Lisbon – 27 May 2024. The Hon Consul-General of His Majesty The King of Tonga in Portugal, Mr Anthony Bailey, was invited and received by the Diplomatic Representative of the Ismaili Imamat, Mr Nazim Ahmad at the Diwan in Lisbon. The former Portuguese foreign and defence minister, HE Luis Amado who serves as a diplomatic adviser to the Ismaili Imamat was also present.
Mr Bailey briefed both parties on the role of faith in Kingdom of Tonga and Mr Azzam outlined the important charitable, educational and hospitaller work undertaken across the world under the leadership of His Highness The Aga Khan.
The Ismaili Imamat is a supra-national entity, representing the succession of Imams since the time of the Prophet Muhammad. The role of the Ismaili Imam is a spiritual one; his authority is that of religious interpretation. It is not a political role; in the contemporary era, the Imams do not govern any land. At the same time, Islam believes fundamentally that the spiritual and material worlds are inextricably connected. Faith does not remove Muslims or their Imams from daily, practical matters in family life, in business, in community affairs. As Mr Nazam explained to the Tonga Hon consul General, faith, rather, is a force that should deepen our concern for our worldly habitat, for embracing its challenges, and for improving the quality of human life.
The Shia Ismaili Muslims are a community of ethnically and culturally diverse peoples living in over 25 countries around the world, united in their allegiance to His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan (known to the Ismailis as Mawlana Hazar Imam) as the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader), and direct descendant of Prophet Muhammad.
The Ismaili Imamat is a hereditary office in succession from the first Imam, Hazrat Ali, the cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, who was married to Hazrat Bibi Fatimat-az-Zahra, the Prophet’s daughter and only surviving child.
On 3 June 2015, the Ismaili Imamat and the Portuguese Republic signed a landmark agreement which enabled the establishment of a formal Seat of the Ismaili Imamat in Portugal, marking a historic milestone. The establishment of a Seat reflects a longstanding relationship between the Ismaili Imamat and the Government of Portugal.
Discussions were also held concerning the Hon Consul General’s recent meetings with Prince Hussain Aga Khan in the USA. The prince is a renowned photographer and conservationist and third son of His Highness The Aga Khan IV, 49th Imam of Nizari Ismaili. His work underpins a deep passion for wildlife and ecosystems and over three decades of expeditions, including many to the Kingdom of Tonga, an extraordinary archive has been created. Tonga, the Hon Consul General learnt remains one of Prince Hussain’s passions having taken some of the most remarkable photos of the humpback whales in the northern Tongan islands of Vava’u.
For more information on the Ismaili Imamat please visit https://ismaili.imamat/
