Our Stories

In Islamic tradition, society is encouraged to leave behind a wholesome and sustainable natural environment for those who will inherit the Earth. The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) is believed to have said "Even if the end of time is upon you and you have a seedling in your hand, plant it."

The very first revelation to the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family) was a command to read. Thus, from the very beginning, learning and education has held a special place in Islam. For all communities and societies today, learning and education rests on literacy, or, the ability to read and write. The recently-established Gulshan-e-Noor Library and Reading Room in Pakistan aims to enhance the literacy of its visitors by providing them with access to knowledge, a space to hold educational programming, and a team of well-trained staff to facilitate learning.

While commemorating Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Diamond Jubilee, the Canadian Jamat also celebrated Canada’s 150th anniversary. To honour these milestones, the Jamat participated in Ismaili CIVIC 150, an initiative that pledged one million hours of service to improving quality of life for communities across Canada.

Buffalo Bayou Park in downtown Houston is home to seven glowing 10-foot sculptures, dedicated to tolerance. The sculptures, themselves named Tolerance, are open-weave, metal structures that depict kneeling human forms, with characters and symbols from nine different languages, created by Spanish artist Jaume Plensa. The sculptures represent the seven continents.

"I have always thought that the Jamat in this country would play a special role in the future of the Jamat world-wide, because this country is the leader in the knowledge society. I think that, there probably isn’t an area of human endeavor in which we do not have today, a murid who is exceptional in his own or her own field."
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Institutional Dinner, Atlanta, March 18, 2008