Ishq-e-Karimi Podcasts: The Light of Ismailism

About Ishq-e-Karimi Podcasts: The Light of Ismailism

Ishq-e-Karimi Podcasts: The Light of Ismailism" is a heartfelt exploration of the rich spiritual, historical, and cultural heritage of the Ismaili community. Rooted in devotion and love for the Imam of the Time, this podcast series illuminates the timeless teachings and profound wisdom of Ismaili thought. Each episode delves into captivating stories, insightful reflections, and inspiring lessons drawn from Ismaili history, poetry, and philosophy. From the spiritual journeys of revered dais and poets like Pir Nasir Khusraw and Al-Mu'ayyad fi’l-Din al-Shirazi, to the mystical connection between the murid and the Imam, the podcast is a treasure trove of soulful narratives. "Ishq-e-Karimi Podcasts" invites listeners to embark on a journey of self-discovery and spiritual enlightenment. Whether you're seeking to deepen your understanding of Ismailism, connect with the community's values, or find inspiration in its legacy, this podcast offers a luminous path to the essence of divine love and knowledge. Let "The Light of Ismailism" guide your soul through the realms of faith, wisdom, and devotion. Join us in celebrating the beauty of Ishq-e-Karimi! www.ishqekarimi.com (https://www.ishqekarimi.com?utm_medium=podcast)

Publisher

Ishq-e-Karimi: Illuminating the Path of Faith, Wisdom, and Devotion

Category

religion & spirituality · religion & spirituality

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

20 Dec 2024

Latest episode

11 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

22 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   11 Oct 2026

   How to Keep Your Faith Alive After Deedar

   Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim… October 10, 2026. As I sit down to write this article, it has been a month since Deedar. In Ismaili philosophy, Deedar holds great importance. But I don’t think we can truly understand its significance until we experience it for ourselves. At that moment, the garden of my heart, which had been deserted and lifeless for so long, came alive again. It began to bloom. Yet, while the Imam-e-Zaman is physically present among us for a limited time, He is always with us in a spiritual sense. And perhaps we don’t fully realise this until we experience it in our own lives. A lot has happened over the past month. I thought I had finally blossomed, and that I would never wither again. But as the days passed, those memories and conversations slowly faded into the complications of everyday life. I got caught up in the same old maze of responsibilities and distractions. Somewhere along the way, I forgot. And then, a strange dryness began to spread through my heart. It wasn’t just that my ego was growing again; I was also feeling a sense of hopelessness. Deep down, I felt I was drifting away from my Imam. And along with that, I was losing my faith. I began to wonder whether that faith would ever return. Perhaps I would simply carry on through life in a materialistic way, enjoying whatever came my way. There would be solo trips, moments of solitude, gatherings with friends, movies, excitement—and, most importantly, my phone and the internet would always be there with me. On the surface, this kind of life sounds exciting, doesn’t it? Travelling wherever I want, having no restrictions, enjoying myself and doing whatever makes me happy. But inwardly, it felt like a glimpse of Dozakh—a kind of spiritual emptiness that I was beginning to experience in real life. Take watching a movie, for example. I would watch it, enjoy it for a while, and then move on. The excitement would fade, and I would be left with the same emptiness. It felt as though something was missing. There was no lasting life in that happiness. Our Hazir Imam’s name is Rahim, a name that reminds us of mercy and compassion. Sometimes, I wonder whether a mother might allow her child to feel hunger so that the child learns to appreciate food. In a similar way, perhaps the Hazir Imam allows us to experience a glimpse of spiritual emptiness, so that we can recognise the value of Jannat—the love of the Imam, Ishq-e-Imam, and the knowledge of the Imam. Not only should we learn to appreciate these blessings, but we should also learn to live peacefully through them. The Imam’s guidance, “Keep your faith alive all the time,” has taken on a deeper meaning for me. Perhaps this is what Jannat feels like in practical terms: keeping our faith alive. This doesn’t mean abandoning everything, giving up our responsibilities, or walking away from the world. It means fulfilling our duties, doing our jobs or running our businesses, while keeping our ethics alive. And, above all, it means remembering the Imam and Allah in our hearts, even in the middle of our everyday activities, allowing Zikr to become as natural as the rhythm of our own heartbeat. Everything has two aspects: Zaahir and Baatin, the outward and the inward. In the same way, ethics also has two aspects: outward ethics and inward ethics. When the Imam is always present before us inwardly, when He remains in our thoughts and hearts, perhaps following ethical principles becomes more natural. It reminds me of the story about Apple, where the child follows the rules because he feels someone is watching him. Perhaps the real question is whether we can develop that same awareness within ourselves—not out of fear of being watched, but out of an inner connection that guides our actions. And perhaps this is what balance really means. A balance between Deen and Duniya. Think about it. Even when we are sleeping, eating, or spending time with our families, our minds often wander back to our jobs or businesses. Sometimes we worry about them; at other times, we simply keep thinking about what needs to be done. If our minds can remain occupied with our work even during those moments, why can’t we also remember our faith and our Imam while we are working? In fact, thoughts about our jobs, businesses, and worldly responsibilities can often leave us anxious. But remembering the Imam can bring a sense of peace to our work, help us approach our responsibilities with a better heart, and make us feel closer to Him. And so, here I am, a month after Deedar, reflecting on everything this past month has taught me. There is so much I have learned, and no matter how much gratitude I express to my Hazir Imam, it will never feel like enough. Insha’Allah, may I never drift away from Sirat-al-Mustaqim, the Straight Path. Ya Hazir Imam, I know I make mistakes. I know I fall short. But I am Your child. Please forgive me. Ameen. Ya Hazir Imam, Shukrana, Imam-e-Zaman. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ishqekarimi.com (https://www.ishqekarimi.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

2. 

   30 Aug 2026

   The Restless Soul and the Longing for Deedar

   Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim, Deedar is a beautiful word. When an aashiq is restless to see his maashuq, and when he gets his deedar, he finds peace. In the earlier times, when there were not even telephones, after engagement two fiancés would long to see each other. In exactly the same way, this is the condition of the soul today. The zahiri deedar of the Haazir Imam has this kind of importance. It is like a reminder that a drop of our soul has become separated in this world from the spiritual ocean of the Imam. When the news of zahiri deedar comes, the heart and soul are at peace, they are filled with excitement, and at the time of deedar the eyes are filled with tears. When the Haazir Imam comes to give deedar, He comes to give that same reminder. Why do the eyes cry? On one side, they are tears of happiness that we got a glimpse of the Beloved. And on the other side, the soul cries in restlessness, asking when I will get salvation and when I will get the opportunity to become one again in the soul of the Imam. When we look at nature, we see that when drops of ocean water come to the shore with the waves, they also run restlessly to go back. When drops of rain fall on the earth, they keep flowing through rivers and streams to merge into the ocean. Even the dirty water of the streams gets filtered and cleaned in the rivers and joins them. But the water which does not flow, which becomes still or stops for some reason, starts collecting dirt and mosquitoes. Exactly in the same way are the conditions of the soul. The one who always remains restless to meet his maashuq keeps making efforts in ibaadat and ilm, but when our heart gets trapped in the web created by the world and remains stuck in it, then it becomes a victim of a strange kind of restlessness which is called anxiety and depression. Restlessness can be positive as well as negative. Positive means the restlessness to attain something, such as receiving the noor of the Imam and becoming fana in it. And negative means remaining in tension among bad thoughts and sorrows. So, through this zahiri deedar, let us immerse ourselves in the complete ishq of the Imam and keep the desire to become one in His noor. Deedar Mubarak Ya Ali Madad. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ishqekarimi.com (https://www.ishqekarimi.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

3. 

   12 Jun 2026

   Technology Saved Our Time… But What Did We Do With It?

   In the blessings and guidance of our beloved Hazir Imam, a humble treasure has been found. Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim O Imam-e-Zaman, through the hurmat of Your Pirs and Awliya, today we humbly seek a little knowledge.Ya Mawla, from Your infinite treasure, bless us with even a single drop. Ameen. The speed with which time is passing — especially over the last few years — makes it feel as though time is slipping through our hands. Events come and go, technology continues to evolve, and new changes constantly knock at our doors. Amidst all of this, the most precious thing we either invest wisely or waste unknowingly is time. In reality, the arrival of technology is meant to make human life easier. But why? So that we may come to recognize ourselves more deeply. And from an Ismaili perspective, so that we may discover the hidden light of the Imam within our souls and attain the true recognition of the Imam of the Time. As Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “And within yourselves — do you not reflect?”(Surah Adh-Dhariyat 51:21) Everything in this world has two aspects — positive and negative. The positive aspect helps make life easier for us, while the negative keeps us distracted and trapped in worries about tomorrow. If a task that once took four hours can now be completed in two, then the remaining two hours can either be used to grow further or simply be lost in habits and distractions. Whatever the case may be, today we stand at such a delicate point in time where we barely find moments for ourselves, let alone for the recognition of Imam-e-Zaman. By Time, indeed mankind is in loss, except those who believe, do righteous deeds, encourage truth, and encourage patience. (Surah Al-Asr 103:1-3) That Imam who, at times, is seen walking among people, at times participating in marathons, is silently giving us a message:“My beloved murids, We are here in this world to help you become complete.” At this point, a question naturally arises:If the Imam has physically manifested Himself in this world, and today anyone can learn through the internet or events who Aga Khan is, then has everyone attained true ma’rifat (spiritual recognition)? The answer is no.The recognition of Imamat is not attained through documents, articles, or outward appearances alone. Physically, one may see a human being, but what truly resides within is Noor and a spiritual kingdom beyond worldly understanding. And this is in accordance with Allah’s promise when He said to Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.): “Indeed, I will make you an Imam for the people.”(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:124) Hazrat Ibrahim (A.S.) then prayed for this blessing to continue through his progeny. So the question becomes: how does the Imam grant spiritual recognition?Indeed, the Imam does — but through the language of signs and wisdom. Allah says in the Holy Qur’an: “We will show them Our signs in the horizons and within themselves until it becomes clear to them that it is the Truth.”(Surah Fussilat 41:53) And also: “Indeed in that are signs for a people who reflect.”(Surah Ar-Rum 30:21) This is why the Imam often guides through indications and actions. For example, when the Imam participates in a marathon, it is not merely about physical fitness. It is also a reminder that just as we strive to keep our bodies healthy, we must also strive to keep our spirituality alive and strong. Only when we are balanced both physically and spiritually can our intellect truly turn toward the Imam. Allah says in the Qur’an: “So race toward all that is good.”(Surah Al-Baqarah 2:148) And: “It is they who hasten to good deeds, and they outstrip others therein.”(Surah Al-Mu’minun 23:61) And among the greatest forms of goodness is humanity itself — and understanding the human soul. Hazrat Imam Shah Karim Al-Husayni (A.S.) once beautifully guided that when we look at the second hand of a clock and see it pass, we should realize that one more second has gone by in which we could have acted upon the Imam’s Farman. Today, not just seconds, but entire years are racing past us. Allama Nasiruddin Sahib beautifully writes in Imam Shanasi: “Allah did not command the rope to hold firmly onto people. Rather, He commanded people to hold firmly onto the rope, so that they do not go astray.” As Allah says: “And hold firmly to the Rope of Allah all together and do not become divided.”(Surah Aal-e-Imran 3:103) Now it depends upon us — with how much sincerity and determination we run toward spirituality, seek the sacred knowledge of the Imam, nurture our intellect, and strive toward the Universal Intellect, so that we may attain the true ma’rifat of the Imam. If there are any shortcomings or mistakes in these humble words, forgiveness is sincerely requested. Yaa Ali Madad This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.ishqekarimi.com (https://www.ishqekarimi.com?utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=CTA_1)

Podcast Authority Score: 14 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

27

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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