Ghadir Khumm and the Aga Khan

Fourteen Centuries After Ghadir Khumm, Ismaili Muslims Continue to be Guided by the Eternal Rope of Imamat: His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan is the 50th Hereditary Imam

Idd-e-Ghadir, the declaration of Ali as Imam, Barakah, Ghadir Khumm
A calligraphy designed by Toronto’s Karim Ismail honouring the first Shia Imam Ali on the auspicious commemoration of Eid-e Ghadir.

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https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=30598842
Photograph: Vysotsky – Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia.

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Logo of the Encyclopaedia of Islam, featuring the words 'Encyclopaedia of Islam' and 'Online' in bold white letters against a background of green and yellow.

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Aga Khan ordains new Ismaili constitution
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Late Highness the Aga Khan, is seen signing a new constitution for the worldwide Ismaili community on his 50th birthday, December 13, 1986.

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Rahim Aga Khan signs the Ismaili Constitution under his name, Barakah dedicated to the Aga Khan
Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Rahim Aga Khan, signs the Ismaili Constitution in his name at the Diwan of the Ismaili Imamat, the Headquarters of the Imamat in Lisbon on the historic occasion of his Takht-nishini (ceremonial installation), February 11, 2025. Photograph: Akbar Hakim / The Ismaili.

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An illustrated representation of the Hadith Thaqalayn, featuring an infinity symbol, with the quote: 'I leave among you two weighty things: The Book of Allah and my Progeny.' Below the symbol, it states: 'If you keep yourselves attached to these two, never, never will you go astray. Both are tied with a long rope and cannot be separated until the Day of Judgement.'
Credit: Infinity design povray.org

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Aga Khan the Manifest Light Ismaili Imamat Quran verse

His Highness the Aga Khan IV: Compassion, Empathy, Pluralism, and the Global Ismaili Community — Celebrating a Remarkable Servant

Aga Khan depiction Canadian Museum of Human Rights
A life-size depiction of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, (d. February 4, 2025, aged 88) exhibited at the Canadian Museum for Human Rights in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The exhibit appears with depictions of other Honorary Canadian Citizens on a floor dedicated to “Turning Points of Humanity.” Photograph (of the exhibit taken July 2017): Malik Merchant / Barakah.

Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, at his Takht-nishini, in Nairobi, Kenya, 1957. Photograph: 25 Years in Pictures, Volume 1, Islamic Publications, 1983, London.
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, at his Takht-nishini, in Nairobi, Kenya, 1957. Photograph: 25 Years in Pictures, Volume 1, Islamic Publications, 1983, London.
Aga Khan in Hunza
The Ismailis o Hunza accept the gracious deedar (glimpse) of Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, their 49th Hereditary Imam, as he visits the Princely State in the Northern Areas of Pakistan in 1960. Hunza was then governed by the Mir of Hunza, who is seen following the Imam. The kingdom was then abolished, coming under the direct rule of the Pakistan Federal Government in 1974. The entire Northern region is now known as Gilgit-Baltistan with Karimabad (or Baltit), being the capital of Hunza. Photograph: © Abdul M. Ismaily.

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Hunza welcome for aga khan
A sign etched on a mountain to welcome Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan to Pasu in the Hunza region of Gilgit-Baltistan, Pakistan; November 1987. Photo: Faqir Ullah Khan.

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Aga Khan in Badakhshan
In a setting of spectacular natural beauty, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan addresses Ismailis and non-Ismaili Muslims in Ishkashim during his first historic visit to Badakhshan in Tajikistan; May 27, 1995. Photograph: The Ismaili.

Aga Khan Museum Toronto Open Doors 2023
A view of the Aga Khan Museum during the annual Toronto Open Doors event, May 27, 2023. Photograph: Malik Merchant/Barakah.

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Treasures at the Aga Khan Museum Toronto. From the upper floor, one can see permanent and loaned exhibits, such as the Wagner Garden Carpet, Burrell Collection, Glasgow, Scotland. Photograph: Malik Merchant / Simerg.

Baltit Fort restored by Aga Khan Trust for Culture
Divine mountain scenery around the Baltit Fort, in Hunza, Pakistan. The fort’s revitalization was completed in 1997 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture’s Historic Cities Programme. Photograph: © Paul Hilts.

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Manmohan Singh, the Aga Khan and Tata
The Humayun Tomb, the resting place of the second Mughal emperor and a precursor to the Taj Mahal, forms a backdrop in this picture taken during the inauguration ceremony on September 18, 2013 which was attended by the Chief Guest, the Prime Minister of India, Dr Manmohan Singh, Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, the Minister of Culture, Chandresh Kumari Katoch, Chairman Ratan Tata of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Prince Hussain Aga Khan. Photograph: Prime Minister’s Office (GODL-India), GODL-India , via Wikimedia Commons.

Princess Zahra Aga Khan Birthday Tribute, Barakah., Malik Merchant
President Chissano of Mozambique and Princess Zahra Aga Khan look on as Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, addresses dignitaries at the foundation laying ceremony of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo on June 25, 2004. Photograph: The Ismaili USA, December 13, 2004.

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Prince Rahim Aga Khan in Mozambique, inaugration of Aga Khan Academy by Presidents of Portugal and Mozambique
Mozambique’s President Filipe Nyusi and Portugal’s President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa unveil the inaugural plaque of the Aga Khan Academy Maputo, as Prince Rahim, who succeeded as the 50th Imam on February 4, 2025, looks on. Photograph: Akbar Hakim/IPL

The University of Central Asia Naryn campus in the Kyrgyz Republic lies on the banks of the Naryn River, surrounded by the Tien Shan mountain range. Photograph: AKDN.

Aga Khan with Kyrgyz musicians at the Smithsonian Folklife Silk Roads Festival in 2002
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, meeting musicians from the Kyrgyz Republic. The troupe was brought to the Smithsonian Folklife Festival held in Washington, DC, in 2002 by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. Photograph: AKDN/Zahur Ramji

Stamps issued by the Sultanate of Oman to commemorate the Aga Khan Award for Architecture and the Aga Khan Music Awards, October 2022.

Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and President Bill Clinton with His Highness the Aga Khan at the first White House conference on culture and diplomacy which was convened by President and Mrs. Clinton on November 28th, 2000. The Aga Khan was among the distinguished panelists invited to advise the president, and secretary of state on the role of culture in foreign policy. Photo: Official White House Photo.
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright and President Bill Clinton with Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, at the first White House conference on culture and diplomacy convened by President and Mrs. Clinton on November 28th, 2000. The Aga Khan was among the distinguished panelists invited to advise the president and secretary of state on the role of culture in foreign policy. Photograph: Official White House Photo.

Kofi Annan and Aga Khan
(Late) Kofi Annan, former UN Secretary-General, presents the Champion for Global Change Award to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, at a special gala dinner held in New York on October 18, 2017. Photo: The Ismaili/Akbar Hakim/Mairaj Manji.

Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, during one of his visits to the site of the Al-Azhar Park, in Cairo.

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Al Azhar Park
In the 1980’s the Aga Khan turned his attention to a site in Cairo, where garbage had been dumped for more than 500 years and was nearly 25 feet deep. After more than 15 years of work masterminded by his Trust for Culture, his vision has transformed the derelict site into a sequence of formal gardens filled with groves of fruit and flowering trees, fountains and an artificial lake studded with a modern lakeside café and a central allee of royal palms lines a path that has views of Islamic Cairo’s minarets and domes. Atop the dump site sit three new sunken reservoirs that provide invisible succor and a children’s playground and other special features. Shown in the image are: the 1992 park site, Al Darassa municipal dump (top left); on going work in shaping the Al-Azhar Park site in 1999 (top right); and the completed Al-Azhar Park which was inaugurated in 2005. Photos: Aga Khan Trust for Culture via Archnet.

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Aga Khan and the British Crown, Prince Charles and Camilla at Al-Azhar Park, Barakah news
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, welcomes Prince Charles, The Prince of Wales, and The Duchess of Cornwall to Al-Azhar Park in 2006 at the beginning of their official 2-week to Egypt, Saudi Arabia and India. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte.

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Al Azhar Park Cairo, a Aga Khan Triust for Culture project
Al-Azhar Park — a boulevard walkway in a park! Photograph: © Muslim Harji.

Aga Khan and Norway
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, and Norway’s Minister for International Development, Ms. Hilde F. Johnson, sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the AKDN and the Government of Norway, to enhance collaboration on development issues and programmes in Africa, Central and South Asia; April 6, 2005, Oslo, Norway. Photograph: AKDN / Gary Otte.

Dr. Friedemann Greiner, Director and Chairman of the Jury (left), presenting the Tolerance Award 2006 to His Highness the Aga Khan as Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Germany's Minister of Foreign Affairs (right), looks on. The Tolerance Award was established by Germany’s Evangelische Akademie Tutzing in 2000 and is presented every second year to an individual whose life work is committed to building greater understanding and tolerance between different cultures and traditions. During his laudatory address, Dr Steinmeier described the Aga Khan as a “fortress for democratic progress, as someone wishing to bring about sustainable, pluralistic, civil societies…We honour an exceptional man, we honour a huge friend of humankind, we honour a courageous visionary and we honour a person building bridges between societies,” Photo: AKDN/Zahur Ramji.
Dr. Friedemann Greiner, Director and Chairman of the Jury (left), presents the Tolerance Award 2006 to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, as the then-German Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier (right) looks on; May 2006. Photograph: AKDN/Zahur Ramji.
Synergos Founder and Chairperson Peggy Dulany presenting the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan in London on October 22, 2012. Photo: AKDN/JMB Photographic Ltd
Synergos Founder and Chairperson Peggy Dulany presenting the David Rockefeller Bridging Leadership Award to Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan in London on October 22, 2012. Photo: AKDN/JMB Photographic Ltd

adrienne clarkson global citizen award to aga khan
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, receives the inaugural Adrienne Clarkson Prize for Global Citizenship in Toronto, Canada, on September 21, 2016. The prize recognises an individual who has, through thought and dialogue, encouraged approaches and strategies that strive to remove barriers, change attitudes, and reinforce the principles of tolerance and respect. Photo: AKDN/Lisa Sakulensky.

The Aga Khan is presented the World Monument Fund's Hadrian Award on October 25, 1996 by David Rockefeller. In the keynote speech at the presentation ceremony, Cyrus Vance, former US Secretary of State, noted the Aga Khan's lifelong labour to improve the lives of Islamic peoples throughout the world and his commitment to the preservation and renewal of societies. Photo: The Ismaili Canada, July 1997.
Mawlana Shah Karim, His Highness the Aga Khan, is presented the World Monument Fund’s Hadrian Award on October 25, 1996 by David Rockefeller. In the keynote speech at the presentation ceremony, Cyrus Vance, former US Secretary of State, noted Aga Khan’s lifelong labour in improving the lives of Islamic peoples worldwide and his commitment to preserving and renewing societies. Photograph: The Ismaili Canada, July 1997, print edition.

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Andrew Kosorok -- Your Aga Kha - My Heo

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  1. His Highness the Aga Khan’s Foresight and Wisdom at Age 20 (Taksht-nishini messages)
  2. Bruno Freschi: The Architecture of Empathic Pluralism — His Highness the Aga Khan, an inspired vision of architecture
  3. Andrew Kosorok: Larnin’ in the Post-Colonial World — the atomic Imam speaks on education
  4. Andrew Kosorok: Volunteering and the Aga Khan
  5. Andrew Kosorok: Building God’s Kingdom – Prince Karim Aga Khan on patriotism and community

Mawlana Murtaza Ali (a.s.) to Mawlana Shah Karim al Hussaini Hazar Imam – The People of the House of the Prophet and His Progeny or Ahl al-Bayt

The excerpts shown below from the Holy Qur’an, the tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) and speeches of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, are quite clear about who the term Ahl al-Bayt refers to. However, Farhad Husseinali Patni gives further light on the subject by providing examples and references from early Islamic History, going back to the life of the Prophet and Qur’anic revelation. Please read this important article by clicking on “Ahl al-Bayt” – An Understanding Based on the Holy Qur’an, Hadith and Historical Events or on the image below.

Please click on image for article

Please click on image for article

“What is Faith?” by Pir Shihabu’d-Din Shah and “Love for the Imam” by Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq

1. FAITH

by Pir Shihabu’d-Din Shah

Faith (Iman) is like a tree, the roots of which go into the heart: its trunk is in reason, and its branches are in the instincts, while imagination is its new shoots and leaves – (senses of) the body. The foundation (asl) of faith is love for the Imam-e-Zaman (the Imam of the Time). And if this foundation, that is, this love, and the roots of faith are strong and in good condition, all other parts of the tree, such as its trunk, its branches and leaves, can be expected to continue to flourish even if they are (accidentally) damaged. If, on the contrary, the roots are not well grounded, or even rotten, the whole tree will soon dry, and then will become good for nothing except to be used as fuel.

Thus love for Mawlana Hazar Imam is everything, being the root of faith. If it is not strong, all the acts of outward piety (a’mal-i zahiri) which are like leaves of the tree, will fade. If you have thousands of leaves, fresh and of good colour, they will dry in a short time, and then a very small fire will be sufficient to burn them completely.

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2. LOVE FOR HAZAR IMAM

by Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq

It is related from Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq (a.s.) that a group of Shias visited him one day. One in the group addressed the Imam and spoke of a man who was with them.

O Son of the Messenger of God: this man has love for you.”

On hearing these words, the Imam looked at the person and said:

“The best kind of love is the love for the sake of God and His Messenger. There is no gain in any other kind of love.”

The Imam then continued.

“Once the ansars [helpers] came to Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa (s.a.s.) and said, ‘O Messenger of God! We were on the wrong path and Allah guided us through you. We were destitute and we prospered by your blessings. For this reason, you may ask of anything you desire from our belongings and we shall give it to you.’

“At this, the following verse was revealed by Allah, ‘Say (O Muhammad): No reward do I ask (for my favours) except your love for my kith and kin’.”

Moved to tears, Imam Ja’far as-Sadiq then raised his hands and exclaimed:

“Praise be to God, Who has exalted us above all.”

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“Faith” adapted from Risala dar haqiqat-i din by Pir Shihabu’d-Din Shah Al-Husayni, translated as True Meaning of Religion by Wladimir Ivanow.  Pir Shihabu’d-Din Shah was the eldest son of the  47th Ismaili Imam, Aga Ali Shah, also known as Aga Khan II. The Pir was only 33 when he died due to a chest related illness, a few months before the demise of his own father, Imam Aga Ali Shah. Mawlana Shah Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III, then only 8 years old, succeeded to the throne of Imamat as the 48th Imam.

“Love for Imam” excerpted from article by Jehangir Merchant and Alnoor Bhatia published in Ilm, Volume 5, Number 1 (July 1979). The article was based on the Gujarati edition of Qadi al-Numan’s work, Da’aim al-Islam.

A Tribute to Mawlana Hazar Imam for Creating “Centres” of Soul at Wynford Drive in Toronto

On October 10, 2010, Bashir Fazal Ladha of the United Kingdom, during his visit to Toronto, went to Wynford Drive to see how the construction work of the Ismaili Centre, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park was coming along. He writes: “It was a thrilling moment and I was full of excitement when I saw the progress, and in a moment of inspiration I composed a poem which I have decided to share with readers of Simerg.” The opening of the museum to the public on September 18, 2014 was announced recently and we take the privilege to repost this beautiful and inspiring poem for all our readers.

Writing the History of Tomorrow

Please click to enlarge

A photo of the site captured on October 10, 2010 by Jim Bowie - the day Bashir Ladha visited the area and was thus inspired to write the poem. Photo: Jim Bowie

A photo of the site captured on October 10, 2010 – the day Bashir Ladha visited the area and was thus inspired to write the poem. Photo: Jim Bowie. Copyright.

BY BASHIR LADHA

A look down deep in the bowls of the earth
“A foundation being laid, a foundation of a building?” I ask
Not only, it is a foundation of a history to unfold…..

I bow my head in submission to
The Lord of  Time and Age
Yes the Lord of Time and Age
For indeed you are beyond time and space

The planets rotate in their orbits
Glorifying your majestic presence
In those momentous moments,
time and history are created

Not the history as in past,
but the unfolding of tomorrow

Lord you create  a new history brick by brick
As the form takes place…
The Majesty of your
awe-inspiring Light is Manifested

Stage by stage, the inner world is recreated
The plaster of your mercy,
the warmth of your love

All adorn the formless and
the formed building you built

You call these “centres”
Indeed these are “centres” of soul
where your name is mentioned

The light shines forth from its windows
Inviting the convenienced  and the stray
Inviting both to a new history of tomorrow
and recreating the event of
alastu*
Inviting to the life of paradise

Museum where the past will be enlivened
Prayer hall where the soul will be enriched
Park where the future will be contemplated
All this, a gift to humanity

Then why, Ya Mawla why do I neglect
Why do I remain unheeded
remaining a slave to my ego?

Teach me O Lord to submit,
to worship as if I see you

And if I do not see you,
to know that you see all

Wynford Drive, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
I walk with you to a future
A history of tomorrow
Blessed by the Lord of Time and Age

I walk in hope and faith
for a better world ahead
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* The day of the Primordial Covenant or the Day of Alastu is when God addressed the people and said, “Am I not your Lord?”  (alastu bi Rabbikum). It was the day when hearts were given spiritual nourishment.

© Simerg.com

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About the writer: Bashir Ladha has served Ismaili Institutions for the past forty years as an Alwaez, teacher and writer. He has been with the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board for the United Kingdom since 1983.

Simerg’s Third Anniversary and the Blog’s Most Popular Pieces (Part 1 of 2)

To mark this blog’s third anniversary, we recently launched the series, “Thanking Ismaili Historical Figures,” with the publication of three letters by Andrew Kosorok (Makers of the Fatimid Blue Qur’an), Mohezin Tejani (Prince Sadruddin Aga Khan) and Aziz Kurwa (The Person of the Institution of Imamat). Several “Thank You Letters” will be published over the coming weeks and months, and cover numeous historical figures during the past 1400 years.

What did this blog begin with, and which are the pieces that have been viewed the most since our launch in the spring of 2009? We wish to present some twenty-four selections in two instalments from over 600 fine articles. Motivation does not necessarily come from anything that is lavish and extravagant. Lasting impressions and effects often come from small things, and in this regard there are two short and wonderful anecdotes that set the website rolling. “Thank You” to the Ismaili historical figures Muayyad din Shirazi and Nasir Khusraw for the momentum and inspiration they provided. Both the anecdotes are definitely worth a read, and should provide the readers with an appetite to read the remaining contents of this blog, as and when time permits. Please share this page and the website with your contacts around the world.

SIMERG BEGINNINGS

Dazzled by the Light of Imamat

The Missing Mount Nasir Khusraw

Here is an array of some dozen top reads, not in any order, that will be of interest to readers who have joined us recently as well as those who may have missed the readings altogether. The remaining twelve popular post links will be provided later during the week.

POPULAR POSTS (I)

Mehboob Dewji: Islamic Patterns

H.H. the Aga Khan's historic Badakhshan visit

Arif Babul Interview: Creation, Science, God

H.H the Aga Khan III: Long Reign Ends

Nazim Bhimani Poem: Hurricane Katrina

Bruno Freschi Interview: Darkhana Canada

Tashkorgan Jamatkhana, China

Karim Master's Legacy Lives On

Ismaili Constitution Preamble

Diwan Sir Eboo Pirbhai

Politique Interview with H.H. The Aga Khan

The Memoirs of Aga Khan in 7 Languages

A Note to Readers: Please scroll down or click Home page for other recent posts and click What’s New for links to all articles published on this blog since March 2009. Subscribe to this Website via the box near the top right of this page.

Follow up: Simerg’s Third Anniversary and the Blog’s Popular Pieces (2/2)