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
In his piece dated October 23, 2019, the Editor-in-Chief of “The Muslim Link” published a comprehensive list of Muslims who were elected in the Canadian Federal Election that was held on October 21, 2019. In compiling the names and their profiles with some interesting facts as well as links to their social-media pages, the editor notes that “As the Editor in Chief, I always enjoy compiling these lists as I get to know more about quite interesting people and I get to learn more about what is happening in Canadian cities other than my own, which is the Nation’s Capital, Ottawa.”
Simerg is pleased to provide a link to Muslim Link’s fine on-line piece about the 12 Muslims who were elected in the Federal election. Ismailis Yasmin Ratansi and Arif Virani were re-elected in their ridings. They represented the Liberal Party, which fell short of forming a majority government during the 2019 elections.
Please click on image to read article in The Muslim Link
Dar es Salaam’s Darkhana Jamatkhana pictured on September 3, 2019 following the partial collapse of the roof.
Editor’s Note:An earlier version of this post implied that repairs to the roof of the Dar es Salaam Darkhana Jamatkhana were well underway and that the Jamatkhana may open later this year. Actually, the green segment of the roof shown in the photo at the bottom of this post is a temporary cover over the section that collapsed (see photo above), to prevent water and other debris from getting into the interior of the Jamatkhana building. We apologize for our oversight on the repairs that have taken place so far which led to some confusion. We sincerely hope that the Jamatkhana will be only opened after all the interior and exterior repairs have been fully completed so that the Jamat may feel fully comfortable and safe in a new setting. We urge the Tanzanian leadership to provide regular updates on the state of the repairs. The Darkhana in Dar es Salaam was a beloved Jamatkhana to thousands of Ismailis around the world, and the status of repairs that are being carried out is of interest to everyone.Our original story, below, has been revised accordingly.
The interior of the Darkhana Jamatkhana in Dar es Salaam following the collapse of the roof in September 2019.
In September, 2019, we showed some horrific photos of the collapsed roof at Dar es Salaam’s Ismaili Darkhana Jamatkhana (see photos, above). Luckily, there was no congregational prayer underway at the time the incident took place; three individuals who were present at the site were treated for minor injuries. We are pleased to report that repairs are now underway and our source in Tanzania has sent us the photo shown below showing the green cover that has been temporarily installed to prevent water from getting into the interior of the building. Of course, much work remains to be done, as there was significant damage to the interior of the Jamatkhana when the roof fell.
Work is underway to complete repairs to the Darkhana Jamatkhana in Dar es Salaam. This photo was taken on November 11, 2019.
The Dar es Salaam Darkhana was built in 1930 and is considered one of several heritage buildings of architectural interest. It is not exactly known when the Jamatkhana repairs will be fully completed for regular congregational prayers. We once again submit our humble shukhrana that the incident in September took place without loss of lives or serious injuries.
Date posted: November 12, 2019.
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Zeenat’s autograph book was filled by people she loved and people who changed her life….A significant event that made Zeenat’s autograph book special for her was its opening page. Zeenat was lucky to be able to visit Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah and Mata Salamat at Villa Yakimour…..READ SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE’S PIECE ON HER SISTER’S AUTOGRAPH BOOK
Champlain Lookout, Gatineau Park, Quebec, Canada, on October 18, 2019. Photo: Malik and Nurin Merchant. Please click on image for more photos and story.
Of course, the “best ever” is our labelling having lived in the city for a long time! If you live in Ottawa/Gatineau or are visiting the region, please drive to Gatineau Park or take the special free shuttle from downtown Ottawa. You shouldn’t miss this glorious show of nature at its most colourful! Weather forecast to Monday, October 21, 2019 — splendid!
Its beyond fall colours! This park has so much of the natural world to offer, and should be in everyone’s bucket list. My daughter and I had limited time and made the most effective use of the 15 hours we had which included around 6 hours of driving time from and back to Ottawa. With time management, and inspiration from youth anything is possible! If you are in Ontario and close to the Park, make it this week — even for a day!
“On a frigid December morning in 1953, a policeman found a half-conscious old man slumped on a street bench in the Westminster area of London. That man was Abdullah Yusuf Ali, the famous 20th-century translator of the Quran. He died alone, homeless, and with no one by his side…Generations of Muslims in English-speaking countries have grown up reading Yusuf Ali’s interpretation of the Quran…Read Saad Hasan’s piece in TRTWORLD.
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Please click on image for article.
Multiple translations of the Qur’an line shelves at book stores. Because of the growing Muslim communities in English-speaking countries, as well as greater academic interest in Islam, there has been a blossoming in recent years of English translation. Since fewer than 20 percent of Muslims speak Arabic, this means that most Muslims study the text only in translation. So how accurate are the Qur’an’s renderings into English? The record is mixed…Read more of this informative piece in Simerg(includes a note on Abdullah Yusuf Ali’s translation).
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TRT World Showcase Special with Yusuf Islam, formerly Cat Stevens – Why he picked up the guitar again.
“…When the people have nothing, that’s the moment when you have to sing…” — Yusuf Islam
Video: Yusuf Islam
Considered a legend in the music world, Yusuf Islam, formerly known as Cat Stevens opens up to TRT World about his spiritual journey, and shares his thoughts about the world. Please watch the interview, above.
We invite our readers to read the complete interview on Simerg’s sister website Barakah, which is dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. The interview was conducted by Anver Versi, Editor-in-chief of New African, the highly influential magazine on African affairs published in the UK. We are delighted to bring the interview with the editor’s permission. Please start reading the article HERE or click on the image below.
His Highness the Aga Khan at Kazan Kremlin. Please click for complete coverage of visit to Tatarstan.
A note from Publisher/Editor Malik Merchant
Simerg’s sister website Barakah is dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam — His Highness the Aga Khan — members of his family, and the Ismaili Imamat. It currently contains more than 170 interesting visual and textual pieces on the subject. There are 2 posts you should see about his visit to Tatarstan last week. Please click on:
…Now no one cares, no paint on the walls. Who can save this lovely heritage? So sad to see the weeping walls — Shariffa Keshavjee in a piece for Simerg
A view of the Indian Ocean from the balcony of the Jamatkhana, overlooking the building’s rooftop. Photo: Shariffa Keshavjee, Nairobi, Kenya.
Taking Example of Pakistan’s Baltit Fort, the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana Can be Converted to a Museum Chronicling Ismaili Settlement in Tanzania
The questions we would now ask of Ismaili residents of Dar es Salaam, Bagamoyo or anyone who has visited Bagamoyo recently as well as our Tanzanian Jamati institutions are: How are the “weeping walls” of the Jamatkhana doing today? What about the passageway leading to the ocean? How about the tejori (chest) in the Jamatkhana, and what is the state of the Ismaili Flag and sadri (floor mats)? And, finally, how is the Jamatkhana being utilized today, and can the Ismaili community feel proud about its current state and usage?
We look forward to an update on the state of the Jamatkhana with the sincere hope that what was once an eyesore, both outside and inside, has been restored to its former glory. If that has not been done yet, which is what we suspect, and the building is simply languishing and not used as a Jamatkhana anymore, we humbly bring forward the idea to convert the historic building to a museum that will hold important relics as well as portray the history of early Ismaili settlement in Bagamoyo and other parts of Tanzania (then Tanganyika). Many little towns that I have visited during my drives across North America have small museums housed in heritage buildings that wonderfully tell stories about their origins and the people who first occupied them. Of course, the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana building has to be be properly restored for any such project to develop, and this should quickly become a work in progress.
As a Jamat, we have to be mindful of historical buildings and places of worship like the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana, and do everything possible to revive and revitalize our cultural and spiritual heritage before they are forgotten or lost forever due to neglect, lack of interest or apathy.
Time and Knowledge Nazrana: A Major Resource for Creative Projects
Institutions must lead and inspire the Jamat, and the Jamat must in turn respond with zeal and interest. It is a 2-way effort. Perhaps, there is an opportunity for hundreds of Ismaili architects, artists, planners and engineers who pledged their Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) to Mawlana Hazar Imam to take a lead to improve the condition of our historic buildings that are in disarray for good and purposeful use.
That can be properly and effectively facilitated by the TKN leadership team that is based in Toronto, in consultation with Ismaili institutions and local TKN bodies around the world. The transformation of the Baltit Fort in Pakistan that was undertaken by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture is an example of what can be accomplished with the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana and other heritage buildings of historical importance. There is immense talent and creativity in the Jamat as well as material resources that can be utilized for well planned little museum projects that would not only enrich local history, but also help boost the tourism industry. After all Bagamoyo, with its world class historical sites, has been proposed as a World Heritage Site.
Simerg - Insights from Around the World 