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

2008, July 2-4: His Highness the Aga Khan In United Kingdom for a Golden Jubilee Visit. The Prime Minister met with the Aga Khan, where they discussed the cooperation between the Government and the Aga Khan Development Network. The Queen personally honoured the Aga Khan with a private banquet at Buckingham Palace on Monday to mark his golden jubilee as the leader of the world's 15 million Ismaeli Muslims. H. H. the Aga Khan met with followers at a Darbar confirmed on the 5th of July. [More] TESTIMONIES AND SPEECHES see our [Forum section.] [More in New Heritage Site]

2007, July 12: '...This exhibition is designed to give us a glimpse into the future...We hope and trust it will contribute to a deeper understanding among cultures - to the strengthening of true cultural pluralism - which is increasingly essential to peace, and to progress, in our world...' [Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan] [Photos] [The Globe and Mail]

2007, July 14: 'Political situations with a theological overlay are causing disaffection or antagonism between communities of the same faith, and even more so amongst different faiths,' he said, as the final touches were being put to the exhibition in the Ismaili Centre in London this week. 'At the centre of this turbulence is Islam. We cannot let this continue.' His exhibition, he hopes, will provide the opportunity for a more enlightened encounter and go some way to dispelling the 'countless misconceptions and misunderstandings' between Islam and the West.

[The Independent]

2007, July 17: Designed to illustrate the richness of Muslim culture and highlight its strong humanist traditions, Spirit and Life brings together highlights of Islamic art from the collection of the Aga Khan, leader of the Shi'a Ismaili Muslims, who celebrated 50 years of his reign this month. [Evening Standard]

2007, September 10:IIS graduation ceremony took place on Monday Sept. 10 at the Ismaili Centre. The ceremony was officiated by Prince Rahim. Also present were Prince Hussein and Princess Khaliya. [IIS] [Photos] [Speech] [More]

2007, July 7: Spirit & Life, an exhibition of rare Islamic art and manuscripts never before displayed in the UK, will run this summer at The Ismaili Centre, South Kensington, London. Highlights will include miniatures from one of the finest illustrated manuscripts ever produced, the Persian epic Shahnama (The Book of Kings) and an extremely rare copy of the Canon of Medicine of Ibn Sina, used in Europe and the Middle East as the standard medical textbook for over 500 years. [Art Daily]

2007, July 9: A new exhibition at The Ismaili Centre showcases masterpieces of Islamic Art for the first time in London. [Channel4 News]

2008, November 17: Aga Khan Pays Tribute to Zarkava at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards 18/11/08 - The Aga Khan last night (Monday, November 17) elaborated on why Zarkava meant so much to him when collecting the filly's prizes as Cartier Horse Of The Year and Cartier Champion Three-Year-Old Filly at the 2008 Cartier Racing Awards in London's Grosvenor House Hotel on Park Lane.

The Ismaili Centre in London is a religious, social, and cultural meeting palce for the Ismaili community in the United Kingdom. The Centre is the first religious and cultural centre to be specially designed and built for the Ismaili community in the West.

The religious function of the Centre is of primary importance and the Prayer Hall is building's focal point. In addition, the building also contains a smaller prayer hall, classsrooms for religious instruction, offices, and a multi-purpose social hall.

The Institute of Ismaili Studies was established in 1977 to promote scholarship of Muslim cultures and societies, historical as well as contemporary, leading to a better understanding of their relationship with other societies and faiths.
http://www.iis.ac.uk

Your Highness, Ladies and Gentlemen.

Your Excellencies, My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen.

The following are excepts from a lecture on 'Islam and the West' given by Prince Charles, the Prince of W ales, at the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, England on the 27th of October, 1993:

Some time ago, Anne Matheson of the Australian Women's Weekly interviewed Begum Salimah in London just before Her Highness's visit with Mowlana Hazar Imam to Australia where they were invited as specia guests of honour for the 1979 Melburne Cup.

Here is a condensed version of the interview and a glimpse into the life of Begum Sahiba as wife, mother and worker.

At her Paris house, the oldest known building within the shadow of Notre Dame cathedral and once an abbey, photographer Alec Murry and I went up a circular stone staircase from the monastic entrance below street level.

Source: Typescript (6 pp.)
Your Worships, Your Excellencies, My Lords, Ladies and Gentleman

It is a particular pleasure for me to be amongst so many friends of the Ismaili community in the United Kingdom.

I cannot help reflecting upon the history which brings us all together in the heart of London, when standing here in The Ismaili Centre, so close to the Victoria and Albert Museum.

September 30, 1987

Your Excellencies My Lord Madam Mayor Ladies and Gentlemen It is a great honour for me to welcome Her Majesty the Queen of Jordan.
I would like to express our thanks and appreciation to Her Majesty for having made this visit to London to open the exhibition of Mr Nicholas Egon's paintings of Jordan.

Jordan inhabited since the earliest ages known to man, is a land in which many great civilisations have flourished, each leaving a precious legacy.

Over 15000 Ismailis gathered at Olympia on Tuesday July 5, 1983 to celebrate the Silver Jubilee. During the visit, Mowlana Hazar Imam had private meetings with institutions such as Oxfam, the Overseas Development Administrator and the University of London.

Mowlana Hazar Imam calls for a more informed perception of other nations' cultures as an effective gateway to better understanding.
The Zamana Gallery, a 550 square meter exhibition area located in the Ismaili Center, London, was officially opened on June 25th by the Rt. Hon. The Earl of Gowrie, Minister for the Arts, in the presence of Mowlana Hazar Imam.