Central USA Didar Farman
My Dearest Jamat,
To all my spiritual children, I give my most affectionate loving blessings.
I give blessings for peace, for your good health, for harmony in your families, in your Jamat, in your spiritual and material lives, for unity and for mushkil-asan.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
For those who have been unable to attend today, you are especially with me in my heart and prayers. I pray for your spiritual enlightenment, for your worldly success, for balance in your lives, for your safety and security, for peace and for mushkil-asan.
Khanava'dan.
I also convey special blessings for the eternal peace and rest of the souls of the ruhani members of my Jamat.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
I have accepted the bay'ah pledged by the Mukhi of Dallas Headquarters Jamatkhana. Bay'ah reaffirms the permanent spiritual bond between the Imam-of-the-Time and his Jamat. This is a deeply significant bond. The bond between the Imam and his spiritual children is made in freedom and love.
I care for you. Your Imam cares for your safety and security, for your spiritual and material elevation, and for your happiness and well-being. I will always be connected to you through the bay'ah.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
My Dear Jamat,
My first official visit to the Jamat in the United States has been a very, very happy one. I have felt the warmth and the love of my Jamat, and I've been deeply moved by your emotion. This has been the longest visit I have made to any Jamat so far, but it doesn't feel nearly long enough. [light crowd laughter]
I'm already looking forward to returning to visit the rest of my US Jamat, Insha'Allah, in the very near future. I have been touched by the very warm reception I have received from the mayors of Houston and Dallas, and from the courtesies provided by their administrations. These mayors, as well as those of a number of cities in which my Jamat is based, have presented me the honour of the keys to their cities, and proclamations of welcome and respect.
The courtesies and honours which have been extended to me are a reflection of the standing and reputation of you, my Jamat. The admiration and affection of these civic leaders, for our community confirms to me that my Jamat is capable and talented, and making a positive impact in the communities in which you live. This is a source of immense pride for me.
At the start of my visit, I inaugurated the Ismaili Center Houston. This is the first Ismaili Center in the US, and I was very happy to designate it as the Darkhana of the United States.
It was my father's wish that the Ismaili Center would be an ambassadorial building for our Jamat, a building of elegance, a building containing the representation of faith.
His wish has been fulfilled—more than fulfilled. It is a beautiful building which manifests the confidence and optimism of the Imam and of the Jamat in the US. The Ismaili Center reflects our view of Islam as a faith of peace, of mediation, of bridge-building.
The message of Islam was revealed in the East, but it is a message for all places and for all time. Its values, its ethics, the values of our tariqah—they are as relevant in the East as they are in the West. We can be proud to speak about the ethics of our faith, proud to live by them, and proud to share them with others.
Our values are universal. We can connect with other communities—other religious and secular communities—across and around these shared values.
The Ismaili Center is an asset for you all, for the Jamat, for our friends, for the communities amongst whom we live. I would like my Jamat in the United States, across all of the United States, to use it to strengthen bonds with others.
I have made several farmans over the past few days which address some important issues. All my farmans are for you, and I want you to read them and reflect on them.
Today, I will address some of these topics again.
We are a community who can be trusted.
When we give our word, it has value—it is reliable and respected. When any member of my Jamat breaks that trust, when they mislead or misappropriate from another member of the Jamat, or any other human being, this is unacceptable.
It is behaviour in absolute contradiction to our values. It does harm to the individuals involved, to the reputation of my entire Jamat everywhere, and it can put my Jamat at risk. This is not acceptable to your Imam.
There is never a good time to behave unethically.
I expect every single member of my Jamat, without exception, to be law-abiding and to uphold our values.
And when you do—when you live good, honest, generous, compassionate lives—this makes me very happy.
The ethics of our faith, trusted ethics which we have followed since they were revealed and exemplified through Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, have guided how we live our lives.
They call us to serve, to help people, and to improve the condition of others. When we earn material wealth, we do so not to have more for the sake of having more, but in order to secure our future and to help others.
As we rise, we lift others with us.
When my spiritual children want a better life for others as they want it for themselves, this makes me very happy and proud.
Be generous not because you want others to notice and say, "Look how generous he or she is," be generous for the love of Allah, because you recognize your abundance is from Him and you are grateful.
Be generous because you understand that we are all from a single soul and that we have a responsibility to each other. Be generous for your spiritual benefit.
Whether you are giving to an Imamat institution or to any other organization which works for good, these are the same in my eyes.
All giving is an act of faith.
All giving is of spiritual benefit.
My US Jamat have answered the call to give of your time, of your material wealth, of your knowledge, and have done so most generously. And I say Mubarak to exemplify our ethic of generosity.
My Dear Jamat,
I want my Jamat to live healthy lives. This means taking care of yourselves to prevent illness. Poor diet, insufficient exercise, and social isolation are contributing to poor physical and mental health. Eat nutritious food; avoid food which is convenient but may harm your long-term health; move your bodies every day; and, when you can, get out and play some sports with other people. It is a fun way to be both sociable and active.
There is a link between exercise and mental health, so please, get out and move your bodies. Come to Jamatkhana to pray together and make social connections with each other.
Through our actions, we can propel the Jamat to have better health and happier lives. Your body is a gift from Allah, tend to it with care and respect. If you take care of yourselves, if you become fit and strong, then you can also take care of others. This is good for you, it's good for the Jamat, it's good for wider society.
My Dear Jamat,
Most of you are here today because someone who came before you opened the door and paved the way. We all owe these brave pioneers a debt of gratitude.
As they get older, you have a duty and a responsibility to care for them.
Your lives here have been built on their shoulders, and now it is time for you to be a shoulder for them. Honour them and take care of them.
It is a cause of sadness to me when I hear of isolation of the elderly. We are a caring community. There is never a need for isolation in my Jamat.
I know that isolation has many causes.
Technology has revolutionized our lives. Smartphones, social media and the internet can be useful tools of learning and communication when you're able to control what you use them for. But social media is rewiring our brains in ways which are harmful. It's making us less able to think rationally, critically and deeply, and is contributing to feelings of anxiety, insecurity and isolation.
So let us get off our phones. Pick up a book instead. Go and meet friends and family. Get out and do some exercise. Go for a run.
My Dear Jamat, [delayed crowd laughter]
I have observed with pride and admiration for this visit, hundreds and hundreds of volunteers of all ages serving with dedication and love.
In a very short period of time, you have galvanized your best resources and have arranged a very happy, successful visit for me. I have felt and seen the deep commitment you have made to serving your Imam and his Jamat to the best of your abilities—and your abilities are impressive.
We are so fortunate to have these talented, dedicated resources and leaders working together for the benefit of the Jamat.
Service is one of our most noble traditions, and I'm happy to see young people upholding this tradition.
Voluntary service builds bonds between you and makes our community stronger. Serve whenever you can, not just when I am here. [crowd laughter] Serve the Jamat and the wider community.
For my volunteers, for all those who serve in any capacity, for those who are helping other people and improving lives, I give you my best, best, most loving blessings.
I pray that your service brings you satisfaction, joy and [baraka].
Khanava'dan.
My Dear Spiritual Children,
I have spent much of my time with you this afternoon on issues relating to living a good, meaningful, healthy life.
It is our religious duty to fulfill the potential of our physical lives. But never forget that we are on this Earth for a short time. Ultimately, only our souls are eternal.
How we live our lives can be of spiritual benefit, so live your lives in such a way that your souls are strengthened. Live an ethical life. Live a good life as a way to give thanks to Allah. Take time for the health of your soul. Be aware of it, tend to it. Nourish it with quiet contemplation and prayer.
Today, you will each receive a tasbih from me. Let this tasbih be a reminder to you to keep balance in your life, to remember with gratitude all of Allah's blessings. Give thanks for the gifts in your life. Give thanks for your challenges also, even they are a gift from Allah. Use your tasbih to remember Allah, to call the name of the Prophet and the names of your Imams. Your sincere remembrance will purify your heart and bring you true happiness.
I pray for the purity of your soul, for your spiritual strength, for unity, for your true happiness. I pray for your strength to stay on Sirat al-Mustaqim.
And for muskhil-asan.
Farman upon departure
My Dearest Spiritual Children,
My Mukhis, Kamadias, Mukhianis, and Kamadianis have offered mehmanis on your behalf. I accept these mehmanis, and I convey to each one of you my best, best blessings for your service.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
The President of the Council has offered a most-generous nazrana on your behalf.
I accept this nazrana, and give blessings for your generosity.
I intend to use this nazrana for the benefit of those needing support in the United States Jamat, and in particular, to help and support members of the Jamat who have settled here in recent years.
Your leaders have also presented a very special gift. This generous and thoughtful gift of an important collection of Fatimid coins and glass weights is rich with symbolism.
It is a reminder of a time when the spirit of pluralism was alive and well—and was strengthening society. I want to express my deepest gratitude for this gift and all that it represents. I will treasure it, and it will be a reminder to me of this historic and happy visit.
This has been a very uplifting visit for me. I am so proud of my Jamat, and I am optimistic about your future.
I look forward to returning to the United States soon to visit the Jamats in other parts of the country.
I will be leaving you physically now, but remember that the bond between the Imam and every Murid is permanent. I am taking you with me in my heart.
I never leave you. Your Imam is always with you. Call on your Imam, remember your Imam. He is with you, is caring for you, praying for you, and sending you blessings.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
My Dearest Jamat,
I give blessings for your service. For unity, for generosity, for compassion, for your care of others, and for health and strength of your souls.
I pray for your spiritual health and your physical well-being. And I pray for your safety and security, for peace, for harmony, for mushkil-asan.
Stay firm on sirat al-mustaqim.
Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan. Khanava'dan.
I'm very, very happy—thanks to you.