I am often asked (and will be asked in the future even more) about the reason of my conversion into the Ismaili Muslim faith. Some of my friends and acquaintances can accuse me of light-mindedness and treason of Christ and the Catholic Church. I understand them. Probably, if I were them I'd do the same. Here I'd like to explain these reasons.

I want to notice that all I've written here are my own opinions and thoughts.
It is not, therefore, the official point of view of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.

Let's read New Testament, Acts, 17:16-18,22-23 :: While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was greatly distressed to see that the city was full of idols. So he reasoned in the synagogue with the Jews and the God-fearing Greeks, as well as in the marketplace day by day with those who happened to be there. A group of Epicurean and Stoik philosophers began to dispute with him... Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "Men of Athens! I see that in every way you are religiuos. For as I walked around and looked carefully at your objects of worship, I even found an altar with this inscription: TO AN UNKNOWN GOD. Now what you worship as something unknown I am going to proclaim to you..."

So, from several ancient idols, Paul chooses nameless one and presents it as his "Cristian" god! What changed? Instead of many gods there is one OF THEM. The alteration is quantitative but not qualitative. Paul's learning even if it propagates one "god" is pagan in essence but it was adapted by the Church. Is it Jesus Christ's religion? Whole spirit of the Gospel sais NO, it isn't!

The opinion that Jesus was not an author of official Christian theology but Paul becomes common for both non-christian and christian scientists (Friedrich Nitzsche, Imad-ad-Dead Ahmad, Michael Hart). The most radical investigation of Paul's negative role in the development of Christian thought is, probably, made by Nitzsche in his Antichrist. There is also a notable Ukrainian politician and publicist who support such point of view, viz, Josyp Terelya, gulag deportee, visionary, and defender of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.

The imperfection of the most religions that claim to be called monotheistic (Judaism, Christianity, some followers of Sunni and Twelver Islam) is the opinion that worshipping many gods must be simply changed by worshipping one (of them). Then such a "god" is assigned by certain features (or has been assined before the transformation into a "monotheistic" one) and is considered as fully of partially comprehensible, i.e. experienced, understood to the believers (or to the priests at least). The "god" like some magician is now ready to hear out peoples' requests. However, it is not monotheism. Naive believing in such a fantastic "god" led straight to the modern atheism, because such a "god" does not exist. Such religions could be called "monoidolatry".

The purpose of the true monotheism is not changing many gods by one, the monotheism does not play with artificial (assigned by peoples) traits of "god" as well. Indeed, He who can be called by English word "God" is incomprehensible and quality less so cannot be experienced and understood (see Qur'an, sura al-Ikhlas). In Islam, there even is not a word with a meaning analogical to the Indo-European "God". There is the 99 names of Him; the most importamt of them - Allah (the only name that cannot be assigned to a perfect man). LA ILAHA ILLA'LLAHU - there is no "god" but Allah (One worthy of worshipping) - this is the first part of the Islamic confession (shahada). That's why I'll use "Allah" instead of "God".

See the 99 names of Allah on Alicia, Amin, & Alnoor's Web Page

Fact of existence of Allah (but not Allah Himself) becames known to mankind through Prophets. The most important of them known to us from history were Adam, Noah (Nooh), Abraham (Ibraheem), Moses (Moosa), Jesus ('Isa), and Muhammad (peace be upon them). It is difficult (if not impossible) to say what kind of relation was between Allah and certain Prophet. Rightness of their claims can be seen by their influence into the World's history. However, those prominent Prophets was only limited time among peoples - very short time on a history scale. To be constantly with Allah religious peoples need a guide - an alive person who is the present proof of existence of Allah. Only through the proof, the leader (imam in arabic) we can seek unity with Allah.

These are, shortly, so called "rational" reasons of my conversion. However, there are "irrational", subjective reasons which are, probably, even more important but impossible to be explained.

Ismaili sites

Alicia, Amin, & Alnoor's Web Page
Ismaili Website constructed by Nina Jaffer with more links!
AgaKhan Ismailis Worldwide (The Cyber Murid - with more links and free e-mail for Ismailis!)
Shaksway's site (Buddhist about Ismailism)
Asian Ismailia Network
The Shia Ismailis of Afghanistan

Ismaili sites

Other Links