For Canada’s 2013 Victoria Day, A Small Dedication to Queen Victoria, with Reflections on Her Majesty by Ismaili Imams

Post compiled by Malik Merchant, Editor, Simergphotos.com and Simerg.com Introduction: Victoria Day is a federal Canadian public holiday celebrated on the last Monday before May 25, in honour of Queen Victoria’s birthday. Queen… Continue reading

“Mubarak…Khushamadeed”: A Poem for Prince Rahim Aga Khan and Ms. Kendra Spears

Prince Rahim Aga Khan – A Brief Profile Date and place of birth: October 12, 1971, Geneva, Switzerland. Relationship to His Highness the Aga Khan, 49th Ismaili Imam: Prince Rahim Aga Khan is… Continue reading

Photo Essay: Street Foods of India by Muslim Harji

Introduced by Malik Merchant Publisher-Editor, Simergphotos.com and Simerg.com After viewing a collection of Muslim Harjis’s photos of India’s street foods, I was not surprised to read in Via Rail’s latest issue of Destinations magazine that Vikram Vij, the… Continue reading

Photo Essay: A Baby is Born – Customs in a Rural Muslim Community in Indonesia

Compiled by Malik Merchant, Editor Customs of welcoming a new baby vary around the world. This photo essay looks at the cultural traditions around birth in a rural community in Indonesia (pink shade, map below), the… Continue reading

Navroz (New Year) Greetings to all of Humanity, with Views of the Earth from the Sun on March 21, 2013

THE SPRING EQUINOX Navroz, Nowruz, Novruz, Navruz, Nooruz, Nevruz, Nauryz Mubarak In the alternation of night and day, and what God has created in the heavens and the earth — surely there are… Continue reading

Historical Images: A 1946 Genealogical Chart of Ismaili Imams and a Magnificent Portrait of the Young Prince Karim Aga Khan

Compiled by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com and Simerg.com THE EVERLIVING DIVINE INSTITUTION OF IMAMAT INTRODUCTION: Clause G of the “Preamble of the Ismaili Constitution” ordained on December 13, 1986 by the 49th and… Continue reading

Chinese Female Imams – A Short 8-Minute Film

“EDUCATING A WOMAN MEANS EDUCATING A WHOLE FAMILY” China’s Hui Muslims are unique in many respects. The country’s second-largest ethnic minority share linguistic and cultural ties with the majority in China that have… Continue reading

Google and Nasir al-Din Tusi

By Malik Merchant, Editor One would think that Gerald Ferreira of 3d Car Shows would only focus on cars. Only my love for cars and what Ferreira’s website represents would take me there, but yesterday I… Continue reading

The Tradition of Amulets and Talisman in the Muslim World

INTRODUCTION (Introduction adapted from The Metropolitan Museum of Art) An amulet [similar to a talisman] is any object that is imbued with protective powers, and all cultures and faiths have manifestations of such… Continue reading

Important Areas of Tanzania and Other African Countries from Space

TANZANIA’S NGORONGORO CRATER, SERENGETI NATIONAL PARK AND OLDUVAI GORGE Images clickable for enlargement Three striking and important areas of Tanzania in eastern Africa are shown in this color-coded shaded relief image from the Shuttle… Continue reading

Salamiyya and Syria: “Peace Will Be Again”

BY ELIA BADRUDIN Salaam , al Salaam, O salaam to all of humanity, Peace al Salamiyeh , KNOW that Peace will be again. the heavens will smile on you again. all humanity which… Continue reading

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,… Continue reading

Photo Flashback: His Highness the Aga Khan at NATO Headquarters in January 2007

The website for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) reported as follows on January 22, 2007:  The Aga Khan visited NATO Headquarters on 22 January 2007 to meet with NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop… Continue reading

Exclusive Photos and Story: The Investiture Ceremony of Prince Amyn Mohamed as Chief of Ismaili Scouts

BY KHIZAR HAYAT “…Indeed, the scout movement has forever embodied amongst the noblest of human aspirations amongst the most admirable of the qualities of the human heart – courage with self-sacrifice, independence with… Continue reading

Historical Images: The Naad-e-Ali, “Call Upon Ali….oh Ali, oh Ali, oh Ali,” in Ottoman Calligraphy, and Other Shia Inscriptions in the British Museum’s Islamic Collection

AN INTRODUCTION TO NAAD-E-ALI* By HUSSEIN RASHID Who is the Ali, the universal hero of Islam? The last of those who are known as the Rightly Guided Caliphs, the greatness of Imam Ali (a.s)… Continue reading

Historical Images: The Blue Qur’an from the Fatimid Period, “A Very Spiritual Piece”

Compiled by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com & Simerg.com INTRODUCTION: On Sunday November 25, 2012, Simergphotos began a weekly/bi-weekly series of historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. This… Continue reading

2012 Simerg Photo Collection: His Highness the Aga Khan, Alamut, Bagamoyo, Jefferson’s Qur’an, Tanganyika, the White House…and more

Editor’s note: During the short 4 month period since its launch in September 2012, Simergphotos has published over twenty remarkable photo stories as well as historical images. A few of the published photo essays have been… Continue reading

Historical Images: Ibn Sina and His Canon of Medicine

“THE ENDURING RESPECT IN THE 21ST CENTURY FOR A BOOK WRITTEN A MILLENIUM EARLIER IS A TESTIMONY TO IBN SINA’S ACHIEVEMENT” –  Mona N. Tibi and Emilie Savage-Smith Compiled by Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com… Continue reading

Historical Images: President Thomas Jefferson’s Copy of the Qur’an

  Compiled by Malik Merchant From time to time Simergphotos will publish historical illustrations that underline an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. This piece introduces readers to a rare copy of… Continue reading

Historical Images: The American Declaration of Independence Illustrated

Introduced by Malik Merchant On an occasional basis Simergphotos will publish an historical illustration which underlines an artistic, ethical, moral, religious or scientific theme. The following illustration was created/published in 1861, at just about the time the American Federal Goverment was… Continue reading

A Tribute to President Barack Obama on His Re-election: Endearing Photos from the White House

By Malik Merchant Editor, Simergphotos.com and Simerg.com The White House is a serious place, where important legislative matters affecting the USA are handled on a daily basis. Amidst all the complex and tense… Continue reading

His Highness the Aga Khan with Ismaili Leaders and Volunteers at the London Ismaili Centre’s Rooftop Garden

By Shamas Nanjijuma (Exclusive to Simerg) The rooftop Islamic Garden at the London Ismaili Centre. Photo: Shamash Nanjijuma Collection. With a burbling fountain, delightful plants and flowers, the rooftop garden is one of… Continue reading

Beautiful People and Places of Zanzibar and Tanganyika: Photos from 1936

Compiled by Malik Merchant (Photographs and captions for this piece are from the Matson (G. Eric and Edith) Photograph Collection at the Library of Congress, USA. Introductory material on mainland Tanzania – then known as Tanganyika… Continue reading

Photo Essay: The Historical Jubilees of His Highness the Aga Khan (1877-1957), the Imam of the Socio-Economic Revolution

Compiled by Malik Merchant, Editor (On some browsers, please refresh page if only thumbnails appear) I. 1885: Enthronement at Age Seven as 48th Ismaili Imam November 2, 2015, marks the 138th birth anniversary of… Continue reading

Photo Essay: Historic Signing of Agreement in Alberta Between His Highness the Aga Khan and Premier Alison Redford

Alberta: A Brief Introduction Alberta is a province of Canada. It had a population of 3,645,257 in 2011 making it the most populous of Canada’s three prairie provinces. Alberta and its neighbour, Saskatchewan,… Continue reading

From John F. Kennedy to Pierre E. Trudeau to Stephen E. Harper – A Selection of Photos and Videos of His Highness the Aga Khan with USA Presidents and Canadian Prime Ministers

PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY (President from 1961 – 1963) ~~~~ ~~~~ ~~~~ A MEMORANDUM PREPARED FOR PRESIDENT KENNEDY PRIOR TO HIS MEETING WITH HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN ~~~~ ~~~~ WATCH A SHORT… Continue reading

Magnificent Photos of Chateau de Chantilly and His Highness the Aga Khan’s Visit to the Jewel of French Culture

INSTITUT DE FRANCE, THE WORLD MONUMENTS FUND AND HIS HIGHNESS THE AGA KHAN WORK IN PARTNERSHIP FOR THE RESTORATION OF FRANCE’S HIDDEN GEM Introduction: The Foundation for the Safe-keeping and Development of the Chantilly Domain created… Continue reading

The Nairobi Aga Khan Hospital’s Kitengela Sculptures

By Malik Merchant Isabelle Prondzynski’s flick photostream (prondis_in_kenya) has some marvellous photos of the Nairobi Aga Khan hospital grounds and the surrounding neighbourhood. When asked to comment about the hospital, Prondzynsk replied: The… Continue reading

“Muhammad: Legacy of a Prophet” – A Film Created and Produced by Alex Kronemer and Michael Wolfe

Originally aired on PBS to a word-wide audience exceeding 150 million people “CANDID, THOUGHTFUL AND VISUALLY STUNNING” – Los Angeles Times Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s) changed world history in 23 years and continues to… Continue reading

Rare Photos of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Visits to Kenya and Pemba

Kenya This a very rare collection of photos of the 48th and 49th Ismaili Imams, Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah Aga Khan and Prince Karim Aga Khan respectively, taken during their visits to Kenya.… Continue reading

5 Colossal Faces in the Black Hills of South Dakota

By Malik Merchant INTRODUCTION One of the better investments I made during my recent 4,500 km road trip from Toronto to Vancouver, via the USA, was the purchase of the 2013 edition of… Continue reading

His Highness the Aga Khan’s Work at a Glance

“The Closer You Come the More You Will See Him” A digital portrait by Akbar Kanji  This digital mosaic rendering is based on an existing photo portrait of His Highness the Aga Khan,… Continue reading

A Journey to the Bagamoyo Jamatkhana

BY SHARIFFA KESHAVJEE When I was a little girl, one of my favourite pastimes was to be in the presence of adult company. As the youngest in the family I was too often… Continue reading

An Ismaili Jamatkhana in China

Tashkorgan Tashkorgan is a vibrant market town nestled amongst the Pamir Mountains in China’s Xinjiang province. The town is situated at an altitude of 3,600 meters (11,811 ft) on the borders of both… Continue reading

The Mausoleums of Ismaili Pir Sadardin and His Son Pir Hasan Kabirdin

By MALIK MIRZA THE JOURNEY BEGINS While I was on a training assignment related to micro-finance in Bahawalpur, a thought came across my mind: Why not visit the mausoleums of our ancient Pirs,… Continue reading

The Ismaili Journal “Rahe Rast” – A Legacy of the Iconic Karim Master

By Malik Merchant “…Your gift of this unique volume, which was prepared by your father, Alwaez Karim Pirani, and which contains articles and drawings by numerous Ismaili individuals as well as messages of… Continue reading

Iran and Alamut Like You Have Not Seen Before

By Muslim and Nevin Harji Summary: There are no words to describe the hospitality, kindness, love and gentleness of the Iranian people. We have ventured into over forty countries, but never have we… Continue reading

Discovery of Fatimid Glass in a Byzantine Shipwreck

Compiled from the resources of the Institute of Nautical Archaelogy “Drop a light bulb. Try to put it back together again. Drop three light bulbs. Stir the pieces. Then try to put them… Continue reading

My Journey to Alamut Where Every Stone Tells a Story

By Ali M. Rajput I am pleased to share with readers of Simerg an account of my memorable trip to the Ismaili Castle of Alamut, which became the capital of Ismaili power for… Continue reading

Jerusalem – A Photo Essay of the Holy City

By Muslim and Nevin Harji Exclusive to Simerg During the past 8 years, we have visited dozens of cities in over forty countries all around the world. We have to say that the… Continue reading