Ismaili.NET - Heritage F.I.E.L.D.

FUTURE OF MUSLIM STATES

True Islam was and is dynamic and not static. Do not look to the third century of Islamic History but to the first.

Mowlana leading the East African Muslim Welfare Society Delegation to raise funds for the education of African children recently toured the countries of the Middle East. The picture shows them with the President Habib Bourguiba of Tunisia in his royal palace in Tunis. Those in picture are Count V.M. Nazarali, Mowlana Hazar Imam, President Bourguiba, Chief Abdulla Fundikira President of the Society, Sheikh Omar bin Abdulla of Zanzibar and Rai Shariff Bandali Jaffer of Kampala.

The Muslims were religiously and politically fragmented during the mid-tenth and eleventh centuries. However, these conditions witnessed profound changes when the Seljuks came onto the scene. The emergence of the Seljuks as the new ruling elite was often called the period of Sunni revival. Sunni Islam became a leading player again after it overthrew the Buyyid Shi’i dynasty in Baghdad and parts of Iran. Moreover, they sponsored Sunni religious institutions and religious scholars until it reached extraordinary heights.

The Muslims were religiously and politically fragmented during the mid-tenth and eleventh centuries. However, these conditions witnessed profound changes when the Seljuks came onto the scene. The emergence of the Seljuks as the new ruling elite was often called the period of Sunni revival. Sunni Islam became a leading player again after it overthrew the Buyyid Shi’i dynasty in Baghdad and parts of Iran. Moreover, they sponsored Sunni religious institutions and religious scholars until it reached extraordinary heights.

On behalf of the International Social Development and Sports Foundation, let me welcome you to the International Ismaili Women's Forum. I hope that you have all had safe journeys, and that you are rested and ready for three days of hard work.

Before we begin, I would like to thank the Canadian National Council, the International Steering Committee and the many volunteers who have invested countless hours and made tremendous personal sacrifices to prepare this event.