How do individuals search for meaning in their lives?

It is not only individuals that face fundamental questions. They also arise for groups or communities of people who may ask: What defines us as a society or as a community? What vision should inspire our social order? How should we live together? What is to be understood by justice, freedom or equality? What values ought we to hold, and which ends should we pursue?

Questions about ultimate meaning are as important today as in the past. People across the world, regardless of their background, confront them. These questions are fundamental to those who seek meaning and purpose in their lives. They aspire towards searching for what is true, right, just and good, in order to lead better or happier lives.

Is the search for meaning limited to individuals?

It is not only individuals that face fundamental questions. They also arise for groups or communities of people who may ask: What defines us as a society or as a community? What vision should inspire our social order? How should we live together? What is to be understood by justice, freedom or equality? What values ought we to hold, and which ends should we pursue?

These kinds of questions on social purpose and order have often been posed, if not in these exact words. How they have been answered has led to different models of society. The way of life a society adopts points to a vision of what it holds as ultimately significant.

How does religion view human ideals & desires?

How has faith helped the Jamat interpret their life experiences and mitigate negative aspects of soceity?

Historically, the Jamat has been united by its allegiance to the Imam of the Time and by shared beliefs and values. Faith, its understanding and practices, are an important aspect of our value systems. Our faith influences our worldview, our identity, and our actions. Conversely, religious meaning helps the Jamat interpret their life experiences. Furthermore, we believe our faith influences the society in which we live, and the society we live in impacts the religious life of the Jamat.

Contemporary life impacts our perception of faith. The impact of what Mawlana Hazar Imam has called “rampant materialism, self-indulgent individualism, and unprincipled relativism” on the ethical paradigm and general outlook of young Ismailis is significant, especially those who find themselves at the crossroads of religion and the secularised world. How can a religious community mitigate the negative impact of a highly materialistic, secularised and relativistic worldview of today? In addition, can religion be a positive force for social change within the Jamat and outside the Jamat, improving the quality of
their lives?

These questions could not be answered without a sound educational foundation: both dini and dunyawi, and by grounding ourselves in our historic values of submission and humility before the Divine, service to our community and humanity, and improving the quality of life of others.

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