The Garden of Islamic tradition is also a place where the flow of refreshing water reminds us of Divine blessing. It is a place for meditation, and quiet renewal. But I would likewise emphasise that the Garden, through history, has also been seen as a social space – a place for learning, for sharing, for romance

The symbol of the Garden as a spiritual symbol goes back to the Holy Qur’an itself - where the Garden ideal is mentioned many times. Down through many centuries, Islamic culture has continued to see the Garden as a very special place, where the Human meets further proof of the Divine.

In the Shia Ismaili Muslim tradition, voluntary service to others is viewed as an integral and positive part of daily life, and never as a burdensome obligation or an elective activity. Service is a means for each individual to actualise Islam’s ethics of inclusiveness, of compassion, of sharing, of the respect for life, and of personal responsibility for sustaining a healthy physical, social, and cultural environment

Mowlana Imam Zulfikar Ali reigned on the Masnad of Imamat from 920 to 922 A.H.. His principal residence was in Anjudan in Iran where thousands of Ismailis used to come from everywhere for the Holy Didar of the Imam. All these Ismailis were cared for by arrangements made for them through the Holy Imam. The Ismaili poet Khaki Khorassani wrote extensively about the Imam at that time in his book "Qasida-e-Zuriyah"

Through research and learning, they will contribute to increased understanding of the rich history and varied traditions of different Muslim civilisations. In so doing, they should help bridge the gulf of ignorance that has characterised Islamic-Western relations for far too long.