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Ismaili Web Guestbook - June 2000

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This Persian calligraphy invokes prayers that are dedicated to our Prophet Muhammed and Hazrat Ali. I think it reads: "O Allah Give your blessings to our Prophet Muhammed and his great disciple Ali. (The Salwaat) Purify our hearts and souls, bless us all, and group us with your virtuous children"


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Dear Nina:(My humble apology for spelling errors.I had to extract the gist of the subject from hundreds of researched handwritten manuscripts and papers and to type, has undoubtedly a telling effect)
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Friday, June 30, 2000 at 15:24:33 (CDT)
Part Dear Nina: ARABS:THE MOST DIVERSE AND INFLUENCIAL MUSLIMS:ARABS number more than 120 million and forming the major populationsm of 15 nations,and they play dominant role in Southwest Asia and North Africa, and their actions affectthe lives of millions beyond their homeland. Their involvement with ther nations of Muslim world, whether through oil or politics, is profound.Their influence within the Muslim world is deep and broad.Arabic is the sixth most widely spoken language in the world as mother-tongue, but it is used by nearly three-quarters of a billion people as a language of religion.No ethnic group of this size can be homogeneous. There are no universal racial characteristics:Arabs are tall and short, black-haired and blond, with skin colors ranging from fair to dark; but predominent racial characteristics is "Mediterranean"- swarthy, black-haired, and medium height.Nearly 2 million, of whom one-third are Muslims, live in the United States.It is not enough to say that 95 percent of the Arabs are Muslim(the rest are largely Chriastian or Druze). Muslim Arabs adhere to number of sects-Shia(Ishna Ashri and Ismaili), Alawi, Zaidi, and Sunni.They all speak Arabic and identify with heritage of Arabs and those cultural values and aspirations unique to Arabs, wheather they be Moroccan or Syrian,Christian or Muslim, farmer of businessmen. Arab culture draws upon a heritage several thousand years old that includes periods of glory but more of travail. Arab camel-riding tribesmen fought in the armies of ancient Romans and Persians. Arab caravans and ships carried merchandise to trading centres of South and Southeast Asia before the birth of Christ. Some Arab tribal kingdoms in southwestern Arabia were powerful and prosperous.It was among Arabs, early in the seventh century and then largely confined to Arabian peninsula, that Muhammad first, preached his gospal of Islam. Withy remarkable rapidity Muhammad's successorsn spread the word of Allah into SSouthwest Asia, westward across North Africa and into Spain, eastward to Persia, Afghanistan, and Central Asia and southward to the east coast of Africa.Whereever these new and fervent Muslims went, they implanted elements of Arab culture alongside the religion.Muslim Arab leaders created great empires that lasted several hundred years. Following the original Casliphate of Muhammad, the Ummayad dynasty in Damascus(661-750) established a governing system whereby religious and ethnic minorities were given a large measure of self-rule, provided that they paid the taxes levied against them and remained peaceful.The succeeding ABBASID dynasty ruled the Muslim world from Capital at Baghdad for nearly 500 years, the first 200 of which(750-950) were called the GOLDEN AGE OF ARAB CIVILIZATION.Arab rulers encoiuraged scholarship mby bringing to Baghdad and other centres of learning intellectual Jews, Chritians. Greeks, Persians, Indians- each contributing from their own cultures to the development of Arab culture. PLATO AND ARISTOTLE were first translated from Greek to Arabic and later into European languages.Indian scientists brought the concept of ZERO to Baghdad, the Arab combined it wityh Arabis numerals and transmitted to EUROPE the mathematical system of ALGEBRA,GEOMETRY, and TRIGOMETRY. While THE DARK AGES BLANKETED EUROPE, ABBASID SCIENTISTS WERE EXPLORING the fields of OPTICS(disproving EUclid's theory that the eye emnates rays), CHEMISTRY(introducing such words an ALKALI,ALCOHOL, AND ANIMONY to the world's vocabulary), and MEDICINE(compiling the first MEDICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA; IBN SINA'S was major medical work in Europe until seventeenth century)Histrogrphy became a siscipline under the Abbasids, and what happened in most of the world then was told to later civilizations by Arab historians. Arab ARCHITECTURE, best examplified in MOSQUES, TOMBS, AND PALACES, create styles popular to this day.BY THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY Arab might and slondor were fading. With the discovery of sea routes around Africa and latyer European colonization of North and South America, trade roiutes from Europe shifted from the Mediterranean Sea. Trade route through Arab world did not return until opening of the SUEZ CANAL in 1869. Meanwhile outlying provinces broke away from the empire with separate kingdoms appearing in North Africa.From North came invasions of Turks and Mongols, destroying irrigation system, cities, whole economics from which the Arabs never recovered. By sisteeth century first SELJUK the OTTOMAN TURKISH RULERS had conquered the Arab homeland and ruled until Wordl War I when the Turkish empire itself was broken into European mandates.Throughout this period Aran economic, political and intellectual initiative lay dormasnt under the domination of foreign imperialism. The awakening (NADHA) appeared in 1920, manifested by the writing of intllectual and political activism, but not until after World War II did the Arabs once again ruled most of their own lands. By then, however, imported system of political nationalism had divided the Arabs into separate states, undermining the political unity of the ethnic group.While Arab political unity is still adream, language remains a common denominator. Arabic, written from righyt to left in a flowing shorthand script is, like Hebrew,a Semitic language of the Afro-Asiatic linguistic family.Evidence of its first use appears in accounts of war as long as 853 B.C. As the language of Quran, it brings prestige to the Muslim who can speak and read it.Arabic has developed in two forms:Classical Arabic, the religious and literary language, spoken and written uniformly throughout the Arab world and serving as a bond among all literate Muslims; and colloquial Arabic, the informal spoken language which varies by dialect. An educated Arab thus uses two languages.Arab culture developed on the desert side of the island among the peoples of Arabian peninsula who lived either as tribal nomads,BBEDOUIN, as as town dwellers engaged in commerce, but two were nevertheless greatly influenced by BEDOUIN ways and values. While Muhammad himself was atownb trader, his tribe QURASH, included many Bedouin and Muhammad and his followers were deeply imbued with pre-Islamic TRIBAL TRADITIONS. These traditions, born in harsh environment of the desert, included strict codes of proper economic and social behaviour which became legitimized by Islam and accompanied the ASrabs as they emerged from the desert and its oasis towns.Bedouin are tribally organized, with each family belonging to a lineal segment or clan and it to a tribe, which assures a measure of social and economic control of each segment.The family, which moves with others-mostly near relatives- as a semi-autonomouds unit, it ispatrilocal,petrarchal, and patrilineal. Then individual is subordinated to group and, in return, received protection nand security so long as tribal mechanism functions. Marriage is endogamous except marital tie outside is importamnt for political or economic reasons.The preferred marriage for males is to father's brother's daughter.With few occupational variations, social distinctions are based on family membership, not job status.Unlike villagers,Bedouin live an erratic life-on the move, where and when to move next, and concerned wity daily care of animals and family needs.They are group-oriented society.To these values ideal values may be added an attitude towards religion which is both Islamic fundamentalistic and supetstitious.The "SHARIA" in interpreted literally, gives divine support to Beduoin values.This conservatism in religious practices is best examplified on Arab Peninsula by Wahabism, illuastrated by the ban in Saudi Arabia,Kuwait, and Emirates on alcohol,dancing, and women drivers.The opposite extreme of Arab culture developed along Mediterranean shores of Arab "island," where Arabs met and mingled with different cultures of Europe. Compromise with DIVERSITY replaced RIGIDITY; religious fundamentalism gave way to accommodation to new ideas. The cities of Beirut,Cairo, Alexandria, Tunis,A;lgirs, and Casablance, diversified economies offered new professions for the traditional Aranbs. Universities iopened minds to CHANGE. Political NATIONALISM replaced tribal allegiance and came into conflict with European imperialism.Children are a villager's greatest asset.They are his work force and social security.Islamic rules of inheritance, which give more to boys than togirls, particularly in nterms of real estate,and traditional patrilineal ties lend importance to having boysn in the family/A girl'ds asset is in her function of tying one family with the another through marriage and ,ofcourse,he primary role as mother.The birth of children particularly a boy, is cause of celebration.It is often surrounded by non-Islamic ritual as in some Lebanese and Egyptian villages, where the placenta is buried(either under the front doorstep ofminside mud-floored home) so enemy spirits cannot enact magic against the child or the mother,. For some reason, boys are often dressed as girls to decieve EVIL SPIRITS; the first posssession of a child is an AMULET or blue bead to ward off malevolence. The first word a babu hears is the name of Allah whispered into its year.Nmaing of the child will reflect three dismentions of the village life:kin,home, and religion.Thus a boy will have a name such as Muhammad ibn Ibrahim al Hamza:Muhammad(rel(Part gius name), son than 120 million and forming the major populations of 15 nations.They play a dominent role in Southwest Asia and North Africa, and their actions affect the lives of millions beyond their homelands. Their involement with the Muslim world, whether oil or politics, is profound.Their influence within Muslim world is deep and broad. Arabic is sixth most widely spoken language in the world as mother tongue, but it is nearely used by three-quarters of a billion people as a language of religion.No ethnic group this size can be homogeneous.Arabs are tall and short and black-haired and blond, with skin colors ranging from fair to dark; but the predominant racial characteristic is "Mediterranean"-swarthy,black-haired, and medium height. It is not enough to say that 95 percent of Arabs are Muslims(the rest are largely Christian or Druze), Muslim Arabs adhere to number of sects-Shia(Ishna Ashari and Ismaili),Alawi,Zaidi, and Sunni, the last being overwhelmingly the largest.Arabs speak Arabic and their cultural values and aspirations unique to Arabs whether they be Moroccan or Syrian,Christian, or Muslim, farner or businessmen.Arab culture draws upon heritage of several hundred years old that includes periods of glory but more of travail. Arab camel-riding tribesmen fought in the armies of ancient Roamns and Persians.Arab caravans and ships carried merchandise to trading centres of South and Southeast Asia before birth of Christ. Some Arab tribal kingdoms in southwestern Arabia were powerful and prosperous.It was among Arabs, early in the seventh century and then largely confined to Arabian Penunsula, that MUHAMMAD preached his first gospal of Islam.With remarkable rapidity Muhammad's successors spread the world of Allah in Southwest Asia, westwards across North Africa and into Spain, eastwards to Persia,Afghanistan, and Central Asia and southward to east coast of Africa. Wherever these new and fervent Muslims went, they implanted elements of Arab culture along side the religion.Muslim Arab leaders created great empires and lasted several hundred years. Following the original Caliphate of Muhammad, the Ummmayad dynasty in Damascus(612-750) established a governing system whereby religious and ethnic minorities were given a large measure of self-rule, provided that they paid the taxes levied against them, and remained peaceful.The succeeding Abbasaid dynasty ruled the Muslim world from capital Baghdad for nearly 500 years, the first two hundred of which(750-950) called the GOLDEN AGE OF ARAB CIVILIZATION. Arab rulers encouraged scholarship by bringing to Baghdad and other centres of learning intellectual Jews,Christians,Greeks,Persians,Indians-each contributing from their own cultures to the development of Arab culture.PLATO AND ARISTOTLE were first translated from Greek to Arabic and later into European languages. Indian scientists brought the concept of ZERO to Baghdad. The Arab combined it with Arabic numerals and transmitted to Europe the mathematical systems of algebra,geometry and trigonometry. While the DARK AGES blanketed Europe, Abbasi scientists were exploring the fields of OPTICS,(disproving EUCLID'S theory that the eye emnates rays),chemistry(introducing such words ALKALI,ALCOHOL, AND ANTIMONY to the world's volcabulary), and MEDICINES(compling the first medical encyclopedia;IBN SINA'S WAS THE MAJOR medical work in Europe until SEVENTEENTH CENTURY).Histrograpohy became a discipline under the Abbasids, and what happened in most of the world was told to later civilizations by Arab historians.Arab ARCHITECTURE,best examplified in mosques,tombs, and palaces, create styles popular to this day.By the thirteenth century Arab might and splendor were fading.With he discovery of sea route around Africa and later European colonization of North and South America, trade routes from Europe shifted from the Mediterranean Sea.Trade through Arab world did not return until the opening of SUEZ CANAL in 1869.Arab empire in Spain dwindled to shakey foorhold in the south,then disappeared from the Penunsula completely. Elsewhere Arab power was too weak to resist the incursion of outsiders. From the north came the invasion of Turks and Mongols, destroying irrigation systems, cities, whole economics from which Arabs never recovered. By sixteenth century first SELJUK, the OTTOMAN TURKISH rulers had conquered the Arab homelands and ruled until WORLD WAR I.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Friday, June 30, 2000 at 10:14:59 (CDT)
Dear Nina:THE TENDENCY TO POINT FINGERS AT ISMAILIS: The last segment is on "ARABS"Thereafter there will be one writeup:WHAT IS SHIISM-the faith Ismailis belong to and WHAT IS ISMAILI CULTURE?Todate all these artciles on ETHNICITY IN ISLAM are to prove that in ISLAM, there are 300 groups exceeding 100,000 in each group world wide. They are Muslims but follow their original,ethnic traitions as we Ismailis do.All ethnic groups differ in their cultures and if stict Islamic standard were applied to these world-wide spread groups, it would pose a question: WHO IS A TRUE MUSLIM? Example:ALAWI(ALAWITES) who live in Lebanon,Syria and Southern Turkey.They believe not only in divinity of ALI,but in trinity which includes Prophet Muhammad and a Persian named SULMAN.Their tenets are mostly secret, includes seven incranations. Another departture from usual Islamic practice is the partaking of WINE during religious cerimonies.Some Alawi have become powerful in BAATH party of Suyria(including the late President).Many examples abound.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Thursday, June 29, 2000 at 16:22:40 (CDT)
Dear Nina:SOMALIS-(the Muslim ethnicity-brief notes):The Somali are one of the major peoples of northeast Africa. Of estimated more than 6 million Somalis, about half compose 95 percent of the population belonged to Somali Democratic Republic.Most of the remainder live beyond Somali boundries in northern Kenya, Djibouti and the Ogaden Province of Ethiopia which is named after Somali Ogaden clan for political reasons. In addition, there are immigrant Somali communities in most of major cities of East Africa and Arabian peninsula, notably in Yemen People's Republic. Racially, the Somalis are, lilke most of the people in the area:intermidiate Negroid and Caucasian.Their language belongs to the East Cushitic family, being most closely related to those of the neighboring Afar and Oromo(Galla) peoples. While their language has not been written until recently, the Somalis have distinguished oral poetic tradition. The Somali were among the earliest peoples to be converted to Islam. Since they accepted it in the ninth and tenth centuries, Islam has been an integral part of their culture- to be Somali is to be Muslim. Most are Sunni and folow the SHAFI school of law, although there are a few Ahamadiya.They originated as separate people, in Horn of Africa- near the Gulf of Aden coast. Here the conversion to Islam first took place.The major external cultural influence on the Somali has been that of Arabs, largely funnelled through string of cities ,which were founded by Arab traders along East African coast during the Middle Ages.During the Colonial period, Somali teritory was divided among four foreign powers, three Eiuropean and one African. Itly colonized the Riverine area, and the Center. Most of the north became British Protectorate, and France occupied a samll enclave around the port of Djibuti.It boardered that of Afar.The Soimali of extreme south came under the British Kenya Administration, while Ogaden region was taken over by Ethiopia.In 1961 the former British and Italian territories gained their independence and amalgamated to form the Somali Republic; but the colonial heritage left its mark on the national culture.The remianing Somalis are citizens of the other three states.Somalis practice polygny.The camels are objects of prestige as well as pack animals, since they can go for long period of time without water.Somalis are grouped into clans such as Ogaden or the Issa.Among the northern nomadic Somalis, Issa are warlike and constantly fighting between the groups. Burton called them "a fierce and turbulent race of republicans".Somali women are never veiled or segregated from the world.Sexual morality is nevertheless strict, and a girl's virginity is traditionally safeguarded by INFIBULATION(the sugical joining of the lips of the private part), carried out with excision of the clitoris.Marriages, atleast first marriages are traditionally arranged bewteen the father of the couple and sealed by series of payments from groom to bride's family and marriage by ELOPEMENT is, however, something of a national institution. Islam is fundamental to Somali culture. Among the pastoralists, "Shaikhs" have traditionally stood apart from politics and warfare, often acting as peacemakers.Ancesters of the clan and linages are venerated as saints, and the founding ancesters of the people are believed to have been of Muhammad's lineage. Sufi order principally the QADIRIYA AND SALIHIYA.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary,, AB. Canada. - Thursday, June 29, 2000 at 07:26:27 (CDT)
Loved you site ;-) By the way if you are looking information about fashion photography you can go and visit this site by clicking here ! Erickps: you should redeclare you URL to search engines as they seem to consider your site as non updated.
seban-meyer Erick <info@photographedemode.com>
Monte-Carlo, mc France - Wednesday, June 28, 2000 at 16:00:48 (CDT)
.Dear Nina:BERBER MUSLIMS-PART II(Conclusion)-(LaIla_To love is to forgive trespasses)-Although Berbers are Sunni Muslims, mostly following the MALIKI school,they have maintained an unusually strong presence of pre-Islamic SAINT WORSHIP in their region.Cenrtain religious leaders, 'MARABOUTS" are assigned charismatic and healing qualities and supernatural powers(BARAKA) to the point that they are considered living saints.Each Berber community or group of communities has its SHRINE(KUBBA) of a local SAINT, a small whitewashed domed building visited regularly by those in search of DIVINE BLESSINGS or CURE.The saint cult is associated with SUFI BROTHERHOOD(tariqa), each established under the protection of a particular MARABOUT.In Rif region there are 30 Berber tribes. Dress and language differences distinguish Rif Berbers of Morocco.Further east is transitional zone of Steppes. Here live black Berber-speaking group called "haratin". Of all Berber sub-groupps, the TUAREG is the one only still largely transitional in habitat, unique customs and social organization, resistant to supertribal pressure, and marginal in its opposition in national society in those countries where its people live.They are poor but proud people.They have retained their distinctiveness often ROMANTICIZED in film and novel. Sometimes they are called people of THE VEIL, the men wear an indigo headdress which covers their faces from PUBERTY TO DEATH, while the leaders wear splendid blue robes indicating their noble status.There are seven Tuareg groupos found in southern Algeria, Niger,Mali and southwestern Libya.They were traditinally GUADIANS OF SAHARA", furnishing guides and prpotections to CARAVANS transiting the desert between western and norther Africa. With FRENCH pacification of the area ending in 1902, the TUAREGS no longer functioned as desert policemen.As with Berbers, the name TUAREG, meaning "the forsaken ones.They have extensive SAINT WORSHIP.Taureg language is both oral (Tamarshak)and written(Tifinagh),pictographic in nature but using lines,circles, and dots rather than pictures as with Egyptian hierographic.TUAREG WOMEN exert parallel authority and play roles not shared by many other Muslim women, particularly in rural areas. They are the guardians of the language. Tuareg child inherits its mother's social status, and women carry their status with them when they marry including property owned by them before mariage.Another departure from Muslim practice of other Berbers that Tuareg first cousins never marry.MALE-FEMALE RELATIONSHIP among them are described in the proverb"MEN AND WOMEN TOWARDS EACH OTHER ARE FOR THE EYES AND FOR THE HEART, NOT ONLY FOR THE BED".Women are central figures in the 'AHAL", a cerimony reminiscent of medieval court, at which they recite LOVE POEMS accompanied by chnating choir, finger drums or one=-stringed gourd violen called IMZAD and accept or reject the attention of male suitors.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Wednesday, June 28, 2000 at 07:31:19 (CDT)
Ya Ali Madad/Salaam: I wish to ask a question to the person (I hate Ismailies). Would you please give me a name of any other Spiritual Leader in the world who has contributed financially, including his whole life towards the Muslim communities, including Ismailies and Mankind of this world, especially the third world countries? Our Beloved Hazar Imam Noor Mowlana Shah Karim Al-Husayni has done that. He will forgive you for what you have said against him, because he is very merciful, and that is the teachings of our religion Islam, "Peace", and that is his guidance to us. Islam does not teach us hatred, terrorism, but it teaches us "Peace". May Allah bless all the souls on this earth. Khudahafiz.
Yasmin Mawani <yallah@better.net>
Toronto, Ont Canada - Tuesday, June 27, 2000 at 11:16:40 (CDT)
To the guy who used the name: 'I hate ISMAILIES' below. Just to let you know that the true Muslim believer doesn't send people to hell because only Allah can. It is completely clear from your comments that you are an ignorant of the Quran and Islam. I'd like to advice you to follow the Quran exactly like what the Ismailis do. If you read the Arabic text of the holy Quran you'll find that the Ismailis are on Sirat-al-Mustaqim and the Imam takes the right to guide the believers as a successor of the Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) from the Quran and Hadith. Ismailis respect all people because Islam is the faith of pease, compassion and tolerance. Go and read the Quran and follow it instead of accusing people what Allah will not forgive you.
Advisor <a123312@hotmail.com>
UK - Tuesday, June 27, 2000 at 07:48:40 (CDT)
Dear Nina:THE BERBERS-THE MUSLIMS:(Brief Notes):Part I-The name probably comes from Barbari, the word meaning :"barbarians" applied to them by Romans and which owe the English designation for that area, the Barbary Coast. Some linguistics classify their language as Hamitic. Berbers have no names for themselves as a people..The individual Berber identifies himself as a householder or family member, a clan member(e.g., Ait Iggadaren of the Ait Ndir), and a tribe member(Beni Mtir,Ait Waryaghar,etc) by the linked series of his own name, his father's name, and the name of recent ancestor. Only in relation to outsiders does he belong to a regional group, such as Kabyle,Taureg or Mzabirte. Despite Arab invesions and domiance,Berbers nevertheless have their times of greatness. The Arab General, Tarik ibn Zaid, enlisted Berber troops to invade Spain in A.D. 711 where his sight of disembarcation today is called Gibralter, from Jabel-tarik, or Mountain of Tarik. Berbers subsequently establsihed two large and powerful empires, dynasties of Islamic puritanism. The ALMORAVIDS(frontier warriors for the faith) in the elventh century founded a dynasty in MOROCCO which extended Islam into the Southern oases and sub-Sahara Africa abd controlled most of SPAIN.THIS GROUP WAS FOLLOWED BY THE "almohads"(UNITARIANS), BUILDERS OF THE GREAT MOSQUE IN Seville AND SO PURITANICAL AND INTOLERANT THEY IGNITED CHRISTIAN OPPOSITION WHICH FINALLY DROVE THE MUSLIMS OUT OF SPAIN. MOROCCO has the largest concentration of Berbers, about 34 percent of the population. In ALGERIA the proportion of Berbers is 21.7 percent. Elsewhere the pecentages are: NIGER,10 percent, MALI 6 percent;LIBYA 5 percent; TUNISIA 2.0 percent.Algeria has four groupos:Kabyles, the Shawia, the Mzab communities of Central Sahara, and the TAUREG.Rather than being absorbed by Islam,Berbers were surrounded by it, grasping intensively to some aspects, and rejecting others.Their adaptation to Islam established the pattern of Muslim tradition in North Africa.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Tuesday, June 27, 2000 at 07:48:09 (CDT)
Dear Nina:THE TARTARS-MUSLIMS:(Brief Notes):(Recently the Preident of Russia,Mr. Putin visited Autonomous Tratar Republic and joined in cultural festivities of the people. Also in one cerimony,Mr. Putin had to dip his face into a bawl of cream to retrieve a coin, according to local custom. He succeeded). The terms "Tartar" (meaning "archer") and its European pejorative,"Tartar," conjure images of marauding Mongol hordes with all manner of barbaric customs wreaking violent disruption in civilized European communities. Tartar especially synonymous with terror, the term ostensibly deriving from the legendry people of TARTARUS who rose up from depth of earth.One of the most confusing ethynonyms, Tartar is a name the Russians gave to variety of both Turkic- and non-Turkic-speaking people along before the coming of Islam. After Islam arrived, Russians tended to call all Muslims, Tartar.The name today appies to several related, but spatially disparate, peoples.Modern Tartars cannot be regarded as direct descendents of the Tartar-Mongols of Manchuria who overran much of EURASIA in the thirteenth century. Instead, they are distant scions of the Turkic-speaking Volga-Kama Bulgars, to whom they owe their Islamic heritage.During World War II the Soviet Union forcibly removed Crimean Tartars from their homeland. They were resettled in several locations in Siberia and Central Asia, mostly UZBEKISTAN. Within (then) Soviet Union Tartars are the fifth largest ethnic group in the country-60 percent are found is Volga-Kama basin, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan.Tartars are also located with Tartar Autonomous Republic. Tartars are dispersed widely in over 30 differnt provinces of the then U.S.S.R.Non-Soviet enclaves of Tartars are situated in Communist China, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey.Linguistically, the Tartars belong to northwest Turkic Kipchak branch of Asiatic family of languages. In Tartaria and capital city of Kazan, Tartars head up 30 percent small enterprises, and 20 percent in top management. Among places of their work are:shipyard,railroad yards, auto repair shops, clothing, shoe ,and felt boot industries; machine building(typewriters,calculators,agaricultural implements and aircraft).Tartars comprise 30 percent of the faculty of University of Kazan, one of the most respected institute of higher learning.Soviet studies indicate the state of Islam very much alive.30 percent questioned were true believers, whereas one-fifth were undecided. Moreover 51 percent favoured circumcision and 40 percent said they celebrated Muslims holidays, Kurban Bayram and Seker Bayram.Social structure remains strongly patriachal, with father serving a legal head of the household.His word is final in all matters.Legal inheritage is transmitted according to traditonal system.Formal religious wedding, while declining, are still observed.The rituals of marriage, prior to revolution, were a complicated process steeped in deep formality and ritual lasting as long as a year of more.Polygyny is categorically proscrivbed in the U.S.S.R. Although instances of it are alleged to occur in Central Asia.Compared to other Muslim groups, Tartars, particularly those living in cities , reflect high frequency of intermarriages with Russian and Volga Finnns.Aside from Kurban Bayram and Ramadhan most Tartars observe the Rites of Spring(Sabantuy), ancient post-plating festival.Contemporary festivities during sabantuy include instrumemntal music, singing, dancing, wrestling and mixed competitions, comprising horse racing and track and field events. The spring rites have their origin in shamanism, many of the sects of which are said to exist in rural areas even now(for example:ANCESTER CULTS, TREE CULTS,ANIMAL CULTS).THEY SEND 11 DEPUTIES TO THE SOVIET OF NATIONALITIES.MAJORITY of Tartar are Sunni Muslims of the Hanafi School. A strong and growing minority is composed of nonbelievers or convert to other religion.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Monday, June 26, 2000 at 07:33:37 (CDT)
Thanks for the good work.I am impressed by your dedication.
Jamil T.Sheikh <jamil@jsarchitects.net>
New York, NY USA - Sunday, June 25, 2000 at 23:38:59 (CDT)
Dear Asif, these followers of extremist Islam do not have "charity & good deeds" in their creed either. They can cite almost hundred ways on "how to answer call of nature". The best Jehad is practised by Ismailis who contribute their zakat, khums, nazrana to the Imam which is then spent for the good of humanity. Their Jehad has to do with waging war & bloodshed. They will claim that Sharia'h means flexibility & fluidness but cannot show any flexibility in their 7th century shariah. I agree with you 100% that they are worshippers of Satan. So, sadru, aamir, akber, & company - NAUJABILLAH & TOBA ASTAKFAARALLAH!
Hafeez Ali <lgical@yahoo.com>
- Sunday, June 25, 2000 at 13:01:10 (CDT)
To Sadru who's using a nick "i hate ismailis" -- Did I not kick your behind in the debate when you couldn't even give one example to prove that your "Heretic Wahabi creed" is based on Allah's Compassion & Mercy. If you cannot prove that 'your creed' is based on peace, tolerance & compassion then it is "of and from the gutters" and, you all worship Iblis/Satan and not Allah! (Tauba Astakfaar). Care to write to me so I can bash some more sense into you empty head!
Asif Khan <faceupdown@yahoo.com>
USA - Sunday, June 25, 2000 at 11:28:46 (CDT)
LISTEN ALL U ISMAILIES/DISBELIEVERS. MAY ALLAH GUIDE YOU AND HEY!!! WHEN WE SEE U ALL IN HELL FOR FOLLOWING SOMEONE WHO IS DOING ALL HIS TO GET MONEY INTO HIS ACCOUNT THROUGH, MEHMAANEEE, DONATIONS FOR MAJALIS, ETC. AND GETTING SO AMAZINGLY RICH BUT I GUESS ALL U PEOPLE ARE BLIND TO ALL THAT............WHATEVR HAPPENED TO THE POPHET MUHAMMAD'S SAYINGS???????????? AND HEY ONE OF U HAS A PROBLEM SAYING KHUDAHAFIZ............READ THE EMAILS BELOW...............I MEAN IS ALLAH SMALLER THAN ALI IN ANYWAY!!!!! WHATEVER................ DON' TELL ME I DIDNT WARN U. REGARDS PS THERE WERE ONLY 30 PARAY IN QURAN AND IT IS ALLAH'S PROMISE TO THE UNIVERSE THAT IT WOULD REMAIN IN ONE PIECE TILL QAYAMAT..........SO WHAT IS THIS BAKWAAS ABOUT 40 PAARAY THAT YOU GUYS BELIEVE IN.........I MEAN YOUR HAZIR IMAM OR THOSE BEFORE HIM, WHO GAVE THEM THE RIGHT TO CHANGE ALLAH'S SAYINGS????NAOOZOBILLAH
I hate ISMAILIES <ihateismailies@hahaha.com>
Karachi, Pakistan - Sunday, June 25, 2000 at 11:13:52 (CDT)
Dear Mina:ASIANS OF EAST AFRICA(Part II-conclusion)- The "MUKHI"(Chief) and KAMADIA(deputy chief) and their counterparts for women are in charge of an Ismaili congragation. They are appointed directly be Aga Khan,the Imam, for the term of thee years.Their services to the community are voluntary. Most of the Ismailis accept ther appointments of Mukhi and Kamadia with great honour. Unlike the leader of the Ithna Ashari congragation, the leaders of the Khoja community do not have to be trained or qualified in religious education, say like Mulla.Ismaili celebrate Ids and birthday of Aga Khan, the day of accesion to the throne, the Nauroz(the Persian New year) and Chandrat(the eve of new month). On these occasion Ismailis offer special prayers to Allah and Imam for foregiveness of their trasgrations. Many make payments of "dasond" or Zakat. There is NO SECT or COMMUNITY in ISLAM WHOSE MEMBERS MAKE GREAT FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONM TO THEIR RELIGIOUS AND SECULAR INSTITUTIONS AS DO ISMAILIS.The dasond and other contributions are absolutely VOLUNTARY.The community organozation under the guidance of the IMAM have provided the Ismailis some of the best material services in East Africa, for use of very citizen, such as schools, housing, and hospitals.Khoja have missionaries but theuy don't do converstion work. They are students of Ismailism AND Islam in general and are the ones most knowledgeable about Ismailism and Islam. They travel to differant countries and impart knowledge of Ismailism to differant conghragations to strengthen members' faith. There are religious schools run to teach students about their faith and Islam.The third and smallest Shia Muslim Asian Communituy of East Africa is the BOHRA(MUSTALI ISMAILIS). Most of the Est African BOHRAS are DAUDI BOHRAS, as opposed to SULAIMANI Bohras who live in India and Yemen.Bohras mean traders. They are largely Gujarati-speaking community and there is emphasis to learning Arabic.LIKE THE kHOJAS, THEIR PRAYER HOUSE TOO IS CALLED jamat khana OR LATELY masjid. THEY RECITE PRAYERS THREE TIMES A DAY.The head of Bohras' prayer house is "MULLA" and trained in Bohra sect and appointed by "CHIEF MULLA" who resides in India. Bohras MAKE SUBSTENTIAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE MULLAH THROUGH ZAKAT PAYMENT AND OTHETR DONATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH RELIGIOUS RITES.THEY BELIEVE IN hidden Imam.THEIR CHIEF GUIDE IS Dai IN iNDIA., WHOSE DECISION IN ALL MATTERS IS final.The polygynous marriage is rare, the first cousin marriage are not as common.All Shia Muslims are busines oriented. All three Shia sects commemorate the martyrdom OF IMAM HUSSEIN, but they do so in their separate ways.They take part in POLITICS SPARINGLY.DURING OBOTE REGIME IN UGANDA, OUT OF SIX ASIANS IN PARLIAMENT , FOUR WERE MUSLIMS AND IN TANZANIA ONE Asian was appointed to cabinet was a Muslim. The reigious differences between Hindus and Muslim do not hinder interaction between them and have a great neighbourly love.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Sunday, June 25, 2000 at 07:20:23 (CDT)
may allah bless you all
nizar manji <fellah64@hotmail.com>
don mills, ontario, canada canada - Saturday, June 24, 2000 at 16:16:41 (CDT)
Dear Nina:ASIANS OF EAST AFRICA-Part I-(THE SHIAS): The Asian presence in East Africa can trace back to several centuries, but the bulk of Asian settlement has occured within past 100 years. At its maximum, the size of Asian population of Kenya, Uganda,Malawi and Tanzania numbered about 850,OOO. The last some years have witnessed a substantial exodus voluntary and involuntary. Close to many thousands have left for resettlement elsewhere. ASIAN MUSLIMS have generally been in the minority, making about some percentage of the total or some 274000.They are mostly first generation of descendants of earlier settlers from the Indian sub-continent.The overwhelming majority- about 85 percent - of the Asian MUSLIMS of East Africa are SHIA and beong to one of three sects:the ITHNASHARI(Twelvers), THE NIZARI ISMAILIS(Khojas), amnd MUSTALI ISMAILIS(Bohra). SUNNI MUSLIMS(North Punjabi speakers) consitute about 10 to 15 percent of the Asian Muslims and include large AHAMADIA community.Linguistically, the Shia Muslims speak either GUJARATI or KUTCHI. Among Ithna Asharis, there are few who speak Sindhi. The Shias of the Tanzania and Kenyan coast tend to to be more Kutchi speaking,but on the whole, perhaps about 60% of the Shia Muslim Asians are Gujrati speaking. Many who speak Kutchi also speak Gunjarati. Kutchi is mainly a dialect and does not have the script, where Gujrati is used both orally and in writing.Because of the majority of Asian Muslims of East Africa are descendants of converst from Hinduism,NEVERTHELESS EVOLVING TO ISLAMIC CULTURE. one aspect of Hindu past, many of them have retained their Hindu family name, or 'ATAK". The Ismailis have assimilated numerous other Hindu customs and practices into their version of Islam. These are reflected in the "Ginanas"(hymns), Juro(communion), and at times there was reverence of the book"Das Avtar" which deals with ten incarnations of Hindu God,Vishnu, and tenth incarnation of ALI and the succeeding Ismaili Imam,present holder of Imamat or living guide is Aga Khan.Of the three Shia sects of East Africa, the Ithna Asharis are oriented to Quran. In their mosque women are not allowed in the same section as men. Many observe "purdas". Ithna Asharis do charge INTEREST on loans to other members of the community THEY COMBINE AND PRAY THREE TIMES A DAY.It is believed Women too are allowed to smoke.THEY BELIEVE IN HIDDEN IMAM.In recent years they have begun missionary activities through the "Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya.The Khoja(Nizari Ismailis)believe in guidance of their Imam. He guides them according to wordly conditions that prevail at the particular time in history. The imam, the direct descendant of the Prophet, provides guidance to the "Momins"(followers) through "FIRMANS"(pronouncement). The Imam is divinely guided.Ismaili Dua, contains excerpts, from Quran.The prayers is recited in Arabic.The centre of Khoja activities, religious or some non-religious, is the Jamat Khana, basically a prayers house existing whereever Ismailis are. In large towns there are libraries, community administrative offices, and offices of socioeconomic organizations attached to the prayers house.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Saturday, June 24, 2000 at 07:31:33 (CDT)
Your site is very informative. Thanks for keeping it so.
S. Meghji <meghji@hotmail.com>
Vancouver, BC USA - Friday, June 23, 2000 at 18:22:13 (CDT)
Dear Nina:Starting TOMORROW look forward to reading on ASIANS OF EAST AFRICA-THE SHIAS AND later to conclude this segment in the series:THE ARABS:FOUNTAINHEAD OF ISLAMIC UMA.
H.E.Mohamed <hmphamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Friday, June 23, 2000 at 15:19:42 (CDT)
Dear Nina(KURDS-PART II-Conclusion).Marriages are nontheless accompanied by payment of bride price substatial sum of money paid to to the father of the bride. A dowery value than the bride price is commonly, but not uniformly, given to bride's family to the daughetr.RELGION in Kurdish society is of great importance. The large part of Kurds are Sunni of the SHAFI school of law except in Iran and Iraq where many are Shia. The division between the two is significant politically.Furhter many Sunni communities are of various SUFI orders, such as QADIRIYA AND THE NAQSHABANDIYA found throughout Kurdistan or the QIZILBASH in Turkey and the AHL-I-HAAQ in Iraq and Iran. There are some Kurds who are YEZIDIS, living in Mosul. Religious leaders or SHEIKHS have political and social influence in the local level throughout the region, although their "tariqas" are outlawed in Turkey.The route to achieve a position of religious influence is to study with already acknowledged SHEIKHS at the completition of which one becomes MULLAH.A successful MULLA may attract substential following and sustain oneself from the OFFERINGS.They have been engaged for autonomy for years. With the division of Kurdistan within the Ottoman Empire between Anglo-French spheres of influence in 1918, Kurdish nationalist movements became more millitant and better organized. In Iran Kurdish uprising occured in 1920 to 1925 with cordinated efforts in Iraq. REZA SHAH was able to pacfiy the region. However in 1945, following collapse pof Iranian authority around Lake Mrmiyah, the Kurdish republic of MAHABAD was established only to fall in 1946 with the withdrawal of Soviet support. Turkey became republic in 1924, the Kurds of Diyatbakir and Elazig province revolted but were put down.Their struggle continues.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Friday, June 23, 2000 at 07:35:18 (CDT)
Dear Nina:THE MUSLIM KURDS:(Part I)-ETHNICITY IN MUSLIMS:THE KURDS are nation without a politically recognized homeland, a people numbering more than 8 million with common ethnic identity overriding the established pattern of diversity in tribal affliation. A unformly Muslim people, although locally adhering to different sects and orders.There are some millions in Iraq and Turkey. In Iran they thought to number more than 2 million. They occupy a rugged mountain system. Kurdish, an Indo-Iranian language, is gramatically distinct from Persian and is thought to have developed separately for a long period of time. It is spoken in two mutually intelligible dialects: Kermanji in northern western Kurdistan and Kurdistani in the south and southwest. Memnbers of Qizibash Turkey speak Macho-Macho, a third dialect. It is sometime referred to Luri as a Kurdish dialect. The primary literary language today is Kurdi(Sorani) largely because it is the dialect of most of Iraq and Iran where it has been posssible to publish it freely.Kermanji was more widely publsihed before Word War I. The Arabic alphabet is employed except for some publication in Soviet Union.In Ankara university, the Kurdish students are from the same village. Despite varied life-styles, tribal identity is still very important to majority of Kurds.For urban prifessionals, artisans, and merchants in predominantly Kurdish cities, such as Kirkuk,Mosul, and Sulaymaniyah, tribal identity is of limited economic and social importance. Their basic identity is to their alligience to particular region and its political party.Villages form a tightly nucleared pattern, with houses close to one another and kinship group clustered together.The closest external ties are agnatic and are reinformed with marriage. Throughout Kurdistan, close cousin marriage and marriage within the tribal section is preferred.Father's brother's daughter marriage is ideal and many recognize the right of girl's paternal uncle to claim her hand in marriage for his son.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada, - Thursday, June 22, 2000 at 07:43:25 (CDT)
I have read the misconceptions on Nahjul Balagha and find the arguments very strong on the authenticity of the Author as being Al-Radi. I shall be grateful if you could e-mail me in support of the authenticity of Nahjul Balagha itself as compiled by Al-Radi. His sources are essential for authenticity. regards
Shaukat Omari <taurus@paknet3.ptc.pk>
Karachi, Pakistan - Wednesday, June 21, 2000 at 11:09:54 (CDT)
Dear Nina:(KSAHMIRI MUSLIMS (PART II-CONCLUSION). Only Hindu Pandits(Brahmins) among the Kshmiri-speaking subjects of the maharaja had some opportunity in the later years of DOGRA rule to join the ruling elite. Thus, there has been, until the generation which entered into politics in 1931, no Muslim leadership comparable to Muslim aritrocracy and professional upper middle class of the United Province of British India which played such a conspicuous part in founding of Pakistan.Since overthrow of Dogra rule in 1947, power was shifted to the largely Muslim National Conference Party(Prime Ministers Shaikh Abdulla, Bakkshi Gulam Mohammed, and G.M.Sadiq).Like Muslims all over South India,Kashmiris exhibit ranks and divisions which show similarity to the VARNA and JATI as among Hindus.This is not surprising since most of them are probably descendants of converts from Hinduism since the fourteenth century.The boundries of these groupings are less rigid than among Hindus because they are supported by the formal theology of Islam. There is for instance, no elemnts of "pollution", except perhaps regarding lower rank which handle the night soil.Endogamy is observed only in highest and lowest catagories. SYEDS AND SHAIKHS at the top and the HANJIS at the bottom.Syeds claim Arab descend from the Prophet and SHAIKHS from early missionaries or their disciples. The former monopolize the functions of offices associated with religious learning. The later tend to be traders. Moghuls and Pathans(Pushtuns) who occupy next rank in North India, do not have the same high status in Kashmir because they are still feared as outsiders and unless KASHMIRI- SPEAKING, they really do not belong to the Kashmiri.Lowest of sub-castes are the TELI(oil presser), LOHAR(blacksmith),HANJI(boatmen and fishermen),HAJJAM(barbers) and leatherworkers.The Muslims of Kashmir are 95 per cent are Sunnis and 5 per cent Shias. They are monogamous and endogamous than the "castes".The Shia, minority are persecuted by Sunni rulers and therefore enjoyed more urban life and are adaptable.The Sunnis are also divided by the movement and practices of some who are attached to saint or pir worship and other superstitions.One manifestation of this anomaly is that the Muslim law(Sharia) still governs in matters of marriage, divorce,adoption and inheritance for Muslims in Kashmir as in the rest of India, despite the secularist posture of the rulers.Muslism Kashmiris are distinguished from Hindus from mode of their dress, the wearing of beards, dialect,method of salutation, and name. Pandits and Muslims practice various degree of mutual avoidance,such as not interdining, but for lack of Hindu service castes, the Pandits must surreptitiously accept physical contact with Muslim barbers, midwives, and even butchers. The Pandit sterotype Muslims as "dirty", polluted, unprimncipled and lustful." while the Muslims reciprocate with sterotypes of Hindu KAFIRS as "faithless, double-dealing, mean, cowardly and corrupt."Since Muslim quasi-castes are not well organized except for artisan guilds in urban wards, the extended family is the most salient social unit for Kashmiri Muslims. Since marriage custom refelects Hindu -Muslim syncretism, practices, such as first-cousin marriage and dowry, owe more to Islam than to Hinduism.The reforms brought by Muslim Nation Conference Party have ameliorated the depressed income and status of Kashmiri Muslims. The land reform of 1950 which abolished "JAGIRDARI"(landlotrdism), in effect without compensation and made the bulk of poor tenants landholders in heir own right.The burden of indebtness to landlords and moneylanders was removed by a moratorium.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Wednesday, June 21, 2000 at 07:58:09 (CDT)
I was wondering about why on the bottom of the guest page you put Khuda Haffiz instead of Ya Ali Madad, which what Ismailis use for greeting?!
Salman Khoja <XsHaWn786X@aol.com>
Lewisville, TX USA - Wednesday, June 21, 2000 at 02:02:44 (CDT)
You have an awesome web site. Congratulatons!!
N. Jamal <nnjamal2@hotmail.com>
Edmonton, AB Canada - Wednesday, June 21, 2000 at 01:20:51 (CDT)
For the upcoming ISMAILI YOUTH CONFERENCE in Nairobi, check out http://www.infectious-energy.org CYBERKNIGHT UNIMATRIX ZERO SECTOR C12
CYBERKNIGHT <azizm@earthlink.net>
UNIMATRIX ZERO, CA USA - Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 23:26:16 (CDT)
Please check out www.toonscape.com to see the coolest in animation, artwork, comic book, and comic strips... some are historically bent.
Jake Neely <ar@toonscape.com>
San Diego, CA USA - Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 18:09:16 (CDT)
Keep up the good work!!! Hello to my friends, this is Zahida Bandali of Morogoro. If you happen to find me on this guest book, e-mail me!!!!!
Zahida Bandali (Virjee) <ZahidaV@aol.com>
Toronto, ONT Canada - Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 16:16:53 (CDT)
Dear Nina:KASHMIRI MUSLIMS:(Part I)-There are several Muslim groups numbering some millions in the state of Jammu and Kashmir and divided unequally between India and Pakistan(now called Azad Kashmir).Large Muslim group speak language called KASHMIRI-an Indo-Iranian language. They are culturally distinguishable not only distinct from Hindus,Sikhs, and Buddhists, but also from other Muslims of the region who speak Punjabi,Pushtu,Dogri,Pahari and Shina.Kashmiri- speaking, who number 95 per cent are concentrated in Vale of Kashmir-the heart of the former princely states located high in Himalayan Mountains of north India.There are more than one million Muslims in Azad Kashmir.They can be likened to the dispute of Indo-Pakistan politics to Bengal but unlike north Indian and West Pakistan Muslims, the Kashmiris have no ruling elite outlook.Although there was an INDEPENDENT MUSLIM SULTANATE in Kashmir for two centuries(1346-1586) and it was a province of Moghul Empire for another century and a half(1586-1752), it has more recent history is one of subjugation, first to PUSHTUNS OF AFGHANISTAN(1752-1819) then to SIKH KINGDOM of Ranjit Singh(1819-1846), and lastly to the BRITISH ruling through a HINDU DOGRA dynasty from neighbouring Jammu state (1846-1947). Under these three sets of alien rulers, the Muslim ruling class disappeared, and the peasantry amnd artisans were systematically exploited through oppressive taxation, forced labor, and usurious debts. Kashmiri Muslims were excluded from the state's army, civil service, and education in favour of outsiders, so they naturally developed a deep suspicion of all governmentts.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 07:50:33 (CDT)
I do hope this page will provide me most of the information about HH.
Aziz Ahmad Jan <AKHBPF@brain.net.pk>
Lahore, Pakistan - Tuesday, June 20, 2000 at 07:12:43 (CDT)
I have been trying to locate the entire anant akhado typed on the ismaili web I have read it before but cant seem to find the sit e now help
Salman Lilani <Shat45@aol.com>
Racine, wi USA - Monday, June 19, 2000 at 19:24:32 (CDT)
We are trying together all ismaili friends on chat.It seems that much of our mission is getting a success.If you would like to share a part in this mission,join #ismaili on Random US Dalnet server on IRC.It would be real fun. Hope to see you there soon. For further information, plz email us
ismaili-channel <ismailichannel@usa.net>
Karachi, Pakistan - Monday, June 19, 2000 at 10:14:43 (CDT)

CA, USA - Tuesday, June 13, 2000 at 00:33:06 (CDT)
WE REALLY LIKED YOUR PAGE, THE WORDINGS YOU HAVE USED ETC. PLEASE CAN YOU SEND ME PRINCE KARIM AGAKHAN'S EMAIL ADDRESS AND IF POSSIBLE THE POSTAL ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NO. TOO. THANKYOU VERY MUCH.
M.M.WADHWANIA <nanji@wahanet.com>
USA - Monday, June 12, 2000 at 10:08:18 (CDT)
WAHABIIYA-(In ARABIA-ESPECIALLY SAUDI ARABIA)Part I- Historical notes- Wahabiya, ISLAMIC COMMUNITY was founded by Muhammad b. Abd al-WAHAB(1703-1787 A.D.). This name was given to the community by its opponents in the founder's lifetime, and is used by Europeans; it is not used by its members in Arabia, who call themselves 'MUWAHBIDUN"(Unitarians) and their system(tarquah). They regard themselves as Sunnis. following the school of IBN HANBAL, as interpreted by IBN TAIMAIYA, who attacked the cult of saints in many of his writings, especially in a 'RISALA" condemning the visitation of tombs-Cairo 1323 A.D. The founder studied at Madina under Suleiman al-Kurdi and Muhammad Hayat al-Sindi.He travelled a lot and went to Isfahan at the commencement of Nadir Shah's reign(1736 A.D.).Here he studied for four years in perpatetic philosophy, the Ishrakya and the Sufi system.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Monday, June 12, 2000 at 09:44:50 (CDT)
(WAHABISM in India-conclusion).After creating untold trouble to governmet,the Muslim communities of SUNNI AND SHIA in 1870 AND 1871 ISSUED AN OFFICAIL DECLARATRION DISSOCIATING THEMSELVES FROM WAHABI MOVEMENT.Since then the sect exists but draws little attention.Wahabi literature is full of lithgraphed printing extolling war aginst ENGLISH.They are in volumes.A work by Muhammad Ismail, nephew of Sayid Ahmad, "al-sirat al-mustakim" is said to be the "Quran" of Wahabis in India.`
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Monday, June 12, 2000 at 07:41:22 (CDT)
I became aware of the Aga Kahn award in architecture while studying architecture at Oklahoma State University almost twenty years ago. Although I never graduated, I still am fortunate enough to work in the construction industry. Also, though I am not muslim, Islam does fascinate me to no end and I do look forward to the day when soon I may be practicing the faith as a convert from christian catholocism. Shiite Islam is the bloom on the vine in my heart's desire to serve G-d, or Allah, the Most Just, the Most Beneficent. How may I keep abreast of Shi'i Islam, paricurlarly in my area here on the southern plains of the North American Continent, and subsequently how can I get my fellow citizens to better understand this georgeous religion? How May I serve the Aga Kahn in this world? Thank You, J e r r e l M. A t k i n s o n
Jerrel M. Atkinson <sir5n@earthlink.net>
Tulsa, Ok USA - Sunday, June 11, 2000 at 23:38:57 (CDT)
in INDIA by one SAIYID AHAMAD, native of British district of RAI BARELI, born in 1786.In 1823 he incurred the hostility of authority while on pilgrimage to Mecca and was expelled. He adopted Wahbism.He started getting followers and established the centre IN PATNA where he appointed four Khalifas and an Imam.His numbers swelled in Bombay and Culcutta.On 1824 he preached Jihad against the Sikh cities of Pubjab.In Dec.31,1826 fixed the date of the war- with a call to all Muslims to join.Sikh's put up fierce resistence. Saiyid Ahmad took Peshawar towards the end of 1830.. He proceeded to to take the title of KHALIFA and strike coins in his own name. But his reign was ephimeral as he was killed by Sikh army the following year..The followers propogated that Sayid was not dead but would reapper. His followers extended Jihad to Hindus and British and started insurrection in lower Bengal by his desciple TITU MIYAN,but was defated and killed by government forces. in November 17,1831.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Sunday, June 11, 2000 at 15:01:42 (CDT)
The web page is very intreging, it has inspired me and my sister to research more into our religion.
TAZNEEM ALLIDINA <tazallidina@tazallidina.screaming.net>
Essex, UK - Sunday, June 11, 2000 at 13:38:08 (CDT)
I am Professor of leading University. I have written some books and presently doing research on "Ismailism". It seems though it is a facinating faith in Islam. I am interested in what H.E.Mohamed is writing on ethnicty of Muslims in Islam.It seems today's a billion Muslims world over do carry their traditional background and still be Muslims.
Professor Ismail <sismail@ab.org>
Ottawa., Ont. Canada. - Sunday, June 11, 2000 at 10:26:49 (CDT)
Dear Nina:URDU SPEAKING MUSLIMS OF INDIA AND PAKISTAN:MUSLIM ETHNICITY-(Brief notes):MUSLIM UMA(11 )(Look forward to reading about SHIAS of East Africa).URDU speakers of north India and Pakistan Muslims are collection of ethnic groups.They are spread over Pakistan and Indian states of Punjab, Utter Pradesh and Bihar. There are pockets of them spread all over ,including Bengal, Bombay and Hydrabad-Deccani. Their group identity is based on cultural and historical factors. This includes Islamic religion and Persian cultural tradition, and its Indian offspring.- The Urdu language and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in North India,especially during Moghul rule.North Indian Muslims are historically differentiated by their descent from immigrant groups of Arabs who entered the subcontinent in smal numbers as early as the eighth century, then from Turks,Persians, and Pushtuns who came as conquering armies beginning of eleventh century and who establsihed political dominance in the eleventh century to eighteenth sentury. They were both SHIA AND SUNNI Muslims adding to sectarian diamension to their ethnic differences. Secondly they were Indian converts to the new faith, conversion from among high and low Hindu castes,made for reasons varying from conviction to convenience, and continuing from earliest period of contact with Islam down to the present.The historical diversity of the north Indian Muslims has ben offset over time by intermarriage among the different groups, but there remain today endogamous groups among the north Indian Muslims who indentify themselves according to their claimed immigrant origins:SAYYIDS, SHAIKHS,(ARABS AND PERSIANS), MOGHULS(CENTRAL ASIAN TURKS), AND PATHANS(PUSHTUNS). The four groups are known as 'ASHRAF"( nobles). Their claimed foreign origin place them at the top of Indo-Muslim social order. Beneath them are ranked the "ajlaf",Indian convert groups which retain Hindu CASTE system. Headed by Rajputs(warriors) followed by occupation groups:Momin Julahas(weavers),Qassab(butchers), Darzi(tailors), etc. with Muslim UNTOUCHABLES at the bottom.These Muslim groups functionm in society very much as Hindu caste system;they are endogamous. The status of the "ashraf" resulted from long tradition of military and administrative service to various Muslim rulers and then to British.The Urdu-speaking ex-Moghul officialdom retained predominance in the legal profession and in education in United Provinces and the Punjab until beginning of twentieth century. Under the guidance of SIR SAYYID AHAMED KHAN,AGA KHAN III, AND ALIGHAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, the Urfu-speaking Muslim elite of north India sought to retain their political position and administrative importance by reconciling their Islamic and Moghul culture WITH ENGLISH EDUCATION. The Alighar movement was a political as well as cultural movement.Through the medium of English education, the Muslim elite sought success in new corridor of power.URDU is an Indo-Iranian language developed during the 500-year period of Muslim rule from vernacular spoken in the Dehli region, heavily laden with Persian and Arab words written in Persian script.Persian was language of the court, but Urdu was lingua-franca providing means of communication among court,army(Urdu means"language of the camp") and the population.It gained status in eighteenth and nineteenth century with distingushed literature and poetry written with the imagery of persian poetry.Urdu was not only spoken by Muslims but also Hindus in U.P.- used it.Hindi is close to Urdu but written in Devnagari-Sanskrit script.The role of Urdu, in the creation of Muslim political self-conciousnesss in the early twentieth century was significant.They formed numerous 'ANJUMANS" or Associations for improvement of education among Muslims and its regeration.Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam of Lahore, the Muhhammadan Association of Culcutta, Muhammadan Education Conference of Aligarh headed by Urdu elite and gradually from it sprang the nucleus of the ALL-INDIA MUSLIM LEAGE, founded in 1906.It was founded by AGA KHAN and was its first President.As Muslim political forces developed before 1947,Urdu-speaking elite became the leaders of Muslim League and emerging nationalism demanded creation of Pakistan(Sind,Baluchistan,the Punjab, and the Northwest Frontier,Bengal. Ironally U.P. the home of Urdu,did not become part of Pakistan.Urdu is national lanuage of Pakistan. Dear Nina:TAJIK MUSLIMS:MUSLIM ETHNICITY-(brief notes-some years):MUSLIM UMA(12):TAJIK: of Central Asia speak various dialects of Indo-Iranian group of the greater Indo-European language family. Some million live in northern and northeastern Afghanistan, mainly Badakhshan,Parwan, Samangan, and Thakar provinces, but also extending into central Hindu Kush Mountains. Another millions live in U.S.S.R; but many are scattered in four Central Asians republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,Kirgizistan, and Turkmenistan. About some thousand have been reported living in Chinese Sinkiang.Tajiks are also called Sarts or Sarjkolis.The term Tajik probably comes from "taz" or "taj", used by early Arab invadors to refer to Central Asian Persian speakers.There was struggles between two factions:Persian speaking and Turkic speaking Tajs for political and cultural domination-continued even in seventh century.Tajik group exhibit increasingly Mongoloid characteristics as one moves north from Kabul into Badakhstan. The resulting genetic admixture have produced Tajik with red or blond hair, blue or mixed eye color combinations, in association with high cheekbones and epicanthic eyefolds. Most Tajik are Hanafi Sunni, the major Muslim sect in Central and south Asia, but SIZEABLE NUMBERS OF ISMAILI SHIA live scattered from Bamiyan area to Wakhan Corridor, the entrace to the PAMIR MOUNTAINS. ISMAILI GROUPS in eastern Badakhshan and Wakhan sometimes speak PAMIRI(East Iranian) dialects. Because of the versiomn of Islam practised by the ISMAILI, many Tajik consider them to be a separate, non-Tajik ethnic group, in spite of identical,nonreligious cultural pattern.Most Tajik are mountaineer farmers and herders.The system of mountainside irrigation, they grow unirrigated wheat,Barley on higher altitude.Other crops include maize,potatoes,various vegitables and cotton called "spinzar" or white gold- an important cash criop in northern Afghanistan and north of Amu Darya(Afghan-Russian boundry).Fresh and dried fruits are grown and exported in tons.Bread is staff of life among Afghan Tajiks.In many places they live in mud bricks and "pise"(pressed mud).Just as annual cycle is partly dominated by nature, the life cycle of Tajik is largely shaped by Islam. Birth,puberty(circumcision for boys; commencement of menstruation for girls), marriage, and deaths are ritually marked., either with a celebration or a mourning.Tajik society is described as patriarchal(male dominated) and patrilineal( inheritance through male line) and patrilocal(bride moves to husband's household). The females seclusion is more assumed than real.Few decision are made by the "majlis"(village council) without consulting women. Village women rarely wear "burqa".Women wear :Chadar", a multi-purpose head shawl which permits women a modicum of modesty if stanger appraoches.Babies can be wrapped and fed in the privacy of the fold. Women wear distinctive cylindrical caps uncer the chador and chadry. Sophisticated women have started coming out of purdah.A functional three generations pattern permeates the lives of rural Afghan Tajiks-Grandparents represent the past they are walking encyclopedias of the society. The mother-fathetr represent the present-economic and procreating element. The children represent the future.Preferred marriages is still with father's brother's daughter, which siometimes creates competition among cousins and sometime result in family feuds.In rural areas the "Majlis" consist of the head of traditionally important families, and the "Malik"(headman) is selected from one family. Pakistan and Indian states of Punjab, Utter Pradesh and Bihar. There are pockets of them spread all over ,including Bengal, Bombay and Hydrabad-Deccani. Their group identity is based on cultural and historical factors. This includes Islamic religion and Persian cultural tradition, and its Indian offspring.- The Urdu language and the tradition of Muslim supremacy in North India,especially during Moghul rule.North Indian Muslims are historically differentiated by their descent from immigrant groups of Arabs who entered the subcontinent in smal numbers as early as the eighth century, then from Turks,Persians, and Pushtuns who came as conquering armies beginning of eleventh century and who establsihed political dominance in the eleventh century to eighteenth sentury. They were both SHIA AND SUNNI Muslims adding to sectarian diamension to their ethnic differences. Secondly they were Indian converts to the new faith, conversion from among high and low Hindu castes,made for reasons varying from conviction to convenience, and continuing from earliest period of contact with Islam down to the present.The historical diversity of the north Indian Muslims has ben offset over time by intermarriage among the different groups, but there remain today endogamous groups among the north Indian Muslims who indentify themselves according to their claimed immigrant origins:SAYYIDS, SHAIKHS,(ARABS AND PERSIANS), MOGHULS(CENTRAL ASIAN TURKS), AND PATHANS(PUSHTUNS). The four groups are known as 'ASHRAF"( nobles). Their claimed foreign origin place them at the top of Indo-Muslim social order. Beneath them are ranked the "ajlaf",Indian convert groups which retain Hindu CASTE system. Headed by Rajputs(warriors) followed by occupation groups:Momin Julahas(weavers),Qassab(butchers), Darzi(tailors), etc. with Muslim UNTOUCHABLES at the bottom.These Muslim groups functionm in society very much as Hindu caste system;they are endogamous. The status of the "ashraf" resulted from long tradition of military and administrative service to various Muslim rulers and then to British.The Urdu-speaking ex-Moghul officialdom retained predominance in the legal profession and in education in United Provinces and the Punjab until beginning of twentieth century. Under the guidance of SIR SAYYID AHAMED KHAN,AGA KHAN III, AND ALIGHAR UNIVERSITY COLLEGE, the Urfu-speaking Muslim elite of north India sought to retain their political position and administrative importance by reconciling their Islamic and Moghul culture WITH ENGLISH EDUCATION. The Alighar movement was a political as well as cultural movement.Through the medium of English education, the Muslim elite sought success in new corridor of power.URDU is an Indo-Iranian language developed during the 500-year period of Muslim rule from vernacular spoken in the Dehli region, heavily laden with Persian and Arab words written in Persian script.Persian was language of the court, but Urdu was lingua-franca providing means of communication among court,army(Urdu means"language of the camp") and the population.It gained status in eighteenth and nineteenth century with distingushed literature and poetry written with the imagery of persian poetry.Urdu was not only spoken by Muslims but also Hindus in U.P.- used it.Hindi is close to Urdu but written in Devnagari-Sanskrit script.The role of Urdu, in the creation of Muslim political self-conciousnesss in the early twentieth century was significant.They formed numerous 'ANJUMANS" or Associations for improvement of education among Muslims and its regeration.Anjuman-i-Himayat-i-Islam of Lahore, the Muhhammadan Association of Culcutta, Muhammadan Education Conference of Aligarh headed by Urdu elite and gradually from it sprang the nucleus of the ALL-INDIA MUSLIM LEAGE, founded in 1906.It was founded by AGA KHAN and was its first President.As Muslim political forces developed before 1947,Urdu-speaking elite became the leaders of Muslim League and emerging nationalism demanded creation of Pakistan(Sind,Baluchistan,the Punjab, and the Northwest Frontier,Bengal. Ironally U.P. the home of Urdu,did not become part of Pakistan.Urdu is national lanuage of Pakistan. Dear Nina:TAJIK MUSLIMS:MUSLIM ETHNICITY-(brief notes-some years):MUSLIM UMA(12):TAJIK: of Central Asia speak various dialects of Indo-Iranian group of the greater Indo-European language family. Some million live in northern and northeastern Afghanistan, mainly Badakhshan,Parwan, Samangan, and Thakar provinces, but also extending into central Hindu Kush Mountains. Another millions live in U.S.S.R; but many are scattered in four Central Asians republics of Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan,Kirgizistan, and Turkmenistan. About some thousand have been reported living in Chinese Sinkiang.Tajiks are also called Sarts or Sarjkolis.The term Tajik probably comes from "taz" or "taj", used by early Arab invadors to refer to Central Asian Persian speakers.There was struggles between two factions:Persian speaking and Turkic speaking Tajs for political and cultural domination-continued even in seventh century.Tajik group exhibit increasingly Mongoloid characteristics as one moves north from Kabul into Badakhstan. The resulting genetic admixture have produced Tajik with red or blond hair, blue or mixed eye color combinations, in association with high cheekbones and epicanthic eyefolds. Most Tajik are Hanafi Sunni, the major Muslim sect in Central and south Asia, but SIZEABLE NUMBERS OF ISMAILI SHIA live scattered from Bamiyan area to Wakhan Corridor, the entrace to the PAMIR MOUNTAINS. ISMAILI GROUPS in eastern Badakhshan and Wakhan sometimes speak PAMIRI(East Iranian) dialects. Because of the versiomn of Islam practised by the ISMAILI, many Tajik consider them to be a separate, non-Tajik ethnic group, in spite of identical,nonreligious cultural pattern.Most Tajik are mountaineer farmers and herders.The system of mountainside irrigation, they grow unirrigated wheat,Barley on higher altitude.Other crops include maize,potatoes,various vegitables and cotton called "spinzar" or white gold- an important cash criop in northern Afghanistan and north of Amu Darya(Afghan-Russian boundry).Fresh and dried fruits are grown and exported in tons.Bread is staff of life among Afghan Tajiks.In many places they live in mud bricks and "pise"(pressed mud).Just as annual cycle is partly dominated by nature, the life cycle of Tajik is largely shaped by Islam. Birth,puberty(circumcision for boys; commencement of menstruation for girls), marriage, and deaths are ritually marked., either with a celebration or a mourning.Tajik society is described as patriarchal(male dominated) and patrilineal( inheritance through male line) and patrilocal(bride moves to husband's household). The females seclusion is more assumed than real.Few decision are made by the "majlis"(village council) without consulting women. Village women rarely wear "burqa".Women wear :Chadar", a multi-purpose head shawl which permits women a modicum of modesty if stanger appraoches.Babies can be wrapped and fed in the privacy of the fold. Women wear distinctive cylindrical caps uncer the chador and chadry. Sophisticated women have started coming out of purdah.A functional three generations pattern permeates the lives of rural Afghan Tajiks-Grandparents represent the past they are walking encyclopedias of the society. The mother-fathetr represent the present-economic and procreating element. The children represent the future.Preferred marriages is still with father's brother's daughter, which siometimes creates competition among cousins and sometime result in family feuds.In rural areas the "Majlis" consist of the head of traditionally important families, and the "Malik"(headman) is selected from one family.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Saturday, June 10, 2000 at 13:39:26 (CDT)
" THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING WE CAN EXPERIENCE IS THE MYSTERIOUS. IT IS THE SOURCE OF ALL TRUE ART AND ALL SCIENCE. HE TO WHOM THIS EMOTION IS A STRANGER, WHO CAN NO LONGER PAUSE TO WONDER AND STAND RAPT IN AWE, IS AS GOOD AS DEAD: HIS EYES ARE CLOSED !! " -Albert Einstein.
AZIZ CyberKnight MADHANI <azizm@earthlink.net>
CYBERTEK, CA USA - Saturday, June 10, 2000 at 12:56:06 (CDT)
Dear Nina:WEST AFRICAN MUSLIMS:MUSLIM ETHNICITY-(Brief notes-past years)HAUSA: MUSLIM UMA(10 ):HAUSA:(NEXT-Look forward to reading segments on "Urdu-speaking Muslims" and the mysterious"WAHABIS")Back to The Hausa are a large and diverse West African group, collectively the most numerous Muslims people south of Sahara.Hausa live in the northern state of Nigeria ansd southern part of Niger Republic.Their language is spoken by more than 31 million people.The large part of Hausa identity is that they are Muslims.Prior to European conquest they lived in a walled city-states with hierarchial social organization reminiscent of the European feudal era. Sunni Islam first came to the region in the fourteenth century, brought by Western Sudanic and Arab merchants. The Maliki school of law, is still followed by Hausa, dates to early period.Almost as old is the AJEMIC SCRIPT- a form of medieval Arab writing- which made Hausa a literate people before Europeans arrived. This Islamic influence has a long history among Hausa. The purity of Islam was questioned by a FULANI-SPEAKING scholar and religious leader,UTHMAN DON FODIO, who in 1802 declared JIHAD against traditional Hausa rulers. Ultimately, most of Hausa aristocracy were replaced by followers of UTHMAN, and Islam was extended far to the south-YORUBA.The old Hausa states became emirates linked to centre of Muslim learning and orthodoxy. They became linked to central caliphate in the new city of SOKOTO.British when conquered northern Nigeria found practical to retain FULANI system of government-the policy of indirect rule. In many areas of Jihad left Fulani ruling Hausa. Soon these Fulani intermarried with Hausa and most part lost distinctive languasge and custom. Fulani became Hausa-ized.Hausa kinship systems vary. Sometimes they are based on organized clan which trace descent through male line.Individual are expected to show their parents and older, a great respect, while grandparents may be joked at along with mother's brothers and father's sister's children.The firstborn is often given to relative to raise.Divorce is not uncommon and any children of the marriage are considered to belong to husband's family in accordance with Maliki law. Circumcision is universally practised. Children spend some years studying with "Mallam" or Quranic scholar. The Hausa Mallam has great moral authority. MALLAMS ARE ALSO CHIEF SUPERNATURAL PRACTIONERS OF THE HAUSA, DISPENSING ALL KINDS OF PROTECTIVE TALISMEN AND MEDICINES. One of these (rubutu) is the water used to wash the ink from prayer board on which has been written Sura of the Quran.Children studying with Mallam are given food by the community.Many in Urban areas belong to MUSLIM BROTHERHOOD or "tariqas"-the most powerful is the TIJANIYA. They perform Haj to Mecca.Hausa who resist Islam believe in traditional religion. The traditional religion is tied specific gods and spirit associated with each clan.Hausa version of Islam includes seclusion of women. Most women engage is some trade. Hausa language is spoken not only in Nigeria and Niger, but also in Ghana, the Coast,and Sudan, Upper Volga, Benin, and Togo. Gausa belong to CHADIC branch of Afro-Asiatic family derives portion of its vocabulary from Arabic.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Friday, June 09, 2000 at 07:19:11 (CDT)
This is a beautiful website!
Anne Lechartier <alechart@cybercable.fr>
Paris, France - Thursday, June 08, 2000 at 10:09:19 (CDT)
it was very good but you have not inculed ginan audio
hassan .h. lakhani <hassan@nobleplanet.com>
bombay, india - Thursday, June 08, 2000 at 01:47:09 (CDT)
VERY INFORMATIVE, THANKS
aa a <aa@emirates.net.ae>
United Arab Emirates - Wednesday, June 07, 2000 at 23:29:44 (CDT)
We very much enjoy your fine webpage and its contents- religious and artwise. Keep up the good work! Peace and Greetings! ZillusSultan
Dr. Kamal Amin as Safa Sabur Gur Khan ZillusSultan <zillusultan@hotmail.com>
PHILA., PA USA - Wednesday, June 07, 2000 at 15:48:37 (CDT)
Ya ali madad
sadiq mohamed
edmonton, alberta casnada - Wednesday, June 07, 2000 at 09:30:27 (CDT)
Dear Nina:PERSIANS MUSLIMS: MUSLIM ETHNICITY-(Brief Notes-years back):MUSLIM UMA(9 ):Persians belongs to the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European family languages and is related to such diverse languages as English and Bengali. It is offical language of Iran. Dari, a dialect of modern Persian, is language of the elite in Afghanistan. Standard Persian called Farsi by its speaker stems from Pahlavi, also lknown as Middle Persian, which was language of the Sassanian period(A.D.224-642) prior to Aryan conquest of Iran in seventh century. During succeeding centuries Pahlavi underwent structural transformation by absorbing large amounts of Arabic elements.The Arabic element succeeded because of Iranian men of letters who adopted Arabic as their literary medium.The religion before advent of Islam was Zoroastrian known in Iran as GABRES, a belief system based on eternal conflict between the forces of good and evil. As universal doctrine it recognises Ahura Mazda as god of good and the divine light. They are still concentrated in areas of Yazd and Kerman-a large number of Parsees in South Asia and east Africa.Today most of the Persians are Shia Muslims of the Ithna Ashari denomination.The beginning of the first millennium B.C. marked the arrival of the Aryans. Like others of Indo-European origin came before them. The Iranians comprise several tribal groups: Medes,Persians(Parsa), Parthians, Bactrians, Soghdians,Sacians, and Scythians..The loosely federated tribal group bacame amore cohesive political unit under the Achaemenian clan. In 553 B.C. Cyrus, the ruler of Parsa, overthrew Median dynasty and formed Medes and Persians into the great empire. From the fifth century B.C. to seventh centuries A.D. with various groupings like rulers, priests,warriers,artisans,scribes, and producers, a structure became more complex and rigid. Towards the end of the period a small priveleged class domimnated growing mass of disfrenchised people with few avenue for mobility. The condition worsened with costly and long campaigns against Eastern Roman Empire. It led to internal decay and ripe for Arab invasion. The 13 centuries from Arab invasion until today Persia has seen fluctuation in monarchial powers.Religious leaders can be considered in the same context as the Bazaaris. They and their last following are the last source of power to creeping seculerization and westernization.Although predominating Shia Muslims and Persian, it incorporates many other groupings.Religious observances are practised regularly with deep conviction particularly the fast in Ramadhan and Ashura ceremony during Muharram.The basic social and economic unit in Persian society is the elementary family. Some combine in large units.Persians practise polygyny.ANOTHER IMPORTANT VALUE IS HOSPITALITY AND LAVISH AT THAT.Essentially "ta'aruf" is symbolic demonstration of one's hospitality, generosity, humility and modesty.Perians have rich asthetic aspects of their culture. Artistic expression are found in inricately design tile work and highly stylised Quranic inscriptions decorating the walls of major mosques, to handicrafts, miniature painting and calligraphy. The universally admired Persian art form is POETRY. With its uncompromising insistence of meter and rhyme, Persian poetry is much more than expression of emotion.It contains subjecive truth and the wisdom of past. Sometime it functions as an effective medium of satire and social commentry on inequality,injustice, and repression in masterly use of metaphor and allegory; other poets guide the reader through the labyrinth of SUFI mysticism. An appreciation for poetry is cultivated early in Persian life.The epic poetry of Fardousi recounts the heroic heritage. Primary school children are required to memorize long passages from FARDOUSI, SAADI, HAFEZ, AND OTHER POETS.A frequent theme in both literature and ordinary conversation is QESMAT(Kismat), or fate. Knowing caprice of all natural and supernatural force, Persians commonly use phrase 'INSHALLAH"(If God wills). It is also this unpredictability in life which justifies to a Persian the pursuit of pleasure, as reflected in hedonistic philosophy of OMAR KHAYYAM.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Wednesday, June 07, 2000 at 07:34:50 (CDT)
YAALIMADAT best wishes may HazarImam bless us all with health and happiness amen.
Parin Jaffer <parin_2000@yahoo.com>
Toronto, Ont CANADA - Monday, June 05, 2000 at 18:16:43 (CDT)
YAM Hi It is really good site to visit & share views & diverse Culture
Dr akbar Ali <drakbarali@yahoo.com>
Sultanabad No:2, Sindh Pakistan - Monday, June 05, 2000 at 12:36:38 (CDT)
Dear Nina:WASWAHILI MUSLIMS-THE ETHNICITY-(Africans of East Africa):(Brief notes-some years):MUSLIM UMA(8 ):WASWAHILI The East African littoral, including islands of Lamu,Mombasa,Pemba, Zanzibar and Mafia, Stretching from Somali-Kenya boarder in the north to southern extreme of Tanzania. This narrow coastal strip of Kenya and Tanzania, separated by 300 miles exapanse of arid land is the homeland of Waswahili. They number nearly a million live in cities and towns principally Lamu,Malindi,Mombasa,Vanga,Dar-es-Salaam, Zanzibar-long centres of trades with the Persian Gulf. The Swahili language is basically Bantu,but modified through the need of medium of communication with Arab traders. They are mostly Sunni.Waswahili is not name of any tribal group; it rather collection of some groups who share the common culture.The term SWAHILI is derived from Arabic word meaning"coastal".They are believed to be descendents of the children of Arab traders and Bantu women. Persian influences cannot be denied.The people who originally settled in Mombasa were divided into twelve groups(hence the appellation Thenashara Taifa, or twelve tribes) in two factions: Maji Tisa(Nine tribes-Kilifi,Mvita,Mtapa,Shaka,Pate,Faza,Bajun,Gunya,Jomvu,Akatawa) and the Miju Mitatu(Three tribes-Kilindini,Tangana,Changamwe).Through subsequent migration and influx of peoples from countries of the Persian Gulf, these peole were joined by other Muslims, predominanantly the Shirazi,purporting an ancestry traced back to Persian city of Shiraz, and two Arab groups;the Omani, descedentants of Arabs from Oman; and Hadrami or Shehiri, more recent arrrivals,descendants of Arabs from the Hadramaut. They are now not culturally distinguishable.KISWAHILI language is rich source of wit and subtle irony, the sophisticated use of which adds to a person's prestige.Some games and contests involving the interpretation of archaic Kiswahili forms,proverbs, and riddles are frequent among the group. To have well-mannered children is to demonstrate one's own achievement of the Islamic ideal. As a result, for child to be told "huna adabu"("you have no manners") is a severe admonishment, reflecting the child's family as well.Swahili culture represent mixture of many elements. Dress is according to Muslim tradition. Although "purdah" is perhaps less strict than before. Swahili women wear robes called "buibui" when in public. worn over brightly colored apparel called "Khanga" or "Kitenge". Men, when attending mosque wear white "Khanzu" robe over colorful "Kikoi"(loincloth) or "Sarani"(sarong), headgear of emroidered "kfia" cap and on special occasion, the turban(kilemba).Daily life is organised around five daily Islamic prayer hours, announced by the call of the "wadhini".They follow laws of "Shafi" school, as interpreted by local "qadi".The ASPECTS THAT DIVERGE FROM THE TENETS OF ISLAM, are traditional Swahili poetry, symbolic of long tradition of oral and written literature of East African coast.LEGENDRY EPICSHISTORICAL ACCOUNTS,OR TROPICAL NARRATIVES, THE FORM CALLED 'UTENZI", have existed in written form for centuries. Other forms include "mashahiri" to be recited or sung and "wimbo", songs. Dances(ngoma) are community affairs.Handclapping, accompaniments in syncopation embellish the drum beat and cadences, signalled by cue invisible to the outsider.Swahili art flourished for a long period. Many houses are elaborately decorated with carved wooden doors featuring geogrophical pattern . Lamu is known for its large square chairs and cane seats with inland pattern of bone and ivory.God jewelry, including ear plugs(vipuli) is another developed art form.Swahili society is distingushed by their wedding, initiation rites for young girls upon reaching puberty, belief in the 'MASHETANI"(DEVILS) who is supposed to live in baobad tree and the "EVIL EYE"(Jicho la hasidi)."Wamiji" the elder women, the "masomo" instructors of girls undergoing initiation,"Waganga" those trained in folk medicine.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Monday, June 05, 2000 at 07:24:02 (CDT)
Great Web site! you bet I will share with my friends.
Nadir Walji <nwalji@hotmail.com>
Vancouver, bc canada - Sunday, June 04, 2000 at 14:57:01 (CDT)
Dear Nina:PUNJABI MUSLIMS:THE ETHNICITY(Brief notes- some years):PUNJAB:-MUSLIM UMA(7): In A.D. 712 the Arabs extended their power to the lower Punjab but Islam failed to take effective grip on the lives of the people until after eleventh century when the Turks under Mahomud of Gazni invaded the land. The religion spread rapidly during 300 year sovereignty of the Turkish Sultanate of Dehli. Another period of growth came with the foundation of the Moghul Empire under Babur in the sixteenth century,particularly upon Emperor Aurengzeb's enforcement of the "Jizya", a tax on non-Muslims. Lahore became the centre of Muslim dynamism.Since it was the Turks who brought Sunni Islam to the Punjab, the Hanafi school of the Sharia dominates Punjabi Muslims thought. However, one out of every twelve Punjabis is SHIA, either Ithna Ashri or ISMAILI. Two-thirds of Punjabi Muslims are under SUFI influence. The two major orders in Pakistani Punjabi are QADIRIYA AND NAQSHABANDIYA. Another important order, especially in East Punjab is CHISTIYA, a group peculiar to the subcontinent exhibiting several unorthodox practices, such as musical accompaniment to the DHIKAR(recitations). Thus many Punjabi SUFIS are noted for following their PIRS more avidly than the most Muslim areas. Punjabis are tightly bound in kin groupings.Kinship is traced particularly in extended family. The noble class,or "ashraf" consist of several ethnic elements. One other group, the Rajputs(literally, prince's son) are descendants of living Aryans of Central Asia; princes, warrior, and ruler later converted to Islam, during Moghul period. The LOWER class are the castes, or "ajlaf", are the Bilochs, descended from Baluch tribesmen, who are particularly farmers, animal husbandmen, and camel drivers, inhabitating the southwest Punjab, the Awans from Northwest Punjab and Gujars originally from Northwest Frontier area form a single functional caste devoted to agriculture. The Lohars and the Tarkhas also form one functual caste of smiths, carpenters and artisans. Beneath them in social rank are the Julahas, or weavers, the shoemakers, and cobblers, the oil pressers, potters, and the water carriers.The Musallis are sweepers, and scavengers, corresponding the Hindu untouchables.Of overbearing importance to the Punjabi is the notion of "IZZAT", or social and financial prestige demonstrated by appearance and ostentation. Punjabi marriages are endogenous, contracted within one's own 'BIRADERI", WITHIN ONE'S OWN CHAK(VILLAGE) AND WITHIN ONE'S OWN ETHNIC GROUP.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Sunday, June 04, 2000 at 08:01:38 (CDT)
First Time Logged On! Beautiful Sight. Keep Up The good Work. Can I be informed of any new additions??
Naseem Premji <naseem786@postmark.net>
USA - Saturday, June 03, 2000 at 08:56:06 (CDT)
Dear Nina:AZARIS OF CENTRAL ASIA:MUSLIM ETHNICITY-Brief notes of some years-MUSLIM UMA(6 ):The Azari Turks, sometimes called Azerbaijanis are divided into two groups-Iranians and Russians.They are found in Azarbaijan. The common self-designation of the Azaris are Turkler and Azarbaijanlilar.They are even called Shahsevan,Afshar,and Kajar. The language they speak is Ogiis.Azar language has a written traditon going back to fourteenth century. It is written in Arabic script and Cyrillic alphabet in Soviet influenced Azaris.Azaris are spread in Iran, Southern Kurdistan. The Azari, some are demographically characterised extreme longevity and a high birthrate.They have clan system called hoj,modiam, or imejilik.The racial origin and cultural tradition of Azaris are more Persian than Turkic. Majority are Shias. Traditional pilgrimage is to holy shrine in Iran than to Mecca.The Perisian influence could be seen in their heritage of Zoroastrianism. In rural areas of Azarbaijan, PRE-ISLAMIC PRACTICES may be still encountered in them.Holy places called PIR, are still revered.The holiday among Azari,"SU JEDDIUM" in which they seek communion with their ancesters through bathing in sanctified streams. Certain TREES, especially the oak and the iron tree(parrotia Persica), are venerated and may not be felled. Pieces of bark of iron tree are worn about the neck and persons and horses as AMULETS and are tied to crib in order to ward off illness and effects of EVIL EYE. A cult of FIRE, which is regarded by the Azaris as the holiest are purest element in nature(from influence of Zoroastrianism), has had many adherents, and there has been cult of ROCKS, particularly of certain kind of black rock to which they attribute curative powers.Nouroz is celebrated on 21st.Azari settlements are divided into "mekhelle".Marriage with non-Aari was unheard of until Soviet period.Pollygamy was not normally resorted except in case of infertiltiy. In marriage "Mehr" is given in the divorce- paid to the bride. The family of bride receive the "bashlyg". or bride price, also called "yopulu" (money for the road),"atalyg pulu"(money for the father) and "Suepulu"(milk money). During Russian time in Baku, there were only two mosques.There is chance of divergence between two factions-Iranian and Soviet influenced.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Saturday, June 03, 2000 at 08:11:10 (CDT)
Dear Nina:THE ALBANIANS:Brief notes of some years.(MUSLIM UMA-5) ALBANIANS ARE ALL MUSLIMS.There are expatriate Albanians in Itly,Greece.Bulgaria and United States who are Christians.Towards the end of Roman Empire, much of the region was converted to Christianity.Later, follwoing the Ottoman Turkish conquest in the late fourteenth century, great numbers were converted to Islam.Many served Ottoman armies and played an important role in administration.A national conciousness developed very late and independent Albania was not created until 1912. Majority of Albanians are Sunni. Over more than 300,000 or more are followers of Bektashi Sufi order, a "tariqa" of the Shia Branch of Islam. Most Bektashi Sufi live in southern Alabania and historically constitute a more libral and progressive group than their Sunni coreligionists.Many Albanians served as "Janissaries".Historically Albanians were tolerant of different religious groups. Social and cultural distinctions between Muslims and Christians were minimal. INTERMARRIAGE was common in many part of Albania and children, even of homogeneous marriages, were often both CIRCUMCISED AND BAPTISED and both given MUSLIM AND CHIRSTIAN NAMES.There were Christian women who wore veils and Muslim women who did not. Crypto-Christianity- the continuation in secret of Chritian beliefs and practice even after CONVERSION to Islam- was not uncommon.The Albanian language has two principles dialects:Gheg and Tosk.The population is divided into number of patrilineal clans(fis).The Cheg society patrilocally extended to a group of more than 90 people.The Bajraktars(Standard-bearere) extended to group of villages from head appointed by Ottoman Government.Tosk structure is more feudal and orthodox.
H.E.Mohamed <hmohamed@cadvision.com>
Calgary., AB. Canada. - Thursday, June 01, 2000 at 22:24:05 (CDT)
Subject: $500 Challenge, Payable to Charity of Your Choice! A challenge to Akberally Meharally and his "Tariqa of Islam" has been made. Very simply - All they have to is prove that "Their Tariqa of Islam" is: A religion of Peace and, It is Tolerant and Compassionate. They are free to consult any or all your religious scholars (a'lim). I am, now, extending that challenge to Akberally's supporters amongst our Ismailis as well! Prove that who you support is the Islam of Peace, Tolerance & Compassion; After all that is the message of Islam, is it not? Good Luck!!
Asif Khan <faceupdown@yahoo.com>
- Thursday, June 01, 2000 at 11:06:28 (CDT)
"You can't shake hands with a clenched fist." -- Indira Gandhi.
alnoor jaffer <amjl@sprint.ca>
calgary, ab canada - Thursday, June 01, 2000 at 10:57:26 (CDT)

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