On June 25, 2017, Ismaili communities around the globe gathered to commemorate the end of Ramadan, the holy festival of Eid al-Fitr. Following the Eid namaz, the South Florida Jamat engaged in a tile-making activity to celebrate Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee. This Opening Ceremony will showpiece 3-D metal sculptures portraying the words, Nur (light), Nafs (soul), and Aql (intellect), terms fundamental to the Ismaili interpretation of Islam.
In order for the Jamat to contribute to this exhibit, members were asked to decorate metal tiles which will serve as the foundation of the 3-D sculptures. A wide assortment of tiles containing word-art or illustrations were produced. Participant Iman Samnani embellished her tile with the Arabic phrase Allahu Akbar ("God is great"). She stated: "The tile-making event made me feel thrilled and joyful. With all of these celebrations coming up, the activity reminded the Jamat about the 60 years of Imamat, and how thankful we are for having a spiritual leader that guides us. Expressing our love towards the Imam in tiles reminds all of us of the inner meaning of these celebrations!"
The Jubilee Mosaic event engendered a sense of unity and excitement within our Jamat. Just as the tiles will serve as the base of the sculptures, the harmony within our Jamat serves as the pedestal of our faith. This event was a great occasion to show, not only our gratitude to the Imam, but to also reflect upon the tenets of our tariqah and how they bind us all together. When combined, the light/guidance (Nur) of our Imam, along with human intellect (Aql) are two principal factors that allow our souls (Nafs) to flourish. As Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) once said, "The greatest of wealth is the richness of the soul."
