Ismailis celebrate golden jubilee
Jane Seyd
North Shore News
Friday, July 13, 2007
West Vancouver’s Rahim Talib and his family were among several thousand members of the North Shore’s Ismaili Muslim community who gathered Wednesday at B.C. Place stadium to celebrate the golden jubilee of their spiritual leader, the Aga Khan, Prince Karim Aga Khan IV.
“It’s a very, very significant event,” said Talib of the July 11 date this week that marked the Aga Khan’s 50th year as head of the Ismaili faith.
“It’s an opportunity to reflect, contemplate and pray, and be with others in the community,” he said. The day was also a time to think about the contributions the Aga Khan’s development network has made around the world, said Talib, including establishing schools and hospitals in the developing world and fighting global poverty.
In recognition of that work, two years ago the Aga Khan was made an honourary Companion of the Order of Canada.
The Aga Khan is a hereditary title passed down to Prince Karim Aga Khan IV in 1957 from his grandfather. The Aga Khan is revered by Ismailis as a direct descendent of the prophet Mohammed and is interpreter of the faith for the world’s 15 million followers.
Talib said the Aga Khan has emphasized values like charity, generosity, compassion and pluralism that resonates well with Canadians.
Many Ismailis on the North Shore immigrated to Canada from East Africa in the late 1960s and 1970s, fleeing brutal political regimes such as that of dictator Idi Amin in Uganda. More recently, Ismailis have also arrived from central Asian countries like Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Pakinstan, said Talib, who was born in Canada just after his family arrived from Africa.
The Aga Khan has told his followers here to establish roots in Canada, to give back and to contribute to Canadian society, said Talib — a message many Ismailis have taken to heart.
“The message was to be good citizens of Canada,” Talib said.
Local Ismailis attend a jamatkhana (meaning “place of prayer”) in North Vancouver for daily evening prayers, social gatherings and religious education.
Each September, the North Shore Ismaili community also hosts an “Ismaili walk” to raise money for local non-profit causes and projects.
Ismailimail 