Browse Programmes
In this special Salgirah edition of The Ismaili Update, learn about the birthday gift presented to Mawlana Hazar Imam on behalf of the global Jamat, and find out how to access the special programming available online today.
Princess Zahra joins us for an exclusive interview where she looks back on 30 years of working alongside Mawlana Hazar Imam, and the lessons she has learnt over the past three decades.
Abdulla Jaffer Lakhpati, widely known as Major Lakhpati, was one of the founding members of the uniformed Ismaili Volunteers in 1919. He was also a poet, an artist, and a scholar. His entire life exemplifies the notions of loyalty and voluntary service to the Jamat, to the Imamat, and to wider society.
Join us for the end-of-month edition of The Ismaili Update featuring top stories from the month of October. Featuring awards for Mawlana Hazar Imam, AKDN institutions and Jamati members around the world, news from the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, a new podcast series, and much
In this episode of At the Aga Khan Museum, join dancer and musician Sashar Zarif and South Korea's neoclassical trio Maegandang as they conceptualize and create an enchanting performance in just one week. Experience how artists from different cultures and languages, who had never met before, collaborate under tight deadlines to produce a unique performance.
It’s great to see you again and we hope you enjoyed the start of Season 2!
Our second episode features Richard McGregor, Professor of Religious Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies at Vanderbilt University. The episode focuses on his work around material objects in islam.
We explore the significance of objects in Islamic religious practices, including a study of the Mahmal and the role it played for 700 years in the Hajj ritual. Professor McGregor discusses how objects serve as powerful symbols of devotion and community, and how their historical and cultural contexts shape their meanings. The conversation also addresses the evolution of relics, opposition to devotional objects in modern times, and the power of museums in shaping how religious material culture is preserved and experienced. The episode concludes with a discussion about why broadening our understanding of religion to encompass its material and spiritual dimensions matters.
00:00 Introduction
03:07 The Mahmal: A Historical Perspective
09:03 The Role of the Kiswah and Political Symbolism
18:05 Relics and Their Significance in Islam
21:02 The Kaaba: Centrality in Islamic Pilgrimage
26:45 The Fatimid Dynasty and Relic Culture
29:55 Modern Challenges to Devotional Objects
33:11 The Role of Inscriptions and Banners
38:52 Community Practices and Interfaith Parades
48:13 The Modern Museum and Secularization of Sacred Objects
50:50 The Future of Devotional Practices
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Our first episode features David Damrosch, Ernest Bernbaum Professor of Comparative Literature at Harvard University and Director of Harvard’s Institute for World Literature. The episode focuses on his work, “Around the World in 80 books”.
Entitled Tales from Muslim Lands, Professor Damrosch takes us through examples of key works from three regions - the Middle East, where he gives examples of Stories Within Stories; Palestine/Israel, which he unites under the theme Strangers in a Strange Land, and Persia, where he takes us from Tehran to Shiraz - showing both the diversity of Muslim narratives and emphasising the interconnectedness of stories across cultures.
We’d love to hear what you think about our new-look Season 2! Share your reflections in the comments below and continue the conversation with us!
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This end-of-month edition of The Ismaili Update features the top stories from the month of September. Join host Safora Shah for all the highlights from Princess Zahra’s trip to India, Prince Amyn in Canada, the Global Encounters Festival, and much more!
In this episode of At the Aga Khan Museum, join multidisciplinary artist Erdem Taşdelen as he journeys through his creative process, influences, and the inspiration behind his immersive audio installation, The Dream That Must Be Interpreted. Additionally, experience a moving performance by Miguel Fernández Ribas, known as El Yiyo. Ribas is a talented flamenco dancer from Sant Roc, Barcelona, with roots in the Roma community.
The Ismaili Sounds is pleased to present Tum aal e Rasool performed by Taufiq Karmali and written by Irfan Gowani. The song honours the legacy of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his progeny.
This end-of-month edition of The Ismaili Update features the top stories from the month of August. Join host Tania Samnani for all the highlights from Prince Aly Muhammad’s trips to India and Kenya, the Global Encounters Camps and Heritage Journeys, and much more!
Experience Tracey-Mae Chambers' site-specific installation, #hopandhealing, as she explores questions of identity and ignites conversations on displacement, decolonization, and reconciliation. In this episode, renowned clarinetist Majd Sekkar joins contemporary artist Kevork Mourad for a mesmerizing performance on the Aga Khan Museum stage, blending live painting animation and music into a unique layered journey.
Coming to you from Delhi, this episode of The Ismaili Update includes highlights of the inauguration of the Humayun World Heritage Site Museum, attended by Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad. The event marked the culmination of over 17 years of work by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture and the Archaeological Survey of India. Join host Aleeq Sitafalwala for all the details.
This end-of-month edition of The Ismaili Update features the top stories from a jam-packed July. Join host Zahur Karim for all the highlights around Imamat Day, news from the Global Encounters Festival, updates on the Ismaili Center in Houston, and much more!
The latest episode of The Ismaili Update features highlights of Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad’s visit to Mumbai, where they attended an Institutional Dinner hosted by the Ismaili Council for India, and visited the Aga Hall Estate project to survey progress at the site. Join host Nisman Parpia for all the details.
The latest episode of The Ismaili Update comes to you from Hyderabad, India, where Prince Rahim and Prince Aly Muhammad began their visit to India. Follow along with host Meher Patel for a visit to the Aga Khan Hostel and Aga Khan Academy in Hyderabad, and a recap of the inauguration ceremony at the restored Qutb Shahi Heritage Park.
In this episode, join contemporary artist Soheila Esfahani as she delves into her installation, Cultured Pallets: Aga Khan Museum. Esfahani guides you through the inception, intricate painting process, innovative laser-cutting techniques, and the placement of her work within the Museum Collections Gallery. She shares her captivating journey from Iran to Canada, providing insights into her settling process and the inspiration she finds in the "in-between." The Aga Khan Museum's Head of Performing Arts, Amirali Alibhai, then sits down with guitarist Michael Murray and singer Jaasmaan Rathore from the Mekaal Hassan Band. Together, they discuss the formation of this unique version of the band. Finally, enjoy a stunning performance by the band on the Museum stage.
It’s the last day of the month, which means it’s time for our monthly round-up of exciting news in the June edition of The Ismaili Update.
For Imamat Day, Professor Azim Nanji joins Sheizana Murji for an interview, “The Imamat in History,” that explores the nature of the Imam's authority in Shia Ismaili Islam and how the Imamat has impacted the global Jamat and wider society. Learn more about our What Ismailis Believe series by visiting https://the.ismaili/whatismailisbelieve.
Join host Erum Fatima for the latest episode of The Ismaili Update, coming to you from Pakistan, where Prince Rahim recently concluded a five-day visit. During his visit, Prince Rahim met with government, Jamati and institutional leaders, and visited AKDN projects in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan’s President, Asif Ali Zardari, conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan on Prince Rahim for his “untiring efforts to improving the quality of life of peoples in resource-constrained regions of Asia and Africa”.
Delve into the captivating world of Shaheer Zazai with Art Lives — a short docuseries that provides an intimate glimpse into the working practices and conceptual approaches of contemporary living artists. Zazai explores the intersection of traditional Afghan carpet design and digital art, transforming his structured methodology by creating intricate carpet designs inspired by gardens in Microsoft Word. Additionally, join Amirali Alibhai, Head of Performing Arts at the Aga Khan Museum, as he engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Brandon Valdivia, also known as Mas Aya. They delve into Valdivia's artistic journey and sources of inspiration, culminating in a mesmerizing performance by the renowned composer, percussionist, and producer.