in 1911 (A.H. 1323) the German Crown Prince King Wilhelm visited India and proudly said to our 48th Imam Aga Sultan Muhammad Shah during a billiards game that German forces would fight against the British forces and that what would you and the Indian rulers do to stop it? Mowlana Sultan Muhammad Shah immediately replied with confidence that "We will fight against the German forces and our armies will invade Germany" Hearing this, King Wilhelm was stunned and fell silent. (Noorum Mubeen) When in 1918 the generals decided to surrender to the Allies, Wilhelm was forced to abdicate.

The Golden Jubilee celebrations of our 48th Holy Imam Shah Sultan Muhammad Shah were brought forward by two days to Sunday 19th January 1936 instead of 21st January as planned before due to the news of the ill-health of King George of England. The weighing ceremony was held at Hasanabad complex in Bombay named after our 46th Imam Aga Hasan Ali Shah. An estimated 40,000 people attended this golden weighing ceremony

Meritocracy applies to institutions, to countries. I have been concerned at whether our institutions would themselves become meritocratic, and if they were going to become meritocratic....I hope that as time goes by, you will be more and more demanding upon yourselves, upon your institutions, more and more eager to bring competence and knowledge and wisdom and understanding from generation after generation into these institutions.

In your high intellectual world many of you are fortunate to have the time to reflect on the great aspects of Prophet Mohammed's life. It is a blessing that many a Muslim would wish for, but due to circumstances beyond his control, indeed the very nature of modern life, he can

My Jamat will be aware of the innovative work undertaken by the Aga Khan University in combating the Covid-19 pandemic. These efforts, alongside those of all other Imamat and Jamati institutions globally, are worthy of the highest admiration, and I convey my special loving blessings to all my spiritual children who, in the capacity of either healthcare professionals or volunteers, continue to spare no effort in providing treatment, care, and support to my Jamat.