Helping Christians and Ismailis understand each other
Helping Christians and Ismailis understand each other
There's a lot of information here. Wondering where to start? Why not try our introductory articles?
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.
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."
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".
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 ..."
Articles, Updates and News on, for and from the Ismaili jamaat
Articles, Updates and News on, for and from the Ismaili jamaat
These are the words of wisdom. They are what she cries out in the streets. And this is the heart of God. Not that we remain in ignorance, but that we embrace knowledge.
We'll begin here: believe it or not, you're always telling your story. Every day in fact.
It isn't your whole story, but it is a story.
Your story matters, because your story is life-shaping, life-defining and life-changing. It has the potential to chart and change the course of a human life. Isn't that incredible?
Let's look at some of the changes that can be wrought through telling your life story:
April 1st to April 10th sees the return of the annual Toronto Storytelling Festival, the fourth iteration of this celebration of story.
This year, Navroz and Easter fall within a week of each other. Both are celebrations of new life and bear a remarkable similarity in symbolism.
Ever wondered why Christians and Ismailis don't get together more?
Well now there's no excuse!
We firmly believe that, if we can just get in the same room, we'll see that Christians and Ismailis can be friends. That is, after all, why we're called 'Ismaili Friends'!
Jesus' response to the question "who is my neighbor" is not what we might call direct.
As was his way, asked a simple question, he answered with a story - something which we like very much here at Ismaili Friends.
His story, an illustration of the principle that we should love our neighbors as we love ourselves, is a great lesson for Christians and Ismailis as we consider the topic of interfaith dialogue.
Have you ever wanted to talk to someone with a different faith to you?
Interfaith dialogue is a simple idea. It means conversation, engagement and interaction between people from at least two different faith backgrounds.
For us here at Ismaili Friends, it means dialogue between Ismailis and Christians.
Stories are both the gate and the gatekeepers to our emotions. They open the way to a deeper self-understanding.
But that understanding doesn't end at us. Good stories are intense windows into someone else's life, someone else's experience. By evoking in us the emotion that the protagonist feels, they allow us to identify.
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.