www.ismaili.net

The first objective is to be able to answer clearly the challenges about the integrity of the Qur'an and Muslim history. That relates to everything connected with all Muslim movements, including the Ismailis, which is the subject of this forum. Whether the same criteria of analysis apply to other re...

Admin, with all due respect I feel that your reply is rather patronizing. I realize that most people do not like to have their fundamental beliefs questioned or challenged. But a serious discussion is still worthwhile, without being patronizing.

I understand the distinction, however, the fact remains that the Imam known as Aga Khan is considered to be highly unique, infallible, sinless, and has perfect knowledge of God and religion. It is prohibited to challenge or question anything he or previous imams have taught about Islam etc. It is ha...

It is not as simple as you portray it. There are various serious questions raised by eminent scholars of Islam, the Quran and Arabic about the origin of the Quran and the history of the Muslim religion as presented by the usual Muslim narrative.

According to what you wrote, the Druze are actually Ismaili although they have a belief in the divinity of Ali similar to the Alawites of Syria? And there are other Nusari Ismaili groups that are in secrecy but don't follow the Aga Khan? Does that include the Bohra?

How is it possible that the Ismaili Imams/Aga Khans can be infallible, sinless, etc. simply by becoming the Imam at a certain stage of life. For example, whoever will succeed the current Aga Khan - how is it known about his spiritual status, AND how is it possible that anything taught by the Imam to...

OK, I clicked on that link and will read the article.

Why didn't the Sunnis and Twelvers etc. adopt Ismailism, and how could the Khojas who merge Islam with Hinduism be considered part of authentic Islam?

But specifically, what about all the centuries of takiyya, when Ismailis had to hide their identity? How did they maintain their beliefs and teachings when they had to remain hidden for so many years?
And why did the Persian kingdom adopt Safavi Twelver Shi'ism?

You are right, but in this forum we are talking about Islam. For those revisionists who see that the story of Muhammad is not according to Muslim dogma, and the Quran was written after the time of Abdel Malik in the days of the Abbasids, then there is nothing to hold Ismaili Islam at all.

Unfortunately there aren't many individuals interested in discussing my questions, which is very surprising. The one person who replies only makes bland statements and directs me to an article. For some reason he cannot discuss the issue substantively himself. Very very disappointing....

I think this is a very important subject, and look forward to discussing it. It very hard to imagine how hundreds of thousands of Ismailis for several centuries were able to retain their identity, beliefs and observances while having to hide their being Ismailis.

All forms of Islam depend on the assumption that Muhammad was a divinely appointed prophet, and the Quran a divinely transmitted holy book. All movements assume that, Sunni, Shia, Ismaili, even other movements such as the Bahai. HOWEVER, revisionist scholarship has re-examined the historicity and or...

If I understand this correctly, the Ismaili system is totally different than that of Sunni Islam and even Twelver Shi'a Islam. And if you mean there were previous imams equivalent to Muhammad, Jesus, and Moses, then what is the novelty of Muhammad as a prophet, because someone before Muhammad was al...

So does that mean that the imam is MORE than flesh and blood, and that the Aga Khan is infallible and without sin, and knows everything, and may be prayed to? And is equivalent to all the prophets and to Muhammad?

How is it possible to syncretize religion this way, when Islam is based on the revelation of the Quran to Muhammad, and on the Abrahamic tradition of prophets, and Krishna etc. are based on non-Abrahamic and even polygamous teachings having nothing to do with revelation and commandments of the Abrah...

But why is Ali called the "first caliph" when he was the fourth especially since he accepted the others? And how did Ali acquire so much importance when nothing explicit in the Quran established him as the heir. Certainly if it were explicit, all the Sunni Muslims would have also accepted ...

I am sorry. I found the exchanges on the other thread confusing. How is it possible to conceive of a flesh and blood man such as the Aga Khan to be infallible (this question would be asked about the pope too), and that people would actually pray to the Aga Khan, etc. and that seeing him is like the ...

I am familiar with the theories you have mentioned. But what does it have to do with the Islam of the Quran? Everyone knows that Krishna was said by Hindus to be an incarnation of a god. This violates the principles of Islam, so how could there be ginans that accept this idea from India, and how cou...

Yes, I know. But my question is WHY there are meetings for only those who have taken the oath. What is the secrecy about it?
And also the other question is about the history issue.

Sorry, I am not sure I really understand. Why should there be meetings at the jamatkhana/mosque where non-Ismailis are excluded? If it has to do with hiding the Ismaili identity, as someone pointed out, this problem does not exist now. And regarding this concept of takiya: How did the Ismaili commun...

I have read so many claims that Ismailis pray to the Aga Khan instead of to God, and believe that the Aga Khan (or any previous imam) has some kind of supernatural powers. Is this true, and what is the proof of this claim if it is true?

I do not understand how the acceptance of ginans that compare Muhammad to Krishna, etc. can be accepted by Ismailis because such ideas go against the fundamentals of Islam. A

Thank you, but I am a bit confused because I have seen Ali referred to as the first caliph. But the way you are explaining it, actual caliph authority was in the hands of Abu Bakr, Omar and Othman, and they were considered to be the caliphs.

How different are the teachings at the Ismaili jamatkhanas when the public is invited and when only Ismailis are invited and the general public is excluded? What is the significance of the teachings presented when the general public is excluded?

I am very interested in understanding how the Ismaili community maintained itself, its communal integrity and observances during the centuries before the first Aga Khan when they had to conceal their identities because of persecution. How did the Ismailis maintain their observances and identity duri...

Greetings. I have many questions about Shi'a Islam and Ismaili Islam, but the first interesting issue is the whole subject of the caliphs. If Shi'a and Ismaili Muslims believe that Ali was the first caliph after Muhammad died, how do they view the caliph rulership of Abu Bakr, Uthman and Omar? In ot...