ABSTRACT

For the Isma2ilis, the twentieth century will be regarded as a time of social and religious revival. After a long period of time since the fall of Alamut in 1256, Isma2ilis have come back to the center stage of the worlds of Islam. This time, it is through NGO activities in the field of social and cultural development, not through armed political struggle. Various self-help programs to build schools, manage health care service, and preserve architecture of the past under the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN) have been demonstrating the Isma2ilis’ abilities to tackle social problems. It shall be made clear that the AKDN is nondenominational, involving thousands of non-Isma2ilis in its activities. Still, Aga Khan is the honorific title of the Isma2ili Imam, and the AKDN is, as its name suggests, under the general control of the Imamat (office of Imam). Most of the AKDN activities are found in areas where Isma2ilis are predominant. In the Isma2ili communities the NGO activities exist as an integral part of community life along with the religious organizations (for a detailed description of Isma2ili community life, see Nejima 2002).