An impossible wish...

[xaf]

On this last day of the year 2008, on behalf of my family and myself, I humbly bow down at the feet of our beloved Shah Karim Al-hussayni Hazar Imam, and from the bottom of my heart extend to Him my humble and sincere shukranas for making our impossible wish come true... He gave us the ultimate honour of attending each and every one of the Golden Jubilee Darbars from August 2007 right upto December 2008. Truly, this has been a most magnificent period of our entire lives, and on this last day of the year, I pray with complete honesty and dedication that next year should be even better, Inshallah! And I openly declare that He and only He is worthy of all the praises... Allhamdullillah!
Here is my summary of the Golden Jubilee visits of our beloved Hazar Imam worldwide:

1. BEST RECEPTION OF OUR BELOVED MOWLA - Hats off to the Madagascar jamat for taking away the prize for receiving our beloved Mowla with the best possible ensemble of five bands, guards of honour, sword-salutes, floral tributes, ethnic dancers, and the most beautiful rendition of the Ismaili anthem, etc.

2. Mowla was very very happy during all His visits. But never have I seen as happy as He was in Nairobi, Madagascar, Mumbai, Chicago, London, Lisbon, Ishkashim, Calgary and Paris. In these darbars He was positively twinkling away merrily. His beloved countenance was wreathed in smiles which never ceased from beginning to end. And this really touched our hearts. I pray from my heart that may we always succeed in keeping our beloved Mowla happy and proud. As this is a summary, I would declare from my own personal view that our beloved Mowla was happiest in Paris.

3. OTHER TOUCHING MOMENTS DURING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

a. Mowla reminiscing about His toto days and sharing with us His childhood memories of keeping rabbits and driving Sir Eboo's car etc. He declared that whenever He thinks about a happy place on this earth no name comes faster than Kenya. Also in the darbar in Nairobi, Mowla said His heart was jumping with joy. These were indeed very touching moments for us.

b. The Presidents of Tanzania and Zanzibar, in their speeches, said that the people of Tanzania love His Highness. They also prayed for His long life and good health and for Him to receive blessings. For non-ismailis to declare such feelings about Mowla was indeed very touching.

c. In Madagascar, during the banquet, Mowla commented that the Madagascar jamat had spoilt Him from the beginning to the end of His visit. I was very touched to hear that.

d. In Atlanta, when Mowla rushed out of the banquet looking for the performers, and expressing so much happiness when He saw them assembled outside the hall was a touching moment.

e. In Mumbai and in London, in the darbars, when Mowla said He had His hand on the shoulders of each and every murid worldwide was a proud and touching moment.

f. In Chicago, and thereafter in so many other darbars, when Mowla expressed an emphatic wish for the jamat to be happy because happiness was a blessing from Allah, when He expressed a wish for the jamat to always enjoy life and be grateful for the happinesses provided by Allah, when in Mumbai, he talked about the happy face drawn by children, all these were touching moments. How much our beloved Mowla cares for us and how much He wants to see us happy and content in life is indeed very humbling. In Lisbon, He specifically instructed the leaders during the banquet to be aware that first and foremost He wished for His jamat to have happiness and for His youth to feel confident and comfortable at all times. Who else but our Mowla can feel so much for us?

g. The clapping outbursts in the London darbar (4 times!) were all very touching moments. The clapping made Mowla even more jovial. That is what we should always strive for.

h. Despite the bitter cold, Mowla put His window down and brought His head out to wave at the gathered jamat in Dushanbe, Ottawa and Paris. A very touching gesture by our Mowla who knew that the jamat would be unable to see clearly due to His car having a tinted window.

i. In Bangladesh, many members of the jamat left the deedar hall and assembled in the hotel lobby (Pan Pacific Sonargaon) as they did not want to miss Mowla's departure from the hotel. In so doing, they missed the lunch at the darbar site. However, due to the grace and mercy of our Mowla lunch was brought over to the hotel and the assembled jamat in the lobby were asked to have lunch as they awaited Mowla's departure. Sources later confirmed that this was due to an instruction received from Mowla. My eyes well over in tears. Our beloved Mowla did not wish His murids to remain hungry as they waited for Him, since His departure was still a couple of hours away. If not touching, then what?....

j. The presence of Princess Zahra and Prince Rahim in Dubai, Princess Zahra in San Antonio, and the grand finale with five members of the noorani family present in Paris during the darbars were touching moments. I was also very touched to see that all five of the Noorani members were with Mowla on 11th July 2008 in Lisbon. That was indeed wonderful! Also in London the noorani family was with our Mowla and that was very endearing.

k. Mowla saying in Tajikistan that No mountain, no valley and no desert can stop the love of the Imam from reaching the jamat, made me have goosebumps. Thereafter Mowla going to the edge of River Panj and waving at the Afgan jamat assembled on the opposite bank and putting His hand on His heart was a tear-jerking moment. Also in Paris when Mowla said that No ocean, no mountain, no desert could separate the jamt from the Imam was a heartwarming moment.

l. Mowla having fun with the jamat - His jokes about broccolli (Lisbon), Vehicles and bumps (London), Joobas (Singapore) and the welcoming sign boards, Prison and Disneyland (Paris) were exciting moments.

m. It was exciting to hear Mowla speaking French in Madagascar, Toronto and Paris. The language sounded like music to my ears as it rolled off Mowla's tongue.

n. The small children of Madrasa in Mombasa singing to Mowla and Mowla blushing and smiling so happily; the villagers in Pemba giving Mowla a gift for Princess Zahra and garlanding Mowla with frangipani; large crowds of non-ismailis gathered and singing and welcoming Mowla happily throughout His visit to West Africa. It is so nice to know that our Mowla is so revered worldwide, even by non-ismailis.

o. Last but not least, Mowla really admiring the chandeliars at the Shangrilla hotel in Singapore every time He came in from outside. I was very touched to see that.

4. BEST SEND-OFF FOR OUR BELOVED MOWLA was seen in Dar Es Salaam where the ensemble was as grand as when He was received. In most countries, the send off for Mowla was lack-luster, although the reception when Mowla arrived was very grand. So kudos to the Tanzanians for giving Mowla an equally grand send-off.

Well, my brothers and sisters worldwide, it was a real pleasure meeting so many of you at various darbars. The jubilees really showed that we are indeed a global jamat, a global community, created from ONE SOUL as said by our beloved Mowla in Mumbai and other darbars.
I take this opportunity to thank all our leaders and all jamats all around the world for welcoming us, making us feel at home, feeding us so well, entertaining us so brilliantly, and letting us enjoy this unique ocassion to the maximum. May our beloved Mowla grant you all with happiness, and may all your wishes be fulfilled. Ameen.
I urge all of you to join me in humble shukranas to our beloved Mowla for letting us be part of this once-in-a-lifetime ocassion and to pray that may we continue to be blessed with Holy zaheri deedars year after year for a long, long, long time. Ameen.
Happy New Year to all ismailis worldwide.

[ShamsB]

On this last day of the year 2008, on behalf of my family and myself, I humbly bow down at the feet of our beloved Shah Karim Al-hussayni Hazar Imam, and from the bottom of my heart extend to Him my humble and sincere shukranas for making our impossible wish come true... He gave us the ultimate honour of attending each and every one of the Golden Jubilee Darbars from August 2007 right upto December 2008. Truly, this has been a most magnificent period of our entire lives, and on this last day of the year, I pray with complete honesty and dedication that next year should be even better, Inshallah! And I openly declare that He and only He is worthy of all the praises... Allhamdullillah!
Here is my summary of the Golden Jubilee visits of our beloved Hazar Imam worldwide:

1. BEST RECEPTION OF OUR BELOVED MOWLA - Hats off to the Madagascar jamat for taking away the prize for receiving our beloved Mowla with the best possible ensemble of five bands, guards of honour, sword-salutes, floral tributes, ethnic dancers, and the most beautiful rendition of the Ismaili anthem, etc.

2. Mowla was very very happy during all His visits. But never have I seen as happy as He was in Nairobi, Madagascar, Mumbai, Chicago, London, Lisbon, Ishkashim, Calgary and Paris. In these darbars He was positively twinkling away merrily. His beloved countenance was wreathed in smiles which never ceased from beginning to end. And this really touched our hearts. I pray from my heart that may we always succeed in keeping our beloved Mowla happy and proud. As this is a summary, I would declare from my own personal view that our beloved Mowla was happiest in Paris.

3. OTHER TOUCHING MOMENTS DURING THE GOLDEN JUBILEE

a. Mowla reminiscing about His toto days and sharing with us His childhood memories of keeping rabbits and driving Sir Eboo's car etc. He declared that whenever He thinks about a happy place on this earth no name comes faster than Kenya. Also in the darbar in Nairobi, Mowla said His heart was jumping with joy. These were indeed very touching moments for us.

b. The Presidents of Tanzania and Zanzibar, in their speeches, said that the people of Tanzania love His Highness. They also prayed for His long life and good health and for Him to receive blessings. For non-ismailis to declare such feelings about Mowla was indeed very touching.

c. In Madagascar, during the banquet, Mowla commented that the Madagascar jamat had spoilt Him from the beginning to the end of His visit. I was very touched to hear that.

d. In Atlanta, when Mowla rushed out of the banquet looking for the performers, and expressing so much happiness when He saw them assembled outside the hall was a touching moment.

e. In Mumbai and in London, in the darbars, when Mowla said He had His hand on the shoulders of each and every murid worldwide was a proud and touching moment.

f. In Chicago, and thereafter in so many other darbars, when Mowla expressed an emphatic wish for the jamat to be happy because happiness was a blessing from Allah, when He expressed a wish for the jamat to always enjoy life and be grateful for the happinesses provided by Allah, when in Mumbai, he talked about the happy face drawn by children, all these were touching moments. How much our beloved Mowla cares for us and how much He wants to see us happy and content in life is indeed very humbling. In Lisbon, He specifically instructed the leaders during the banquet to be aware that first and foremost He wished for His jamat to have happiness and for His youth to feel confident and comfortable at all times. Who else but our Mowla can feel so much for us?

g. The clapping outbursts in the London darbar (4 times!) were all very touching moments. The clapping made Mowla even more jovial. That is what we should always strive for.

h. Despite the bitter cold, Mowla put His window down and brought His head out to wave at the gathered jamat in Dushanbe, Ottawa and Paris. A very touching gesture by our Mowla who knew that the jamat would be unable to see clearly due to His car having a tinted window.

i. In Bangladesh, many members of the jamat left the deedar hall and assembled in the hotel lobby (Pan Pacific Sonargaon) as they did not want to miss Mowla's departure from the hotel. In so doing, they missed the lunch at the darbar site. However, due to the grace and mercy of our Mowla lunch was brought over to the hotel and the assembled jamat in the lobby were asked to have lunch as they awaited Mowla's departure. Sources later confirmed that this was due to an instruction received from Mowla. My eyes well over in tears. Our beloved Mowla did not wish His murids to remain hungry as they waited for Him, since His departure was still a couple of hours away. If not touching, then what?....

j. The presence of Princess Zahra and Prince Rahim in Dubai, Princess Zahra in San Antonio, and the grand finale with five members of the noorani family present in Paris during the darbars were touching moments. I was also very touched to see that all five of the Noorani members were with Mowla on 11th July 2008 in Lisbon. That was indeed wonderful! Also in London the noorani family was with our Mowla and that was very endearing.

k. Mowla saying in Tajikistan that No mountain, no valley and no desert can stop the love of the Imam from reaching the jamat, made me have goosebumps. Thereafter Mowla going to the edge of River Panj and waving at the Afgan jamat assembled on the opposite bank and putting His hand on His heart was a tear-jerking moment. Also in Paris when Mowla said that No ocean, no mountain, no desert could separate the jamt from the Imam was a heartwarming moment.

l. Mowla having fun with the jamat - His jokes about broccolli (Lisbon), Vehicles and bumps (London), Joobas (Singapore) and the welcoming sign boards, Prison and Disneyland (Paris) were exciting moments.

m. It was exciting to hear Mowla speaking French in Madagascar, Toronto and Paris. The language sounded like music to my ears as it rolled off Mowla's tongue.

n. The small children of Madrasa in Mombasa singing to Mowla and Mowla blushing and smiling so happily; the villagers in Pemba giving Mowla a gift for Princess Zahra and garlanding Mowla with frangipani; large crowds of non-ismailis gathered and singing and welcoming Mowla happily throughout His visit to West Africa. It is so nice to know that our Mowla is so revered worldwide, even by non-ismailis.

o. Last but not least, Mowla really admiring the chandeliars at the Shangrilla hotel in Singapore every time He came in from outside. I was very touched to see that.

4. BEST SEND-OFF FOR OUR BELOVED MOWLA was seen in Dar Es Salaam where the ensemble was as grand as when He was received. In most countries, the send off for Mowla was lack-luster, although the reception when Mowla arrived was very grand. So kudos to the Tanzanians for giving Mowla an equally grand send-off.

Well, my brothers and sisters worldwide, it was a real pleasure meeting so many of you at various darbars. The jubilees really showed that we are indeed a global jamat, a global community, created from ONE SOUL as said by our beloved Mowla in Mumbai and other darbars.
I take this opportunity to thank all our leaders and all jamats all around the world for welcoming us, making us feel at home, feeding us so well, entertaining us so brilliantly, and letting us enjoy this unique ocassion to the maximum. May our beloved Mowla grant you all with happiness, and may all your wishes be fulfilled. Ameen.
I urge all of you to join me in humble shukranas to our beloved Mowla for letting us be part of this once-in-a-lifetime ocassion and to pray that may we continue to be blessed with Holy zaheri deedars year after year for a long, long, long time. Ameen.
Happy New Year to all ismailis worldwide.

to add in vancouver..hazar imam wished that he could take the performers at the banquet with him on his aeroplane

[bantu]

Xaf,

Congratulations to you for having made it to (virtually) all the Darbars around the world.

What a great post!

I hope that one day you can write up a descriptive account of your Darbar experience, and share your joy with millions of Murids around the world.

Perhaps, xaf, you can create a blog if you don't already have one and post pictures and other relevant material - you will reach and inspire thousands!

Thank you and may you and your family have a wonderful new year.

And may Hazar Imam shower His blessings on you for peace, happiness and success in every aspect of your life.

[xaf]

Xaf,

Congratulations to you for having made it to (virtually) all the Darbars around the world.

What a great post!

I hope that one day you can write up a descriptive account of your Darbar experience, and share your joy with millions of Murids around the world.

Perhaps, xaf, you can create a blog if you don't already have one and post pictures and other relevant material - you will reach and inspire thousands!

Thank you and may you and your family have a wonderful new year.

And may Hazar Imam shower His blessings on you for peace, happiness and success in every aspect of your life.

Thank you so much for your kind and positive thoughts. I am deciding to write a book about our experiences during the Golden Jubilee Year and the way in which our dearest, beloved, most benevolent Mowla granted this impossible wish and how He came through for us in the most difficult predicaments. Some places were unimaginably difficult to go to but the miracles that happened in order for us to make it there are unbelievable and most humbling. We just bow down completely to His grace and generosity.

ShamsB, thank you for that inclusion. It reminded me of other touching moments that I had forgotten and would like to add in now:

p. It was heartwarming to learn about how Jamats in rural areas in India were transported to the Darbar Centres in Mumbai and Sidhpur via specially-chartered trains entitled "Jubilee Express" and literally hundreds and hundreds of coaches and buses. These Jamats were also so well looked after at the deedar centres, for e.g. loudspeakers all over the arena relayed fervent appeals to all, "not to leave without having lunch"!

q. Despite large crowds, the outside jamats were really well looked after in Syria. Volunteers were most forthcoming in finding good places for us, and during the long hours of wait the people of Salamieh were so cordial, for e.g, they asked their children to sit and mind our places whilst they took us to their homes for refreshments and how sweet these simple offerings tasted because they were from the heart!

r. Love for Mowla in Khorog was overflowing. All the streets were lined with buckets of flowers, bunting and welcome banners were strung up everywhere. People had lit up their houses with festive series lighting and a magnificent taj and welcome signs were put up on the faces of the mountains surrounding Khorog. Also youths were dancing and making merry at various street corners, or at times loudly chanting the salwat and singing qasidas. All these were very enchanting to witness. Similar festivities had also been witnessed earlier in Salamieh. It makes me giddy with joy to realise just how much our beloved Mowla is loved worldwide.

s. Hats off to the amazing people of Vancouver for giving Mowla such a brilliant welcome outside the Pan Pacific Hotel. Never before have I heard so much screaming, shouting and happiness. It was just too good...

t. Many thanks to Governor Perry for the sumptuous dinner he held for our beloved Mowla followed by a grand fireworks display. This was a unique and specialised display solely to commemorate Mowla's jubilee.

I could still be forgetting other touching moments but if any come to mind I will surely keep adding them to my list.

With Ya Ali Madad.