Introduced by MALIK MERCHANT

As Muslims around the world celebrate the festival of Eid ul-Fitr to mark the end of the holy month of Ramadhan, Barakah is pleased to launch a PODCAST series that will contain timeless words from the speeches, interviews and messages of Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, during the past 65 years. These perennial words accentuate the common goal of societies living in the spirit of one humanity as well as flourishing in all areas of human endeavour. 

We commence the podcast series with a message of prayer, hope and blessings that the 49th Ismaili Imam sent to his Ismaili Muslim followers on the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr on May 23, 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. The written holy message, referred to by the Ismailis as a Talika, was published on the official website of the Ismaili community as well as on this blog in English and eight other languages.

While this podcast has been prepared using Word’s READ ALOUD function, all future podcasts will be read by students, youth and professionals around the country. If you are good at reading aloud and would like to participate in the podcasts as a reader, please write to the editor Malik at mmerchant@simerg.com. We welcome you to this extraordinary series and invite you to share this blog with members of your family as well as your colleagues and friends around the world.

Podcast #1, April 20, 2023: The Aga Khan’s special Eid ul-Fitr message of May 23, 2020

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Inline images below represent the Imam and his bond with his spiritual children

TEXT


 
My beloved spiritual children,

On the occasion of Eid ul-Fitr, I send my special loving blessings to my Jamats throughout the world for your happiness, peace, safety, and good health. My family joins me in wishing you all Eid Mubarak.

At this difficult time, I applaud, with the highest admiration and gratefulness, the selfless services of all my Jamati volunteers, as well as the doctors, nurses, paramedics and support workers in the AKDN and other health facilities and related programmes: Their exemplary courage, commitment and dedication in extending care and comfort to my Jamat and others, and especially to those who are vulnerable and sick, is an outstanding actualization of the human values and ethics that all faiths cherish.



It is my wish that my Jamat should look to the future with hope and courage, in keeping with its age-old tradition of unity, generosity and mutual support which has at all times enabled it to move forward to a position of enhanced strength and resilience, from generation to generation.

My spiritual children should always remain mindful that it is the principles of our faith that will bring peace and solace in these times of uncertainty. I am with my Jamat at all times, and each of you, individually, is always in my heart, in my thoughts and in my prayers.

I send my most affectionate paternal, maternal loving blessings  to all my Jamat – for happiness, good health, confidence and security in your lives ahead, and for mushkil-asan.

Yours affectionately,

Aga Khan

Date posted: April 20, 2023.
Last updated: April 26, 2023 (improved version of podcast reading.)

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A NOTE ABOUT THE PODCAST SERIES

Podcasts will appear on this page chronologically, in descending date sequence, that is readers will find the latest podcast at top of page. New podcasts will be added on a periodic basis, with each podcast limited to a maximum of 3 minutes of reading time. We will divide podcasts into volumes or pages. A series of 10 podcasts will constitute one volume or page, before we commence the next series of 10 podcasts on a new page as volume 2, 3 and so on.

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VISIT BARAKAH’S SISTER WEBSITES

Before departing this website please take a moment to visit Barakah’s Table of Contents for links to more than 350 pieces dedicated to Mawlana Hazar Imam, members of his family and the Ismaili Imamat. Also visit Barakah’s two sister websites, Simerg and Simergphotos.

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