Aaye Reham Rahemaan by Imtiaz Fazalbhoy (Faiz) July 6, 2008
Posted by ismailimail in ginans.Tags: Ginan
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Everyone’s favorite, featured at Ismaili Mail blog earlier, a wonderful rendition of Ginan with Music, by Imtiaz Fazalbhoy (Faiz).
Translation taken from Christopher Shackle, Zawaahir Moir’s Ismaili Hymns from South Asia: An Introduction to the Ginans
Ginan with Music & Translations
Recited by Imtiaz Fazalbhoy (Faiz)
Music by Imtiaz Fazalbhoy (Faiz)
From Ismaili Muslim History - Ginan June 29, 2008
Posted by ismailimail in History, ginans, nizari.Tags: ginans, sanskrit
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The word Ginan is derived from Sanskrit.
Derived from the Sanskrit word jnana meaning contemplative knowledge, Ginans are a large corpus of hymns and poems composed in a variety of Indic languages (including Gujarati, Sindhi, Punjabi, and Multani) and attributed to a series of dais (preachers) who taught the Ismaili interpretation of Islam in the Indian Subcontinent beginning in the twelfth century.
Scholars agree that Ginans were originally transmitted orally although it is not known whether the recording existed simultaneously – the earliest copy identified so far dates to 1736. The Nizari Ismailis of the Indian Subcontinent recorded the Ginans in Khojki script to preserve and protect their literature. The Khojki script used by the Nizari Ismailis was probably an adaptation of existing scripts, and not a new creation. Historical evidence suggests that about thirty dais composed Ginans over six centuries; the existing collection comprises about 800 Ginans of varying lengths. It is believed that Imam Ali Shah (d.1885) had assigned the task of collecting and compiling the manuscripts to some of the members of the Jamat in order to preserve the manuscripts. The Institute of Ismaili Studies has a collection of 200 volumes of manuscripts in Gujarati and Khojki. These can be viewed at
Historical Perspectives on Satpanthi Literature and the Ginans June 25, 2008
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Religious Traditions and Early Ismaili History in South Asia: Some Historical Perspectives on Satpanthi Literature and the Ginans
Dr Samira Sheikh
In recent years, there has been significant research on the literature of the Ismailis in South Asia. In addition, there has been some investigation of the parallels between Ismaili literature and practices with those of certain other groups, particularly in Western India. Although this research has produced results with important consequences, it is still on the margins of the history of South Asian religions and literature. This might be an appropriate occasion to evaluate the implications of this research from a historical point of view and list some of the issues that might be clarified by more research.
How are the Ginans to be placed in the broader history of religious literature in South Asia? Although the earliest manuscripts of the Ginans date from the 18th century, they obviously refer to events and traditions of an earlier date. What then can these compositions tell us about religious conditions of the medieval period? How are the Ginans and Satpanthi compositions studied at present and can alternative approaches be suggested? Although these questions cannot be answered authoritatively at present, an attempt will be made to set the context for further research.
Three Books on Ismaili Ginans February 19, 2008
Posted by ismailimail in ginans.Tags: books
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Ecstasy and Enlightenment: The Ismaili Devotional Literature of South Asia
Find in your library: WorldCat database
A Scent of Sandalwood: Indo-Ismaili Religious Lyrics
Find in your library: WorldCat database
Songs of wisdom and circles of dance hymns of the Satpanth Ismāì̄lī Muslim saint, Pīr Shams
MP3 of Aaye Reham Rahemaan January 11, 2008
Posted by ismailimail in ginans.Tags: Ginan
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You may now download MP3 of devotional poetry - Aaye Reham Rahemaan - by Imtiaz Fazalbhoy Faiz.
Play above, or download here
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