The Ismaili: Home

The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the
world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (known to the Ismailis as Mawlana Hazar Imam) as
the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family).
This is the official website of the Ismaili Muslim community.

Milad-un-Nabi

This week, Muslims around the world commemorate Milad-un-Nabi, literally meaning the “birth of the Prophet.”

From the archive

September 2008

Giving the gift of sight through service

Service is a cornerstone of the social conscience that Islam espouses. Alqaim Giga and Sehar Lalani have applied their passion for service to the improvement of eyesight and eye health among peoples living in different parts of the world.

Mawlana Hazar Imam — His Highness the Aga Khan. Photo: AKDN/Gary Otte

Paris, 31 January 2012 — On the heels of being awarded the J.C. Nichols Prize for Visionaries in Urban Development, Mawlana Hazar Imam addressed a leadership dinner at the Urban Land Institute Europe Annual Conference held in Paris. In October 2011, the Urban Land Institute honoured Hazar Imam for his commitment to the highest standards of responsible development.

A view from within the court of the Danyore III Jamatkhana in Gilgit. Photo: Courtesy of AKPBS, Pakistan

Part of a seismically unstable zone that is prone to earthquakes, floods, landslides and droughts, Pakistan's northern region has long been home to a signifiant Ismaili population. Several new purpose-built jamatkhana projects blend traditional building with new disaster-resistant techniques. From design and construction to finished product, the new structures offer a model to uplifit the quality of habitat throughout the region.

Dr Nooredin Nurani (at the far left) and his team of dedicated volunteers offer free dental treatment at an annual event in Atlanta. Photo: Farida Nurani

Described as grassroots because they are led by concerned citizens rather than governments or established institutions, such community action initiatives can be a powerful means in addressing difficult issues. Some Ismailis are successfully using grassroots action to magnify the impact of their volunteer work.

A weekend-long Opportunity Africa conference held at the Ismaili Centre, London hinted at what is already spreading across the continent. With a growing middle class, an impending housing market boom, an infrastructure deficit waiting to be filled, and a common East African financial market on the horizon, Africa is a focal point for new expansion and entrepreneurship.

Africa

Asia

Middle East

Europe

North America

Photographs

Offering a wide variety of activities like face painting and Nintendo Wii, NSF had something for all ages.

Galleries

Mawlana Hazar Imam and President Emomali Rahmon arrive for the Opening Ceremony of the Ismaili Centre, Dushanbe.

Videos

East Meets Western is a tale of two cultures seemingly worlds apart and yet with many similarities steeped in tradition, culture and ethics. Footage courtesy of OMNI Television and White Iron Pictures Inc.

Golden Jubilee
Archive

Fifty years after he became the Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, the global Jamat commemorated Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee with special events and activities around the world that took place between 11 July 2007 – 13 December 2008.

The Institute of
Ismaili Studies

Nutrition
Centre

Featuring a library of traditional recipes annotated with nutritional information and healthy eating tips, as well as articles on how you can make your meals healthier.

Aga Khan
Development Network

Fastest Growing City in Africa Gets 103-hectare Urban Park

» University of Central Asias Kyrgyz Campus Completes Critical New Infrastructure

» Update on FOCUS and AKDN response to Pakistan Floods

Ismaili Centres
Around the World

The Ismaili Centres are symbolic markers of the permanent presence of the Ismaili community in the regions in which they are established.
Architecturally unique, each building is a safeguard and a symbol of the core values of the Ismaili Muslim community.

Universities have a role in encouraging pluralist encounters says UBC President at inaugural Ismaili Centre Lecture

Dear World: Messages of hope and inspiration from Afghanistan

Garden in the city will draw from the past to connect communities today and tomorrow

Mawlana Hazar Imam receives honorary doctorate from the University of Ottawa; lauds Canada for “what it can do for others”