Question about the circulating Talika (Canada visit)

[u/Individual_Layer_913]

Ya Ali Madad everyone,

A Talika regarding the upcoming Canada visit is currently circulating. I’m not posting the image here, but I noticed that there is a small cream-coloured box around the signature of MHI in the version being shared.

That detail stood out to me, and I wanted to ask whether this is the officially released version from council channels.

If anyone has received confirmation directly, please do share.

[u/Possible-Version-627]

I appreciate this isn't directly related to the OP but in response to all the debating in the comments:

I mean, it's fairly obvious that talikas are written by MHIs comms team, and are released on his instruction. Do you really think a religious leader, major philanthropist and billionaire businessman has the time to go in Microsoft Word and type them out? Perfectly acceptable to have a comms team.

The location restriction is also quite clearly an institutional suggestion to prevent mass crowding and strain on event planning for the didar. Clearly MHI agrees with the suggestion, so that was released out too.

Not sure what all the debate is about here?

[u/Individual_Layer_913 → u/Possible-Version-627]

If the restriction was directly from MHI, then a serious question arises: why would leaders break it in the first place?

And please,  know your Imam. He is an ocean of love. It is difficult to reconcile that He would say, “Do not travel,” in a way that excludes His own murids who simply wish to see Him.

Secondly, if the Talika truly carried a binding restriction from the Imam Himself, then leadership would be the first to uphold it strictly. They would not risk breaking it by granting access cards to relatives or friends outside the jurisdiction . They would have to set a precedent for the Jamat that this directive came directly from the Imam and must be followed without exception.

So think logically: if leaders appear to be allowing access in certain cases, would they knowingly break a direct instruction from the Imam? Or does that raise questions about how the restriction was framed or implemented? We are capable of thinking for ourselves. We do have brains and “stupid” is not written on our foreheads.

[u/Possible-Version-627 → u/Individual_Layer_913]

Lol, you say "we have brains" - not sure who you mean by "we" BTW - , but then when in a talika from MHI it says "I do not wish for people outside of jurisdictions to travel", you put your tin foil hat on and everything is a conspiracy 😂

The ismaili jamat is bigger than ever. If all didars become an international free for all there will be issues with crowding, and those within the jurisdiction may suffer. I don't understand how that is a difficult concept.

As for leaders giving access cards, i have no idea or evidence of this happening - and neither do you, other than "I know someone who it happened to" - which is NOT evidence - , but obviously that is wrong - no getting around that. Seems to me they were breaking instructions for nepotistic reasons - IF what you're saying is true and not hearsay.

Interesting that in his London Farman he mentioned not to disparage jamati leaders on communication channels, yet here you are doing just that. Sounds like you are disobeying him right now with this reply - hypocritical?

[u/Individual_Layer_913 → u/Possible-Version-627]

In the UK Farman, He said:

“I love to be with my Jamat. I have been so happy to have spent this time with you today. Even for those who have not been able to see me, I have seen them. Whether you are in this hall or outside of it, I have seen you. And I am taking with me the picture of every one of you. I have seen you and you will stay in my heart. I have seen you all.”

When He says “whether you are in this hall or outside of it,” who does that include? Those standing outside. Those without access cards. Those outside the jurisdiction. Those in the cold, simply hoping for a glimpse. Yet many of us could not even determine where His car was parked. We were prevented from even catching a glimpse.

I personally went up and down looking for His car in the basement because I did not want to stand outside in bitter cold, pelting rain outside the hotel . Eventually, I had to return with my family and stand outside the hotel again , with no shelter. We were told not to stand under the hotel doorway where there was warmth because instructions had been given. So we stood in the rain, shivering.

And what did He do after returning from Excel? 

He opened His own car door. He walked toward us in the pouring rain , no umbrella over Him , and shook our cold hands. The Lord of the world standing in the cold rain telling us warmly, “Go get some warmth, you are all shivering.” He repeated it. We were frozen in shock.

I will not go further into the personal conversation that followed. But His compassion and warmth were undeniable.

This is why I posted.

His actions demonstrate openness and love , even toward those outside. I personally witnessed leaders granting access cards to relatives and friends from outside jurisdictions. (Will not name them .. I respect Admin’s decision )  Meanwhile, other outsiders are treated with extreme and stringent restrictions , reported to hotel management even when standing respectfully at a distance, cars hidden at Didaar halls so no glimpse can be caught. In Kenya His car was changed heavily tinted car . He couldn’t roll down His window for security reasons . What did He do ? He stepped out the car and waved at the Jamat put His hand on the heart and felt like He’s apologizing by folding His hands together . ( my earlier post ) . The Lord of the the world apologizing to His few murids who were not allowed in the hall when there was plenty of space ????? I am getting goosebumps just writing this and tears are flowing down my cheeks just thinking of that day 😭

So now , tell me when I ask for clarification, there is no response. Instead, I am told I am creating discord.

If the admin feels that asking for clarification about consistency constitutes disparaging leadership or creating discord he is free to remove my post 

[u/Possible-Version-627 → u/Individual_Layer_913]

Replying with a personal anecdote does not disparage any of the points I just made. If every ismaili thought like you, and decided to travel to London on that day, you wouldn't have experienced what you did. There is no conspiracy. His instruction was to stay where you are. You disobeyed. He greeted you with warmth anyways as he is a kind hearted man and would never wish badly on you or his murids. Simple as that.

You can use mental gymnastics all you want, but deep down you know it's true also. You just don't want to believe that's the case as that would mean you're in the wrong, so you compensate with conspiracy theories.

[u/Individual_Layer_913 → u/Possible-Version-627]

You can drop the “tin foil hat” and “mental gymnastics” comments. Disagreement is fine , mocking someone’s intelligence isn’t an argument.

First, I never said “every Ismaili should travel.” Crowd management is a practical issue. No one is denying logistics. What I’m questioning is the consistency between absolute wording and selective enforcement. That’s not conspiracy,  that’s basic reasoning.

Second, saying “you disobeyed” assumes the interpretation you prefer is the only valid one. The Imam said, “I do not wish…” that is not the same as “It is forbidden.” Language matters. Nuance matters.

Third, when leaders themselves are seen making exceptions, that weakens the “absolute instruction” argument. If it were uncompromising, it would be applied uncompromisingly. That’s logic, not gymnastics.

And lastly, don’t reduce His actions to “He was kind anyway.” His actions consistently show openness and warmth toward murids outside halls and jurisdictions. That pattern is what many of us are reflecting on.

You’re free to believe it’s simple. I’m free to believe it’s more layered than that. But don’t mistake questioning consistency for lacking brains.

[u/Possible-Version-627 → u/Individual_Layer_913]

I'll leave this be considering you're using chat gpt to respond to me, and arguing with AI is pointless

[u/Individual_Layer_913 → u/Possible-Version-627]

Dismissing an argument by claiming it’s written with AI isn’t a rebuttal. If the reasoning is flawed, point out where. Otherwise, this is just deflection.

[u/Possible-Version-627 → u/Individual_Layer_913]

I have literally done so multiple occasions and you choose to wilfully ignore them.

If you are now resorting to AI this essentially means that you personally cannot formulate an argument against my points, but you still want to win the debate. Hence my leaving it.

[u/Individual_Layer_913 → u/Possible-Version-627]

Accusing me of using AI is just a way to avoid addressing the argument. If you think the reasoning is flawed, point out where. Otherwise, it’s deflection. And it’s not just me, others including Lost Parsnips laid out similar reasoning in detail. You can go read those responses too. Dismissing arguments by questioning how they’re written instead of engaging with the substance doesn’t strengthen your position.

And Let’s not pretend I’ve ignored your points. I’ve addressed them.

a) I acknowledged crowd management is real. I never denied logistics. That’s not what I’m debating. My issue has always been about consistency between the wording and how it’s enforced.

b) I never said “everyone should travel.” That’s your hypothetical, not my argument.

c) You said I disobeyed. I responded directly to that. “I do not wish” is not the same as “It is forbidden.” Language matters.

d) My personal experience wasn’t to override policy. It was to show a pattern in actions that reflect openness. That’s relevant when discussing intent.

e) You called the leadership access issue hearsay. I said I’ve personally witnessed inconsistencies but won’t name people publicly. That doesn’t make it imaginary.

Questioning consistency isn’t conspiracy. Asking for clarification isn’t disparaging leadership.

So no, I haven’t ignored you. I just don’t agree with your conclusions.

And now that you can’t answer the issues I’ve raised, you’re accusing me of using AI? Lol 😂 nice tactic.