H.H. The Aga Khan celebrated his 80th birthday with his family on 13th December 2016. Later on 16th December, the LIF invited Mowlana Hazar Imam to a birthday party in Aiglemont. members of the Noorani family also attended: Prince Amyn, Prince Rahim, Princess Salwa, Prince Irfan, Princess Zahra...
A short video of the Concert and the Imam cutting the cake, was shown to the world Jamat .
VIDEO: http://ismaili.net/timeline/2016/vid-20 ... wa0001.mp4
On that occasion, Mowlana Hazar Imam said:
Leaders and members of the Jamat, as you can tell I am emotional. But then who isn’t.(Hazar Imam was visibly touched and emotional)
Yes I have reached the age of 80, I am there, but I feel I am 40. Thanks to you all. (laughter). This has been a very very happy occasion for me and I would like to thank everyone who has participated in making this event happen.
I would like to thank our musicians for the wonderful performance and I would like to hope each of you will retain this evening as an occasion of happiness in your lives, that is certainly going to be in my case and for all members of my family who are here.
As I think of the past and I reflect where the Jamat has come from , where It is is today and where we are going in decades ahead . I think we can conclude, the Jamat today is a strong community it is a global community it is a community with strong institutions, & strong ethics and it is respected around the world.
What more can I wish for as the Imam of the time. You cannot give me a greater gift than the ability and the right to say the things I have just said
So to all the Jamat leaders past and present I say first of all on my behalf as Imam of the time, thank you (applause)
As I look ahead the Jamat is likely to be a more and more global community, but the essence of the Jamat, the ethics of our faith, the principles which we believe in and which we seek to practice in our lives is in essence of how our community will stay united, even as we become more and more globalised over the years
So I say to the leaders of the Jamat who are here this evening that my wish for the decades ahead is you must stand firmly by the principles and the ethics of our faith, wherever you are, whatever age you are, and whatever you are doing in your lives , it is essentially important to me that the ethics of our faith should be respected every day of your lives. This is my hope and this is my prayer
This evening I have had a especially happy 80th Birthday, and If had known it was so wonderful earlier, I would have made it to 80 much sooner, and I would have tried to multiply it. (Laughter)
I would like to thank you again for a most wonderful evening and for the particularly very beautiful 80th birthday present
I hope that in the decades ahead you will remember this occasion as one of special happiness, as I do , and I wish you happiness, long life, good health, unity in your lives and in your families
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Salgirah Dinner
with Hazar Imam on Friday 16th Dec 2016
This was a special and an excellent evening in all respects. Thank you for sharing and thank you to Mukhi and Kamadia Sahebans, and to all murids who helped including, volunteers, & the BUI children,
The video included most and especially the speeches, Gift, devotional music, and Farman of Hazar Imam. This is overwhelming with inspirational guidance on what Imam wishes now, and in decades ahead.
Speech by President Liakat to the Jamat
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
Mukhi Saheb, Kamadia Saheb, Mukhiani Saheba , Kamadiani Saheba my brothers & sisters
I would like to say a few words, I mean a few words because after you see the film, you will probably not remember anything I have said (joke);
Last night I was extremely humbled to represent the whole of the UK jurisdiction Jamat. I was privileged to attend the celebration of the 80th birthday of our beloved Hazar Imam, which was hosted by LIF at Aiglemont.
Joining my wife and me was Gulamali Ramji, N Kheraj, chairman of AKF, and Shenul Kassam a board member of ICAB.
We arrived at Hazar Imam's house at 7pm, We walked through the front lit with lanterns. The first portrait we saw was Mawlana Sultan Muhammad Shah. We then walked through to the reception area.
The marquee was beautifully decorated in the colours of Ismaili centres around the world. Chairman Eboo and Shafik Sachedina received Hazar Imam
Chairman Eboo spoke on behalf of the global Jamats. The Food from different Ismaili's traditions and there was also devotional music from the many Ismaili traditions and countries.
Hazar Imam was very happy, constantly smiling and showing his appreciation.
Hazar Imam was presented with a gift on behalf of the global Jamat. This was a mosaic created by Gulji and commissioned in 1989. This reminded me of the mosaic from Gulji we have at the Ismaili centre here in London
Hazar Imam spoke with emotion and his words overwhelmed everyone. The Jamat will hear them in a few moments.
Thank you and Ya Ali madad.
Speech by Chairman Eboo (LIF)
on behalf of the Jamat world wide
Mawlana Hazar Imam, & members of Hazar Imam's family.
This evening is an extraordinary & a special occasion for members of our global Jamat and the leaders who are present here, representing the global Jamat.
Tonight we are blessed with the opportunity to say happy birthday personally to Hazar Imam in the multiplicity of languages and ethnicity of the global Jamat.
We say to you (He wished Imam happy birthday in various languages, incl. Eid Mawlid Saeed, Salgirah mubarak Janam Din mubarak, and a very happy 80th Birthday.
Khudavind we are immensely grateful that Hazar Imam has granted us this opportunity to be with Khudavind, and to convey our love, our prayers, our good wishes, our felicitations, from the entire Jamat from all the corners of the world.
We are also grateful to the Imam's family whose presence we deeply appreciate on this very special occasion in Hazar Imam's life. We are also grateful to Prince Rahim and Princess Salwa to allow young Prince Irfan to also join us today. This must be his first public appearance.
Khudavind your murids come from many different countries ethnicities and backgrounds. What binds us together is our submission to you. You are our Murshid and our spiritual father and in submitting our Bayah to you we are placing our life and destiny in your hands. We refer to you in all we do, in times of happiness , in times of difficulties, in times of success and challenges. Your benevolence and guidance inspires and protects us through our journey in life
We have observed 60 years of Khudavind’s inexhaustible work ethic, and working tirelessly night and day, without a break for our safety our progress and traversing the globe.
We give our Shukhrana to Hazar Imam. Khudavind to all the princes and princesses we offer our deep admiration and gratitude for what they do for you Hazar Imam
We are grateful to Hazar Imam for being gracious in allowing us to be here in Aiglemont in Hazar Imam s presence
We wish to demonstrate in Geomatrics (?); of the Marqee, the diversity of the Jamat and the inter linkages of the traditions and the ethnicities and of the 20 council around the world today, and reflecting and under khudavinds constant guidance
Hazar Imam you are very particular and observant , you will have noticed that the colours on the marquee are the colours of the 6 Ismaili centres around the world. The 20 (parts?) represents the 20 councils who are working towards the wellbeing of the Jamat.
We are offering today a menu of dishes from the many traditions of Ismailis from many countries, and also included are samosas, if Imam wishes to have them (laughter as Imam loves them).
There is also a specially composed fusion of music from the immense musical talent in the Jamat globally. And we will also be requesting Hazar Imam to do us the honour of cutting a cake.
Above all on this special occasion it is an opportunity to reaffirm our undying and unconditional love for our beloved Imam e Zaman , you are our guiding light and you hold our hand with kindness love and compassion forgiving our mistakes and guiding us. In celebrating khudavind,s 80th birthday we pray we are worthy of Hazar Imams love and care.
Above all Hazar Imam we submit our humble prayers for your good Health, happiness, long life and success in all Hazar Imams work and initiatives. And we pray for success in all Hazar Imams ambitions endeavours and aspirations.
Thank you Mawlana Hazar Imam
The GIFT
This was presented to Hazar Imam on behalf of the Entire Jamat - It is a beautiful mosaic of horses by Gulji commissioned in 1989. The reason for this is Hazar Imam and the families interest in Horses and historically by Imams in the past.
