Eleanor Finch
The Ismaili Constitution, also known as The World Constitution, was first ordained, signed, and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday, and the thirtieth year of his Imamat. The constitution was revised in July 1998, marking forty-one years of his spiritual leadership. The Ismaili Constitution is a unifying document that establishes the relationship between the Imam and the members of the community, bringing the global Ismaili community under a common aegis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date signed | 13 December 1986 |
| Signer | Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness Prince Aga Khan |
| Title of signer | 49th Imam of the Ismaili Muslims |
| Type of document | Constitution |
| Community | Ismaili Muslim community |
| Country | Worldwide |
| Type of community | Religious |
| Type of constitution | Social governance |
| Purpose | To secure peace and unity, spiritual and social welfare, to foster fruitful collaboration among different peoples and communities, to optimise the use of resources, and to enable Ismaili Muslims to make valid and meaningful contributions to the improvement of the quality of life in their societies as responsible global citizens |
| Institutions | National, Regional and Local Councils, Central Institutions |
| Institutions' purpose | Provide services to the community in education, health, social welfare, housing, economic welfare, cultural and women’s activities, youth and sports development |
| Institutions' leadership | Chairman and members chosen from Presidents of the National Councils and otherwise appointed by the Imam |
| Institutions' meetings | Periodic |
| Institutions' discussion topics | Matters, activities, interests or questions affecting the Jamat |
| Institutions' powers | Suggestions can be made, but only the Imam has the power to act on these recommendations |
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What You'll Learn
- The Ismaili Constitution was ordained, signed and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986
- The Ismaili Constitution was revised by Mawlana Hazar Imam on July 11, 1998
- The Ismaili Constitution establishes the Leaders' International Forum
- The Ismaili Constitution establishes an International Conciliation and Arbitration Board
- The Ismaili Constitution outlines disciplinary actions for those who subject the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet, etc. to contempt or ridicule
The Ismaili Constitution was ordained, signed and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986
The Ismaili Constitution, also known as "The World Constitution", was ordained, signed and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday. This constitution governs the Nizari Isma'ilis around the world, providing a unifying structure of governance that establishes religiously based institutions.
The Ismaili community is spread across more than 25 countries and territories, and the constitution recognises the differing social, economic, and political realities faced by the Nizari diaspora. It allows for flexibility, enabling various communities to propose rules and regulations specific to their individual needs while retaining overall unity with all other communities through detailed provisions.
The Ismaili Constitution sets out the essence of Isma'ili Shi'i beliefs, affirming fundamental Islamic beliefs and focusing on the doctrine of the Imamate as envisioned within Nizari theology. It establishes the relationship between the Imam and the members of the community, with the Imam guiding the community's spiritual advancement and improvement of their quality of life.
The constitution also establishes various councils and boards, such as the National, Regional, and Local Councils, which are responsible for overall social governance, as well as institutions providing services in education, health, social welfare, housing, economic welfare, cultural activities, and women's, youth, and sports development.
The Ismaili Constitution has been revised over time, with Mawlana Hazar Imam making changes on July 11, 1998, marking forty-one years of his spiritual leadership.
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The Ismaili Constitution was revised by Mawlana Hazar Imam on July 11, 1998
The Ismaili Constitution, also known as "The World Constitution", is a universal constitution that governs the Nizari Isma'ilis around the world. It was first ordained, signed, and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam, His Highness Prince Aga Khan, the Forty-Ninth Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday. The Ismaili Constitution brought together the global Ismaili community under a shared governance structure, aiming to foster peace, unity, and spiritual and social welfare. It also sought to encourage collaboration, optimise resource utilisation, and enable Ismaili Muslims to positively contribute to society.
The Ismaili Constitution establishes a unifying framework for all Nizaris and their religious institutions, which are present in over 25 countries and territories. Recognising the diverse social, economic, and political contexts of the Nizari diaspora, the constitution is designed with inherent flexibility. This flexibility allows individual communities to propose rules and regulations tailored to their specific needs while maintaining overall unity with other Ismaili communities through detailed provisions.
The constitution outlines the responsibilities of various bodies within the Ismaili community, including the National, Regional, and Local Councils, as well as Central Institutions. The National Council, for example, has the authority to approve, deny, or modify disciplinary actions proposed against any Ismaili who violates the constitution or its associated rules and regulations. The constitution also establishes the Leaders' International Forum, which discusses matters affecting the Jamat and makes recommendations to the Imam, who has the sole authority to act on these suggestions.
On July 11, 1998, Mawlana Hazar Imam revised the Ismaili Constitution, marking forty-one years of his spiritual leadership. This revision built upon the foundation laid in 1986, further refining and adapting the constitution to meet the evolving needs of the Ismaili community. While the specific changes made during this revision are not publicly available, it is clear that the Ismaili Constitution is a living document that can be updated as necessary to ensure its relevance and effectiveness in guiding the Ismaili community.
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The Ismaili Constitution establishes the Leaders' International Forum
The Ismaili Constitution was ordained, signed, and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday and thirtieth year of Imamat. The Ismaili Constitution, also known as "The World Constitution", establishes a unifying structure of governance for all Nizaris and their religiously based institutions, which are established in over 25 countries and territories worldwide.
The Constitution sets out the essence of Isma'ili Shi'i beliefs, affirming all fundamental Islamic beliefs and focusing on the doctrine of the Imamate as envisioned within Nizari theology. It also incorporates the designation of Hazrat Ali as Imam, the obedience and bayat to Hazrat Ali and his successors, which are principles that should be understood and retained in the heart of every Ismaili.
Article 4 of the Ismaili Constitution establishes the Leaders' International Forum (LIF). The Forum meets periodically to discuss matters, activities, interests, or questions affecting the Jamat with the Imam, and can make suggestions on how to respond to these matters. However, only the Imam has the authority to act on these recommendations. The structure of the Forum is outlined in Section 4.4, which states that there will be a chairman and members chosen from the Presidents of the National Councils or appointed by the Imam.
The Ismaili Constitution outlines disciplinary actions for any Ismaili who subjects the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet, the Ahl-al-Bayt, Mawlana Hazar Imam, this Constitution, any Rules and Regulations, any Farman, or any Ismaili religious literature or rite to contempt or ridicule. It also establishes an International Conciliation and Arbitration Board, composed of a chairman and six members, all serving three-year terms. This Board is a judicial body that resolves civil and domestic disputes between an Ismaili and a party in another country.
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The Ismaili Constitution establishes an International Conciliation and Arbitration Board
The Ismaili Constitution, also known as "The World Constitution", was ordained, signed, and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday and thirtieth year of Imamat. It was revised on July 11, 1998, marking the completion of forty-one years of his spiritual leadership. The Ismaili Constitution establishes a unifying structure of governance for all Nizaris and their religiously based institutions, which are established in more than 25 countries and territories worldwide.
The Constitution sets up institutions and regulates the relationship between the Imam and the members of the Ismaili community. It clarifies the responsibilities of the Mukhis and Kamadias of jamatkhanas, including performing rituals, registering events like births and marriages, maintaining order, and helping the Councils and other local institutions.
Article 12 of the Ismaili Constitution establishes an International Conciliation and Arbitration Board (ICAB), composed of a chairman and six members, all serving three-year terms. This Board is a judicial body that resolves disputes, both civil and domestic, between an Ismaili and a party in another country. It handles complex international (cross-border) cases and appeals and also hears disputes that remain unresolved by the National Conciliation and Arbitration Boards, as established in Article 13.
The ICAB is part of the global institutional framework of Conciliation and Arbitration Boards (CABs) established by His Highness the Aga Khan in 1986. The CAB system provides dispute resolution services for Ismailis at the regional, national, and international levels, with an emphasis on maintaining harmony and the well-being of the parties involved. The members of the CABs are appointed by His Highness the Aga Khan and serve on a voluntary basis, reflecting the diversity and plurality of the Ismaili community.
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The Ismaili Constitution outlines disciplinary actions for those who subject the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet, etc. to contempt or ridicule
The Ismaili Constitution, also known as "The World Constitution", was ordained, signed, and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday and thirtieth year of Imamat. The Ismailis are the only Shia Muslims to be led by a living, hereditary Imam. The Imam has the power to interpret Ismailis' personal law, which is defined by the Shia Imami Ismaili School of Thought of Islam. The Ismaili Constitution sets up institutions that regulate the relationship between the Imam and the members of the community.
- Subjects to contempt or ridicule the Holy Quran, the Holy Prophet, the Ahl-al-Bayt, Mawlana Hazar Imam, this Constitution, any Rules and Regulations, any Farman, or any Ismaili religious literature or any rite or practice;
- Engages in activity aimed at creating unnecessary conflict between any of the tariqahs of Islam or between Islam and other religions;
- Without the permission in writing of the National Council obtained through the Regional Council within whose jurisdiction he resides, prints, publishes, or circulates any material or makes any statement or convenes a meeting or assembly purporting to be on behalf of or in the name of or relating to Mawlana Hazar Imam, the Ismaili Tariqah, the Jamat, any Council or any other Ismaili institutions;
- Conducts himself in a manner likely to offend the religious sentiments of the Jamat, or to cause disaffection in the Jamat, or to create disturbance or nuance in any Jamatkhana.
Anyone charged with an offense may appear before the National Council, which can approve, deny, or modify the proposed disciplinary action. Those who are expelled may submit an application to the National Council to be re-admitted, and if they die, they may still have Ismaili burial and funeral rites.
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Frequently asked questions
The Ismaili Constitution was first ordained, signed and sealed by Mawlana Hazar Imam on December 13, 1986, his fiftieth birthday and thirtieth year of Imamat.
Mawlana Hazar Imam Shah Karim al Hussaini, His Highness Prince Aga Khan, the Forty-Ninth Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims, signed the constitution.
The Ismaili Constitution is a universal constitution that gives a unifying structure of governance to all Nizaris and their religiously based institutions.
The Ismaili Constitution sets up institutions that help the Ismailis stay connected to their religion and stay faithful while prioritizing their countries of residence. It also establishes the Leaders' International Forum, which discusses matters affecting the Jamat and makes suggestions to the Imam.
