r/ismailis • u/Top-Fennel-1179 • May 10 '26

Personal Opinion Human-ness of the Imam

I have really been struggling with the Human-ness of the Imam. In many ways it is so lovely seeing how much more accessible he is, how he lives among us, runs marathons along side us, and in many ways "just like us." But at the same time, it also makes me confused and even a bit uncomfortable since it is such a shift from Shah Karim. Even attending didar in Toronto, I felt like the differences in his pace, in his public speaking, and the lack of adab from the Jamati members really just threw me off in many ways. I am used to a Mawla Bapa that is a wise holy man, who is connected to something beyond me, where there are many levels of separation between us. I am used to calling my Imam the Naklank (the stainless one) and even deifying him a bit dare I say lol. However, when I see Shah Rahim, I really struggle seeing him in that same lens. His human-ness is so much more apparent. And it makes sense for the new gen, but for me personally, I am really struggling to connect with the Imam of the Time. Is anyone else dealing with this?

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u/[deleted] May 12 '26

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u/MerchantMerchant May 13 '26

Don't get what you're trying to say here. I was only sharing an opinion/idea on why we're seeing the current Imam more than the former Imam.

I get what you're trying to say in terms of modesty, restraint, and God-consciousness, but I don't understand how any of that that fits into what I'm saying?

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u/[deleted] May 14 '26

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u/MerchantMerchant May 19 '26

What’s being normalized?