In his historic address to the Portugese Parliament yesterday, Mawlana Hazar Imam referred to fifteen centuries of Ismaili Imamat history and mentioned the existence of prior Seats of the Ismaili Imamat in various parts of the world:
The Ismaili Imamat itself, as you may know, is an international institution that goes back some 15 centuries, to the time of Prophet Muhammad (may peace be upon Him and his Family). This means that when I inherited my role just 61 years ago, I became the 49th hereditary Imam of the Ismaili Muslims. Through the centuries, the Seat of the Ismaili Imamat has been formally designated in one or more locations by the Imam-of-the-Time, depending on the requirements of the day. It has known many homes over the years – throughout the Arabian Peninsula, in the Middle East, in South Asia, and in North Africa. It moved to Cairo in the tenth century, when my ancestors founded that city. The decision to establish a new Seat here in Portugal, at the gracious invitation of your Government, is one that has been taken after much reflection and consultation. It represents a true milestone moment in the long history of the Imamat.
– Imam Shah Karim al-Husayni Aga Khan IV,
(Address to the Parliament of Portugal, July 10, 2018)
Ismaili Gnosis, drawing on historical academic research on the history of the Ismaili Imams, has compiled the following list of Ismaili Imamat Seats and Residences since the time of Imam ‘Ali b. Abi Talib.
Read at the source: The Seats of the Ismaili Imamat: From Medina to Lisbon (632-2018)
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