11th December 2020
My beloved spiritual children,
On the occasion of my birthday, the 13th of December 2020, I send my warmest and most affectionate paternal maternal loving blessings to all my beloved spiritual children throughout the world.
I give my best loving blessings for the souls of all my ruhani spiritual children, and I pray for the eternal peace and rest of their souls.
At this time, my Jamat shares with other societies around the world the pain and stresses of the Covid-19 crisis. As Imam-of-the-Time, my attention is focussed on ensuring that the work of the Jamati and AKDN institutions in extending relief and support to those in my Jamat who are vulnerable is effective.
For centuries, one of the core backbones of our Jamat has been our tradition of voluntary service. The global pandemic has challenged our volunteers in many new ways – whether it be in offering care and comfort to my Jamat and others, disseminating important and timely health information, or producing digital communications content to keep the Jamat informed and motivated. I am very pleased with the excellent work of my volunteers throughout the world to support the Jamat and the communities amongst whom they live, and to all my volunteers I convey my greatest admiration and best affectionate loving blessings.
I wish to reiterate that, at all times in your day-to-day lives, my murids should continue to exercise the utmost care and rigour in observing recommended health and safety measures. The reports regarding the development of effective vaccines are encouraging, and I would like my Jamat to be guided by the advice and directives of their health authorities to benefit from the protection these vaccines will provide.
It is a matter of satisfaction that my Jamat continues to draw inspiration from our historic tradition of facing adversity with unity, resolve and resilience, and I am convinced that my Jamat will emerge from the present crisis with enhanced strength and capacities as we plan for the future. I believe my Jamat will find comfort and support from the practice of their faith, whether in Jamatkhanas where these are accessible, or by way of private, personal prayer.
On the occasion of my birthday, I send my best loving blessings to all the spiritual children who have sent messages of congratulations and good wishes.
I send my most affectionate loving blessings for your good health and happiness, spiritual progress, worldly success, strength of faith and unity, with best loving blessings for mushkil-asan. You are all most particularly in my heart, in my thoughts, and in my prayers.
Yours affectionately,
Aga Khan
