THE ISMAILI CENTRE DUBAI -- "IT IS NOT A PLACE TO HIDE FROM THE
WORLD, but rather a place which inspires us to ENGAGE our worldly work
AS A DIRECT EXTENSION OF OUR FAITH," THE AGA KHAN SAID.
http://www.theismaili.org/?id=255
Photo AFP [LEFT]: 2008, march 26 - DUBAI (AFP) -- The Aga Khan, on
Wednesday inaugurated an Ismaili cultural centre in the Gulf emirate
of Dubai, the first of its kind in the Middle East. The Ismaili
Centre, which houses a library and will host conferences and an early
childhood education programme, will serve as "a place for peaceful
contemplation," he said at the inauguration ceremony. "IT IS NOT A
PLACE TO HIDE FROM THE WORLD, but rather a place which inspires us to
ENGAGE our worldly work AS A DIRECT EXTENSION OF OUR FAITH," THE AGA
KHAN SAID.
Speech by Mawlana Hazar Imam
SPEECH BY MAWLANA HAZAR IMAM
AT THE INAUGURATION OF
THE ISMAILI CENTRE DUBAI
26 MARCH 2008
Bismillah-ir-Rahman-ir-Rahim
^^^^^
Your Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum
Your Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Honourable Ministers
Your Excellencies
Distinguished Guests
Ladies and Gentlemen
As-Salaam-o-Alaikum
Mawlana Hazar Imam addresses the guests at the opening ceremony of the
Ismaili Centre Dubai. Photo: Gary Otte
I am deeply pleased that all of you have been able to join us for the
inauguration of this elegant new Ismaili Centre. Your presence is
itself a symbol of the wonderful diversity that characterizes Dubai.
Your interest and sup****t gives added meaning to our celebration -- as
we honour today a great architectural accomplishment, the exciting
institutional activities for which it will provide a home, and the
remarkable people who have made all of this possible.
Those extraordinary people include, of course, His Highness Sheikh
Mohammad bin Ra****d Al-Maktoum, who has so generously GIVEN THE LAND
for this Centre. Let me express once again, on behalf of the Ismaili
community, our profound appreciation to His Highness and his family.
I am particularly pleased that you, Your Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin
Saeed Al Maktoum have again honoured us with your presence today. You
were so gracious as to WITNESS the ceremony at which the foundation
stone of this Centre was laid a little over four years ago.
And let me also acknowledge, with deepest gratitude, the many other
donors to this project, in Dubai and in so many other places, as well
as those who designed and constructed and decorated this building and
its adjacent park. Your dedication and generosity have been at the
very heart of the long planning and building process which culminates
so happily at this moment.
WE GATHER TODAY AT A SPECIAL PLACE -- AND AT A SPECIAL TIME.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^
We welcome our new Ismaili Centre in a setting which has itself become
a great centre -- a hub of cosmopolitan activity, a truly global
crossroads. We hear a great deal these days about the words
"convergence" and "connectivity." In my judgment, Dubai is a place
where those words truly come to life. Dubai has become the very
embodiment of the global village, placing itself at the forefront of
an enormous surge toward global convergence.
THE DUBAI ETHIC IS ONE THAT HONOURS A GENEROUS EXCHANGE OF
KNOWLEDGE AND IDEAS, THAT WELCOMES THE OP****TUNITY TO LEARN FROM
OTHERS, THAT CELEBRATES NOT ONLY OUR HISTORIC IDENTITIES BUT ALSO OUR
OPEN HORIZONS.
THIS ETHIC OF EXPLORATION AND INTERCONNECTEDNESS IS ONE THAT IS DEEPLY
SHARED BY THE ISMAILI COMMUNITY.
IT IS AN ETHIC, IN FACT, THAT IS FIRMLY ROOTED IN OUR FAITH --
A VALUE SYSTEM WHICH GROWS FROM DEEPLY SPIRITUAL ROOTS.
IT UNDERSTANDS THAT HUMAN DIVERSITY IS ITSELF A GIFT OF ALLAH --
THAT PLURALISM IS NOT A THREAT BUT A BLESSING.
IT SEES THE DESIRE TO EXPLORE AND CONNECT AS A WAY TO LEARN AND
GROW -
NOT TO DILUTE OUR IDENTITIES
BUT TO ENRICH OUR SELF-KNOWLEDGE.
THIS ETHIC EMANATES ULTIMATELY FROM A RELATION****P TO THE DIVINE WHICH
INSPIRES A DEEP SENSE OF PERSONAL HUMILITY --
and a relation****p to humankind which is infused with a spirit of
generous service and mutual respect.
This new Centre is itself a profoundly spiritual place. Its defining
symbolism is inspired by the Fatimid tradition -- stretching back over
1000 years and widely shared with sister traditions throughout the
Islamic world -- from Baghdad to Bokhara. As its architects have so
effectively realized, this building exists fundamentally as a place
for peaceful contemplation, but one that is set in a social context.
It is not a place to hide from the world, but rather a place which
inspires us to engage our worldly work as a direct extension of our
faith.
^^^^^^^^^
Sheikh Mohammad has provided a powerful example of how the ethics of
our Islamic faith can be taken into the world, through his affirmation
of a pillar of Islamic values, the spirit of generosity toward others.
As he wrote recently, and I quote him, "I always ask: How can I help?
What can I do for people? How can I improve people's lives? That's
part of my value system. The Dubai narrative is all about changing
people's lives for the better..."
In that spirit, His Highness, in describing Dubai has replaced the
word "Capitalist" with the word "Catalyst" -- in that it inspires those
who live and work here to greater levels of personal accomplishment.
His philosophy, to paraphrase John Kennedy, calls us to ask "not what
one can achieve for oneself, but what one can help others achieve."
And this, too, is an expression which grows out of deeply rooted
Islamic principles.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
In our Development Network we have used a slightly different
vocabulary to describe a very similar commitment. We like to talk
about building what we call an "enabling environment," one that can
provide what we have called "the spark" which can "ignite" a spirit of
individual determination.
Our Development Network pursues that objective in many places in many
ways -- one apt example is the early childhood education programme here
at the Ismaili Centre -- a long-term investment in moulding human
character at the most formative time of its life.
Of course, we must be realistic about the challenges we face. This is
a region, after all, which Sheikh Mohammad has described as a "tough
neighbourhood" -- the locus in recent years of tragic clashes and
cleavages, including many divisions within Islam itself. And yet at
the same time, this is a region of powerful potential and promise.
That promise will be increasingly fulfilled as the Islamic world
learns to embrace ever more effectively the spirit of fundamental
cohesion expressed so well in the Amman Declaration of 2005, along
with its affirmation that the variety of expressions within Islam is
not a curse but "a mercy."
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That spirit of comity, in turn, can become a great Islamic
contribution to the future of this region -- and to the future of our
world.
Just as Dubai is indeed a very special place, this is also a very
special time. For me this is particularly true because this new
beginning coincides with my 50th year as Imam of the ****a Ismaili
Muslims -- a Golden Jubilee moment which connects the past to the
future for me and in a special way. ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
And that is what this celebration today is all about -- at a time of
demanding challenge, we look for strength and inspiration from our
spiritual and cultural roots.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
My thanks again to all of you for sharing in this special moment.
Thank You.
==
[emphasis added, ali kenadian]
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