Mawlana Hazar Imam, Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, at the young age of 20 and in the final years of his studies at Harvard, was designated the 49th Imam of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslim community. After sixty years of that momentous day, today, the Jamats worldwide are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of their beloved Imam. The commemoration of this significant milestone presents the Jamat with the opportunity to reflect on the life, work and teachings of our Imam over the last 60 years.
After ascending to the Imamat and visiting some Jamats, Mawlana Hazar Imam returned to Harvard to complete his education. This was a clear indication of the importance and commitment the Imam placed on education. This commitment to education has been part and parcel of Ismaili history, and grounded within the primary understanding of the role of intellect in Islam.
Throughout his Imamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam has built on the work of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (may peace be upon him), who had provided numerous opportunities to the Jamats that did not have access to formal education. Mawlana Hazar Imam has continued to contribute towards these endeavours; in childhood development, providing education through financial scholarships, developing primary and secondary schools, and providing higher overseas education. In addition, he has established universities and educational programmes - all for the uplift and progress of the Jamat and the communities in which we live.
The centrality of education in Islam finds its inspiration in the Qur’an and from the teachings of the Prophet (may peace be upon him and his progeny) and the Imams. Once, Prophet Muhammad entered the mosque before prayer time. He found two groups of people in the mosque. One group was busy with worship, while there were some who were engaged in discussion and learning. The Prophet is reported to have said:
“They are both engaged in useful pursuits. But I am a teacher. I shall join the group assembled to learn.”
The role of intellect was seen as a driving force, as an integral part of faith, a way to understand life, to comprehend Allah’s creation and to ensure that knowledge and wisdom was utilised for the benefit of others. Serving humanity and leaving the world in better shape than we found, became a deep religious pursuit in Islam.
In today’s world, we can become strongly influenced by occidental values of individual advancement and the accumulation of material wealth. It can be challenging for the young to root their educational approach within a specific Muslim worldview, where the pursuit of education is for the betterment of the societies in which we live. Mawlana Hazar Imam has always emphasised the core message of Islam in his Farmans. It is his desire that the young and old in the Jamat, see intellect as a vital element of their faith, rather than something outside of their religious life. Throughout our history, the acquisition of knowledge has always been viewed as a core principle that enables us to better understand and serve Allah’s creation.
Nature of Education in Islamic Tradition
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, at the young age of 20 and in the final years of his studies at Harvard, was designated the 49th Imam of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslim community. After sixty years of that momentous day, today, the Jamats worldwide are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of their beloved Imam. The commemoration of this significant milestone presents the Jamat with the opportunity to reflect on the life, work and teachings of our Imam over the last 60 years.
After ascending to the Imamat and visiting some Jamats, Mawlana Hazar Imam returned to Harvard to complete his education. This was a clear indication of the importance and commitment the Imam placed on education. This commitment to education has been part and parcel of Ismaili history, and grounded within the primary understanding of the role of intellect in Islam.
Throughout his Imamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam has built on the work of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (may peace be upon him), who had provided numerous opportunities to the Jamats that did not have access to formal education. Mawlana Hazar Imam has continued to contribute towards these endeavours; in childhood development, providing education through financial scholarships, developing primary and secondary schools, and providing higher overseas education. In addition, he has established universities and educational programmes - all for the uplift and progress of the Jamat and the communities in which we live.
The centrality of education in Islam finds its inspiration in the Qur’an and from the teachings of the Prophet (may peace be upon him and his progeny) and the Imams. Once, Prophet Muhammad entered the mosque before prayer time. He found two groups of people in the mosque. One group was busy with worship, while there were some who were engaged in discussion and learning. The Prophet is reported to have said:
“They are both engaged in useful pursuits. But I am a teacher. I shall join the group assembled to learn.”
The role of intellect was seen as a driving force, as an integral part of faith, a way to understand life, to comprehend Allah’s creation and to ensure that knowledge and wisdom was utilised for the benefit of others. Serving humanity and leaving the world in better shape than we found, became a deep religious pursuit in Islam.
In today’s world, we can become strongly influenced by occidental values of individual advancement and the accumulation of material wealth. It can be challenging for the young to root their educational approach within a specific Muslim worldview, where the pursuit of education is for the betterment of the societies in which we live. Mawlana Hazar Imam has always emphasised the core message of Islam in his Farmans. It is his desire that the young and old in the Jamat, see intellect as a vital element of their faith, rather than something outside of their religious life. Throughout our history, the acquisition of knowledge has always been viewed as a core principle that enables us to better understand and serve Allah’s creation.
Nature of Education in Islamic Tradition
Mawlana Hazar Imam, Shah Karim Al-Hussaini, at the young age of 20 and in the final years of his studies at Harvard, was designated the 49th Imam of the Shi‘a Ismaili Muslim community. After sixty years of that momentous day, today, the Jamats worldwide are celebrating the Diamond Jubilee of their beloved Imam. The commemoration of this significant milestone presents the Jamat with the opportunity to reflect on the life, work and teachings of our Imam over the last 60 years.
After ascending to the Imamat and visiting some Jamats, Mawlana Hazar Imam returned to Harvard to complete his education. This was a clear indication of the importance and commitment the Imam placed on education. This commitment to education has been part and parcel of Ismaili history, and grounded within the primary understanding of the role of intellect in Islam.
Throughout his Imamat, Mawlana Hazar Imam has built on the work of his grandfather, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah (may peace be upon him), who had provided numerous opportunities to the Jamats that did not have access to formal education. Mawlana Hazar Imam has continued to contribute towards these endeavours; in childhood development, providing education through financial scholarships, developing primary and secondary schools, and providing higher overseas education. In addition, he has established universities and educational programmes - all for the uplift and progress of the Jamat and the communities in which we live.
The centrality of education in Islam finds its inspiration in the Qur’an and from the teachings of the Prophet (may peace be upon him and his progeny) and the Imams. Once, Prophet Muhammad entered the mosque before prayer time. He found two groups of people in the mosque. One group was busy with worship, while there were some who were engaged in discussion and learning. The Prophet is reported to have said:
“They are both engaged in useful pursuits. But I am a teacher. I shall join the group assembled to learn.”
The role of intellect was seen as a driving force, as an integral part of faith, a way to understand life, to comprehend Allah’s creation and to ensure that knowledge and wisdom was utilised for the benefit of others. Serving humanity and leaving the world in better shape than we found, became a deep religious pursuit in Islam.
In today’s world, we can become strongly influenced by occidental values of individual advancement and the accumulation of material wealth. It can be challenging for the young to root their educational approach within a specific Muslim worldview, where the pursuit of education is for the betterment of the societies in which we live. Mawlana Hazar Imam has always emphasised the core message of Islam in his Farmans. It is his desire that the young and old in the Jamat, see intellect as a vital element of their faith, rather than something outside of their religious life. Throughout our history, the acquisition of knowledge has always been viewed as a core principle that enables us to better understand and serve Allah’s creation.
