to family members) at Richmond Jamatkhana on Monday, December 22, after evening prayers; Funeral ceremonies at Burnaby Lake Jamatkhana on Wednesday, December 24, from 10 am; samar and zyarat (special prayers for the departed soul), December 24, Richmond Jamatkhana.
My heart is sunk and deeply saddened as I announce the death of Farah Tejani in Vancouver on December 17, 2025, conveyed to me by her loving mother, Rashida Tejani, the noblest of souls I have met in my life. Farah earned a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from the University of British Columbia in May 1997, earning top Honours for her thesis on Short Fiction, reflecting her dedication and talent.
Farah was brought to my attention by her family friend in Montreal. I was amazed and convinced by what I read and felt that Farah’s writings deserved recognition, hoping that sharing her creative pieces would inspire readers and warm their hearts. I began introducing her work to Simerg readers by first publishing a series of poems titled Elastic Embrace. Shortly thereafter, I got to know her loving mother, Rashida. Her care and concern for her daughter were remarkable, and I had never seen anything like it before. There was nothing she wished more than to remain hopeful and pray for her daughter’s resolution of her challenges. Rashida’s dedication and struggle — and never losing hope — continued unabated until Farah left this world.
However, Farah’s creative writing, storytelling, and inspiring poetry has brought immense joy to her and our readers. She gained a large readership across Canada and around the world. Above all, Farah was thrilled when Mawlana Hazar Imam, then Prince Rahim, recognized her talent by leaving a comment on one of her poems. It made her feel genuinely appreciated and valued. I personally felt deeply humbled and blessed by Mawlana Hazar Imam’s support for Farah on Simerg. Farah passionately pursued writing and contributed the following excellent pieces for Simerg and its sister website, Barakah:
Just a few days before her passing, I spoke with Rashida, who had earlier had a very happy and fulfilling conversation with Farah. I suggested that Farah consider writing a piece for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s first Imamat Day, on February 4, 2026, an idea she said she would pass along to her daughter. Rashida indicated Farah would be thrilled to follow up on the suggestions. Alas, this would never be realized anymore, with Farah’s death. Rashida was devastated. She knew that her daughter’s dreams and hopes had remained unfilled. For years, she had looked after Farah single-handedly and sought to uplift her. I personally witnessed this dedication throughout Farah’s journey of writing for Simerg.
With the passing of Mawlana Shah Karim and the succession of Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Rahim as the 50th Ismaili Imam, Farah submitted a meaningful and inspiring poem titled Ya, Hazar Imam, Please Accept My Devoted Allegiance, which we reposted again as Mawlana Hazar Imam was nearing his three-day visit to Lisbon from December 3. The piece was read widely.
Sadly, Farah died in very challenging circumstances, bereft of the support she deserved beyond what her mother offered, and the blessings of the Imam-of-the-Time that she had received and carried in her heart for the rest of her life. We did our best to support her writings and thank the many readers who responded with so much affection and love for Farah and her contributions.
As I think of Farah and meeting her with Rashida over breakfast at an IHOP restaurant in Vancouver, some three years ago, and presenting her with Gary Otte’s pictorial volume of Mawlana Shah Karim, Depth of Field: The Aga Khan Beyond the Lens, I saw a delightful twinkle in her eye expressing her love for books and writing, but above all, her unbounded love and faith in the Imam-of-the-Time, then Mawlana Shah Karim.
At this time of bereavement, we sincerely extend our condolences to her mum, Rashida, and share in her grief. We pray for the eternal peace of Farah’s soul. This talented and passionate writer could have continued writing for years with better external help and gratitude beyond what her mother provided, which many may not be aware of. Her creative works for Simerg will inspire readers to cherish her memory and budding writers to draw inspiration from her. In my conversations with her, I found excitement and passion in her voice, “Malik Bha” as she worked toward completing a piece. Her faith, devotion and love for Mawlana Hazar Imam were enormous. I saw that devotion in her face, heard it in her voice and felt it in my heart. To Rashida, I say: Bravo for your support for your daughter. You were a fantastic mother, like none I have seen. Your daughter has left a lasting legacy on this website. She was a pure soul and is at peace surrounded by Nur.
Date posted: December 19, 2025. Last updated: December 21, 2025 (added funeral information, see top).
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Editor’s Note: The author’s name, a refugee in Spain, is being withheld to respect her privacy and protect her family members, who are dispersed in South and Central Asia. We have communicated with the author and are pleased to publish her inspiring and moving account of her Didar with Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. She attended the Didar with the Jamat of Portugal and Spain on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, and with the youth of both countries the following morning, Thursday, December 4. Her resilience and courage, highlighted by her family’s widespread dispersal, are remarkable. Her piece emphasizes the importance of shared stories that strengthen our community bonds and sense of purpose.
Letter from Spain: My Didar of Mawlana Hazar Imam in Lisbon
The motif representing Nur or Light, has been used by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, during his inaugural visits to Ismaili Muslims around the world. His recent visit to Portugal from December 3 to 5, 2025, was his fifth such visit since becoming their 50th Imam on February 4, 2025. It was preceeded by visits to the USA (November), Uganda (September), Kenya (August), and France (July). Photograph: The Ismaili.
I received the news of the Didar of Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Rahim al Hussaini twenty days earlier. It felt like a morning breeze carrying a long-held, unreachable wish. When I first heard that the Didar would take place from the 1st to the 4th, my heart began to shiver with happiness. Yet, at the same time, a weight of sorrow settled in my chest. I feared that I might not be able to go — that the wish I had carried throughout my life would never come true — because I am a refugee in Spain, awaiting the final documents confirming my refugee status.
With all the “yeses” and “nos” circling in my mind, and despite all the limitations around me, a small flame of hope kept whispering in my heart: You must go… You have to try. You deserve for this dream to come true.
Following that hope, I spoke with my social worker and case lawyer. I explained the value of this visit and described how deeply it mattered to me, both mentally and personally. But their response was subdued. They warned it could jeopardize my refugee case.
Yet I knew that if I did not make it to this Didar, I might lose a part of myself forever — a part that could never be found again. I accepted the risk because this was not just a journey. It was a symbol of my resilience and hope. It made me feel as though my soul was being protected. I decided to set out on the journey I had been waiting for my entire life, trusting that faith and perseverance would guide me through.
On Monday morning, the 1st of December — the Didar by now had been confirmed for the 3rd with the Jamat and on the 4th with the youth — I took a chance and rode to Lisbon. I prayed silently: Dear Allah, please make my path into this Didar easy… I want to reach without any trouble. By Allah’s grace, I entered Portugal without any problems, and waves of joy began moving through my heart.
That night, and the night before visiting Mawlana Hazar Imam, I could not sleep at all. I kept thinking: I am going to meet someone who has known me for so long, who loves me, who cares for me, who is my Imam, and who is like a father to me.
The arrival of morning felt like the arrival of light into the darkest corners of my heart. I counted every moment, feeling deeply grateful for the bond I had with the Imam, wondering whether I was dreaming or awake. In my 24 years of life, this was my first time visiting the Hazar Imam of the Ismaili community, and it felt almost unbelievable. Suddenly, I heard “اللهم صلّی علی محمد و آل محمد”…. Allahumm-a Sall-i ‘Ala Muhammad-in Wa Al-i Muhammad…. My eyes were already open, yet I tried to open them wider — to see more, hear more, feel more.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on stage at the Didar for the Jamat of Portugal and Spain, in Lisbon, December 3, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
“From where will he enter?” I whispered with a trembling voice. And then, in that very moment, my eyes caught sight of Hazar Imam. A wave of emotion washed over me — my heart grew heavy, my throat dried, and tears began falling from the corners of my eyes. With my hand on my heart, I kept watching him, overwhelmed by a mix of awe and longing.
For a moment, my heart spoke words that had been silent for years — words filled with sorrow, loneliness, and the hardships of being a refugee. With every step Hazar Imam took, my heart repeated those words, tears streaming down my face. I whispered, Why have I come so late to see you? Why could I not attend this Didar with my family? Why have we been shattered?
Although I felt immense happiness at reaching this Didar and seeing the luminous face of Hazar Imam, a heaviness lingered in my heart. In this sacred moment, my elation from finally arriving was met by loneliness. The joy of connection stood beside the ache of separation from my family and memories of enduring many hardships. These two emotions, happiness and pain, moved together within me.
Meeting Hazar Imam was a transformative spiritual experience that marked a turning point in my faith journey. I felt his presence, hearing every word in my heart and sensing each of my steps. From that moment, I no longer remained the weak and broken version of myself. A new hope has blossomed within me, and a new strength has settled in my heart.
As I write this piece, I feel like the luckiest person on earth. I feel light and relieved, no longer weighed down. All the helplessness and weakness that overshadowed me for years have disappeared. This is the light of Imamat. From the moment I saw Imam Hazir, Shah Rahim al Hussaini, and spoke to him with my broken heart, I found the peace I had been missing for years. Now, I feel like a blessed and spiritually renewed child.
Fortunately, as a young member of the Jamat, I had the opportunity to attend another Didar the next morning, Thursday, December 4. This Didar was in the intimate setting of the Darkhana Jamatkhana at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon. The previous day’s Didar was attended by around 3,000 members from Portugal and Spain. It was held at FIL — Feira Internacional de Lisboa, in Parque das Nações. I was informed it was the venue of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations of Mawlana Shah Karim in July 2018.
Now I was already in Lisbon. I had had my first beautiful Didar, which filled me with (spiritual) happiness I cannot truly express in words. I was going to be in Mawlana Imam Hazar Imam’s presence, to see him in person once again and to listen to his loving words that always bring peace to my heart.
We left the hotel at 7:30 in the morning. With every step I took toward the venue, I felt joy slowly flooding my heart, like a calm yet powerful wave. I had prepared myself with care, wanting to be worthy of such a special moment.
But just when everything seemed perfect, something unexpected happened. I didn’t have the special card for the second day. They had told me earlier that the same card from the first day would be enough. Still, they refused to let me enter. My heart sank. I thought I might miss the second moment, surrounded by Hazar Imam’s young spiritual children, I had been waiting for.
They asked me to wait on the side while they decided. Every second felt incredibly long. I watched other young people walk in, smiling, while I stood outside. I was caught between hope and disappointment. I could feel my heartbeat slowing down, as if giving up…
After about twenty minutes, someone came and told me I could go inside. At that moment, it felt like I could breathe again. I stepped in, full of emotion. I was almost the last person to arrive, but my heart was overflowing with gratitude… truly grateful.
Not long after, Hazar Imam walked into the Jamatkhana hall. I instinctively straightened up, as if my whole being wanted to welcome him with love and respect. He looked at the youth with warm energy and a loving fatherly smile. I felt something new growing inside me.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses young members of the Ismaili communities of Portugal and Spain in the Darkhana Jamatkhana at the Ismaili Center, Lisbon, December 4, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
When he began to speak, his words glowed with faith, hope, learning, respect, and strength. I promised myself I wouldn’t just listen — I would live those words. Like millions around the world, I will listen again as Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Farmans are read out in Jamatkhanas and distributed as printed booklets.
I was going through one of the most challenging moments of my life, feeling lost until his words felt like fresh air filling my lungs again. At first, I was overwhelmed by despair, but his encouragement brought back my desire to live and to fight for a better tomorrow. It felt as if a hand of light lifted me from darkness and whispered: It’s not over… There is always hope. The two days of Didar became the most memorable and happiest days of my life, and I will cherish the experience for the rest of my life.
Date posted: December 9, 2025
NOTE: A version of this post appears on our sister website Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat.
We paid tribute to Kutub Kassam of the Institute of Ismaili Studies after he passed away on March 24, 2019. Several readers shared their condolence messages, highlighting his lasting impact.
More recently, Arthur Rosenthal, who met Kutub in the 1960s in Kenya, learnt of his death on Simerg and responded with a beautiful message, which we publish below. Kutub, in his many years with Jamati institutions and the IIS, made significant contributions that continue to inspire. He spent 35 years at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, for which he was congratulated and recognized by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, then Prince Rahim, during the Institute’s 40th anniversary celebration held in London in November 2017. Simerg’s original tribute also included a beautiful poem by Kutub, Come, who will walk with me? Please read the poem, and let’s remember Kutub again for his accomplishments, as we publish Rosenthal’s message.
I stopped at a fast food Indian takeout stand in my hometown in Northern California this afternoon [November 21, 2025] and ordered 2 samosas. It made me think of my friend Kutub Kassam who I knew at the University College of Nairobi in 1966 when I was an American student spending a year abroad in East Africa. Kutub and I had a mutual interest in writing and reading poetry. We collaborated, along with another friend, Leonard Kibera, on a poetry anthology magazine that we published through the University. We spent many afternoons walking together through the streets of Nairobi, stopping for tea and samosas. Since my memory of Kutub was kindled by today’s samosas I decided to do an internet search and this website [Simerg] popped up. I am saddened to learn of Kutub’s passing. I wish we’d had a chance to connect again before he left the earth, but that was not meant be.
When I relocated to Alberta some 4 years ago, Nazarali Momin, originally of India and a pioneer of the USA Ismaili community who arrived as a student in 1969, shared photos with Barakah readers about the foundation ceremony of India’s Methan Sidhpur Jamatkhana by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in 1978, an event that marked a milestone in Sidhpur’s history and development, highlighting the deep roots and ongoing legacy of the Indian Ismaili community.
Nazarali Momin (right, popularly known as Nazar Indian) and Malik Merchant in Houston, Texas, November 11, 2025.
Since then, Nazarali and I have stayed in regular contact. He has been encouraging me to visit Houston, Texas, to experience the innovative spirit among Ismaili entrepreneurs that has fostered projects promoting economic prosperity and the Jamat’s social, physical, and mental well-being.
The projects have been implemented in the spirit of ‘One Jamat,’ a slogan that has resonated worldwide since the Golden Jubilee of Mawlana Shah Karim, and which he mentioned years before his Jubilee. During my conversations with Nazarali, he often highlighted Mawlana Shah Karim’s aspirations for the Jamat, especially a handwritten message from December 13, 2008, which underscores the ongoing relevance of his guiding principles and inspires us to align our efforts accordingly:
“I will be calling upon you from time to time in the future, to come to work with me, so that what we have decided to do together, from the end of the Golden Jubilee year onwards, actually and effectively, is carried forward. Because our institutions are growing very quickly, it is my hope and prayer that, 10 or 15 years from now, the Jamat’s capacity in most of the countries where it is living, will be very significant indeed, and that is what the Shia Ismaili Tariqah of Islam should achieve in the world. I am ambitious for you in the right way, just as a father and mother are ambitious for their children. Both a father and a mother want their children to work well, properly and ethically, and to carry these values throughout their lives. These are thoughts that I share with you, and although I will be leaving you physically today, I am always with you. I watch over you, I think of you, I pray for you, and I want you to know that I am always with my Jamath.” — Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV.
When I recently attended the inauguration ceremony of the Ismaili Center in Houston, I was deeply moved by the impact of the Ismaili initiatives, which are transforming lives and strengthening our community. Instead of the usual tourist attractions such as Houston’s museums and the NASA Space Center, I dedicated three days to understanding these inspiring projects and engaging with the founders and visionaries behind them. This experience, in the company of Nazarali Momin, not only equipped me with a wealth of knowledge but also inspired me to create this special series to describe the Flagship initiatives inspired by Mawlana Shah Karim’s repeated guidance to the Ismaili community worldwide. His teachings on addressing poverty within the Jamat, caring for our aging members, and the importance of the Jamat coming together to form viable partnerships in common industries and professions, first mentioned in the 1960s, have served as a guiding light for these projects.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire unveil the inauguration plaque of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025.
It should be noted that Mawlana Shah Rahim has equally addressed these important sentiments in his Farmans since becoming the Imam. One of the most profound statements he made during his meeting with Ismaili youth in the USA was his definition of success as someone who gives and shares what they have. Success to Mawlana Hazar Imam is someone who uplifts others, emphasizing that the well-being and upliftment of the Jamat are central to our collective purpose.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses young members of the Central USA Jamat at Dallas Headquarters Jamatkhana, November 10, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
Nothing to Mawlana Hazar Imam, as all the Imams before him, is as important as the well-being, stability, and upliftment of the Jamat, and I was gratified and touched by what I saw in Texas. The dedication and hard work of the Jamati individuals and entrepreneurs, leaders in their own right, who seek to meet his expectations for his beloved spiritual children around the world, are truly inspiring. When I met the leaders of these institutions, they exhibited humility and sincerity. I experienced their joy and happiness at being able to help the Ismaili Jamat and contribute to their establishment in the country.
In short, the exciting projects I will describe serve as a role model for the Ismaili community worldwide. They all benefit from the economic power of the Houston Jamat’s private sector entrepreneurs and professionals. I will describe each of the projects I visited in detail as part of a four-part series, beginning with project 1 next week. However, before I do that, here is an overview of the projects — 1 through 3 — I visited during my recent trip, as well as project 4 that I hope to visit during my next trip to Houston.
A beautiful view of the grounds of the 44-acre Pioneer Community Center after a rare snowfall in Houston during the 2024/5 winter season. Photograph: Salim Sunesara / Pioneer Community Center.
When I visited this unique facility, I could not help but think of Mawlana Shah Rahim’s Farmans, which emphasize the importance of being active through playing sports and moving!
Located in Rosenberg, within the Greater Houston Area, this stunning facility is a treasure trove of diverse amenities exclusively for the Ismaili community. With an indoor fitness center, a huge gymnasium with two NBA-sized basketball courts, children’s playgrounds, a beautiful lake, pickleball and tennis courts, a lovely swimming pool, a kilometre-long walking path, cricket and football fields and much more, including a seniors building, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
A scaled depiction of the 44-acre Pioneer Community Center, Houston, Texas. Photograph: Pioneer Community Center.
The 44 acres of land were acquired through a generous donation from Pioneer Mutual Credit Union. It accommodates 1,000 concrete parking spaces. For Mawlana Hazar Imam’s recent visit to Houston, the Center served as an overflow to support the seven Ismaili Jamatkhanas in the metro area. It also supports one of the largest Jamatkhana overflows during other significant events.
NPFCU, launched in 1989, has more than 18,000 Ismaili members and total assets of $422 million, according to its 2024 Annual Report.
Nizari plays a vital role in meeting the diverse financial needs of SW USA Jamat through its locations in Austin, Dallas, San Antonio, and Sugar Land (part of Houston’s Metro Area). It has been achieving outstanding performance rankings and government certifications, which help instill confidence and security among its members.
NPFCU is considered in the top 1% percentile among peers in the United States. PMFCU and NPFCU are two of the three credit unions in the USA Jamat, the other being Platinum Federal Credit Union in Atlanta. The unions are healthy competitors, yet in the spirit of unity within the Ismaili community, they act as partners. No other Jamat has such Ismaili-led credit unions, independent of Jamati institutions.
NPFCU will be described in more detail in a forthcoming article in the series.
This project, led by Nasruddin Rupani and governed by the Ibn Sina Foundation, reflects the foundation’s long-standing commitment to healthcare. Rupani founded Houston’s first clinic in 2001 to provide affordable medical services to the community. The seven Ibn Sina clinics in greater Houston serve a diverse population, with the majority of patients being non-Ismailis, illustrating the foundation’s broad reach and history of service. The ribbon-cutting of this clinic was done by then-Texas Governor Rick Perry.
Rupani showed me the health center’s facilities, including a busy walk-in clinic staffed by doctors and qualified medical practitioners, a separate children’s clinic, and a dental health center with state-of-the-art equipment. A new building for Ibn Sina’s mental health program is expected to be completed within the next few months. Rupani’s ambition is to achieve university status as the Ibn Sina Center continues its growth trajectory. As I left the health center, I met the on-duty pharmacist, who informed me that all prescriptions issued by the Center’s medical team are provided free of charge, demonstrating the center’s commitment to accessible healthcare services.
Recognition from government authorities, including the City of Houston, Harris County, and the State of Texas, affirms the quality and impact of the seven Ibn Sina clinics in the Houston Metro Area, underscoring their reputation and credibility.
Ibn Sina will be described in more detail in a forthcoming article in the series.
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4. Greater Houston Retailers Association (GHRA) Distribution and Warehouse Center; Houston, Texas
I was all set to visit the Warehouse Center in Houston and travel to Austin, the Texas State Capital, to see an even larger warehouse facility. Unfortunately, the Houston warehouse was closed on Veterans’ Day, November 11, so I did not make the trip. I was also unable to travel to Austin. However, I was fortunate to receive an informative summary about GHRA from my Houston host, Nazarali, as follows:
GHRA was established in 1999 to supply thousands of grocery-related items to Ismaili owners of convenience stores and gas stations (C-stores) in the Houston metro. Shortly after its founding, GHRA became the largest trade association (TA) among the then 12 trade associations under the Jamat’s umbrella, the National Alliance of Trade Associations (NATA). NATA’s success and reputation enabled its former board chairman to be invited to serve on the Board of the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), headquartered in the Washington, DC, metro region.
NACS is also a lobby and serves the global convenience and fuel retailing industry, with 152,000+ C-stores operating in the USA. Today, lsmailis own more than 3,000 stores spanning all seven NC jurisdictions. This represents 2% of NACS’s national total, disproportionately higher than the Ismaili community’s share of the national population. Ismaili stores have combined gross annual sales of a whopping $12 billion. Around 2,000 stores are members of GHRA, which controls 33% of the C-stores in greater Houston. Recognizing the need to cut out the “middlemen” and streamline parts of the supply chain, GHRA built its warehouse in 2016 and began distributing merchandise directly to its C-store members at a discounted price. It has an annual sales turnover of $400 million and is growing.
We hope to commence our four-part Houston project series soon, starting with an exciting photo essay on the Pioneer Community Center in the next fortnight, and complete the series by the end of this year.
Date posted: November 24, 2025. Last updated: December 2, 2025 (removal of an editorial note, editor’s discretion.)
Corrections:
Pioneer Community Center was incorrectly referenced earlier as Pioneer Recreation Center.
Ensuring precise information is vital, the post has now been updated accordingly.
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Simerg welcomes your comments. You may submit your feedback by clicking Leave a comment or by sending it to mmerchant@simerg.com with the subject line Ismaili Projects, Houston.
Established in 2018 by His Late Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan IV and his brother, Prince Amyn Aga Khan, the Aga Khan Music Awards (AKMA), held every three years, are under the governance of an Advisory Council, which is co-chaired by the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, and his uncle, Prince Amyn Aga Khan.
Please click on the image for the winners of the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards.
The photograph captures Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, with his brother, Prince Amyn, and Isabel Mota, President of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (left), and Raul Moreira, Head of Philately at CTT (right). They are holding signed first-day covers of the commemorative stamp to celebrate the 2019 Aga Khan Music Awards. The stamps were unveiled on March 29, 2019, by Francisco Lacerda, the CEO of CTT (Portugal Post). Photograph: The Ismaili / Akbar Hakim.
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2022: MUSCAT, OMAN
Prince Amyn Aga Khan, younger brother of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, and His Highness Sayyid Bilarab, preside over the presentation of the 2022 Aga Khan Music Awards in Muscat, Oman, October 30, 2022. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / AKDN.
2025: LONDON, ENGLAND
For the first time, the 2025 Aga Khan Music Awards are teaming up with the EFG London Jazz Festival and Southbank Centre to bring an extraordinary programme of concerts, collaborations, and award celebrations to the UK. This unique partnership is a testament to AKMA’s unwavering vision of excellence in world traditions.
For programming details over four days, November 20-23, 2025, please visit the EFG London Jazz Festival website and scroll down for more information and tickets.
The first day’s program on November 20, with two performances at 1 pm and 9 pm London time, will be held at the Ismaili Centre, London, and will be transmitted live on The Ismaili TV.
Viewers worldwide will be able to watch the live coverage as follows:
1 pm and 9 pm (London)
5am and 1pm (Vancouver);
7am and 3pm (Houston);
8am and 4pm (Toronto);
2pm and 10pm (Paris);
4pm (Nairobi); and
6pm (Karachi).
The winners will be celebrated on November 21 and 22, at London’s Southbank Centre, in an awards ceremony forming part of the four-day festival.
Date posted: November 19, 2025.
Note: A version of this post appears on Barakah, our sister website dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan.
The Ismaili Center in Houston was inaugurated on November 6, 2025, by His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, and John Whitmire, the Mayor of Houston. The Center, a beacon of beauty and elegance, is a sight to behold.
Like six other Ismaili Centers worldwide, it is adorned with stunning works of art, tastefully mounted on walls or placed on the floor. One large, lovely piece, titled Nocturnal Journey, on the 3rd floor, is a masterpiece that takes your breath away when you hear the story behind it.
Formed from a staggering four million beads, each meticulously embroidered by hand onto a textile substrate, the composition is a testament to the dedication and craftsmanship of the Egyptian-British artist Ahmed Moustafa and the twenty Ismaili women from the Ismaili Helping Society (IHS) in Mumbai, India. The artwork is based on a calligraphic painting produced by Moustafa in 1984, titled Nocturnal Journey, which commemorates the text of the first verse of Surah al-Isrāʾ (Chapter 17, The Night Journey) of the Holy Qur’an. This work, along with several others that form part of the Ismaili Center’s permanent art collection, is featured in a special piece on our sister website Simergphotos.
The Ismaili Center, Houston, depicted in an artwork (top), features a large embroidery with 4 million beads on its 3rd floor. It is one of many pieces of art at the newly inaugurated Center. Please click on the image for more pictures and stories of the Center’s permanent art collection.
Date posted: November 15, 2025.
Featured photo at the top of the post: Visitors attending the inauguration ceremony of the Ismaili Center in Houston get an introduction to the artwork, “Nocturnal Journey.”
Thursday, November 6, 2025, marked a historic day in the life of the Ismaili Muslims of the USA as Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the 50th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, and the Honorable Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, officially inaugurated the Ismaili Center in Houston.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, welcomes the Honorable Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, as he arrives to inaugurate the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
It was also a historic day in the context of six other beautiful Ismaili Centres that were conceived and inaugurated around the world between 1985 and 2014 by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Mawlana Shah Karim, the 49th Imam. The Ismaili Center Houston, first conceived by Mawlana Shah Karim in 2006, was inaugurated by his Hereditary successor, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan.
An aerial view of the 11-acre site of the Ismaili Center, Houston. In the centre of the photo, the Ismaili Center building, with the larger North garden — bottom of photo — facing the Allen Parkway as well as the largest evian in the Ismaili Center. . The South Garden, at the top of the photo, has vehicle exits to West Dallas Avenue (top) and to Montrose Boulevard at the right. To the left of the photo, there is a smaller Evian with views of a residential neighbourhood and the downtown skyline of Houston. Photograph: Iwan Baan.
The new seventh Ismaili Center in Houston is situated on more than nine acres of gardens and green space. It is in close proximity to Houston’s downtown core, featuring fantastic cultural spaces. Houston is ranked as America’s most ethnically diverse major city and is home to thriving communities that have shaped its reputation for innovation, the arts, and culture. Among these vibrant communities is the diverse Ismaili community, estimated to be around 30,000 strong. The Ismaili Center, with its unique architecture and cultural programs, will serve as a hub for cultural, artistic and educational exchange, connecting the Ismaili community with the rest of Houston and contributing to the city’s rich cultural tapestry.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan (2nd from left), with members of his family — his brother Prince Hussain, his uncle and younger brother of His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, Prince Amyn, and his youngest brother Prince Aly Muhamad, who joined him for the inauguration in Houston of the first Ismaili Center in the USA, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
Mawlana Hazar Imam’s uncle, Prince Amyn, the younger brother of the late Imam, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, and his two younger brothers, Prince Hussain and Prince Aly Muhammad, attended the ceremony alongside members of Congress, Texas state legislators, and representatives of faith communities from across the country.
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The stage is set for the arrival of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire for the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston. The new logo of the Ismaili Center, Houston, takes a prominent position at the center of the stage, symbolizing a new chapter for Ismaili Centres located in other countries worldwide. The unveiled plaque is positioned to the right, with the flags (from right to left) of the Ismaili Imamat, the State of Texas, and the USA at the left. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
The soft tunes from a team of musicians from Central Asia filled the air as the 3rd-floor social hall, the space chosen for the inauguration, began to fill up shortly after 10:00 AM. A simple yet beautiful stage had been set up with flags of the USA, the State of Texas, and the Ismaili Imamat at one end, and the inauguration plaque, waiting to be unveiled, at the other. When the arrival of His Highness the Aga Khan’s motorcade was announced, everyone’s attention was drawn to the TV screen. His Highness then warmly received Mayor John Whitmire. The audience was asked to rise as the dignitaries entered the inauguration hall. A rendering of the American National Anthem was sung by a group of Ismaili youth, followed by a musical rendition of the Nashid al Imamah, a significant part of the Ismaili community’s culture during events such as this. This Nashid is somewhat equivalent in tune to what was once regarded by community members as its anthem, the “Noore-Rasullilah,” which marked the commencement of important events for decades before the musical rendition of the Nashid was introduced during the Golden Jubilee of His Late Highness in 2008.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, Houston Mayor John Whitmire and attendees pay their respects at the recitation of the USA Anthem and a rendering of the Nashid al Imamah during the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
The recitations were then followed on the stage with an Arabic reading of a Quranic verse from Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13) and its English translation, which reads as follows:
“O mankind, indeed We have created you from male and female and made you peoples and tribes that you may know one another. Indeed, the most noble of you in the sight of Allah is the most righteous of you.” — Al-Hujurat, The Dwellings, 49:13.
Al-Karim Alidina, President of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for the USA, welcomed guests and traced the project’s origins to a long-term vision. “His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan had a decades-long aspiration to establish an Ismaili Center in the United States,” he said, “one that would reflect the values and identity of the Ismaili community. So today marks a moment of pride and joy for the community.”
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The Honorable Mayor of Houston, John Whitmire, delivers a passionate extempore speech at the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, applauds during a moment of Mayor John Whitmire’s remarks delivered at the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
In his extempore speech, Mayor Whitmire passionately spoke of the magnitude and historic nature of the landmark occasion. “The Ismaili community working with the city of Houston residents,” he said, “our region, our state of Texas, and the United States — we’re making a statement today that we’re all in this together. The Mayor looked forward to the Center’s impact in the city and beyond: “This is only the beginning of something great,” he said. His remarks were met with a rousing reception from the audience and greatly appreciated by His Highness.
In his address, Mawlana Hazar Imam reflected on his father Mawlana Shah Karim’s vision for the building and its gardens, his personal interest in their design, and his wish to designate the Ismaili Center in Houston as a Diamond Jubilee project. Mawlana Hazar Imam also spoke about his own aspirations for the building and its intended use. “This building may be called an Ismaili Center, but it is not here for Ismailis only. It is for all Houstonians to use; a place open to all who seek knowledge, reflection, and dialogue,” he said.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses guests gathered for the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
“Whether through hosting recitals, launching books, presenting concerts, promoting local artists, or offering training, our intent is to provide a constant rhythm of events that spark curiosity, engender understanding, and encourage exchange.” However, in his remarks, he did emphasize the importance of the building as a Jamatkhana, a space for Ismaili worship.
Hazar Imam thanked the Mayor’s office, design team, project committee, leaders of the Jamat, donors, and the many volunteers for their time, effort, and dedication. His Highness also acknowledged the support of the mayors preceding Mayor Whitmore. He thanked the entire building team, including the architect, the landscape architects, and the engineers.
In paying a special tribute to his uncle Prince Amyn, he said that his “guidance, commitment, and close personal engagement over many years have been pivotal to the creation of Ismaili Centres across the world, and to this Ismaili Center here in Houston. He has been a constant and regular presence on this site and at deliberations throughout planning and execution. I am profoundly grateful for his insight and contribution.”
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, congratulate each other after unveiling the Ismaili Center, Houston, inauguration plaque, November 6, 2025, marking an historic day in the life of the 50th Ismaili Imam, the Ismaili community in the usa and around the world, and the city of Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
The Mayor and His Highness then unveiled the plaque, etched in Gold. The plaque spanning 12 rows reads:
BISMILLAHIR RAHMANIR RAHIM (inscription is in Arabic) THE CREST OF THE ISMAILI IMAMAT followed by:
THE OPENING CEREMONY OF THE ISMAILI CENTER WAS PERFORMED BY THE HONORABLE JOHN WHITMIRE MAYOR OF HOUSTON IN THE PRESENCE OF HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE RAHIM AGA KHAN FIFTIETH IMAM OF THE SHIA IMAMI ISMAILI MUSLIMS ON NOVEMBER SIXTH, 2025
The Inauguration Plaque of the Ismaili Center, Houston, was unveiled by Houston Mayor John Whitmire and Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
After congratulatory exchanges, the dignitaries left the inauguration hall. Many visitors stayed behind to have their photos taken on the stage in front of or alongside the Flags and the inauguration plaque. In contrast, others were guided to the reception area in the large verandah where volunteers walked around and served a variety of tasty hors d’oeuvres accompanied by delicious light sherbet and a fruit drink.
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A beautiful and intricate Mehndi (Henna) design on the hands of a visitor attending the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston. Note the words’ Ya Ali’ appearing on the left hand (with the ring). November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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The Ismaili Centre, Houston design and project teams — design architect Farshid Moussavi, Landscape architect Thomas Wolz, structural design consultant Hanif Kara, and Ismaili leaders pose for a group photo with Mayor Whitmire, Mawlana Hazar Imam — His Highness the Aga Khan –Prince Amyn, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad, as visitors watch from the reception area overlooking the Garden, November 6, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
Overlooking the Gardens from the reception area, we witnessed the keen interest that Mawlana Shah Rahim and Mayor Whitmore showed as they were guided through the building by the building team.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga, and members of his family, along with Mayor John Whitmire, gather by the reflecting pool at the North Garden of the Ismaili Center in Houston and receive an overview of the magnificent buildings from the dedicated design and building team on November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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The North Garden of the Ismaili Center, Houston, is the larger of the two gardens. This is a view from the North Eivan (veranda), which is the largest of the three eivans. It can accommodate up to 800 people for lectures or receptions and up to 600 for banquets, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga, and members of his family, along with Mayor John Whitmire and leaders of the Ismaili community, listen attentively as they receive an overview of the Ismaili Center, Houston, from the dedicated design and construction team, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Mayor John Whitmire listen attentively as they receive an overview of the Ismaili Center, Houston, from the dedicated design and construction team, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and members of his family, along with Mayor John Whitmire, listen closely as the President of the Aga Khan Council for the USA, Al-Karim Alidina, offers remarks during the tour of the Ismaili Center in Houston following the inauguration ceremony, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
Having relished the tasty hors d’oeuvres, the visitors were then delighted as Prince Amyn, Prince Hussain, and Prince Aly Muhammad joined them and freely mingled with the crowd, happily taking pictures with them.
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Prince Hussain Aga Khan, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, mingles with visitors gathered at the North Verandah of the Ismaili Center Houston, the reception area, following the inauguration ceremony and after completing his tour of the building and its gardens. He mentioned to me that he would need to revisit the Center to see it in its entirety, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan, uncle of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and younger brother of His Late Highness Aga Khan, mingles with visitors gathered at the North Verandah of the Ismaili Center Houston, following the inauguration ceremony and after completing a tour of the building and its gardens, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Prince Aly Muhammad, younger brother of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, mingles with visitors gathered at the North Verandah of the Ismaili Center, Houston, following the inauguration ceremony and after completing a tour of the building and its gardens, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
I had been introduced to the Ismaili Center, along with several other media representatives, in a three-hour session the day before, on Wednesday, November 4. However, time was limited to visit the many spaces within and outside the Center, as preparations had to be finalized for the following day’s inauguration.
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Amazingly, the Ismaili Center, Houston, has interconnected wings, three in all, each of which features a soaring Eivan. This view of the largest Evian, which hosted the reception after the inauguration ceremony, is from another smaller Evian, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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A view of a residential neighbourhood and further away, Houston’s downtown skyline from a smaller Evian at the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
On inauguration day, after most of the visitors had left, I spent a considerable amount of time touring the interior and exterior of the building. I was fascinated by the Center’s interconnected wings, each of which features a soaring eivan — an open-sided veranda that provides shaded spaces for gathering and reflection, as well as the classrooms, the theatre room, and the more than 30 artistic works that were being mentioned as being a permanent feature of the Center.
On inauguration day, a special exhibit of creative objects was displayed in an exhibition space. Additionally, the Center features offices, meeting rooms, social halls, and exhibition spaces. The central atrium features a very high skylight, inspired by Ismaili dwellings in the Pamirs of Central Asia.
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The Ismaili Center, Houston, with its beautiful reflecting pond in the South Garden, as buses come to collect visitors for a trip back to their hotels after a historical inauguration ceremony performed by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Houston Mayor John Whitmire, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
Outside, the visitors are welcomed by a diverse array of green spaces that change with the seasons. These include reflecting pools, flower beds, lawns, and walkways. The gardens are home to 800 trees and native floodplain species, carefully chosen to suit the local environment. As the landscape architect explained, the entire outdoor space will take on a different appearance as plants and trees grow over the coming months. The elusive monarch butterflies added a touch of enchantment.
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From left to right, the Flags of the Ismaili Imamat, bearing the gold crest of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, the State of Texas and the USA fly in the south garden, near the Montrose Blvd gate exit of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
Reflecting the late Imam’s desire to infuse the Gardens with a sense of whimsy, he proposed planting cacti around one of the reflecting ponds. As a flag enthusiast, I made my way to one of the Center’s gates to capture the American, Texas, and the Ismaili Imamat Flags fluttering in the breeze — it was a patient wait, as the wind was calm. In every corner of the two longitudinal gardens, I experienced a serene and beautiful environment.
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Cacti in the South Garden of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 5, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Baralkah.
Back inside, I observed the heart of the building filled with natural light, with views of the sky above. The in-out concept presented a visitor from the outside at any entrance. The myriad offices, meeting rooms, social halls, exhibition space, and a theatre offer places for learning and contemplation as well as entertainment.
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An exhibition prepared to celebrate the inauguration of the Ismaili Center, Houston, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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A depiction of the central atrium area of the Ismaili Center, Houston, by Salina Kassam, a Kenyan-born Ismaili artist now based in Canada, as part of her series entitled “Ineffable Spaces: The Seven Ismaili Centres, 2025.” The works of art of the seven beautiful centres form part of a permanent collection of artistic works in the Houston Ismaili Center. They are inkjet photographs printed on cotton paper, November 6, 2025. Photograph of the artwork captured by Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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Central Atrium of the Ismaili Center, Houston, with a skylight inspired by the traditional ceiling of Ismaili dwellings in the Pamirs in Central Asia, November 5, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
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A view of the Jamatkhana in the Ismaili Center, Houston, a place of worship for the Ismaili Muslims. The Mihrab, facing the Kaaba, is in the far end of the photo. The panels around the diamond-shaped Jamatkhana, which can accommodate around 1,500 people, are inscribed in Arabic with the names of Allah, Muhammad, and Ali. The carpet has a beautiful pattern, November 5, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
The diamond-shaped Jamatkhana prayer hall, which can accommodate up to 1,500people, is surrounded by panels featuring calligraphy that bears the words “Allah,” “Ali,” and “Muhammad.” The beautiful carpet is lightly coloured. My greatest wish to participate with my brothers and sisters within the Jamatkhana space for prayers will not be fulfilled as the Ismaili Center’s official opening will take place days after my departure.
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After a memorable and historic day celebrating the inauguration of the Ismaili Center in Houston, visitors board their buses to return to their hotels, November 6, 2025. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Barakah.
For the hundreds of thousands who will visit the Center in the future, Ismailis and non-Ismailis alike, its opening marks a milestone moment for the 50th Ismaili Imam, and his spiritual children, the Ismailis, in the USA and worldwide.
As Mawlana Hazar Imam explained in his speech: “It is my deep hope, that with your engagement, this Center will lift spirits and broaden horizons; this Center will bring people together, strengthen bonds, and help us all, collectively, to bring happiness and harmony to societies here and elsewhere.”
Date posted: November 7, 2025. Last updated: November 24, 2025 (formatting.)
A version of this post appears on Simerg’s sister website, Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan.
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