Although I'm not clear as to Shi'a beliefs in general or those of the Ismailis in particular, I know that the Shi'a/Sunni split originated in a dispute about the who should succeed Muhammad as spiritual leader of the Ummah, the Muslim community. Sunnis believe the Caliph, as they were first called, should be elected from the community, while Shi'as hold that he should be a relative of the Prophet stemming from the line Ali, the Prophet's cousin and son-in-law.
As the holder of such a pious office, the Aga Khan is an interesting character. He's not only called "Your Highness" and regaled with head of state status as he travels the world, but he also has a huge bank account stockpiled with billions of dollars gleaned from the offerings of his Ismaili followers. He's received countless awards for his philanthropy, and he founded and chairs the multi-million-dollar Aga Khan Development Network, a conglomeration of nine separate but overlapping agencies that focus on alleviating poverty throughout the developing world.
He recently came to Atlanta, and I was able to listen to him speak about education in an age of increasing globalization. I found him quite eloquent, and it was easy to see why many have labeled him a modern and progressive Muslim leader. He engages crowds with a light European accent. He gives off an air of humility, and he calls for peace and tolerance from his followers while encouraging them to engage with their communities for the good of humankind. He wears western suits and travels by private jet, a walking contrast to the extremist, militant Islam that many Americans mistake as the only interpretation of the 1,400-year-old faith.
The Aga Khan is a pretty popular guy. Nearly 1,000 people have viewed the article I wrote and more than 2,000 have watched the video on YouTube that we posted of his speech. Just so you know, those numbers are huge for our small, local publication.
But according to one reader all the way from Denver, Colorado, the Aga Khan is just a bit too popular, especially among Ismaili adherents. Although they are reticent to reveal this to the outside world, some actually call him God, said a man who made a cross-country call to tell me the "true story" behind the Aga Khan. While he refers to himself as the Ismailis' imam, the Aga Khan is an extortionist who demands the worship of his Ismaili followers and uses the amount they give as a gauge of their devotion. Believers must buy their way into certain congregations, and they sometimes ask the Aga Khan for the forgiveness of sins. The Aga Khan and his forefathers are carousers and cult leaders, according to the caller, who identified himself as Alex.
Alex claims to be an insider, a Bombay, India, native and former Ismaili follower who was chosen by Jesus Christ to be brought into fellowship with the true and living God of Christianity. He said he had personally bowed the knee to the Aga Khan and to pictures of him. His family made the same mistake. Alex said were often transfixed by Satanic spirits as they participated in the mindless incantations that he says are a regular part of Ismaili worship. But they never received the truth, and they died in their sins, without the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. The Aga Khan, Alex said, had "stolen the eternity" of his mother, father and sister. Now, Alex wants to expose the Aga Khan, not for revenge, but so that the leader and his followers might shake off their ignorance and come to know the Lord Jesus Christ.
So who is the real Aga Khan? Is he a cult leader who earns billions of dollars a day by keeping people in spiritual bondage? A rich guy who does good with the offerings entrusted to him? A shameful liar who builds the legitimacy of his regime on the salaries of his constituents?
Whatever the answer is, I hope to find out, and I think I'm in the right place to do it. I'll be in contact with Alex, whom I like to think of as an "apostle to the Ismailis." And I live less than five minutes away from the largest Ismaili community in the Southeast, the Ismaili Jamatkhana (house of worship) on Dekalb Industrial Way. Anyone out there who can offer some clarity on the true nature of the Aga Khan, please leave your comments, and stay tuned for more...
70 comments:
Hello Trevor,
You would be well served if you observe Ismaili Muslims personally and closely with your own eyes and rational mind. Listening to a call from one person and believing many unfounded myths of Ismailis (which has been littered in the pages of history by the way) would not do any justice to you.
I welcome you to visit my unofficial blog to get the slice of daily life in the community of Shia Ismaili Muslims.
http://ismailimail.wordpress.com
http://spiritandlife.wordpress.com
ismailimail,
I've visited your blog many times and am on your mailing list. I think it would be interesting to see the Ismailis with my own eyes. I'm not trusting just the opinion of one man. As a journalist, I'm dedicated to seeing both sides of this issue. Would I be allowed to attend an Ismaili worship service? Are you located in the Atlanta area or do you know someone who could set this up for me?
Hi Trevor,
It's good that you are willing to keep an open mind about the Aga Khan IV's interpretation of Islam, a religion whose 1.4 billion adherents are not monolithic but the very embodiment of pluralism and diversity: multi-ethnic, multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-locational and multi-interpretational.
Among other criteria the true worth of a leader in today's world is how does the leader guide his flock amidst the torrid pace of progress and development in science and technology, how does he expound the humanistic dimension of his religion and translate them into practical and efficient ways to serve and help God's greatest creation, man himself? With regards to the second criterion much has been written and I refer you to the mammoth Aga Khan Development Network:
http://www.akdn.org/
Regarding the first criterion above the Aga Khan IV's vision is entirely based on the literal text of as well as allegories within the noble Quran. To give you an example I put together a series of 72 quotes and speech excerpts of Aga Khan IV, his predecesor Aga Khan III and others relating to the subjects of knowledge, intellect, creation, science and religion, in chronological order from the most recent to the oldest. These little nuggets of information speak volumes about how His Highness Aga Khan IV links human intellect to the practice of faith in the Shia Ismaili Muslim interpretation of Islam, his promotion of creationism within the context of a constant, continuous and dynamic creation and his view of the material universe as being part of the structure of truth, the ultimate nature of which it is the goal of religion to reach under the banner of the fundamental principle of monorealism in a monotheistic Islam:
http://gonashgo.blogspot.com/2008/02/327comprehensive-quotes-of-aga-khan-iv.html
Trevor,
Thank you for an enthusiastic response. Glad to see that you've been a regular visitor to the blog.
Hopefully, you must have already seen the official websites of the Ismaili Muslim community? If not, here are the critical ones:
Ismaili Magazine
http://www.theismaili.org
Institute of Ismaili Studies
http://www.iis.ac.uk
Aga Khan Development Network
http://www.akdn.org
You can grasp a lot from just these websites. Hopefully other visitors to your blog may direct you to more in-depth knowledge and information.
Regards.
From the responses I've gotten so far, it seems that some are willing to quote the status quo responses about the Aga Khan, but not to really engage about the criticisms raised in my initial blog posts.
I understand that the Aga Khan is influential and he shepherds his flock well in this age of globalization. That shows through in the article I wrote for GlobalAtlanta.
But what I really want to know is how the Ismailis see the Aga Khan and interact with him. Do they worship him in secret, as my caller told me? Do they bow to him and ask forgiveness for their sins? Do they pay him 12.5 percent of their income?
Would they be willing to let an outsider come into their worship service and observe?
I'm very interested to know straight answers to all of these questions and so much more. I invite any and all responsible dialogue on the issue.
Greetings Trevor,
Firstly, there is no dogmatic view about how the Ismailis see the Aga Khan. The relationship between an Ismaili murid and his Imam is both personal and spiritual. However, there are some general statements that can be made in this regard.
For Ismailis, the Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary Imam and the heir to the spiritual knowledge and authority of the Prophet Muhammad. In Shia Islam, love for the Imams is a pillar of faith and the Ismailis have a great love for their Imam - akin to the love of children for their parent. The Imam, in Shiism, is also regarded as spiritually pure, sinless and infallible in his guidance.
The Aga Khan is revered by his disciples according to the above status and his word and advice is taken at a very high level.
Shia Ismaili Islam does not meet the definitions of a cult. The Ismaili tradition has continued for over a thousand years and has developed a rich theology, philosophy, and metaphysical world view which have contributed greatly to Islamic thought and culture.
The Ismaili Jamatkhana is not open to non-initiates during the times of prayer. This is for a variety of reasons, including the community's history of being persecuted and the esoteric nature of Ismaili doctrines and practices which necessitate the need for privacy when it comes to spiritual practice.
The Aga Khan is not worshipped in secret - for such a thing negates the very basic principle in Islam - the oneness and transcendence of God or Allah.
With regards to your comment about forgiveness of sins, it is true that in many Shia prayers, the Imam is asked to forgive the sins of his disciples and pray to God for their forgiveness. This practice is related to the Shia doctrine of Imamat - where the Prophet Muhammad and the Imams are regarded as intercessors and mediators for the spiritual affairs between humanity and God Himself. Perhaps a parallel can be drawn with Jesus - who also forgave sins as the Gospels record, much to the surprise of the religious authorities in his time.
Your final question about income: the Ismailis tithe to their Imam a percantage of their income. This is based on the concept of Zakat (alms) in Islam. For Shia Muslims, the hereditary Imam is the rightful administrator of the Zakat and as such, it is given to him. The Imam then uses the funds in various charity and development projects. He has also spoken to this in many interviews.
Trevor, as a responsible journalist, I would advise to examine official documents of the Shia Ismaili community such as the Institute of Ismaili Studies articles and the Ismaili constitution which lays out the doctrines of this Shia Muslim community.
Thank you for that comprehensive explanation. It has led me to a more clear understanding of the role of the Imam in Shi'a Islam and specifically how that role is manifested in the Aga Khan's case.
I'll probably know more about thse issues when I've read more about the Ismaili faith, but if anyone wants to address these now, please do so.
Mr. Gnostic: I appreciate the reverence Ismailis have for their Imam. I understand that "spiritual leader" has a deeper meaning in that context than I initially expected. But I don't think the comparison to Jesus as a forgiver of sins is an acceptable analogy.
I know that the fundamental tenet of Islam is the tawhid, or the oneness of God. That's why my caller's comments surprised me. Surely a Muslim sect could not have reverence for a human being bordering on idolatry, I thought.
But there's the problem with the analogy. Islam does not accept the Trinity as Christianity does, and I would say to your comment that we believe the forgiveness of sins is something that only God has the power to do. We believe Jesus was and is God. That's the statement he was making by forgiving sins, and that's precisely why it shocked the religious leaders of his day to the point they wanted to kill him.
So, unless Ismailis hold the Aga Khan to a god-like status, I don't see how these two figures can be compared as intermediaries with the same nature. Is it right to view the Aga Khan as sort of a Pope-like figure, to put it in a Western context? It seems that this allegory is more appropriate -- descendant of the religion's chief apostle, authority to forgive sins, authoritative interpretation of scripture, inspires love and devotion from adherents, etc.
Also, is the percentage of wages given to the Aga Khan held in secret? Or is it really 12.5 percent? If so, isn't this a lot higher than the 2.5 percent or so prescribed by the pillar of zakat? Not that there's anything wrong with giving too much. And your description of the imam as the administrator of zakat makes sense.
And one more thing: Since I apparently won't be able to go to the Jamatkhana during prayers, I'm wondering if there are pictures of the Aga Khan used in worship? Are there special chants? Maybe the answers to these questions fall under the esoteric and secret category, but I'm interested to know, especially in view of Sunni Islam's disdain for icons.
Again, thanks for the help, and I hope to post more as I learn more. Feel free to stoke the flames of discussion...
Greetings Trevor,
You seem to take particular interest in the role of the Imam with regards to the forgiveness of sins as well as the notion of revering a human being in Islam.
I think you should be careful of super-imposing Christian views of sin and human nature upon your understanding of Islam and its regard for human beings.
In the Islamic world view as articulated in the Holy Quran, the human being possesses a lofty status as both the servant (abd) and vicegerent (khalifa) of God on earth. Human nature is affirmed as being essentially good or upright (hanif) - this contrasts with the Christian view of original sin. For all Muslims, the Prophet Muhammad was the greatest human being and essentialy pure and sinless. For the Shia Muslims, this exalted spirituality is also possessed by the hereditary Imams who are the legatees/inheritors of Prophet.
By virtue of this spiritual status and sanctity (called "walayah"), the Prophet and the Imams are regarded as intercessors and capable of mediating between the affairs of their disciples and God Himself. This is of course different from the Christian understanding of Christ - who seen as the incarnation of the Second Person of the Trinity. But there is still that commonality between Christology of Christianity and the Prophetology and Imamology of Shia Islam, in that these figures are the pre-eminent mediators between man and God.
I would also add that devotion to a human being is not foreign to Islam - even till today, there are specific devotions centred around the figure of Prophet Muhammad. Sufi Tariqahs (brotherhoods) of Islam are centred upon spiritual leaders known as Pirs or Shaykhs - some of whom tombs are frequently visited today. You must also be aware of the devotion to the Imams practiced in Twelver Shiism - notably in the shrines in Iran and Iraq.
In some ways, the Aga Khan can be compared to the Pope in the sense that he represents an institution of spiritual guidance that goes back to the founder of the religion and is loved and revered his by followers. However, there are some major differences: the Imamat of Ismaili Imams is hereditary and each Imam appoints one of his descendants to succeed him - unlike the Pope who is elected by a college of cardinals. The Aga Khan, as a Muslim leader, also has responsibilties that flow into the worldly and practical side of life in addition to his spiritual role.
In terms of zakat, the 2.5% of assets is customary in Sunni Islam but Shia Muslims have different responsibilities with regard to zakat. The rate is higher for Shia communities ranging from 20% of certain assets to 10 or 12.5% of income for Shia Ismaili Muslims. It should also be known that the Quran does not prescribe a specific percentage figure.
I am not at liberty to share the specific details of Ismaili devotional pracitces. Pictures are not used in worship and there is no such use of "icons".
But what you refer to as "chanting" is known as "dhikr" in Islam. Dhikr literally means "remembrance" and is a spiritual practice which consists of reciting the Names of God, sometimes in the form of a chant, and is practiced by all communities of Muslims, including the Sufis and the Ismaili Muslims.
I hope this information was helpful and clarifying.
Hello Trevor,
I am an ex-ismaili who was called by Lord Jesus Christ to trust in HIM by HIS Grace alone and I know ismailisim as an insider. I am so glad that you reqeusted ismilis to allow you to observe their worship service at their Jamat Khana..
Once you observe the worship service, you will have no doubt that ismaili worship Karim as God.
Karim's Grand Daddy named Sultan (WHO WAS CONSIDERED GOD BY ISMAILIS) used to receive 51.00 Rupees (indian currency-- 51 rupees was huge sum then)from his ignorant followers and the follower would bow down in fron of Sultan after handing the money and would ask for the forgiveness of his/her sins to Sultan. Sultan would verbally say " I GORGIVE YOUR SINS. Please underline "I". He DID NOT say to his follower that God will forgive you or I will pray for you to God. There is a very common phrase ismailis use very frequently which says "Ali Te Sahi Allah" Ali meaning the originator of ismaili's so called God's geneology. "Te" means IS . "Sahi" means TRUE and Allah means GOD.
so the phrase means:
"ALY IS TRUE GOD"
Isamili consider that "NOO" (light of God or glimpse of GOD) was in Aly and this NOOR has been passed over the years to his male childrens and Karim is the present holder of this NOOR.
Karim's Daddy name Aly was once the holder of this NOOR. He was the most notorious play boy known in Hollywood. In front of this Aly,a sexual beast, my mom,dad, brothers sisters and relatives bent down to and asked for forgiveness of our sins.
Trevor please release your breath. Don't hold it becasue ismailis will never ever will allow you to observe thier worship service.
But let me give you the tour of Jamat Khana.
Let me inform you about one of the rituals all ismailis perform in Jamat Khana beside others,which they will never ever tell you about. An ismaili with money in his hand will approach the pastor (called MUKHI)sitting on the floor behind rectagnle table about knee high. The ismaili will first hand the money to the Pastor. Than he will join his hand (like a little girl will join hand to prey to Lord). He will look straight at Karim's picture which is hanging right on the wall above and behind the pastor. Looking righ in Karim's eyes, the ismaili will say the following:---
"TAUBO TAUBO TAKSIDAR BANDO SITA PAR GUNE GAR YA SHAH TO GUNA BAKSHE BAKSHAN HAR".
(Oh! forgiver of sins, this follower of your is a sinner and since you are the forgiver of sins, please forgive my sins.)
Next the ismaili will unjoin his hands and will hold pastor' hand.
In response the pastor, while holding ismailis hand, will say:
"SHA PIR BAKSHE, MOWLANA HAZAR IMAM BAKHSE"
(Present Imam Karim will pardon your sins.)
I as an ignorant ismaili performed this ritual thousands of time while I was in this cult.
If you ever would like to, invite me on a radio call in talk show I will be very happy to answer these ismailis questions. Call few pastors in your area and ask them to let me appear on their radio programme in your area and I will be very very happy to appear on the show.
Please read this book titled Thorne of Gold by Anne Edwards and you will know more about this agaCON MAN'S background.
My mom,dad amd brother died believing this crooks as God and right now they are burning in hell and screaming with ravaging and excruciating pain which will have no end.
LORD JESUS SIAD:
"DO NOT WORRY ABOUT THE ONE WHO WILL STEAL YOUR BODY. BUT WORRY ABOUT THE ONE WHO WILL STEAL YOUR SOUL"
PLEASE TREVOR POSE ANY QUESTION YOU HAVE FOR ME ON THIS BLOG AND I WILL BE VERY HAPPY TO REPLY.
LORD JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
My brother was a Mukhi (pastor) of Life Majlis (congregation) and he used to write letters to Karim addressing as "KHUDAWIND" MEANING GOD.
Ismailis hang Karim's picture almost in every room of their home. They will bow down in front of karim's picture and ask Karim to provide for their daily bread, for increase in their earning,longevity of their lives, protect them from worldy harm etc etc.
Among themselves ismailis call Karim as God but to the outside world they will call imam.
ISMAILIS ARE VERY MUCH ASHAMED OF CALLING KARIM AS GOD TO NON-ISMAILIS.
All the ismailis I knew when I was in this pagan cult called Karim God.
NO EXCEPTION.
ONE MORE TIME "NO EXCEPTION.
BILE SAYS: THEY KNOW THE TRUTH BUT SUPRESS IT BY THEIR UNRIGHTEOUSNESS.
LORD JESUS CHANGE HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
Sultan, an admirer of Hitler (you can see Sultan's picture with Hitler's right hand man in the book "Throne of Gold," by Anne Edwards)Karim's grand daddy who was the posessor of this so called noor never ever wanted ismailis to call themselves ismaili muslims. He just did not like them to intermingle with Sunni Muslims. Now that Karim knows that Mulim will be after his neck, so he very deviously want them to get on the band wagon of "ISMAILI MUSLIMS". There nothing ismailis do that has to do with Islam as far as their pagan cultist rituals are concerned.
Pose a question to ismaili "IF THEY ALLOW SUNNI OR ITHNASAREE MUSLIM ( ITHNASAREE MUSLIMS ARE SHIA MUSLIMS WHO DISLIKE ISMAILIS AND ISMAILIS DISLIKE THEM)IN THIER JAMATKHANA?
They don't even allow suni or ithnasaree muslims in their Jamat Khana!! Why not did you ask? Becasue if sunni muslims ever saw how ismailis worship karim as God, they will have straight talk with karim.
Karim is an Oxford graduate. He does his gymnastics on two parallel bars of God and Imam. When he is with muslims he jumpes on Imam's bar. When he is with ismailis, he jumpes on God's bar.
I know ismailis who has became christians and if I find video tapes of Sultan, Aly or Karim giving 'DEEDAR'(glimpses of God or these gods shows their face)from anyone of them, I will mail it to you and you will see how ismailis are bending down like goats and sheep in front of these gods and ask for fortgiveness of thier sins.
After DEEDAR, my mom would say to me,when I was a young boy, Mowla Bapa (another name for these pagan gods)forgave our sins today. Just becasue we saw his face, he forgave our sins." All my relatives and friends will say we saw God and now he has forgiven our sins. You will see ismailis with joined hands (worship posture) will ask these god to forgive thier sins.
MY MOMD, DAD, BROTHER AND MANY COLSE RELATIVES DIED BELIEVING THIS agaCON MAN AS GOD AND NOW THEY ARE BURNING IN HELL AS YOU READ THIS MAIL.
THIS THOUGHT GIVES ME THE CHILL.
LORD JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
Here is this Aly (karim's daddy)the possesor of so called Noor (given to him by Sultan on temp. basis since sultan was going through health problems and now the same noor is held by Karim)was SELF-CONFESSED PLAY-BOY in the west and there in the east my mom , dad, brothers, sisters, relatives and I bent down like goats and sheeps in front of this sexual lunatic and asked for forgiveness of our sins.
One of Aly's dinner date had to say this about Aly according to "Throne of Gold" by Anne Edwards :---
HE WAS SITTING ACROSS FROM DINNER TABLE AND KEPT STARING AT ME SO MUCH THAT HIS NOSE STARTED TO GET RED LIKE RUDOLPH THE RED NOSE RAIN DEER AND I JUST COULD NOT KEEP MY EYES OFF HIS NOSE.
Ismailis are brain-washed like Jehowa's witnesses. They are told not to read anything except thier own pagan books.
Anee Edward, the author of Throne of Gold is a very reputable author who writes about dynastis. She is very impartial and I don't think that she even knows that ismailis worship Karim as God. She just as an oursider did the research though the court documents of India and various other countries and printed the facts of her findings in her book.
She mentions in her book that Sultan and Karim used to go to Egypt to learn the techniques of "MISWAQ" (i may be totally mis-typing this arabic name) which teaches how to muscle control so Sultan and Aly can have total control in the bed-room on their prey.
In my calculated openion, Sultan would have given this so called NOOR to Aly instead of Karim if Aly could have toned down his open act of being play-boy. If he would have kept it hush hush, Karim would not have been this pagan god as he is today.
In fact in one of his prophecies, Sultan writes (in the book called NOOR-E-MUBEEN (light of God) that Aly, his son, will be riding a white horse called "DUL DUL" with Kingsly dress with sword in his hand and will proclaim himself as "ALI TE SAHI ALLAH" (meaning: ALI IS TRUE GOD.) Karim being an Oxford graduate (an ungodly university where the athiests are being manufactured) realized the blunders of sultan and so he banned the 'OLD NOOR-E-MUBEEN", took the blunders of Sultan out of it and replaced it with 'NEW AND IMPROVED NOOR-E-MUBEEN.
Theses dead concious gods has no regards for millions of ismailis eternities. I always wondered that didn't one of Aly's trashy overnight girl friends ever tell Aly:
"Arn't you ahsamed of yourself that here you are having a sexual affairs with me as a play-boy and there among your ignorant and jack-asses>(DONKIES)followers you play as God?"
My mom,dad,and brother; died believing Karim as God and now they are burning in lake of fire and screaming with ravaging pain which will have no end.
LORD JESUS CHRIST CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
Will no one answer these criticisms? It seems to me that if my spiritual leader was enduring such a barrage, I might have a thing or two to say about it.
I understand Mr. Gnostic's description of the chants as dhikr, or remembrance (check out a post on that subject here, but Bond-Servant's subsequent quotations seem to present the idea that chants and photos of the Aga Khan are used in worship, and that the Aga Khan sometimes does not act as an intermediary between man and God, but as God himself when he allows people to revere him as the forgiver of their sins.
If current Ismailis cannot answer this question, please explain in greater detail why Ismailis must be so secretive in their worship practices. This is pretty heavy stuff.
Trevor,
The recent comments are absolutely ridiculous and the anonymous poster sounds like he has a personal vendetta against the Ismaili community and its Imam.
The author of the Book, "Throne of Gold" was actually sued by the present Aga Khan and the author voluntarily retracted her comments and her views as published in that book, and admitted that the current Imam and his predecesser had never claimed divinity for themselves.
Everything that "bond servant" has posted about the previous Imam - Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan, and Prince Aly Khan - the father of the present Imam is a bunch of outright lies and do not even deserve a reply.
The rest of his posts merely display his ignorance of Ismaili practices and its no wonder he left the faith - this individual lacks the intellectual capability to understand the Ismaili Tariqah of Islam, which is otherwise a very thinking, esoteric and intellectual tradition.
This "bond servant" is also known to invade forums on ismaili websites and litter the boards with his incoherent and rude, and mindless commentaries.
With all due respect, Trevor, if you really consider this "bond-servant" as a credible, scholarly resource on the Ismaili faith, you are gravely mistaken. I would once again repeat my request that you consult academic and scholarly material on the Ismaili tradition as opposed to mere hearsay from disgruntled and disturbed individuals.
quote from ismaili gnostic's post:-
The author of the Book, "Throne of Gold" was actually sued by the present Aga Khan and the author voluntarily retracted her comments and her views as published in that book, and admitted that the current Imam and his predecesser had never claimed divinity for themselves.
Jesus says: "I am the way the truth and the life". When an individual does not deal with the truth, he creates a dialectical tension in his reasoning and it falls apart. False has this tendency to fall apart. It does not have that bonding agent in it to keep it together.
Let me show you what I mean. Anne Edwards has not mentioned in her book that any of aga CON MAN has calimed to be God. In fact Anne, I don't think, knows too much about the religious rituals of this ismaili cult.
So for Ismaili Gnostic tells us that "The author of the Book, "Throne of Gold" was actually sued by the present Aga Khan and the author voluntarily retracted her comments and her views as published in that book, and admitted that the current Imam and his predecesser had never claimed divinity for themselves" is a nonsense.
Put your money where your mouth is Ismaili Gnostic and give us the law suit # , date, place and subject.
Here is the post an ismaili posted on one of the ismaili sites name www.ismaili.net asking ismailis why Mowlabapa (meaning holder of so called noor presently karim)can not be treated as GOD.
I would like to draw the viewer's attention that none of the thousands of ismailis (total followers of aga CON MAN are 20 millions, as they claimed it to be)that surf on this particualr site objected to this person's post stating that Karim is GOD also and not only imam. In fact one regular surfer of this site responded to the post stating that Karim is our God but openly he can not claim to be God!! So here is (a) Individual's post first and than (b) a viewer name K-maherali's response (i think K-maherali is the administrator of this site) and (c) my response to K-Maherali's comments. ONE MORE THING BEFORE I GO FURTHER. THE ADMINISTRATOR OF THIS SITE HAS DELETED THE POST YOU ARE ABOUT TO READ BECASUE IT WAS TOO OPEN OF THE POSTER TO CALL KARIM GOD ON THE SITE. ISMAILIS WNAT TO KEEP IT HUSH HUSH WHEN IT COMES TO CALLING KARIM AS GOD BUT THIS POSTER FROM A TOWN CALLED GUJRAT POSTED THE REAL TRUTH OF HOW ISMAILIS FEEL ABOUT KARIM AND HOW THEY TREAT HIM AS GOD. SO HERE IT IS, THE POSTS :----
Yali Madad,
I was thinking why we do not openly call our mowla bapa (means Karim) GOD. We ask everything from him day and night in bandagi (meditation)and tasbi (worship with roasry) but when it is time to express our devotion and prem (love, affection) outwardly, we hesistate to call him our GOD to the world.
We ask him for barqat,(increase in our earning) roji rojgar, (daily bread)mafi,(forgiveness) nek umeed (righteous wish) and everything but we do not put him on top of our lists and call him God.
What is so difficult?
BELOW IS KMAHERALI'S RESPONSE TO ABOVE POST BY CHARANIA TITLED "MOWLA BAPA IS GOD ALSO:----
[quote="kmaherali"]MHI (stands for Mowlana Hazar Imam meaning Present Imam refers to karim ) in one of his Farmans (holy pronouncements) stated that "that which is zaher (in open) is zaher and that which is batin (hidden) is batin. You do not disclose batini (hidden) matters in a zaheri(open)situation. People will not understand you and you will be victimised."
To shed more light into this issue, there was an interview conducted by Andrew Gardner of ITV on 5th June 1985 at Chantilly ( I have the whole transcript of it), in which Mawlana Hazar Imam was asked: "One of the myths surrounding you is that some people in the West think of you as a living God. Not only is that not true, but it is blasphemous?" To which MHI answered: "Absolutely. I mean, as you know the faith of Islam was revealed at a time the Arabian continent was idolatrous and idolatary - all forms of idolatary are totally prohibited by Islam. It is certainly true to say that the Western World doesn't necessarily understand the theology of Shi'ism nor indeed the theology of many mystical sects whether they are Shia or Sunni or Christian. Mysticism, in it's essence is difficult."
From the answer above, we can see that while MHI denies being God from the [i]zaheri[/i] point of view, there is the [i]batini [/i]side which is not generally understood and is difficult. This concept of Mursheed al Kameel (Perfect Man), is not only restricted to our theology but is universal and it is mysticism (Sufism) that we must concentrate our efforts to promote. After all mysticism is the essence of all faiths and it can provide the bridge between the various traditions in the overall framework of pluralism.[/quote]
BOND SERVANT'S RESPONSE
Let me crack above nonsense split open so an everage naive and ignorant ismaili can understand what is going on in the above deceptive response of Karim to Andrew Gardner's question.
You see when Jesus was asked by the jews (his fierce enemies)"IF HE WAS GOD?" ,Jesis did not go around and around and around like karim and started to talk about zahir & batin (THE HUMPTY & DUMPTY) nonsense.
Lord Jesus said to the Jews: 'BEFORE ABRAHAM WAS, I AM.
As soon as jews heard above sentence from Jesus, they picked up stones and tried to stone HIM to death. They , the jews, did not ask among each other "WHAT DID HE SAY?" "WHAT DID HE MEAN BY THAT?" THIS PHRASE WAS SO OBEVIOUSLY KNOWN AND WAS COMMON AMONG THE DAYS OF JESUS THAT RIGHT AWAY JEWS PICKED UP STONES AND TOLD JESUS THAT "YOU ARE CALLING YOUR SELF GOD" which is blasphemous.
When Andrew asked karim the question, Karim did not answer by saying "ABSOLUTELY AND I WILL TELL MY FOLLOWERS NOT TO PREY TO ME OR MY PICTURE AND ASK FOR DAILY BREAD (ROZI ROZGAR means DAILY BREAD) FORGIVENESS OF SINS, LONG LIFE AND ZAHIR (in OPEN)AND BATIN (within)DEEDAR (glimpses or God showing HIS face). I WILL ALSO ASK THEM NOT TO SIT IN SATADA(SEVEN DAYS 3:00 AM CONGRIGATION ) AND CHANT UPON "YA ALI TO RAHEM KAR YA MOWLA TO FAZAL KAR" (karim be mercy upon us and be graceious to us) (while karim could not be gracious to his own two ex-wives)
OR
Karim did not answer to Andrew " Well you see Mr. Gardner I am not ismailis God in OPEN. I am ismailis God BEHIND CLOSED DOOR OF JAMAT KAHANA (batin)
Let me quote k. maherali (i think he is the admn of this site also) from his above post :----
"From the answer above, we can see that while MHI denies being God from the zaheri (in public or in open) point of view,
I wonder how Maherali came to the conclusion that "from the answer above, we can see that while karim denies being God from the zaheri point of view?
All karim said wass "absolutely" and than goes on to the nonsense of "idolatrous and idolatary - all forms of idolatary are totally prohibited by Islam" bla bla bla .
Andrew's question included the word " myths" before he shot the question at Karim shows that Andrew himself is a very naive host to ask question. It is not a myth that ismaili THINK that karim is God. Ismaili really believes in Karim as God. Otherwise they won't as for their deily bread bowing down to karim's picture.
If I was Andrew or allowed to ask question to karim, my question would have been:----
" ONE OF THE REALITY IS THAT ALL THE ISMAILIS, YOUR FOLLOWERS, THINK THAT YOU ARE THEIR GOD IN BATIN.(within) SO ARE YOU THEIR GOD IN BATIN?
OF COURSE KARIM TO SAVE HIS NECK WOULD SAY ABSOLUTELY NOT !! AND ISMAILIS WOULD STILL SAY "YES BUT IN ZAHIR (IN OPEN) HE CAN NOT SAY THAT HE IS GOD!!!! ISMAILIS ARE SO DESPERATE TO CLING TO KARIM AS GOD
EVEN THOUGH KARIM IS A SINFUL HUMAN BEING.
IF TODAY KARIM VERY CLEARLY MADE KNOWN TO ISMAILIS THAT HE IS NOT GOD, ISMAILIS WILL STILL WON'T LEAVE HIM ALONE. THEY WILL BY HOOK OR CROOK MAKE HIM TO BE GOD.
KARIM WILL NEVER EVER WILL GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER TO THE QUESTION : [b]ARE YOU GOD? YOU SEE ANDREW GARDNER DOES NOT KNOW THE INSIDE TRUTH OF ISMAILIS BELIEVE KARIM AS GOD.
MAY BE AN EX-ISMAILI LIKE MYSELF BE ALLOWED TO ASK KARIM THE QUESTION AND SEE KARIM STARTS THE SONG AND DANCE IN FRONT OF T.V. FLASH LIGHT !!
KARIM WILL NEVER GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWER. AND HE WILL NEVER EVER WILL WANT AN EX-ISMAILI TO ASK HIM THE QUESTION OF HIM BEING GOD.
KARIM DOES HIS GYMNASTIC OF TWO PARELLEL BARS OF ZAHIR AND BATIN (THE HUMPTY AND DUMPTY) . IF HE EVER STOP PLAYING ON THESE TWO BARS, HE WILL LOOSE HIS DASOND (TITHE) MONEY.
LASTELY I WANT ISMAILIS TO KNOW THAT THESE KIND OF INTERVIEWS OF KARIM ARE REHERSED AND QUESTION FROM ANDREW WAS NOT A BOMBAY BREAKING NEWS TO KARIM. HE HAD ALREADY PLANNED TO SAY WHAT HE SAID BEFORE THE QUESTION WAS ASKED BY ANDREW.
KARIM WOULD NEVER GIVE AN INTERVIEW IF DID NOT GO OVER THE QUESTIONS THREE TO FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE INTERVIEW TAKES PLACE.
BFORE I END THIS POST, I REMEMBER LONG TIME AGO KARIM WAS ASKED THE SAME QUESTION BUT IN DIFFRENT TWIST TO IT. THE QUESTION WAS POSED BY THE HOST OF THE SHOW TITLED "MAN ALIVE" BRITISH BROADCAST AND THE SHOW WAS AIRED IN CANADA. THE QUESTION WAS "IS THIS THE DIVINITY" (asking karim are you GOD). Before Karim answered the question verbally, his face already answered it long before he started to mumble jumble his answer. His face got pale and looked like he was for a plit second was stunned by the question. May be it just was not included in rehersed question and the host from no where asked the question. Any way Karim's response was some thing like this: "you have to be very careful when it comes to question of divinity" and he went though jungle of vocabulary mumbo jumbo. As per k-Maherali in response to Andrew's question Karim responded "absulutely not" but in the interview by the host of "MAN ALIVE" Karim answered "WELL... ONE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL.....
Karim God just can not remember what he siad in his previous interview.
LORD JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
"SELF DECEPTION IS A TRUE LIE"
Isamilis call themselves "ISMAILI MUSLIM" but in reality they are not muslims at all. In fact they do not follow muslim religious rituals. They actually hate muslims and muslims hate them.
Let me prove my point. Below is a post posted by an ismaili with user id. "searcher" on this famous ismaili site. This site is like a Budwiser of Ismaili site where all ismailis talk about their cultist issues and what not.
Searcher calls those Muslims who perform animal sacrifice on the street of Karachi, Pakistan as "sick bastards" . What is most noticeable is that noe of the viewers on this site (supposedly 20 millions of these ismailis) objected to searcher's name calling. No voice raised by any of these ismailis asking searcher not to call our muslim brothers as "sick bastards". In fact administrator of this site should have deleted searcher's post for this kind of expression.
The site address is: www.ismaili.net . So here is "searcher"'s post I am responding to:----
WITHOUT THE WISDOM OF LORD JESUS CHRIST, AN INDIVIDUAL REASONS VERY VERY FOOLISHLY:----
searcher wrote:
"As part of the rituals of Eid-ul-Adha, millions of poor animals get slaughtered mercilessly all over the Islamic world. I have read all kinds of justification from various Muslim scholars that zabiha is less painful than it actually appears. But it is still not enough to convince me otherwise after seeing this barbaric practice take place on the streets of Karachi as a kid.
These sick bastards actually enjoyed watching these defenceless creatures suffer through the most horrific and painful death. As per our faith, Allah loves His creation more than we can ever imagine. Then why would He sanction this practice in the Holy Quran and have the Holy Prophet set a precedence by slaughtering camels during the first Hajj? As per Alwaaz Abuali, Imam SMS also slaughtered a goat on one occasion of Eid-ul-Adha. I[b] am no one to question the Divine but it really bothers me that the Most Merciful, who is beyond all needs, would require such a sacrifice."
MY RESPONSE:
"I am no one to question the Divine but it really bothers me that the Most Merciful, who is beyond all needs, would require such a sacrifice"
If you really believe in the above sentences than why would you beccome someone from no one and question God?
Without God you will not be able to justify that pinful thing is bad and barbaric. You are not the final standard of right and wrong. It is God who is the final standard of ETHICS & MORALITIES which is unchanging and holds for all men.
You are acting like a little baby while sitting in daddy's lap slaps daddy becasue daddy refused to buy candy for her!
You can't have your cake and eat it to mr. Searcher.
IF GOD BOWS DOWN TO YOUR WISH AND CATERS TO YOUR NEEDS , WILL HE BE STILL GOD?
BY GOD I MEAN ONE AND ONLY TURE AND LIVING GOD LORD JESUS CHRIST"
THE MOST BARBARIC AND ARCH CRIME OF HISTORY WAS COMMITED WHEN AN INNOCENT MAN WAS SLAUGHTERED LIKE A SHEEP AND WAS NAILED TO THE CROSS WHO HAD KNOWN NO SINS AT ALL.
JESUS PAID IT ALL AND ALL TO HIM I OWE.
HE IS MY ALL IN ALL.
ps: if you realy were a Godly man, you would not have called other human beings "sick bastard" andinject "pain" to their emotions and be "barbaric"in your vocabulary.
WHY NOT DID YOU ASK?
Becasue every human being has been created by GOD and HIS image and to call HIS creation bastared is to offend GOD HIMSELF.
YOU CAN HATE PEOPLE'S ACT BUT NOT PEOPLE THEMSELVES.
LORD JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
Ismaili Gnostic said...
"The author of the Book, "Throne of Gold" was actually sued by the present Aga Khan and the author voluntarily retracted her comments and her views as published in that book, and admitted that the current Imam and his predecesser had never claimed divinity for themselves"
ISMAILI GNOSTIC SHOW US THE PROOF OF THE ABOVE CASE. GIVE US THE CASE NUMBER, PLACE WHERE CASE WAS HEARD, WHO WAS THE JUDGE, NAME OF THE COUNTRY AND HOW WE CAN OBTAIN ONE !!
PUT YOUR CLAIM WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND LET US KNOW. IF YOU DO NOT, THAN WHAT SHOULD WE ASSUME.
IF I CAN, I WILL CONTACT ANNE EDWARDS AND FIND OUT IF SUCH IS THE CASE.
TREVOR,
Please log on to this site: www.ismaili.net and follow the steps:
A) PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ARE ON THE MAIN PAGE OF THIS SITE.
B) CLICK ON " PHOTO ALBUM" UNDER THE HEADING "LEARN"
C) CLICK ON "ALY KHAN'S PICTURE
D) CLICK ON EXTREAM RIGH PICTURE OF THE TOP ROW (WHICH READS aly5.jpg)
NOW CAN YOU TELL WHAT THEY ARE SAYING TO EACH OTHER BY MAKING EYE CONTACT?
DO YOU THINK YOUR god ALY SHOULD LOOK AT A GRIL IN THAT FASHION WITH WHOM HE IS NOT MARRIED TO? (This may be one of the thousand of girls he took out on a dinner date! )
OF COURSE MY POST WILL NOT MAKE YOU SAY "OH BOY ! MY EX-GOD IS HUNGRY FOR "JALEBEE" !! (KIND OF DESERT WHERE DEEP FRIED DOUGH DRENCHED IN SUGAR SYRUP)!!
BECASUE TRUE AND LIVING GOD (JESUS)CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
God is not deaf that you have to repeat.... repeat....and repeat meditation nonsense. It is insulting to God to repeat over and over again. Rrpeating shows that you do not have any contents in your prayer to say to God. How can one create intimate relationship with God by repeating the same thing over and over again?
My secret word given by Karim agaC*O*N* MAN was [b]"al-alla" [/b]and I ,as an ignorant ismaili, was supposed to reapat or chant upon this word for one hour from 3:am to 4: am. Now any one can tell me why God can not understand a word or sentence in one time? Why we have to repeat and repeat and repeat.?
I was told by Karim that my "bol" (secret word) was pass-word to open the gate of heavan !!! After I die and reach to the gate of heavan, all I had to do was to out loud mention this secret word and gate of heavan will open. And since at that time I was a "jack-ass (donkey) ismaili, I took Karim's words and started to chant upon it.
ONCE I WAS LOCK MYSELF OUT OF MY OWN HOUSE AND AND UTTERED LOUDLY THIS WORD, NOT ONLY THE HOUSE DOOR DID NOT OPEN BUT MY OWN DOG STARTED TO GROWL AT ME WITH HIS K-9 TEETH THROUGH THE WINDOW OF MY HOUSE !!! MY NEIGHBOURS THOUGHT I WAS MENTALLY CRACKED !!
YES I WAS MENTALLY CRACKED WHEN I WAS AN ISMAILI WHO BELIEVED A GAMBLER AS GOD .
My dad, mom and brother died chanting upon their secret words and believing karim as God. Now they are burning in hell and screaming with ravaging pain. There will be no end to their screaming. It will be for ever. There will be no end to it.
AND THIS THOUGHT GIVES ME THE CHILL
karim agaCON MAN IS A THIEF WHO STOLE MY PARENTS AND BROTHER'S ETERNITY.
THANK YOU LORD JESUS FOR CALLING ME TO TRUST IN YOU.
AND THANK YOU FOR RECEIVING ME IN YOUR KINGDOM. THANK YOU FOR BEING GOD TO ME. THANK YOU FOR RECEIVING ME AS YOUR CHILD. THANK YOU FOR BREAKING THE BONDAGE OF SATANIC CULT OF
ISMAILISM OVER ME.
JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST .
Ismaili Gnostic claimed in his/her post on this bloger:
"The author of the Book, "Throne of Gold" was actually sued by the present Aga Khan and the author voluntarily retracted her comments and her views as published in that book, and admitted that the current Imam and his predecesser had never claimed divinity for themselves."
My response: Ismaili Gnostic, let me ask you a aquestion. May I? Thank you.
"DID ABOVE LAW SUIT TAKE PLACE IN "ZAHIR" (OPEN) OR "BATIN" (BEHIND THE SCENE- HIDDEN )?
NOW PUT YOUR MONEY WHERE YOUR MOUTH IS AND GIVE US THE CASE NUMUBER OF THE LAW SUIT AND DATE AND PLACE (COUNTRY)OF THIS SUIT.
I WILL WAIT FOR IT. HOPE YOU GIVE US THE ABOVE INFORMATION BEFORE I GO ON MEDI-CARE !
To the non-ismailis viewer, I would like them to know that this ZAHIR & BATIN (THE HUMPTY DUMPTY)phrase in ismailism is a cunning and deceiving cultist and a pagan doctrine introduced by agaCON MAN karim and his ancesstors which says that in order for people to know that karim is GOD, they will have to do meditation on this so called secret word and that is the only way one would know that karim is GOD!!
My mom chanted upon this secrect word for her entire life and all she got was trapped by satanic spirit. And my poor mom thought she got something going with this karim under the influence of satanic spirit.
When karim is asked by the media "are you God?" , he would say absolutely not but he does NOT add to his "absolutely not" the followings:
1) I will tell my followers that I am not your God in "BATIN" (behind the scene) neither.
2) I will send them farman (holy pronouncements)telling them not to treat me as God in "BATIN" (behind the scene).
3) I will tell my followers not to worship my picture and ask for forgivness of thier sins, daily bread, long life span etc etc.
4) I will stop telling them that I am thier God withing the four wall of Jamat Khana (gathering place where they worship)
5) I will stop colleting tithe.
Karim will never send straight forward message to his ignorant and jack-asses (donkeys)followers that he is not thier God.
To media he says he is Imam but to his followers he says he is GOD.
On these two parellel bars of God and Imam, karim does his gymnastics of collecting millions of dollars (approximately 50 millions dollars PER DAY) from his ignorant and gullible followers.
If tomorrow karim became editor of Play-boy magazine, but in Jamat Khana he proclaims himself to be GOD, these ignorant jack-asses(donkeys)of his followers will still believe karim as thier GOD.
You know why? Becasue true and living God Lord Jesus Christ gives wisdom, understanding and knowledge and not some play boy who has problems keeping his own marriages.
REMEMBER: JESUS CHANGES HEARTS AND NOT MY POST.
The Aga Khan Pyramid
The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) is a big international Financial Pyramid !!!
Hi Trevor,
This is a part of the answer to your question “So who is the real Aga Khan? Is he a cult leader who earns billions of dollars a day by keeping people in spiritual bondage? A rich guy who does good with the offerings entrusted to him? A shameful liar who builds the legitimacy of his regime on the salaries of his constituents?” and “some clarity on the true nature of the Aga Khan” http://stillstandingforhim.blogspot.com/2008/05/real-aga-khan.html
History of the story:
“In 1994, President Rakhmonov of Tajikistan and His Highness the Aga Khan conceived the idea of a new university designed to address the unique educational, economic and cultural needs of mountain communities”
“University of Central Asia (UCA) was founded in 2000 by the governments of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, and His Highness the Aga Khan. It is the world’s first internationally chartered institution of higher education. “
Present: on the enter of 2010
Since now NOTHING!!!
Their idea to develop 3 Universities in Central Asia - Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan since 2000 is a big FINANCIAL PYRAMID. They just collect money form donors and did one big NOTHING !!! Every body can check this story in Google. Present the plots are chosen, small offices are opened including one big head quarter in Bishkek- Kyrgyzstan with 25 people local ( and cheep) staff only in “Construction Department” plus 20 people local staff in “Academic Department” plus another administrative local staff and NO ACTION.
A lot of PR activities all over the world, good shape and looking, nice scenery. This looks like the movie “The Sting” with Robert Redford and Paul Newman.
His Highness the Aga Khan is a big international swindler collecting our money and leaving in his palace in one of the best place in France (Europe) as Prince.
And the answer is: Hi is a big swindler collecting our money, living as a prince, promise a lot and do nothing! This is the favourite the Aga Khan!! The rich guy who becomes rich because of our stupidity.
Do not believe to this guy!!! Keep your money away!! Keep your mind away!!
Hi. I believe that you have your facts wrong.
a) the Aga Khan is not a cult leader, this claim is as preposterous as claiming that the pope is a cult leader. If you do not understand why the funds go to the Imam than by all means ask but do not make such elusive and baseless accusations without and substance or any proof, it impugns your intelligence. If the Aga Khan was truly a cult leader, do you think that organizations such as CIDA of the United States federal governments would invest their money into helping his cause? Do you think that institutions such as Harvard, Oxford, McGill, or the University of Toronto would confirm honorary doctorates on him? I think that you need to put aside your emotional issues and analyze the situation and facts with your rational faculty.
b) I think that you need to focus more on the work that is being done by the Aga Khan as opposed to his personal life. What the Aga Khan as a religious leader is nothing which should be questioned, if you want to question something then why dont you question the fundamentalist ideologies of the Taliban? Or is that too over played for you?
c) third and finally, I would like to make it very clear to all of you who have posted that the Aga Khan is a philanthropist. This is an absurd title, something to which the Aga Khan has refuted as well, because in Islam it is every mans social responsibility to help the weak and the poor therefore this is his religion, and he is acting on it. I would suggest that rather than bashing other faiths and leaders you should take a look at what you have done for the global community and then start to pass judgments.
Hello dear Trevor:
I must say you are one intelligent person to question about the Ismailism cult.
Whatever, you have discovered about its practices, is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. We thousands of us ex-Ismailis can prove it to you.
I hope you discover all the other cultic rituals that is devastating for many of us the ex-Ismailis.
By the way, for the non-Ismailis the temple's doors are closed, to hide its secret services of financial Institution, where the follower's blood money is collected.
Though, you will love the Ismaili people who are the innocent wonderful people caught up in the web of Lucifer/Iblis.
I support you fully in accepting Messiah Jesus (AS), as we all the
Muslims have accepted him and Moses a.s, on order of GOD-Creator-Allah.
We are grateful to GOD for guiding us to Islam that includes Christianity and Judaism.
Salaam/Peace
Ex-Ismaili
Trevor-
Glad you picked this topic..
As you asked about allowing you in Ismaili Mosque... If they invite you then it will be a total different experience for you as things will be preplanned , you will be welcomed, will be told to give a guest lecture so that you will feel wow what a great community. Being an Insider I can tell you the fact. I went to Puna(India) Jamatkhana, there were volunteers standing outside the gate and if they see a new face they will first greet you in Ismailic Way by saying "Ya Ali Madad" and if you dont respond to greeting then they will literally stop you as they dont want any other (Non Ismaili to enter inside).
Bottom Line: Ismailism is practiced within closed walls.
Check out my blog for what Quran Says and what Ismaili follow.
Interesting questions! I was looking for the meaning of that 'taubo... taksidar...' but failed to find a proper translation here.
I am a practicing Ismaili. I hope more people attempt to give the
Aga the benefit of the doubt and look at his life's work.
To call people of faith 'jackasses' and 'fools' reflects on the person who thinks like that. One has to bow down to Allah and there is no disputing that.
Whom one uses to mediate between oneself and God is a personal matter. If you want and Ismaili to convert to Christianity out of fear of the fire - it won't work. We do not fear the fire. We are more afraid of being separated from the nearness to Allah. The Imam of the Time is the closest thing I have to truth. If you say that bowing down to a picture is only the occupation of a jackass then I still won't convert to the faith of people who treat the beliefs of others (whether I bow down to his picture or to him or not) with such crass contempt. If a Christian can use such unnecessary epithets to add volume to his/ her argument then I would start questioning his appreciation of his own religion and the religion he purports to be following. For I grew up with Christianity and I loved it. It is a beautiful religion! Anyone who calls himself a Christian will not allow himself to criticise other faiths with such venom. Jesus was a jew but he gave the best example of the gentile.
Hindus bow down to their masters and teachers. I agree with this level of respect in comparison to the throwing of tomatoes at incompetent teachers in capitalistic schools.
Of those of us who bow down to the Aga Khan, it is out of respect for him through observation and intellectual appreciation of his position - I bow down to his source of knowledge and his wisdom and his love and his respect for mankind, to his example of humanity at the highest level of humanity. His example and position are worthy of reverence. Experience of 1400 years shows that his level of responsibility and his ancestors is exemplary. They are the rightly guided.
Personal life? Well, all I can say to the people who criticise the personal choices of others is that they need to get a life of their own. The world is full of vicissitudes - when you point your index at someone please see where the other three fingers are pointing.
Reverance, a high standard of cleanliness next to godliness, is necessary - for, something has to be sacred - in a trite world that is full of noise, haste and confusion. I am happy that I revere the Aga Khan and I am able to distinguish between him and the likes of, say, the Bush family in terms of how seriously he values the life of living beings. There are many corrupt leaders in the world that could have much to learn from him.
Hitler? See my next post… for lack of space here….
I think only a brave man will go to Hitler to verify for himself which side he wants to take before he takes action, instead of depending on rumour, hearsay and propaganda. Sir Sultan Mahomed Shah chose to support the British after he met Hitler.
The living Imam is our guide and he has NEVER LET US DOWN. His advice is amenable to intellectual analysis and his approach is amenable to evaluation. I should rather go to heaven through your idea of hell following my beloved and trusty Imam, than to some simplistic idea of heaven which is an illusion that puts my consciousness to sleep - ideal fodder for the devil who is looking for people to catch unawares!
We revere Jesus but, then, we will not say outright that all the things that are in the Bible are true. Jesus was a man and he addressed God as 'our' father. He said that we are all children of the one God. Take a more dispassionate look at Jesus for a moment:
Did Jesus die in Kashmir? Look up this website:
http://www.tombofjesus.com/
Don't be afraid to do your research.
Imam: I believe that word is used in 18 differnet ways with 18 different meanings, in the Holy Qur'an. Islam is a religion of the intellect and that is what Ismailism teaches.
As to wanting to know more about Ismailism there is enough available for you to study through the Institute of Ismaili Studies, where you will be able to learn about and interact with other Ismailis, enough to make a well-researched decision about whether to become and Ismaili.
Why not take your study more seriously and allow yourself to ask the questions that bother you in such a manner that would enable a qualified person to guide you to address such questions in a manner that meets the rigorous standards of academic excellence? The IIS is affiliated with all the top universities in the world, as are the other universities in the AKDN range of organisations.
I strongly recommend that one does not allow one's blog to be used as a method of disseminating false propaganda with ulterior motive of destroying instead of learning. Such a blog can be diverted and converted into a spectacle. It can lose its credibility except in the minds of... people without the desire to seek knowledge.
Salaams!
Hi,
This Imam is very eloquent, and he represents and manages organizations that do much good around the world.
I would say Ismaili's that I have met, in general, are kind, generous, and willing to help people in need.
The Aga Khan is a rich royal who lives a luxurious lifestyle and has had two very expensive divorces.
Ismaili's are expected to pay him dasond, which amounts 1/8th of their take home income.
Historically the Aga Khan's were considered god, the tenth incarnation of Vishnu, by Ismaili's in India--before there was Pakistan. This may still be true in some sense.
This Aga Khan's family has historically supported Western interests. The Aga Khan has the title "His Highness" because his great great grandfather allied himself with the British against Afghanistan.
So it goes...
--Anon
This is the same head game Salafist, pro Taliban extremist use against minorities in Pakistan, It is an old technique of using blasphemy language to denounce, some Muslims who practice the spiritual concept of islam that is actually based on real oneness of God where God is beyond religious nuance. But don't tell these Islamofascist who believe there can be compulsion in Islam demanding they be allowed in Ismaili Mosques after slaughtering them. These are the same people who will not allow Trevor to enter Mecca to observe the Haj.
The political Sharia based Islam, critics of Ismailis follow a political dogma or outward practice of Islam that is based on hadeeths which is considered more divine then the Quran itself and use Islamic propaganda to seek converts.
As Ahmediya I feel sad to see Ismailis being maligned by the very people responsible for Ismaili Holocaust in Iran, These same people are busy killing us in Pakistan.
A responsible journalist can't be to lazy not to recognize hate but than ignorance is a convenient excuse, The arguments against Ismailis, Christians, Jews and Ahmediya is to easy all you have to do is go to Islamist hate sites or blogs run under fictitious names claiming to be an Ahmediya or former Ismaili or Jew.
The bias on this blog is so obvious in the title itself "The Real Aga Khan?"
People with closed minds forfeit their right to wisdom taught in the Quran....I think the Ismailis will understand falsifa of near absolute wisdom... Al Farabi
Ismailis don't be upset you only come third in hate by Salafist after Jews and Ahmediya.
Ismailis are right up there in Ethical Humanism, charity, I thank them for my free education.
Masalaam and good wishes to all Ismailis.
Is any ismail forcing their beleifs on any one else. I dont think so! So what is the stink about. Let everybody have their faith as this is apersonal matter grow up guys there is plenty of room for everybody
Thank you Trevor for bringing such an important topic for discussion. Yes, Ismaili community offer pray to Aga khan and want help from him. In Jamatkhan they pay money to forgive their sin. They pay 10-12 percent of their income as a tax to Aga Khan without getting any receipt. Aga khan and his Mukhi forgive the sin of his followers which is completely different from Islam. In Islam, only God(Allah) can forgive the sin or any mistakes of human beings. Ismaili is a different religion, but it has been attached with Islam without any reason.
Secondly, Ahmadya also different from Islam because they have their own prophet, but they take everything from Quran. I am worried if they have their own prophet; than, they should have their own book as well like Sikh community. Why they get instruction from Quran and follow different prophet? Muslim are not against any religion, but they are against those people who have different prophet other Mohammad or worship a human being and say they are muslim. Muslim believe on one God and follow prophet Mohammad peace be upon him. Both Ismaili and Ahmamadya are different religion, and they are not mulim.
Thank you Trevor for bringing such an important topic for discussion. Aga Khan opened Aga Khan Rural Support Program (AKRSP) in North Pakistan to develop his followers. Many international agencies donated billions of dollars to that organization to develop the poor communities of the area. The donor agencies were European High Commission, NORAD, CIDA, DFID and many more European countries and Canada, but only Aga Khan got political advantage form that donation in three different ways.
1. Ismaili missionaries of Aga Khan used that donation as gift from donor agencies for Prince Karim Aga khan. The innocent public became thankful to Aga Khan instead of donor agencies; therefore, Aga Khan became politically stronger in the area.
2. Muslim communities in the area were reluctant to get benefit from the same organization because of Aga khan’s involvement as a religious leader. Therefore, Aga Khan used that money independently and his followers became financially sound.
3. Aga khan collected the saving of the communities and developed a new bank which’s name is The First Micro Finance Bank in Pakistan. Instead of local communities, Aga Khan is the only owner of this bank. It is a big scam in the area and innocent public doesn’t know about it.
In short, Aga Khan and his Hindu converted Ismaili leaders have been scamming the donor agencies as well as the local communities of Chitral and Northern Areas of Pakistan since 1982. Now, they are doing the same scamming in Afghanistan. Lucky man Aga Khan!
Trevor just think how the people trowing thier thoughts on Aga Khan?
The anti Ismailies always do so because they must had an aim , the must had a goal which they didn't get and now they are so emotional as a cricket player after missing the ball hits the ground. THERE ISN'T ANY PROBLEM WITH AGA KHAN AND THE ISMAILIES THE PROBLEM IS THAT THESE PEOPLE NEVER UNDERSTOOD ISMAILISM.
If you realy want to Study anything i think its better if you study a text which is neither written by outsider nor insider and for that IIS is the best option because the text found their are writen by scholars from different places and religions.
Aga khan is a thief and a liar
I had an Ismaili friend in high school who had a picture of a man near the steering well. I asked him who that was and he told me he was "God". I later found out that was the aga kahn. Please know it is not "some" follower who believe he is the Divine (or the physical manifestation of that) but ALL of them. It is a tenant that is not spread to the outside world much. My friend told me because he wasn't the most religious (the car belonged to his dad) and was always honest with me.
The aga kahn is like unto GOD to them.
This is why many muslims reject them as real muslims.
Geoff
Hello, Trevor williams.
I m so glad that Allah (GOD) gave you the right spirit and the right TOPIC for the open discussion.
I M ONE OF THE EX-ISMAILI,i thank you for this, pl carry-on with your MISSION;EXPOSING THE BLUNDERS OF agakhans.
THANKS AGAIN.
FROM;
Open Heart TO Mr Trevor.
Sir,Let me give you the clear idea.
WHAT ever the so called explainations given by: EASY NASH,ISMAILI-MAIL,ISMAILI Gnostic,AMIN LADHA,MOHAMMED JIWA,SALMAN KARA AND OTHER PRACTICING ISMAILIS are very poisonous,This ppl have not given any answers relating to the questions raised by;EX-ISMAILIS,BOND SERVANT,CHANGIZ KHAN,FAROOQ AND SOME OTHERS.
pl read my other posts ....contd.
Dear Trevor,your INITIAL post, "THE REAL AGAKHAN ?? " have not got any acurate answers from the followers of agakhan,This followers try to save the skin of agakhan BY diverting the main issue of the subject.
AND what ever the OPPOSITION viz;EX-ISMAILIS have OPENLY exposed the agakhan and his FOOLING BUSINESS (of immotional blackmailing to ismailis) have not received any response nor any
clearification reg;
LET ME TELL YOU,that what ever the EX-ISMAILIS have exposed here THEY HAVE THE AUTHENTIC PROOFS ,which they will/can verily proove it.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME,the practicing ismailis cannot prove and do not have any authentic proof of the claims done by ex-ismailis.
ISMAILIS cannot prove the ex-ismailis as LIERS,but ex-ismailis can verily prove that AGAKHAN AND HIS FOLLOWERS ARE LIERS.
SEE SIR,
Every coin has two sides,namely " king or scale " but the presently practicing ismailis HAVE THE COIN WHICH HAS THE SAME SEAL ON BOTH SIDES,THEY have the seal " king " on both sides,They have never tried to turn the coin to see the other side of the coin, .BUT ,, ALLAH has given the best GUIDANCE to the ex-ismailis to look and see the other side of the coin ,WHICH SHOWED the same "KING " ON BOTH THE SIDES.,
which made them to thing further and to research the reality of this FAKE COIN, .
ULTIMATELY , what happened ====the eyes of this enlightened (ex-ismailis ) were left wide-opened, that they were fooled and immotionally blackmailed by the AGAKHANS.
And now you see there are lots of ex-ismailis who were the past practicing ismailis,NOW THEY ARE PRACTICING MUSLIMS.
SIR, let me clear we are not here to degrade agakhan,nor we have any grudge against his Sex-life nor against his un-social (under-the-table life) BUT what ever we r trying to expose here is that, WE HAVE LOST OUR PRECIOUS YEARS in practicing the FAKE god,and we are weeping for our DEAD PARENTS who must be in the HELL-FIRE for adoring-beleiving and worshipping the FAKE god the aga.
AND AT THE SAME TIME,we ex-ismailis are concerned about our other ismailis and our other brothers and sisters who are STILL in this fake practice, WE DONT WANT THEM TO GO INTO THE HELL FIRE,so we are trying to open their eyes and go for research ,BUT MANY ISMAILIS have made their mind not to go for HEAVENS, as there is a lustorious life in their jamatkhanas (praying place).
sir ,i will be back with more OPEN-HEART sergeries as now its time for my prayers,i will be insha allah surely be back.
THANKS AGAIN FOR CHOOSING THIS TOPIC, may ALLAH reward you for this. AAAAMEEEEEEN.
sir,i would like to request you to please accept the offer of ismailimail.
i would suggest u to please tell them,that you will visit their prayer halls as and when u r comfortable.
why i m telling you to do this trick , is because ,this ppl a smart enought,they will re-arrange everything and ppl in hall will act as per the new guidance of ismailimail,which will misguide you and u will feel that ismailimail is presenting the truth.
BUT the reality will be different then the daily practice in the prayer hall.
by doing this you will get the real picture of agakhanis.
thank you.
First thing bible was not written by jesus neither quran was written by prophet mohammad s.a.s. it was written by their follower so i think claiming that to be a perfect books would be foolish. see as an ismaili if our religious due are increased from 12.5% to 100% i am ready to pay and i think most of them will agree on this. second thing son of imam sultan mohammad shah never became imam it was his grand son imam karim aga khan who became imam. I feel sad for people who are born as an ismaili and are no more practicing islam and top of that they are saying bad things about our imam is not appropriate.
the answer which our imam answered for the above question does make sense as he was ask being god. he never answered i am not the god what he mention was that in islam idol worship is not acceptable.
in this world, their is always a problem with humans, they cannot digest the concept of human being a god and this problem was their at the time of ram, krishna and any other incarnation of god in the form of human being. i am an ismaili and this my faith our aga khan is god and 49 th imam and 10 incarnation of god and it took 1400 years ago in the name of ali. u say our imam never mention in front of world about his god status then, one recent example took place in houston in 2008 where he mention imam is mazhar of allah and if convert that in english, imam is manifestation of god. if u want to learn more about imammat its a 1400 years history were any person who falsely claim imamat died or had issue with his generation and they extinct.
As an Ismaili ,I see many things which are mentioned here very funny and derived by lack of knowledge.
Ismailis never claim their Imam to be god; at least not in the place where I am living. And it's funny cuz I've never heared anything like that before.
And unlike this so called ex-Ismaili, we do not believe that people with other religions go to hell and burn only for their beliefs in one person. But people are judged in the afterlife by their good and bad deeds. And that's what is called pluralism; accepting people with deferent beliefs , not sentencing them.
And for conclusion, I can assure you that the true religion is the one which will help you to become a better person with better deeds; whether it is called Ismaili or Christianity.
PS: English is my second language so I apologize for all my grammatical faults.
As an Ismaili ,I see many things which are mentioned here very funny and derived by lack of knowledge.
Ismailis never claim their Imam to be god; at least not in the place where I am living. And it's funny cuz I've never heared anything like that before.
And unlike this so called ex-Ismaili, we do not believe that people with other religions go to hell and burn only for their beliefs in one person. But people are judged in the afterlife by their good and bad deeds. And that's what is called pluralism; accepting people with deferent beliefs , not sentencing them.
And for conclusion, I can assure you that the true religion is the one which will help you to become a better person with better deeds; whether it is called Ismaili or Christianity.
PS: English is my second language so I apologize for all my grammatical faults.
As an Ismaili ,I see many things which are mentioned here very funny and derived by lack of knowledge.
Ismailis never claim their Imam to be god; at least not in the place where I am living. And it's funny cuz I've never heared anything like that before.
And unlike this so called ex-Ismaili, we do not believe that people with other religions go to hell and burn only for their beliefs in one person. But people are judged in the afterlife by their good and bad deeds. And that's what is called pluralism; accepting people with deferent beliefs , not sentencing them.
And for conclusion, I can assure you that the true religion is the one which will help you to become a better person with better deeds; whether it is called Ismaili or Christianity.
PS: English is my second language so I apologize for all my grammatical faults.
Thank you for opening up this debate Trevor. I was forcibly made to follow this faith for most of my childhood by my mother and I don't think there was a single day when I actually felt it touch my soul. Thankfully my father was a proper Muslim who did not hold back from telling it as it was, even though he could not stop us from going. It has had a profoundly negative effect on my life as an adult. I deeply regret even knowing of it's existence, let alone participating. The wealth and excesses (culinary, lavish gifts for children when Aga con visited) were all very enticing to a child from a regular - income family. When i went to university, I met a socialite from Switzerland who had slept with both the Aga's brother and nephew and described a lifestyle of sin (pretty much as the Aly Khan pictures reveal). Recently, I have discovered some links between Blavatsky (prominent Satanist thinker), Gurdjiev (high occultist) and Ismailism - you might want to research it as there is not much available on the web, what with all the closed-door cults you would be navigating between and all that! My mother has ended up in a fairly confusing position over the years but is still too mind controlled to reject it outright. When she dies, I vow NOT to allow my mother an Ismaili burial regardless of how much fuss her brainwashed family make
No point to ask an Ismaili who and what the Aga Khan is or what's his relationship with his "murids".
Most Ismailis (myself being a former one), have only seen the Aga Khans through the rose colored glasses presented to them.
Logic tells us that a sub-sect of Islam as minor as the Ismailis would have been based in Persia (spanning Syria to Iran and Central Asia).
The Ismailis you are hearing from today are all recent converts - as recent as 200 years - from the Indian subcontinent. They were either practicing Hindus or Indian converts to Sunni Islam, who were then subjected by the British to the Aga Khans.
There is no objectivity to the history of Ismailism from the perspective of the recent convert, who was by and large not a convert of choice.
Up until Aga Khan 3, South Asian Ismailis were simply known as Khojas and practiced mainstream Shi'ism, as did the first two Aga Khans.
As Aga Khan 3 saw it upon himself to morph the religion into something else, introducing a Gujerati prayer over the standard Arabic prayer, this negated the entire Khoja community who followed him from Islam.
There was NEVER a need to change the prayer format or frequency as Islam proclaims itself to be perfect in and of itself.
Yet Aga Khan 3 did just that.
Aga Khan 4 again changed the prayer, this time to Arabic, but still distinct from the Salat performed by all Muslims around the world of any denomination.
There was recent talk of him wanting to return the Ismailis to the standard Salah, which would in essence bring Ismailis more back into the fold of Islam.
To me that sounds like massive fraud. Most Ismailis will tell you that the Aga Khans changed the prayers in order to be more appropriate to current times. But there is nothing in their prayer that has anything to do with current times. It's a miss-mash of Quranic Surahs, some doctored, and some additional parts added in, and the standard Muslim prayer is essentially timeless.
But if it's true that Ismailis shall return to the standard Salah, then that would be proof that the Aga Khans have no spiritual relevance, and are in fact frauds, changing the prayers to meet current times and then reverting.
Again, it's a waste of time even discussing such basic, obvious observations with the average Aga Khani because he will keep repeating the standard lines...
He does a lot of charity and helps the poor.
He provides a social infrastructure for his followers.
He places a heavy importance on education and success.
All of which I might add, help line his pockets when you consider he takes 12.5% of their income not including the various schemes and funds that Ismailis pay into.
Dear Aga Khanis, read the Quran. Read the Bible. Read the Buddha's Noble Truths. Read the Bhagavat Geeta. Choose one. Or choose nothing at all.
Ismailism today is a cult.
Dears ALL: Christianity, for example, is what the Holy Christ Taught and Examplified not what "Christains" do now. So Islam is what Holy Muhammad Taught and Examplified; thus the Shiah Imami-Islam is what the Holy Imam, from the Progeny of Muhammad, Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam, designated by 48th and that tracable to the First and He by the Holy Prophet Himself,
for us (Ismailis , excluding Bohras)is Teaching and Exemplifying, is the Islam for us. The followers may have, quiet naturally, hundred-et-one interpretation as their contexts allow them. The Preamble and Artical-One of the Ismaili Constitution provide the guide-line,in a nut-shell,in this regard.
Dears ALL: Christianity, for example, is what the Holy Christ Taught and Examplified not what "Christains" do now. So Islam is what Holy Muhammad Taught and Examplified; thus the Shiah Imami-Islam is what the Holy Imam, from the Progeny of Muhammad, Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam, designated by 48th and that tracable to the First and He by the Holy Prophet Himself,
for us (Ismailis , excluding Bohras)is Teaching and Exemplifying, is the Islam for us. The followers may have, quiet naturally, hundred-et-one interpretation , as other faith adherants,as their contexts allow them. The Preamble and Artical-One of the Ismaili Constitution provide the guide-line,in a nut-shell,in this regard ( the rest is "foot-note").
Dears ALL: Christianity, for example, is what the Holy Christ Taught and Examplified not what "Christains" do now. So Islam is what Holy Muhammad Taught and Examplified; thus the Shiah Imami-Islam is what the Holy Imam, from the Progeny of Muhammad, Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam, designated by 48th and that tracable to the First and He by the Holy Prophet Himself,
for us (Ismailis , excluding Bohras)is Teaching and Exemplifying, is the Islam for us. The followers may have, quiet naturally, hundred-et-one interpretation , as other faith adherants,as their contexts allow them. The Preamble and Artical-One of the Ismaili Constitution provide the guide-line,in a nut-shell,in this regard ( the rest is "foot-note").
Dears ALL: Christianity, for example, or any Faith, is what the Holy Christ Taught and Exemplified not what "Christians" do now. So Islam (before the Shi`ite et Sunnit division) is what Holy Muhammad Taught and Exemplified; thus the Nizari-Shiah-Imami-Islam, led by the Aga Khan-iv, is what the Holy Imam, from the Progeny of Muhammad, Aga Khan, the 49th Hereditary Imam, designated by the 48th and that traceable to the First and He designated by the Holy Prophet Himself, for us (Nizar-Ismailis , excluding Bohras et al )is Teaching and Exemplifying, is the Islam for us. The followers may have, quiet naturally, some informedly and some not-informedly, hundred-et-one interpretations, as other faith adherents, as their contexts and up-bringing allow them. The shortest way possible is the content of the Preamble, Artical-One (20 Articals in toto) et al of the ‘Ismaili Constitution’ ( ordained:1986) provides, in a nut-shell, the guide-line in this regard (the rest is "foot-note" or may be “deviations from” as much visible in the above ‘posts’ both by the Ismailis and their detractors including the ‘bound-servant’ … ).
May I request for the deletion of an earlier version of this 'post'.
You want to know who is Aga Khan just DO google search "ILLEGITIMATE BIRTH OF H. H. PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN".
Also check his two divorce cases.
You will find that he is fake Imam,
Google search ILLEGITIMATE BIRTH OF H. H. PRINCE KARIM AGA KHAN.
AK is gambler and a playboy!!!
I have some questions I have always asked to myself when I was ismaili:
1-Do ismailis pray to the Hazar Imam or to Allah?
2-Why in the ismaili prayer you speak to hazar Imam and ask him for help, and to forgive your sins and answer your requests? Can the Imam hear you all the time?
3- Does the Imam pray?
4- Does the Imam sleep? does he eat food and do all other things a human being do?
5- why the personal life of the imam and his family is surrounded by secrecy. Prophet Mohammad and Hazrat Ali lived among their followers, they were praying with them, sitting and eating with them. Ismailis almost know nothing about their Imam unless it is previously arranged or allowed for them to know. When you ask any of the ismaili leaders he will just give you the look
6- Why the Imam and his family members get married only to white Caucasian supermodels? I won't allow my son to marry a stupid model
7- How did the Imamat light move from Aga khan III to Aga khan IV? Did it pass through Prince Ali khan? Do you know that the girlfriend of Ali khan was pregnant when he died in the car accident and she had a miscarriage, and she wrote that in her autobiography "Bettina par Bettina"
Do you think the Imamat light will pass through a fornicator?
That's enough for now If anybody knows the answers please let me know
May I first start of by stating that Mrs. "Alex" is a prick. Secondly I would like to state that religion aside, the Aga Khan is an extraordinary man who has built countless schools, universities, and hospitals around the world. Has any other leader of a religion done this?
Buzz of anon.
Hi to all,
I have done a fair bit of research on the khoja community and have the following questions and would appreciate if any of you could spare some time and answer them.
1) Do Khoja's follow the 5 pillars of Islam? If you do not know what they then I dont think u r muslims anyways.
2) Islam does not propogate any kind of idols or photograhs (hence, no photographs of Prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h is available). Then why does every khoja home and office have Aga Khan's pics?
3) In the Ginans why are we comparing Prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h with avatars of vishnu (Das Avatar)?
4) This is the most important question - why call your community "Muslim"? I know for a fact and so do u that we are not the same not in our beliefs nor our lifestyle then why do u guys want to call yourselves muslims?
5) I would like to think Aga Khan is infact very philanthropic. So are many many others, one should respect such individuals and not treat them as Prophet/God. Hence, bowing down infront of Aga Khan even out of respect is "Shirk". Islam allows a person only to bow down to Allah during namaz and no one else.
6) Does a bloodline (I do not even know if it is proved) with prophet Mohammed p.b.u.h make a person divine? (there are approximately 0.7 million descendents of prophet mohammed's p.b.u.h alive today). In the quran are all the prophets related to each other by bloodline? The answer is "NO". So, if quran does not highlight that prophethood is transfered through bloodline, why is Aga Khan a prophet? I know khojas like to think of Aga Khan as Imam.. even then where in the quran does it say that Imams have Gods Noor?
Lastly, as a muslim, I feel annoyed and angry with khojas because they have replaced the holy quran with the "Farmans" from the Imam, Namaz is not performed and most importantly "shirk" is being performed, the highest sin, putting someone on the same pedestal as Allah AND you still want to call yourself muslims.
I do not have any issues with anyones religion, its a very personal thing and I do respect that. However, please do not call yourselves muslims and we wont be bothered with your practices, what so ever they maybe.
As requested in my first post would request someone "NOT INTELLECTUALLY HANDICAPPED" to please answer these simple questions, in "as Brief and as to the Point" manner as possible.
Btw.. Anyone who does not accept Jesus Christ as a messanger of God cannot become a muslim!
As a person if someone proclaims to be a prophet there is something wrong with him and something even bigger is wrong with the people who believe in that crap. I know, me writing about it is not going to change anyones mind here, given the fact that khojas know much more than I do about the Imam and still worship him.. May Allahs mercy be on all of us.
I am an Ismaili and all the allegations made against Karim Aga Khan and the Ismaili religion are absolutely TRUE! We bow in front of his photos, we pray to his photos, we pay to be in certain congregation, we pay 12% of our income, we ask the Mukhi to forgive our sins and in return they respond May Mowla (Karim Aga Khan forgive your sins), we drink Niaz (holy water touched by Karim Aga Khan) to cleanse our souls, we do chanta (sprinking of water on our face to forgive our sins) the person who performs this says may Mowla forgive your sins, we give money for all these services, we take food to Jamat Khana that is later auctioned off to the highest bidder, all the monetary collection is then counted and locked away in VAULTS. All Jamat Khanas have vaults. All this black money is not declared or deposited in any bank accounts, no receipts issued either. In our dua we declare Karim Aga Khan as our master and we prostrate before him, we have firmans (spiritual guidance or speech) in which his grandfather Aga Khan III declared "giving heaven or hell is in my hand". Those firmans have been taken out of circulation, we have Saturday religion classes in which kids are taught Aga Khan is not god, but if you need anything in life pray to him and he will grant your wishes cause he is our master. When people die the last rites which are compulsory for an ismaili is to have a family member beg for forgiveness from the Aga Khan for the deceased's salvation.Yes Ismaili's believe Aga Khan is the 10th Avatar of Hindu God Vishnu, the old dua (ismaili prayers in lieu of Namaz) used to force Ismailis to recite the names of Hindu Gods the 47 Ismaili Imams and end with Aga Khan III's name. That dua had to be scrapped. We are told in our sermons Aga Khan is everywhere, note not Allah but Aga Khan, now a slick Ismaili scholar will say this refers to his Noor. This Noor is Aga Khans soul and its supposed to be God himself inside of Karim Aga Khan which in turn means God has inucarnated himself into a human form and has come on earth to giide Ismaili's to heaven. Ismailis are told they are the chosen few who have an Imam who is God himself here to guide them, and lead them to heaven. As for special congregations there is a price list for these starting from a few dollars to thousands- these menu of congregation are Life, Baitul Khyal, Rojo, One fourth yes a congregation called One fourth a person in this congregation has to pay not 12% but 25% of income and everything they assume or gain as a benefit, this can include food you eat. You have to guesstimate the cost of what you ate and calculate 25% of the cost and bring the money and give it to Mukhisaheb or Kamadiasaheb (second in command) in jamat khana or their wives who are the husbands counterparts and devote it to the Aga Khan. Its a big money grab and Ismailis have created such a cult that even the new generations are being brainwashed to buy into this. ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY AND CONTROL. I challenge any Ismaili to say that this is not the case, that these things dont happen. REFUTE IT I CHALLENGE YOU!
Ismailis are very tricky creatures since a young age we are taught in those Saturday religion classes if someone questions our faith, deflect it, ignore it, tell them they wont understand, refer to the good work the Aga Khan is doing for the world, lable people as against us, call such questions as vendettas. These are all tricks we as Ismsilis learn early on. Such deflection appeared in some of the comments my fellow misguided Ismailis have made in this forum.
The truth may hurt but its a fact we are a cult that bankrolls millions for the Aga Khan all in the veil of religion and try to cover what we truly are by doing a lot of philanthropy so the world will turn a blind eye. Make no mistake the Aga Khan has made philanthropy a big huge profitable business for Himself and his family that is bankrolled by his followers. Now thats just good business!
There are close to 7 billion people in this world today (2013 statistics).
There are so many religions that its hard to count.
Who is right and who is wrong - nobody knows.
Christians think they are the chosen ones. Muslims think they are the chosen ones. Jews think they are the chosen ones. Hindus think they are the chosen ones. Buddhist think they are the chosen ones. Jain think they are the chosen ones. Sikhs think they are the chosen ones. Zoroastrianism think they are the chosen ones and the list goes on. And atheists think that they have figured it all out and they are the smartest of the creed.
Now within all these individual religions there are sects. Let's take Christianity: Catholics think they are the chosen ones, Orthodox think they are the chosen ones, Protestant think they are the chosen ones, and the list goes on. Similarly, this is the case in all the other religions. In Hinduism, Shaivism think they are the chosen ones, Vaishnavism think they are the chosen ones and Shaktism think they are the chosen ones. Likewise, in islam, Sunni think they are the chosen ones and Shia think they are the chosen ones and the list goes on.
Now if Jews think they can convert 7 billion people to follow them, they are mistaken. If Christian believe that they can convert 7 billion people to follow them, they are mistaken and likewise for all the other religions.
The world should realize that to achieve peace in this world the best idea is to accept all religions regardless of their belief. When a person is criticizing another's religion the only reason is that he/she thinks that his beliefs are right and all the other 7 billion people are wrong. He/she knows what is best for everyone.
Let people live with what they believe in. If you don't like something you are told to believe in, stop believing it - who cares. But telling other people to stop believing is foolish. Live and let live.
Ali says,
ive read the above thread and its very simple........
in the quran its clearly written, Usury (making money through charging interest) , drinking alcohol is totally against god's will.
Aga Khan owns chains of hotel in Sardinia and owns Habib Bank (one of the top 3 largest banks in Pakistan)
I don't need to mention what a BANK does ! Or what a hotel chain in Sardinia is selling alcohol to guests and serving them !
A living IMAM of any muslim sect would never do that ! or would he ?
Humans come on.... what reigion stops someone from coming to their place of worship.....the church doesn't the mandir doesn't the synagogue doesn't,,, the masjid doesn't ,,,,,the imambargah doesn't ......... so why a ismaili jamaatkhana.........
that should be enough for any muslim from any sect to understand he is a con
Ismailism is a cult Religion infact its not even a religion. AS ismaili I agree of what Ex ismailis have wrote its the truth. women go to mosque well jamat khana they don't even cover their head they wear short skirts and revealing clothes infact its kind of like socializing. Aghakhan's grand father played amsrt and made him self billionare bu all ismailis giving Zakat directly to Mr Aga Khan and not only that THEY ALSO SELL FOOD IN THE MOSQUE AND MONEY GOES DIRECT TO AGAKHAN.
WHAT A SCHEME MR AGAKHAN'S PLAYED AND BRAIN WASHED ALL THOSE WHO FOLLOW HIM
ismailism is a cult.
http://ismailitoislam.com/
http://ismailitoislam.com/
This new Ismaili group Jamatkhana were created with help of British Raj in India, when Sultan Mohd Agakhan lost his case in court against Haji Bibbi. In order to get away from contirbuting his non profit collection from relatives like Haji Bibbi, he took advise of his British Lord and created a brand new group/cult from well of Hindu Brahmans! Later his newly created group needed more heads than they started recrueting the untouchables from lower cast hindu community called Momnans! This so called hindu ismailis from Gujrat and Khuch do not know nothing about their history nor has any idea of this newly created cult and Jamatkhana only four genaration ago. Yes indeed they brain washed and worship Agakhan/Hazarimam as closed GOD than any other religion out there. The organizer of this cult including so called council is set up to brain was the community and provides the food for the ego by giving titles and prestige to the rich and creates an easy environment to social with each other and to brag about their material achievement. Jamathkhana is nothing more than shops open for business. They take most of collection inside the Jamatkhana in cash and they have opened up some other non profit organization like agakhan walk, foundation etc where they will accept donation by check to comply with the government rules and regulation. The charity by Agakhan is just a drop from the huge collection they get to create safety net from getting busted by IRS and other department. These days even some regular jamat members even uses the charity money to open up business and personal intity!!!! BUNCH OF LOST THIEF AND SATANS!!!
GO AND EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THIS CULT CREATED WITH HELP OF BRITH RAJ IN INDIA. THESE ARE BUNCH OF HINDUS FROM GUJRAT AND KHUCH BEEN COVERTED IN THE GROUP AND CULT CALLED KHOJA/ISMILI BY CREATING MAN MADE PRAYERS. IN THE BEGINNING IT WAS COMBINATION OF HINDU AND MUSLIM MIXED UP, THE SO CALLED AGAKHANS ORIGINALLY WERE SHI MUSLIM AND USED PRAY FIVE TIMES BUT THE NEWLY CREATED GROUP WITH IDIOT HINDUS
WHO USED WORSHIP SEVERAL GOD NOW LOOKS UPON AGAKHAN AS GOD, WHICH EVEN THEIR PRAYERS SUPPORTS THAT. THEY ARE SO STUPID TO EVEN ACCEPT THEIR AGAKHAN GOT TWO DIVORCE ON THE GROUND OF ADULTRY WHICH ALREADY BEEN PROVEN IN DIVORCE SATTLEMENT!!
I was born an Ismaili and now I do not believe in religion. I agree Ismaili is a cult and Aga Khan is a crook. I never understood why or what ever you do in Ismaili religious ceremony, you need to donate money. I sometimes wonder for God is so powerful who created us but he always needs money. Lol. You are all morons, there is no God and it is all imaginary hot wired to us by our parents and others.as for Aga Khan lives a life off Luxury's with all the free money donated by his followers. He doesn't build schools and hospitals with his money?? It is donated by his followers you idiots. In religion if you need to donate money then its a big Red signal.when I was young and in my teens my parents were teaching us that Aga Khan is our saviour and he is a God. wow
I wish there is no religion in this world and it would be a better place.
No, you are simply defending the Ismailis. Bond servant may not be a credible source, but that doesn't make you one either. Trevor's research is being conducted in an organized way. Please do not trust this individual Trevor he/she is simply attempting to defend the aga khan cult.
I have a question! If the ismaili believe they have the truth then why don't they share it with the general public? Why are the doors closed to those who are curious about the faith? I'm a Christian and the gospel tells us we should share the good news with all of man kind.
Ismaili is completely a different religion. It has no attachment with Islam. It is a mixture of different religions. It is owned by Aga Khan to collect money from silly ismailies.
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