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

I also wanted to tell you that the Ismaili community's relationship with Quebec is more long-established and perhaps deeper than what the general public imagines. In fact, Ismailis settled in Quebec as early as in the sixties, that is almost a quarter of a century now.

But the general public, whether in Europe, the United States or in Canada, is often presented by the media especially with a facile, not to say distorted, image. On the contrary, it is my deepest conviction that the silent majority of the Islamic world seeks to heal divisions amongst sects and between faiths, not to exacerbate them, and to hold high the basic tenets of Islam, including the brotherhood of man and the appreciation of the wonder of God's creation.

Canada is uniquely well placed to correct misconceptions about Islam because of the open-mindedness and genuine interest in other peoples of the world which was so clearly stated in the Honourable Premier's speech a few minutes ago. Furthermore, Canada has within her frontiers the necessary centres of learning to explain and to put into perspective those international trends which are important in the closing decades of the 20th century.

The broad aim would be to give the workers a recognition of the value of their leisure in providing opportunities for spiritual, aesthetic and intellectual pursuits, for delight in nature and art in their manifold forms and, above all, for direct communion with the Unseen. The effort would be to enrich life through many channels

Science alone will not give us much guidance on when to prolong human life and whether to intervene in its creation. The industrialized world only rather recently has rediscovered that these questions engage not merely professional ethics and standards, they touch the deeply held convictions of a Judeo-Christian tradition, an idea of humanity that has challenged the prophets and philosophers for thousands of years.

Once we take time to listen to another who we see as different from ourselves and we start to understand their story, we may find we have more in common than we thought, and our conception of “we” begins to expand.

Often pluralism feels like a hard task, an almost unattainable ideal. But the beauty of the Global Pluralism Awards is that it shows us how ordinary people are making an impact on their societies every day in the face of huge challenges. These organisations, through ordinary actions, are making an enormous impact on their communities, and engaging partners — often unlikely ones — to work together to solve the biggest issues of our time

Championing pluralism in our societies is not only the goal – it is the solution. Pluralism is the road map to bridging the schism between people and even institutions.

The relationships between Ismailis and the communities in which they live have always been grounded in understanding and common purpose. Today, we honor that tradition, extending the hand of friendship to all, regardless of background or faith. This building may be called an Ismaili Center, but it is not here for Ismailis only. It is for all Houstonians to use; a place open to all who seek knowledge, reflection, and dialogue.

The Ismaili community is highly diverse and lives across dozens of countries. As Muslims, our faith teaches us to care deeply about pluralism. For us, it is not an abstract idea but a practical ethic, something lived every day. To mean anything, pluralism must be actively practiced in the willingness to respect, appreciate and learn from others. Our faith is a calling to build bridges and to engage with the world beyond our community. Human diversity is itself a gift from God. I hope this Center will embody this spirit.

The Ismaili Center Houston is the seventh in a family of buildings spanning Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and North America. They serve many purposes. While daily congregational prayer is a primary focus, they also seek to enable a vibrant exchange of ideas, and to nurture understanding amongst peoples of diverse communities and faiths

The Aga Khan Music Awards reflect values that lie at the heart of the Aga Khan Development Network: pluralism, intercultural dialogue and the spiritual connection that communities around the world find in music. In many of the regions we serve, music is an integral part of daily life, woven into the rhythms of prayer, celebration, memory and identity.

But He has always told me and built the institutions with a 100 to 500 year perspective. So He doesn't respond to crises in the immediate unless it threatens the well-being or the livelihood or the life of the Jamat. He has lived through - I mean in his life, He started in the Second World War, lived through colonial times, postcolonial times, the winds of change, the Cold War. And all throughout those years, those many decades He worked with the governments that He had to work with, regardless of what their leanings were or the crises that were happening

The restoration is not only of great importance to the local community and those that worship here, but also symbolises the solidarity between the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church, and our respective institutions. It is also a testament to the strength of the bond between the Ismaili Imamat and the Portuguese Republic – a bond anchored in the shared values of respect for human dignity, for pluralism, and for a commitment to bring hope and opportunity to all peoples, regardless of faith or origin.

The restoration is not only of great importance to the local community and those that worship here, but also symbolises the solidarity between the Ismaili Imamat and the Catholic Church, and our respective institutions. It is also a testament to the strength of the bond between the Ismaili Imamat and the Portuguese Republic – a bond anchored in the shared values of respect for human dignity, for pluralism, and for a commitment to bring hope and opportunity to all peoples, regardless of faith or origin.

One of the biggest threats that we face globally is of course climate change. We know that every human activity will now need to adapt to it. Here, architecture offers great hope. Humans have always designed their buildings as a response to the climate. Today, with the climate more volatile than ever, architects have a great responsibility, and an opportunity, to use their creativity to design the buildings that will buffer that volatility and protect us all

Today, more than ever, with the vast range of materials and techniques that humans have invented, great architecture has the power to answer directly to the most acute development challenges, and to create the inclusive, safe, dignified world that we want for everyone.

Poor health and limited education rob individuals of their potential.

Excellence must be grounded in relevance. A significant aspect of AKU’s impact is tied to its research agenda that strives to address real, local challenges through knowledge creation and innovation that improve the quality of life.

If Islam aspires, as I believe she must, to recapture the glories of the past, she must be ready to adapt -- I do not say abandon -- her own traditions to the entirely different circumstances of today. If we fail to do this, not only shall we fail to progress ourselves, but the younger generation will become disillusioned and fall prey to alien and materialistic creeds, which have nothing whatever in common with Islam.