Al-Azhar: An Ancient Centre of Learning

Al-Azhar: An Ancient Centre of Learning

Exterior and Minarets	Courtyard and Detail	Mosque Interior	Architectural Detail

Al-Azhar (The Luminous) was constructed as the central grand-mosque for Cairo by al-Qaid Jawhar al-Siqillí when he took Egypt for the Fatimid Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz li Dín Allah in 969 CE and founded Cairo as its capital city. It was inaugurated on 7 Ramadan 361 AH / 22 June 972 CE. Possibly so-named after Prophet Muhammad’s daughter Fatima al-Zahra, through whom the Fatimids traced their genealogy back to the Prophet.

Throughout the Fatimid period, al-Azhar played a vital role as one of the main mosques for the Imam-Caliph’s Friday prayers, where the Imam-Caliph himself often delivered the sermon; and also as an epicentre of religious learning. Various scholars, including the son of Imam-Caliph al-Mu‘izz’s famous jurist al-Qadí al-Nu‘man, ‘Alí b. al-Nu‘man and Imam-Caliph al-‘Azíz’s vizier, Ya‘qub b. Killis, delivered lectures there on Fatimid law, theology and other subjects. These majalis formed an important part in the dissemination of Fatimid knowledge. There were also majalis convened especially for women.

Imam-Caliph al-‘Azíz assigned several scholars to a house near al-Azhar and made provisions for their support. They held lectures and sessions in the mosque. Al-Azhar was also one of the main mosques in which the official appointment letter of the chief judge was read out in public; and where the qadís (judges) presided over cases. On important occasions, gatherings were held here and the structure was brightly lit up. Meals were also offered at these occasions.

Following the Fatimid period, al-Azhar was sidelined by the Ayyubids but restored and expanded by the Mamluks as a grand-mosque and a centre for religious instruction. Even though now it was one of many religious academies, it retained its primary position because of its history and its location at what was, until the eighteenth century, the political, economic and social centre of Cairo.

Some of the more well-known scholars to have lived and taught at al-Azhar were Ibn al-Haytham (d.430 AH/1039 CE) and later Ibn Khaldun (d.808 AH/1406 CE). Even during the Fatimid era, there were renovations and additions made to the structure. During the Ayyudbids rule, post-Fatimid from the late 12^th to the late 13^th century CE, it lay in neglect. The Mamluks then added a great deal to the mosque and surroundings up to and including the 18^th century CE.

Today, al-Azhar is still one of the most important grand-mosques of Cairo. As a centre for learning, it was transformed, beginning in the late nineteenth century under the Ottoman Pashas, into a modern, multi-disciplinary, multi-faculty university with campuses around Cairo and other cities in Egypt, with affiliations to institutes and learning centres internationally.

Al-Azhar has always attracted students from all over the Muslim world, as it does to this day. Its collections are renowned for the large number of manuscripts of the Muslim theological sciences that they hold.


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Professor Tavakoli-Targhi Speaks on Cultural Modernity in Iran

Professor Tavakoli-Targhi Speaks on Cultural Modernity in Iran
December 2007

'Everyday Modern: Cultural Politics in Iran' was the subject of Prof. Mohamad Tavakoli-Targhi's lecture on 6 December 2007 in the series on 'Contemporary Islam(s) and Muslims'. Held at The Institute of Ismaili Studies, this third lecture in the series traced more than one hundred years of the emergence of private and public modernity in Iran.

The distinctive feature of Prof. Tavakoli’s presentation was that it drew entirely on the lived history of ordinary Iranians. In particular, the changing social attitude towards health from the mid-nineteenth century - notably in matters of public sanitation, hygiene and infection – were cast as driving forces in the practical making of the modern. Two features of this change were the increasing involvement of the State in matters of health and the transformation of medical knowledge from a politico-juridical understanding to a modern scientific view. While developments in Europe were influential, the ‘making’ was very much a local phenomenon by and for Iranians.

Prof. Tavakoli brought out the grappling between new and old attitudes toward public authority through the lens of a ‘medicalised’ discourse. Contagion and other ills required men of science, and also a rationalist theology for the masses. When the fruits of modernity filled twentieth century public spaces, new medicine was required. Social ills associated with western lifestyles – including public drunkenness and brawling, prostitution, and so on – became the focus of those who lamented the decline of tradition. The cures now needed were not scientific but spiritual. This set in motion, according to Prof. Tavakoli, the course of events that ultimately resulted in the Revolution of 1979.

While early modernity saw the rise of a secular public sphere, with religious authority being pushed into the private domain, the Revolution clearly reversed the trend. However, given that Iranian society was already inter-connected with global technological, communication and cultural processes, the making of modernity continued in both public and private spaces. Further, the immense focus on education - religious and secular – after the Revolution gave rise to a generation that was confident about its own capacity to make judgments about various assertions of authority. The result today is a society that is refashioning itself from within in a manner that can only be understood on its own terms - and by revising our views of modernity as a single, European project that was implemented in other parts of the world.

In his introductory remarks to the lecture, Dr. Amyn B. Sajoo noted the fresh attention that the idea of ‘everyday modernity’ draws today, within and beyond the West, among those debating the texture and impact of cultural modernity. This theme was taken up in spirited exchanges between Prof. Tavakoli and the audience, notably on the competing roles of the State and the individual in the public domain.

For more information on the Institute's seminars and lectures, please refer to the Seminars, Conferences and Public lectures pages. For dates and times of future seminars and lectures, please refer to the Forthcoming Events page.

Abstract of 'Everyday Modern: Cultural Politics in Iran'

Introductory Remarks by Dr. Amyn B. Sajoo

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The Ismailis and their Role in the History of Medieval Syria and the Near East

The Ismailis and their Role in the History of Medieval Syria and the Near East

Dr Farhad Daftary

Professor Azim Nanji

This is an edited version of an article which was originally published in Syria Medieval Citadels Between East and West, ed. Stefano Bianca (Geneva: The Aga Khan Trust for Culture, 2007), pp. 37-50

Abstract

Whether overtly or covertly, the Ismailis have played an important role in the cultural history of Islam, particularly in Syria and Egypt, where they constituted the Fatimid caliphate, which was to last for around 200 years. After the fall of the Fatimids in 1171 AH and during the subsequent diaspora, they became famous for their strongholds in Iran and Syria, from where they intervened in the various conflicts between Christian powers and the Muslim kingdoms in the Holy Land.

In religious terms, the Ismaili community is part of the larger diversity of the worldwide Muslim umma. Over the passage of time, Muslims constituted a variety of groups, which exemplified diverse ways of understanding the primal message of Islam and different approaches to how that commonly held message could be reflected in the practical life and organisation of the community. The Ismailis are one such group. They are part of the Shi‘a branch of Islam, the Sunni being the other major branch, and have always constituted a minority, historically and in the contemporary world. At present, the Ismailis live in over twenty-five countries, in virtually every region of the world. In some of these regions, their history goes back over a thousand years. Syria is one such example where the Ismaili presence can be dated to the 9th century.

Among the Shi‘a, there were those who remained faithful to the line of Imams who descended from Imam Ja‘far al-Sadiq (d. 765 CE) through his son, Imam Ismail. Hence, they came to be known as Isma‘ilis. There were other Shi‘i groups who gave their allegiance to different lines of Imams. The largest group among such other Shi‘is are called Ithna‘ashari; they believe in a line of twelve Imams, ending in the Mahdi who remains in occultation (ghayba) and would reappear to grant salvation at the end of time.

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Conservative Government Sends Khushiali Video Greetings

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Growing stronger, living longer

More New Article Available @ the ismaili.org

In an era when, according to a U.S. Census Bureau study, the proportion of elderly people in the North American population is projected to reach over 20% by the year 2030, seniors are increasingly becoming the dominant demographic group of our society. The 2001 study entitled An Aging World, notes that advances in medical science have improved the average lifespan by almost three decades within the last century. Seniors are living longer, are more educated and have witnessed more global changes than their predecessors. Today’s elders are therefore becoming the backbone of our society as well as role models for younger generations. Many men and women are making their most significant contributions to society, later in life.

More than ever before, seniors are challenging the definition of “retirement”. Is it tied to leaving a job or career or pausing a career to live healthier, more active lives? In his book, The Virtues of Aging, former president of the United States, Jimmy Carter writes: “Each of us is old when we think we are, when we accept an attitude of dormancy, dependence on others, a substantial limitation on our physical and mental activity.”

Hasni Essa, a senior in California views retirement as a time to pursue dreams, travel, volunteer, try new things, and enjoy the company of family and friends. “The reality, however, is not always as rosy as the dream,” he admits. People, throughout their lives, operate on the "what’s next" phenomenon, and when they reach the retirement age, they are overwhelmed by apprehension for the future. “It’s all about making the second half of your life as dynamic and fulfilling as the first,” he adds. One way to do that, he suggests, “is by stepping outside one’s comfort zone and trying something new.” Hasni was a pioneer member of the first Ismaili Council of Los Angeles and organised the Aga Khan Orchestra of Los Angeles. He and his wife currently run a little store in Santa Monica, where they have set up a reference library complete with Internet access to keep informed and abreast of global events.

For 68-year old Rashid Lalani, retirement came at a place he least expected, when he and his wife moved from Karachi to Texas to help take care of their grandchildren. A retired engineer, astrologer, and Reiki healer, Lalani learned to trade stocks online to keep himself active. “I have an insatiable curiosity and resist the idea of being mentally stagnant. I try to continually expand my mental horizon,” he relates. Lalani displays a positive outlook on life that projects into his interactions with others. “Aging makes one more balanced and helps cultivate an ability to accept life as it comes,” he states “I perceive the process of aging to be natural and inevitable, as an opportunity to introspect on my past experiences, learn from them, and improve the present.”

In the life of 61-year old Fatima Dhanani of Calgary, many challenges occurred right around middle age. “In the middle of difficulty, there is opportunity,” she reflects. “I think back to almost 17 years ago when my husband passed away. Suddenly I was alone and shattered.” She decided to pick up the pieces of her life and take over her husband’s property management business. Despite being a single mother of two, she managed its expansion into real estate and land development as well as office, retail, and industrial construction projects. Her business interests, family values, and voluntary services have given her a balanced perspective on aging. But above all, Dhanani credits her faith for the strength, courage and positive attitude she needed to move forward. “We age quickly when we think only about the negative side of life,” she muses. “But if we stay focused on keeping busy and having positive attitudes, we start to think and behave in a different way; our whole outlook on life changes.”

Fatima's sentiments of keeping busy and embracing positive attitudes are echoed by Sherwin Nuland, a professor at Yale University's Medical School, who outlines three simple steps for healthy aging: working on physical fitness, holding onto close relationships, and using your creativity. In his book, The Art of Aging: A Doctor's Prescription for Well-Being, Nuland, 76, speaks to those advancing in years to help them achieve their goals for life at 70 and beyond. Despite the commonly held belief that exercise is a key factor towards aging gracefully, Nuland says organised physical health should not be the only focus for aging adults. Choosing activities like art classes or playing with grandchildren is just as beneficial as physical activity like walking or bicycling, because they provide a sense of connectedness.

Mirza Mohamed of Texas is a living example of Nuland’s three steps for healthy aging. In his everyday life, he toils over his art and tries to capture the mystical facet of human existence through his paintings. At 63, he continues to produce his “poetry on canvas” and shows no signs of slowing down. In February of 2004 he was invited to the Texas State Capitol by Governor Rick Perry to showcase some of his work and in March 2006, he held an exhibition at the Consulate of Pakistan in Houston. “Being involved in a creative endeavour opens up a lively, happy, and spiritual world to me and provides me with immense pleasure,” he states. He stays fit by following a regular workout regimen and a healthy diet. His close-knit family further enriches his life.

Increasingly, seniors across North America are realising that although aging is a natural phenomenon of human life, continued mental stimulation and a healthier lifestyle can lead to longer and happier lives. From helping family to managing large businesses to producing creative works of art, senior citizens continue to shape the world we live in and impact our future by their examples. “You are only as old as you feel,” is an aphorism that still has currency today.

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AKDN -E-mail Bulletin

E-mail Bulletin December 2007

"One of the prime qualities which recommends Mozambique as a model is your reliance on professional expertise rather than ideological caveats. In that spirit, you have built a broad consensus among many stakeholders – public and private, from civil society, and from the international community. In pursuing your great goals, you have been inclusive, rather than exclusive. In an era when frustration often breeds cynicism concerning the possibility of progress, Mozambique can provide inspiration and encouragement to other post-conflict societies." --His Highness the Aga Khan speaking at a State Banquet in his honour, Maputo, Mozambique, 20 November 2007

Aga Khan Visits Mozambique, Reviews AKDN Development Projects in Cabo Delgado Province

On 23 November, His Highness the Aga Khan visited development projects of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) in remote areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado – the poorest province in the country. Since 2001, AKDN agencies have been working in the province on an integrated development programme that includes the raising of agricultural yields through assistance to farmers, microfinance, early childhood development, school improvement and health care initiatives. For more information, including a slide show and a video, please see the Mozambique page.

Madagascar Visit Highlights Successful Rice Production Programmes

During his recent visit to Madagascar, His Highness the Aga Khan discussed AKDN's expanding development activities in the country. These activities have been underway since 2005, when the Aga Khan Foundation launched an integrated rural development project in the Sofia region with the objective of increasing rice yields. The participative rice farming programme offered training on alternative rice cultivation practices. By 2006, yields in experimental plots in the Sofia region more than doubled. Some farmers recorded even higher yields. For more information about the Aga Khan's visit to Madagascar and the Foundation's rice production programme, please visit
the Madagascar page.

Aga Khan Delivers Keynote Address at Berlin Conference on "Central Asia and Europe: A New Economic Partnership for the 21st Century"

His Highness the Aga Khan delivered the keynote address at “Central Asia and Europe: A New Economic Partnership for the 21st Century”, a conference hosted by the German Federal Foreign Office and the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). The conference was the first major international gathering to review prospects for creating partnerships in the region. For more information and speeches by His Highness the Aga Khan and speech by German Foreign Minister Dr Frank-Walter Steinmeier, please see the Berlin page.

Cairo Landmarks Restored by Aga Khan Trust for Culture

With the completion of the restoration of the fourteenth century Umm al Sultan Shabaan mosque and the Khayrebek complex (which encompasses a 13th century palace, a mosque and an Ottoman house), two major steps in the revitalisation of Cairo’s Historic City were taken in October 2007. But the two buildings are only part of a much larger project which is changing the face of Darb al-Ahmar, a neighborhood rich in cultural heritage but poor in economic terms. The restoration projects in the district are intended to use the revitalisation of cultural assets as a catalyst to bring about positive social and economic change. For more information, including the text of His Highness the Aga Khan's speech, please see the press release.

BBC Series on Aga Khan Award for Architecture Voted One of the Best Documentaries of the Year

Building for Islam, the BBC World series on the 2007 Aga Khan Award recipients, was nominated as one of the top BBC documentaries of 2007. The other nominees can be seen here:

http://www.edigitalresearch.com/clients/bbcworld/by07/survey.php

Voting closed on 2 December 2007. The top six programmes will be re-broadcast in a special Best of the Year Documentary programme on 29/30 December 2007 and 5/6 January 2008 on BBC World. Please consult local listings for times in your area.

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The AKDN E-mail bulletin is a periodic update on new initiatives, programmes, publications, events and other news about the Aga Khan Development Network and its agencies.

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Launch of the first IIS publication translated into Gujarati

Launch of the first IIS publication translated into Gujarati
December 2007

Dr. Farhad Daftary, Associate Director and Head of the Department of Academic Research and Publications at the IIS, was recently in Mumbai, India, for the launch of the Gujarati translation of his book A Short History of the Ismailis. The translation, titled, Ismailio-no Tunk Ittihaas, was done by Jehangir Alibhai Merchant and Sultanali Muhammad, and published by N.M. Thakkar Publishers, Mumbai.

On the occasion of the book launch, the President of the Ismaili National Council for India, Mr. Nizamuddin Ajani, and the book’s publisher, Mr. Hemant Thakkar made speeches. The Chairman of ITREB India, Mr. Bakhtawar Dharani, the CEO of ITREB India, Mr. Hussain Jasani, ITREB Secretary, Mr. Imtiaz Momin, and the editor of The Ismaili (India), Dr. N.M. Irani were among those present on the occasion.

In his speech, Dr. Daftary discussed the history of the Ismailis and explained that Ismailis, dispersed over more than 25 countries, including India, live in harmony with their neighbours. He shed light on the legends that formerly prevailed about the Ismailis and demonstrated how later research has proved them to be untrue.

The event was widely covered in the Gujarati-language press in Mumbai. The daily Gujarati newspaper Janmabhumi headlined its coverage with a quote from Dr. Daftary’s speech, where he said that Ismailis do not support religious extremism. Other newspapers such as Mumbai Samachar, Divya Bhaskar and Gujarat Samachar also carried accounts of the occasion, highlighting Dr. Daftary’s speech and his emphasis on the Ismailis’ role in contributing to world peace and inter-faith dialogue.

During his visit to India, Dr Daftary was invited to meet with leaders of other Ismaili communities, such as the Alavi Bohras of Vadodara, Gujarat. Dr Daftary met with the Da‘i Mutlaq of the Alavi Bohras, Saiyedna Taiyeb Ziyauddin Saheb, the current spiritual leader of the Alavi Bohra Ismaili community, at the Dai’s residence at Vadodara, Gujarat. They exchanged gifts; copies of Dr Daftary’s book were presented to the Dai. Later, Dr Daftary was shown the Alavi mosque in Vadodara and their library where an important collection of Ismaili manuscripts is housed.

The Alavi Bohras are Musta‘lian Tayyibi Ismailis who share with the Nizari Ismailis a common Fatimid her­itage. Following the death of the Fatimid Imam-caliph Mustansir billah (d. 487 AH / 1094 CE), the Ismailis divided over the question of his succession. The Nizari Ismailis acknowledged the elder son Imam Nizar as the successor while those who remained loyal to the younger son became known as Musta‘alian Ismailis. Subsequently, the Imams of the Muste‘alian Ismailis went into concealment and the responsibility for the guidance and leadership of the community were assumed by a Da‘i Mutlaq (Supreme Authority), who is considered to be the representative of the concealed Imam. From the twelfth century onwards, the Musta‘lian Ismailis were based primarily in Yemen and later in India, where they became known as Bohras.

Since the mid 1990s, IIS publications have been translated from English into eleven languages, including Arabic, French, German, Hungarian, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Tajik, Turkish, Urdu and now, Gujarati.

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Organisation Chart of the Aga Khan Development Network

Organisation Chart of the Aga Khan Development Network

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Khojki Manuscripts

Khojki Manuscripts


















Originating in the province of Sindh, Khojki belongs to the category of Landa or clipped scripts, which employ alphabets and vowel systems similar to other Indian mercantile scripts and the learned Nagari norms. According to Ismaili tradition, the da‘i Pir Sadruddin was responsible for devising the Khojki script as a vehicle for preserving the community’s sacred literature.
The Khojki materials that have survived are considerable, consisting of several hundred manuscripts, the vast majority of which contain ginan literature (the term ginan is believed to derive from the Sanskrit jnan or ‘knowledge’). The ginans are a vast corpus consisting of several hundred hymns or religious lyrics which have been a central part of religious life of the Nizari Ismaili Community in the Indian Subcontinent. They are attributed to Pirs and Sayyids, and were most likely composed from the 12th century CE onwards. These texts are written in multiple languages, including Sindhi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu-Hindi, Arabic and Persian. All of these, however, were transcribed using the Khojki script.
The collection at the Institute of Ismaili Studies is one of the largest collections of Khojki manuscripts in the world, of which approximately a quarter have been catalogued. Material evidence suggests that the tradition of copying can be traced back to several centuries earlier than the surviving manuscripts, which predominantly date from the 18th century CE onwards. Generally the date of copying a manuscript is provided in Samvat era (S). Hijri (AH) and Common Era (CE) dates also appear in later manuscripts.
Binding
Paper and Watermarks
Internal Appearance and Layout
Tables of Contents
Foliation and Pagination
Punctuation and Orthographic Signs
Genealogies


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Life in the fast lane

Life in the fast lane

For the small group of youth from the Malaysian Jamat who attended the second day of the A1 Grand Prix World Cup of Motorsport race at the Sepang International Circuit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, the event could not have been more spectacular. Though the air was acrid and the noise deafening, the group watched with excitement as 25 state-of-the-art high powered race cars zoomed around the track only coming in for a pit stop to pick up a fresh set of tires and more fuel. Each was painted in their nation’s colours and steered by drivers from their respective countries.
This outing exposed the youth to a very different career and allowed them to meet an Ismaili celebrity in their midst. Nur Ali, the dashing young racing phenom, is the A1 Team Pakistan driver for the 2006/07 season. Born in Karachi, Pakistan, he spent the first eight years of his childhood in Hamburg, Germany. Nur then moved with his family to the United States and currently resides in Dallas, Texas. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in International Relations with a focus on U.S. foreign policy from American University in Washington D.C. prior to pursuing a full-time professional career in motorsports.
Following the feature race, youngsters of the Malaysian Jamat gathered inside the Team Pakistan VIP Hospitality Lounge to hear Nur speak about how he first got involved in motorsports. Nur officially started his racing career at the esteemed Skip Barber Racing School in Lexington, Ohio, where he received his official driver’s training and certification. However, his passion for racing started at a much earlier age as he eagerly watched his father frequently manoeuvre the family car through traffic on the Autobahn, Germany’s high-speed road.
Determined to follow his childhood passion for racing, Nur transformed his dream into reality in 1998 when he became the first Pakistani race car driver in the world to compete on a professional level. Since 2001, Nur has raced in the Legends Series, Formula Mazda Regional Series, Formula Pro Mazda International Series, and the A1GP World Cup of Motorsport Series. During this time, Nur has recorded two championships, dozens of race wins and countless podium finishes, including a Top Ten finish for Team Pakistan in the World Cup event in Durban, South Africa. Working towards forever securing his place in racing tradition, Nur has also successfully tested race cars from the European Formula Renault and F3 Championship Series, as well as the popular American NASCAR Series, and the Indy Racing League’s (IRL) Indy Pro Series. Nur has now set his sights on becoming the first Muslim to compete in the IRL’s Indy 500 and NASCAR’s Daytona 500 within the near future.
As Nur recounted his career story, the youth from the Malaysian Jamat listened to him with rapt attention. Fascinated by the day’s racing experience and exotic atmosphere, some of the youngsters rhythmically shifted their eyes from Nur to a television screen that showed the other nations’ cars on the track and their respective lap times. At times, even Nur took a quick glance at the television screen to monitor his competitors’ performance during the session.
Answering questions from the youth who were intrigued by his fireproof racing suit and extravagant helmet design, Nur pointed out that although racing seems glamorous from the outside, in reality he literally risks his life each time he gets into a race car. “Going at speeds of up to 200 mph, my concentration has to be razor sharp; one false move and it could spell disaster for me and my racing colleagues who are also risking their lives.” Nur explained that racing is analogous to many aspects of life in general, wherein teamwork is critical and working together plays a significant role in influencing the overall outcome of any challenge one faces in sport or in life.
Nur’s team is comprised of ten crew members, many of whom have been with him since the start of his career. Nur further mentioned that although being a professional race car driver has its perks, his travel schedule can be gruelling at times. In late 2006 and early 2007, he was on the road away from home for nearly nine months, essentially living out of a suitcase.
Prior to going pro, Nur carefully considered the long-term consequences of choosing a career as a professional athlete. While speaking with the excited youngsters, he advised them that the career of a race car driver, as with many other careers, has a limited shelf-life. Accordingly, he told the youngsters to plan for a future aside from one’s primary career because in life there will be many setbacks. External forces have a significant influence on one’s success rate. For example, in motorsports, corporate sponsorship plays a major role and in the event that racing did not materialise as he hoped, Nur first pursued a formal education and remains multilingual. He is fluent in both German and Urdu.
Rizal Salim, one of the youth who had the opportunity to be there on race day, enjoyed the entire experience. He was awed to be so close to the track, the cars and the field of world-class drivers, witnessing first-hand an actual World Cup race. Shaaira Siraj, another young attendee said it was an exciting experience and she never imagined that an Ismaili would be an A1GP World Cup race car driver, representing his country in such a monumental event. To her, it showed that if you have a will, there is a way and that if you really want to do something, you can.
Inspired by Nur’s story, the youth traipsed out of the Hospitality Lounge, a bit giddy, by the day’s events. As the youngsters left the scene, Nur reminded them to pick a career that strikes their passion, because for him the passion to pursue his dream turned into a reality. Nur loves what he does, works really hard to be the best, and most of all is humbled by the support of his family and friends.

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European Jamat prepares for the knowledge society

European Jamat prepares for the knowledge society

In a rapidly growing knowledge society, lifelong learning and cross-border collaboration are becoming integral to success in today's meritocratic world. The Jamat needs to build upon its diverse resources in order to take advantage of the many opportunities and address the challenges presented by globalisation.
The Ismaili Council for the European Union (ICEU) has embraced the challenges and opportunities of the information society and has instituted programmes in order to assist the European Jamat in engaging with a changing knowledge-based world. Currently, the ICEU has programmes in the key areas of lifelong learning and enterprise development.
Lifelong learning
The ICEU Lifelong Learning programme aims to promote shared and continuous learning, to develop the personal and economic potential of individuals, and to encourage a greater social conscience and active citizenship within the larger European community. Currently, the ICEU provides a framework for the Jamat's lifelong learning through an accreditation process with the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
Tasneem Virani, Director of the ICEU Lifelong Learning programme, explains that "lifelong learning is a process that needs to be nurtured and guided, with continuous support and recognition." The ICEU Lifelong Learning programme provides this support through on-going workshops and peer mentoring. In addition, all participants in the programme complete an evaluative assignment prior to receiving their certificate from LSE that allows them to reflect upon how the programme has encouraged them to continue in their journey of learning.
Enterprise development
The ICEU Euroventures programme promotes a culture of collaboration within the businesses and professional sections of the European Jamat, and beyond. The Euroventures Business stream acts as a catalyst to encourage entrepreneurs to explore joint investment projects and to achieve economic growth through targeted partnerships. The Euroventures Professionals stream aims at creating an enabling environment for professionals to network, share experience, knowledge, and best practices, and find areas of common interest to achieve professional growth and career development.
Arif Devji, Director of the ICEU Euroventures programme, notes "collaboration between members of the Jamat across European national borders is key to the success of Ismaili businesses and professionals in the continent." In light of this, the programme has and will continue to introduce several projects, including the proposed Euroventures Online portal and the Euroventures Conference recently held at the Ismaili Centre Lisbon (26-28 October 2007), which facilitate networking among professionals and entrepreneurs.
These ICEU programmes are examples of avenues through which the Jamat can take advantage of the opportunities presented by today's knowledge society. With the ever-increasing trend towards globalisation and meritocracy, learning and collaboration become instrumental to the continued progress of the community worldwide.

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First MicroFinance Bank’s Client Wins "Best Micro-Entrepreneur" Award

First MicroFinance Bank’s Client Wins "Best Micro-Entrepreneur" Award
Islamabad, Pakistan, 27 November 2007

The First MicroFinance Bank’s client, Ms. Sifat Gul from Gharam Chashma, Chitral won the “Best National Micro-Entrepreneur Award Female” at the recently organised Citi-PPAF Micro-entrepreneurship Awards 2007 ceremony in Islamabad. Dr. Ishrat Hussain, former Governor State Bank of Pakistan was the Chief Guest for the occasion where Sifat Gul was awarded a cash prize of Rs. 115,000. The objective of the Citi-PPAF Micro-entrepreneurship Awards Programme 2007 is to illustrate and promote the effective role that micro-finance plays in poverty alleviation. It recognises the extraordinary contributions that individual micro-entrepreneurs have made to the economic sustainability of their families as well as their communities.
The award winner Sifat Gul, faced with economic problems, began her journey a couple of years ago by approaching The First MicroFinanceBank Ltd (FMFB) for a loan to purchase a sewing machine and become a tailor. However, she was soon able to diversify her small home-run business into a full training institute to harness the sewing and embroidery skills of the young women in her community. Today, she plans to construct a separate building for her training institute and has partnered with other organisations that purchase her products and exhibit them in city centres.
Her association with the Bank not only helped her in increasing her own household income and savings and but also empowered her to play a positive role in mobilizing her community to bring about a social change in their surroundings. Today, not only does she have the basic amenities of life including good quality access to education, housing and health facilities for her entire household but also trains and empowers many young women to earn their livelihoods. Coming from the remote, mountainous area of Chitral, hers is a story of true woman empowerment as she stepped up to earn a livelihood and was later elected as a female councillor revolutionizing the surroundings by playing a pivotal role in mobilising common interest projects such as Community Based Schools, village pipeline repair and road repair projects. Initially faced by strong resistance and opposition from her family to start a business, Sifat Gul with the support of The First MicroFinanceBank and her sheer commitment, confidence and hard work succeeded in bringing a positive change in her household and continues to be a social change agent.
The First MicroFinanceBank, a part of the Aga Khan Development Network, has played an instrumental role in reaching out to the poor segments of society by enabling individuals to strengthen their entrepreneurial base and build capital for a sound and secure future. The Bank strives to alleviate poverty through sustainable economic development by offering credit, savings and life insurance services and an efficient and low cost funds transfer service to its target populations. With over 70 fully automated branches all over Pakistan, FMFB has disbursed 170,000 loans and has achieved 64% rural outreach in a short span of six years.
For further details, please contact:
Mubeen MuhammadAssistant Manager, Brand DevelopmentEmail: mubeen.muhammad@mfb.com.pk

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Aga Khan's Visit to Mozambique

Aga Khan's Visit to Mozambique
23 November 2007His Highness the Aga Khan meets with rural communities in Cablo Delgado (includes slideshow)Video of The Aga Khan's Visit to Development Projects in Quissanga National Park and on Ibo Island

20 November 2007
Press Release Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the State BanquetDiscurso de Sua Alteza o Aga Khan no Banquete OficialSpeech by the President of the Republic Armando GuebuzaDiscurso de Presidente da República Armando GuebuzaPhotographs
His Highness the Aga Khan visiting development projects in remote areas of Mozambique’s Cabo Delgado province.

His Highness meeting with the Presidentof Mozambique, Armando Guebuza,in the President´s Office

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