In this way, like this

Here

Of here, belonging here

Here

Woman

Bricks

The two nostrils, names of two veins in the body

The left nostril

Sense

A fruit, beautiful to look, but very bitter in taste

A type of bitter fruit, indran

Will come

Receive, get, obtain

Egg

Except Allah

Like this

This

(vide Diwan, Beirut, 1309 A.H., p. 972).

Ibn Tiqtaqa also quoted the above poem in his al-Fakhri (comp. 699/1302). Abul Fida (2:309) writes, "Sharif ar-Radi had composed a poem in praise of the Fatimids in which he admitted the legitimate descent of the Fatimids from Ali bin Abu Talib."

"The Shi'ites believe in the infallibility of their Imams, for their Imams were the highest example of man's perfection. They explain it as protection from sin and is specific quality of the Imams, who are infallible or immune (immunity from error and sin). Once Ali bin Abu Talib said, "By God, if I was given the seven regions and what is under their orbits to disobey God through taking a grain of barley from the mouth of a locust, I would not do that."

"The very object of the raising up of the prophets and Imams makes it clear that they themselves must be free from the bondage of sin or error, and thus, the doctrine of the infallibility or immunity has therefore always been an admitted principle of Islam.

Sir Isaac Newton's theory of gravity speaks that every particle attracts every other particle with a force that depends on their masses and the distance between them. The moon constantly attracts the earth behaves like a loose garment that can be pulled out from the body to fall back again. It implies that every day, when the moon is directly overhead, the water of the earth flows out towards the moon, and causes high tide.

"The death of Imam Jafar Sadik in 148/765 marked the beginning of the decentralization of Shi'ite religious authority. The Ithna Asharites or the Twelvers, the Shi'ite sect supported Musa Kazim as their next Imam after Imam Jafar Sadik. Musa Kazim was born in 128/745 on the road between Mecca and Medina. His mother was a Berbar slave, called Hamida. Throughout the whole of his life, Musa was faced with hostility from the Abbasids.

The verb istakhbara is used forty times in the Koran and its participle, mustakbir, six times. Pride (takabbur) is very often denounced by the Koran as a sin, because of its similarity to a form of partnership with God. Pride is the sin of all those who refuse to surrender to God. It was also Satan's first sin (2:34, 38:73-4).

"The word isqat means abortion. Classical Muslim jurists applied a number of terms to abortion, including isqat, ijhadIt, tarh, ilqa and imlas. The Koran does not make reference to abortion as the term is commonly understood, although it upholds the sanctity of human life in general (5:32) and forbid the killing of children (17:31) and female infants (81:18-9) in particular.

The word ism (pl. asma) is derived from wasim meaning dyeing or spotting. Another view suggests that its root is samu meaning elevation or prominence. The Koran says, “And He gave Adam the knowledge of asma” (2:31). In the New Testament, the Opening sentence of St. John reads: “In the beginning was the “word” and the “word” was with God, and the “word” was God.” Paul Brunton writes that, “The “word” represents the very first motion of the Creative Power.

The majority of the Canadian Ismailis have their ethnic origin in the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent. Many first migrated to Canada after having lived in East Africa for two to three generations. General Edi Amin of Uganda issued his edict on August 9, 1972, and the Asians were to leave the country within 90 days. The decree of Edi Amin was a source of influx of immigrants. The Asian population of Uganda at that time was less than 100,000, of which perhaps 30,000 were Ismailis.

"The first Jamatkhana in United States was opened on December 13, 1967 at Chicago. The Imam had sent the following message on February 8, 1967:-

"I have received your letter of 20th January, and I give my best paternal maternal loving blessings to all beloved spiritual children mentioned in your letter for their devoted services on the occasion of the Majlas held on my birthday.

The small group of the Ismaili students started a small Jamatkhana in London in 1935. The number of the Jamatkhana also increased rapidly after 1972. In 1984, there were over 70 Jamatkhana in United Kingdom. Thus, the first Darkhana Jamatkhana opened in London on April 10, 1984. In 1951, a religious, cultural and social center was established by the Ismaili jamat at Kensington Court, and in 1957 was moved to Palace Gate in the Borough of Kensington.

The Ismailis slowly came to settle in Geneva, where they built the first Jamatkhana on March 21, 1966. The Imam sent following message to Mukhiani Mrs. Gulshan F. Hajee for the jamat:

2nd March, 1966

My dear Mukhiani,

I have received your letter of 28th February, and I send you and all beloved spiritual children of Swiss jamat my best paternal maternal loving blessings.

The extant records reveal that a handful Ismailis of Bombay slowly moved towards Colombo, in which Wazir Saboor Chatoor (1899-1967) was a prominent figure. He came in Colombo in 1915, and started his labour work in a shop. Later, he ventured into the business field and helped the Indian Ismailis in their settlement in Colombo. He parted a big portion of his residence for the Jamatkhana in 1933.

The Ismailis of Malaysia emigrated from India in 1920 under the guidance of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah and were settled in Federation of Malaya and State of Singapore, the country now is known as Malaysia. The Ismailis in Malaysia have good and cordial relations with other communities like the Malays, the Chinese, the Indians and the Europeans. There are about 500 Ismailis spread over in cities and towns like Singapore, Penang, Kuala Lumpur, Seramban, Kotra Bahru and Kuala Trenganu.

The British occupied Burma in 1885 and annexed it with Indian empire as a province on January 1, 1886. In those days, there were a few Indian Ismailis in Rangoon, who started the first Jamatkhana in 1889 at Mughal Street. Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah left Bombay for Rangoon on June 1, 1900 and graced didar to the Ismailis. The first Ismaili Council came into existence on January 8, 1910, whose first President was Mukhi Wazir Jivabhai Bhanji (1866-1938).

"The drought and water shortage had remained the buzzwords in Kutchh and Kathiawar and weather condition had taken a heavy toll onto the economy of the entire region. The people therefore moved elsewhere in search of subsistence. The Ismaili migrants left their Indian homeland and arrived in East Africa. The early reported arrivals took place in 1815 in Tanganyika.

"In 270/884, Ibn Hawshab had sent al-Haytham from Yamen to Sind for Ismaili propaganda. He originated there the Ismaili mission that remained continued considerably under the charge of different da'is. Another da'i called Jaylam bin Shayban was recommended by Imam al-Muizz to the headquarters of Yamen. He captured Multan after overthrowing the ruling dynasty, and finally founded a Fatimid vassal state in Upper Indus Valley in 349/960.

The term "Central Asia" will include here the mountainous regions of China, Soviet Union, including Hindukush, Pamir, Yarkand, Wakhan, Oxus, Shagnan, Gilgit, Hunza and Chitral.

The word Afghanistan means the land of the Afghans and the word afghan (awghan or aoghan) means the mountaineers. The oldest Indian literature refers it as Balhekdes. The Persians called it as Zablistan and Kabalistan. To the Greeks, it was Bakhtar or Bactria. The Afghan territories also is included in the Central Asia.

"Tradition has it that Imam Muhammad bin Ismail left Medina and went to southern Iraq, where he acquired the epithet of al-maktum (veiled one), and then at Nishapur in disguise, where he lodged for some times. Afterwards, the Imam proceeded towards Ray, about 15 miles from Tehran. Ishaq bin al-Abbas al-Farsi, the Abbasid governor of Ray professed Ismailism. Imam betrothed to Fatima, the daughter of Sarah, sister of Ishaq bin al-Abbas.

Imam Radi Abdullah had dispatched his da'is in all directions, the most acclaimed among them was Ibn Hawshab. When the Imam found that Ibn Hawshab was groomed enough for the responsibility of its promulgation, he jointly entrusted him and his colleague, Ibn Fazal, with the task of Ismaili mission in Yamen. They conquered Sana'a, the capital of Yamen, and exiled the ruling tribe of Banu Laydir, and established Ismaili authority in Yamen.

"Syria is an original homeland of the Ismailis. It is located at the eastern end of the Mediterranean sea. Iraq bound it on the east on the north by Turkey, on the west by Lebanon and the Mediterranean sea and on the south by Jordan and Israel. The Ismailis mostly flourished in Salamia, where Imam Ismail resided secretly till death in 158/775. Imam Muhammad bin Ismail also came to live in Salamia, where he died in 197/813.

The Shi'a Ismaili Muslims are now a global jamat and spread all over the world, ranging from Australia down south to the Arctic zone in Canada, up north. In all countries of their settlement, including the very new ones, Ismailis are seen to exist harmoniously within the broader framework of the country concerned, on the one hand progressing steadily under Present Imam's guidance on the other, contributing to the progress and well-being of that particular country.

"The First World Ismailia Socio-Economic Conference was held on Tuesday, December 15, 1964 on the ground of the Aga Khan Gymkhana, Karachi. Pakistan was fortunate to be the venue of this most important Conference.

The English word volunteer means one who voluntarily offers or enrolls himself for military service, in contrast to those who are under obligation to do so, or who form part of a regular army. The original French word corps d'armee became short during 17th century, which was borrowed in English language in the form of corps means a unit, body, or group of army. The volunteer is a member of an organized military force, formed by voluntary enrolment and distinct from the regular army.

Finally, the name of the Ismailia Association had been changed to The Sh'ia Imami Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board in accordance with the new Constitution effective from July 11, 1986, whose primary architect was the Recreation Club Institute. There are now 18 Tariqah Boards on national level in the world, viz. Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Canada, France, India, Iran, Kenya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Pakistan, Portugal, Syria, Tanzania, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States.

"In 1944, Imam Sultan Muhammad changed the name of Recreation Club Institute into the Ismailia Association for India. Ali Muhammad Macklai was appointed its President with Alijah Rajab Ali Muhammad Dandawala as Vice-President and Itmadi Rehmatuallah Virjee as Hon. Secretary. Thus, the Ismailia Recreation Club was the progenitor of the Ismailia Association.

The Shi'a Imami Ismaili Tariqah & Religious Education Board evolved through a century after assuming names of the Recreation Club Institute and the Ismailia Association.

The word tariqah (pl. turuq, tara’iq) is derived from tariq meaning a space between two rows of palm-trees. It is thus simply meant the way, path or road, as it is said in Arabic qatah atariq means he interpreted the road, and howalla tariqatah means he is following his own way. Salmon suggests in his Arabic Dictionary (p, 499) the derivation of tariqah from taraqa meaning a string of camels following a difficult tract to a well.” The word tariq occurs nine times in the Koran.

The word tariqah (pl. turuq, tara'iq) is derived from tariq meaning a space between two rows of palm-trees. It is thus simply meant the way, path or road, as it is said in Arabic qatah atariq means he interpreted the road, and howalla tariqatah means he is following his own way. Salmon suggests in his Arabic Dictionary (p, 499) the derivation of tariqah from taraqa meaning a string of camels following a difficult tract to a well." The word tariq occurs nine times in the Koran.

It was established on February 16, 1946 in place of the Islamic Research Association, Bombay, under the patronage of Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah. Its founder President was Ali Muhammad R. Macklai (1894-1971). The Russian scholar W. Ivanow (1886-1970) played a major role in its establishment. The aim of the Ismaili Society was the promotion of independent and critical study of all matters relating with Ismailism – their literature, history, philosophy and so forth.

The modern scouting movement was started in the world for the purpose of training the youths in the essentials of good citizenship and it arose in 1908 after the appearance of the book, Scouting for Boys written by the then inspector general of cavatry in the British army, Lieut. General R.S.S. Baden-Powell (1857-1941). Thus, the scouting movements spread in Britain and very quickly to other countries.