Hidden Variables (Case Studies)
We studied this Apple founder who was fired from his own company, a "Zahir" failure that was actually a "Batin" success.
Who is Steve Jobs?
If you have a massive exam, "The Shake" is studying hard, and "The Dates" are this.
What is the Grade (or the Outcome/Acceptance Letter)?
Society often tells American Ismailis they have to choose between being "American" or "Ismaili." The Light verse destroys this by saying the Light is...
What is Neither East nor West?
Nur
What is Light?
"What is the purpose of a human being?" The lesson says it is to be this.
What is a Khalifa (Trustee)?
The 1972 expulsion of Ismailis from Uganda looked like a tragedy, but it opened doors for the Jamat to settle in the West. This is an example of a Hidden Variable, or this Arabic term.
What is Batin?
If you feel disconnected from faith, "Shaking the Tree" might look like forcing yourself to do this small act, even if you don't feel like it.
What is going to Jamatkhana (or saying a prayer)?
Values like democracy or respect for elders aren't just "Western" or "Eastern", they are this.
What is Universal?
Ta'wil
What is inner interpretation (or decoding the meaning)?
"Why do bad things happen?" The story of Musa and Khidr teaches us the answer is often hidden in this.
What is the Batin (or the Future/Unseen)?
The Imam spent $30 million building Al-Azhar Park on a garbage dump. Critics said "give the cash to the poor," but the Imam was building this.
What is an economic engine (or long-term institution/dignity)?
A key lesson from Maryam is that feeling anxious or overwhelmed doesn't make you a "Bad Ismaili," it just makes you this.
What is Human?
The lesson asked if you feel like a "split personality" between school and Jamatkhana. This concept suggests that your ethics should be this.
What is Consistent (or the same everywhere)?
Amanah
What is The Trust?
"Is Faith blind?" No, the lesson on Abraham teaches that Faith requires this.
What is Intellect (or Questioning/Reason)?
In the "Autonomous Vehicle" debate, we realized that an engineer must use their "Aql" (Intellect) but also their ethics to value this.
What is the Sanctity of Life?
We are not "Fatalists" (who just wait) and we are not "Materialists" (who think they control everything). We are this.
What are Vicegerents (or Partners with God)?
The Ismaili Imamat is described as "Supra-national," meaning it crosses these lines.
What are Borders (or Nations)?
Barakah
What is Grace (or Blessings)?
"Does God help me?" Yes, but the lesson of Maryam teaches He expects this first.
What is Effort (or The Shake)?
When we hit a "dead end" in life, the lesson of Khidr teaches us that if we could "zoom out" (like the Imam), we might see the dead end is actually this.
What is a turn (or a correction/protection)?
The Imam's advice to youth is to master new technologies, but to always use them within this.
What is the Ethical Framework of our Faith?
The Imam guides us in Din (Faith) and Dunya (World), meaning our spiritual life and this life are connected.
What is Material life (or Career/Secular life)?
Nass
What is the Designation (of the next Imam)?
"Why follow an Imam?" The lesson on Light says we need a "Niche" to focus the light so it becomes this.
What is a Path (or a Beam/Guidance)?