Princess Zahra w/o Mark Boyden, the Next Imam of the Ismailis???

[786lance]

786lance
They imposed it on themselves. let them sort it out.
Islam dose no recognize hereditary Imams.

Aly wrote in article <3403A38C...@worldtel.com>...

>As salaam alaykum
>Brothers and Sisters
>
>In the history of Islam, since the day of its advent some 1400
>years ago, no woman has ever become an Imam or a Khalif,
>of any Sect or Community of Islam, be it a Sunni or a Shi’ah.
>
>Those days are now very near that we may see a woman, married
>to a Christian, becoming the Spiritual Father, Mother and Hazar Imam
>of two million (or less), Agakhani Ismailis. The news report below
>claims an abnormally exaggerated leadership of 50 million Ismailis.
>
>Here is a faithful reproduction of the verified news report published by
>
>one of the leading daily newspaper of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan,
>DAWN (Karachi), of July 12, 1997.
>-----------------------------------------------------------------
>LONDON, July 11: The Aga Khan marked his 40th year as Imam of the
>Ismailis with gifts of a total of 50 million dollars to five
>institutions he
>founded around the world, his office said on Friday.
>
>The funds, in addition to annual programmes, included 10 million dollars
>
>each to the Institute of Ismaili Studies in London, the Aga Khan
>University
>in Karachi, Pakistan's first private university, and the Aga Khan Trust
>for
>Culture, the Aga Khan Foundation and the Aga Khan Fund for Economic
>Development, all in Geneva, Switzerland.
>
>Meeting leaders of the Ismaili community in London, the Aga Khan,
>religious
>leader and Imam of 50 million followers worldwide, said it was now
>"possible, perhaps for the first time in 40 years to look ahead of the
>lurking
>risk of imminent crisis."
>
>Earlier in the day, the Aga Khan said his successor could be a woman
>for the first time in the history of the Ismailis, and refused to
>exclude the
>possibility of naming his oldest daughter, princess Zahra. When asked in
>an
>interview if he intended to choose his daughter to take his place, he
>replied:
>"You know traditionally and historically it's been a man. But the imam
>keeps
>that choice to himself."
>
>Princess Zahra was born in Geneva on Sept 18, 1970. After studying in
>Switzerland, she graduated with a degree in third world development at
>the US
>University of Harvard. Since, she has worked beside her father to
>promote the
>status of women, and has established self-help groups for women in
>Africa and
>Asia. On June 21 this year, she married Mark Boyden, a 35-year-old
>British
>management consultant. She has two younger brothers, Prince Rahim, born
>in
>1971, and Prince Hussain, born in 1974. In March their father divorced
>their
>mother Salima Aga.-AFP
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>Note: AFP stands for Agency France Press.
>-----------------------------
>For the last five years or so, there has been a persistent rumor
>that Princess Zahra could be the next Imam, since her two brothers
>have expressed no desire to follow the footsteps of their father.
>It has been a very very long time that they have not personally
>participated
>or shown any particular interest in the social or religious activities
>of the
>Community. On most of the social occasions Princess Zahra has
>participated
>alone or has accompanied her father.
>
>Upon the basis of undieing rumors, nearly four years ago,
>I had raised a question on an Ismaili Students Net Group called
>ISN-NET, that was then operating from California.
>I was their invited guest. The question was; how would the
>Netters react to the appointment of Zahara as the 50th Imam?
>The answer that came back was; Ismailis prostrate to the
>"Noor of Allah", which is within the body of an Imam.
>Hence, the physical body, be it of a man or a women,
>bears no consequence.
>
>My question today, to the Ismaili Community is;
>Princess Zahra may be accepted by "you" as your 50th Hazar Imam.
>BUT, what about the 51st Imam?
>
>Would you recognize a child, having a Christian Father, as the
>descendant
>of the Prophet (s.a.s.) and a direct descendant of Hadhrat Ali (a.s.)?
>If not, would the Ismaili Tariqah cease to exist after the 50th Imam?
>
>There are several Ismaili Web Sites, having their bases in various
>Universities. Some of these sites have e-mail addresses of the
>participating Ismaili students. It may be a rational idea to question
>these University Students and the Web Masters, on the issues of
>"the lurking risk of imminent crisis" and Princess Zahar - the next
>Imam.
>Insha'Allah, your question may initiate a process of realistic thinking.
>
>Letters bearing any name, other than mine, will have greater impact
>upon an Ismaili.
>
>If you get a serious answer, I would be interested in knowing that.
>
>Was salaam
>
>Akbarally Meherally
>
>
>