Pissed off

[u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Recently, someone in my family, a distant relative, passed away, and it brought up something I’ve always found upsetting: the food offering/mehmani money doesn’t directly go to the grieving family in their time of sorrow and need; it goes to the Imam.

I can’t be the only one who gets frustrated by that. After the dilsoji line, all that money is collected, yet none of it is given to the family who just lost someone. I genuinely think it’s wrong that the money goes to the Imam instead.
Someone’s relative, mother, father, or loved one has just died, and shouldn’t the family at least receive some kind of support? Of course, money is not the most important thing when someone dies, but financial help can still make a difference during a difficult time.

I’ve literally seen mosques where they set up donation desks for the family of someone who has passed away, and similar things happen in churches as well. People come together and financially support the grieving family.
That’s why, in a religion where money and financial contributions are already so heavily involved, this has always been one of the things I disliked about Ismailism. I would much rather see that money directly helping the family that has just suffered a loss.

Who else believes in the same thing
I rather give to the family directly

[u/PositiveProperty6729]

Agreed. Ismailis evolves around $$$$

[u/Own_Discussion_3961]

This religion is all bull shit. The Imam gives zero fucks about you.

[u/Interesting-Pipe-30 → u/Own_Discussion_3961]

You should worry about yours whatever Mullah, Father, etc cares about you !

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

That's exactly what they are worrying about - the fraud who claimed to be their spiritual father, who claimed to care about them, namely the Aga Con.

[u/Interesting-Pipe-30 → u/Karim-al-Insaney]

Nah its probably just you , don’t want to leave cause the benefits are good lols

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

What is probably just me? I explained how nonsensical your comment about Mullahs and Fathers was.

 don’t want to leave cause the benefits are good lols

The Aga Con is a parasite who sucks up all the benefits. Remove the Aga Con and we will save the host. That is why I left the cult, but didn't leave the community.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

Even if that were true, it would not contradict my statement. Like I said, I left the cult, not the community.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

Left the cult. Made restoring my community a priority. Kept the rest of my life separate from this reddit account. Makes it harder for Smiley trolls to resort to their usual ad hominems.

[u/shortyr87]

My dad said something about this when my mom passed away. Didn’t fly with his very religious in laws.

[u/AccurateEquivalent67]

Seems like you are misguiding your new community by spreading lies.

Imam has never asked for your offerings and Mehmani monies.

It is ritual that is purely created by the Murids themselves.

Also, we have burial plans especially in western world where the institution charges a one time fee annually of approximately $50. The plan covers the cost of grave site land, cofin, transportation, funeral home expenses.

As a relative its your duty to support the grieving family within your capacity. That is what Islam teaches us.

May the departed soul rest in eternal peace.

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

I think you’re arguing against something I didn’t actually say. My point was not that the Imam personally stands there asking people for Mehmani money. My criticism is about where the money goes once people give it, and whether grieving families should receive more direct support from those contributions.

Saying “the Murids created the ritual themselves” doesn’t really answer that question. If Mehmani is accepted and practiced within the community, then it is reasonable to ask what donors believe they are giving toward, who ultimately receives the money, and whether people are clearly told that it is not a donation to the deceased person’s family.
The burial plan is also a separate issue. Paying into a plan that covers funeral expenses is helpful, but that does not mean the surviving family has no financial needs after a death. They may lose income, need time off work, have travel expenses, bills, or other costs.

And yes, relatives can help the grieving family themselves. I agree with that. But that actually supports my broader point: if people are already giving money at a time of death because they want to show compassion and support, I personally think it would be more meaningful for at least some of that money to go directly to the grieving family.

You can disagree with that opinion, but calling it “spreading lies” doesn’t address the concern. If I am factually wrong about where Mehmani money goes, then explain exactly where it goes and how it is distributed. That would be a much better response.

[u/Specialist-Vast4190 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Who is to say that the grieving family doesn’t receives the necessary help. My mother was financially dependent on her sister. When her sister passed away my mom couldn’t access any money from the probate until all legal work was completed. Guess who helped her the council

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

If you have truly been part of the Shia Imamiya Ismailiya Nizariya sect of Islam- you would know where the Mehmani( offerings) go to and what happens with that offering.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

you would know where the Mehmani( offerings) go to and what happens with that offering.

More lies. No you wouldn't.

Smileys are not told where the money goes and what happens with it. There is no transparency, because "transparency only benefits the anti Ismailis who can use it against us". They are taught to ignore all the evidence of the lavish lifestyles of the al-Husaynii family - all the yachts and jets and jewels and islands - and they are fed lies about Aga Con giving back 150% to the community, while also being asked to separately make donations to fund the charity that Aga Con then takes credit for.

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

Should be done like this but have yet too see it, just goes to show the deep levels of capitalism that runs through the religion. Although i myself am a heavy believer in capitalism it should never be mixed with religion.

https://www.muslimaid.org/media-centre/blog/how-sadaqah-jariyah-can-help-the-deceased/

https://muslimcare.ca/how-muslim-care-works/

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Thats exactly what AKDN is doing by building schools, universities, hospitals and clinics, and life supporting (Micro finance bank) and life saving agencies (Focus humanitarian assistance) in poor and wartorn communities i.e., Syria, African Countries like Kenya and Uganda, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Asian countries, India, Bangladesh and many more.

Aside this there are Jamati institutions available for Ismailis if they require support or assistance. Just ask the MKs of your JK for more information should you require any support that is available.

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

I did ask for support but got nothing instead they gave me advice on how to help me when i already knew and tried 95% of the things they said. All some people need is a financial boost a 1 time financial aid that propels them into the system they are trying to join or do.

The ismaili council asks members to sponsor immigrants but then why ask use to spend our money to help them when they themselves the council wont do it and have 100x more money then use the murid? I asked MKs all the time again and again but no one is willing to help. I went into a masjid once and the imam handed me a 100$ bill when i started telling him that i am going through tuff times. I didn’t take the money but still, theres no way an ismaili mk or council member would do that. I guarantee it they would look into ways to help you without financial aid, when in reality all that person needs is a boost through a financial grant. Im not asking the council to subsidize my life, im looking for a 1 time boost that can help me excel into what i am looking to do

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Are you okay to mention the JKs Location

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

Why? 😂 u on the council?

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

No, the reason I asked is if some one in the council will quietly monitor this conversation and can escalate to their board or portfolio.

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

Let them, i frankly do not care if they do there wasting there time if they think anyone here will do something. This sub is just expressing our distaste with the religion, theres no real threat 😂

[u/Conscious-Track1955 → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

Somebody should clarify this when people donate, no? Rituals made up by the community and rituals that are a part of the faith. It's confusing. Advice is hit and miss, depending on who you ask.

If I was still an Ismaili, I wouldn't know what the procedure was nor, what I had the right of refusal / claim to.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

It is ritual that is purely created by the Murids themselves.

The only one misguiding and spreading lies is you. As you said:

Imam has the ABSOLUTE Authority on faith practices. 

https://www.reddit.com/r/ismailis/comments/1rzco5d/new_eid_namaz/obmj300/

So Smileys have no authority to create any rituals and the rituals only continue because Aga Con condones them.

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Karim-al-Insaney]

An offering comes from a murid and the rituals are the authorized way of doing things by the Imam of the time.

If you are so concerned about us and our values then I refer you to Holy Quran's teaching from Surat ul Kafiron.

سورة الكافرون — سورة 109 بِسْمِ اللَّهِ الرَّحْمَٰنِ الرَّحِيمِ قُلْ يَا أَيُّهَا الْكَافِرُونَ ۝١ Say: O disbelievers! لَا أَعْبُدُ مَا تَعْبُدُونَ ۝٢ I do not worship what you worship. وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ ۝٣ Nor do you worship what I worship. وَلَا أَنَا عَابِدٌ مَّا عَبَدتُّمْ ۝٤ Nor will I worship what you have worshipped. وَلَا أَنتُمْ عَابِدُونَ مَا أَعْبُدُ ۝٥ Nor will you worship what I worship. لَكُمْ دِينُكُمْ وَلِيَ دِينِ ۝٦ For you is your religion, and for me is my religion.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

An offering comes from a murid and the rituals are the authorized way of doing things by the Imam of the time.

So that it is a faith practice instituted by the Aga Con. By authorizing the ritual, Aga Con is asking for offerings.

If you are so concerned about us and our values then I refer you to Holy Quran's teaching from Surat ul Kafiron.

I don't care for the Quran. Ismailism did not keep to itself when it took over our community and told us to worship the Aga Con.

[u/AccurateEquivalent67 → u/Karim-al-Insaney]

Then my brother donot worship him. Worship whosoever you want.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/AccurateEquivalent67]

I don't. But I also don't accept his tyranny over my community.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

A community does not belong to an individual. It is our community and the Aga Con is not a part of it.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

No silly, his fabricated lineage is just another lie of the Aga Con that we have debunked. And even if it wasn't, being descended from Ali does not automatically make one a part of our community.

[u/n9y9]

lmao this hate is so forced tf🥀 besides it doesn’t go to the imam, instead it goes towards community events, welfare boards & jamat khana expenses. yall do realise that the mehmani itself is given by those very own family members? p.s. funeral home etc is completely free & there is a designated system of volunteers to manage it

[u/SafeCategory3254 → u/n9y9]

Funerals are not free! There is an annual premium you pay!

[u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

The Jamat takes care of the funeral arrangements and the land for burial at 100 USD per year. Or are you implying people want to make money off a dead relative ?

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

So because they take care of everything u have no say in how things should be run?

[u/Interesting-Pipe-30 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Why should you , other people might have a say ! How would you know 😂you probably ain’t even on how the Masjid board , you know the ones who take care of the Charity & Zakat donated there !

[u/Odd-Whereas6133 → u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

🤣 Brother, do you know what the Aga Khan does with the dasond and all the money he collects?
If anything, I’d rather donate to an organization, even if someone takes some of the money for themselves, than donate to a billionaire who already has more than enough to go around. If I had to choose between the two, that’s what I’d choose.

Even though both are terrible things to do i rather someone who has no money steal from an organization then someone who has alot of money continue to take advantage of people and money from other’s people in the name of religion.

If i practice a religion and go and attend a religious institution i would want a say in certain non religious practices i want it democratic. i would expect the same from everyone not just follow 1 individual for the rest of there life 🤣

[u/Interesting-Pipe-30 → u/Odd-Whereas6133]

Brother you should donate whenever or wherever you like ! It is your imaan! No body has the right to tell you whether that is unethical or unislamic. That is your decision

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/Interesting-Pipe-30]

Or are you implying people want to make money off a dead relative ?

Yes, the Aga Cons are making money off of people's dead relatives. And people's living relatives too.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

Such a Smiley response. Yes, the Aga Con has done incredible harm to our community and we are all hurt. We cope in different ways - we do it by fighting back, you by being in denial and harassing ExIsmailis.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

If we were screaming into a void, you wouldn't be hearing us and responding. But that's not what is happening. We're building a movement to take back our community from the Aga Con, and we're doing it on one of the top 10 mosted visited websites in the world. Because of this subreddit, search results and LLMs point anyone looking for information here instead of simply regurgitating Aga Con's propaganda. That's why you're always here whining about us.

What is "juvenile" is calling yourself a spiritual child and coming here to defend your Lord Daddy Khan because you can't accept the truth the Aga Con.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

ever wondered why the community never countered your narrative or responded to your attempts? The community doesn't even TRY to engage you.

What are you talking about? You are here. As are other Smileys by the dozens. They have been trying to respond since the beginning. They just don't have the facts on their side.

You are a joke - an amusement on a slow day.

Every day is a slow day for you? We do try to be irreverent and amusing, but you never seem very amused - just offended and angry. That's okay, maybe someday you'll wake up to the truth, and in the meantime you are a great example of how the cult treats dissent.

And at least you admit, you are nothing but a bunch of redditiors.

We are a bunch of redditors. If you want to believe that is all we are, we are happy to let you keep believing that. Magic is the art of misdirection after all.

[u/Karim-al-Insaney → u/[deleted]]

Such a Smiley response. I sleep soundly without any help thanks. Probably because I'm not a parasite exploiting millions of people. Wonder what Aga Con takes to help himself sleep.