Tag Archives: Mawlana Haza Imam

Rare Photographs of the Aga Khan’s 1978 Visit to Methan, a Small Village in Sidhpur, India, for Foundation of a New Ismaili Jamatkhana

25 January 2024

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Please click: THE AGA KHAN IN METHAN

The Aga Khan with Ismailis in Methan

Nazar Kasamali Momin of Houston, Texas, went through his family archives, and came across a very rare collection of photos of His Highness the Aga Khan’s visit to the small village of Methan, in Sidhpur, India. It appears that the 1978 visit did not receive much media coverage, and even the Ismaili world is unaware about the historical visit. We are pleased to present a selection of photographs from Momin’s collection, along with his report of the visit. His piece appears on our sister website, Barakah, which is dedicated to the Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. Please click The Aga Khan in Methan.

The Aga Khan performs foundation of new Ismaili Jamatkhana in Methan, India
The Aga Khan at the foundation for a new Jamatkhana for the Ismaili Muslim community in Methan, India. Please click on photograph for full story and more photos.

Date posted: January 25, 2024.

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The Aga Khan’s principles and aspirations for a peaceful and equitable world

21 April 2023

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Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT

Simerg and its sister website Barakah are pleased to launch a permanent PODCAST series that will contain timeless words from 65 years of speeches, interviews and messages that His Highness the Aga Khan has delivered since he became the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims on July 11, 1957. The Aga Khan’s perennial words accentuate the common goal of societies living in the spirit of one humanity as well as flourishing in all areas of human endeavour. Appropriately, with Muslims commencing the auspicious and happy Eid ul-Fitr festivities from Friday, April 21, 2023, following the end of the month of Ramadhan, the first Podcast is of a written holy message (or Talika) that the Aga Khan sent to his followers on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr in May 2020, at the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic. The full English text of the Talika with its translation in eight languages can be read HERE.

The Aga Khan’s special Eid ul-Fitr message of May 23, 2020

His Highness the Aga Khan’s Eid ul-Fitr message of May 23, 2020.

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Inline images below represent the Imam and his bond with his spiritual children

TEXT


 
My beloved spiritual children,

On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I send my special loving blessings to my Jamats throughout the world for your happiness, peace, safety, and good health. My family joins me in wishing you all Eid Mubarak.

At this difficult time, I applaud, with the highest admiration and gratefulness, the selfless services of all my Jamati volunteers, as well as the doctors, nurses, paramedics and support workers in the AKDN and other health facilities and related programmes: Their exemplary courage, commitment and dedication in extending care and comfort to my Jamat and others, and especially to those who are vulnerable and sick, is an outstanding actualization of the human values and ethics that all faiths cherish.



It is my wish that my Jamat should look to the future with hope and courage, in keeping with its age-old tradition of unity, generosity and mutual support which has at all times enabled it to move forward to a position of enhanced strength and resilience, from generation to generation.

My spiritual children should always remain mindful that it is the principles of our faith that will bring peace and solace in these times of uncertainty. I am with my Jamat at all times, and each of you, individually, is always in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.

I send my most affectionate paternal, maternal loving blessings  to all my Jamat – for happiness, good health, confidence and security in your lives ahead, and for mushkil-asan.

Yours affectionately,

Aga Khan

Date posted: April 21, 2023.
Last updated: April 26, 2023 (improved version of podcast reading.)

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Please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents as well as visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah and Simergphotos. The editor Malik Merchant may be reached via email at mmerchant@simerg.com.

Rare Photos of His Highness the Aga Khan’s 1957 Visit to Chake Chake and Wete in Pemba Island

18 February 2021

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Kamrudin Rashid of Toronto and Shah Abdulla of Ottawa co-author an EXCLUSIVE PIECE FOR BARAKAH on Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s one-day visit to Pemba on November 18, 1957. Dedicated to late waezins and religious education teachers Jehangir (d. May 27, 2018) and Maleksultan Merchant (d. January 21, 2021), this must read post includes rare photos of his visit to the towns of Chake Chake and Wete…..READ MORE

Aga Khan in Pemba
Please click on image for complete story and more photographs.

Date posted: February 18, 2021

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For Mawlana Hazar Imam’s 80th Birthday, A Shukrana Message from Canada’s Aga Khan Council President Malik Talib and Institutional Leaders

14 December 2016

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Malik Talib

Malik Talib

Mr. Malik Talib, the President of His Highness the Aga Khan Shia Imami Ismaili Council for Canada, along with the Chairmen of the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (Dr. Kabir Jivraj), Grants and Review Board (Mr. Amir Lakhani), and Conciliation and Arbitration Board (Mr. Karim Sunderji), and the Mukhi of Darkhana Jamatkhana (Mr. Zahir Bhatia) issued the following message through the Canadian Ismaili community’s special newsletter edition  of “Al-Akhbar,” as tens of thousands of Ismailis gathered in jamatkhanas across the country to observe the historic 80th birthday or Salgirah of Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan on December 13. The celebrations will continue late into the week with special cultural events, voices from the jamat and video presentations.

COMMON ALLEGIANCE TO MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM UNITES ISMAILI MUSLIMS IN PURPOSE AND VISION

aga-khan-portrait-lisbon-imamat-day-darbar-1998-2s

Mawlana Hazar Imam pictured at the 1998 darbar held in Lisbon, Portugal.

Institutional Message to the Canadian Jamat

This is a historic event for our Jamat. No part of our lives has been untouched by the work and dedication of Mawlana Hazar Imam. For the Jamat in Canada, our very presence here and all of the opportunities afforded to us, have been made possible by the singular concern of our Imam for our material and spiritual well-being.

The spirit of frontierless brotherhood and sisterhood that has helped the community weather many storms springs from a common allegiance to our Imam, uniting us in purpose and vision.

The volume and quality of initiatives established and sustained by the office of the Imamat are staggering. More importantly, these have improved the well-being of millions.

In light of all with which we have been blessed, what can we give back? Perhaps the most powerful form of gratitude would be a re-commitment to the principles of our faith and many of the efforts to which they give rise:

  • Attending to our spiritual lives in a world increasing concerned with material well-being as the sole objective of life;
  • Improving the quality of life of the Jamat and the communities in which we live;
  • Strengthening community and family ties amidst the challenges of modern living;
  • Enhancing our understanding of our faith and our ability to articulate the peaceful, compassionate message of Islam;
  • Promoting pluralism in a world that seems ever more fragmented.

As we approach Canada’s 150th birthday and look forward to commemorating the Diamond Jubilee, it is our hope and prayer that the coming months will be a time of excitement, fulfillment, renewal and happiness.

To all our volunteers and donors who unconditionally and generously commit their time and resources, we sincerely express our special thanks and gratitude.

We offer our humble shukrana to our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam for his continued guidance, and pray for peace and stability for the Jamats living in difficult circumstances and for our collective good health, faith, prosperity, success and unity. Ameen.

Date posted: December 14, 2016.

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