Historical Encounters
This encounter between Muslims and Europeans during the Crusades led to both conflict and cultural exchange.
What were the Crusades?
This concept shows how Islam spread and took on local cultural forms, leading to diverse ways of living and practising the faith.
What is diversity in Islam?
Encounters between people are shaped by the fact that each person brings their own beliefs, goals, interpretations, learned responses, and life experiences into the interaction, which can make understanding each other complex.
Why can encounters between people be complex, even when they are communicating about the same situation or idea?
This means being willing to consider a new idea, opinion or a new way of doing something, even if it's different from your own.
What is open-mindedness?
A student is sitting alone on the first day of class. What is a positive encounter response?
What is welcoming someone and starting a conversation?
This encounter was between Nizari Ismailis and a very strong group from Central Asia that required Ismailis to be strong and resilient in the face of challenging times?
Who were the Mongols?
This fortress was a place where complex encounters took place between Nizari Ismailis and Saljuqs at first and then during the Mongol invasion, it became a safe place for sometime for everyone regardless of their faith.
What was the fortress of Alamut?
"“To listen to your neighbour, even when you may not particularly like him.” Is that message clear? You listen to people you don’t like!" - Shah Karim, Jodidi Lecture
What does accepting diversity look like?
Pluralism asks people to do this, even when they disagree.
What is listening and respecting one another?
Two friends misunderstand each other because of a message. What should guide their next encounter?
What is clarification and respectful communication?
This encounter involved Muslim traders spreading Islam peacefully through trade networks in West Africa.
What was the role of trans-Saharan trade routes in the spread of Islam?
These sacred poems and songs, written by the Pirs in South Asia, blended local languages and traditions to convey Ismaili teachings.
What are Ginans?
"The Holy Quran speaks of how mankind has been created by a single Creator ‘from a single soul…’ – a profound affirmation of the unity of humanity." Shah Karim, MPA Speech, 15 June 2007
Which belief should be at the foundation of all our encounters and interactions with people?
This attitude can prevent us from being open-minded because we think we already know everything about a person.
What is stereotyping or making assumptions?
You are placed in a group with someone you don’t get along with. What mindset should you bring?
What is patience and openness?
This is the city where Muslims, Jews and Christians lived peacefully together during the rule of the Umayyads and worked together to contribute to the growth of their society.
What is Cordoba?
The example of the Seljuk Turks, who originated in Central Asia and transitioned from a nomadic lifestyle to a settled Islamic civilization, demonstrates how cultural encounters can transform societies, beliefs, and ways of life.
In what ways do encounters transform people and societies?
"Remember that your body has been created by Allah. Take care of it. Have respect for your own body, your mind, your health and your emotional welfare." MHI, Farman Mubarak, Motreal, Canada, 26 March
A community where people feel accepted and respected demonstrates this.
What is a sense of belonging?
A conflict escalates during group work and people start exchanging hurtful remarks. What principle from your learning should guide your response?
What is patience, empathy, listening to understand, respect and meta-moment?
These Muslim civilizations created environments where people of different religions and cultures felt respected, and valued.
Who were the Ottomans and the Mughals?
This Mughal capital was built under Akbar and shows a mix of Persian, Central Asian, and South Asian architectural and cultural influences.
What is Fatehpur Sikri?
"If you have worries and concerns, then turn to your Imam. Your Imam is with you. Wherever you are, your Imam is with you. And you are with the Imam. The Jamat is, and will constantly be in my heart, in my thoughts, and in my prayers."NHI, Takht Nashini Farman
What is the role of faith during challenging encounters?
This idea teaches that we have responsibilities not only to people close to us but to all human beings.
What is Cosmopolitan Ethics?
This is your response when in Jamatkhana, you hear a volunteer who is your age, scolding a child for misbehaviour and blaming it on the child’s cultural background.
What does supporting someone who is being stereotyped look like? How can someone respectfully and constructively raise concerns with leadership if they witness cultural discrimination within the community?