My Dear Brothers and Sisters,

On the occasions of Mi'raj and Navroz, we wish you and your loved ones a very special mubarak!

The night of Mi'raj reminds us of the importance of spiritual search, of the role of prayer, of reflection and of contemplation. It connects us to what is important, constant, and central to our lives.

The spirit of Navroz is one of faith, hope, prosperity and happiness. As the first day of spring and the beginning of the New Year, Navroz also represents the changing of the seasons, a time of warmth, sunlight and bounty. May the New Year bring to you and your families comfort, peace and connection.

It is our hope that today, each household will make an active connection. Reach out to call friends, family, and acquaintances and wish each other a Navroz Mubarak. And yes, post a selfie and share a hashtag. Share with each other the warmth of your voices, the joy of conversation, and the sound of laughter. Share your experiences, stories, hopes, and concerns. As a community, we celebrate in times of happiness, but we also carry each other through times of difficulty. 

In keeping with this spirit of connection and engagement, this year, Navroz will be commemorated with a special broadcast to commence at 5:00 p.m. Eastern on iicanada.org/live. A selection of online Navroz activities and programmes will also be available for you to participate in with your families, at iicanada.org/navroztogether. We hope you will take the time to come together with the rest of the Canadian Jamat, for this historic event.

We understand that these are times of increased concern and anxiety. The global situation continues to evolve rapidly, and each day brings a variety of new developments. Rest assured that the safety and security of the Jamat remains, and will continue to remain, our first priority. We will meet our challenges together, by acting rationally, with diligence, with sound judgment, and with care and affection. And we will come through it together, as we always have.

Throughout the country, countless volunteers across the entire spectrum of Jamati Institutions are working to ensure the safety and security of the Jamat. From our Mukhi, Kamadia, Mukhiani and Kamadiani Sahebas who are in touch with Jamati members, to our volunteers on the Access line. From those working to provide essential services, to those who are delivering groceries, and mjuch more. You are on the frontlines, living the values of service and compassion, every day. For your hard work, commitment, care and selflessness, we express our sincerest and utmost appreciation. Thank you.

We express our gratitude for the constant protection, guidance and grace of our beloved Imam. And we pray for the health and protection of the global Jamat, for the easing of all their difficulties. We wish you today, at this critical time in history, a most special Navroz Mubarak.

Ameerally Kassim-Lakha
President, Council for Canada

Karim Thomas
Vice-President, Council for Canada

Dr. Kabir Jivraj
Chairman, Tariqah and Religious Education Board for Canada

Al-Nawaz Nanji
Chairman, Conciliation and Arbitration Board for Canada

Azmina Damji
Chairman, Grants and Review Board for Canada

Dr. Nazmudin Bhanji
Darkhana Mukhi

Mes frères et sœurs,

En cette période d’incertitude mondiale, beaucoup d’entre nous se sentent perdus et essayent encore de comprendre ce qui se passe. Avec les nouvelles que nous apprenons quotidiennement, il est clair que nos gouvernements, communautés et nous tous y compris, nous efforçons de prendre les bonnes décisions rapidement et prudemment. De ce fait, un véritable climat de stress et d'inquiétude pèse sur nous tous.

Mais nous ne sommes pas seuls. Nous sommes tous confrontés à ces enjeux, et ensemble, nous veillerons à prendre soin les uns des autres. Nous formons tous une seule famille, unie par l'amour que nous portons à notre Imam, et les uns envers les autres en tant que frères et sœurs, ainsi que par nos valeurs communes qui sont la compassion, la bonté et le désir d’aider son prochain.

Pour beaucoup d'entre nous, les fermetures temporaires des Jamatkhanas ont été particulièrement éprouvantes et nous ont profondément bouleversés. Nos Jamatkhanas représentent le cœur de notre communauté. Ce sont des lieux de rassemblement, de célébration, de réflexion et de prières. Néanmoins, comme nous l'a rappelé Mawlana Hazar Imam, notre tradition est de celles qui mettent fortement l'emphase sur la quête spirituelle et la réflexion individuelle. Notre lien et notre affection les uns pour les autres, ainsi que pour l'Imam du temps, transcendent les limites de l'espace physique. Comme le dit le Coran : « À Allah seul appartiennent l'Est et l'Ouest. Où que vous vous tourniez, la Face (direction) d'Allah est donc là, car Allah a la grâce immense; Il est Omniscient. »

Nos Mukhi, Kamadia, Mukhiani et Kamadiani sahebas sont toujours disponibles pour soutenir les membres plus vulnérables du Jamat, en particulier les personnes âgées, et continuent de prier pour le bien-être et la sécurité de leurs Jamats.

Nos institutions Jamati travaillent ensemble, sans relâche, pour faire tout ce qui est en leur pouvoir afin de s’assurer que les membres du Jamat demeurent en sécurité, en contact les uns avec les autres et également avec leur Tariqah. Un effort sans précédent sera déployé pour que le Jamat reste lié. Nous nous rapprocherons les uns des autres au travers de formations en ligne, de webinaires et de programmes électroniques. Des contenus supplémentaires dans différentes langues seront partagés avec le Jamat dans les prochains jours.

En dépit de tout, profitons de cette occasion pour faire quelque chose que nous n'avons pas souvent le temps de faire : prendre contact avec nos familles et nos proches. Que ce soit par téléphone ou virtuellement, trouvons le temps de nous parler, d’échanger sur notre présent et de partager notre espoir en l'avenir. Nous avons maintenant la possibilité de nous consacrer plus volontiers à ces activités que nous ne l'avons eu par le passé. Prenons également le temps de tendre la main aux plus démunis et faisons en sorte qu'ils sachent eux aussi qu'ils ne sont pas seuls.

En cette période, l’usage de la technologie pour rester en contact avec nos familles et nos amis est essentiel. Toutefois, il est important que nous l’utilisions de façon judicieuse et réfléchie, pour répondre à notre besoin de communiquer. Les institutions du Jamat travaillent à fournir une panoplie de programmes instructifs en ligne et répondant aux divers segments du Jamat. En attendant, je vous invite à consulter les différents sites qui existent déjà. Parmi ceux-ci figurent the.ismaili, l'Institut des études ismaili, le Réseau Aga Khan de développement, ainsi que le Musée Aga Khan. Notre équipe du BUI travaille également d'arrache-pied à fournir du contenu éducatif, amusant, motivant et accessible à domicile pour les familles et leurs enfants. Nous comptons lancer de nouvelles plateformes d'éducation religieuse destinées aux adultes et nous serions heureux que vous nous fassiez part de vos suggestions à ce sujet dans les prochains jours.

Nous vous sommes reconnaissants de votre patience, compréhension et aide. Inshallah, nos commémorations de Navroz demain nous permettront de nous reconnecter les uns aux autres d’une nouvelle manière. Soyez assurés que nous célébrerons le Kushiali de Navroz le jour de la réouverture de nos Jamatkhanas, mais avec un sentiment accru de gratitude et d'espoir, et une bonne dose de célébration !

Prions pour la paix et la sécurité du Jamat dans le monde, pour l'apaisement des difficultés, pour la santé et la protection de tous en tout temps, et pour la protection et la bienveillance constantes de notre bien-aimé Imam.

Kabir Jivraj

Chairman, Ismaili Tariqah and Religious Education Board for Canada

"The symbol of the garden as a spiritual symbol goes back to the Holy Qur’an itself – where the garden ideal is mentioned many times.  Down through many centuries, Islamic culture has continued to see the garden as a very special place, where the human meets further proof of the divine… The garden of Islamic tradition is also a place where the flow of refreshing water reminds us of divine blessing.  It is a place for meditation, and quiet renewal.”

Mawlana Hazar Imam, Edmonton, October 16, 2018

In recent days, the global Covid-19 pandemic has taken up the majority of news coverage, social media activity, and general communication. The threat of coronavirus is serious, though it’s important to retain some perspective and remain hopeful.

In time to come, few of us will forget the strange weeks of March 2020. Vacant trains, quiet streets, empty supermarket shelves. Right now, as we wonder how worried we should be, fear and panic is spreading exponentially faster than the virus itself.

As human beings, we’re uncomfortable with uncertainty. We want to know what’s happening around us, and notice when something is threatening. When uncertain, we can feel stressed and uneasy.

At the present time, many people are naturally worried about the coronavirus Covid-19. Reactions to the ongoing crisis can include feelings of fear, overwhelm, helplessness, and despair. Those with existing mental health conditions such as OCD or generalised anxiety have it even worse. 

The World Health Organisation has advised those who are prone to feeling anxious or stressed to avoid watching, reading, or listening to news which exacerbates these feelings.

In our history, the Ismaili community has overcome numerous challenges in various parts of the world. A global crisis like this presents an opportunity to come together and face the challenge with a sense of hope and resolve as One Jamat.

A sense of hope

In a speech at the Aiglon College in Switzerland in 2014, Mawlana Hazar Imam spoke of the potential of hope in times of uncertainty, saying:

“And you will be asking yourselves how, as nano-players on the global scene, you could cause positive change to happen for yourselves, your families, your peoples. My answer is: hope. Fortunately, just as fear can be infectious, so hope is infectious. When individuals and families and communities, or even nations, come together around new found hope… that new momentum can be unstoppable. The smile replaces the frown. Conversation replaces silence. Fear of the future is replaced by confidence to respond to its challenges.”

Hazar Imam continued to say, “the actual process of replacing fear with hope rests with every individual in his or her society… And they can become an enormous source of growing strength and reassurance for one another. I hope that that will happen to you.”

Among the ongoing uncertainty, there are reasons to be hopeful. Scientific research has shown that 15 times as many people recover from Covid-19 as don’t. In other words, the vast majority of people who contract the disease will survive, and fortunately, children are largely unaffected.

In addition, just as confirmed cases in Europe and North America are rising, case numbers are falling in East Asian countries where the virus first took hold. 

Speaking about the spread of the virus, Shafik Sachedina, Head of the Department of Jamati Institutions, said, “The science tells us that this crisis will pass. It may take some time, and will likely have a significant impact, but eventually, it will pass. In the meantime, as a global Jamat and as responsible citizens, we should communicate responsibly and care for each other during this challenging time.”

Communicating responsibly

We need to be careful about the information that we consume and share. Rather than sharing everything “as received,” it makes more sense to stop and question if the message is authentic or not. Rather than spreading fear unnecessarily, we can spread hope instead.

A number of unverified and incorrect messages have been circulated among the Jamat on WhatsApp. Sharing false information can be hurtful and harmful to ourselves and others. If you happen to receive such messages, pause, and think about the source, content, and accuracy before forwarding on.

Incorrect information purporting to be from reputable organisations such as UNICEF and Stanford University with advice on avoiding the virus have been shared thousands of times, along with so-called remedies and cures. 

The truth is that there is currently no known cure. Credible information can be found from official government resources and health ministries. Email and social media updates from The Ismaili website and national Jamati institutions are also trusted sources of information.

In the absence of a cure at the moment, protecting the vulnerable is crucial to mitigate the negative impact of the Sars-CoV-2 virus. Let us help and support each other.

Caring for others

As a community, Ismailis have always cared for one another in times of need. During the days and weeks ahead, we should turn our attention to the most vulnerable in our families, neighbourhoods, and wider society. 

What can you do to help an elderly member of the Jamat, or someone with an underlying health condition? Perhaps delivering groceries and supplies if it’s safe to do so, arranging a healthcare consultation, correcting misperceptions, or spending time with them on the phone. In the event of school closures, are you able to look after a child while their parents are at work?

Caregivers should practice extra precautions, and families should have a backup-plan in case the primary caregiver becomes sick. Self-isolation has been shown to work in situations like this.

While that might sound boring or even scary, there’s another way to look at things. We are often encouraged to find opportunity in a crisis. This could be a chance to take a different perspective, and break out of a standard routine.

Finding opportunity 

One opportunity in this case could be to spend more time learning. The digital world has plenty of upsides. Being connected online means it has never been easier to learn or try something new.

Rather than worrying about things you cannot control, you might choose to spend time learning a new language, trying a new recipe, practicing a musical instrument, or engaging in a new hobby like knitting, painting, or meditation.

Also, just because you can’t visit loved ones, doesn’t mean you can’t stay connected. Being away from school or work also provides an opportunity to reach out to friends and family members, to check how they are coping, ask whether they are sufficiently prepared for all eventualities, and to share a sense of hope for the future.

In time, we may become more isolated than usual, but we are not totally separate or by ourselves. Practicing one’s faith through personal prayer can build resilience and fortitude.

There are challenging weeks ahead, though we don’t have to navigate this difficult journey alone. Times like this offer a chance to strengthen our sense of community. As a global Jamat, we are fortunate to have brothers and sisters close by and far away, all over the world. We are all in this together.

When we come to look back upon the strange weeks of March 2020, the world may feel very different, but our sense of community will remain everlasting.