What Ismailis Believe

Navroz, like new years traditions from other cultures, is a day when families and communities come together. It's a reminder of renewal and a fresh start. It's also a chance to reflect on one’s personal life, to think about achievements and failures during the previous year, and to make resolutions for the new year.

The latest video in our What Ismailis Believe series explains the significance of Mi'raj - the night journey of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his progeny).

The latest video in our What Ismailis Believe series explains the significance of Yawm-e Ali. This week, Ismailis and other Shia Muslims mark Yawm-e Ali to commemorate the birthday of Hazrat Ali (peace be upon him), who is revered by many Muslim communities for his wisdom, piety, and leadership.

Ismaili practices in jamatkhanas are expressions of the spiritual bond between the hereditary Ismaili Imam-of-the-Time and his followers, as conveyed in the pledge of allegiance (bay‘a) that each Ismaili offers to the Imam. They include various forms of prayer mentioned in the Holy Qur’an and other expressions of piety and devotion through which Ismailis seek God’s grace and mercy through the intercession of the Prophet and the Imams. Jamatkhana practices are the sole prerogative of the Imam-of-the-Time and are specific to the Ismaili community.

Jamatkhanas are one of the many types of spaces of gathering and worship found among the world’s various Muslim communities. Today, Shia Ismaili Muslims use jamatkhanas as their primary space of worship and gathering, under the authority of the Ismaili Imam-of-the-Time.