Rethinking Ismailism

Aga Khan I – Syed Ḥasan-ʿAlī Shah Aga Khan Maḥallātī (1219-1300/1804-81) was the last imam of the Nizārī Ismaʿilis to reside in Iran and the first to bear the title of Aga Khan. He was born in the vilage of Kahak near Maḥallāt in central Iran, where his father, Shah Khalīlallāh, had transferred the seat … Continue reading →

Before any Ismāʿīlī starts dismissing Daś āvatār (daśāvatāra) or دس اوتار , and saying that it is not approved by the Ismāʿīlī Imām, it should be known that Daś āvatār was presented by the first Aga Khan, Ḥasan ‘Alī Shāh himself in the Bombay High Court as evidence of his authority over the Khojas and … Continue reading →

 It was narrated from Jābir ibn ʿAbdallāh (may Allāh be pleased with him) that he heard the Prophet ﷺ say when he was in Makkah at the time of the Conquest: “Allāh and His Messenger have forbidden the sale of alcohol, dead meat, pork and idols.” It was said: “O Messenger of Allāh, what do … Continue reading →

The Aga Khan Foundation Canada (AKF) was created in 1980 with almost twenty percent of its revenue coming from Canadian taxpayers to benefit countries in Asia and Africa. It is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Over the last nine years, the AKF has received over $472 million from Global Affairs Canada, … Continue reading →

The Haji Bibi Case of 1908 was contested between Aga Khan III and his aunt Haji Bibi in Bombay High Court in 1908 over the entitlement of dasond, mehmani and other collections in Jamatkhana, to the family of Aga Khan. The case was fought between several members of what Ismailis call “The Noorani Family”. The … Continue reading →

On 29 December 2003 when AKFED (Aga Khan Fund for Economic Developmet) acquired HBL (Habib Bank Limited), AKFED had only PKR 90 billion ($ 1.5 billion) in assets. An organization worth $1.5 billion buying a bank worth $9.5 billion for just $389 million is the largest corruption scandal in Pakistan’s history. The Aga Khan Fund … Continue reading →

Aly Khan, legendary playboy son of the Aga Khan, prowled the Riviera in relentless pursuit of speed, sport, and women. In 1948 he set his sights on Hollywood’s “Love Goddess,” Rita Hayworth, who was being pursued by Ari Onassis and the Shah of Iran after her marriage to Orson Welles disintegrated. In an excerpt from Throne … Continue reading →

Over the past many years of writing on the Inside Ismailism blog, I have received a number of acknowledgments from ex-Ismaili Muslims the course of whose lives were changed by the Inside Ismailism blog, and they left Ismailism to embrace the light of Islam. There were Muslims too, who read about the practices of Ismailism on the … Continue reading →

In 1985 a book of mine on the history of the Aga Khans was banned on the grounds it offended the feelings of the Ismaili community, whose spiritual leader is the Aga Khan. Mihir Bose in “70 years after independence, the India I know is losing its way“, The Telegraph Download Link 1Download Link 2Download … Continue reading →

In 1946, my father Ebrahim Rajan Meherally had donated 300,000 Indian rupees for the Diamond Jubilee of Aga Khan III. This amount in today’s terms and value, after more than seven decades, would be equivalent to millions of U.S. Dollars. Since that amount was the highest donation from amongst the Ismāʿīlis of India, my father … Continue reading →

Some say that anyone who testifies – says the kalimah ‘lā ilāha illā -llāh, muḥammadur rasūlu -llāh (There is none worthy of obedience and worship except Allāh and Muhammad is the final Messenger of Allāh), makes them a Muslim and we have no right to question that. Sincerity, however, is subject to proof. First of … Continue reading →

As the investigation into Trudeau’s relationship with Aga Khan moves forward, it is revealed that the legal ownership of Bell Island, which Aga Khan used to host Trudeau is with an off-shore company. These are the very off-shore companies which were revealed in the infamous Pamana Leaks through the leaked records of Mossack Fonseca. In … Continue reading →

Out of the many unsubstantiated claims of Ismāʿīlism is a one that Aga Khan interprets the Qurʾān for them. It is interesting that Aga Khan has never publicly or privately within his followers, interpreted any part of the Qurʾān. He has claimed to believe in the Qurʾān in interviews and has claimed descent from Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) through his cousin ʿAlī bin Abi Ṭālib, but actions speak far louder than words and his actions are nowhere close to the teachings of the Qurʾān. Continue reading →

Introduction Karim Aga Khan’s mother is popularly known within Ismaili circles as Princess Tajuddawlah and in the Western media as Joan Aly Khan. At age 19, Princess Tajuddawalah married Group. Captain Thomas L.E.B. Guinness. Prince Tajuddawlah was then known as Joan Barbara Yarde-Buller. After obtaining a divorce from Thomas Guinness, she married Prince Aly S. … Continue reading →

The Fatimid Empire of North Africa is one of the most controversial empires in Islamic history. They are misrepresented by Ismailis and some orientalists as enlightened leaders that brought a new golden age to the Muslim world. However, scholars and historians from the Muslim world have shown a different side to this 10th century dynasty. The story … Continue reading →

Nizari Ismailis recite the Ismaili Holy Du’a (called Du’a) instead of the Muslim prayer (called salāt in Arabic and namaz in Persian and Urdu). In Urdu-speaking countries, Ismailis insist that since the word namaz does not appear anywhere in the Quran, the namaz which is recited by the Muslims is never commanded by the Quran … Continue reading →

  The story scanned and uploaded here on the Inside Ismailism blog appeared in a French-language magazine and named only a few of Karim Aga Khan’s women. He is pictured here with the almost-begum Sylvia Casablanca and another almost-begum Patricia Deblave — both of who her never married, but “dated” on consecutive nights. Above: The couple … Continue reading →

How the Aga Khan manipulated the Canadian government for obtaining $310 million in grants from taxpayers’ money from 2004-2016, bought the most expensive island in The Bahamas for $100 million while himself ‘donating’ $1 million to the Bahamas National Trust, and called the Canadian PM and the Liberal Party leaders for a vacation to the same island. Continue reading →

1.    Introduction In July 2005, a Islamic convention brought together scholars from various parts of the Muslim world who collectively were presented with three points of the Amman Message which discouraged labelling Muslims “who did not apparently deny any self-evident tenant of the religion”, as non-Muslims. This event is often used by Ismailis to claim … Continue reading →

Alarabiya News English exposes Ismailis as the leading wine-makers in the northern unregulated parts of Pakistan. Continue reading →

Ismāʿīlism is based on the abrogation of the Islamic law – which means that ever since their imām made a historical declaration at Alamut in 1164, Ismāʿīlis have absolved themselves of all Islamic practices including ṣalāt (prayer), wuḍūʼ (ablution), ṣawm (fasting), hajj (pilgrimage), zakāt (charity), abstinence from ribā (interest) and other obligations placed upon a … Continue reading →

Introduction In the anthropology of religion, a funerary cult is a body of religious teaching and practice centered on the dead, in which the living are thought to be able to confer benefits on the dead in the afterlife or to appease their otherwise wrathful ghosts. Rituals were carried on for the benefit of the … Continue reading →

In the last of our series of episodes on esotericism, we will analyze the mentions of the word taʾwīl in the Qur’ān and explore the exegesis and tafsīr of these verses, and look at how bāṭenists have been promoting their false interpretations. The word taʾwīl means: to return, or to revert. The allusion is those … Continue reading →

Allah’s Bathwater Sells at a High Price Source: News (Adelaide, SA : 1923 – 1954), p. 32. LEGENDARY STORIES SURROUND THE FABULOUSLY WEALTHY AGA KHAN. (1954, August 12). Retrieved February 19, 2016, from http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article131251599 To upwards of 70 million adherents of the Ismaili of Mohammedanism, the ruling Aga Khan is Allah’s representative on Earth. To … Continue reading →

Those who have tried to bring this practice of the Ismailis out in the open had either been silenced, or their voice had been disregarded as rumor, heresy and attributed to unreliable sources. However, TIME Magazine came out with the facts behind this practice of the Ismailis and is available now in the TIME Magazine … Continue reading →

In the book “His Highness The Aga Khan: Imam of the Ismailis“, the foreword of which is written by Aga Khan III himself, Harry J. Greenwall talks about Aga Khan’s services to the British and how one of his missions led to the abolition of the Ottoman Caliphate. A must read for any Ismaili. The … Continue reading →

 وَلْتَكُن مِّنكُمْ أُمَّةٌ يَدْعُونَ إِلَى الْخَيْرِ وَيَأْمُرُونَ بِالْمَعْرُوفِ وَيَنْهَوْنَ عَنِ الْمُنكَرِ ۚ وَأُولَـٰئِكَ هُمُ الْمُفْلِحُونَ Translation: And there may spring from you a nation who invite to goodness, and enjoin right conduct and forbid indecency. Such are they who are successful. Transliteration: Wa Ltakun Minkum ‘Ummatun Yad`ūna ‘Ilá Al-Khayri Wa Ya’murūna Bil-Ma`rūfi Wa Yanhawna `Ani … Continue reading →

  Aga Khan, who claims to be a Muslim leader and a self-proclaimed direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), owns a chain of luxury 5-star hotels known as Serena Hotels (www.serenahotels.com) where alcohol is openly sold in the bars of these hotels. For a list of hotels owned by Hazar Imam where alcohol is sold openly, … Continue reading →

When the flamboyant Aga Khan, regarded as a ‘living god’ by his 15 million Islamic followers, collided with a snowboarder on the slopes of Courchevel last year, and was flown to hospital in Boston with serious injuries, the incredibly delicate issue of his succession was raised for the first time. As a result, the accident … Continue reading →

For many years, Ismailis have devised and followed a certain criteria for designating the living Imam (or Hazar Imam). These criteria have not only been followed throughout their history, but are also taught to all Ismailis. In this article we will look at the principles of Nizari Ismaili Imamate over the centuries, birth and background … Continue reading →

Oil and water do not mix – which too is the case with Ismailism and Islam. They have nothing in common. The following are the unislamic beliefs of Ismailis which categorically violate the fundamentals of Quran, Sunnah and Tawheed and therefore prove how different Ismailism and Islam are from each other. 1. The Authority of … Continue reading →

Ismā‘īlīs, the followers of Aga Khan, have substituted the five-time Muslim Salah with their Holy Du‘a’.  The following is recited by Ismaili Aga Khanis in their daily prayers (Holy Du‘a’), every morning and evening in their Jamatkhanas and Ismaili Centers: يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا أَطِيعُوا اللَّهَ وَأَطِيعُوا الرَّسُولَ وَأُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنكُمْ ۚ وَكُلَّ شَيْءٍأَحْصَيْنَاهُ فِي إِمَامٍ مُّبِينٍ Translation … Continue reading →

by Akberally Meherally 1. Aga Khan’s Claim to be a Manifestation of God in 1975 In 1975, Karim Aga Khan declared “Imamate” (Imamah) to be explained and understood as the Manifestation of God (Mazhar of Allah) at the World Ismaili Religious & Social Leaders Conference in Paris. Refer below for the scanned images of the … Continue reading →