Ya Ali Madad,

I was very fortunate to also be in syria during 6th- 11th November, I and a syrian friend who was unable to first leave the UK to go for didar who had never in his life experienced didar, I managed to help him and we went together.

We Landed in Damascus, where Dr Kassir surprised his family that he arrived in Syria. When he spoke to his mother, said that we must go to Allepo as they were very fortunate to be at the AKAA at the old city castle and the today the 7th Hazar Imam was going to be present at the 2001 Award Recipients Seminar, so we left in the early hours to reach Allepo for 8am where we changed and went to the Hotel of His Highness, and with great luck we were able to sit in and watch the programme were I and Dr Kassir felt very happy, as we also saw Princess Zahra and Prince Hussain.

The Programme was very interesting and the closing remarks made by Hazar Imam which are on the AKDN website.

The next day it was a day that I met families and saw the happiness in them of the Hazar Imam comming to Syria.

On the 9th we went together to Salamieh which was about 2 hours drive from allepo. We comming into the city I saw small villages covered in My Flag and everywhere seemed green and red.

As we were entering Salamieh, I saw in the distance the mountains and at the top of the mountain, you could see the word WELCOME that had been made out of large stones.

As we entered the town, many many banners were up saying welcome and welcome guests and also welcome Hazar Imam. The whole town was full of My flag colours and house with Hazar Imams pictures. An experience that Is like no other, a town full of ismailis. I was told over 100,000 ismailis lived in this town and that many more from surrounding towns were also comming.

I could not beleive what I was seeing. Every street had Green and Red colours above it. We settled at Dr Ali Kassirs house that relaxed where then I was invited by Nawras family for dinner, so I went to there house and was also welcomed so nicely, everyone had made me part of there family.

I enjoyed the food and the traditions that they had and how close everybody was. I also met Nawras sister who had just come from al-kawabi from the didar, she had said Casida in front Mowla and she was speechless, she could not explain how she felt, it was the first time in her life to see Mowla.

That evening we walked round the town where it was lit up in green and red with lights showing YA Ali Madad in arabic and My Flag lit up over many shops and houses.

I could not believe what I was seeing, outside many people dancing and cars horning, it was to be a national day for salamieh with 90% ismailies.

We walked to the site of didar where people were still working very hard and opposite people dancing.

After a long walk, we decided to go khane as it was Batual Kyal Majlus that eveing, dua time was 30 minutes ater sunset which was about 5:30pm. We went Khane which was the same as ours here in UK. The Muckhi asked me to sit at the front and the whole jamat was very welcoming to me.

I did not stay for Baitual Kyal as it had not many members and was very private and I felt it may be different, yet I was asked to stay even though not everyone in Salamieh is a member.

That evening after Khane we went back to the their house and and saw on syrian television, highlights of Hazar Imams visit. I spoke to a volunteer, she was getting ready as her duty started at midnight, and Hazar Imam was due to arrive at 10am on the 10th November.

We had all decided to leave for the site, a huge field behind the Agricultual School built by Sultan Mohamed Shah 100 years ago at around 4am. So I went back to Ali Kassirs house and rested for a little while, when I next remember being woken up at 4am and getting ready to go to the field.

Everyone dressed smart and left, it was very cold at this time and all I could see was many people walking towards the field but all calmly.

As we entered, there was many entrances and we were asked if we had cameras, as the jamat were asked to to bring any such items, everyone respected and left there cameras at home.

as we walked in the field, it was dark and there was so so many people everywhere tyring to find a place near the red carpet. We found a nice spot in the middle and sat down. I was very cold at this time but no body minded and everyone was relaxed.

Hours went by and we saw many people entering from all over, sunrised and in the light I it felt like a football stadium filling of people. I just could not believe the number of people that I saw, it was unbeliveable and people wre still entering from all over at 8am. I could still see gaps but I assume that this was because all people wanted to be near the carpet but the field was so large, I guess it could hold 200,000 people.

Well it came to nearly 9:30am and announcements were made to teach the jamat to say Salwat together and what to say when hazar Imam came.

The crowd still felt a little at unrest, then an westeren ismaili I think, came on the stage and sang a ginan, the whole crowd wnet quiet but nobody could understand this. But I guess it did calm the jamat and the volunteers wearing green ties were doing a great job keeping people seated.

Well 10am came and we could hear sirens, everyone could feel Mowla comming, people were shouting and allready crying salwats. Itwas an amazing sight, some had there heads down praying hard, some neeling up to see. I was in the middle of a crowd seated of over 100,000 people.

I could not believe what was happening, what to feel and how to react, then Mowla entered, he walked on the carpet and was smiling at everyone and nodding. People were still crying. I saw people waving, I could not belive this, it was an amzing sight. People round me were shouting please face the stage and please sit down as people were neeling.

So Hazar Imam went on the stage and everyone went quiet. An Ayat from the Quran was read out and then the Casida was sage before Hazar Imam came up to read his Firman, it was in english an I noticed many that could not understand were looking all over and still crying.

Mowla started by addressed his beloved spiritual children and then his muslim brothers and sisters and others faiths the to say 'A Salam Wa Lacum' This was so nice to hear and I guess was said as 10 per cent in the crowd were non ismailis.

Parts of the Firman is given as the speach to the syrians on the AKDN website. At the end of the Firman, Kanavadan was said and the whole Syrian Jamat said 'Ameen' This was then read out in arabic and again the whole crowd went quiet.

Hazar Imam gave his special loving blessing to that jamats all over and also talked about Diversity, importance of education, east and west sharing.

--->>> From The website: http://www.akdn.org/news/news_91101.htm

'The Aga Khan reminded his audience that "the shahada (the Muslim profession of faith), La-illaha-Illallah-Muhammadur-Rasullilah - binds a thousand million people who, over the centuries, have come to live in different cultures, speak different languages, live in different political contexts, and who differentiate in some interpretations of their faith."

I was looking all over and could see people ouldside the field sat on top of high buildings, many many people, it was full of people everywhere.

After the transalation was made Mowla walked down the stage, salwat was said and as he walk on the read carpet, I knew that he would walk to the back of the field where there was chairs that the elderly were sat, I saw people waving again as Mowla walked to the back people stood to, so the could still see Mowla, it was like they did not want him to leave. Announcments were made, please sit down and say salwat in arabic but people were russing to the spaces on the field and so that they could see Mowla leave, I could only see the crowd.

Then when Mowla left, People were ready to leave but announcements was being made, 'please remain seating as Mowla might be sending a letter for the Jamat' but most sat and other were ready to leave or try to see Mowla outside, so much was happening that I was confused as announcements were read in arabic.

After everyone were saying 'Mubarak' and people were so so happy. People could not explain their happiness. As the crown left, if was like after leaving a football game at Wembley where crowds are in stand still as there is no where to move.

Unlike in the west, we all gather and dance at the hall or site, this did not happen. Many people went home, relaxed and outside ismailis from Allepo etc prepared to leave.

It was an experience that I could go on and on as there was so much going on and I am so happy for the Syrian Jamat and am also happy that I help a syrian living in UK to be able to share his happinesss with his family.

On the flight home, I met President of UK Jamat, he said that Mowla has sent Niyaz for the jamats all over and will be given in Khane on Chandraat and also a summary of Hazar Imams trip to syria will be read out to the Jamat.

Inshahlah, the whole Jamat all ovet the world can rejoyce in the syrian Jamats Happiness.

And May Mowla also be able to visit our ismaili brothers and sisters in other parts of the world were there are difficulties for the jamat for such a visit like the Syrian Jamat have had for over 40 years

Ya Ali Madad