Calgary Afternoon Farman 24 July 2026
Thank you to all sharing and therefore respecting Hazar Imam
Key pillars from the Calgary afternoon Farman
1. Bay’ah is a commitment
Bay’ah is a pledge of loyalty and an act of love. It must be made freely and, when accepted by the Imam, creates a permanent spiritual bond.
1. Bay’ah creates mutual spiritual responsibility.
The Imam’s responsibility is to guide the murid towards his or her spiritual and material potential and destiny. The murid, in turn, has an obligation to remain faithful to the Imam and his guidance.
1. The Imam conveys and interprets divine guidance and date for all the Jamat
Guidance ultimately comes from Allah, through the Qur’an and the continuing Imamat. The Imam-of-the-Time conveys guidance to the murids, and that guidance is to be respected, followed and upheld as part of the relationship created through bay’ah.
1. Faith requires conviction, not compulsion.
Faith is an act of the heart and intellect. The murid must use aql to explore, question, understand and develop genuine conviction. Faith cannot be forced.
1. Use your God-given aql — including in the age of AI.
The Imam calls upon people to study, understand and learn about AI and emerging technologies, recognising their transformative potential. Technology should be used intelligently, critically, judiciously and to maximise its benefits, but it must never replace human intellect, judgement, creativity, compassion or discernment.
1. Care for the soul through prayer, remembrance, contemplation and gratitude.
Dedicate time every day to the soul; pray, contemplate, remember Allah, offer shukrana and seek the Light.
1. Live ethically — faith must inform every aspect of life.
Our deeds have consequences for our spiritual life. Therefore, live healthy and wholesome lives and apply the ethics of the faith in everyday conduct.
1. Service is an act of faith and begins at home.
Serving Allah’s creation, helping others, caring for family and contributing to society are expressions of faith. Service includes both major contributions and simple acts of kindness, patience, understanding and generosity.
1. Every person deserves dignity, care, inclusion and connection.
No member of the Jamat should feel isolated, neglected or alone. Particular responsibility exists towards the elderly, vulnerable people, parents and those requiring support.
1. Faith and community belonging are not necessarily the same thing.
The Imam makes an explicit distinction between practising the tariqah and belonging to the community. Community belonging is not binary. People of different faiths, or no faith, can belong to and must be embraced by the community.
1. Pluralism, diversity and unity are strengths of the community.
Differences should make the community stronger, not weaker. The Farman’s emphasis on inclusion, diversity, understanding, unity and love provides an important foundation for pluralism — living constructively with difference while maintaining connection and mutual respect.
1. Parents should guide and advise, but cannot impose faith or identity.
Parents should listen, advise, foster trust and create safe and loving homes, but children must ultimately be allowed to make their own choices. In matters of faith, once they reach discernment, true faith must be a free choice.
1. Prepare yourself to contribute — to the Jamat and to society.
Develop your mind, body, resilience, education and capabilities. Support young people, open doors for graduates, contribute to civil society, volunteer, help others and use your knowledge, skills and resources for the benefit of humanity.
In one sentence
The Farman presents bay’ah as a voluntary and permanent spiritual bond of love and mutual responsibility, through which the Imam guides the murid towards spiritual and material fulfilment, while calling each murid to develop conviction, use God-given intellect, maintain the soul, live ethically, practise pluralism and inclusion, care for others, and serve the Jamat and wider society.
Calgary Vancouver Farmans 2026
Calgary Didar Farman — 24 July 2026 (Afternoon)
Categorised Summary of Blessings, Bay’ah, Responsibilities and Guidance
1. Blessings — Khanavadan
The Farman begins with extensive loving blessings for the Jamat and their families.
The Imam gives blessings for:
1. Strength of iman.
2. Good health.
3. Success in spiritual life.
4. Success in material life.
5. Success in education.
6. Success in work.
7. Unity within families.
8. Unity within the Jamat.
9. Courage to hold fast to the rope of Allah.
10. Peace, safety and security in the Jamat.
11. Mushkil-asan — that Allah eases people’s burdens.
12. Eternal rest and peace for the ruhani members of the Jamat.
13. Strength, courage and steadfastness on sirat al-mustaqim.
14. Happiness, spiritual growth and material well-being through service.
15. Blessings for all those serving the Jamat.
Central message: The Farman repeatedly connects the Imam’s blessings with the murid’s spiritual, material, family, community and service responsibilities.
⸻
1. Bay’ah — The Spiritual Bond Between Imam and Murid
This is one of the most significant sections of the Farman.
The Imam explains that:
1. Bay’ah is a pledge of loyalty.
2. Bay’ah is an act of love.
3. Bay’ah cannot be imposed.
4. Bay’ah must be made freely and voluntarily.
5. Without free will, the pledge has no meaning.
6. When the murid pledges bay’ah and the Imam accepts it, a spiritual connection of the soul is created.
7. This is described as a permanent spiritual bond between the Imam and the murid.
8. Bay’ah creates mutual responsibility.
9. The Imam’s responsibility is to help guide the murid to fulfil his or her spiritual and material potential.
10. The Imam’s responsibility is also to help the murid fulfil his or her destiny.
11. The anchor of the religion is unity and love.
12. The Imam’s love for his murids is described as having no bounds.
13. The Imam states that his guidance is intended to strengthen murids so that they can fulfil their noble destiny.
The significance
The Farman therefore presents bay’ah not merely as a declaration or ceremony, but as a 2 way commitment : voluntary, loving, permanent spiritual relationship carrying mutual responsibility.
This is the very foundation of the faith and guidance and blessings conveyed
⸻
1. Faith and the Foundations of Ismaili Belief
The Imam identifies the responsibilities of an Ismaili beginning with the declaration of faith:
1. There is no God but Allah.
2. Allah alone is divine.
3. Allah is the Creator of everything.
4. Prophet Muhammad is Allah’s final messenger.
5. Hazrat Ali, ordained by Allah, is the Commander of the Faithful.
6. Hazrat Ali is the first Imam in the continuum of Imamat.
7. Guidance continued through the Imamat after prophethood.
8. Every Imam carries the nur, the spiritual light of Hazrat Ali.
9. Followers of the Ismaili tariqah pledge bay’ah to the Imam-of-the-Time.
⸻
1. Personal Spiritual Development
The Imam calls upon every murid to take personal responsibility for his or her spiritual development.
Divine Guidance :
1. Reflect upon Allah.
2. Contemplate the meaning and purpose of life.
3. Ask yourself why you are here.
4. Reflect upon your purpose.
5. Recognise that life is a personal journey.
6. Deepen your connection with your soul.
7. Seek the Light.
8. Dedicate part of every day to the care of your soul.
9. Make time for prayer.
10. Make time for personal contemplation.
11. Think about your faith when you wake in the morning.
12. Think about your faith when you retire at night.
13. Remember that you are a murid of the Imam-of-the-Time.
14. Remember the mercy and bounty of Allah.
15. Offer shukrana morning and night.
16. Offer shukrana throughout the day.
17. Strengthen the soul through remembrance.
18. Strengthen the soul through gratitude.
19. Strengthen the soul through good deeds.
20. Strengthen the soul through ethical actions.
⸻
1. Service to Allah’s Creation
The Farman makes service a fundamental responsibility of every Ismaili.
The Imam says:
1. Every Ismaili has a responsibility to improve the lives of others.
2. Recognise Allah’s creation.
3. Serve Allah’s creation to the best of your ability.
4. Service should bring spiritual and material happiness.
5. Service should bring one closer to Allah.
6. Service should bring ease, comfort and strength.
7. Service is not necessarily something large.
8. It does not necessarily require significant time or resources.
9. A helping hand can itself be service.
10. A smile can be service.
11. Wishing someone good health can be service.
12. Praying for another person can be service.
13. Patience can be service.
14. Understanding can be service.
15. Replace division and discord with unity and love.
16. Be willing to bring happiness to others.
17. Recognise what is good.
18. Be grateful for what is good.
19. Develop service as an attitude, frame of mind and way of being.
⸻
1. Care for the Vulnerable, Elderly and Isolated
The Imam gives particularly strong guidance concerning vulnerable members of the Jamat.
1. No member of the Jamat should feel isolated.
2. No member should feel neglected.
3. No member should feel alone.
4. As the Jamat ages, there is a particular duty of care towards the elderly.
5. Honour the elderly.
6. Respect the elderly.
7. Care for the elderly.
8. Pay particular attention to parents.
9. Recognise that parents may experience loneliness and isolation.
10. Support those who find it difficult to live alone.
11. Consider elderly parents worried about the future care of their diverse-ability adult children.
12. The community should ensure vulnerable members are cared for.
13. Every person has the right to live with dignity.
14. Those with resources have a responsibility to help ensure that others can live with dignity.
⸻
1. Youth, Graduates and Employment
The Imam identifies young people as the engine of the future Jamat.
The guidance is to:
1. Recognise the difficult employment market facing recent graduates.
2. Encourage young people to continue doing their very best.
3. Help young people find their way.
4. Allow young people to reach out for advice.
5. Give them your time.
6. Give them your advice.
7. Give them your wisdom.
8. Help identify opportunities.
9. Help secure internships.
10. Help secure first jobs.
11. Open doors for young people.
12. Make connections for them.
13. Help unlock opportunities.
14. Invest in today’s youth to build the Jamat of the future.
⸻
1. Contribution to Civil Society
The Farman strongly reinforces the responsibility to contribute beyond the Jamat.
1. Contributing to civil society is described as a duty.
2. Use your skills for society.
3. Use your knowledge for society.
4. Use your financial resources where appropriate.
5. Contribute through public office.
6. Contribute through education.
7. Contribute through healthcare.
8. Contribute through development.
9. Contribute through other areas where you have expertise.
10. Give back to the society and country that helped you build safe and productive lives.
11. Help make it possible for others to build similar lives.
12. Continue to give yourself for the benefit of others.
⸻
1. Voluntary Service and Community Spirit
The Farman describes voluntary service as more than organised volunteering.
It is a way of life.
1. Serve the Jamat.
2. Serve anyone who needs help.
3. Do not think service must be a major undertaking.
4. Give whatever time you can.
5. Give whatever resources you can.
6. Offer immediate help when someone needs it.
7. Be generous.
8. Be patient.
9. Be understanding.
10. Bring happiness to others.
11. Promote unity.
12. Promote love.
13. Avoid division and discord.
14. Maintain gratitude.
15. Develop a generous spirit.
⸻
1. Jamat Institutions and Volunteers
The Imam specifically recognises Mukhis, Kamadias, Mukhianis and Kamadianis.
The guidance and blessings concern:
1. Commitment to the Jamat.
2. Care for the Jamat.
3. Strength to serve.
4. Patience in service.
5. Courage in service.
6. Continued commitment.
7. Finding happiness through service.
8. Spiritual growth through service.
9. Elevation of the spirit through service.
The Imam extends blessings to everyone who cares for the Jamat, whether they served in the past, serve today or will serve in the future.
⸻
1. Education and Learning
The Imam gives blessings to students of all ages.
The purpose of education is presented as:
1. Opening new horizons.
2. Helping people reach their potential.
3. Bringing meaning to life.
4. Bringing satisfaction to life.
5. Continuing to learn throughout life.
6. Using learning as part of personal development.
⸻
1. Faith, Free Will and Personal Conviction — Particularly Youth
This is another exceptionally important section.
The Imam states:
1. The faith is a faith of conviction.
2. There is no compulsion in faith.
3. Faith involves both the heart and intellect.
4. Every person has God-given aql.
5. Young people must use their aql to explore what they believe.
6. Conviction requires time.
7. Conviction requires commitment.
8. Conviction requires engagement.
9. People can guide and advise you.
10. People can make suggestions.
11. Ultimately, decisions about one’s engagement with faith must be made by the individual.
12. One should act courageously upon deeply developed convictions.
13. This is described as the way to be truly free.
14. Acting on a whim is not the same as acting from conviction.
15. A person’s relationship with faith may ebb and flow.
16. This can be natural.
17. Individuals may participate in their faith at levels with which they are comfortable.
18. Their level of participation need not be identical to their parents’.
19. The Imam explicitly says: “I do not and I will not judge you.”
20. The Imam’s spiritual relationship with the murid remains available.
21. The Imam states that he will always be there for them.
⸻
1. Faith and Community Are Not the Same Thing
The Imam makes a particularly explicit distinction:
Belonging to the community and practising the tariqah of Islam are not the same thing.
The implications are:
1. Faith and community may be synonymous for some people.
2. They do not have to be synonymous for everyone.
3. Members of the community may not be Ismaili.
4. Some may be married to Ismailis.
5. Some may practise another religion.
6. Some may practise no religion.
7. They remain part of the community.
8. They must be embraced fully.
9. People should remain connected to the community.
10. Belonging is not binary.
11. People can participate more or less according to what feels right for them.
12. Maintaining connection remains important.
13. The community provides strength and protection against isolation.
14. Keep an open mind about what community belonging means.
15. Be curious about different ways of belonging.
This is a very significant guidance about inclusion, diversity and belonging - pluralism
⸻
1. Preparing Young People for Society
The Imam tells youth to prepare themselves to become productive contributors.
1. Prepare physically.
2. Prepare mentally.
3. Become strong.
4. Become well-equipped to help others.
5. Prepare to contribute to society.
6. Education and enquiry train the mind.
7. Exercise trains the body.
8. Deliberately build personal capacity.
9. Develop resilience.
10. Step outside your comfort zone.
11. Do difficult things.
12. Understand that struggle can expand capacity.
13. Understand that struggle can build resilience.
14. Recognise the distinction between struggle and suffering.
15. The objective is growth, not unnecessary suffering.
⸻
1. Aql, Critical Thinking and Artificial Intelligence
This is one of the most contemporary sections of the Farman. From the Imam of the time
The Imam says:
1. Use your aql.
2. Use your mind to expand your understanding.
3. Think deeply about existence.
4. Develop new insights.
5. Address ethical questions.
6. Learn about AI.
7. Explore AI.
8. Understand how AI works.
9. Use AI critically.
10. Question AI-generated information.
11. Do not allow AI to replace your own thinking.
12. Maintain your own judgement.
13. Do not surrender your judgement to a machine.
14. AI is not an alternative to God-given intellect.
15. Human self-awareness remains important.
16. Human reflection remains important.
17. Human insight remains important.
18. Meaning-making is a human endeavour.
19. Creativity, compassion, critical thinking and problem-solving must not be allowed to diminish through excessive dependence on AI.
20. Recognising that intellect comes from God is itself connected to faith.
⸻
1. Prayer, Remembrance and Relationship with Allah
Prayer is described as a dialogue with Allah, the Prophet and the Imams.
The guidance is:
1. Remain in dialogue with Allah.
2. Speak to Allah privately.
3. Pray at any time of night or day.
4. Participate in congregational prayer when possible.
5. Take time every day to stop.
6. Notice who you are.
7. Notice where you are.
8. Bring Allah into your consciousness.
9. Give thanks for your circumstances.
10. Keep Allah in your heart.
11. Use prayer, reflection, remembrance and contemplation to seek the Light.
12. Remain firm on sirat al-mustaqim.
The Imam also gives the tasbih as a reminder of:
* The practice of faith.
* The limited nature of human life.
* The eternal nature of the soul.
* The need to care for the soul.
* Connecting the soul to the Light.
⸻
1. Family, Parents and Elders
Service begins at home.
The Imam instructs youth to:
1. Respect parents.
2. Remain open-minded towards parents.
3. Recognise their experience and wisdom.
4. Listen actively to what parents are trying to teach.
5. Accept that disagreement is possible.
6. Think about and make meaning from parental advice.
7. Give parents time.
8. Spend time with grandparents.
9. Recognise that life is short.
10. Care for family.
11. Show love.
12. Show gratitude.
13. Show respect.
14. Honour and care for elders while you have the opportunity.
⸻
1. Guidance to Parents — Do Not Force Children
This is one of the strongest messages of the Farman.
Parents are told:
1. Raising children is a privilege.
2. Raising children is also a responsibility.
3. Parents are laying foundations for the future of the family, Jamat and society.
4. Children are creations of Allah.
5. Parents can guide.
6. Parents can advise.
7. Parents cannot force children to become who they are not.
8. Love children for who they are.
9. Create a safe and loving environment.
10. Respect diversity.
11. Recognise that differences can make the community stronger.
12. Maintain unity and harmony in the home.
13. Listen to children.
14. Try to understand them.
15. Foster trust.
16. Give advice.
17. Allow children to make their own choices.
18. Teach them to make sound decisions.
19. Equip them for life.
20. Let them live their own lives.
21. Do not try to live their lives for them.
22. Once children reach the age of discernment, allow them to make their own choices concerning faith.
23. Faith is a matter of the heart.
24. Faith cannot be forced.
25. True faith must be a free choice.
26. Trust children.
27. Trust that Allah guides whom He wills to His Light.
28. Continue to love and support them regardless of their choices.
⸻
1. Ethical Living
The Imam makes clear that spiritual life cannot be separated from behaviour.
1. Actions have consequences for spiritual life.
2. Deeds have spiritual consequences.
3. Live healthy lives.
4. Live wholesome lives.
5. Live according to the ethics of the faith.
6. Keep faith alive.
7. Keep faith active.
8. Allow faith to inform every aspect of life.
9. Remain firm on sirat al-mustaqim.
⸻
1. The Overall Message of the Farman
The Farman must be read upheld and understood as a material and religious progression:
Blessing → Bay’ah → Spiritual Bond → Personal Responsibility → Faith → Aql → Prayer → Ethical Life → Service → Family → Community → Civil Society → Youth → Inclusion → Humanity.
At its heart, the Farman says that the bay’ah creates a permanent spiritual bond and mutual responsibility, and that the Imam’s guidance and blessing is given to help the murid achieve spiritual and material potential. The Murid commits to obey Imam
But that guidance is not presented as passive obedience. It repeatedly calls upon the murid to exercise free will, aql, conviction, personal responsibility, ethical action and service.
The individual is therefore asked to:
Know Allah Prophet Imam → care for the soul → develop conviction → use the intellect → pray and remember → live ethically → care for family → care for the vulnerable → support youth → serve the Jamat → contribute to civil society → embrace diversity → promote unity and love → remain firm on Sirat al-Mustaqim.
Full Farman
M Chatur
Xxxxxx
Calgary Didar Farman — 24 July 2026 (Afternoon)
Categorised Summary of Blessings, Bay’ah, Responsibilities and Guidance
1. Blessings — Khanavadan
The Farman begins with extensive loving blessings for the Jamat and their families.
The Imam gives blessings for:
1. Strength of iman.
2. Good health.
3. Success in spiritual life.
4. Success in material life.
5. Success in education.
6. Success in work.
7. Unity within families.
8. Unity within the Jamat.
9. Courage to hold fast to the rope of Allah.
10. Peace, safety and security in the Jamat.
11. Mushkil-asan — that Allah eases people’s burdens.
12. Eternal rest and peace for the ruhani members of the Jamat.
13. Strength, courage and steadfastness on sirat al-mustaqim.
14. Happiness, spiritual growth and material well-being through service.
15. Blessings for all those serving the Jamat.
Central message: The Farman repeatedly connects the Imam’s blessings with the murid’s spiritual, material, family, community and service responsibilities.
⸻
1. Bay’ah — The Spiritual Bond Between Imam and Murid
This is one of the most significant sections of the Farman.
The Imam explains that:
1. Bay’ah is a pledge of loyalty.
2. Bay’ah is an act of love.
3. Bay’ah cannot be imposed.
4. Bay’ah must be made freely and voluntarily.
5. Without free will, the pledge has no meaning.
6. When the murid pledges bay’ah and the Imam accepts it, a spiritual connection of the soul is created.
7. This is described as a permanent spiritual bond between the Imam and the murid.
8. Bay’ah creates mutual responsibility.
9. The Imam’s responsibility is to help guide the murid to fulfil his or her spiritual and material potential.
10. The Imam’s responsibility is also to help the murid fulfil his or her destiny.
11. The anchor of the religion is unity and love.
12. The Imam’s love for his murids is described as having no bounds.
13. The Imam states that his guidance is intended to strengthen murids so that they can fulfil their noble destiny.
The significance
The Farman therefore presents bay’ah not merely as a declaration or ceremony, but as a 2 way commitment : voluntary, loving, permanent spiritual relationship carrying mutual responsibility.
This is the very foundation of the faith and guidance and blessings conveyed
⸻
1. Faith and the Foundations of Ismaili Belief
The Imam identifies the responsibilities of an Ismaili beginning with the declaration of faith:
1. There is no God but Allah.
2. Allah alone is divine.
3. Allah is the Creator of everything.
4. Prophet Muhammad is Allah’s final messenger.
5. Hazrat Ali, ordained by Allah, is the Commander of the Faithful.
6. Hazrat Ali is the first Imam in the continuum of Imamat.
7. Guidance continued through the Imamat after prophethood.
8. Every Imam carries the nur, the spiritual light of Hazrat Ali.
9. Followers of the Ismaili tariqah pledge bay’ah to the Imam-of-the-Time.
⸻
1. Personal Spiritual Development
The Imam calls upon every murid to take personal responsibility for his or her spiritual development.
Divine Guidance :
1. Reflect upon Allah.
2. Contemplate the meaning and purpose of life.
3. Ask yourself why you are here.
4. Reflect upon your purpose.
5. Recognise that life is a personal journey.
6. Deepen your connection with your soul.
7. Seek the Light.
8. Dedicate part of every day to the care of your soul.
9. Make time for prayer.
10. Make time for personal contemplation.
11. Think about your faith when you wake in the morning.
12. Think about your faith when you retire at night.
13. Remember that you are a murid of the Imam-of-the-Time.
14. Remember the mercy and bounty of Allah.
15. Offer shukrana morning and night.
16. Offer shukrana throughout the day.
17. Strengthen the soul through remembrance.
18. Strengthen the soul through gratitude.
19. Strengthen the soul through good deeds.
20. Strengthen the soul through ethical actions.
⸻
1. Service to Allah’s Creation
The Farman makes service a fundamental responsibility of every Ismaili.
The Imam says:
1. Every Ismaili has a responsibility to improve the lives of others.
2. Recognise Allah’s creation.
3. Serve Allah’s creation to the best of your ability.
4. Service should bring spiritual and material happiness.
5. Service should bring one closer to Allah.
6. Service should bring ease, comfort and strength.
7. Service is not necessarily something large.
8. It does not necessarily require significant time or resources.
9. A helping hand can itself be service.
10. A smile can be service.
11. Wishing someone good health can be service.
12. Praying for another person can be service.
13. Patience can be service.
14. Understanding can be service.
15. Replace division and discord with unity and love.
16. Be willing to bring happiness to others.
17. Recognise what is good.
18. Be grateful for what is good.
19. Develop service as an attitude, frame of mind and way of being.
⸻
1. Care for the Vulnerable, Elderly and Isolated
The Imam gives particularly strong guidance concerning vulnerable members of the Jamat.
1. No member of the Jamat should feel isolated.
2. No member should feel neglected.
3. No member should feel alone.
4. As the Jamat ages, there is a particular duty of care towards the elderly.
5. Honour the elderly.
6. Respect the elderly.
7. Care for the elderly.
8. Pay particular attention to parents.
9. Recognise that parents may experience loneliness and isolation.
10. Support those who find it difficult to live alone.
11. Consider elderly parents worried about the future care of their diverse-ability adult children.
12. The community should ensure vulnerable members are cared for.
13. Every person has the right to live with dignity.
14. Those with resources have a responsibility to help ensure that others can live with dignity.
⸻
1. Youth, Graduates and Employment
The Imam identifies young people as the engine of the future Jamat.
The guidance is to:
1. Recognise the difficult employment market facing recent graduates.
2. Encourage young people to continue doing their very best.
3. Help young people find their way.
4. Allow young people to reach out for advice.
5. Give them your time.
6. Give them your advice.
7. Give them your wisdom.
8. Help identify opportunities.
9. Help secure internships.
10. Help secure first jobs.
11. Open doors for young people.
12. Make connections for them.
13. Help unlock opportunities.
14. Invest in today’s youth to build the Jamat of the future.
⸻
1. Contribution to Civil Society
The Farman strongly reinforces the responsibility to contribute beyond the Jamat.
1. Contributing to civil society is described as a duty.
2. Use your skills for society.
3. Use your knowledge for society.
4. Use your financial resources where appropriate.
5. Contribute through public office.
6. Contribute through education.
7. Contribute through healthcare.
8. Contribute through development.
9. Contribute through other areas where you have expertise.
10. Give back to the society and country that helped you build safe and productive lives.
11. Help make it possible for others to build similar lives.
12. Continue to give yourself for the benefit of others.
⸻
1. Voluntary Service and Community Spirit
The Farman describes voluntary service as more than organised volunteering.
It is a way of life.
1. Serve the Jamat.
2. Serve anyone who needs help.
3. Do not think service must be a major undertaking.
4. Give whatever time you can.
5. Give whatever resources you can.
6. Offer immediate help when someone needs it.
7. Be generous.
8. Be patient.
9. Be understanding.
10. Bring happiness to others.
11. Promote unity.
12. Promote love.
13. Avoid division and discord.
14. Maintain gratitude.
15. Develop a generous spirit.
⸻
1. Jamat Institutions and Volunteers
The Imam specifically recognises Mukhis, Kamadias, Mukhianis and Kamadianis.
The guidance and blessings concern:
1. Commitment to the Jamat.
2. Care for the Jamat.
3. Strength to serve.
4. Patience in service.
5. Courage in service.
6. Continued commitment.
7. Finding happiness through service.
8. Spiritual growth through service.
9. Elevation of the spirit through service.
The Imam extends blessings to everyone who cares for the Jamat, whether they served in the past, serve today or will serve in the future.
⸻
1. Education and Learning
The Imam gives blessings to students of all ages.
The purpose of education is presented as:
1. Opening new horizons.
2. Helping people reach their potential.
3. Bringing meaning to life.
4. Bringing satisfaction to life.
5. Continuing to learn throughout life.
6. Using learning as part of personal development.
⸻
1. Faith, Free Will and Personal Conviction — Particularly Youth
This is another exceptionally important section.
The Imam states:
1. The faith is a faith of conviction.
2. There is no compulsion in faith.
3. Faith involves both the heart and intellect.
4. Every person has God-given aql.
5. Young people must use their aql to explore what they believe.
6. Conviction requires time.
7. Conviction requires commitment.
8. Conviction requires engagement.
9. People can guide and advise you.
10. People can make suggestions.
11. Ultimately, decisions about one’s engagement with faith must be made by the individual.
12. One should act courageously upon deeply developed convictions.
13. This is described as the way to be truly free.
14. Acting on a whim is not the same as acting from conviction.
15. A person’s relationship with faith may ebb and flow.
16. This can be natural.
17. Individuals may participate in their faith at levels with which they are comfortable.
18. Their level of participation need not be identical to their parents’.
19. The Imam explicitly says: “I do not and I will not judge you.”
20. The Imam’s spiritual relationship with the murid remains available.
21. The Imam states that he will always be there for them.
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1. Faith and Community Are Not the Same Thing
The Imam makes a particularly explicit distinction:
Belonging to the community and practising the tariqah of Islam are not the same thing.
The implications are:
1. Faith and community may be synonymous for some people.
2. They do not have to be synonymous for everyone.
3. Members of the community may not be Ismaili.
4. Some may be married to Ismailis.
5. Some may practise another religion.
6. Some may practise no religion.
7. They remain part of the community.
8. They must be embraced fully.
9. People should remain connected to the community.
10. Belonging is not binary.
11. People can participate more or less according to what feels right for them.
12. Maintaining connection remains important.
13. The community provides strength and protection against isolation.
14. Keep an open mind about what community belonging means.
15. Be curious about different ways of belonging.
This is a very significant guidance about inclusion, diversity and belonging - pluralism
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1. Preparing Young People for Society
The Imam tells youth to prepare themselves to become productive contributors.
1. Prepare physically.
2. Prepare mentally.
3. Become strong.
4. Become well-equipped to help others.
5. Prepare to contribute to society.
6. Education and enquiry train the mind.
7. Exercise trains the body.
8. Deliberately build personal capacity.
9. Develop resilience.
10. Step outside your comfort zone.
11. Do difficult things.
12. Understand that struggle can expand capacity.
13. Understand that struggle can build resilience.
14. Recognise the distinction between struggle and suffering.
15. The objective is growth, not unnecessary suffering.
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1. Aql, Critical Thinking and Artificial Intelligence
This is one of the most contemporary sections of the Farman. From the Imam of the time
The Imam says:
1. Use your aql.
2. Use your mind to expand your understanding.
3. Think deeply about existence.
4. Develop new insights.
5. Address ethical questions.
6. Learn about AI.
7. Explore AI.
8. Understand how AI works.
9. Use AI critically.
10. Question AI-generated information.
11. Do not allow AI to replace your own thinking.
12. Maintain your own judgement.
13. Do not surrender your judgement to a machine.
14. AI is not an alternative to God-given intellect.
15. Human self-awareness remains important.
16. Human reflection remains important.
17. Human insight remains important.
18. Meaning-making is a human endeavour.
19. Creativity, compassion, critical thinking and problem-solving must not be allowed to diminish through excessive dependence on AI.
20. Recognising that intellect comes from God is itself connected to faith.
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1. Prayer, Remembrance and Relationship with Allah
Prayer is described as a dialogue with Allah, the Prophet and the Imams.
The guidance is:
1. Remain in dialogue with Allah.
2. Speak to Allah privately.
3. Pray at any time of night or day.
4. Participate in congregational prayer when possible.
5. Take time every day to stop.
6. Notice who you are.
7. Notice where you are.
8. Bring Allah into your consciousness.
9. Give thanks for your circumstances.
10. Keep Allah in your heart.
11. Use prayer, reflection, remembrance and contemplation to seek the Light.
12. Remain firm on sirat al-mustaqim.
The Imam also gives the tasbih as a reminder of:
* The practice of faith.
* The limited nature of human life.
* The eternal nature of the soul.
* The need to care for the soul.
* Connecting the soul to the Light.
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1. Family, Parents and Elders
Service begins at home.
The Imam instructs youth to:
1. Respect parents.
2. Remain open-minded towards parents.
3. Recognise their experience and wisdom.
4. Listen actively to what parents are trying to teach.
5. Accept that disagreement is possible.
6. Think about and make meaning from parental advice.
7. Give parents time.
8. Spend time with grandparents.
9. Recognise that life is short.
10. Care for family.
11. Show love.
12. Show gratitude.
13. Show respect.
14. Honour and care for elders while you have the opportunity.
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1. Guidance to Parents — Do Not Force Children
This is one of the strongest messages of the Farman.
Parents are told:
1. Raising children is a privilege.
2. Raising children is also a responsibility.
3. Parents are laying foundations for the future of the family, Jamat and society.
4. Children are creations of Allah.
5. Parents can guide.
6. Parents can advise.
7. Parents cannot force children to become who they are not.
8. Love children for who they are.
9. Create a safe and loving environment.
10. Respect diversity.
11. Recognise that differences can make the community stronger.
12. Maintain unity and harmony in the home.
13. Listen to children.
14. Try to understand them.
15. Foster trust.
16. Give advice.
17. Allow children to make their own choices.
18. Teach them to make sound decisions.
19. Equip them for life.
20. Let them live their own lives.
21. Do not try to live their lives for them.
22. Once children reach the age of discernment, allow them to make their own choices concerning faith.
23. Faith is a matter of the heart.
24. Faith cannot be forced.
25. True faith must be a free choice.
26. Trust children.
27. Trust that Allah guides whom He wills to His Light.
28. Continue to love and support them regardless of their choices.
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1. Ethical Living
The Imam makes clear that spiritual life cannot be separated from behaviour.
1. Actions have consequences for spiritual life.
2. Deeds have spiritual consequences.
3. Live healthy lives.
4. Live wholesome lives.
5. Live according to the ethics of the faith.
6. Keep faith alive.
7. Keep faith active.
8. Allow faith to inform every aspect of life.
9. Remain firm on sirat al-mustaqim.
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1. The Overall Message of the Farman
The Farman must be read upheld and understood as a material and religious progression:
Blessing → Bay’ah → Spiritual Bond → Personal Responsibility → Faith → Aql → Prayer → Ethical Life → Service → Family → Community → Civil Society → Youth → Inclusion → Humanity.
At its heart, the Farman says that the bay’ah creates a permanent spiritual bond and mutual responsibility, and that the Imam’s guidance and blessing is given to help the murid achieve spiritual and material potential. The Murid commits to obey Imam
But that guidance is not presented as passive obedience. It repeatedly calls upon the murid to exercise free will, aql, conviction, personal responsibility, ethical action and service.
The Murid is therefore asked to:
Know Allah Prophet Imam → care for the soul → develop conviction → use the intellect → pray and remember → live ethically → care for family → care for the vulnerable → support youth → serve the Jamat → contribute to civil society → embrace diversity → promote unity and love → remain firm on Sirat al-Mustaqim.
for sharing in brief Ahmedabad farman.
1. BLESSINGS & DU‘AS
2. WEALTH — FROM SUCCESS TO ENABLING OTHERS
3. CARE FOR THE ELDERLY — A COLLECTIVE DUTY
4. WOMEN — ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT & SHARED FAMILY RESPONSIBILITY
5. FAMILY ASSETS — RESPONSIBILITY & INTERGENERATIONAL SECURITY
6. YOUTH — EDUCATION, AMBITION & RESILIENCE
7. REAL HUMAN CONNECTIONS — DON’T LET TECHNOLOGY REPLACE LIFE
8. FAITH — THE FOUNDATION OF LIFE
9. TASBIH — REMEMBRANCE, GRATITUDE & PERSONAL REFLECTION
11. WIDER SOCIETY — QUALITY OF LIFE & DIGNITY
THE FARMAN IN 10 ACTION WORDS