"My wish for the decades ahead is that you stand firmly by the principles and the ethics of our faith. Wherever you are, whatever age you are, whatever you do in your lives, it is essentially important to me that the principles of our faith should be respected every day of your lives. This is my hope and this is my prayer." This was the wish Mawlana Hazar Imam expressed to his murids all around the world at his residence at Aiglemont, France, on December 16, 2016, where his family and leaders of the Jamat had gathered to celebrate his 80th birthday.

A specially designed marquee in the form of a geodesic dome mirrored the haven of shelter, stability and protection that Mawlana Hazar Imam extends over the lives of so many. The 20 triangular faces of the dome represent the 20 Ismaili national councils that oversee the Jamat’s activities and progress.

Chairman Mahmoud Eboo of the Leaders' International Forum wished Hazar Imam 'happy birthday' in multiple languages to reflect the Jamat's diversity and conveyed "our love, our prayers, our felicitations and the good wishes of the entire Jamat from all corners of the world."

An ensemble of 20 singers and musicians from Ismaili communities in Central Asia, South Asia, Iran, Syria, East Africa, Europe and North America performed a musical score composed specifically for the occasion. They demonstrated the innovation that is possible among artists of different cultures, expressing the pluralism and unity of the Jamat.