About Us
Who are Ismailis?
"The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (known to the Ismailis as Mawlana Hazar Imam) as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him and his family)."
www.theismaili.org
Creator of the Project
I love photography. It's a lifelong passion that grew as I travelled and wanted a way to preserve memories of the people and places I encountered. I love to inspire emotion from the images I take because a photograph suspends a moment in time, capturing a look, a feeling or a happening. I believe that photography is important to all cultures because it is a medium that allows individuals to express their relationships with the world without words. It is essential to the way we observe, communicate, remember, learn, share and most of all, celebrate.
For sometime now, I've been searching for a way to combine my passion for photography and my desire to give back to my community and to those less fortunate. About five years ago, as I was driving to work along the Bow River in Calgary (Alberta, Canada), I was awestruck by the beauty of the white, misty fog dancing above the river, and while in contemplation it came to me: "Wouldn't it be amazing to put together a book of photography about Ismailis from around the world, and donate the proceeds from the sale of the book to the Aga Khan Development Network." I knew there were many photography books showcasing cultures and countries, but I did not know of one that focused on Ismailis and celebrated our diversity. I immediately decided that this was something I wanted to create and share.
- Ashifa Asaria-Lalani
This project and its creator, Ashifa, are not associated with any of the Aga Khan or Jamati Institutions.
Sincere thanks for your support, input and advice:
- Alnashir Asaria
- Alnoor Devji
- Aly Karmali
- Amir & Daulat Asaria
- Anish Lalani
- Arif & Naila Lalani & Family
- Arzeen & Imtiyaz & Family
- Ashifa Jiwani
- Aziz Bhaloo & Family
- Ayaz Gulamhussein
- Carmen Ryjulin
- David Reyes
- Farah Sunderji
- Farhan Daya
- Farzana Jiwani
- Huma Pabani
- Ismaili Mail
- Jessie Hall
- Malik Merchant
- Moe Somani
- Najib Jamal
- Nazir Sunderji
- Pyarali & Laila Lalani
- Reena Lalji
- Saleema Sunderji & Family
- Shakeel Hirji
- Shellina Lakhdir
- Tara Fleming
If you have any questions you may contact the ISM team at info@ismglobalphotos.com.
