We have been blessed with the wonderful announcement of our beloved Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit to the United Kingdom and France. The happiness of the Imam and the unity of the global Jamat has been central to all his visits and can be seen from all the videos and images which have been shared. It is now time to prepare ourselves for this special time.
Stirrings of the Soul
We are pleased to launch Stirrings of the Soul, a harmonious mosaic of devotional expressions. This downloadable series consists of Qur’anic recitations, zikr tasbihs, ginans, Arabic and Farsi qasidas and manqabats. It is designed to help us invoke a sense of connection within, and to ignite the spark towards personal search and enlightenment.
The Stirrings of the Soul podcast is available to download from the IIUK App.
Youth and ECED
Light My Way Booklets
Ages: 0 to 18 year olds
The Light My Way booklets are packed with creative activities to enable your child to take a journey of discovery, of their soul, faith and their relationship with the Imam of the Time. These activities can be done at home and will also accompany the intezar lessons at Baitul Ilms. One hard copy will be available per child, either from Baitul Ilm or at your local Jamatkhana. An electronic copy can be downloaded here:
Light My Way – Primary and Secondary
Jugend und Kleinkinder
Erleuchte meinen Weg Broschüren
Light My Way Diamond Jubilee Lessons
Ages: 3 ½ to 18 year olds
I have a soul, Understanding our faith, My beloved Imam and Opening hearts, minds and souls are the four intezar topics that will be covered at all Baitul Ilms. These topics have been designed to help children reflect and prepare for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit.
Contact your local Head of Baitul Ilm to register for these intezar lessons.
Light My Way Flashcards
Ages: 0 to 3 ½ year olds
A is for Allah, B is for Bismillah, L is for Love. Discover these beautifully crafted cards to use at home with your child to reflect on our values and practices, in preparation for Mawlana Hazar Imam’s visit. The flashcards will be available at your local Jamatkhana or email [email protected]
Light My Way to the Darbar
“When the light of the Imam shone upon my soul, even though
I was black as night, I became the shining sun.”
Pir Nasir-i Khusraw
A Mulaqat with Mawlana Hazar Imam is a significant moment in the life of every murid.
What does this mean for you and how will you prepare yourself for his visit?
Join us to learn about the significance of a Darbar, understand what happens on the day, and explore ways in which you can prepare yourself to be in the presence of the Imam of the Time.
Sunday 24 June, 10am - 4pm, The Institute of Ismaili Studies
All 15-18 year olds
Registration is mandatory. To reserve a place, please email [email protected] by 10 June.
Mark your diaries for a day that promises to be filled with fun, excitement and insights.
Educational Sessions
A series of educational sessions are being conducted in Jamatkhanas and include information on the background and history of various ceremonies, as well as on the nature of Mulaqats and their significance in a murid’s life.
A schedule of the sessions can be downloaded here.
Talking about the Mulaqat
A brief explanation of the historical significance of this event and suggested responses to possible questions you may be asked is available here.
During this period the following terms will be used frequently. A longer gloassary is available on the IIUK App. [content extracted from IIS secondary curriculum materials]
Darbar is a Persian word and refers to a meeting with a King at his noble court. At a darbar, the Imam of the Time will wear his ceremonial regalia including the khil‘at (robe) which is a symbol of his authority. When the Imam decides that a didar is to be celebrated as a darbar, it is an especially happy time for the Jamat.
Diamond Jubilee Visit is when Mawlana Hazar Imam visits a country to commemorate the sixtieth anniversary of his Imamat. In many cases, this includes a formal invitation by the state.
Didar is a Persian word meaning seeing or vision. In the Shia Ismaili tradition, the physical didar of the Imam refers to the occasion when the Imam of the Time visits a Jamat, shares his guidance and performs religious ceremonies.
Intezar means to eagerly await or anticipate. It refers to the period when a murid is longing to be blessed with the Imam’s didar. Intezar is a time of reflection and spiritual preparation for murids awaiting the physical arrival of the Imam.
Mulaqat is an Arabic word meaning meeting or encountering. The Imam may grant a mulaqat with an individual murid or family, with Jamati leadership or with the whole Jamat. These are private meetings with him. Typically, the Imam does not wear the ceremonial khil‘at (robe) during a mulaqat. A didar, padhramni or darbar are all types of mulaqats.
Padhramni is a Gujarati word, which derives from the words: pad (leg) and dharani (earth or ground). It alludes to the ceremonious arrival of the religious head, stepping foot into a particular country. For Ismailis, it refers to the arrival of Mawlana Hazar Imam into our jurisdiction and the blessed opportunity that murids have to receive his zahiri didar.
Nazrana is an expression of a murid’s deep love, allegiance, and gratitude for the Imam of the Time. Derived from Persian, the word Nazrana is an offering normally presented at a ceremonial occasion, and only when the Imam consents. The submission of a material or Time and Knowledge Nazrana (TKN) is voluntary and unconditional. In the Diamond Jubilee, for the first time, Mawlana Hazar Imam has consented to the participation of young murids in the Time and Knowledge Nazrana.
