M. Ali Lakhani

More than ever, there is an urgent need to rediscover timeless and objective principles in order to confront the issues of our times. In this collection of thirty remarkable essays, Lakhani summons us to rediscover the sacred worldview of Tradition, governed by truth, virtue, and beauty, as he addresses some of the most pressing issues today, including fundamentalism, gender and sexuality, religious diversity and pluralism, faith and science, and the problem of evil.

The Timeless Relevance of Traditional Wisdom

Shi`i Ismaili Muslims are unique in following for centuries a living, hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), whom they believe to be directly descended from the Prophet Muhammad. The Imam's duty has been to guide his community on the basis of Islamic principles adapted to the needs of the time. In this insightful book, M. Ali Lakhani examines how the ideas and actions of the current Ismaili Imam, and fourth Aga Khan, Prince Karim al-Husseini, provide an Islamic response to the challenges that face Muslims in the modern era. Prince Karim's programmes, implemented mainly through the broad institutional framework of the Aga Khan Development Network, are aimed at improving the quality of human life among the disadvantaged, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. Addressing global issues ranging from healthcare and education to culture and civil society, the Aga Khan's initiatives are founded on core Islamic principles and values. This book is the first to provide an extensive survey of the Aga Khan's aspirations, showing how the values of integrity and dignity are at the forefront of his work, with the traditional Muslim concepts of cosmopolitanism and social justice guiding his response to the stark challenges of the modern age. At a time when criticisms and misrepresentation surrounding Islam abound, Faith and Ethics explores the religion's universal principles and values, which the author holds to be central to the spiritual and ethical issues facing both Muslims and non-Muslims in the rapidly changing modern world. The book will be of special interest to scholars researching Islam, Muslim faith and ethics and the Ismailis, and to general readers wanting a deeper understanding of Islam.

The Vision of the Ismaili Imamat

Faith and Ethics

Leonard Lewisohn

Reza Shah-Kazemi

This is the definitive introduction to the writings of 'Ali, who was the son-in-law to the Prophet Muhammad, the fourth caliph to Sunni Muslims, and the central figure in Shi'a Islam. Two essays in this anthology won awards at the International Congress on Iman 'Ali, Tehran, 2001. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, pronounced them, among the best writings on this extraordinary figure in Western languages and are obligatory reading for anyone interested in 'Ali.

M. Ali Lakhani

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