“[The] Canadian spirit resonates with a cherished principle in Shia Ismaili culture — the importance of contributing one’s individual energies on a voluntary basis to improving the lives of others. This is not a matter of philanthropy, but rather of self-fulfillment –enlightened self-fulfillment” — His Highness the Aga Khan, Address to the Parliament of Canada, February 27, 2014.

Introduced, compiled and prepared by MALIK MERCHANT

The Historical Motto, Work No Words

A major transition has been underway in much of the Ismaili Volunteer world during the month of January 2024, with the introduction of a new Ismaili volunteers motto, badge, and uniform. For decades, the Ismaili volunteers have chersihed a very dear — red and green — badge that bears the sentimental motto “Work No Words”. The badge contains the crest of the Ismaili Imamat at the top and the face of a horse in the centre. The motto was given by the 48th Imam of the Ismailis, Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957) through a message he sent to the Ismaili Volunteers, Scouts and Guides Souvenir published in 1954, to jointly commemorate his Platinum Jubilee and the 35th anniversary of His Highness the Aga Khan’s Bombay Volunteer Corps.

Story continues below

The 48th Imam’s message read:

“Today, I will give you a small motto and that is “Work No Words”. Labour for the welfare of others is the best way of improving ourselves, because results are sure and certain. If you work for yourselves, you are never happy. This is not a new idea, but this is an outcome of the experience of thousands of years of history.”

The old badge’s popularity among community members was evident when I recently saw a picture of the badge embedded on top of a freshly made cake to honour Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan, on the auspicious occasion of his 87th birthday (Salgirah) on December 13, 2023. I was pleased to receive a photograph of the cake from Dr. Riaz Ratansi and his wife Rozina. I hope to see a cake bearing an image of the new badge and motto in the near future.

________________________

MAwlana Hazar Imam with Ismaili volunteers in their old uniforms and badges

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

________________________

Work and Many Words: A Reflection

In his Farman (instruction/edict) made during his Diamond Jubilee visit to Calgary, Canada, on May 10, 2018, Mawlana Hazar Imam, when conveying his blessings to the volunteers for their excellent work, referred to his grandfather’s motto “Work No Words”, and said his Farman was “Work and Many Words”. This is a fundamental change from the original motto and I wrote a reflective article about what the Farman “Work and Many Words” meant to me. While the new motto on the badge simply says Khidma (Service), we should not lose sight of the Farman “Work and Many Words”.

I would humbly suggest that volunteers articulate their ideas, thoughts and suggestions to their leadership, who should listen, as well as act as true ambassadors of the Jamat, not only through their physical Khidma but by acting as dais (communicators of matters of faith). The volunteers’ services today extend to many external organizations. Also, the volunteers and members of the Jamat through outreach programs such as the annual Ismaili Civic Day are contributing to enhancing the quality of life in the communities they live. These are opporunities for us to articulate the ethos of the Ismaili community and inform others about the secular and religious work of the Ismaili Imamat through Jamati institutions as well as the Aga Khan Development Network. For that, we have to increase our own knowledge and understanding of our faith, and keep in tune with the activities of the Imam-of-the-Time.

________________________

Friday, January 26, 2024: The RollOut of the New Ismaili Volunteers Badge, Motto and Uniforms in Canada

Along with the new badge and motto, new uniforms have been introduced that are adaptable for use in different parts of the world. In Canada, the new objects were introduced on Friday, January 26th, 2024 in Jamatkahanas around the country, preceding which a series of announcements were made in Jamatkhanas as well as in the weekly Al-Akhbar newsletters.

The volunteers showed great excitement over their new identity. Special desks were set up to display the new material. I first encountered them at the MGH (Multi Generations Housing) Care Centre Jamatkhana, where prayers are held earlier than at other Jamatkhanas. I then drove to the Westwinds Jamatkhana. It was packed. The Calgary Ismaili community is very diverse, with people from virtually every corner of the world. Due to the great demand for the new uniforms and badge, a controlled entry to the purchase tables was organized. The volunteers I spoke to at both MGH and Westwinds were excited and happy with their new outfit and look.

Story continues below

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~~

The Ismaili website notes that Mawlana Hazar Imam, in setting out new principles for the Jamat’s paradigm of uniformed volunteering, said in his message to the Jamat that the aim is “to bring about standardisation and parity in the various elements relating to the organisation of the uniformed volunteers, without compromising their spirit of service.” Mawlana Hazar Imam also emphasised that the new guidelines will fully respect the global Jamat’s socio-cultural diversity. Among the key elements that Hazar Imam approved are the new name, “Ismaili Volunteers” (removing the term ‘Corps’), and the new motto, khidma. 

________________________

The New Motto Khidma

Khidma (Arabic for ‘service’) expresses the core value of Ismaili volunteers and will serve to strengthen the bond of this shared ethos among Ismaili volunteers across all countries, ages, and cultures. Rendered as khidmat in Jamats of Persian and Indic language usage, this term succinctly expresses the notion of unconditional service.

Story continues below

~~~~~~~~~~

A new visual identity that Mawlana Hazar Imam has approved is a motif of contemporary design and outlook that resonates with other Jamati and AKDN logos. This motif, which will be adapted for diverse types of applications including the new volunteer badge, consists of a stylised presentation of the name “Lillaah” (for Allah), artfully arranged, and repeated seven times in a composition of calligraphic brushes. 

________________________

tHE nEW iSMAILI vOLUNTEERS uNIFORM

~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

~~~~~~~~~

Date posted: January 28, 2024.
Last updated: January 29, 2024 (caption update, Ismaili children pictured with Hazar Imam)

__________________

Please visit the following external links for background information and more details about the new badge, motto and uniforms as well as to download the new organizational structure of the Ismaili volunteers:

• Al-Akhbar — Community Engagement, the Ismaili Volunteers Store
• Al-Akhbar – Ismaili Volunteers, a New Era of Khidma
• Al-Akhbar — Ismaili Volunteers, New Uniform Options (PDF)
• Al-Akhbar — Ismaili Volunteers, New Structure and Titles (PDF)
• The Ismaili: A Peek at the New Ismaili Volunteers Motto, Badge, and Uniform

__________________

PLEASE VISIT BARAKAH’S HOME PAGE AND ITS 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.

Please follow Barakah’s editor Malik at Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). Malik can be reached at mmerchant@barakah.com.