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RAYS OF LIGHT

In the Muslim tradition of leadership, going back 14 centuries and covering all interpretations of Islam, the role of the Imam is not only to interpret the faith to his murids but also to lead the effort towards their security and wellbeing — the latter concern also extending to communities among whom they live. In 1957, when he succeeded his grandfather and became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Shia Ismaili Muslims, Mawlana Hazar Imam declared that he dedicated his life to the uplift and progress of Ismailis worldwide. Few at that time could have imagined the scope and depth of this commitment.

RAYS OF LIGHT: Glimpses into the Ismaili Imamat, A Golden Jubilee International Programme, is an exhibition depicting 50 years of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Imamat, against the backdrop of the Jamat’s 1 400-year history. Though the scope of his work and the depth of his dedication cannot be contained in any single exhibition, RAYS OF LIGHT nonetheless provides an experience that provokes, stimulates and humbles.

“The exhibition is not just to be looked at — it is to be experienced,” says Nina Hirji Kheraj, one of its curators. “We hope that visitors will be touched intellectually, emotionally and spiritually by the experience and that they will leave not only with an increased understanding of the role of the Imam as a spiritual and world leader, but also with a heightened sense of the values embodied in Islam.”

The 4 000 square foot circular exhibition, which incorporates over 200 photographs, imparts a glimpse into Mawlana Hazar Imam’s efforts to improve the quality of life of all.

A panel in the RAYS OF LIGHT exhibition, highlights aspects of Ismaili heritage. Photo: Courtesy of the Ismaili Council for the USA

RAYS OF LIGHT originally premiered in France, at the occasion of the final Darbar of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Golden Jubilee, which was held in Paris. Mawlana Hazar Imam and his family received a tour of the exhibition, and many members of the Jamat from around the world also had an opportunity to experience it.

The exhibition has since toured Lisbon, London, and multiple cities in the United States, including Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles and Orlando with planned shows in New York and Washington DC.