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Mowlana Hazar Imam's 73rd Birthday - December 13, 2009
Happy Birthday Mowlana Hazar Imam!
His Highness
                                the Aga Khan Mowlana Hazar Imam
His Highness the Aga Khan Mowlana Hazar Imam - Spiritual Leader of Shia Ismaili Muslims
What The Holy Imam, His Highness the Aga Khan's Birthday Celebrations - Khushiali Mubarak! Salgirah Mubarak! (Birthday Blessings!)
Why The birthday of the Imam of the Time of the Shia Ismaili Muslims is celebrated to honor his service to God in spreading peace and understanding amongst his community and the peoples of the world. This tradition has continued for over 1400 years since the time of Hazrat Ali (a.s. on whom be peace) the first Imam appointed by Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s. - peace be upon him)
When His birthday anniversary is on December 13th every year
Where Celebrations take place in over 50 countries around the world where Ismailis live. Recently, Prime Minister Harper of Canada and his Cabinet honored His Highness the Aga Khan by issuing Governmental greetings to the Imam and applauded his humanitarian efforts in bringing hope to the underprivileged in the world and in spreading knowledge amongst people of different backgrounds and promoting pluralism
History Birthdays of the Ahl-e-Bayt (the Prophet's family) and the Imams and certain important dates of the year were celebrated. Imam took part in the celebrations of the festivals. Local festivals of secular origin, like the "Flooding of the Nile" and "Navroz" (beginning of spring) were also encouraged by the Imam. Imam al-Muiz would hold huge receptions at his palace; processions were taken through the town and the whole town was illuminated."

The above (taken from the History of the Imams page) is a description of the traditional celebration of the birthday of the Imam of the time (Hazar Imam) the progeny of Prophet Muhammad (sas). We are all very happy at the occasion of the birthday of Mowlana Karim Al-Husaini Hazar Imam (as), the 49th descendant, on December the 13th. The world is celebrating the birthday of this Noble Spirit, Ameen.

More Info Please visit his past birthday celebrations every year listed on links below

"I was pleased to read recently the University’s own description of its continuing international goals: increasing joint programmes, encouraging semesters abroad and broadening exchange programmes, building international community service and internship opportunities, and creating new academic programmes with a global perspective.

"What an impressive agenda! It represents precisely the sort of outreach from Western intellectual centres which I believe is essential for global progress. And it coincides with a period in which the developing world itself is recognizing, as never before, the centrality of education to its future - and the leading role of North American universities in that process."
- Extract from Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Graduation Ceremony of the University of Alberta upon being conferred an Honorary Degree of Laws

Mowlana Hazar Imam is going on 73 years! Alhamdulillah! He continues to make a positive impact upon communities around the world by bringing about understanding amongst peoples, social, economic and eductional change. The community is rejoicing everywhere on this auspicious occasion.

Please do take a few minutes and review the pages I have created on his past birthday anniversaries. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Links below.

"He it is Who sent His Apostle with guidance and the religion of truth, that He might cause it to prevail over all religions." [9.33]

"The essence (batin) of Ismailism remains unchanged but the external aspect (zahir) changes.  The Nizari Ismailies believe that the first man who existed on earth was an Imam and the last will also be an Imam...These two are in essence the same, the archetype of the Spirit that pervades the whole of Creation.  As Imam Ali is reported to have stated in the Sermon of the Great Declaration (khutbat al-bayan): "I am the First and the Last."  All Imams are thus understood in Ismaili doctrine to be one of the same essence transmitting the Sophia Perennis (Eternal Wisdom) to the seekers of enlightenment from generation to generation until the end of time."

 - Diana Steigerwald, (The Multiple Facets of Ismailism, Sacred Web, Volume 9, pp. 87, July 2002)


Quran Sura 4:174, 175
Yaa- 'ayyu-hannasu qad O mankind! Verily
Jaa- 'akum  There hath come to you
Bur-hanum A convincing proof
Mir Rabbikum From your Lord:
Wa 'anzalnaa 'ilaykum For We have sent unto you
Nuram mubiinaa A light (that is) manifest.
Fa- 'ammal'lazina 'aamanu Then those who believe
Bil-laahi wa' -tasamu In God, and hold fast
Bihi fasa-yud-khiluhum fi To Him, - soon will he
Rahmatim-minhu Admit them to Mercy
Wa Fazlin And Grace from Himself,
Wa yah-dihim 'ilayhi And guide them to Himself
Siraatam Mustaqima. By a straight path.

"In Islam, the Holy Koran says that man is God’s noblest creation to whom He has entrusted the stewardship of all that is on earth. Each generation must leave for its successors an enhanced and sustainable social and physical environment. I am sure every responsible citizen in every part of the world would share this aspiration." - from Speech by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Ninth Award Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture at the AKDN site

How can we as his Murids, do more for our world and for our spiritual uplift?

"With respect to relations between the Western and Islamic worlds, are we not seeing a conflict of stereotypes and prejudices, exacerbated by a good measure of ignorance about Islam? There are, of course, some differences, but if superficiality and trivialisation can be set aside, and be replaced by the will to go deeper to seek a solid foundation for mutual understanding and respect, it can be found in the common heritage of the Abrahamic faiths and the ethical principles that they share."-- His Highness the Aga Khan, speaking at the presentation ceremony for The Aga Khan Award for Architecture on 6 November 2001.

Islam has the answer to the world's problems by following the true teachings of Islam, i.e. equality of all humans (isn't this why the Christian and Jewish faiths flourished when Islam was ruling the world?), by bringing the quest for material goods in real perspective i.e. not giving up our spiritual practices in the pursuit of material happiness. All of us should be the ambassadors of Islam and show the world that the "terrorist" label is not one that belongs to Islam. Let us do our part in educating everyone about what it means to be a Muslim, this year and every year. Inshallah!


Birthday Greetings to His Highness The Aga Khan from Prime Minister of Canada The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper Download pdf file
Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper pays respects to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan
Video - Canadian Minister Kenney extends birthday wishes to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan
Imam's Birthday celebrated all over the world
Golden Jubilee Tribute View some of Mowlana Hazar Imam's achievements, amazing!
Index of Speeches made by Mowlana Hazar Imam at the Ismaili Web Amaana.org site
Index of Speeches made by Mowlana Hazar Imam at AKDN site

Related Pages


73rd Birthday Page - 2009
72nd Birthday Page - 2008
71st Birthday Page - 2007
70th Birthday Page - 2006
69th Birthday Page - 2005
68th Birthday Page - 2004
67th Birthday Page - 2003
66th Birthday Page - 2002
65th Birthday Page - 2001
64th Birthday Page - 2000
63rd Birthday Page - 1999
62nd Birthday Page - 1998
61st Birthday Page - 1997


52nd Imamat Day Page - 2009
51st Imamat Day Page - 2008
50th Imamat Day Page - 2007
49th Imamat Day Page - 2006
48th Imamat Day Page - 2005
47th Imamat Day Page - 2004
46th Imamat Day Page - 2003
45th Imamat Day Page - 2002
44th Imamat Day Page - 2001
43rd Imamat Day Page - 2000
42nd Imamat Day Page - 1999
41st Imamat Day Page - 1998
40th Imamat Day Page - 1997
Verses in the Quran proclaiming the Imams - Ahl-e Bayt (Family of the Prophet)
Pan Tan Paak Ahl-e Bayt Page


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