Unfathomable Faith
Hard to fathom that there is a branch of Islam that appears to be all that mainstream Islam should be, but yet is not. A branch of Islam, in fact, that mainstream Islam disdains, and holds as inauthentic, demagogic, comprised of impostors; not of the true religion. Would that they were viewed otherwise. The world would be spared much anguish.The spiritual head of the Ismaili Muslims is ready to mark his 50th year of leadership of the relatively small Islamic sect. An estimated 80,000 Ismailis plan to gather in cities across Canada to pray and celebrate their leader's golden jubilee. The largest celebrations in Canada will take place in Toronto, where 30,000 Ismailis reside, and in Vancouver, home to 15,000.
The 70-year-old Aga Khan oversees a multibillion-dollar economic empire, ranging from Switzerland to South Africa, and all places between. And this leader is not shy in expressing his solidarity with and appreciation for Jews and Christians. "The faith of Islam, in the vast majority of its interpretations, is not in conflict with the other great Abrahamic traditions", he asserts.
"Instead of shouting at one another, our faiths ask us to listen, and learn from one another. As we do, one of our first lessons might well centre on those powerful, but often neglected chapters in history when Islamic and European cultures interacted co-operatively and creatively to realize some of civilization's peak achievements."
There are fifteen million Ismaili Muslims worldwide. They represent a large enough number, but yet are a fraction of the over one billion Muslims worldwide. That they are held in such low esteem as interlopers, false Muslims by the majority is indeed to the detriment of the majority Muslims, and the world at large.
While the world does not see philanthropy and generosity from the Muslim world at large, it is otherwise with Ismaili Muslims. Throughout his jubilee year, the Aga Khan plans to travel to dozens of countries encouraging development aid, opening schools and cultural centres and generally advancing his conviction that the dreadful tensions beleaguering the world is a fall-out of deep ignorance on both sides.
"I am deeply convinced that the fundamental roots of this crisis are infinitely more political than they are theological", he claims. He is, furthermore, convinced that while interfaith conflict appears to be the cause of upheaval, it is really the politicization of faith that has led to the dreadful consequences we experience today.
Unfortunately, he doesn't quite appear to address the fundamental problem of determined jihadism in the equation.
He is right in claiming there to be a massive deficit in understanding and an enormous knowledge vacuum, brought about by impatience and a lack of subtlety and nuances in peoples' attempts to deal with differences. The Aga Khan himself is beyond reproach as a human being and a leader of his people.
As chairman of the Aga Khan Foundation for Economic Development employing over 36,000 people worldwide through a network of businesses, from a hydroelectric project in Uganda, to micro-credit institutions lending money to poor Asians, and a mobile telephone company with 1.3 million subscribers in Afghanistan, his involvement in world affairs is far-reaching.
He terms Canada's political and social system to be representative of "the most pluralistic country on the face of the Earth", and plans to build, in collaboration with the federal government, a Global Centre for Pluralism, a think-tank for the promotion of "culturally diverse societies".
His commitment to furthering the cause of understanding between peoples and world peace cannot be denied.
As a Canadian, it's rather fascinating to listen to the words of this man as he describes this country as having structures and institutions in support of diversity and pluralism that set it apart from most other countries; in fact, as he would have it, a model to be adopted worldwide.
What a wise head is he. Now if we could only pacify the beast that is mankind and encourage it to live peacefully one on one.
Labels: Heroes and Villains, Human Fallibility, Religion
posted by Pieface @ Wednesday, July 11, 2007
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