Ismaili Blind Man Trekking Mount Everest: An Incredible Journey undertaken To Raise Funds For The World Partnership Walk 2013

Mary Hassanali: One of the Founding Member of the Partnership Walk in Canada fundraising for Shabudin Hussein and his wife Shaida.

Who is this man?

• He is the first totally blind Canadian to have graduated from U of C in Computer Science (BSC)
• He has received several gold and silver medals in cross country skiing and volunteered his time to teach and mentor beginners.
• He is the first visually impaired Canadian to have reached Uhuru Peak, Mount Kilimanjaro raising funds for Focus Humanitarian Assistance in June 2012.
• He is also the first blind Canadian now climbing Mount Everest in Nepal with the goal of raising $30K for the World Partnership walk 2013

Shabudin Hussein believes that in today’s world, extreme poverty and inequality are unjustifiable and unfair so he decided to do something. Shab with his wife Shaida, a registered nurse has taken up a challenge of raising funds for the World Partnership Walk this year by trekking Mount Everest. They both are in their senior years.

On June 2012 Shabu and Shaida climbed Mount Kilimanjaro raising funds for Focus Humanitarian Assistance, challenge rarely undertaken by a visually impaired person. Accolades were heaped on Shabu by the media for his various feats. After their successful ascent to Uhuru peak they returned to Calgary. In no uncertain terms their achievements have conveyed footprints for the upcoming generation that there are all kinds of possibilities given the will to accomplish their goals.

As you read this, Shabu & Shaida are already trekking almost the same height but more difficult than Mt. kilimanjaro in Nepal with the hope of raising $30K for the World Partnership walk 2013. In their absence they have asked Mary Hassanali to raise funds on their behalf.

Good News is that Mary has a private donor who is matching your funds up to $12,500.

AN OFFICIAL TAX RECEIPT WILL BE ISSUED TO YOU FOR YOUR DONATIONS BY WORLD PARTNERSHIP WALK AND 100% OF YOUR CONTRIBUTION GOES TO THE RECIPIENTS.

Here is the link to sponsor Shabu and Shaida. Let’s remember that while you are enjoying the comfort of your home, they have made this choice to battle global poverty. Lets show support in whatever little amount you can afford.

Click here to visit the fundraising page.

Related: Shabu Hussain: Blind man prepares for Kilimanjaro climb
Shabu Husain: Blind man climbs Kilimanjaro for Focus Humanitarian
Mary Hassanali: One of the Founding Member of the Partnership Walk in Canada, shares her Fundraising Page, dedication to two individuals and Historical Photographs
World Partnership Walk Fundraising Page
GlobalNews Video Link 1 – GlobalNews Video link 2

Inspiring pieces on Hazrat Ali (a.s.)

For the birth anniversary of Hazrat Ali (a.s.), Simerg’s new post has images, quotes as well links to a selection of diverse articles to appeal young and adult readers alike. The selections are educational, inspiring and informative.

Inspiring and Educational Readings for Yaum e-Ali, the Birth Anniversary of Hazrat Ali (a.s.) « SIMERG – Insights from Around the World.

All related at Ismailimail: http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/category/imam-ali/

TheIsmaili.org message: http://www.theismaili.org/cms/1213/Yawme-Ali

Alkarim Devani fights urban sprawl one sustainable home at a time | Alberta Venture

Sometimes, it pays to stand out from the crowd. That’s what Alkarim Devani, the owner of Calgary’s Beyond Homes, is discovering. At a time when the homebuilding industry in Calgary is pumping out a decidedly familiar-looking product (one might even describe it as “cookie-cutter”) and adding to the already imposing sea of beige homes, Devani is thinking – and building – differently.

via Alkarim Devani fights urban sprawl one sustainable home at a time | Alberta Venture.

Aga Khan gives Sh2.4b for Nairobi’s City Park facelift

The Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) has pumped Sh2.4 billion into the restoration of Nairobi’s City Park. AKDN Resident Representative Engineer Aziz Bhaloo said the project will lead to ultra modern restoration of City Park that will in turn provide ultimate recreation to the park users besides enhancing the City’s beauty and quality of life.

Speaking at the Nairobi Governor Evan Kidero’s office, Bhaloo said the restoration would take four to six years under AKDN’s social-cultural development programme. The governor deplored the neglect that City Park had undergone over the years and welcomed AKDN’s initiative. Challenging Bhaloo to see off the project in 4 years, Kidero said Nairobi needed more restoration projects to make the City more attractive to visitors and its residents.

The Governor promised to ensure the County Government’s total partnership in ensuring the project becomes a resounding success. Kidero projected that once rehabilitated the park will attract millions of visitors from all corners of the world every year. “The project will return the Nairobi City Park to its lost glory,” he said.

via Aga Khan gives Sh2.4b for City Park’s facelift | The PeopleThe People.

Faizmeen Pirali: UHV student receives Salute to Nurses scholarship

Faizmeen Pirali, center, receives her scholarship award during the Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses event, which honors nurses and nursing students. Jack Sweeny, chairman of the Houston Chronicle, left, and Kathryn Tart, dean of the UHV School of Nursing, were on hand to present Pirali with her award.

Faizmeen Pirali recently became the fifth University of Houston-Victoria nursing student to receive a Salute to Nurses Scholarship.

The Second Degree Bachelor of Science in Nursing student was one of five from the Houston area to receive a $1,500 scholarship as part of the Houston Chronicle’s Salute to Nurses event.

Pirali attended a May 9 Salute to Nurses Awards Luncheon and was featured in a May 12 nursing special section in the Houston Chronicle.

via Victoria Advocate | UHV student receives Salute to Nurses scholarship.

Earlier: Faizmeen Pirali receives Salute to Nurses Scholarship Award – Houston Chronicle

Preservation of Sacred and Collective Oasis Sites of Morocco – Architect: Salima Naji

Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Cycle Shortlisted Project Preservation of Sacred and Collective Oasis Sites Morocco. More information.

Introduction: Aga Khan Award for Architecture 2013 Shortlisted Projects

For the last decade Salima Naji, trained as an architect and anthropologist, has worked to save the heritage of several oasis towns in the anti-Atlas mountains of Morocco.

This ambitious undertaking involves four sites that range in scale from communal granaries to partially abandoned fortified towns. Naji has carried out the work with skilled masons and unskilled workmen, whom she has trained in traditional building techniques and who go on to apply their skills at other sites. Architecture and public spaces have been conserved not only for their historic value, but as locally rooted, sustainable models for contemporary building. Throughout, Naji has encouraged a participatory process with new and traditional community groups and actors. Her work provides an alternative model for conservation in Morocco: one that insists on maintaining the link between local communities and their historic environments.

More information: http://www.akdn.org/architecture/project.asp?id=4327 – All related – Architect’s Website

Aisha’s Journey: A Beacon of Light for Young Mothers in Afghanistan

A SPECIAL INFORMATION FEATURE BROUGHT TO YOU BY AGA KHAN FOUNDATION CANADA

Wearing a black veil over her slight frame, 18-year-old Aisha waits patiently to see a doctor. She and her husband, Mahfouz, drove for three days along makeshift roads etched into mountainsides to get emergency medical treatment at the Faizabad Provincial Hospital in Badakhshan, before the fierce winter weather made the trip impossible.

She is pregnant and unable to walk. She fears she will lose her baby.

Click here to read at Globe & Mail

Mughals Exhibition, Kabul 2013

The hugely successful Mughal India exhibition at the British Library has now been made accessible to an Afghan audience in the form of high-quality digital facsimiles of the majority of the items seen in the original exhibition. The venue of the present exhibition, which opened in the Queen’s Palace in the Babur Gardens in Kabul, is particularly appropriate, situated as it is only a stone’s throw from the tomb of Babur, the first Mughal emperor.

http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/asian-and-african/2013/05/mughal-exhibition-in-kabul.html
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66871453@N05/sets/72157633508120143/with/8749200699/

Reflections on Ismaili Studies: Standing on Poonawala’s Shoulders at the UCLA Asia Institute

A conference to honor the career of Professor Ismail Poonawala.

Conference Participants:
Dr. Sumaiya Hamdani, George Mason University
Dr. Omar Ali-de-Unzaga, Research Associate, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
Dr. Daryoush Mohammad Poor, Reseach Associate, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London

Dr. Ismail Poonawala

The rihla or journey is a rite often attributed to scholars of distinction in Islam’s past.  In the case of Dr. Ismail Poonawala, and other Ismail scholars of his generation, the rihla was a rite that not only involved geographic relocation but one that facilitated access to a rich and complex intellectual tradition in Islam for a larger audience. This paper will discuss how Dr. Poonawala’s publication of the Biobliography of Ismaili Literature (1977), as well as his other publications, paved the way for scholarly consideration of Ismaili Shiism’s role in and engagement with the intellectual debates and traditions of Islam in the classical period, and thereafter.

Al-Rihla al-Ismailiyya: Reflections on Ismailis in Ismaili Studies – Dr. Sumaiya Hamdani received her B.A. from Georgetown University and M.A. and Ph.D. from Princeton University in the field of Islamic history. Dr. Hamdani’s book, Between Revolution and State: the Construction of Fatimid Legitimacy (I.B. Tauris 2006) examines the development of legal and historical literature by the Ismaili Shi’i Fatimid state.

The Ismailis and the Qur’an: Is there an Ismaili Ta’wil? - Dr Omar Ali-de-Unzaga is the Academic Coordinator of the Qur’anic Studies Unit and a Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications. He was a recipient of the IIS PhD Scholarship in 1999, and is currently involved in a number of research programmes and publications at the IIS.

Ismailis and Philosophy: A Critical Rationalist Perspective - Dr Daryoush Mohammad Poor joined the IIS in 2002 and, since then, has contributed as a translator for a number of departments including the Department of Academic Research and Publications, Project Tajikistan, the Department of Curriculum Studies and the IIS website. Currently, he is a Research Associate in the Department of Academic Research and Publications. Prior to this, he served as Editorial Researcher, contributing to the Encyclopaedia Islamica project.

via Reflections on Ismaili Studies: Standing on Poonawala’s Shoulders at the UCLA Asia Institute.

His Highness the Aga Khan’s Gift of a Tiara to Queen Victoria

May 20, 2013

Canadian’s are marking Monday May 20 as a Victoria Day. As a tribute to Britain’s longest reigning monarch, Simergphotos.com is pleased to bring a pertinent piece that contains quotes by Ismaili Imams as well as a little known story with a photo about a tiara that the 48th Ismaili Imam presented to the Queen for her Diamond Jubilee.

Click here to read at Simerg Photos.

Naseem Somani – Winnipeg medical lab opens new digs

Mayor Sam Katz was on hand to help a Winnipeg-based medical laboratory cut the ribbon on a new expanded space in the city Monday.

Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories have consolidated and relocated their laboratory testing operations in Winnipeg to a newly designed and renovated 30,000 square-foot space on King Edward Street.

“We are excited and proud to be celebrating the grand opening of our new world-class laboratory in Winnipeg,” said Naseem Somani, president and CEO of Gamma-Dynacare Medical Laboratories in a release.

via Winnipeg medical lab opens new digs | Metro.

News story on death of prominent Bohra scholar Asghar Ali Engineer

Born in Salumbar, Rajasthan, in a Dawoodi Bohra Amil (priest) family March 10, 1939, Engineer acquired his training in Quranic tafsir (commentary), tawil (hidden interpretations of Quran), fiqh (jurisprudence) and hadith (Prophet’s teachings, sayings) during his early days.

His father, Sheikh Qurban Husain, was the Amil who also taught the young Engineer Arabic. Later, Engineer studied all the major religious works and scriptures by eminent scholars. He graduated as a civil engineer from Indore, Madhya Pradesh, and went on to work for nearly two decades in the BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC).

In the early 1970s, he sought voluntary retirement from his BMC service and plunged into the reformist movement in the miniscule Dawood Bohra community, estimated at around 1.20 million worldwide.

via Scholar and Thinker Asghar Ali Engineer Dead | Art & Culture | www.indiatimes.com.

Dr. Aleem Manji – Youngest Ismaili Periodontist

Source

Mughal era tombs restored to their traditional grandeur – The Hindu

Madhur Tankha - “For conservation to be successful in our country it is necessary that we return to a craft-based approach where master craftsmen are empowered to match the work of their forefathers using traditional materials, tools and building craft traditions,” said Aga Khan Trust for Culture project director Ratish Nanda, who has been associated with the restoration work of the two Mughal era garden tombs of Isa Khan Niyazi and Bu Halima over the past two years.

Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Nanda said traditional materials were used while carrying out the restoration work on the two tombs. Restoration was a daunting task as it involved in-depth research, and experts from India and abroad had to be roped in. It was a challenge to produce authentic parts which could fit in the broken areas of the tombs. “It was driven by the understanding of the multi-disciplinary project team that the outstanding universal value of the Humayun’s Tomb world heritage site – of which these monuments are a part – lies in it being an ensemble of 16th Century garden-tombs,” said Mr. Nanda.

The conservation work was undertaken to successfully restore the dignity of the Mughal era garden tombs and create an understanding of these sites as well as to establish a model conservation philosophy.

via Mughal era tombs restored to their traditional grandeur – The Hindu.

Images of Afghanistan – Embracing Change for a Brighter Future

A SPECIAL INFORMATION FEATURE BROUGHT TO YOU BY AGA KHAN FOUNDATION CANADA

The spirit of partnership is helping to develop practical solutions that are improving the health and lives of the people of Afghanistan.

Click here to view at the source: Globe & Mail

Ashad Mukadam shares an excerpt from his book: Kicking From Beyond The 40

He left the tent, and decided to walk around. As it turned out, this was the same day as the tryouts for the cheerleading squad, and it just so happened that they were trying out in the outfield of the baseball diamond. As a result, Blue decided to go to the bleachers behind home plate to watch those tryouts while he waited for the kicker tryouts to begin. There were a lot of athletic girls trying out, and some of them were actually part of the gymnastics team who were looking for something to do until their season started in December. They were very impressive, and since there were less people here than there were at the football tryouts, the cheerleading tryouts ended about 15 minutes later. The final selections for the squad were made quickly, after which most of the cheerleaders dispersed. The only cheerleader who did not leave was Tiffany, who spotted Blue on the bleachers while gathering her things. She walked in his direction, and asked an inattentive Blue, “Blue, what the heck are you doing here?”

Click here to read

Earlier related: Ashad Mukadam: Kicking From Beyond The 40

Short Film: Beyond the Heights – Featuring Samina Baig and team

Produced by Mirza Ali. Directed, filmed and edited by Jawad Sharif.

Breathtaking scenes from Gilgit-Baltistan. Beautifully captured.

Movie link: http://youtu.be/lWg7bz1KUao

Also watch, the making of: http://youtu.be/7b6tCgFYy0k

Related: Samina Baig becomes first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak of Everest

Ismaili Flag on Mount Everest

Updated with VOA, BBC and GeoTV reports. Links below.

Samina Khayal Baig is a 21 year old mountaineer from the Shimshal Valley of Gojal (upper Hunza). She created history by becoming the only Pakistani woman to climb Mount Everest, the world’s highest peak. She, along with her 29 year old brother Mirza Ali, was part of a team that scaled the highest peak of the world in Nepal on Sunday.

Mirza Ali became Pakistan’s youngest male mountaineer to climb Everest. The first man from Pakistan to climb Mount Everest was Nazir Sabir from Hunza Valley.

Interview with BBC Urdu
2011 Interview with Voice of America, with documentary footage.
GeoTV Pakistan video

Pamir Times – Times of Oman – The News International – The Hindu – Business Recorder – Hindustan Times – Express Tribune Blog – Voice of America Urdu – Dawn – Associated Press of Pakistan – Radio Free Europe

President felicitates first Pakistani woman to scale Mount Everest

All related Ismaili Muslims in the News: Mountaineer Nazir Sabir

Earlier related: Mirza Ali & Samina Baig’s Gender equality Expeditions Mt.Everest

Earlier related: Samina Baig becomes first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak of Everest

Samina Baig becomes first Pakistani woman to scale the world’s highest peak of Everest

Samina Baig and her brother Mirza Ali are Ismaili Muslims from the Shimshal Valley of Pakistan. We have featured them before at Ismailimail.  Several media outlets have reported this news, including BBC Urdu. Below are some of the links.

Express Tribune – Mirza Ali’s Blog – The Himalayn Times – Spectacular Pakistan Facebook – BBC Urdu – Photographs

Related: Ismaili Flag on Mount Everest

Simerg.com: Treat yourself and your children to wonderful stories

If you are a parent or a teacher and say to your child or your students that you have a story to tell, they will gaze at you intensely, and listen to you with rapt attention as you tell them the story. They will want to hear more.

Simerg has been publishing parables and stories from time to time and the latest is about a young girl selling oranges, who through her actions teaches us about honesty in its true sense.  Please click on Honesty – A Story by a Young Writer.

I also invite you to click on the following links for other illuminating, and in some cases funny, parables and stories on the website:

Malik Merchant, Publisher-Editor
http://www.simerg.com - www.simergphotos.com
CANADA

• The Fish With a Dream to See the Forest: A Story for Young Readers
• Parables on Integrity & Honesty, Allah’s Bounty and Keeping Allah Constantly in Our Hearts
• Two Tales from Rumi: The Snake-Catcher and the Serpent & The Elephant and the Travellers
• The Parable of Moses and Khidr in the Holy Qur’an: An Esoteric Interpretation
• Traditional Sufi Stories About the Intricacies of Life
• Looking for the Tree of Immortality
• The Plight of the Unwise…why the donkey was gone!
• The Noble Kingdom of Hodja
• Don’t Blame Me, by Shams Tabriz
• Hodja’s Hospitality, Taken For Granted
• Learning from Tragedy, the Story of the Imprisoned Parrot
• Hodja and the Fur Coat
• Hodja’s Uneven Distribution
• Three Hodja Stories, Put to the Test Twice and Tipping the Right Way
• For Hodja, Pretending to be Foolish has its Rewards…
• To Each, His Own Faith – A Story by Saadi
• The Clay’s Sweet Fragrance
• Parable Lesson: The Alchemy of Transformation, from Copper to Gold
• Not Being Afraid of Seeking Out the Truth
• “The Mouse and the Camel”, by Rumi
• “The Mouse and the Camel”, by Rumi
• Easying One’s Journey to the Lord of Creation
• Countering Criticism, Hodja’s Way
• “Paying for Aroma” – Hodja’s Verdict
• Hodja on the Deathbed; The Donkey’s Bray or the Wise Hodja?
• Watermelons and Walnuts (which you read above)