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 Prince Rahim Aga Khan, became the 50th Imam of the Ismaili community following his father Mawlana Shah Karim’s passing on February 4, 2025. In his address to his community, the new Imam pledged to visit them in the months ahead. That pledge is being fulfilled. He has visited France, Kenya, Uganda, the USA, and Portugal in the past 5 months and has just concluded his visit to the UK.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, being received by youth leaders at the Darkhana Jamatkhana, London, February 2, 2026. Please click on the photo for UK visit details.
The UK visit in summary:
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Mawlana Hazar Imam concluded his five-day visit to the United Kingdom with a meeting with the Prince of Wales.
On February 4, His Majesty King Charles III hosted a dinner in his honour at Windsor Castle, inspiring pride among community members worldwide. The UK and global Ismaili communities celebrated the first anniversary of Hazar Imam’s leadership on the same day. Earlier during the day, he met the British Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
On February 3, Mawlana Hazar Imam met with the Mayor of London, then graced members of the Ismaili community with a Didar at ExCel Centre, before meeting with multi-faith families.
On February 2, he bestowed the Didar on Ismaili youth in two separate sessions at the Darkhana Jamatkhana in London. He had arrived in London on Sunday, February 1, 2026.
1. March 22, 2018: His Late Highness Aga Khan IV confirms the development of an Ismaili Center in Houston
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, arrives at Houston airport for his Diamond Jubilee visit to the USA in March 2018. Photograph: The Ismaili / Farid Mithani.
While Houston had been selected as the site of the first Ismaili Center in the USA by Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, in 2006, it was not until March 22, 2018, that he confirmed its development. During his momentous Diamond Jubilee visit to the USA and in his fourth address to his followers in Houston, following earlier ones made on March 20 and 21, Mawlana Shah Karim said:
“I am happy to say to my Jamat today that it is my hope that in the years ahead, we will be able to develop a Centre here in Houston, And I know that this is a matter where my Jamati leaders wanted me to confirm this to my Jamat — here is your confirmation, here is your confirmation. We will work together to create a Centre. It will be an ambassadorial building for our Jamat, a building of elegance, a building containing the representation of faith, a building where, Insha’Allah, you will find peace and strength on sirat al-mustaqim [the straight path]. I am happy to tell you that my brother is already working on this project. So we are looking for professional architects, or an architect, who will express our faith in this building. We have sought to do that in other buildings around the world that have been built recently, and I think, generally speaking, we have been successful.”
A two-decade journey reaches a significant milestone in USA Ismaili history when His Highness the Aga Khan V, makes an official visit to the USA from November 5-10, 2025, during which he will inaugurate the Ismaili Center, Houston, the seventh high-profile Ismaili cultural center in the world and the first in the United States.
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2. The site of the Ismaili Center, Houston
An empty lot situated on Allen Parkway and Montrose Boulevard, across from Buffalo Bayou Park, just west of downtown Houston, was selected as the site of the Ismaili Center, Houston. Photograph: The Aga Khan Ismaili Council for the USA.
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3. Competition is launched to design the Ismaili Center, Houston
An international design competition was launched in 2019, inviting architectural firms to submit design proposals for the new Ismaili Center in Houston. Submissions were received from high-profile firms, including OMA, David Chipperfield and Studio Gang.
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4. Iranian born architect Farshid Moussavi wins designer contest
Farshid Moussavi holds up a model of the Ismaili Center, Houston, in her London studio. See a full-size photograph and read the related article in Metropolis magazine.
Farshid Moussavi of the Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD) was selected by His Late Highness Aga Khan IV to design the first Ismaili Center in the United States. The design team for the center also included the GSD’s Hanif Kara, co-founder of engineering firm AKT II, who served as structural design consultant. Paul Westlake of DLR Group was the architect of record, while Thomas Woltz of Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects led the landscape design.
A model and facade study of the new Ismaili Center, Houston, is on display in Farshid Moussavi’s London studio. See a full-size photograph and read the related article in Metropolis magazine.
“Our team brings a broad perspective, with diverse skills and experience in international practice, scholarly research, multidisciplinary thinking and delivering cultural projects successfully in the U.S.,” Moussavi told the Houston Chronicle. “It will bring Houston’s diverse communities together in a unique space for cultural, educational and social activities.”
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5. November 15, 2021: Farshid Moussavi unveils design of Ismaili Center, Houston
“What made this project especially rewarding was the close alignment between the aspirations of the client and architect. What made it especially challenging was my awareness of the rigorous standards that His Highness the Aga Khan has established for architecture!” — Farshid Moussavi.
An artistic rendering of the Ismaili Center, Houston. Photograph: Imara Houston Inc / IPL via the Ismaili.
The design for the Ismaili Center in Houston’s Buffalo Bayou watershed was presented to the public on November 15, 2021, at a gathering of government and civic officials, community representatives and leaders from civil society organizations. Situated on Allen Parkway and Montrose Boulevard, the Ismaili Center was commissioned by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
In presenting the design, Farshid Moussavi, internationally acclaimed architect, who also designed the Museum of Contemporary Art in Cleveland, observed:
“What made this project especially rewarding was the close alignment between the aspirations of the client and architect. What made it especially challenging was my awareness of the rigorous standards that His Highness the Aga Khan has established for architecture! We have tried to work with Islamic design philosophy, and celebrate its singularity and unique qualities as well as the features it has in common with Western design, so that the building, both through its fabric and through the way it is used, would act as a symbol of dialogue.”
“The building is designed with a compact footprint, leaving large portions of the site to be used as gardens. Given the frequently hot and humid climate of Houston and the prominence of the site in the city, it is designed with a tripartite form with each of its volumes hosting a soaring eivan (veranda) to enable social and cultural gatherings to occur outdoors throughout the year. The eivans are supported by forty-nine slender columns reminiscent of those used in Persepolis and seventeenth century palaces in Isfahan, Persia. In being open on all sides and visible from all approaches to the site, the eivans will make the Ismaili Center open and inviting in every direction. At night, they will transform it to a beacon of light along Montrose Boulevard and Allen Parkway.
A depiction of the garden spaces at the Ismaili Center, Houston. From wherever one enters the site, visitors will be welcomed by garden spaces. The Center’s landscaped gardens will provide a sense of serenity and peace, offering a respite from its urban surroundings. Photograph: Imara Houston Inc. / IPL.
“The Center’s design, contemporary in its expression, is reflective of a historically rooted, rich architectural heritage. It combines contemporary architectural technology – its light steel structure – with traditional Persian forms and ornament, including ceramic mosaics and screens drawn from Islamicate traditions around the world. Its design for sustainability includes assuring enhanced energy performance and longevity and durability of materials, by encasing exposed steel with concrete for a 100-year lifecycle, and using stone for the building’s exterior walls. Conceived as a tapestry in stone, the exterior walls will transition from solid areas to porous screens that will provide shade and privacy, and from flat surfaces to deep alcoves to permit shady repose fronting the gardens. The building exterior will therefore be defined by simplicity of form, openness, and an abstract decorative character.
“The building interior will include three atriums that will act as common, non-exclusive flexible spaces between rooms dedicated to specific events. Each is located adjacent to an eivan to bring in natural light and views of the sky to the heart of the building. The central atrium’s stepped structure clad in ceramic screens, celebrates the heritage of the cupola dating back to 3000 BCE, dominant in both the architecture of the Sasanian period in Persia and the Christian buildings of the Byzantine empire. The west and east atriums will give access to a theater, a large hall and learning spaces.
“The Center’s landscaped gardens will provide a sense of serenity and peace, offering a respite from its urban surroundings. The gardens will include tree canopies, fountains, shaded footpaths, flowerbeds, lawns and walkways. These will be spaces of solace, providing for the rejuvenation of the mind and the spirit.”
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6. 2023-2024: Prince Amyn Aga Khan’s visits to the Ismaili Center, Houston, for the topping-up ceremony and to review construction progress
Prince Amyn Aga Khan and Mayor Sylvester Turner together planted a Texas Red Oak tree to commemorate the topping out ceremony of the Ismaili Center, Houston, October 23, 2023. Photograph: The Ismaili / Akbar Hakim Hakim.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan and (Late) Mayor Turner co-sign the final beam that completed the superstructure of the Ismaili Center, Houston, during the Topping Out Ceremony of the building as President Al-Karim Alidina of the Aga Khan Ismaili Council for the USA looks on, October 23, 2023. Photograph: The Ismaili / Akbar Hakim.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan in conversation with lead design architect Farshid Moussavi and landscape architect Thomas Woltz during his visit to review the progress of the Ismaili Center, Houston, July 2, 2024. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
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Prince Amyn Aga Khan, the Honorable Mayor of Houston John Whitmire, who succeeded Mayor Turner, and leaders of the Ismaili community, including Shafik Sachedina, USA Aga Khan Council President Alkarim Alidina and Vice President Celina Shariff, discuss the progress of the Ismaili Center in Houston, July 2, 2024. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
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7. February 4, 2025: Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, the Imam who built six beautiful Ismaili Centres in his lifetime and almost saw the completion of the Ismaili Center, Houston, passes away
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness Aga Khan IV, the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, under whose Imamat six Ismaili Centres were inaugurated between 1985 and 2014. His son, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan V, will inaugurate the 7th Ismaili Center in Houston during his visit to the USA from November 5-10, 2025.
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Top image, clockwise from top: Ismaili Centres in London (April 1985), Vancouver (August 1985), Lisbon (1988), Toronto (September 2014), Dushanbe (October 2009) and Dubai (March 2008); Bottom: Ismaili Center Houston (November 6, 2025).
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8. February 2025: Designer Farshi Moussavi and structural design consultant Hanif Kara pay their tributes to His Late Highness Aga Khan IV
His Late Highness Aga Khan IV: “An unparalleled force for good”
A TRIBUTE BY FARSHID MOUSSAVI
“It is with huge sadness that yesterday I learnt about the passing of His Highness The Aga Khan, a visionary leader who dedicated his life to improving the quality of life for individuals and communities worldwide — regardless of origin, faith, or gender. Through hospitals, universities, community centers, places of worship, museums, gardens, and parks, he empowered countless communities, ensuring access to education, healthcare, and spaces for spiritual and cultural enrichment.
“Beyond these tangible contributions, he also championed the preservation of cultural heritage while embracing innovation. He restored and conserved fragile monuments, safeguarding history for future generations, and established awards in architecture and music to foster creativity and excellence in these fields. The Aga Khan Award for Architecture, in particular, has become a model for how design can be both aspirational and sustainable.
“His Highness has been an extraordinary leader and an unparalleled force for good. I feel truly fortunate to have been in his presence while serving on the Master Jury and Steering Committee of the Aga Khan Award and, most recently, working closely with him on the Ismaili Center Houston. The lessons I have learned from him are immeasurable.
“His passing is a profound loss — not just for me personally but for the entire Ismaili community and all those who had the privilege of working with him. While his absence will be deeply felt, I take solace in knowing that his legacy will continue to inspire and guide us for generations to come. I send His Highness’s family my most heartfelt condolences. They are in my thoughts.”
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His Late Highness Aga Khan IV: “He empowered his architects to take charge”
A TRIBUTE BY HANIF KARA
“I am deeply saddened by the passing of His Highness Prince Karim Aga khan IV, both on a professional and a personal level. I had the great honour and privilege to work with, and for, him on many levels. His renowned contribution to humanitarian causes, with a capacity and dedication to drive change as a statesman, leaves an unparalleled mark on the broken world we see. He was a lover of art and architecture but also a patron who commissioned work of the highest quality as a client, and empowered his architects to take charge. Under his leadership, The Aga Khan Award for Architecture has, for almost five decades, sought the most incredible projects and talents in what was largely an invisible ‘world’, often navigating the tough geographies of fear. These projects consistently improved quality of life through design.
“His endowed education programmes at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were ahead of the curve in raising scholarly awareness about the environmental and social impact of the cities we build. The Aga Khan Development Network and Aga Khan Trust for Culture, as just two of his institutions, will continue his ambitious legacy shaped by vision, care, and dedication.”
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9. March 27, 2025: Prince Amyn Aga Khan visits Ismaili Center, Houston, to review progress
Prince Amyn Aga Khan, 4th from the left, with members of the Ismaili Center Oversight Committee, views the building’s North Evian from the Central Atrium, March 27, 2025. Photograph: IPL / Akbar Hakim.
In March 2025, Prince Amyn Aga Khan travelled to Houston to review the ongoing progress of the Ismaili Center. He was accompanied Members of the Ismaili Center Oversight Committee.
During his visit, Prince Amyn engaged in collaborative discussions with the Design Team members. Together, they reviewed significant updates to the project, including proposed artwork to be installed and its placement, the trees and plants in the gardens, and various internal and external finishes in the building. Additionally, they discussed the types of programs that were expected to be held at the Center.
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10. September 25, 2025: Ismaili Center nears completion
The Ismaili Center, Houston, brings a new architectural and cultural landmark to Houston’s Urban Core. Photograph: Abbas Yasin, Assad Yasin and Abizer Yasin via DLR Group.
The following story has been compiled from a report by the DLR Group as they prepared to hand over the Ismaili Center Houston to its owner:
Final preparations are underway, including the completion of dramatic veranda spaces and the landscaping of nine acres of gardens by Nelson Byrd Woltz Landscape Architects. This marks the conclusion of a journey that began in 2006, when His Highness the Aga Khan IV (1936–2025), the then spiritual leader of the world’s Shia Ismaili Muslims, selected Houston as the site of the first Ismaili Center in the United States, joining others in London (1985), Vancouver (1985), Lisbon (1998), Dubai (2008), Dushanbe (2009), and Toronto (2014).
As home to approximately 40,000 Ismaili Muslims, Houston has one of the largest Ismaili communities in the U.S. The Ismaili cultural centers, including the one in Houston, are not just places of worship, but also vibrant hubs of cultural diversity. They are part of a global network that spans Toronto, London, Lisbon, Vancouver, Dushanbe, and Dubai, and celebrate the rich cultural heritage of the Ismaili community. The centers are characterized by distinctive designs that blend Islamic aesthetic precepts and symbolism with their local contexts.
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11. October 3, 2025: His Highness the Aga Khan announces official visit to the USA
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, will inaugurate the Ismaili Center, Houston, on November 6, 2025.
In a Talika Mubarak (holy written message) read in Jamatkhanas worldwide on or around October 3, 2025, Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, informed his Ismaili community (Jamat) that he would undertake an official visit to the USA from November 5 to 10, 2025. This visit holds historical significance as he will inaugurate the Ismaili Center in Houston, a landmark event that marks a significant chapter in the history of the USA community.
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12. Textual and visual coverage of the construction phases of the Ismaili Center, Houston, in the Ismaili USA
In a fantastic series of stories beginning in 2022, Ismaili USA provided its readers with stories, photographs, and videos of the development and progress of the first Ismaili Center in the USA, the third in North America, and the seventh in the world. We are pleased to provide these links, allowing readers to appreciate the phases of construction over the past three years. The Ismaili links are followed by links to other external media sources, including renowned design and architecture magazines. These sources offer not only educational but also insightful readings about the Center, enriching your understanding of its development.
13. Coverage of the Ismaili Center, Houston, in world media
External links: The Ismaili Center Houston has garnered extensive media coverage, and we are including a selection of links that are both educational and fascinating to read:
The 50th Hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan — respectfully addressed as Mawlana Hazar Imam (our Lord, the present Imam) by the Ismailis — made history as he, in his capacity as the new Imam of the worldwide community, met his followers for the first time during his historic visit to France from July 10-13, 2025. The Ismailis refer to this encounter or sight of the Imam as Didar. These are rare and epic moments in the life of every Ismaili, and the visit to France and his visits to Ismailis worldwide in the coming year will be remembered as a significant milestone in Ismaili history.
A portrait of the 49th Ismaili Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, taken after he succeeded his late grandfather to the throne of Imamat. A framed portrait of the late 48th Imam is seen in the background. Photo by Philippe Le Tellier/Paris Match via Getty Images.
“As soon as one Imam passes away, his successor takes on from the very minute the Imam has passed away” — Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Hereditary Imam, interview during Takhtnashini, 1957.
By MALIK MERCHANT
The 12 million strong Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims worldwide have learnt with deep sadness in the last few hours that our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, passed peacefully to Almighty Allah’s grace on Tuesday, February 4, 2025, in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family, who were with him in his final moments. At age 88 (December 13, 1936 to February 4, 2025), Mawlana Shah Karim was the longest-lived Imam in Ismaili history. He reigned the Ismaili community for 67 years (July 11, 1957 to February 4, 2025), just three years short of his Platinum Jubilee. His predecessor, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah’s reign of 71 years was the longest in Ismaili history.
Mawlana Shah Karim’s successor, as the 50th Shia Imami Ismaili Imam, has been designated in conformity with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition and practice of Nass. The designation made by Mawlana Shah Karim is recorded in his Will, which will be read in the presence of the Imam’s family and senior international Ismaili leaders. Thereafter, the Jamat will be notified of the declared Mawlana Hazar Imam in whom the Nur already exists in unbroken hereditary succession from Mawlana Ali (peace be upon him).
This belief in the continuity of the Imamat, when one Imam has passed away and succeeded by the next, was articulated by Mawlana Shah Karim in an interview with an American reporter in 1957. He said:
The [installation] ceremony is a public installation of the Imam. The Ismailis pay homage to the Imam and that is when you are recognised by the world at large as the Imam. Officially, as soon as one Imam passes away, his successor takes on from the very minute the Imam has passed away.”
This instantaneous succession underlines the principle of the Unity of Imamat, that is, the Ismaili belief and understanding that each Imam is the same Bearer of the Nur (Light) of Imamat, irrespective of his own age or the time he lives in. This belief, with its enduring nature, has been articulated and preserved throughout Ismaili history, reassuring us of its continuity. The 33rd Imam, Abd al-Salam, who lived in the 15th century, said:
“The Imam’s true face is to be perceived with the eyes of the heart. He has thousands of physical habitations, but his true home is traceless; He has had a thousand names, but all of them refer to one reality.”
As we all come to bear the sad reality and news of Mawlana Shah Karim’s passing, let us all reflect on the Farman he made on December 13, 1964, on his 28th birthday. He said:
“For hundreds of years, my spiritual children have been guided by the Rope of Imamat; you have looked to the Imam of the Age for advice and help in all matters and through your Imam’s immense love and affection for his spiritual children, his Noor has indicated to you where and in which direction you must turn to obtain spiritual and worldly satisfaction.”
As we honour, cherish, and offer gratitude for Mawlana Shah Karim’s life and legacy, we remain secure under the permanent love and protection of the eternal Rope of Imamat and the Manifest Nur (Light) in the 50th Imam-of-the-Time.
In the coming few days, reports, updates, and stories on Mawlana Shah Karim’s life will be published on Simerg and its sister website Barakah.
We express our deepest condolences to the Ismaili world and Mawlana Shah Karim’s family.
Date posted: February 4, 2025.
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We invite readers to contribute their feelings about the sad news that we have all heard about the passing of our beloved 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim. Please click Leave a comment.
Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini passed peacefully to Almighty Allah’s grace on 4 February 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal, surrounded by his family.
When will the next Imam be announced?
Mawlana Shah Karim’s successor, as the 50th Shia Imami Ismaili Imam, has been designated in conformity with the historical Shia Imami Ismaili tradition and practice of nass. The designation made by Mawlana Shah Karim is recorded in his Will, which is to be read in the presence of the Imam’s family and senior international Jamati leaders. Thereafter, the Jamat will be notified of the declared Hazar Imam in whom the Nur of Imamat exists in unbroken hereditary succession from Mawlana Ali (peace be upon him).
What is “nass”?
In the Shi‘a Imami tradition, the word nass is applied to the transfer of the Imamat from one Imam to the next by way of explicit designation. It is believed that in the same way as the Prophet was divinely designated by Allah, the Prophet through divine support or inspiration (ta’yid) designated Imam ‘Ali as his legatee (wasi) and successor at Ghadir Khumm.
Thus, Imamat is believed to be a prerogative bestowed by God upon a chosen person from the progeny of the Prophet, who before his death and by way of ta’yid (divine support or inspiration) transfers the Imamat to another by explicit designation. As such, nass is the ‘formal act’ of an Imam designating his successor from amongst his male progeny or a remoter issue. For the Shi‘a Ismailis, by way of nass, Imamat has continued in the line of Imams directly descended from Prophet Muhammad through Hazrat ‘Ali and Hazrat Fatima and through the lineage of Imam Husayn and his progeny in perpetuity.
When will the Will be read and who will be present for the reading?
The Will is expected to be read as soon as members of the family, senior leaders of the Ismaili community, and the Executors of the Will have gathered. The reading of the Will is to take place in Lisbon.
What happens when one Imam has passed away and the next Imam has not yet been publicly named? Is the Rope of Imamat broken?
In the Ismaili faith and tradition, the Jamat is never without an Imam. As soon as one Imam leaves this physical world, his spiritual light passes to his designated successor, thus continuing the line of Imamat, which has existed unbroken for over 1400 years. The 50th Imam has been named in Mawlana Shah Karim’s last Will and Testament.
What can I do to offer prayers for our late Imam?
As we express our sadness at the passing of our beloved 49th Imam, and express our shukrana to him, special prayers will be offered in Jamatkhanas around the world. Individual prayer and remembrance is also encouraged. The Ismaili TV will also have special programmes to accompany the Jamat during this historic moment of transition.
Prayers during this period will focus on expressing gratitude for Allah’s mercy on the departed soul, and prayers for eternal rest. Special prayers will be offered on the 40th day following death, consistent with customary practice in Ismaili and other Muslim traditions.
What are the details for the Imam’s funeral?
Mawlana Shah Karim’s funeral is expected to take place in Lisbon as soon as arrangements are finalised. Further information will be shared as it becomes available.
Will the Imam’s body lie in state?
No, in keeping with Muslim tradition, the funeral will take place as soon as possible.
Where will he be buried?
Details of Mawlana Shah Karim’s burial will be communicated in due course.
Who will attend the funeral?
Mawlana Shah Karim’s family and invited senior leaders of the Jamat and Imamat institutions will attend the funeral.
Can I attend Mawlana Shah Karim’s funeral?
Jamati members are respectfully requested to not seek to attend any of the ceremonies in person unless specifically invited.
Will there be changes in our rites and practices following the Imam’s passing?
Changes to Tariqah practices are made at the sole discretion of the Imam-of-the-Time. Any changes will be communicated in Jamatkhanas through the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Boards.
Visit a specially-updated The Ismailiwebsite for more information and The Ismaili TV for related programming.
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.
I have learned with deep sadness that Mukhi Vazir Nurdin Gulamhussein Jivraj, originally of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, has passed away in London, UK, at the age of 92.
My memories of the Mukhi (congregation leader in Ismaili Jamatkhana) span many years. They are intertwined with the shared experiences of the UK Ismaili Muslim Jamat (community), particularly during the historic seven-day visit to London by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, from September 1 to 7, 1979. This visit, which also saw the foundation laying ceremony of the Ismaili Centre London, a significant event presided over by Lord Soames in the presence of His Highness, holds a special place in our hearts.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, pictured at the Olympia Hall, London, with Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj and Kamadia Nizar Dhanani during his weeklong visit to the United Kingdom Jamat from September 1-7, 1979. Photograph: Jehangir Merchant collection.
Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj was assisted by Kamadia Nizar Dhanani, a name I had known from Dar es Salaam as a cricket player with my dad, Jehangir, on the Young Ismailis team. Our shared love for cricket was a bond that connected us. This bond was further strengthened as Kamadia Nizar played for the Aga Khan Cricket Club in London in the significant 20-20 knockout matches in 1975-76 and became the Kamadia of the London Jamatkhana.
This personal tribute to the late Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj is based on one singularly important incident during the final mulaqat (meeting) on Friday, September 7, 1979, the last day of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to the UK at London’s Olympia Hall. My late mum, Mrs. Merchant (d. January 21, 2021), was on stage duty to recite the Salawat. She had an excellent memory and articulated the incident when we returned home later that evening.
As on previous days, the eagerly awaited Mawlana Hazar Imam’s daily mulaqat with the Jamat commenced with the recitation of Ginan (hymn) verses by our fellow Jamati members who were selected for the recitations by the Ismailia Association judges (the Ismailia Association is now known as the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board, ITREB).
On that particular final day, Friday, September 7, Hazar Imam began his mulaqat in the morning by performing religious ceremonies and delivering a Farman (guidance or edict) to the Jamat. A Ginan was recited during the morning mulaqat, and everyone designated for the week’s recitations had had their turn.
During the afternoon session, Hazar Imam gave a mulaqat to the volunteers in an adjoining room. He returned to the main hall to bid farewell and bless the Jamat. Of course, everyone expected him to give his final Farman to the Jamat before he left.
However, before doing so, once seated on the stage, Mawlana Hazar Imam turned to Mukhi Jivraj. He unexpectedly requested: “I want Ginan.”
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, delivering his Farman (guidance) to the UK Ismaili community in Olympia Hall, London, during his weeklong visit from September 1-7, 1979. On stage are Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj and Kamadia Nizar Dhanani, their respective wives, and Mrs. Merchant, seated on the far left. Photograph: Jehangir Merchant collection.
Unprepared, the Mukhi was startled and didn’t know what to say. He turned to my mum, who was on the stage a few feet away, and said, “Alwaeza, Ginan.” My mum had heard Mawlana Hazar Imam’s request to the Mukhi. She reacted immediately to Mukhi’s call, walking to the front of the stage and asking a youth — Salim Champsi — seated a few metres away to recite a Ginan. Of course, my mum had known him as a good reciter, only that he had not been selected to recite a Ginan during the Jamati mulaqats. He confidently came onto the stage and beautifully recited verses from the iconic and inspiring Ginan Satgur sathe goṭhadi kije, a piece that resonates deeply with the Ismaili community (listen to the Ginan sung by the late Alwaez Shamshudin Bandali Haji HERE. You can hear the same Ginan recited by multiple singers at Ginan Central, a truly informative and educational website).
The recitation was so powerful that it left me with goosebumps and tears in my eyes throughout. The impact of those words in the Ginan was profound. When I met the reciter, Salim Champsi, some 20 years later at the Bayview Jamatkhana in Toronto, he recalled that extraordinary and joyous day and expressed his heartfelt gratitude, saying he would never forget my mum for picking him out of the crowd.
Today, befittingly, I remember this unique incident, which very few people outside my family would know, as my tribute to Mukhi Jivraj with his passing 45 years later. Reflecting on that moment, I am reminded about the importance Mawlana Hazar Imam attaches to our hundreds of years-old traditions. During an evening of Ginan recitation or concert (mehfil) held in Karachi in December 1964, he said:
“I would be surprised if ever such a big Mehfil-e-Ginan has ever been held…many times I have recommended to my spiritual children that they should remember Ginans, that they should understand the meanings of these Ginans and they should carry these meanings in their hearts. It is most important that my spiritual children…hold to this tradition which is so special, so unique and so important to my Jamat…I have been deeply happy tonight, deeply happy because I have seen the happiness in the hearts of my Jamat and this is what makes Imam happy” — Mawlana Hazar Imam, Karachi, December 16, 1964, published by the Ismailia Association for Pakistan.
Indeed, the recitation of the Ginan on September 7, 1979, filled the hearts of thousands with unbounded spiritual happiness and joy.
Of course, the entire UK Jamat will remember the late Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj. I earnestly hope someone will write a detailed tribute to him, highlighting his services to the Jamat and his and his family’s unwavering devotion to the Imam-of-the-Time over the past several decades.
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Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, walks through his followers and past the Ismailia Association literature counter as he departs Olympia Hall after his audience with the Ismailis in London in September 1979. Following him are Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj, Kamadia Nizar Dhanani, and Begum Salimah with the Mukhiani and Kamadiani. Photograph: Sarfaraz Sadruddin/Ilm Magazine, December 1979.
I fondly remember Mukhi Jivraj for the above incident, which gave the Jamat an excellent and inspiring conclusion to Mawlana Hazar Imam’s and Begum Salimah’s visit to the UK Jamat. The event, as narrated by my mum, was not just inspiring, but truly extraordinary. I can never forget that particular inspirational and happy day in my life.
We express our sincerest condolences to Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj’s family, friends and the Jamats he led and served for years. We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Ameen.
Date posted: January 18, 2025. Last updated: January 25, 2025 (new photo added).
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Condolence messages: We invite readers to submit their condolences, memories and tributes to Mukhi Nurdin Jivraj by clicking LEAVE A COMMENT.
July 11, 2024, marks a significant milestone in the history of Ismaili Muslims worldwide. It’s the 67th Imamat Day of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. This day symbolizes his succession to the Divine Throne of Imamat as the 49th Ismaili Imam at the young age of 20, a pivotal moment in the continuing spiritual and material journey of the Ismaili Muslim community.
On this auspicious day, we extend our heartfelt felicitations to all our readers and Ismailis worldwide and express our humble gratitude to Mawlana Hazar Imam for his continuous blessings and guidance for his spiritual children. We also appreciate his family members for their contribution to the Institution of Imamat.
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, pictured at the Diamond Jubilee Darbar in Kenya. Photo: The Ismaili.
On this blessed day, we extend our warmest wishes to all Ismailis worldwide. May this Imamat Day bring you joy, good health, prosperity, and spiritual enlightenment. Let’s find solace in the constant presence of the Imam in our lives. He wishes the best for us, both in our material and spiritual aspects, and we are always in his heart, thoughts, and prayers. As he has said, “You are all constantly in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.”
The Imam’s love for his community is unwavering. As he has said, “No mountains, no river, no desert can separate the Imam from his murids” and “You must remember that Imam loves you more, much more than you can ever love him, and you must be strong in this knowledge.”
Indeed, as murids (followers) of Mawlana Hazar Imam, we must draw inspiration and strength from these messages.
The Rope of Imamat is an everlasting Rope of Guidance, Love and Affection and will stretch out for eternity; the wish and prayer of every murid of the Imam should be to hold fast to the Promised Rope and remain on the Straight Path (Sirat al-Mustaqim).
Earlier this week, Kutub Kassam’s poem and introduction to the poem Mazhar or Theophany made it abundantly clear that the Imam-of-the-Time is the Mazhar par excellence. He is the bearer of the Divine Light in the terrestrial world and the most perfect expression of the underlying divine reality.
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Calligraphy to commemorate the 67th Imamat Day of His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Shah Karim Al Hussaini Hazar Imam. The Quranic verse “Wa Kulla Sha’in Ahsainahu fee Imamim-Mubeen” is in cursive script with the border top and bottom “Shah Karim” in eastern Kufi. Calligraphy and design by Karim Ismail, Toronto, Canada.
As a follow-up, Toronto’s Karim Ismaili has designed a beautiful Imamat Day card bearing the Quranic verse, “Wa kulla shai’in ahsainaahu feee Imaamim Mubeen” (Quran, 36:12), meaning “We have vested (the knowledge and authority of) everything in the Manifest Imam.”
This verse underscores the central role of the Imam in every Ismaili’s spiritual journey and life. Our goal should be to strengthen this belief in our hearts, minds and souls for our spiritual upliftment, happiness, and courage to face any adversity that comes our way. As the 48th Imam, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, observed, “You will have no fear in this world if you love the descendants of Muhammad and Ali.”
The month of Rajab, 7th in the Islamic calendar, marks two important anniversaries — the birth of the first Shia Imam and Islam’s 4th Caliph, Hazrat Ali (may peace be upon him), on the 13th of Rajab (which was observed on January 24, 2024), and the Shab-i-Miʿrāj on the 26th of Rajab commemorating the blessed night when Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny) ascended to the heavens. The Mi’raj of the Prophet Muhammad will be observed by Ismaili Muslims in Canada and several other countries around the world on Wednesday, February 7, 2024.
Mi’raj is an Arabic word which literally means a ‘ladder’ and refers to an experience in the life of Prophet Muhammad which took place during the night. Thus, sometimes it is referred to as the ‘night journey’ of the Prophet. The first verse of Surah al-Isra (The Night Journey) in the Holy Qur’an says:
“Glory be to Him, who carried His servant by night from the Holy Mosque to the Further Mosque the precincts of which We have blessed, that We might show him some of Our signs. He is the All-hearing, the All-seeing.” — 17:1, translated by A.J. Arberry, see Corpus Qur’an for multiple translations.
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Six images from a total of 408 from an unidentified Persian treatise on the Miʻrāj and several other topics from the Hadith (traditions) of the Prophet Muhammad. Image: US Library of Congress. For more details please click https://www.loc.gov/item/2016397783/
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Fragment from page 7 of the Bustan of Sadi. The last two lines of poetry on this page extol the Prophet’s miraculous ascension to the heavens (mi’raj): One night he sat (on his flying steed Buraq) and passed through the heavens. / In majesty and grandeur, he exceeded the angels. / So impulsive, he urged (his steed) into the plain of closeness (to God) / While Gabriel remained behind him at the Lote Tree (of the Limit). Image: Wikipedia.
Among Sufis and other Islamic esoteric traditions, such as those practiced by Ismaili Muslims, Mi’raj is considered the highest point of spiritual perfection an individual can attain through religion and the practice of faith. Believers long to experience a Mi’raj, just as the Prophet experienced it. The Shia Ismailis seek out this spiritual elevation under the guidance of the Imam-of-the-Time, presently Mawlana Shah Karim Al-Hussaini Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, who leads his followers to self-awareness, spiritual insight and elevation. This is clearly noted in the Preamble of the Ismaili Constitutionin paragraph (F), which reads:
“Historically and in accordance with Ismaili tradition, the Imam of the time is concerned with spiritual advancement as well as improvement of the quality of life of his murids. The Imam’s ta‘lim lights the murid’s path to spiritual enlightenment and vision. In temporal matters, the Imam guides the murids, and motivates them to develop their potential.”
His Highness the Aga Khan is the 49th Hereditary Imam, directly descended from Hazrat Ali, whose remarkable teachings have come down to us through the preservation of his sermons and teachings which are recorded in works such as Nahj al-Balaghah. Close to the heart of the Ismaili Muslims are poems of the Imam Ali known as Kalam-i Mawla that have been rendered into Hindi. The verses speak about the conduct, behaviour and action of man during his sojourn on earth (please read Farouk Topan’s excellent piece Kalam-i-Mawla)
We are pleased to provide a recitation of verses from the Kalam of Hazrat Ali that focus on ethics, spirituality and the Mi’raj of the Prophet Muhammad. The verses are recited by Alnoor Saleh and have been downloaded from the MUST VISIT website Ginans Central, which is maintained by Karim Tharani of the University of Saskatchewan.
As Muslims around the world prepare to end the fast of the month of Ramadhan, with the celebration of Eid ul-Fitr expected to take place on Friday April 21, 2023, we recall a historic day in the life of Mawlana Hazar Imam who, on or around September 19, 1944, recited the Eid ul-Fitr Namaz (lit. prayers) at the Nairobi Chief (Darkhana) Jamatkhana now known as the Town Jamatkhana. Prince Amyn, Mawlana Hazar Imam’s younger brother, was also present on the festive day. Their religious education tutor, Missionary Kaderali Patel, recorded the day’s events in his diary. Please click HERE or on photo below to read the story.
As we prepare to celebrate Eid, may we draw our readers’ attention to the beautiful Eid Mubarak stamp, shown at left, that was issued by Canada Post on April 3, 2023, ahead of the Eid ul-Fitr and Eid ul-Adha, which will be celebrated at the beginning of July after the completion of the Hajj. The stamp was featured in our special post HERE.
On the auspicious occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, we convey our heartiest felicitations to Muslims around the world and wish everyone Eid Mubarak with prayers that Allah may fulfill all your wishes, and that He may in His Infinite Mercy shower His Creation with peace, tranquility and happiness. We also pray for the peace and rest of departed souls. Finally, we pray that Allah give us the strength and courage to face difficulties that we may be facing or that may come our way, and that He may ease our difficulties. Ameen.
Prince Karim, now the 49th Imam of Ismaili Muslims, leading the Eid prayers in 1944 at the age of 7. Please click on photo for story.
Date posted: May 11, 2021. Last updated: April 19, 2023.
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Before departing this website please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, which is dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat, and Simergphotos.
The publisher and editor of Simerg and its two sister websites, Simergphotos and Barakah, along with his family members, wishes all readers Navroz Mubarak with a prayer that the coming year bring with it joy and happiness in all our lives, that all our aspirations are fulfilled and that there may be peace and prosperity all around.
For our Ismaili readers, we quote the following timeless blessing in a Talika (written holy message) sent by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on March 21, 2021. He said:
“I send my most affectionate loving blessings for mushkil-asan, and for my Jamat’s wellbeing, good health, safety and security. I also give my best loving blessings for barakah in your spiritual and material lives, and for the fulfilment of all your wishes.”
For this most auspicious occasion falling on March 21, 2023, we present below two beautiful calligraphies in Eastern Kufi and Diwani script prepared by Toronto based Ismaili artist Karim Ismail. We also present a special new article on Navroz by Mohez Nato of France, who submitted the following lovely photograph of Crocus sativus or saffron crocus growing in his garden.
FLOWERS AND CALLIGRAPHY
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Crocus sativus or saffron crocus in Mohez Nato’s garden at his home in Paris. Read his Navroz article HERE. Photograph: Mohez Nato.
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Calligraphy Navroz and Navroz Mubarak in square and eastern Kufi by Toronto’s Karim Ismail.
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Calligraphy Navroz in Diwani script by Toronto’s Karim Ismail.
Date posted: March 21, 2023. Last updated: March 22, 2023 (link to full Talika added, typos.)
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Karim Ismail
Originally from Uganda, Karim Ismail lived in England before settling in Canada. By profession, he is a Pharmacist (retired). It was in England, in 1986, that he came across the artwork of a German Muslim, Karl Schlamminger (1935-2017), at the Ismaili Centre London. Karl’s artwork on calligraphy and geometrics, had a profound effect on Karim. He is frequently seen conducting calligraphy workshops for children at the Aga Khan Museum in Toronto. Karim is also active on the literature counter at the Ismaili Centre Toronto.
Before departing this website, please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought-provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos. The editor may be reached via email at mmerchant@simerg.com.
On the auspicious occasion of His Highness the Aga Khan’s 86th birthday on December 13, 2022, we wish Ismailis around the world and friends of the Ismaili community Salgirah Mubarak.
Since the time of Hazrat ‘Ali, the first Shia Imam, the Light (Noor) of Imamat has illuminated the path of followers and guided their spiritual and intellectual understanding of Islam. His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan is the current bearer of the Light. He is the 49th Hereditary Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims and a direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) through his cousin and son-in-law, Hazrat ‘Ali, and his wife, Hazrat Fatima, the Prophet’s daughter. Ismailis affectionately address him as Mawlana Hazar Imam (meaning Our Lord, the Present Living Imam).
Article continues below; please click on calligraphy to read complete piece in Barakah, a website dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan
Calligraphy: Border – Shah Karim in square Kufi; Central – Shah Karim Imam-e-Zaman in eastern Kufi. Artist: Karim Ismail, Toronto, Canada.
Upon acceding to the Imamat on July 11, 1957 at the age of 20, His Highness declared that he had dedicated his life to the uplift and progress of Ismailis worldwide. Few at that time could have imagined the scope and depth of this lifelong commitment, which today exceeds not only to the Ismaili Muslims, but also to the wider communities within which they live.
Continuing his forefathers’ long tradition of Muslim leadership and service to humanity, His Highness, has devoted more than 65 years of his life towards upholding the dignity of man, promoting peace and stability and working towards the common good of all peoples, regardless of their origin or religion.
As Ismailis around the world celebrate the 86th birthday of His Highness, they express their heartfelt gratitude to him for his love and guidance that has enriched their lives and enlightened their souls.
Date posted: December 11, 2022. Last updated: December 12, 2022.
Featured image at top of post: Mawlana Hazar Imam is presented with a birthday cake by Ismaili leaders in Toronto, Canada, November 1978. Photograph: Zinat Virani Family Collection, Vancouver.
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Before departing this website, please take a moment to review Simerg’s Table of Contents for links to hundreds of thought-provoking pieces on a vast array of subjects including faith and culture, history and philosophy, and arts and letters to name a few. Also visit Simerg’s sister websites Barakah, dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan, and Simergphotos. The editor may be reached via email at mmerchant@simerg.com.
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