office" /><o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, or Ismailis for short, are o­ne of the largest and least known esoteric sect within Islam today. Its members are officially said to total about 15 million people and they can be found in India, Pakistan, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Europe, and North America. They are all united by their common allegiance to their spiritual leader, Imam Karim Aga Khan IV, whom they hold is a direct descendant of Imam Ali, Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law and successor, appointed to lead the Islamic community. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">Once dominating the Islamic world during the Middle Ages as the Fatimids Caliphate based in Cairo, Egypt, the Ismailis who never forced anyone to join their faith eventually lost political power. Briefly, during the 11-13<SUP>th</SUP> centuries the Ismaili’s held the Sunni world at bay from their castle Alamut in modern day Iran. They were known by their oppressors as the Assassins. By 1256 the expanding Mongol Khanate destroyed Alamut and the Ismaili people, or so it was long thought. In actuality the Ismailis hid amongst the locals hiding their true beliefs until a time when they could come out into the open again. In 1841, the First Imam to take the name of Aga Khan fled Iran and moved into India to take control over his followers there. From then o­n, the Ismailis have come out of their concealment revealing communities isolated from their Imam for many centuries across Asia. During the concealment the Ismailis moved towards a more spiritual practice and today are o­ne of the most Progressive of Islamic communities (women do not veil, no enforcement of Shariah laws, no death penalty for leaving the group, etc). And Imam Karim Aga Khan IV and his family have taken leading roles in Third World development and the participation in the United Nations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">This short text consists of essays and poems expressing some of the beliefs and practices of the Ismaili faith.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P><P> </P>new book alert
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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims: </P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">a short introduction</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">100pp Pbk</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Jim Davis</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">2005</P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A href="http://www.lulu.com/content/114194">htt ... </A></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com
office" /><o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, or Ismailis for short, are o­ne of the largest and least known esoteric sect within Islam today. Its members are officially said to total about 15 million people and they can be found in India, Pakistan, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Europe, and North America. They are all united by their common allegiance to their spiritual leader, Imam Karim Aga Khan IV, whom they hold is a direct descendant of Imam Ali, Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law and successor, appointed to lead the Islamic community. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">Once dominating the Islamic world during the Middle Ages as the Fatimids Caliphate based in Cairo, Egypt, the Ismailis who never forced anyone to join their faith eventually lost political power. Briefly, during the 11-13<SUP>th</SUP> centuries the Ismaili’s held the Sunni world at bay from their castle Alamut in modern day Iran. They were known by their oppressors as the Assassins. By 1256 the expanding Mongol Khanate destroyed Alamut and the Ismaili people, or so it was long thought. In actuality the Ismailis hid amongst the locals hiding their true beliefs until a time when they could come out into the open again. In 1841, the First Imam to take the name of Aga Khan fled Iran and moved into India to take control over his followers there. From then o­n, the Ismailis have come out of their concealment revealing communities isolated from their Imam for many centuries across Asia. During the concealment the Ismailis moved towards a more spiritual practice and today are o­ne of the most Progressive of Islamic communities (women do not veil, no enforcement of Shariah laws, no death penalty for leaving the group, etc). And Imam Karim Aga Khan IV and his family have taken leading roles in Third World development and the participation in the United Nations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">This short text consists of essays and poems expressing some of the beliefs and practices of the Ismaili faith.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P><P> </P>
office" /><o:p></o:p></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">The Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, or Ismailis for short, are o­ne of the largest and least known esoteric sect within Islam today. Its members are officially said to total about 15 million people and they can be found in India, Pakistan, Central Asia, China, East Africa, Europe, and North America. They are all united by their common allegiance to their spiritual leader, Imam Karim Aga Khan IV, whom they hold is a direct descendant of Imam Ali, Prophet Mohammed's son-in-law and successor, appointed to lead the Islamic community. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">Once dominating the Islamic world during the Middle Ages as the Fatimids Caliphate based in Cairo, Egypt, the Ismailis who never forced anyone to join their faith eventually lost political power. Briefly, during the 11-13<SUP>th</SUP> centuries the Ismaili’s held the Sunni world at bay from their castle Alamut in modern day Iran. They were known by their oppressors as the Assassins. By 1256 the expanding Mongol Khanate destroyed Alamut and the Ismaili people, or so it was long thought. In actuality the Ismailis hid amongst the locals hiding their true beliefs until a time when they could come out into the open again. In 1841, the First Imam to take the name of Aga Khan fled Iran and moved into India to take control over his followers there. From then o­n, the Ismailis have come out of their concealment revealing communities isolated from their Imam for many centuries across Asia. During the concealment the Ismailis moved towards a more spiritual practice and today are o­ne of the most Progressive of Islamic communities (women do not veil, no enforcement of Shariah laws, no death penalty for leaving the group, etc). And Imam Karim Aga Khan IV and his family have taken leading roles in Third World development and the participation in the United Nations. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang"> <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: Batang">This short text consists of essays and poems expressing some of the beliefs and practices of the Ismaili faith.</SPAN></P><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"> <o:p></o:p></P><P> </P>