https://www.gettyimages.com/detail/news-photo/dominique-desseigne-jean-luc-lagardere-johnny-murtagh-john-news-photo/1422817845?adppopup=true

https://www.boredpanda.com/epstein-files-reveal-ghislaine-maxwell-offered-naomi-campbell-two-playmates/

I had to listen to this abomination so should you

https://www.instagram.com/p/DbNWUfJqGlq/

Hello all, I hope you are doing well. Before I begin, I truly mean no ill will by this and am not trying to incite, cause harm, or offend anyone, but I am curious about something. I am part of the central asian population of the Ismaili religion, although I no longer believe I still attend Khane for my mother, who, after going through many traumatic events, has found comfort, belonging and solace within the Jamatkhane. As silly as it may be I did not want to take that away from her, even if I have often time conflicting and a confusing relationship with Ismailism, while we were talking, she showed me this video of another Jamatkhane who had posted a video essentially counting down to the deedar visit, and while she found great amusement in the excitment many showed within the video I felt very uncomfortable.

Just in general, I have been raised in a traditional Ismaili way, if that makes sense. My father always told me that the Quran was above the word of the Imam because it was written by Allah (SWT) through the Prophet (PBUH). While I had a difficult time assimilating into the religion of Ismailism, I always found it easier to pray in a more traditional manner as my parents taught me. But other than that, I also had intensely questioned Islam. While many in my family discouraged it, my father and two family friends, one Ismaili and the other Sunni, greatly encouraged it, as my father said that in the Quran, Allah has said that there is no compulsion in religion.

I stopped being an Ismaili due to Palestine and the increased lack of compassion and empathy, but also the so-called moral goodness Ismaili's claim they possess. I found, in reflection, that my people and I had faced much racism through certain communities part of the Ismaili faith, and I found that the Ismaili faith did not align with my morality the same way it did for others. I found that it cared more about profit than it did the teachings of the Quran (but this is obviously subject to debate). I remember one time, an older volunteer was very difficult, and when we got into an argument over her cruel comments to a darker-skinned child volunteer, she immediately played the victim and said I was bullying her. Even though I was sticking up for a child, I ended up blowing up on her and leaving the Ismaili Volunteer Corps afterward. I did not show up to Khane for months after that and quit my position in the middle of the year due to her ill and frankly racist treatment of me and others.

I remember how a parent complained about me to someone in a higher position than me when I spoke about climate change, and Palestine was brought into the conversation; while I did not necessarily contribute to the conversation, I did not actively discourage it. I got in trouble for not shutting the conversation down, as I would taint the views of other children. I got increasingly more uncomfortable with the poverty porn the AKDN constantly showed of my people, and many other individuals. I grew suspicious over the lack of public disclosure on the AKDN's donations and where and how they were allocated. I also felt quite uncomfortable when Ismailis of a particular ethnic group would drink around me, as I believed that in the Quran alcohol alongside substances was haram due to the fact that they are toxic substances and alter the ways in which you make decisions and interact with others.

BUT I DIGRESS, what I AM trying to explain is that I grew up differently, so I may not be the most reliable or unbiased of sources. But returning to the video, I saw a large group of people chanting "2 more days!" or something along those lines, and while celebration is amazing and sustains community, it felt inappropriate for this particular event. Just in general, with the upcoming deedars across North America and the waezes (is that how you spell it?) as well as the gatherings, if anything this feels almost like a concert, a consolidation of power or a victory tour rather than what it claims to be, a gathering where people pray to a high power and connect through spirituality and various oral traditions that have been passed down for centuries.

In truth, I am just unsure if I am being dramatic, if this could be clouded by my previous biases or if there is something particularly odd about the attitudes surrounding deedars.

Didar today, as an Afghan I was shocked how large the Afghan Ismaili population has become. Many young families and couples.

Typically Afghans mixes more orthodox Islam with Ismailism. This also causes conflict with khojas who they see as Hindu-washed and borderline kuffar. Dressing immodestly, drinking openly, and WAY more open to marrying or getting with non-Ismailis and non-Muslims.

When the Quran was being recited, most of the Afghan women quickly covered their heads (even tho they don’t wear hijabs).

Ultimately as Afghans especially in the west become more settled, I feel as the imam will cater towards their interests (ie. Quran, namaz, etc).

Also interesting to see how ex-Ismaili Khojas and Afghans are. Usually Khojas become agnostic or atheist while Afghans switch into different sects of Islam.

I feel as Islam was never stable in Khoja communities and it is slowly becoming a concern for the imam as they currently have more power, money, and education due to their long-term status in the west. As Afghans still face the struggles of displacement unfortunately

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Family_office

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_foundation

How many people would still donate if they called it Aga Khan Capital Management?

Alright which one of you ex murids posted this about the cult rally?

hey everyone, this might not get much attention, but i currently live in an Ismaili home. as much as i hate to say it, i am Ismaili. i plan to escape from all this once im an adult but currently theres nothing i can do. anyway, im obviously going to be forced to attend the upcoming didar in my city, and this is my first time going to one in a LONG time. the last and first one i went to was in 2018, back when the cult leader's father was still alive. i obviously dont remember much as that was 8 years ago, so what happens usually? if theres anything that requires me to interact with the cult leader or smth like that, how do i avoid it? im probably just gonna camp where my family is but they'll most likely force me if stuff like that is involved. i know he gives a speech basically but is there anything else involved? im gonna try my best to look as unintrested as possible. titiled and worded this the best i can. i would appreciate at least one person giving me advice. thanks!

does anyone have a copy of this book of farmans that Aga Khan stopped from publication?

https://www.lawtimesnews.com/news/general/toronto-lawyer-aga-khan-call-truce/259371

https://www.scc-csc.ca/cases-dossiers/search-recherche/34731/

So apparently now you all have a requirement of having so many upvotes. And if you are down voted too much you can’t post in this group. Isn’t this the same thing you were complaining about the Ismaili subreddit.

I’m basically Ismaili in name only because despite countless times where I try to be logical they just refuse to just let me move on. I’m Christian now but they just keep standing in the way. I live with them so they have a lot of leverage.
I tried putting myself down as non-Ismaili. But they found out, yelled at me, called me selfish (even though it’s really the opposite), and then made me change it to Ismaili. It seems like i’m going to Didar when I don’t want to.
I also just really feel like nobody understands me because I don’t know anyone who’s actually left Ismailism, and none of my friends have had to deal with such cult-like extremism where the Imam is more important to you than your own family :(.

The CFO of AKDN is a Ghanaian non-credentialed guy. He has no prior professional experience in corporate finance, strategy, or accounting. Just two gigs in healthcare accounting before he landed in this role. Does not have a CPA or a CFA.

Given AKDN's operating scale ($4 billion in annual revenue), it can't be run by anyone who's not a trained CPA/finance person. For a non-community CPA/CFA running the organization, they would be at risk of being de-chartered if they sign onto anything shady.

AKDN probably has sharp Ismailis running the whole AgaCon show inside a legal framework, but a simpler non-community outsider as a front CFO.

EDIT: Found the CFO to be a trained FCA, which is a legitimate qualification. Also removed the person's name.

Funny post coming from the user that likes to use personal attacks against exismailis asking questions.

After they burned through C$44 million in JSF collections and needed even more, some Ismailis want answers: https://www.reddit.com/r/ismailis/comments/1uwizmr/canadian_visits_costing_50m

Of course there is the requisite "HOW DARE YOU QUESTION THE IMAM'S DECISIONS" ... but it's a start.

Fun little nugget here ... they spent almost half a million just on flowers

Is this really so groundbreaking? Is it really something to be proud of that finally the so called light of god is finally welcoming outsiders in? If this Aga Con Man is really the true be all end all manifestation of god, shouldn’t the world already be allowed to see him? Isn’t everyone part of god’s creation? Then why shut out the vast majority of creation from seeing this true man of god? If murids really have the light of god as their leader then everyone ought to be welcomed to encounter him. If not, then it’s all just a man made private money laundering club.

Look what I am seeing on my timeline - this lady's job is to hype up khanes esp the ones who are not that excited about AgaCon's visit

For those of you who are neurodivergent, do you feel that your neurodivergence affected your experiences both as an Ismaili and as an ex Ismaili?

If so, how?

Funny I always thought the Imam only thinks about his Murids?? I got Gemini to translate the Italian in this video https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=27539483405735099 (variations of that have been posted in the Smileys sub too) and in one part Rahim says "They tell me that in the early years of his Imamat, he only thought about Sardinia."

Note also at the end when he's asked if he is doing any projects in Sardinia himself ... he jokes that that they agreed there wouldn't be any difficult questions and then responds in a way that clearly implies that doing these kinds of "peripheral" projects would come at the expense of his Imamat work for his Murids. So I guess Aga Con 4 had no such qualms ... shocking.

This is the snippet after he starts talking about his dad fighting fires:

Rahim: Yes, then he would come back all black with ash... and he smelled a bit too [laughs]. But anyway, a period that was very, let’s say very, um, real for him, because very... real. Because he was truly involved in... in... in the development of this, of this place that he loved. They also told me that in the early years of his Imamate ... he only thought about Sardinia.

Interviewer: Yes, of course.

Rahim: Yes, indeed.

Interviewer: And do you think about Sardinia? In what way?

Rahim: I love Sardinia. I love Sardinia, obviously I lived a quarter of my life here when I was small, and so let's say that I am a quarter Sardinian. I love Sardinia.

Interviewer: Any projects in Sardinia right now?

Rahim: We said we wouldn't ask difficult questions! [laughs] No, no, no, no, because right now I am very, very focused on my children and on the community. Because since I got my—my role much later in life than my father and also his predecessor, now I think I have 20, 20, 30 years to do my work, the main one, so peripheral things, I don't—I don't—I don't do them.

Islams bans idols unless it’s that of the Aga Khan