Peaceful Times and Fond Memories of Salamiyya, Syria….Then Terror Strikes Violating the Qur’anic Injunctions on the Sanctity of Life
INTRODUCTION
Jabal Mashhad is one of the two mausoleums in Syria which is of special historical significance to Ismailis. The mausoleum is thought to hold the tombs of the 8th Ismaili Imam, Wafi Ahmed, and his two sons as well Rashid al-Din Sinan, a Syrian dai from a much later period in Ismaili history. Photo: Ari Babul, Vancouver, Canada. Copyright.
The Syrian Jamat goes back to the earliest times of Ismaili history, and can be considered as the oldest Ismaili Jamat in the world. The Imams of the dawr satr spent significant time in Syria, coordinating the activities of the dawa from Salamiyya. The 11th Ismaili Imam, al-Mahdi, left Salamiyya in the 10th century to establish the Fatimid Caliphate in North Africa and become its first Caliph.
The Masyaf castle sits strategically at the mouth of one of the important routes into the mountains as a counter against a nearby crusader castle, Krak de Chevalier, and other threats at the time. Photo: Arif Babul, Vancouver, Canada. Copyright.
A few centuries later, following the death of the Fatimid Caliph Imam al-Mustansir, when the Ismailis became divided into two distinct communities, Hasan Sabbah in Persia and, later, Rashid al-Din Sinan in Syria emerged as prominent dais of the Nizari Ismailis in their respective regions. The Ismailis in Syria gained considerable prominence during the Crusades when they confronted both the Crusaders and Saladin who had assumed power in Egypt after the disintegration of the Fatimid Caliphate. Sinan and his predecessor, dai Abu Muhammad, acquired a number of fortresses to face the enemies’ challenges.
SALAMIYYA: AN ANECDOTE FROM THE 1950’s
…Mawla [Imam Sultan Mahomed Shah] inquired where I came from and where I had been. Among places I had been to, I mentioned Salamieh in Syria, and Mawla said, “Oh and did you see all those princes?” I replied that I had met Prince Muhammad Mulheim, Varas Ahmed Mirza and Mustafa Ghaleb, the famous writer. Mawla said, Khanavadhan, Khanavadhan.
Now, when in Salamieh, Emir Muhammad Mulheim had taken me to a room in his house where his mother was waiting to see me. I was requested to look at the mother and told that should I be blessed with Mawla’s Didar in Europe, she wanted me to remember her face so she could attain Mawla’s Didar through my eyes. Regrettably, in the Imam’s presence I failed to recall this request. However, Mawla asked me, “And who else did you see?” I was surprised at this question and took a minute or so to think. Then, it came to me and I replied: “Mawla, I saw Prince Muhammad Mulheim’s mother,” and Mawla patted my shoulder and said “Khanavadhan, Khanavadhan”….Abdul Mamdani, Toronto, Canada (link to complete narrative follows article.).
SALAMIYYA: THE GOLDEN JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS OF HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN
By Muslim and Nevin Harji
(with additional text by Malik Merchant)
We visited Salamiyya in September 2008. It is a beautiful city with a kind and hospitable Ismaili Jamat. The photos on this page represent the happy memories we have of Salamiyya, a truly historical city for the Ismailis whose settlement there is as old as Islamic history itself. Salamiyya was the place from which the Ismaili dawa spread, which then resulted in the establishment of the Fatimid Empire.
Downtown Salamiyya getting ready to welcome His Highness the Aga Khan for his Golden Jubilee in 2008. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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My “Desert Rose”. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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Ismaili volunteers in Salamiyya getting ready to receive the Jamat from around the world for the Golden Jubilee celebrations of His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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The Jamat in Syria was deeply attached to Prince Aly Khan, father of the current 49th Ismaili Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan. As per the Prince’s wish, he was laid to rest in this mausoleum in Salamiyya, Syria. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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A fruit vendor in Salamiyya, Syria. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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Dates in season. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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A conducted tour of Jabal Mashhad, which is thought to contain the tombs of Imam Wafi Ahmed and his two sons as well as the Ismaili dai Rashid al-Din Sinan. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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The main Ismaili mosque in Salamiyya, Syria. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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The whole city of Salamiyya was decorated for His Highness the Aga Khan’s Golden Jubilee visit in 2008. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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The hills and the landscape surrounding Salamiyya welcoming the 49th Ismaili Imam to celebrate his Golden Jubilee to the accession to the throne of Imamat. Photo: Muslim Harji, Montreal, Canada. Copyright.
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MONDAY, JANUARY 21, 2013 – WHEN TERROR AND DEATH STRUCK SALAMIYYA
We could not imagine that Syria would one day be engulfed with the terrible tragedy that is taking place today. Our hearts pain when we read about the lives that have been lost from the recent suicide bombings and other acts of terror, with the latest being in Salamiyya, home to tens of thousands of Ismailis. By their brutal actions, the terrorists have shown their absolute ingratitude to the revelation of the Holy Qur’an, which affirms that to save a life is, as if, to save humankind altogether.
We deeply grieve with our Ismaili and Muslim brothers in Salamiyya and Syria, and pray that peace may return to their homeland without any further delay through the Islamic ethic of open-dialogue and compromise among all Syrians.
We finally pray for the souls of all those individuals who have lost their lives, and assure the Syrian Jamat of our collective prayers for their faith, courage and hope for the future.
Date posted: Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Date updated: January 29, 2013 (corrections to captions).
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Link to Abdul Mamdani’s narrative: Fond Memories of Salamieh, 51 Kensington Court, and Yakymour
Profile of Muslim and Nevin Harji, and Malik Merchant at Contributors.
It has been a long time since we had the Deedar of Mawlana Hazar Imam in Pakistan. We yearn for his visit. In the year 2000, when he last visited, I was in class 6 and 11 years old. As everyone can see this country has been in decline ever since and there are numerous issues facing us today, especially with regard to women. One major concern is that Ismaili girls are entering into relationships with non-Ismaili men and this is in very high-proprtions. It has to be addressed in order to keep the soocial fabric of the Jamat strong and I request the Pakistani Ismaili leadership as well as global institutions to focus on ways to strengthen our social networking and interactions between Ismaili women and men.
Ya Ali Madad
As-Salaam Alaikum – My dear brother, Thank you for sharing the beautiful photos and memories. In times of difficulty, these images bridge the gaps of distance and time, and brings us Ismaili jamat together. May their mushkil/mashakil be eased, Inshallah. We pray for our brothers and sisters and feel their pain and sorrow and wish we could do more. May you be blessed for providing this platform to share. Shukran Jazeelan, ya akhi. – Aziz Badrudin Nathoo
Muslim bhai: Excellent pictures. Let’s hope that Syria and other countries will return to peace.
Thank you Muslim and Nevin Harji. I was there in 1966 on my way from Adana/Mersin (Turkey) via Alleop (Crusaders’ Route) to Damascus. Stayed in Salmiyyah for a couple of days and visited many old sites. Not knowinig Ismails’ history then I could not make out any Ismailis or identify any Jamatkhana. Neverthless, I found it to be an old traditional town of goodwill, poor but hospitable and big hearted people. Thank you and Nevin for the recall and fond memories.
You will be pleased to know that I have followed you through your ‘lense’ from Cairo to Aswan, through eastern highland in Ethopia, naturally through E. Africa, Zambia into Botswana and all the way to Cape Town. I have travelled far and wide in all these counties in my much younger and wilder days, some with Anil Esmail, some with Tahir Ahmad. Pity Tom and I missed you in Botswana. Keep clicking and your pictures, which I am certain has brought many many memories to many many people who follow you adventures.
Very shocking to learn this terror attack on a peaceful and innocent community, caused by illiterate and senseless people, instigated by outsiders. May Almighty Allah open door os JANNAT for the souls of these victims , and rest them in eternal peace. AMEN
I have visited Syria and also Salamieh. The country as well as the city are very rich in history.
I urger everyone to contribute to Focus for our brothers and sisters in Syria who sre desperately in need of our help and prayers.
Raziya Vellani Jan 31, 2013
I pray for the Jamat.
Today’s world conflict is not a clash between Muslim and Western civilizations, but a conflict of ignorance, to which the answer is to promote education for pluralism and tolerance (on both sides of the divide), as well as to combat poverty in those regions where violent extremism is born.
Ya Ali Madad Muslim (Iqbal)…thanks for sharing the beautiful pictures.
My prayers and warm thoughts are with our Syrian Jamat…may they have peace and pray for strength for families who have lost their loved ones….may their souls rest in eternal peace….ameen.
The jamat has many times in our history gone through very very hard times but it has always emerged as more resilient, vibrant and united and this time as well both globally and locally the jamats will show their true mattel and the srongest resolve that the ismailiies aew made of. Six of our earlier immams have laid down their lives for the cause of islam, and how can their followers let down their Imams, that has never happened and will insha allah never happen.
The initial pictures sound so peaceful. Can’t imagine this terror……..My prayers for our brothers and sisters in Syria.
Thank you dear Muslim for sharing these beautiful pictures. We pray for our brothers and sisters in Syria with the whole world during the satado.
My heart, thoughts and prayers go out to the families who have lost their loved ones. May the souls of the victims rest in peace. There is nothing worse than a war. May Allah bring peace and serenity to Syria and its people. My heart aches and breaks for the Syrian people and especially our Syrian Jamat, can’t even imagine what our Mawla must be feeling for his spiritual children right now!
This hurts and hits hard at the gut to even imagine that my friends, my students, members of the councils, the farmers who shared me the sweetness of purple grapes and water from their wells, carpets under the shade for family lunches of salads olives and flat bred from the baker down in the town, all Ismailis, all our people who shared their lives with me as I lived with them in Salamiah for over 8 months establishing the first English teaching program are now under attack …… Shot in their homes…. Shocking
When I i lived there, there were always the whispers about what done in Homs and Hama, towns on the main road from Damacus to Aleppo…. 30.000 dead and you could see the bullets holes in the walls in town and Salamiah escaped that wrath ……..But now under attack
Abu Hussein, Abu Rashid , Um Mohamed, the Watfah family, President Ali, Abu Musa who played the oud on the terrace under the evening stars and the Watfah family sipping matte and hot sweet tea in the morning listening to Ferouz on the radio from Cairo.
I cannot hold the tears back ….. But I pray heavy, with the satadoo across Ismaili Jamats world wide, that with Allah’s grace and the Imam’s blessing that all the tens of thousands of Murids in the region, from the young Shepard to the baker the butcher, the tailor, the doctor and the president and all families big and small be protected and be safe.
My prayers and my heart both bleed for you my brotheres and sisters in Salamiah as I lift my hands to Allah and sing venti for your muskila Shan.
Zaher Meghji Ahamed
I have been to Syria in 1993 before the Masyaf site was renovated – a historical relic of Four of our past Imams. I saw the old Jamatkhana but not staying for more than a day’s visit, praying with the Jamat was not possible.
When I first read about Shias being murdered in Pakistan very quietly and discreetly so no-one would know, I began to pray. Then I read about Syria a few months ago and wished it was not true because everything we read on the internet is not correct. Nevertheless I have been praying for all of my brothers & sisters in Islam & not to forget all the rest who are innocent & sick & the children and the aged. May Allah save them all and I urge you all to do the same cause we cannot do nothing about it, and prayer is very poweful and Allah hears these prayers so please pray for all even in Pakistan and say a prayer for those who have died.
Muslim bhai I am delighted to see your pictures of life in Salamieh. As usual you have captured moments
reflecting a really peaceful life and the bounty we have got. It is both sad and very upsetting to know
how fragile life is and how soon it can be turned on its head by a bunch of mad people hungry for power.
Lovely jamat. Whenever I see the Ismaili community in action I instinctively feel a part of it.
It makes me weep with anguish when I see the death and destruction that has befallen this very peaceful Imani community. We visted last time during Golden jubilee Darbar and were swept off our feet by their hospitality, devotion and love for all but a lot lot more for the Imam. 140,000 murids sitting in blazing sun awaiting eagerly and praying for Mowla to arrive in a helicopter. Most discilined in quiet contemplation for the whole time made us all feel so insignificant in our love and devotion.
Next day we refrained from going to Al-khwabi as Mukhisaheb and President requested for only the local jamat to attend. After Darbar as we travelled along in a small people carrier along the farms where Pomegranate dangeled off the tree. Our accompanying women expressed admiration and the Ismaili farmers invited us to pick the fresh ripe pomegranates and help ourselves.
We could not get over the fact that the Syrian Ismailis supported and protected our Imams of the Dawr-e-Satar and made it possible for the Imamat to survive the mauroding soldiers.
We Ismailis all over pray that their plight is short lived and we have the occassion to serve the Syrian Jamat as Mowla directs us to. Amen.