The University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) is home to over 300 Ismaili students and is situated in one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. On August 24, 2023, Austin Downtown Jamatkhana opened its doors adjacent to the UT campus.
Attending the opening, Al-Karim Alidina, President of the Council for the USA, remarked:
"With many college students and young professionals moving to Austin for its expanding technology, research, and creative communities, we have a growing Jamat right in the center of town. To best serve this Jamat, we proposed situating a Jamatkhana and student center in a location that is easily accessible so that it may serve as a place for communal worship, personal reflection, and social connection."
President Al-Karim added, “The opening of the new Jamatkhana was scheduled to coincide with the beginning of the fall semester when students were back on campus and could be here to commemorate it..”
A leader in academic achievement and research, UT Austin is recognized internationally. In his 2008 visit to Austin, Mawlana Hazar Imam approved the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UT Austin and the Aga Khan University as a “move towards narrowing the gap between the West and Islam.”
Once the search for a Jamatkhana site in central Austin began, the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board organized focus groups and conducted surveys of students. Shama Tajani, a UT graduate herself and the Aga Khan Youth and Sports Board for the Southwestern USA’s College Connection member, commented:
"We worked with current UT students to confirm that potential locations would be within walking distance or a shuttle ride. Once we had a location, we solicited further input from students and young professionals on what they would like to see in the space. Everything from the integration of contemporary and traditional elements to the incorporation of plants came from our conversations with students and professionals in the area.”
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Xavian Panjwani, a Junior at UT who was present at the event, expressed, “Being able to attend Jamatkhana on campus was very refreshing. A great way to make Jamatkhana more accessible for UT students. Hope to see this new Jamat thrive.” And Alyna Jivraj, a sophomore student, added, “After attending the opening of the Austin Downtown Jamatkhana today, I feel very blessed to be a part of the Ismaili Community. I’m happy to know that there is a space that allows for college students to come together and connect with each other despite everyone’s busy schedules!”
Amidst the bustling cityscape, this sacred space offers a sanctuary for personal reflection, communal worship, and a deepened connection to the Divine. From its conception, Austin Downtown Jamatkhana was also envisaged to incorporate a student center with spaces for socializing, working, and studying. It has been intentionally designed to host potlucks and informal networking events, as well as a speaker series featuring renowned Islamic scholars and young and seasoned professionals offering career advice.
The Jamatkhana is nestled on a street adorned with many other places of worship, embracing a rich heritage of faiths, including Christian and Jewish congregations adjacent to the UT Austin campus.
The inauguration of the Austin Downtown Jamatkhana marks the commencement of a new chapter—one that speaks of unity, learning, sustainability, and community. It encapsulates the vision of the Ismaili community to create spaces where faith, education, and dialogue flourish side by side.
