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Category Archives: Ismaili Theology and Philosophy
Ismaili doctrines of faith: Short lessons from the writings of Alwaez Jehangir Merchant: (1) Tawhid or Unity of God
Introduced by Malik Merchant
(Publisher-Editor, Simerg, Barakah, and Simergphotos)
Alwaez Rai Jehangir Merchant (1928-2018) — picture above with Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan — is fondly remembered everyday single day by his beloved wife of 66 years, Alwaeza Raisaheba Maleksultan Jehangir Merchant, and all her family members.
He passed away 2 years ago on May 27, 2018 at approximately 1:15 AM. We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Amen.
Jehangir and Maleksultan in front of a large
portrait photo of Mawlana Hazar Imam.
My dad was a prolific writer. In England, he edited the flagship Ismaili religious magazine, Ilm, for several years while he served with my mother with the Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board (ITREB). His articles related to the faith, history, principles and doctrines of the Ismaili faith, along with insightful interpretations of Qur'anic verses, as well as moving narratives of Mawlana Hazar Imam's Mubarak visits to different parts of the world, richly contributed to the Jamats' understanding of the faith. The closure of Ismaili religious magazines in the very early 1990's created a significant void in the dissemination of religious material that was deemed to be "official." I am referring here to insightful articles in monthly or quarterly magazines published by ITREBs around the world, and not to literary and scholarly books, which the Institute of Ismaili Studies has done a fantastic job of publishing over the past 30 years.
From the time this website, Simerg.com, was launched in 2009, Alwaez Merchant was able to devote time to editing and adapting his Ilm pieces for publication on this website for the benefit of readers on the World Wide Web. Links to those pieces are provided at the end of this article. Ill-health prevailed, and he was no longer able to fully complete the remainder of his Ilm pieces for publication on Simerg.
Ilm magazine – one of Alwaez Jehangir's magnificent contributions to the Ismaili literary scene. Jehangir edited and wrote extensively for the journal.
Now, I am going to take his unpublished essays from Ilm — many of which were quite lengthy — and share them as short pieces of learning over the coming weeks and months. We begin the Jehangir Merchant series, if I may call it that, with the Concept of Tawhid, which forms the first component in his essay entitled "Fundamental Aspects of Ismaili Doctrine." It appeared in Ilm, Volume 7, Number 1 & 2, July-November 1981, pp. 2-12.
By (LATE) JEHANGIR A MERCHANT
Jehangir and Maleksultan Merchant served the Imam of the Time and Ismaili institutions for more than 60 years.
In all Shi'a tariqahs of Islam, Tawhid (belief in the Unity of God), Nubuwwah (Prophethood), Imamah (the Institution of the Divine Guide) and Qiyamah (Day of Judgement), are considered as the doctrines of the faith. My brief explanation of each of these 4 doctrines of faith for publication on Simerg are based on a much broader discussion that I provided on these subjects in my original article published in Ilm magazine, which also included a detailed historical background on the subject of Imamat.
The belief in the Unity of God (Tawhid) is the cornerstone of faith (Iman) for all Muslims.
It is articulated in the pronouncement: La ilaha ill-Allah: "There is no god but Allah."
This doctrine of Unity of God is beautifully summarised in Sura Tauhid, popularly known as Suratul Ikhlas (112:1-4), which says: "Say, He Allah is One; Allah is Absolute, Independent. He did not beget nor He was begotten and there is none like unto Him."
We know, however, that the Holy Qur'an, ascribes a number of attributes to Allah. God is spoken of as ar-Rahim (The Merciful), al-Wadud (The Loving), al-Sami (The Hearing), al-Barir (The Seeing) etc. The Qur'an also talks about Wajahullah (the Face of God), Yadullah (the Hand of God), and so on.
While there are numerous references which attribute human qualities to God in the Holy Qur'an, the scripture states in very plain words that Allah is above all material conceptions.
For example, the Qur'an says: "Vision comprehends Him not and He comprehends all vision." (6:104) and "Nothing is like a likeness of Him." (42:11)
The Unity of God (Tawhid) implies that God is One in His Dhat (essence) and One in His Sifat (attributes).
The concept of Tawhid appears in the works of many Ismaili dais (missionaries) and philosophers. Their works on the subject place an emphasis against anthropomorphising God, that is, giving human attributes to God.
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The inscription in the inner margin of this Fatimid coin minted during the reign of Imam al-Zahir reads: la ilah illa / allah wahdahu / la sharik lahu; "no god but God, unique, He has no associate." Photo: David Museum, Copenhagen.
God is declared in their works as One, Absolutely Transcendent, Omnipotent, Omnipresent, Omniscient, Incomprehensible and a Quality-less Being. A Ginanic verse makes this clear:
La thi un dhat kahave, tanki baat kahi nav jai; Dubki le le gotha khave, Pir Paighambar tai na pavey
The Dhat [essence] is from nothingness and nothing can be said about it. Pirs and Prophets delve deep in this knowledge but in vain.
The concept that God has no qualities difficult to grasp, because the human mind cannot comprehend a total lack of qualities, a concept which it has not experienced before. We cannot imagine a man, if we can for the moment call such a being a man, who has no colour, no shape, no size, no special existence, who is neither alive nor dead.
Hence, the notion that God is quality-less becomes unintelligible and the Qur'an, therefore, attributes a number of qualities to God. If we consider the qualities applied to God and examine them carefully we find that the grounds for all of these attributes lie in our own experience of this material world.
Pir Shiahbu'd-din Shah writes in his work Risala dar Haqiqati Din (True Meaning of Religion):
"…people speaking about God (Haqq) attribute to Him any such (perfections) as they can imagine. For instance, regarding blindness as a defect, they say about God that He sees everything. They regard ignorance as a defect, and thus say that God is All-Knowing. Thus, whatever they find in themselves as a vice and defect they attribute to God a perfection opposite to that. Most probably, even animals create their own God free from their own defects, ascribing to Him (the opposite) perfections. Imam Muhammad Baqir says that the tiny ant probably imagines his god as having two stings, because it regards the possession of only one sting as a defect."
So, when the Qur'an attributes qualities to God, it is to help convey to man the idea of God and not that these terms express the true nature of God, or that they are perfect indicators to His Being.
Ismaili doctrine upholds the belief in a single transcendent Being, whose nature is beyond the comprehension of the human mind and who is inexplicable. This is because our definitions are based on our experiences of the material world, and these definitions cannot be applied to this Being.
Pir Shihabu'd-din Shah, again in his previously cited book, says:
"All that is beyond thy imagination, Is merely the limit of thy fantasy, not God. Wisdom can attain a knowledge of His Substance Only in the case if a piece of straw can sink to the bottom of the sea. And Imam Ja'far-as-Sadiq said: "What God is, Man cannot think: and what Man thinks God is not. Yet man lives by God, and God is nearer to him than himself."
Thus, in the Doctrine of Tawhid, lsmailism completely avoids any form of anthropomorphism and remains purely monotheistic.
We will continue our next discussion on another Shia doctrine of faith, namely, Nubuwwah or Prophethood which will then be followed by Qiyama (the Day of Judgement) and Imamah (the hereditary leadership in Islam).
Date posted: May 27, 2020.
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.
The following are links to Alwaez Jehangir Merchant's articles that have been published on this website:
Ghadir-Khumm and the Two Weighty Matters (a Simerg original, I Wish I'd Been There Series)
An Esoteric Interpretation of the Mi'raj (adapted from Ilm magazine)
The Establishment of the Fatimid Caliphate (adapted from Ilm magazine)
The Parable of Moses and Khidr in the Holy Qur'an (adapted from Ilm magazine)
Jehangir Merchant's Thank You Letter to Da'i Al-Mu'ayyad al-Shirazi (a Simerg original, Thank You Series)
Text and Explanation of "Eji Shah Islamshah Amne Maliya" (adapted from Ilm magazine)
The Story of Noah's Ark in the Holy Qur'an (adapted from Ilm magazine)
A Translation and Brief Commentary of Pir Sadardin's Ginan "Jem Jem Jugatsu Preet Kareva" (adapted from Ilm magazine)
The Frontispiece of the Ismaili Jamatkhana in Mashhad, Iran (adapted from Ilm magazine)
"One Jamat" (proposal, with Malik Merchant)
The 1979 London Didar: The Experience (adapted from Ilm magazine)
Imams Muhammad al-Baqir and Ja'far as-Sadiq on Love for the Imam (with Alnoor Bhatia, adapted from Ilm magazine)
My last moments with my loving Papa, Alwaez Jehangir Merchant (1928 – 2018)
"Life of Jehangir" – includes historical photographs of Mawlana Hazar Imam
Alwaez Rai Jehangir Merchant (1928-2018) with more than 250 condolence messages
Varas Ismail Gangji: The Turning Point (By Maleksultan Merchant, a Simerg original, I Wish I'd Been There Series)
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Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Ginans and Qasida, Holy Qur'an, Imamat, Islam, Ismaili Ginanic Literature, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Prophet Muhammad, Shia Islam	Tags: Doctrines of Faith, Islam, Ismailism, Jehangir Merchant, Shia Islam, Simerg
The Imam is Always Present and Obedience to Him Makes Our Faith Complete
Recognition of the Imam
By FIDAI KHURASANI
He is always present
a witness with his followers;
but who has seen his beauty
except the blessed?
He who is the cupbearer of
the fount of paradise
is aware altogether of
the hearts of his followers
He is the Imam of the Time
the guide and comforter
the protector of his followers
whether young or old
Like the sun in the sky
he is manifest in the world
but the blind bat cannot see
his luminous face
Source: Shimmering Light: An Anthology of Ismaili Poems, ed. Faquir M. Hunzai and Kutub Kassam, pub. I. B. Tauris in association with The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 1997.
Making Our Faith Complete
By IMAM MUSTANSIR BI'LLAH
Pandiyat-i- Jawanmardi or Counsels of Chivalry is a compilation of the guidance of the 32nd Ismaili Imam, Mustansir bi'llah, who lived in the 15th century. The book contains exhortations to the faithful on the necessity of recognising and obeying the Imam of the Time and on how to live a truly ethical life. The circumstances that led to the compilation of the work are intriguing, and are alluded to in many of the manuscripts copies as follows:
When Pir Taj al-Din passed away, a number of people from the Sindhi Ismaili Community went to the Imam. Upon arrival they pleaded: "Our Pir Taj al-Din has passed away. Now we are in need of a Pir." The Imam then had the Counsels of Chivalry compiled and gave it to them saying: "This is your Pir. Act according to its dictates."
In the following piece from one of the chapters, the Imam enumerates on how murids (those who have pledged their allegiance to the Imam) can make their faith complete. Says the Imam:
"O, believers, O, pious ones!
"Now is the time when you should strengthen religion (din), by helping each other, by trying to gain knowledge, by advancing the religious cause, and striving to make your faith complete.
"Gain safety by obeying the Imam of the time, and become completely obedient to his orders.
"Do unhesitatingly what you are told by the blessed word of the Imam, –- then you will attain (real) salvation.
"Follow the Imam of your time strictly, so that he may take you under his protection, helping you, granting you victory and relief.
"And obedience to the Imam, attention to his word, will bring about the healing of spiritual ailments and lead to soundness and clarity of the heart."
Reading adapted from The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation by Shafique N. Virani, Hardcover – May 3, 2007
Date posted: May 2, 2019.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Farmans, Imamat, Islam, Ismaili authors, Ismaili Historical Figures, Ismaili History, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Pandiyat-i Jawanmardi	Tags: Imam-of-the-Time, Obedience to the Imam
The Ismaili Imamat and Spiritual Meaning: Communicating the Zahir and the Batin
In the Ismaili tradition, the Imam has a central and indispensable role in helping the believer mediate the outer and inner aspects of life
By KARIM H. KARIM
(This is an abridged and revised version of the article "A Semiotics of Infinite Translucence: The Exoteric and Esoteric in Ismaili Muslim Hermeneutics," which was published in the special issue on "Visible/Invisible: Religion, Media, and the Public Sphere" of the Canadian Journal of Communication, Vol. 40 No.1, 2015)
Shia Ismaili Muslim theology is shaped by the relationship between the zahiri (outer, exoteric) and the batini (inner, esoteric) dimensions of life. The two concepts are not set against each other in an oppositional manner but are complimentary ways of perceiving truth. This relates to a fundamental religious quest: to know the mysterium tremendum — "that which is hidden and esoteric, that which is beyond conception or understanding, extraordinary and unfamiliar" (Otto, 1958, p. 13). The relationship between the zahir and the batin points toward a notion of gradual perception through the metaphor of translucence, which symbolizes "the constant search for answers that leads inevitably to more questions" (Aga Khan IV, 2005b). Translucence permits partial illumination, but not complete enlightenment. Spiritual insight unfolds serially in an infinite journey. It is the Imam who, in the Ismaili tradition, has a central and indispensable role in helping the believer mediate the zahiri and batini aspects of life.
READING GOD'S SIGNS
The American social theorist John Durham Peters has dwelled on the imperfection of human communication that leads to misinterpretations. On the other hand, he notes that angels are viewed in some religions as "pure bodies of meaning" who understand each other without any distortion (Peters, 2000, pp. 74–75). Muslims believe the Qur'an to have resulted from communication of this kind. They hold the Qur'anic revelation to have been received from God, who relayed it to Prophet Muhammad through the archangel Jibril (Gabriel). The Qur'an itself describes the revelation as imparted to Muhammad through spiritual inspiration (wahi) (Qur'an 53:4). The Prophet expressed the spiritual messages in human language. Divine communication is materially manifested in the text that constitutes the Qur'an. The words of the holy book provide access to God; however, they can only be understood according to the intellectual and spiritual capacity of individual believers. They are simultaneously translucent veils and windows of the revelation's ultimate truth.
Islamic tradition holds that the Prophet and his companions memorized and wrote down the series of revelations that were received over a period of 22 years. The material was collected in the form of a book after the Prophet's death. Although the Qur'an has been rendered into numerous other languages, the original revelation in Arabic is considered to be technically untranslatable as no translation – no matter how rigorous – can replicate the specific discourse transmitted by divine inspiration (Pickthall, 1977). The nuances of the layered meanings embedded in the unique revelation would be lost through translation. Replacing the specific verbal signifiers spoken by Muhammad upon receiving the revelation would break the link with its unique spiritual content.
The adherents of Islam contemplate upon the pristine words of the revelation that was bestowed upon the Prophet 14 centuries ago. However, this poses substantial difficulty for the vast majority of the world's Muslims who do not speak Arabic. It is not a simple task even for Arabs as language changes over time. Contemporary forms of Arabic are quite different from that of the Qur'an. Given the divine nature of this scripture, translation into another language or even modern Arabic would break the link to the particular denotations and connotations of the uniquely inspired speech.
The Qur'an frequently refers to itself and expresses a self-reflexiveness about its transmission, its language, its nature, and its meaning (e.g., 16:103, 4:82, 39:23). The word it uses to refer to its verses is ayat: "These are the ayat of God that We recite to you in truth" (2:252). It is noteworthy that the same term is also utilized for God's signs. Several Qur'anic passages encourage the believer to ponder upon them. For example:
"And of His ayat [signs] is this that He created you from dust,
And behold, ye are human beings ranging widely!
And among His ayat is this,
That He created for you mates from among yourselves,
That ye may dwell in tranquility with them.
And He has put between you love and mercy.
Verily in that are ayat for those who reflect.
And of His ayat is the creation of the heavens and the earth,
And the difference of your languages and colours.
Herein indeed are ayat for those who know." (Qur'an 30:20–21)
Kenneth Cragg notes that "This confluence of terms is interesting and suggestive, allowing as it does the conviction that the external world is a kind of 'scripture' … [which] speaks Quranically to mankind…" (1973, p. 148). The material universe as well as its historical unfolding, like the revelation, constitute God's signs and texts that are to be read semiotically to understand the meanings of the messages to humankind.
It is "those who reflect" (Qur'an 13:3) who are able to comprehend the signification of the signs that God has embedded in the revelation and the Creation. Numerous parts of the Islamic revelation exhort the believer to reflect (tafakkur), to ponder (tadabbur), to learn (ta'allum), to comprehend (tafaqquh), and to use one's intellect (aqila) (Shah-Kazemi, 2011). Apprehending the divine through intellectual endeavour is a primary motif in the Qur'an. It is significant that the very first verses of revelation to be received by Muhammad began with the instruction to "read" [1]:
"Read in the name of thy Lord who created
Created the human being from a clot
Read, and thy Lord is the Most Bounteous
Who taught by the pen,
Taught the human being that which s/he knew not" (Qur'an 96:1–5)
What is meant exactly by "read" has been a matter of much discussion and debate for centuries among Muslim scholars. The Qur'an's emphasis on knowledge encouraged its acquisition to become a major endeavour among Muslims. The Arabic word ilm, usually translated as "knowledge," is one of the most frequently appearing terms in the holy book. [2]
An enormous amount of effort has been devoted over the past 14 centuries to study and understand the Qur'an. The meanings of its numerous metaphors, allegories, and parables have been sought over the ages. Philology, grammar, history, the Prophet's biography, eyewitness accounts etc. have been brought to bear to know the meaning of the more than 6,000 verses of the revelation. Established Muslim traditions of exegesis (tafsir) based on various explanatory frameworks support specific interpretations. In some cases, the differences in interpreting certain key phrases, words, and even punctuation have reflected significant doctrinal divergences among groups such as the Sunni and the Shia as well as among their subgroupings. Whereas Muslims generally agree that Qur'anic verses have surface, exoteric (zahiri) and deeper, esoteric (batini) meanings, the Sufis and the Shia generally lay greater emphasis on the latter. This tendency is not unique to Islam, since anagogic interpretations of scripture are also conducted by other religious believers, such as those engaged in the study of the Kabbalah in the Jewish faith and the Gnostic tradition in Christianity.
ISMAILI TAWIL
Among the Shia, the Ismailis have come to be known as the group that has most consistently explored the inner aspects of the Qur'an through tawil, the esoteric Islamic hermeneutics (i.e. modes of interpretation). Commenting on the work of Nasir-i Khusraw, a prominent eleventh-century Ismaili philosopher, the former Institute of Ismaili Studies scholar Eric Ormsby notes that
"philosophy and science apply in the realm of the zahir, the exoteric aspect of things, while tawil addresses the privileged realm of the batin, the esoteric understanding of revelation. Neither realm is essentially separable from the other; they are complementary and constitute a whole. They are as interdependent as the bodily senses and the soul, each of which plays a fundamental role in the constitution of the human being and of the cosmos." (Ormsby, 2012, p. 8)
Human bodies have to engage physically with the material world and the exoteric stipulations of religion belong to the dimension of the zahir. The "human soul, however, needs to know the inner meanings and significance of these acts and scriptures on which they are based" (Hunsberger, 2000, pp. 75–76). It is imperative in the context of Ismaili cosmology for the soul to become enlightened by these higher truths that only exist in the batin (Hunzai, 2005).
Tawil is viewed as an interpretive method which discloses the inner meanings of the Qur'anic revelation that would otherwise remain invisible to those conducting exegesis only by means of tafsir. Whereas the word tafsir comes from the sense "to comment," tawil involves the quest for original meanings or, more precisely, originary significance. Ismaili hermeneutics seek to reveal to the believer the Qur'anic signifiers (mathal) that are "incomprehensible to an ordinary mind because of their complex implications and extraordinarily profound meanings" (Shah, 2005, p. 119). Becoming knowledgeable of the mathal's originary signified sense (mamthul) involves spiritual and intellectual exertion of a high order. Tawil opens the way for comprehending the "ultimate implications and aims" (ibid) of God's signs.
Who, then, can carry out tawil? Whereas tafsir of the Qur'an is performed by knowledgeable members of the religious classes (ulama) among Sunnis and the non-Ismaili Shia, tawil, according to Ismaili tradition, can only be conducted by the hereditary Imam and, to a lesser extent, by members of the Imam's mission (dawa) (Steigerwald, 2006). Authority for this is based on the Qur'an, which states that "None knoweth its [the Qur'an's] tawil save Allah and those who are well-grounded in knowledge (ilm)" (Qur'an 3:7). The Shia, including Ismailis, understand "those who are well-grounded in knowledge (ilm)" in this verse to be the hereditary Imams descended from Ali ibn Abi Talib and Fatima, the first Shia Imam and the Prophet's daughter, respectively. (Sunnis disagree with this reading.) The status of Imams with respect to the conduct of tawil is also supported by the Shia with certain sayings (hadiths) of the Prophet Muhammd referring to Hazrat Ali (Shah, 2005). Whereas the revelation (tanzil) denotes the descent of the divine message to humanity, the Imam enables his followers, through the tawil of this message, to attain spiritual ascent by enabling them to comprehend the original senses of its signified meanings.
According to Qadi al-Nu'man, a prominent tenth-century Ismaili scholar and close confidant of the fourteenth Imam, al-Muiz, Hazrat Ali's outstanding qualities were his knowledge, nobility, and aptitude for providing proofs. As successors of Ali, the Ismaili Imams are viewed by their followers as having the ability to provide esoteric explanations of Qur'anic passages. Al-Nu'man also describes the Imams "as the bearers of the Divine illuminating substance (nur), and the ones who receive Divine help (tayid), and inspiration (ilham)" (quoted in Shah, 2005, p. 121).
"The traits also denote that an Imam does not require any teacher other than the preceding Imam from whom he imbibes the particular knowledge. The preceding Imam entrusts the Imama to him and thus teaches him. On the basis of all this, al-Numan refers to the knowledge of Imams as the real and true knowledge (al-ilm al-haqiqi) and the one which is transmitted from one Imam to another Imam (al-ilm al-mathur)." (Ibid)
Contemporary Nizari Ismailis hold that their present Imam, Aga Khan IV, who is forty-ninth in lineage since Hazrat Ali, has the authority and the ability to guide them according to the exoteric and esoteric teachings of Islam. Allegiance to the Imam of the time (Imam al-zaman) and membership in the Ismaili religious community are prerequisites for receiving knowledge of the batin from him (Carney, 2009).
EXOTERIC AND ESOTERIC
A book by the tenth-century Ismaili scholar Jafar bin Mansur al-Yaman narrates a series of dialogues that narrate the initiation of an adept into the esoteric teachings of the faith (Morris, 2001). It relates the need for careful intellectual and spiritual preparation and the deeply private nature of the communication between master and disciple. The knowledge of the batin received in this manner is to be kept within the community. Only those who have received Ismaili teachings and comprehend the significance of esoteric knowledge can understand its value. However, the disciple's understanding of the batin is limited by his/her spiritual capacity; each person can only see the esoteric truth as far as is permitted by her hermeneutic horizon's current limit (Corbin, 1954). The truth is learnt in stages, and remains a continuing process.
Not only will outsiders not be able to make any sense of the batin, it will also be harmful to them. An explication is to be found in an Indian Ismaili hymn (ginan) which relates several miracles of Pir Shams, a legendary thirteenth to fourteenth-century saint. One story tells of his banishment from a city whose inhabitants did not understand the true nature of spirituality. The turn of events brought him to a situation where he and his disciple had only raw meat for food and no means to cook it. In this difficult state, he asked the sun to descend in order to cook the meat. When the sun came down it did not harm the Pir and his disciple, but its proximity set the city and its people on fire (Hooda, 1948). The account is seen as making a symbolic statement about the power of esoteric knowledge, represented by the sun [3]: it nourishes those who have been initiated into the understanding of the batin by enabling them to gain knowledge of its true nature, but can destroy those who have not. The Imam and appointed members his dawah are the only ones who can provide such knowledge.
Since approaching the essence of the batin is not possible without the guidance of the Imam it is imperative, according to Ismaili belief, that there should always be a living Imam among humanity. The lineage, starting from Hazrat Ali, is expected to continue to the Day of Judgment. However, there have been periods in Ismaili history when the Imam was in mortal danger and had to go into concealment (satr). The Imams under threat from the mid-eighth to early tenth centuries and from the mid-thirteenth to late eighteenth centuries were in concealment, according to Ismaili historiography. Following the first period of satr, the community entered a period of kashf (unveiling) and rose to political power. Ismailis established the Fatimid Empire (909–1171 CE) in North Africa and built Cairo as its capital. Their leaders ruled as Imam-Caliphs over a vast realm that stretched at various times from Morocco to Arabia and also included principalities in Italy, Yemen, and India. However, even at this time, the religious followers of the Ismaili Imam were a minority among a population that included a majority of Sunnis as well as Christians, Jews, and others.
The Fatimids founded institutions of learning in their empire that catered to general instruction on religious and non-religious matters. These included Cairo's Al-Azhar University, which, a thousand years later, is still operating; it is now a global centre of learning for Sunni Islam. The Dar al-Ilm (House of Knowledge) dealt with philosophy and the sciences, and was a model for similar institutions that were established in other Muslim lands (Halm, 1997). Fatimid Imam-Caliphs delivered public sermons at mosques on major festivals (Walker, 2009). However, private gatherings known as majalis al-hikma (sessions of wisdom) were held to provide Ismaili teachings to the Imam's religious adherents. The Imam personally authorized the materials read out at these gatherings (Halm, 1997). A document from the period provides the following directions to the instructor:
"Read the majalis al-hikam, which were handed to you at the court, to the faithful (i.e. the Ismailis), male and female, and to the adepts, male and female, in the brilliant palaces of the caliphs and in the Friday mosque in al-Muiziyya al-Qahira (the Azhar Mosque of Cairo). But keep the secrets of the wisdom from the unauthorized, and distribute them only to those who are entitled to them! Do not reveal to the weak what they are unable to grasp, but at the same time do not look upon their understanding as too poor to absorb it!" (Parentheses in the original.) (1997, pp. 47–48)
These sessions of wisdom regarding the exoteric and esoteric aspects of faith conducted teaching according to the respective levels of understanding of the various congregations among the religious followers of the Imam-Caliph.
MEANING IN MATERIAL CULTURE
Ismaili Centre, Toronto
Whereas present-day Nizari Ismailis do not subscribe to the particular cosmological structures that underpinned Fatimid philosophy, they continue to adhere to beliefs relating to the concepts such as zahir and batin. Their communities (jamats) hold private religious gatherings in Jamatkhanas (congregational houses), which non-Ismailis are not permitted to attend. All those present will have given allegiance to the Imam of the time. The Jamatkhana is the preserve of the Ismaili private sphere. The Aga Khan Museum and the Ismaili Centre in Toronto are located on a 17-acre landscaped site that is publicly accessible. The juxtaposition of these two buildings, separated by some 80 metres, is particularly noteworthy. The former has an active engagement with the public while the latter contains a religious space that is kept private, in accordance with the community's esoteric traditions. Over the contemporary prayer hall is a prominent glass dome that is postmodernist in design. At its foundation ceremony, the Aga Khan noted that the "building will feature a crystalline frosted glass dome—standing like a great beacon on top of a building that is itself at the highest point of the site—and illuminating the Prayer Hall and its Qibla wall" (Aga Khan IV, 2010). The current Imam makes an intriguing statement about the relationship between Ismaili public and private spaces and also that between the visible and the invisible as well as between zahir and batin. Not only is the Jamatkhana placed on the most elevated spot in the area, its pyramid-shaped translucent cover lights up for the surrounding region, including the arterial Don Valley Parkway, along which thousands of vehicles travel daily.
Esotericism is generally conceptualized in the contexts of closed groups. Esoteric discourse and meanings tend not to be shared with the public. Ismaili hermeneutics seek to bring back potent words to their hidden original meanings, which have spiritual resonance for all human beings. Whereas this cannot be done without initiation into the privacy of the Ismaili fold, the community seeks alternatively to articulate its worldview publicly through institutional work and through appeals to universal values and symbolic discourses using material culture such as architecture and design. The Imam commissions some of the world's leading architects to design the buildings that house his institutions. The Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat's building in Ottawa is illustrative of the Aga Khan's expression of Ismaili perspectives in architecture, even that meant for secular purposes. This is what he stated at its inauguration:
"It will be a site for robust dialogue, intellectual exchange, and the forging of new partnerships—with government, and with the institutions of civil society and the private sector of Canada and so many other countries. To be able to site this building on Confederation Boulevard, in close proximity to your major national institutions as well as representations from abroad, is itself a symbol of the outgoing, interactive spirit which must guide our response to global challenges." (Aga Khan IV, 2008)
Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat, Ottawa
While referring to the "outgoing, interactive spirit" in the secular engagement with the public sphere, the Aga Khan was keen to embed the building, which is representative of the Ismaili Imamat, with symbols that speak to the interaction between the zahir and the batin. [4] In a letter to the building's Japanese architect, Fumihiko Maki, he indicated that it had to reflect metaphorically the properties of rock crystal, in which "the cuts and angles permit both transparency as well as translucency…It pleases and confuses the eye by its internal planes running at different angles, creating a sense of visual mystery" (quoted in Cook, 2008).
The Aga Khan said that the challenges facing the architect called for
"translating concepts that have a context in our faith and our history, yet stride boldly and confidently ahead, into modernity; for expressing both the exoteric and the esoteric, and our awe and humility towards the mysteries of Nature, Time and beyond. The outcome is an inter-play of multiple facets, like rock crystal. In it are platforms of pure but translucent horizontality. Light's full spectrum comes alive and disappears as the eye moves. In Islam the divine is reflected in Nature's creation." (Aga Khan IV, 2005)
Rock crystal was also prized by the current Imam's Fatimid ancestors, whose craftsmen carved beautiful objets d'art from this material (Bloom, 2007). Aga Khan IV finds in this pure quartz crystal a symbolic expression of the mysteries of the esoteric, which he asked his architect to explore. "What we observed is complete transparency in some areas and complete opacity in others. Then there are infinite numbers of translucency" (quoted in Cook, 2008), said an associate of Fumihiko. In alternating of transparency, translucency and opacity, rock crystal seems materially to mimic glimpses of the mystery of the batin — which is usually invisible, unclear, or confusing but begins to become more visible and clearer when the disciple learns to orient herself toward it. However, this remains a never-ending process that involves a continuing search through multiple levels of truth in accordance with one's growing spiritual horizon (Corbin, 1954). The hermeneutic unveiling of religious signifiers is not direct but mediated through infinite gradations of translucence, which appears to symbolize "the constant search for answers that leads inevitably to more questions" (Aga Khan IV, 2005).
The term esoteric sometimes connotes a tendency to withdraw from public life, as was the case with the Gnostic tradition in the Christian faith. Whereas Ismailis went into concealment in certain periods to continue practising their esoteric faith in safety, they are vigorously interacting with the public sphere in contemporary times. The community is engaging with a world where secular norms have lessened the value of religious perspectives in shaping public worldviews. However, this relatively small group appears to be working to develop a common discourse based on the broader values it shares with other people. Issues such as ethics, education, good governance, quality of life, pluralism, service etc. have provided for productive communicative bridges with others. The success of Ismaili institutions has also enhanced external confidence in them.
While seeking to ensure privacy about his community's religious practice, the Imam appears to be engaging in a symbolic discourse through the media of design and architecture to express exoteric and esoteric concepts publicly. Placing an Ismaili Jamatkhana on an elevated location and designing its dome as a bright lamp in the Toronto cityscape appears to draw aesthetically from a sense of mystery reminiscent of the highly symbolic Qur'anic verse of light (24:35) and a ginan's metaphoric reference to "When the Lord's light shines in the north[ern] continent" (Peer Sadardeen, n.d.). Outsiders can see the brightly illuminated translucent shell of the pyramidal dome but its inner realm remains invisible and private. Symbolism using material culture is here an intriguing means to communicate with the public about the community's most deeply held values.
Last updated: May 3, 2018 (minor typos).
[1]. The first word was iqra; it is interpreted variantly as both "read" and "recite."
[2]. It occurs 856 times (Shah-Kazemi, 2011, p. 4).
[3]. The sun has symbolized the Imam in Nizari Ismaili literature (e.g., Ivanow, 1947, p. 18).
[4]. Valérie Gonzalez discusses "a double semiotic structure signifying at both the manifest and the hidden level" (2001, p. 33) in the context of a relationship between Qur'anic text and Muslim architectural aesthetics.
Karim H. Karim
About the author: Karim H. Karim is the Director of the Carleton Centre for the Study of Islam and a Professor at Carleton University's School of Journalism and Communication. He has also served as Director of the School and of the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, England, and has been a Visiting Scholar at Harvard University. Earlier in his career, he worked as a journalist and as a senior policy analyst in the Canadian Government. Professor Karim has been a distinguished lecturer at venues in North America, Europe, and Asia. He won the inaugural Robinson Prize for his book Islamic Peril: Media and Global Violence. His most recent publications are Diaspora and Media in Europe: Migration, Identity, and Integration; Re-Imagining the Other: Culture, Media and Western-Muslim Intersections and Engaging the Other: Public Policy and Western-Muslim Intersections. One of Dr. Karim's articles is "Clash of Ignorance" and he is currently writing a book on this topic.
Aga Khan IV. (2005, June 6). Address by His Highness the Aga Khan at the foundation ceremony of the Delegation of the Ismaili Imamat (Ottawa, Canada). URL: http://www.akdn.org/Content/121 [February 12, 2014].
Aga Khan IV. (2008). Where hope takes root: Democracy and pluralism in an interdependent world. Vancouver, BC: Douglas & McIntyre.
Aga Khan IV. (2010, May 28). Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the foundation ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, the Aga Khan Museum and their Park. URL: http://www.akdn.org/Content/993 [February 9, 2014].
Bloom, Jonathan M. (2007). Arts of the city victorious: Islamic art and architecture in Fatimid North Africa and Egypt. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
Carney, Abd al-Hakeem. (2009). Esoteric interpretation in Ismailism. Sacred Web, 22, 119–133.
Cook, Maria. (2008, December 6). An essay in glass. The Ottawa Citizen. URL: http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/observer/story.html?id=62eba74e-c926-4291-9d69-a863f011e5ae [February 11, 2014].
Corbin, Henry. (1954). Divine epiphany and spiritual birth in Ismailian gnosis. In Joseph Campbell (Ed.), Man and transformation: Papers from the Eranos yearbooks (pp. 69–160). Princeton, NJ: Bollingen.
Cragg, Kenneth. (1973). The mind of the Qur'an. London: George Allen & Unwin.
Gonzalez, Valérie. (2001). Beauty and Islam: Aesthetics in Islamic art and architecture. London: I. B. Tauris.
Halm, Heinz. (1997). The Fatimids and their traditions of learning. London: I. B. Tauris.
Hooda, Vali Mohamed. (1948). Some specimens of Satpanth literature. In W. Ivanow (Ed.). Collectanea (pp. 55–145). Leiden, Netherlands: Brill.
Hunsberger, Alice C. (2003). Nasir Khusraw, the ruby of Badakhshan: A portrait of the Persian poet, traveller and philosopher. London: I. B. Tauris.
Hunzai, Faquir Muhammad. (2005). The concept of knowledge according to al-Kirmani. In T. Lawson (Ed.), Reason and inspiration in Islam: Theology, philosophy and mysticism in Muslim thought—Essays in honour of Hermann Landolt (pp. 127–141). London: I. B. Tauris.
Ivanow, Wladamir. (1947). On the recognition of the Imam. Bombay: Thacker & Co.
Morris, James. (2001). The master and the disciple: An early Islamic spiritual dialogue. London: I. B. Tauris.
Ormsby, Eric. (2012). Between reason and revelation: Twin wisdoms reconciled. London: I. B. Tauris.
Otto, Rudolph. (1958). The idea of the holy (John W. Harvey, Trans.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.
Peer Sadardeen. (N.d.). Utar kha(n)dd maa(n)he shah nee [Webpage]. Ismaili.net—Heritage FIELD [First Ismaili Electronic Library and Database]. URL: http://ismaili.net/heritage/node/23196 [November 16, 2014].
Peters, John Durham. (2000). Speaking into the air: A history of the idea of communication. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press.
Pickthall, Muhammad Marmaduke. (1977). The glorious Qur'an. New York, NY: Muslim World League.
Shah, Bulbul. (2005). Al-Qadi a-Numan and the concept of batin. In T. Lawson (Ed.), Reason and inspiration in Islam: Theology, philosophy and mysticism in Muslim thought—Essays in honour of Hermann Landolt (pp. 117–126). London: I. B. Tauris.
Shah-Kazemi, Reza. (2011). Spiritual quest: Reflections on Quranic prayer according to the teachings of Imam Ali. London: I. B. Tauris.
Steigerwald, D. (2006). Ismaili tawil. In A. Rippin (Ed.). The Blackwell companion to the Qur'an (pp. 386-400). Oxford, UK: Blackwell.
Walker, Paul E. (2009). Orations of the Fatimid caliphs: Festival sermons of the Ismaili Imams. London: I. B. Tauris.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: His Highness the Aga Khan, Holy Qur'an, Imamat, Ismaili Spirituality, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Prophet Muhammad, Shia Islam	Tags: Batin, Karim H Karim. Ismaili Imamat, Zahr
A Brief Note on Papacy and the Ismaili Imamat, and St. Peter in Roman Catholic and Ismaili Traditions
PREPARED AND COMPILED BY ABDULMALIK MERCHANT
(Publisher-Editor http://www.simerg.com, http://www.barakah.com and http://www.simergphotos.com)
Handshake: Pope Benedict XVI and His Highness the Aga Khan
As part of his famous Apostolic Journey to France in 2008, Pope Benedict XVI, on September 13, paid a visit to the "Institut De France" in Paris. The Pope, who had been elected as the 265th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church in 2005, was presented with a gold medal by the Institut, and also unveiled a plaque commemorating his visit. During his very brief remarks to the audience, the Pope expressed his gratitude to the Institut "both personally and as the successor of [Simon] Peter."
His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam, was also in attendance at the Institut de France as the Associate Foreign Member of the Académie des Beaux-Arts (Academy of Fine Arts), one of five learned societies within the Institut which was founded in 1795.
Everyone's attention in the hall was drawn to Mawlana Hazar Imam and the Pope, with an extraordinary sense of interest and keenness, as the two faith leaders greeted each other with a handshake.
A couple of years earlier in 2006, the Pope made some controversial remarks concerning Islam to which the Aga Khan responded in an Interview: Islam is a Faith of Reason which appeared in Germany's widely read Spiegel website.
In 2013, Pope Benedict dramatically resigned his position as the Head of the Catholic Church due to his deteriorating strength, advanced age and the heavy demands of being Pope, and retired at the Mater Ecclesiae, a small monastery located inside the Vatican State City. His present successor is Pope Francis I, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio.
Everyone's attention is drawn to Pope Benedict XVI and His Highness the Aga Khan as they greet each other on September 13, at the Institut de France in Paris during an official visit by the Pope to France in 2008. Photo: Copyright. Getty Images. Published on Simerg/Simergphotos with a Licensing arrangement with Getty Images. Fench caption: Vue plongeante du pape BENOIT XVI serrant la main de l'AGA KHAN à son arrive sous la coupole de l'Institut de France à PARIS entouré de nombreux académiciens et autres personnalités dont Gabriel DE BROGLIE, Hélène CARRERE D'ENCAUSSE, Jean-François JARRIGE, Jean-François BACH, Arnaud D'HAUTERIVES, Michel ALBERT, Christian PONCELET président du Sénat, Jean TULARD, Alain DECAUX, Pierre-Jean REMY, Michel MOHRT, Max GALLO, le cardinal André VINGT-TROIS archevêque de Paris et le cardinal Paul POUPARD. (Photo by Philippe Petit/Paris Match via Getty Images).
SIMON PETER IN THE CHRISTIAN AND ISMAILI TRADITIONS
The Catholics adhere to the belief that the Pope is a successor of St. Peter or Simon Peter. The succession of the pope is determined by a college of cardinals who elect the pope, while the office of the Imam of the Ismailis is a hereditary position.
In a speech made at the Canadian Parliament in 2014, the Aga Khan declared that "the Ismaili Imamat is a supra-national entity, representing the succession of Imams since the time of the Prophet." And, in an interview with Politique International he said, "The religious leadership of the Ismaili Imam goes back to the origins of Shia Islam when the Prophet Muhammad appointed his son-in-law, Ali, to continue his teachings within the Muslim community. The leadership is hereditary, handed down by Ali's descendants, and the Ismailis are the only Shia Muslims to have a living Imam, namely myself."
In the Catholic tradition, the foundation for the office of the Pope is found primarily in Matthew, where Jesus is quoted as telling Simon Peter:
"You are 'Rock,' and on this rock I will build My Church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."
This series of successions of the Pope is known as "Apostolic Succession," with the line of Bishops stretching back to the apostles, who lived during the time of Jesus. Simon Peter is recognized as having been the first Pope. Early Christians however reserved the title of "Pope" for St. Peter's successors.
In branches of Shia theology as well as Ismailism, Simon Peter's role is seen as the direct parallel to that of Hazrat Ali as the first Imam. Ismailis along with some other Shia groups maintain that every major Prophet had a spiritual legatee (Waṣi) or successor called the Asas (foundation) who taught the inner meaning to those who had the capacity to understand it. In this regard, Adam had Seth; Noah had Shem; Moses had Aaron, and Jesus had Simon Peter. A well known sacred tradition of the Prophet Muhammad says that "Ali is to me as Aaron was to Moses," confirming that Ali held the same level of authority as Aaron did.
Date posted: January 3, 2018
An earlier version of this post appeared on this website on December 31, 2015.
We welcome your feedback, please click Leave a comment or send it to simerg@aol.com, Your feedback may be edited for length and brevity, and is subject to moderation. We are unable to acknowledge unpublished letters.
The following were used as references for the compilation of this piece:
Apostolic Journey to France: Greeting by the Holy Father during the visit at the Institut de France (September 13, 2008)
The Popes: From St. Peter to Pope Frances by Rupert Matthews, 2014 Edition published by arrangement with Moseley Road Inc.
http://www.catholic-pages.com/pope/peter.asp
Peter in Islam, at Wikipedia.
Comparing the Imamat and the Papacy: Some Short Notes (at Ismailignosis.com).
The Delegation Decoded – An Esoteric Exegesis of the Delegation of the Isma'ili Imamat, by Khalil Andani.
Concise Encyclopedia of Islam, C. Glasse.
Voices: "The Power of Wisdom" – His Highness the Aga Khan's Interview with Politique Internationale (English translation)
In a Dynamic and Stirring Address to Members of the Canadian Parliament, His Highness the Aga Khan Shares His Faith Perspectives on the Imamat, Collaboration with Canada, the Muslim World Community (the Ummah), the Nurturing of Civil Society, Early Childhood Education, Voluntary Work, and the Unity of the Human Race
Also see the following important features to learn more about the Aga Khan and the Ismaili Imamat:
"Islam Is a Faith of Reason" – SPIEGEL Interview with Aga Khan in which His Highness the Aga Khan responded to Pope Benedict's controversial remarks concerning Islam that he had made in 2006; and Special Series: Ismaili Expressions on the Imamat and Imam of the Time — (I) The Preamble of the Constitution of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Christianity, Comparative Religions, Hadith, His Highness the Aga Khan, Holy Qur'an, Islam, Islamic and Comparative Philosophy, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Shia Islam, Simergphotos, The Doctrine of Imamat, The Holy Qur'an, World Events	Tags: Handshake, His Highness the Aga Khan, Institut de France, Paris, Pope Benedict
The Imamat and Didar of Hazar Imam
"With hope I stand at thy door, O Ali! And sincerely beg of thee, bless me with thy holy didar, O great lord and benefactor! At thy feet I fall to prostrate"….MORE
PLEASE CLICK: Simerg's Imamat and Didar Series (pdf)
The Jamat of Hunza accept the gracious didar (glimpse) of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, as he visits the Princely State in the Northern Areas of Pakistan in 1960. Photo: Abdul M. Ismaily (papa jaan). Copyright.
"I was taken near the place where from I saw the bright Light of the Prophethood. My eyes were dazzled by the Light. I shed tears of joy and felt as if I was looking at the face of the Prophet of Allah and of the Commander of the Faithful, Hazrat Ali. I prostrated myself before the one who is the fittest person to bow to. I wanted to say something, but I was awe-struck."….MORE
The Jamat of Hunza accept the gracious didar (glimpse) of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, as he visits the the Northern Areas of Pakistan in 1960. Photo: Abdul M. Ismaily (Papa Jaan). Copyright.
Date posted: September 28, 2017.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Ginans and Qasida, Hadith, Holy Qur'an, Imamat, Islam, Ismaili Ginanic Literature, Ismaili Spirituality, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History	Tags: Didar, Imamat
Short readings to build your knowledge on Ismaili theology, esoterics and history
"THE ISMAILI IMAMAT REPRESENTS THE SUCCESSION OF IMAMS SINCE THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD" — HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN, 2014
Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan (pictured above), in direct lineal descent from the Holy Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) through Hazrat Ali (a.s.) and Hazrat Bibi Fatima (a.s), is the 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. From the time of the first Imam Ali, who was designated and appointed as such by the Holy Prophet, the Imams of the Ismaili Muslims have ruled over territories and peoples in various areas of the world at different periods of history in accordance with the Islamic precepts and ethics of unity, brotherhood, justice, tolerance and goodwill. The Ismaili Imam is therefore not only concerned with the material advancement and the improvement of the quality of life of his Ismaili followers, but also that of other Muslim communities and societies at large in which they live.
In accordance with historical and theological works and the teachings of their Imams, the Ismailis believe that each Imam is the bearer of the Light of Imamat (or Nur). This (spiritual) Light is with the Ahl al-bayt (i.e. the Imams from the Prophet Muhammad's family). This Nur was with the first Shia Imam Ali and, for Shia Ismailis, is now with their present 49th Imam. Every Imam guides his followers during his time through the Nur of Imamat.
The Nur of Imamat is always there to guide through the physical presence of the Imam. The Imam holds his followers hands and leads and protects them in both difficult and good times. He shows them how they should live in a particular time and place. Just as the water of a river continues to flow, the Hereditary line of Imamat from Hazrat Ali never stops. That is, the Imam is always physically present and manifest on this earth. According to Shia tradition, the Imam is the threshold through which God and the creatures communicate. He is thus a cosmic necessity, the key and the center of the universal economy of the sacred: "The earth cannot be devoid of an Imam; without him, it could not last an hour. If there were only two men left in the world, one of them would be the Imam."
One of the goals of each Ismaili is to strive to come closer to the spiritual light of the Imam. One can do so by fulfilling one's material and spiritual responsibilities to the best of one's ability. Praying regularly, living by the ethics of Islam, following the Imam's guidance strengthens the Ismailis' spiritual bond with their Imam, and through his Light, brings them closer to Allah.
In the coming days, weeks and months Simerg will endeavour to provide different perspectives on the Imamat and Ismaili contributions to Islamic culture and thought from various literary works on Ismaili philosophy, theology and history.
Beatific Vision of the Imam
The [Imam's] beatific vision is of two kinds: one a physical meeting with the Imam and the other a spiritual recognition of his essence [Nur], through which God is recognized.
Speaking of the second of these, Pir Sadr al-Din, in his ginan [religious hymn] "Sakhi māhā pad keri vāt koek jānere", writes:
Friend! None but a few know of the exalted station. Indeed, they alone recognize it who have found the true guide.
Friend! Within the heart, at the confluence of the three spiritual rivers, there is an imperishable light. There – a shimmering effulgence, pearls are showered.
Friend! I completely lost consciousness of my physical self when my meditation mounted the empyrean, bursting forth.
Friend! I beheld the place of the lofty throne, I saw the seven islands, the nine continents.
Friend! The religious scriptures and books cannot fathom this, for there is neither day there, nor night, neither sun, nor shade.
Friend! My Lord is not such that He can be spoken of. He is to be seen – for He is indescribable, and nameless.
Friend! How sweet is that Lord, indescribable, nameless. Says Pir Sadr al-Din, truly, with my own eyes, I have seen Him!
Dazzled by the Light of Imamat
When Ismaili missionary al-Mu'ayyad-din Shirazi had left Shiraz in Persia for Fatimid Egypt, he was very hopeful that he would get the opportunity to see the Imam-Caliph Mustansir-bi-Allah, but at the same time he had also feared the intrigues of the ministers who did not permit any man of learning to see the Imam personally, unless he complied with their dictates and acknowledged their superiority.
On reaching Egypt he experienced all that he had feared. He was lodged in a small house and his visits to the court were short and limited to prevent him from seeing the Imam.
Disappointed, he finally decided to leave Egypt and wrote as follows to Tastari, one of the most powerful persons in the Fatimid State:
"I have not come to Egypt to seek wealth or gain any position. The promptings of my faith have brought me here. I have come to visit the Imam and not the Vaziers and their officials. Unfortunately, these people stop me from having a look at my Imam and now I am returning disappointed."
The sudden death of Tastari gave al-Mu'ayyad another opportunity to renew his efforts to get some time to be in the holy presence of the Imam and with some help was finally able to pay respects to the Imam. Describing his experience, he writes:
I was taken near the place where from I saw the bright Light of the Prophethood. My eyes were dazzled by the Light. I shed tears of joy and felt as if I was looking at the face of the Prophet of Allah and of the Commander of the Faithful, Hazrat Ali. I prostrated myself before the one who is the fittest person to bow to. I wanted to say something, but I was awe-struck.
I tried to speak but my tongue refused to move. People asked me to say what I wished to say. I could say nothing. The Imam said, 'Leave him. Let his fear and awe subside'.
After this, I rose. I took the holy hand of the Imam, placed it on my eyes and on my chest and then kissed it. I left the place with immense joy.
Imam Mu'izz's Arrival in Cairo
In 969 CE, Imam al-Mu'izz, "an excellent planner, an efficient organiser and a statesman amply talented in diplomacy," with the help of his general Jawhar Siqilli, acquired Egypt peacefully.
During this time the building of the new city of Cairo began and in 970 CE the foundation for the al-Azhar mosque was laid. The Imam himself arrived in Cairo in 973 CE in a very touching ceremony. His sons, brothers and uncles, and other descendants of Imam al-Mahdi, the first Fatimid caliph, made their entrance with him. Imam Mu'izz brought with him the coffins of his ancestors Imams al-Mahdi, al-Qa'im and al-Mansur.
Stanley Lane-Poole's description of Imam al-Mu'izz may aid one to understand his successful reign:
He was a born statesman, able to grasp the conditions of success and to take advantage of every point in his favour. He was also highly educated, and not only wrote Arabic poetry and delighted in its literature, but studied Greek, mastered Berber and Sudani dialects, and is even said to have taught himself Salvonic … His eloquence was such as to move his audience to tears. To prudent statesmanship he added a large generosity, and his love of justice was among his noble qualities.
Cairo's location between Africa and the Mediterranean ensured that it became a large, thriving commercial centre.
The greatness of the Fatimid Capital is described in the following words by Al-Muqaddassi, a notable medieval Arab geographer who lived in the tenth century.
Know that Baghdad was great in the past, but is now falling in ruins. It is full of troubles, and its glory is gone. I neither approve it nor admire it, and if I praise it, it is a mere convention. Fustat (today, part of old Cairo) is today where Baghdad was in the past, and I do not know of any greater city in all of Islam.
Imams are our Spiritual Parents
In the Shia tradition, the teaching of the Imam (also referred to as the Ta'lim of the Imam) lights his follower's path to spiritual enlightenment and vision.
The spiritual enlightenment or the elevation of the soul gained by following the Imam's guidance is described in many works by Shia theologians, and is particularly evident in the Ginans, Qasidas and narrative accounts written by Ismaili Pirs and missionaries.
The following excerpt is from a work by the Ismaili missionary, Muayyad-din-Shirazi:
Look at the trouble your parents have taken from the days of your childhood in the growth of your bodies and in the improvement of your physical life on earth. But for the interest they took in you, you would not have been what you are.
Your souls are thousand times more important than your bodies. The Imams are your spiritual parents.
Avail yourselves of a few days of life which are at your disposal here and look after your spiritual elevation under the care of your spiritual parents.
Once you miss this opportunity, you will repent forever. You will not be given a second chance to set things right.
Imam's Favours Cannot be Counted
From a work by renowned Fatimid scholar and jurist, Qadi Numan.
Let us make a short survey of their favours on us. We were ignorant of everything and were spiritually dead. They brought us back to life and showed us the path of wisdom. We were blind, they gave us the eyes to see for ourselves what is right and what is wrong.
We were groping in the dark, they showed us the light. We had lost the track, they showed us the way to salvation. We were lacking in knowledge, they gave us knowledge. We were falling in hell-fire, they picked us up and put us in the middle of righteous.
In short, they have done us the favours which we cannot count.
They have given us all that is good in this world and the world to come.
The material for this post was compiled and adapted from the following sources:
Preamble Of the Ismaili Constitution;
The Ismailis in the Middle Ages: A History of Survival, a Search for Salvation by Shafique N. Virani, Hardcover – May 3, 2007;
Life and Lectures of Al Muayyad fid-din al Shirazi, edited by late Jawad Muscati and A.M. Moulvi, Ismailia Assocciation for Pakistan, 1950;
The Divine Guide in Early Shi'ism by Mohamad Ali Amir-Moezzi, published by the State University of New York;
Code of Conduct for the Followers of Imam by Qazi Noaman, translated by Prof. Jawad Muscati; and
Ta'lim curriculum prepared for Ismaili children, published by Islamic Publications, London.
Note: Simerg has launched a sister website totally dedicated to His Highness the Aga Khan. Please visit Barakah: "His Highness the Aga Khan A Visual and Textual Celebration". Facebook page facebook.com/1000fold.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Fatimid History, His Highness the Aga Khan IV, Imam Mustansir Billah, Imamat, Islam, Ismaili Ginanic Literature, Ismaili Historical Figures, Ismaili History, Ismaili Spirituality, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Prophet Muhammad, Shafique Virani, Shia Islam	Tags: Esoterics, Ismaili History, Ismaili Theology
An Exploration of Eight Ismaili Ginans on Science, Spirituality and Pluralism
ARTICLES BY SHIRAZ PRADHAN
Many Ismaili ginans relate the spiritual experiences of Ismaili Pirs and describe the meditative techniques used as an aid in the spiritual journey, and also the important milestones and inner cosmology corresponding to the different stages (maqamat). However, the Pirs emphatically have stated that the experiences of higher spiritual stations are not describable in rational language to people who are not initiated in the tariqa (path) and who have not experienced the different stations themselves. Pradhan uses two ginans by Pir Shams and Pir Sadardin to develop this theme.
PLEASE CLICK: The Inward Odyssey in Two Key Ismaili Ginans, "Brahma Prakash" and "Sakhi Mahapada"
Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan (1877-1957), had once said that "In your heart is a heap of fireworks, if you do not light it, how will you get Light (Roshni) in your heart?" The theme of the re-orientation of the soul and its migration towards the "Country of the Beloved" is captured beautifully in "Ek Shabda suno mere bhai…."
PLEASE CLICK: Ismaili Spirituality in Pir Shams Shabzwari's Ginan "Ek Shabada Suno Mere Bhai", accompanied with recitation
Continuing on the theme of spirituality and self-understanding in Ismaili Ginans, Pradhan uses a parable from a Ginan of a young lion cub who grows up in the flock of sheep, and starts behaving like a sheep until it sees its own reflection in a pool to know its true identity.
PLEASE CLICK: An Explanation of the Ismaili Ginan "Kesri Sinha Sarup Bhulayo"
COSMOLOGY AND SCIENCE
Are the answers to secrets that Hadron Collider will reveal already in the Ginans? Pradhan's study focuses on a granth composed by Syad Imam Shah around 1400 CE that he regards as one of the most scientifically advanced and compact ancient document, besides the Ikhwa-al safa.
PLEASE CLICK: Cutting-Edge Science in Syad Imam Shah's Naklanki Geeta — Are the answers to secrets that Hadron Collider will reveal already in the Ginan?
Based on the acceptance by modern science of the Big Bang origin of our universe, Pradhan proceeds to analyse two Ismaili Ginans that have striking parallels of modern cosmology and astrophysics in them.
PLEASE CLICK: Concepts of Modern Cosmology and Astrophysics in Two Ismaili Ginans, Choghadia and Mul Gayatri
PLURALISM AND UNITY OF MANKIND
Our happiness and satisfaction must be anchored on pluralism and the underlying unity of faiths of mankind. Pradhan explores two different old traditions which echo these messages. One is from the Shia Ismaili Ginanic tradition and the other is from the Hindu Gujarati tradition.
PLEASE CLICK: Ideas of One Humanity, Love and Peace in World Religions: Comparative Study of Ginan "Hum dil Khalak Allah Sohi Vase" with a Hindu Bhajan
Date posted: August 15, 2016.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: His Highness the Aga Khan, Islam, Ismaili authors, Ismaili Ginanic Literature, Ismaili Spirituality, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Parables and Stories, Shia Islam	Tags: Exploration, Ismaili ginans, Pluralism, Science, Spirituality
The Nur (Light) of Imamat
A portrait of Prince Karim Aga Khan IV during his enthronement in Geneva, Switzerland after his grandfather, His Highness the Aga Khan III, passed away on July 11, 1957. Photo by Philippe Le Tellier/Paris Match via Getty Images.
The doctrine of Imamat has been central in Shia Islam since the designation by the Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) as his successor at Ghadir-Khumm. Among the various interpretations in Shia Islam, the Ismaili Muslims believe in the continuity of the Imamat through a living hereditary Imam descended from Hazrat Ali, through the prophet's daughter Bibi Fatima (a.s). The current Imam of the Ismailis is His Highness the Aga Khan, who completes his 59th Imamat anniversary as the Ismaili community's 49th Imam on July 11, 2016. To mark this occasion, we are pleased to provide short selections on the Imamat drawn from numerous writings of historians, theologians, philosophers and poets, Ismailis and non-Ismailis alike. But we begin, on this page, with a short piece prepared for younger readers, followed by a link to other pieces that includes the transliteration and translation of the Munajaat which is recited in many parts of the world specifically for the Imamat Day celebration.
We wish Ismailis around the world Imamat Day Mubarak, and pray that the Imamat of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, may continue for several more years beyond the celebration of his Diamond Jubilee on July 11, 2017, which is now exactly 52 weeks away.
The sun is extremely important for all life on earth. It gives us light, warmth and energy. The sun however is not the final source of life. It is Allah who gives life to all living things. It is God who has created the sun and the stars and everything that is in the universe.
The Quran teaches that Allah is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth. Allah guides mankind towards Him through His light. While Allah has created the physical light, He has also provided mankind another kind of light.
Allah says in the Quran:
"O Mankind! Truly there has come to you a proof from your Lord, and We have sent down to you a clear Light." (Chapter 4, Verse 174)
What is this special light that Allah refers to, which guides and makes things clear? For Shia Muslims, this light is the Light of Imamat. The Shias refer to it as the Nur of Imamat. Nur means light. The Nur of Imamat is a spiritual light.
This spiritual light is with the Ahl al-bayt, the Imams from the Prophet Muhammad's family. This light was with the first Shia Imam, Hazrat Murtaza Ali and, for Shia Imami Ismailis, it is now with their present 49th Imam, Shah Karim al-Husayni, His Highness the Aga Khan IV. The Imam guides his murids (followers) with his Nur.
The Imam's Nur is not like ordinary light. It is a different light altogether. It is a spiritual light. Physical light, such as sunlight, helps everyone see things in the physical world. The Imam's Nur guides his murids both in the spiritual and worldly aspects of their lives. Above all, the Imam's Nur leads his followers towards inner peace and happiness.
Ever since the time of Hazrat Ali, the Ismaili Imams have guided their followers in succession, one after another. There have been forty-nine Imams up to the present time, but the Nur of Imamat is one, and it remains the same.
The Nur of Imamat is always there to guide through the physical presence of the Imam. The Imam holds his followers hands and leads them through both difficult and good times. He gives them guidance about how they should live in a particular time and place.
Just as the water of a river continues to flow, the line of Imamat never stops. That is, the Nur of Imamat is there to stay eternally.
One of the goals of the murid of the Imam should be to strive to come closer to the spiritual light of the Imam. This, one can do by fulfilling one's material and spiritual responsibilities to the best of one's ability. Praying regularly, living by the ethics of Islam, following the Imam's guidance and thinking about Allah constantly can bring us closer and closer to the Nur of Imamat.
Source: Article adapted from multiple literary sources including the Ta'lim curriculum published by Islamic Publications, London.
PLEASE CLICK: The Munajaat and Imamat As Depicted Through the Ages in Ismaili and non-Ismaili Writings
Feluccas on the Nile in Aswan. The ship occupies a unique position in the Islamic tradition. The Qur'an counts it among the ayat (miracles) of God and devotes twenty-eight verses enumerating its benefits to mankind. For Shaykh Khudr, a contemporary of the Ismaili Imam Nizar, Imams are the Ships of Salvation. Please click on image for numerous selections on Imamat.
Date posted: July 10, 2016.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Festivals and Celebrations, Hadith, His Highness the Aga Khan, Holy Qur'an, Islam, Ismaili Ginanic Literature, Ismaili History, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Literary Readings from Ismaili History, Shia Islam	Tags: Nur Light of Imamat
Intezaar, 11th July 2016 Leading to 11th July 2017: The Guiding Light of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan
BY SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE
This Imamat Day
O Mawla
Is a promise for a thirsty heart
Innumerable will be the facets of the Diamond Jubilee
As we in anticipation await humble of heart
Make us worthy of this blessing
O Mawla a prayer rises from my heart
At the feet of Shah Sultan Mahomed Shah
An innocent babe in naive anticipation
Your guiding light has lit the path
Path eased with access to health education
Let knowledge lead us to sat bhudhi
O Mawla a prayer emanates from my heart
Your protective shade sent light
Throughly the windows of our schools
Your wisdom in wise words led every step
Your vision sent us succour with words of hope
Your guiding hand gave hope after Uganda
A prayer of gratitude leaves my heart
Still you guide us through the bridge of River Panj
Through Syria to the Hindu Kush
From East To the West in every direction
Your helping hand O Mawla opens our heart
This four day life journey is so ephemeral
It is enriched by the Light of
Your Ever-present Noor- e-Ali
Oh Mawla we look towards thee
With empathetic hearts our face turns
To the Alfa and Omega of our life
Your ishara with vision and 'aql
Enables door upon door to open up for us
To guide us into that which is the qalb
To beckon a prayer from our heart
O Mawla make us worthy of the trust you place
In our actions which often trip
In our words which wisdom oft lack
Keep us balanced in din and dunya
We pray from our heart
O Mawla our hands are raised
All ready to receive the pearls
Of wisdom, vision , love and ever caring hand
We are in intezaar of your
Diamond Faceted Jubilee
As we await let our zikr lead to fikr
Cleanse our hearts so it may sing
The praise of all human and sentient beings
Our life will be the lighter for
The aid you have given in years before
We beseech in prayer from
Let our intellect understand unity
That we are all from One Soul
Let us internalise this oneness
So that our heart is prepared
In joyful presence to celebrate the Jubillee
A prayer from each heart
Lead us to fana through forgiveness to transcend
So we stand worthy of the many faceted diamond
In word and in deed in intention and action
O Mawla all this so we can raise
Our hands with a prayer from the heart
Our heads are held up high for you are our pride
As we are yours to fly your flag
Up high in all direction proud the world over
O Alfa O Omega the Ever-present
O Mawla we beseech that this
Diamond Faceted Jubillee
Be a diamond of Almas
Is our prayer rendered from the heart
Date posted: July 9, 2016.
Diamond Photo: Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.
Glossary of terms used in the poem:
Almas – Muslim baby name, also means diamond.
Alpha and Omega – the beginning and the end, the first and the last.
din and dunya – sacred and profane, religion and world.
fana – annihilation of the self.
fikr -contemplation, deep thought and reflection.
Imamat Day – the day an Ismaili Imam succeeds as his community's spiritual leader by the designation (nass) of his predecessor.
ishara – sign, gesture.
Mawla – Master. Here the reference is to the current 49th Imam, Mawlana Shah Karim al-Hussaini, His Highness the Aga Khan, whose 60 years of reign will be celebrated on July 11, 2017.
Noor-e-Ali – Light of Ali (or the Light of Imamat).
qalb – heart
sat budh – pure knowledge or understanding of true essence or true nature of things.
Shah Sultan Mahomed Shah (d. 1957) – the 48th Imam of the Nizari Ismailis.
zikr – remembrance of Allah, form of special devotion.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: His Highness the Aga Khan, Islam, Ismaili authors, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Poetry	Tags: 11th July, Guiding Light, His Highness the Aga Khan, Mawlana Hazar Imam
Hazrat Ali (a.s.): "Have a Tender Heart, as Tender as a Fistful of Green Grass"
MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM ON HAZRAT ALI
"This is a time of new freedoms, but it is also one in which new choices must be made wisely. In exercising freedom and making choices, our institutions must be guided, as they have been in the past, by the teachings of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace of Allah be upon him), and the tradition of our tariqah, which is the tradition of Hazrat Ali: A thinking Islam and a spiritual Islam – an Islam that teaches compassion, tolerance and the dignity of man – Allah's noblest creation." — His Highness the Aga Khan on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Aga Khan Foundation, May 14, 1992.
Blessed is one
who is humble regarding himself,
whose livelihood is good,
whose inner thoughts are virtuous,
whose character is good,
who spends the surplus from his wealth
and removes superfluity from his speech,
who keeps his evil away from people — Hazrat Ali
THE KALAM-I MAWLA OF HAZRAT ALI
Hazrat Ali's aphorisms and wise counsels got translated into numerous languages across the Muslim world. The Kalame Mawla is a moving poetic rendition of his teachings in Hindustani. The work exhorts the believers to observe virtues such as brotherhood, honesty and generosity. The image shown above is from the manuscript collection at the Institute of Ismaili Studies and written in a beautiful Khojki hand in Bombay. It was copied in 1908 samvat/1851 by Khoja Alahrakhea Koriji.
Titles of Hazrat Ali in Kalam-i Mawla
Shah-e Awliya (verses 2 & 182) – the Lord of the friends (of God)
Sahib-e Zulfiqar (verse 15) – Master of (the sword) Dhulfiqar
Wali Maqbul (verse 34) – the accepted friend (of God)
Sahib-e Israr (verse 98) – Master of the (spiritual) mysteries or secrets
Kawsar-e Saqi (verses 102 & 107) – the pourer (of water) at the Pond of Kawthar (in Paradise)
Shah-e Dul Dul Sawar (verses 113 & 130) – the rider of (the horse) Dul Dul; etc.
Thoughtful Teachings of Hazrat Ali from Kalam-i Mawla
Have a tender heart,
as tender as a fistful of green grass;
be not arrogant and stiff as a tree
upright in a forest;
A tree is toppled in a storm,
but grass bends and sways happily with the wind. — 8:67
When the boat of the heart comes upon a storm,
change direction, and lead it to the shore — 6:47
Gold remains in this world but right conduct (adab) enable you to meet your lord — 3:16
Be as soft as silk — 8:16
The best of wealth is that which is spent in the Name and way of the Lord — 4:22
The waters of a river do not turn back; neither does one's age — 7:234
Photo: The Trustees of the British Museum. Copyright.
Nadi Ali, Nadi Ali, Nadi Ali
Nadi Aliyyan mazhar al-ajaib
Tajidahu aunan lakafin-nawaib
Kullu hammin wa ghammin
sayanj-i Ali Bi wilayatika
Ya Ali, Ya Ali, Ya Ali
Call Ali, Call Ali, Call Ali
Call Ali who is the manifestation of marvels;
You will find him your helper in calamities.
Every anxiety and grief will come to an end
Through your friendship,
O Ali, O Ali, O Ali.
Date posted: April 19, 2016.
Posted By: Malik Merchant, Editor	Category: Hadith, His Highness the Aga Khan, Islam, Ismaili Theology and Philosophy, Shia Islam, Uncategorized	Tags: Hazrat Ali, Tender heart


Welcome to Mountain View Electric Association's website. MVEA, incorporated in 1941, is a not-for-profit electric cooperative owned and run by the members it serves. We provide electric service to a portion of eight counties located within a 5,000 square mile territory. A board of directors from seven different geographic districts and elected by the members, governs our business.
Please contact the Mountain View office to verify your board district. For directions to our offices contact us through the LiveChat tab at the bottom of your screen.
This map is to be used for informational purposes only. Please click on the location marker in the area you live to learn more.


text:
Metea Valley National Art Honor Society Project
April 30th, 2018 loaves-fishes All News, Community, Stories of Philanthropy, Volunteer News art, Community, Loaves & Fishes, Loaves-fishes.com, metea valley high school, Naperville, National Art Honor Society, philanthropy, service, students, Volunteer, Volunteerism
"The principle of true art is not to portray, but to evoke." – Jerzy Kosinski
The student members of the Metea Valley National Art Honor Society embarked on an artistic journey that would take them most of their school year. Their mission was to create a mural portraying the five core values of Loaves & Fishes Community Services: Community, Compassion, Dignity, Hope and Service. The concept originated from Director of Volunteer & Corporate Engagement Shelly Schmitz when she approached Iris Xu, a Loaves & Fishes teen board member.
"This mural painting experience turned out to be a lot more extensive than I anticipated it to be, but it was such a great experience to work with many artists with varying ideas and creativity," said Iris Xu, also a member of the MVHS Honors Art Society.
Metea Valley art instructor and National Art Society Sponsor Karen Popovich said it was rewarding to work with her students.
"I am so proud of all the hard work and dedication these students have put forth in this project," said Popovich. "Collaborating on this project has been a great learning opportunity and we are happy to present this mural to Loaves and Fishes."
The mural, size ten feet wide by four feet high, was presented by the Honors Art Club and installed in the volunteer gathering area at Loaves & Fishes.
"I had no idea how strategic this art project would become," said Schmitz. "After choosing the techniques of artist Romero Britto, the club met for five months before and after school. The students worked carefully on the intricate detail."
The mural is an appreciative gesture to Loaves & Fishes volunteers who, through their continued dedication to Loaves & Fishes' core values, serve struggling families and individuals on a daily basis.
"My imagination was not grand enough to envision the outcome of this teen effort," said Schmitz. " The mural really does reflect our volunteer family – amazing, incredible people that wow me with their kindness every day!"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


It is worth visiting the new Museum of the Marble Tower, the largest village in Tinos.
.Tinos, the temple of Holly Mary and the beautiful museum' places.
Tinos in July and August is full of festivals and smells. You can enjoy local cuisine under plane trees in small churches and beaches with local music.
Daily trips to local coaches and the beautiful villages take place.


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← BPA linked to prostate cancer
Blood-type diet does not work →
Trick or treat? Alternative therapies for menopause
13 February 2014, 2.32pm AEST
During menopause, estrogen levels drop, leading to a number of unpleasant symptoms. The transition to menopause can significantly affect women's quality of life, with many willing to try anything to alleviate…
Lily Stojanovska
Professor and Acting Director Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Management at Victoria University
Vasso Apostolopoulos
Adjunct Professor and Sessional Academic at Victoria University
The authors do not work for, consult to, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article. They also have no relevant affiliations.
What really works to alleviate hot flushes and other symptoms of menopause? splityarn/Flickr
During menopause, estrogen levels drop, leading to a number of unpleasant symptoms.
The transition to menopause can significantly affect women's quality of life, with many willing to try anything to alleviate the hot flushes, night sweats, decline in libido, backaches and other symptoms that result from their drop in oestrogen levels.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the most effective treatment for the relief of menopause symptoms and works by topping up declining oestrogen levels with synthetic version of the hormone. It's effective around 80% to 90% of the time.
HRT comes with a small increase in the risk of breast cancer and blood clots. But due to the severity of the menopausal symptoms, many women believe the benefits of HRT outweigh the relatively small risks associated with the treatment. Being overweight, for instance, carries a far higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with the risks associated with taking HRT for less than five years.
A large clinical trial published a decade ago sparked widespread fears that HRT could cause cancer, stroke and heart disease. While the risks are now considered to have been overstated, they led to a dramatic decline in the use of hormone therapy.
Just because products are natural, doesn't mean they're risk-free. sanzibar/Flickr
As many as 60% of women between the age 50 to 60 now use complementary and alternative treatments.
But while manufacturers are quick to claim to provide a wide array of benefits to menopausal women, in many instances, there's little scientific evidence to show they work. Let's look at what the science has to say about the safety and efficacy of these products.
Phytoestrogens are plant-derived compounds with a similar structure to human oestrogen, but are not as potent as the synthetic hormones used in HRT.
Isoflavones
Isoflavones are a class of phytoestrogens widely consumed by women to treat menopausal symptoms, especially hot flushes. They're found in soy beans, soy-based foods such as tofu, lentils, alfalfa sprouts and chickpeas.
Studies have shown isoflavones in soy may be beneficial for reducing cardiovascular disease and improving bone strength. But there is conflicting evidence on their effectiveness for treating menopausal symptoms. One study, for instance, suggested that isoflavone treatment may be effective only when the number of flushes experienced daily is relatively high.
Overall, it seems that soy in the diet of menopausal women may be beneficial and is unlikely to do harm.
Red clover. randihausken/Flickr
Red clover is a plant compound that contains four different isoflavones (formononetin, biochanin A, daidzein, and genistein). It is available as a tablet, tea, or in liquid form and is widely used by menopausal women.
The data is mixed on the effectiveness of red clover to reduce menopausal symptoms. Some studies suggest it delivers no improvement over placebo while others report decreased frequency of hot flushes.
There have been no reported safety issues with taking red clover.
Herbal remedies have been used throughout the world as a traditional medicine for centuries, either in tea, tablet or powder forms.
Black cohosh is an American perennial plant which has been used for hundreds of years to alleviate menopausal symptoms. It is the most studied herbal supplement, however, no researchers have identified its active constituent nor its mode of action.
Black cohosh. milesizz/Flickr
Studies have demonstrated that black cohosh is mildly effective for alleviating hot flushes and mood swings.
It's safe to use for up to six months, although there have been case reports of liver failure in women using black cohosh for longer periods.
Further studies are required to clarify whether black cohosh may work to alleviate symptoms by mimicking estrogen.
Maca, a biennial herbaceous plant native to Peru has been used historically used for its putative fertility-enhancing and aphrodisiac properties.
Maca is marketed based on reported benefits in relieving menopause symptoms, though there is scant published scientific data show it is effective and exerts any estrogenic activity.
Evening primrose oil is obtained from the seeds of a biennial plant native to the United States. It contains high levels of omega-6 essential fatty acids and is widely used for skin disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, chronic fatigue, asthma and gastrointestinal disorders.
Evening primrose plant. wanderingnome/Flickr
Women have also been using primrose oil for decades for alleviating breast pain, endometriosis, and symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes.
As with other herbal supplements, the precise mechanism of action is not fully clear and the efficacy of evening primrose oil for relieving symptoms in menopausal women is not conclusive.
Dong quai is also prepared from the root of a perennial aromatic herb, this one native to China and Japan. Dong quai has long been used in traditional Chinese medicine to regulate menstrual cycle and alleviate menopausal symptoms.
Scientific evidence suggests it is ineffective for relieving menopausal symptoms. But when used in combination with other herbs (such as black cohosh, chasteberry, milk thistle, chamomilla and Siberian ginseng) appears to be useful in controlling hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms.
Ginseng. Cea./Flickr
Gingeng, a root native to Chinese medicine has been used for centuries for a number of ailments. However, few studies have examined the effects of ginseng on menopausal symptoms.
Ginseng does not have estrogenic effects, suggesting it does not exert any hormone replacement-like effects. But it has been reported to alleviate some menopausal symptoms.
Other complementary therapies
Homeopathy is a system of alternative medicine, where substances that cause symptoms of disease in healthy subjects would cure such symptoms in sick subjects. Active ingredients are used and repeatedly diluted in alcohol or distilled water until no molecules of the original substance remains.
Studies show homoeopathy is no more effective as a menopause treatment than a placebo, and since the ingredients are extensively diluted, it is unlikely to have any side effects.
The evidence for accupuncture is mixed. rocketlass/Flickr
Complementary methods such as acupuncture, moxibustion (a traditional Chinese medicine treatment that involves burning a herb called Mugwort) and reflexology are popular methods used to treat symptoms of various disease, including menopausal symptoms.
Again, there are contradictory studies, which some indicate that such complementary methods alleviate menopausal symptoms to some extent, while other studies demonstrate no benefit.
Although some complementary and alternative therapies may have been used for many years with reports of great success, there is little scientific data to prove their efficacy.
And when studies have been undertaken, they're of varying quality. Differences in findings across studies of the same product may be due to less-than-optimal trial design, variation in products and composition of products used, inadequate dosing, the length of treatment and small population size.
There's no doubt that more clinical trials are required to ascertain the effectiveness of such methods in treating menopausal symptoms. In the meantime, exercise caution when taking complementary therapies and talk to your doctor about how they'll interact with other medications you're taking.
Just because they're natural, doesn't mean they're risk-free.
Posted on July 3, 2014, in Uncategorized. Bookmark the permalink.	3 Comments.
cyst pimples on jawline | August 6, 2014 at 11:35 am
You can apply the lemon juice to your face with a cotton ball at night and rinse off your face in the morning.
The job of acne skin care products to help normalize shedding into the pore to prevent blockages from
occurring, killing the Propionibacterium acnes, and reducing inflammation. You can use it for chapped lips, dry skin, and anything else you would normally use petroleum
jelly for.
Dr Colin Holloway | July 13, 2014 at 10:27 pm
What is your quality of life (QOL) like at present? What symptoms do you have ? Email me privately if you do not want to share this with the whole list.
Maria Tabke | July 11, 2014 at 10:14 am
Dear Dr Holloway
I have been referred to you by a friend of mine and you client, Jill Donnelly.
Jill insists that I see you however I'm not sure that you can help with my issue yet certainly willing to arrange an appointment.
I had a hysterectomy 2 yrs ago due to large fibroid however was not aware prior to surgery that I had severe endometriosis. Due to this my cervix could not be removed as it is adhered to my bowel. I also had right ovary removed due to prolilerol bleed.
A recent pelvic ultrasound indicates a problem although not conclusive. It suggests a repeat scan in 8 weeks. GP said remaining ovary is not 'normal' altough tumour markers are normal. He said it could be endometriosis so he has prescribed Provera.
Do you think your treatment could be helpful or could you suggest an alternative.
Maria Tabke


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Under no circumstances, including, but not limited to, negligence, shall Sharp Path be liable for any special, incidental, indirect, or consequential damages that result from the use of, or the inability to use, Site or Service or any downloaded materials, even if Sharp Path or its representative has been advised of the possibility of such damages. In no event shall Sharp Path' total liability to you from all damages, losses, and causes of action (whether in contract, or otherwise) exceed the amount you paid to Sharp Path, if any, for products purchased on this Site or Service.
Sharp Path makes no representation whatsoever regarding the content of any other site or services, which you may access from this Site or Service. When you access a third party's site or service, please understand that it is independent from Sharp Path and that Sharp Path has no control over the content on that site or service. A link to a third party's site or service does not mean that Sharp Path endorses or accepts any responsibility for the content or use of such site or service.
Because legal regulations vary from one governmental agency's jurisdiction to another, Sharp Path policies on issues such as cancellations and refunds may vary from location to location. Please be certain that you receive and understand the written policies that are in force for the location with which you conduct business.
This Site or Service is controlled and operated by Sharp Path from its offices within the State of Illinois, United States of America. Sharp Path makes no representation that materials in the Site or Service are appropriate or available for use in other locations. Those who choose to access this Site or Service from other locations do so on their own initiative and are responsible for compliance with any applicable national, state or local laws.
This agreement and the use of this Site shall be governed by and construed in accordance with laws of the State of Illinois, United States of America, without giving effect to any principles of conflicts of law. If any provision of this agreement is held to be unlawful, void, or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable from this agreement and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provisions. Any legal action or proceeding relating to your access to, or use of, the Site or Service or Sharp Path Intellectual Property on or through this Site or any purchase of Sharp Path products on or through this Site will be instituted in a state or federal court of Illinois. You waive any right you may have to move or dismiss or transfer on the basis of personal jurisdiction or venue, or for convenience of any party or witness. This is the entire agreement between the parties relating to the subject matter hereof and you agree to indemnify Sharp Path for any claims for damages resulting from your failure to abide by these terms and conditions.