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This week, The Ismaili presents an acoustic rendition of Allahuma Salli Aala, performed by Amisha Lakhani in India. Originally written and composed by Khairunissa and Fez Meghani in the United States, the song was first released during the Golden Jubilee, and has remained popular ever since.

The phrase, Log kya kahenge meaning ‘what will people say,’ highlights a mindset within South Asian communities about the way people act, hold expectations, or even choose to participate in programs. This mindset has also been a contributing roadblock for many people when talking about and seeking out mental health support.

Since the beginning of time, people have handed down knowledge and lessons from one generation to the next in the form of stories. The novelist Haruki Murakami once said that “Stories lie deep in our souls. Stories lie so deep at the bottom of our hearts that they can bring people together at the deepest level.” For one young member of the Jamat in the Far East, continuing this centuries-old tradition is of crucial importance.

Welcome to The Ismaili Magazine 2020: A Year of Extraordinary Service. This digital magazine provides a whistle-stop tour across continents, highlighting the various programmes, initiatives, and events organised by AKDN and Jamati institutions around the world over the past 12 months.

It is tempting to think that we can just leave 2020 behind and look ahead to a fresh new year. However, this might be short-sighted. The bigger picture suggests that collectively, we have never learned so much in such a short space of time — about the world, about each other, and about ourselves. It would be wise to hold on to these lessons, as we may soon need to put them into action...