415)A Collaboration to promote the ISM(Inspiring and Sharing Moments) Photography Competition celebrating Ismailis around the World

"....in Islam, but particularly Shia Islam, the role of the intellect is part of faith. That intellect is what seperates man from the rest of the physical world in which he lives.....This notion of the capacity of the human intellect to understand and to admire the creation of Allah will bring you happiness in your everyday lives. Of that I am certain"(Aga Khan IV, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania, August 17th 2007)


The 2008 ISM Photography Competition has the following Vision:

To share, inspire and celebrate the diversity of the Ismaili community through the art of photography.

Quote of Aga Khan IV:
"I, of course, start with the basic assumption that the world is a much better place because it is pluralist and multi-cultural. Imagine what it would be like living in a world of no diversity, a world where we were all the same colour, shape and size, ate the same biryani, told the same jokes and combed our hair identically. Aside from the fact that my comb, sadly, serves less purpose these days, I would find a world like that quite boring!"

- Excerpt by His Highness the Aga Khan at the Ninth Award Cycle of the Aga Khan Award for Architecture, New Delhi, 27 November 2004


It also has the following Mission:

1)To produce a beautiful Coffee Table Book that will promote diversity and inspire unity of the Ismaili community.

2)To promote the art of photography within the Ismaili community.


Net proceeds from sale of books will be donated to Aga Khan Foundation Canada to support Aga Khan Development Network projects.

The Aga Khan Development Network's (AKDN) mandate ranges from health and education to architecture, culture, microfinance, disaster reduction, rural development and the revitalisation of historic cities. The AKDN has been instrumental in developing schools and hospitals around the world to provide the poor with access to the best education and health care.

For more information go to http://www.akdn.org/


The Deadline for Photographic submissions is FEBRUARY 27TH 2009 at midnight. Details about the Competition can be found at:

http://www.ismglobalphotos.com/

You can also become a fan of the Facebook Group "ISM 2008 Photography Competition" and post your unique photographs at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/2008-ISM-Photography-Competition/79256235491

The Facebook Group for this competition has also linked to my blog on the link between Science and Religion in Islam:

http://www.facebook.com/posted.php?id=79256235491&share_id=29558637898#s29558637898

Photography is an applied science and the photographic images in this compettion are to be about the diverse cultural aspects and visual images of Ismailis, who are part of God's creation.

The much-visited and wildly popular ISMAILI MAIL website has also published both the link to the Competiton and the Facebook Group at:

http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2008/09/16/ism-inspiring-and-sharing-moments-photography-competition/

http://ismailimail.wordpress.com/2008/09/22/facebook-page-of-2008-ism-photography-competition/


Easy Nash

The Qur'an itself repeatedly recommends Muslims to become better educated in order better to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
The Quran tells us that signs of Allah's Sovereignty are found in the contemplation of His Creation: Aga Khan IV(2007)
This notion of the capacity of the human intellect to understand and to admire the creation of Allah will bring you happiness in your everyday lives: Aga Khan IV(2007)
Islam, eminently logical, placing the greatest emphasis on knowledge, purports to understand God's creation: Aga Khan IV(2006)
The first and only thing created by God was the Intellect(Aql): Prophet Muhammad(circa 632CE)