….Since it was a Friday, I had arranged plans to attend religious services at Madrid’s Jamatkhana (Ismaili place of Worship). A total of twelve people (including me) were in attendance for Friday ceremonies. Our prayers were recited in Arabic (as always) but most of the other rites and rituals were done in SPANISH! Total cool! I was so stunned because I had grown up participating in these activities in my parents’ native tongues: Urdu, Hindi and Gujrati.
Afterwards, the family offered me sweets and began telling me about their small community of forty Ismailis. I asked them questions about why they had settled in Spain (instead of the US, Canada or England where there are large immigrant Ismaili diasporas). One answer led to another question which led to a story, and then another and another and another. By the time I looked at my phone, it was close to midnight! I had had a great time with the family and definitely learned a lot about my religious history that night.
Ismailimail 
Yâ Alyý Madad !
Hermana Salima, estoy muy feliz por saber de vuestra (nuestra !!!)presencia en Madrid…alhamdulillah !!!!!
Vivo en Brasil, pero soy de nacionalidad argentina, viviendo en Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
‘Abd an-Nur al-Gharib
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hola ya ali madad.
como esta usted
estoy muy feliz por saber que usted vive en Brasil.
I want to know what do you do in Brasil.
do you have business or job?
I want to travel to Brasil soon and if i can have contact no so I may visit.
Is there Jamat there or Jamat khana in Rio de Janeiro.
Please do reply
Ya ali madad.
ali.
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Dear Salima your Attendence at Madrid Jamat khana
Alhamdulilah we have jamat khana & Jmat there. but I was surprised to know the Number of the jamat
my thought was on thousands.according your information only over a dozen Jamat.
Thanks for your nice information about Madrid.
H,shah
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Ya Ali Madad Everyone!
Thank you for reading this post! It was a great experience visiting the Madrid Jamat and learning all about their history. If you want the Jamat’s contact information, please feel free to email me, and I will respond back with all the information!
Gracias por leer esta pagina! Yo tenia un tiempo fenomenal en Madrid. Las personas estaban muy amables, con cuentas mas interestantes. Si quieres informacion de la Jamatkhana, por favor escribeme un correo electronico y respondere con la informacion.
Que tenga un ano nuevo fenomenal!
Salima Lalani
slalani06@gmail.com
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YAM Salima,
My family and I will be in Madrid next month and would love to visit the jamaat khana. I’d love to hear more information on how you found it! Did most of the attendees also speak english/hindi/urdu, etc?
Thanks!
Aisha
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