On Thursday, December 4, Mawlana Hazar Imam Imam granted a youth mulaqat in the Darkhana prayer hall.
He later addressed multifaith couples in the social hall. “I would like our community to treat non-Ismaili spouses the same as they treat Ismaili spouses, the same as they treat anyone as part of the family,” Hazar Imam said. “I think we have an opportunity in this country as a community—and that’s also thanks to our spouses—to really thrive. We have a responsibility to keep the country strong, to serve this country as well.”
“Our faith is rooted in a set of values and principles, which include a code of conduct and behavior that comprise kindness, generosity, tolerance, helping those in need, service, looking after each other. I think these values are universal. For Ismailis, living according to these ethical principles is an expression of our faith. So whilst our ritual practices and specific words and prayers may differ, I find that most faith communities share common values and principles and in many cases share stories and prophets, books, angels and God. These are humanistic values.”
Multifaith family member Raquel Fonseca thanked Hazar Imam on behalf of the guests: “This visit brought us closer to the Ismaili community,” she said.
“We are especially grateful for your spiritual leadership, which inspires our spouses, our children, and our families with values of service, integrity and compassion. Your Highness, thank you for your vision, your generosity, and for welcoming us with such heartfelt warmth.”
Hazar Imam then observed an art installation, titled Journey Home, that was co-created by the Portugal and Spain Jamats, out of sustainably-sourced materials. The artwork depicts hundreds of drops of water, each with a hand-written message to the Imam, flowing toward a sculpted sea.
Inspired by Portugal’s deep cultural connection to the sea, the installation celebrates water as a symbol of each murid’s spiritual journey. Each drop follows a unique voyage, yet all merge into the vast ocean—a metaphor for Allah, the source of nourishment and light.
As Hazar Imam departed the Ismaili Centre, young volunteers and Jubilee Games medal winners gathered to bid him farewell. Later in the afternoon, Hazar Imam returned to the Centre to meet with Jamati leaders at an institutional reception.
On Friday, 5 December, Ambassador Francisco Vaz Patto, Head of State Protocol; Prof. Francisco Proença Garcia, Chairman of the Portuguese Delegation to the Seat Agreement Joint Committee; and a delegation of Jamati leaders bade farewell to Mawlana Hazar Imam as his visit came to a close.
Source: The.Ismaili
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