Quranic Ethic of Common Humanity June 5, 2008
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“I am fortunate to lead an international community with a strong social conscience. Bridging North and South, East and West, the Ismailis have a long tradition of philanthropy, self-reliance and voluntary service. Wherever they live, they faithfully abide by the Quranic ethic of a common humanity and the dignity of man. They willingly pool knowledge and resources with all those who share our social ethic to help improve the quality of life of less fortunate men, women and children.”
Extract from the remarks made by Mawlana Hazar Imam upon receiving the Die Quadriga 2005 Prize in Recognition of the work of the Aga Khan Development Network Berlin, Germany, October 3, 2005
The Ismailis October 24, 2007
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The Ismailis are the second largest Shia Muslim community. When Imam Jafar as-Sadiq died in the year 765, a group gave allegiance to his younger son Musa al-Kazim, and after him, in lineal descent, to Muhammad al-Mahdi, their twelfth Imam, who they believe is in hiding and will return to restore order and justice. This group came to the known as the Ithna Asharis, or the Twelvers. The other group gave allegiance to Imam Jafar as-Sadiq’s son Ismail and came to be known as Ismailis.
http://www.iis.ac.uk/view_article.asp?ContentID=104383
The Ismailis have a history that spans 1400 years. As many of you know they belong to the Shia Muslim Community, one of the two major branches of Islam, the Sunni being the other. The Sunni hold that there was no designated successor to the leadership of the Muslim community after the death of Prophet Muhammad. The Shia believe that, although revelation ceased at the Prophet’s death, the need for the community’s spiritual and temporal guidance continued. The authority for this guidance devolved first on Ali, the Prophet’s cousin and son-in-law, and subsequently passed to those male descendants designated in turn…… My responsibilities as a descendant and as the present Imam of the Ismailis concern not only interpretation in matters of faith to a broad diversity of people residing in more than 25 countries, but also relating that faith to the conditions of the present.
– Mawlana Hazar Imam, Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London, United Kingdom, February 6, 1992
From Ismaili Muslim History - Nizari Ismaili dawa in Subcontinent October 18, 2007
Posted by ismailimail in History, Pir Sadr al-Din, ismailis, nizari.Tags: jamat khana, nizari
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Did you know?
The Nizari Ismaili dawa was initiated in the Indian Subcontinent by emissaries or Pirs dispatched by the Nizari Imams from Persia around the twelfth century. At first, these emissaries concentrated their efforts in Sind (modern day Punjab in Pakistan).
Pir Satgur Nur is reported to have been the earliest Pir sent to the Subcontinent for the propagation of Nizari Ismailism, which in India became designated as Satpanth, the True Path. Pir Sadr al-Din played a key role in the propagation and organization of the Nizari dawa in the Subcontinent. He converted large numbers of Hindus and referred to the convertees as “Khoja” derived from the Persian word “khwaja” meaning lord or master. Henceforth, the Nizari Ismailis came to be known as Khojas.
Pir Sadr al-Din is also credited with establishing the first Nizari jama’at-khana in Kotri, Sind. He established two Nizari centers in Punjab and Kashmir and appointed their “mukhis” or leaders. The term is derived from the Sanskrit word “mukhya” meaning most important or chief. Although he extended the dawa to other areas of Gujarat, Pir Sadr al-Din’s centre of activities remained in Sind.
– Farhad Daftary, The Isma‘ilis: Their History and Doctrines (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1990)
