Institute of Ismaili Studies set up, Boards & Legal

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USA Didar

We must all whole heartedly ‘ completely agree with what Hazar Imam is showing us — through his actions, words, - Farmans and by his example.

Leaders are still trying to withold Farmans and our constitution despite Hazar Imam’s repeated Farmans to give to the entire Jamat - we must all share

It is Hazar Imam who decides what is right for the Jamat, not those who want to preserve the old status quo of what should happen and what they say Imam wants

Imam has made it very clear eg — “I am the Imam, and I know what I am doing.” See below

During Didar, Imam personally went to and accepted letters, embraced children, and even greeted and blessed murids standing outside. with love

That is his Love guidance, and his blessings of Didar

Those who came and come out of love were and should not be rejected - they are all blessed by him.

Sadly, some leaders in control & most older ones still live in the past, they are resisting change and misusing authority abd withholding what Imam has already asked them and Jamat - To share

We all have a duty to do what Imam has asked and says and shown by his actions as he is doing since 4 Feb 2025

Imam is making transformative changes by his words action and example — just as foretold in the Ginans and confirmed in Farmans even today in Houston

Mubaraki to all


More

The following has been received and reflects what many witnessed:

“At the last minute, the leaders changed Hazar Imam’s route. Many of the early Jamat, who had been standing for hours at the suggested exit, missed Him entirely. Others tried to run to the roadside when they realised they were made to stand at the incorrect exit by Leaders and their selected volunteers in control.”

This is deeply troubling and reflects a continuing pattern of exclusion that has sadly taken root within the same group and culture of leadership and volunteers.

These were a few murids who had come purely out of love and devotion — waiting respectfully outside to see their Imam from a distance, to offer prayers, and to receive blessings. Their only wish was to participate in worship in the most dignified and peaceful way.

Yet instead of being welcomed inside to worship, or even simply left undisturbed, they were misled and excluded — repeating the same mentality seen in other places, such as Mozambique, and now again in Houston.

Such actions go directly against the spirit of Hazar Imam’s Farmans and therefore against the ethics of our faith, our unity as one Jamat, and the principle of pluralism that Hazar Imam has consistently taught us to live by.

When Hazar Imam himself waved — even stepping out from his car to greet and bless those standing outside — it was a profound moment of love, inclusion, and compassion. It was a true expression of the Imam’s affection for all murids, whether inside or outside. That is what our faith represents: inclusion, humility, and unity.

Therefore, I once again appeal — to our Leaders, Volunteers, and the entire Jamat:

Please, do not exclude members of the Jamat — from worship, from Farmans, or from our Constitution.
Do not mislead them.
Do not deny them the right to express their devotion.

Even if instructed otherwise, we must all remember that obedience to the Imam’s Farmans, to truth, and to ethics comes before obedience to any human instruction that contradicts the Imam’s guidance, actions, and example.

Let us return to the true spirit of our faith — where every murid is treated as a brother or sister, where the Jamat is embraced rather than divided, and where the light of love and inclusion, as embodied by Hazar Imam himself, shines through all our actions and is shared, not withheld.


There is no shame in murids expressing love by offering letters or seeking Didar. The only shame is in blocking what the Imam wishes.

Let us therefore follow the Imam — in what he says, what he does, and what he shows — not what leaders claim in contradiction to him. True obedience is to the Imam, not to the status quo.

https://x.com/chaturmahebub/status/1987 ... hqfO552USg

Day 4

https://x.com/chaturmahebub/status/1987 ... hqfO552USg

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As part of our ongoing work to share and enhance access to the IIS’s rich heritage materials, ISCU took part in History Day 2025 - a national event connecting archives, libraries, and museums with students, researchers, and history enthusiasts across the UK.
 
Through History Day, ISCU continues to inspire engagement with the IIS’s unique manuscripts, archives, and oral histories, connecting people to centuries of scholarship and cultural heritage.
 
Learn more about ISCU’s research, exhibitions, and outreach via the IIS website.
Institute of Ismaili studies
https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/2025/novembe ... -day-2025/

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Decades of Divergence – A Research Review & Brief on Ismaili Institutional Governance education & Ismaili Constitution

After extensive observation, and dialogue, I have prepared a research brief titled “Decades of Divergence by Ismaili Community Leaders.”

This brief brings together key findings on:
• Patterns of centralisation and exclusion
• Withholding of Farmans and constitutional guidance
• Divergence in Ismaili faith doctrinal education - prayers guidance and intercession divinely ordained and conveyed through the Noor of our Imams
• Strategic failures acknowledged in institutional reports
• The 2010–2015 Copyright Lawsuit and its long-term impact
• The ongoing gap between institutional practices and the Imam’s Farmans which include pluralism, ethics transparency, and “Go Local” empowerment

The purpose of this brief is not criticism for its own sake, but to invite:
✔ Scholarly dialogue
✔ Evidence-based critique
✔ Institutional reflection and response
✔ Alignment with and sharing of Farmans, the Constitution, & to uphold ethical governance
✔ The right path forward for the Jamat rooted in Farmans - openness, pluralism, and inclusion

If any part of this briefing is factually incomplete or inaccurate, I openly welcome reasoned dialogue & clarity with Farmans

Read or download the full brief here:
Link

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XsYTEw ... p=drivesdk

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The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) and the Institute of French Islamology (IFI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 November 2025 to advance research and teaching in Islamic studies.

This partnership is alligned with IIS’s mission to teach knowledge of Islam, & particularly the Shia Ismaili faith to the community globally

This partnership will:
• Strengthen academic exchange and collaborative learning between the two institutions.
• Broaden understanding of Muslim cultures in both historical and contemporary contexts.
• Build on IIS’s existing relationships in France and previous partnerships, such as with Fondation Inalco.
• Include activities such as lecture series under themes like Shia Islam and Ismaili Studies.
• Highlight a shared commitment to pluralism and cross-cultural understanding in the study of Islam. 

The agreement reflects both institutions’ commitment to high-quality scholarship and international cooperation on Islamic thought, diversity, and culture.

Pluralism is the goal the solution and the priority conveyed by Aga Khan in 2025 to be actualised

“ "Championing pluralism in our societies is not only the goal. It is the solution.
Pluralism is the roadmap to bridging the schism between people and even institutions.»
- His Highness the Aga Khan

https://www.iis.ac.uk/news/2025/decembe ... slamology/

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The Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS) and the Institute of French Islamology (IFI) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on 18 November 2025 to advance research and teaching in Islamic studies.

https://x.com/chaturmahebub/status/2005 ... hqfO552USg

https://institut-islamologie.fr/

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Institute of Ismaili Studies (IIS)
Ismaili Tariqah & Religious Education Board (ITREB) - Kenya

Al-Waʿeẓ Farukh Amiry delivered a Waʿez at the Jamatkhana in the presence of the Mukhi and Kamadia Sahebans and the Jamat. The session was also livestreamed on Zoom, which I attended.

The session was introduced as follows:
Title: Imamat – The Living Guidance of Islam

“Drawing from the Qur’an, Hadith, Farmans, and authoritative Ismaili sources, this session will be reflective, accessible, and relevant to everyday life for both youth and adults.”

Al-Waʿeẓ emphatically affirmed the following core principles of the Ismaili faith concerning the role authority & guidance of Imam and the Imamat (full audio, approx. 45 minutes, linked below):

He confirmed that every Imam of the time is designated by Allah, & is infallible, and is bearer of the Noor that pre-existed creation. The Imam is perfect, beyond the physical realm, and ever-present as the Noor-e-Imam. He has access to all the treasures of Allah — the Will of Allah. There is no limit to the Imam’s knowledge of Allah’s will, which is the source of the guidance conveyed by the Imam through Farmans.

He clarified that the Imam knows the future, including the identities of future Imams, which is a part of the will of Allah.

The Imam’s authority and knowledge are from Allah & limitless, as they forms and are part of the entirety of knowledge and divine will

By way of example, he referenced the designation of Shah Karim during the Imamat of Shah Karim, affirming that succession of Imam is determined by Allah’s will — not lineage, seniority, or personal human choice of the Imam

He quoted Hazar Imam Prince Rahim, at time of Shah Karim stating that the next Imam is designated by Allah alone, pre-creation, and that the Imam does not choose his successor of his own volition. This knowledge comes from
Allah & forms part of Allah’s will — a pre-ordained divine trust.

Imam Shah Karim had also stated that the next Imam is known, but only to him.

Al-Waʿeẓ added that the Imam’s knowledge is limitless and that the Imam can know who the next six Imams will be.

Al-Waʿeẓ further stated that the Imam is infallible and incapable of corruption — financial, moral, intellectual, or otherwise. The Imam is not driven by ego or personal interest. His leadership and authority are pure, divinely purified, and continuously protected by Allah’s will. In this context, he referenced Qur’an 33:33 (Ayat-e-Tathir).

Link to FULL cover note & audio recording:

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