On Friday May 28th I had the privilege of attending the Foundation Ceremony for the Ismaili Centre, The Aga Khan Museum and park in Toronto. This event was conducted by His Highness Prince Karim Aga Khan, who is the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims and founder and Chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). Accompanying his Highness was his brother, Prince Amyn, his sons Prince Rahim and Prince Hussain, and his daughter-in-law Princess Khaliya. Also in attendance, were a number of civil society leaders and federal politicians including Prime Minister Stephan Harper and Leader of the Opposition Michael Ignatief.
After the ceremony was complete I struggled to find the words to describe the significance of the Aga Khan’s generous contribution. I knew that nothing I could say would do this project justice. It wasn’t until I woke up the following morning to a Toronto Star headline that read “No gift ever given to Toronto is more beautiful than the Aga Khan’s” that I realized what the Aga Khan had bestowed upon not only Torontonians, but all Canadians.
The Aga Khan’s project, which will be crafted by several world-renowned architects, from Japan, India and Lebanon, all working together with a Canadian firm, is comprised of three elements. These elements include an Ismaili Centre featuring a circular prayer hall, dedicated to spiritual reflection, while other spaces will provide for a deeper engagement with the broader community among which Ismaili’s live. An Islamic Museum, which will be the first of its kind in the Northern world. And finally, a welcoming park that will connect these two buildings together and which will be designed to resemble the traditional Islamic gardens in Al-Humbra, which flourished during the great era of Spanish history, when Jews, Christians and Muslims lived together harmoniously. All of these projects are a reflection of the Aga Khan’s commitment to Canada, which he feels serves as a beacon to the rest of the world for its devotion to pluralism and championing of cultural diversity. Taken together, the projects are spaces that will bridge peoples and cultures, while creating lasting legacies for dialogue.
Although the Ismaili Centre, park and museum will indeed be rich in beauty, this beauty extends far beyond the aesthetic and architectural merit of its design. The true appeal of the Aga Khan’s project lies not in the vast gardens, glass domes, or serene pools that these grounds will showcase. The true beauty lies in the concepts and ideologies this project seeks to promote, and in the message that it sends to the world. This message is one that Prime Minister Harper described at the ceremony as being “dedicated to the promotion of ethnic, cultural and religious interchange, education and harmony and is one that truly inspires our own hopes for a better world”.
Muslim societies comprise over a quarter of the world’s population, yet many people, particularly those who reside in the Western world, have limited knowledge of Islam. The Aga Khan’s project helps those who are currently blinded by a veil of ignorance, with an insight into the plurality within Islam and the relationship that Islam has with other traditions. The Aga Khan continuously assures us that once this veil is lifted we will all be able to recognize that what our societies are experiencing is not a clash of civilizations, but rather a clash of ignorance.
In order for our society to progress and thrive in the future we must be open to understanding and embracing diversity. We must no longer dwell on the differences between various cultures and religions. Instead, we should embrace our commonalities so that we can live together in peace and harmony.
As the Aga Khan so eloquently stated in his closing remarks, “this project is a proud gift from our generation to future generations- even as it celebrates so fittingly what past generations have given to us”.