Chinese Ismailis
The tens of thousands of Ismaili Muslims of the Tajik Autonomous District in China’s north western Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region are isolated from their fellow-Ismailis across the border in Tajikistan and elsewhere in the world, Forum 18 News Service found on a visit to Xinjiang between 8 and 10 September. There is only one Ismaili mosque functioning in the Tajik Autonomous District, in the district capital Tashkurgan, whose imam was appointed by the Chinese secular authorities.
The imam-hatyb of Tashkurgan’s Ismaili mosque, Shakar Mamader, admitted to Forum 18 on 9 September that under Chinese law children are forbidden from attending the mosque up to the age of 18. He also admitted that the Chinese authorities do not allow the Fourth Aga Khan (the Ismaili spiritual leader) to offer any aid to the Tajik Autonomous District. However, Mamader believes “there is absolutely no need for such help as the central government provides very substantial funding to the region”. He stressed that the Fourth Aga Khan had visited the region in 1980.
Mamader also declared that Ismaili preachers and clerics from neighbouring Pakistan (Tashkurgan is situated 100 kilometres or 60 miles from the checkpoint at the Chinese-Pakistan border) do not work in China. He believes there is no need for them to do so. “We have enough of our own experts on Ismailism,” he insisted. However, other local Ismailis who preferred not to be named told Forum 18 that Pakistani Ismaili clerics are not allowed to preach on Chinese territory. Xinjiang’s Ismaili community has no contact with Tajik Ismailis as there is not one checkpoint on the Chinese-Tajik border.
The Tajik Autonomous District is situated in the eastern Pamir mountains and borders Pakistan and Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. There are about 50,000 people living in the Tajik Autonomous District identified as Tajiks in the Chinese census. However, these people can be called Tajiks only in the broadest sense. The Sarikoli and Wakhi Chinese Pamir nationalities, as well as the Tajik, Pakistani and Afghan Pamir nationalities who live in Chinese Pamir, speak languages belonging to the Eastern Iranian language group, whereas Tajik is linked to Western Iranian.
Unlike the Tajik Sunni Muslims, the Pamir nationalities practise Ismailism - a branch of Shia Islam which bears the clear influence of Buddhism and neo-Platonism. The current Aga Khan is the 49th hereditary imam of the worldwide Ismaili community. In contrast to other Muslims who pray five times a day, the Ismailis recite prayers only twice a day. They do not observe the Ramadan fast, nor do they ban the consumption of alcohol.
Externally, the villages of Chinese Pamir are virtually indistinguishable from the villages of Tajik Pamir. For example, the homes have an almost identical structure - the interior of the building has to have five columns, a number of sacred significance for Ismailis. However, there are substantial differences in the religious life of the Ismailis of the Chinese and Tajik Pamir.
In contrast to the ban on aid to the Ismailis of Xinjiang, the Aga Khan gives so much aid to the population of Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region that this area depends on his financial support. The headquarters of the Mountain Societies Development Support Programme, which the Aga Khan funds, has opened in the city of Khorog, the capital of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region. A similar office operates in the city of Osh in southern Kyrgyzstan, from where shipments of aid are dispatched by road to Tajikistan.
On 30 August the Tajik president Emomali Rahmonov laid the foundation stone for a new Ismaili Centre in the Tajik capital Dushanbe. In his remarks at the ceremony, the Aga Khan said the new centre would be “a place for contemplation, upliftment and the search for spiritual enlightenment”.
http://www.forum18.org/Archive.php?article_id=141
Arif said,
August 13, 2006 at 1:34 pm
“In contrast to the ban on aid to the Ismailis of Xinjiang, the Aga Khan gives so much aid to the population of Tajikistan’s Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Region that this area depends on his financial support.”
This seems out of place and misleading, none of the Aga Khan financial support programs are ever developed to make people dependent. Good article though.
Farida B said,
August 14, 2006 at 5:14 pm
Do we have an idea of how many such ismaili Chinese Tajiks are there? Compared to how many ismaili Tajiks in Tajikistan?
tajikistan.neweurasia.net » Indian military base in Tajikistan? said,
August 15, 2006 at 2:58 pm
[...] The author on the Ismailism blog is talking about the Chinese Ismailis who live in the Tajik Autonomous District in China’s north western Xinjiang-Uighur Autonomous Region. There is a good post, where the author talks about the difficulties of practicing Ismailism in China and compares the Ismailis of China with their fellows in Tajikistan. The author reports that ‘under Chinese law children are forbidden from attending the mosque up to the age of 18 and Chinese authorities do not allow the Fourth Aga Khan (the Ismaili spiritual leader) to offer any aid to the Tajik Autonomous District. [...]
peter wang said,
September 13, 2006 at 7:27 pm
Just to avoid possible misunderstanding.. The religious restrictions, as in this case, on Chinese Tajiks, do not mean to mistreat the Chinese Tajiks. The Chinese Tajik community gets subsdized education and medical facilities and the Tajiks do not need to pay taxes and are eligible for social warfare. Their university education is also subsidized. They are also not restricted by one-child-policy like other Chinese.
The Chinese government just says, all religions in China must not be under any foreign influence - to avoid inter-religious hatred, killings and imperialistic infiltration - which happened TOO MANY TIMES in the last 200 years of Chinese history.
Rameez Bhimji Mohammed Ali said,
September 12, 2007 at 10:03 pm
Just to make things clear,the author refers to Muslims in the chinese region.All ismailis must practice: sawm (fasting),No
Alcohol consumption, and must pray three times a day.How ever,ismailis them selves are not too keen on this.Question-Do you know the ismaili imams faith, and practises of Islam?Thanks
Rumi said,
February 20, 2008 at 3:31 pm
Lo Iloha Illalloh Muhammadun Rassullulloh Aliun Amir al muminin Mavlono Shohkarim Al Hiseini.
Alohuma Laka sujudi va toati. I will do it all my life.
SHIRAZ AZIZ BABWANI said,
March 27, 2008 at 10:29 am
Dear,
Ya Ali Madad This is Shiraz from Mumbai INDIA. We are group of Ismailis are planning to visit for the Deedar of Mavlono shohkarim Al Hussaini.
As a Ismaili brotherhood will you be glade enough to send us when / exact location for deedar is to be held in China so that we can meet our Isamilis in China / India together.
Hope u will send me the details as soon as possible so that we can arrange a trip to see our mosuque & our Ismaili brother in China.
My Mobile No : + 919820200688
+ 919820534586
Eraly reply will make us more glade and happy hope u will lovingly coperate us and feel free to contact us without any any hesitation.
Above all if u want any help from INDIA ,Mumbai I will be there to help u out any matter what so ever to the best of your satisfaction Inshallha.
Yal Ali Madad,
Yours Lovingly Ismaili Brother,
Shiraz Aziz Mahomed Babwani.
Email : syuworry@gmail.com / karimbabwani@gmail.com
Daniel Alighari said,
June 24, 2008 at 5:17 pm
Correction: Ismailis are forbidden to drink alcohol and are encouraged to fast. Please do not mislead readers. The Imam himself encourages this as does the Quran which Ismailis adhere to as well.
Mahmood Bharwani said,
July 22, 2008 at 10:54 pm
Dear All 1-8 posting above
Read you comments on Ismailism Blog - Chinese Ismailis posted 27 March 2008.
The article done by F18 News - was circulated in many different web sites and changed slightly by the time you read it, but it was in the whole fairly accurate. I trust that your Didar & Darbar went well and we may learn soon about any intended visit of our Imam to China, if the political climate is right and he is given an invitation from the Chinese Govt to come as a “diplomatic guest”.
We have read the article from F18 News and we must no “isolate” our minds into any resentment towards the Chinese - they are part of our global community and our Imam says that we must co-exist side by side with all nations, regardless or race, colour, ethnic origin, traditions and local customs. This is “pluralism” and we are brothers to Sunnis and other Shia faiths and to outsiders, Christians, Buddists, Hindus, Jews etc. And we must step above the “clash of ignorance” and try and identify - focus on the work of the Imamat which does not work on our human “time scale”, human projects can be 5 or 10 or 20 years but Imamat “time scale” thinks in very long periods, where the Imamat will serve best the murids of the Xinjiang region and other regions across the world.
For now we can pray that all murids are safe, happy and sharing the effects of the Golden Jubilee across all parts of the world and make our Mowla proud and we have to treasure this and give of our “time and knowledge” and let the world be. We have so much to share and so much to give that Ismailis from all over the world are coming together at these Darbars by the grace and blessing bestowed on us by our Imam. Our forefathers had to serve and protect our faith from colonial errosion and ehtnic cleansing. They took to new “ports” and gave their children - our fathers and mothers a new beginning and we have been blessed by the Guidance of our Imam and so keep the faith, write about your experiences for your family and your children and rise above this “ignorance” and keep the legacy your father have passed to you, so you can pass to your family and share with your friends.
Be kind to others, help if you can, share with the poor and teach your children that you have a great family across the world from East to West and North to South, that carry the flag of our community in their hearts and their thoughts and are blessed by the Guidance of our Imam forever. Amen
Please feel free to email me at - taxfirst@yahoo.co.uk
Especially I would like to here from any Ismaili in the Xinjiang-Uigar Autonomous Region and any dialogue or comments you may wish to make one any topic can be made privately and confidentially at my email address and not posted here. I would like to put my hand across the continents and say that I am your friend and that I would like to understand you better, understand your history and your cultural values and your customs, and not focus on “isolated issues” - I come with an open mind and I will not treat you differently, just because you practice your faith differently or because your conditions and environment have made you practice things differently - we are all equal in God’s eyes and who better to judge our differences then Him who created us and to Whom we must return. So please feel free to talk to me, if my message reaches your heart!
I will share a few poems with you and hope that we may one day all meet and be friends:
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LIGHT UPON LIGHT
KNOW THAT A THOUGHT IS A BEACON OF LIGHT.
SEE THE POWER THAT GENERATES THAT THOUGHT.
FIND THE ESSENCE THAT COMMANDS THAT POWER.
IT DOES NOT MATTER WHAT FORM IT TAKES,
THE BEACON OF LIGHT IS ONLY A SINGLE MANIFESTATION OF HIS GLORY,
WHICH, CAPTURED BECOMES CRYSTALISED IN IMMORTALITY, BUT THE LIGHT ITSELF, IS ETERNAL.
By Mahmood Bharwani
“Of all the beautiful truths pertaining to the soul, which have been restored and brought to light in this age, none is more gladdening or fruitful of divine promise and confidence, than this, that man is the master of thought, the moulder of character and the maker and shaper of conditions, environment and destiny” – James Allen
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DEEDAR (Spiritual Meeting of a Devotee & his Beloved)
I yearn for your Noorani Didar (A full of Light, Spiritual Union)
O my Lord, my Beloved
O the Source of all Joy and Happiness;
You are the Innermost Centre of my being;
You are the Source of Life and Nourishment;
You are the Gate of the city of Divine Knowledge;
You are the Keeper of all Heavenly Treasures;
You are the Source and Usherer of Peace;
You are the Champion of all Champions;
You are the Celestial Beacon of Divine Wisdom;
You are the Eternal Truth reflected in all creation.
You are the most Loving, by far the most Loving.
O the Light of Ali, by the Grace of Allah,
Send me the news of your coming,
That I, like Hafiz, shall soar above Life and the World.
The radiance of my Beloved
Is the birthplace of my Ancestral Soul.
I could sit a thousand years in contemplation, for that spark
To ignite my soul and rise through Ibadat (prayer) on a thread of light
To lose all comprehension and become vapour (incense).
O my Beloved, grant me in my humblest moment
To give myself completely to Your Divine Will and
Let my eyes see only You
Let my ears hear only You
Let my thoughts encompass only You
Let my lips utter supplications only for You
To lose myself and find the universe immersed in me.
The span of your Radiance cannot be contained in my eyes
Nor in my furtherest imaginings can I comprehend my Beloved
From the birthplace of the Kabba (A Place of Reverence)
To the axis at the centre of my being –
I know, I live and believe and have my being in You.
I have truly touched the Ocean and stirred in my soul
To have danced the eternal dance of Spiritual Union,
For absolute submission has revealed,
The Embodiment of Truth,
By the Grace and Mercy of Allah
(God is beyond human comprehension; only by His Grace can we understand Creation)
By Mahmood Bharwani
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Ek Banda Aur Ek Khuda
(Meaning WORSHIPPER & WORSHIPPED)
I am your banda and you are my Khuda
I exist by virtue of Your Existence
And by the Kalam all things come into existence
You are the Light of the Heavens and the Earth
Creating all realities from your Absolute Oneness
You are Hidden of the Hidden, The Treasure
Beyond all treasures Seen & Unseen
You are the Supreme Reality in all dimensions.
Each atom bows in sajada to your Unlimited Attributes
And your Attributes are Incomprehensible
Atoms with dimension or without are known in your Knowledge
All things in existence emanate from your Oneness;
You are the reality beneath all Multiplicity
And by your Rahmat all things ascend to your Nur.
The Uncreated, Creator and Sustainer of Life
With Your breadth both Zahir (Limited) and Batin (Unlimited)
Until both are gathered and return into Oneness;
Just as the Light was created from Nothingness
So too will each atom return into Nothingness,
Which itself is your Absoluteness.
In that point where human knowledge has no expression
Not eye has the power to see
Not ear has the power to hear
Not speech has the power to voice
Not sense had the power to describe
All are lost and Eternalised in Your Essence.
Grant this banda, a Tajali (glimpse) of Jalal & Jamal,
In the mirrors of Your Creation, as the Earth mirrors Your Beauty
Subhan-Allah, and I shall exist in Fana
And non-existence my ultimate reward.
For existence annihilated,
Removing the Hijab (veil or pardha)
Reveals the Haqiqat Radiance of my Majesty, Most High
To the eyes and heart of Your Banda
Through the Light of Ali and The Alibiet
And our Baya to Imam-e-Zaman.
Written by Mahmood Bharwani
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The poet has tried to measure our human ability as being limited in both space and time and that though we aspire to achieve our own perfection and our own search for Light, it is only through submission to the will of Allah and total faith in His decision, that we become purified and receive His blessings. So, only as a “purest vessel” can it be possible that the beams of Light will be directed into our hearts and our heart and thought will be purified to serve Him. Only then can all obstacles be overcome, no matter how great the struggle, hence the Title - “Purity of Faith”………………
Poem 15
PURITY OF FAITH
If I were an atom,
I would conquer the Sun;
If I were a dot in the night sky,
I would contain a thousand galaxies;
If I were but a grain of sand,
I would be as fortified as a mountain;
If I were a millet seed,
I would equal a hundred harvests;
If I were a drop of rain,
I would contend many storms and
Overcome all obstacles;
If I were a tiny star;
I would shine like the brightest button
On a dark coat;
If I were a dimensionless point,
I would contain an entire Universe.
All this I could do, only if I had faith
And the Power of God commanded my every thought
And the purest intensions in my heart;
I would but conquer myself
And all victories I would assign to Him,
For Whom all things are possible.
If only I was the purest vessel, filled with His Light!
By Shaheroz Bharwani
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You Imam loves you more then you and I could ever love Him and you must be strong in your faith and your knowledge that he is besides you all the time, even if you sometimes forget, he is always there!
Mahmood Bharwani - London Area (UK)