Ismaili Friends
Helping Christians and Ismailis understand each other
Ismaili Friends
Helping Christians and Ismailis understand each other
haqiqat
Yes, we believe what we believe is Truth. We also believe that we arrive at Truth through knowledge and that knowledge is arrived at through learning. We learn better through dialogue and community. It's our hope that as Ismaili and Christian murids get to know each other better, we will discover together the ultimate Truth, Haqiqat.
Start Here
There's a lot of information here. Wondering where to start? Why not try our introductory articles?
Start Here
There's a lot of information here. Wondering where to start? Why not try our introductory articles?
An Ismaili (pronounced [M]iss May Lee) is not named for Ibrahim's son, Ishmael, but for the sixth hereditary Imam, Isma'il bin Ja'far. He may rent a stylish 1 bedroom flat in Kensington, London or live with his grandmother, mother, wife and six children in a poorly lit hovel in an Iranian village. It's possible she herds goats in the Hindu-Kush, though she could equally be a doctor in Texas. Although he may hold slightly different beliefs to his fellow Ismailis in over 50 other countries, he does feel a powerful sense of community with them all.
Her bond with her local Ismaili jamaat (community) is strong and foremost in her understanding of what it means to be Ismaili, along with her dedication to education. Tacked to his wall of brick, wood or mud hangs a picture of a 70-something half English, quarter Iranian, quarter Italian billionaire who enjoys the title of 'Aga Khan'. This man, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV, is the leader of several million believers worldwide and, as the image of God, the subject of our Ismaili friend's unswerving loyalty and devotion.
The Universal light
In Ismaili theology, the Universal Light is the Being which was first manifest in the world and through which God displays all his attributes.
The Bible, 2 Corinthians 4:6 -
"For God, who said, 'Let light shine out of darkness', made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ."
the universal wisdom
In Ismaili theology, the Universal Wisdom was present at, and responsible for, the whole of creation.
The Bible, Proverbs 8:22-23 -
"“The Lord possessed me at the beginning of his work, the first of his acts of old. Ages ago I was set up, at the first, before the beginning of the earth".
the mazhar of god
In Ismaili theology, the same Nur (light) of Allah that was present at and responsible for the creation rests in his successive representatives on earth. They are thus the "locus of manifestation" or the image of God.
The Bible, Colossians 1:15 -
"He [Christ] is the image of God, the firstborn over all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible ..."
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Articles, Updates and News on, for and from the Ismaili jamaat
Follow the Blog
Articles, Updates and News on, for and from the Ismaili jamaat
How many times have you encountered something truly global and truly edifying?
We're talking something that elevates the soul and has built a worldwide following, something that is lamentably rare and special.
We're talking Scouting, an historically Christian movement with a wonderfully Ismaili flavor.