'HAZAR' means 'PRESENT' and 'LIVING'. 'IMAM' means 'GUIDE'. 'HAZAR IMAM' means 'PRESENT AND LIVING GUIDE'.

Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) was the last of all the Prophets and therefore no other Prophet was to come after him.

Allah's guidance for mankind could not stop. After Prophet Muhammad (s.a.s.) it continued through the Imams.

Hazrat Mowla Ali (a.s.) was the first Imam and Mowlana Shah Karim al-Husayn) is the Present Living Imam.

Hazar Imam is Mowla Ali.

There is always an Imam in this world.

Imam is the NOOR of Allah.

The world can never be without an Imam.

Imam has to be 'PRESENT' and 'LIVING' to guide the believers on SIRAT AL-MUSTAQIM.

Imam guides the believers by making Farmans. His Farmans are to be obeyed.

We e Ismailis believe in Allah, His Prophet and the Imam and we therefore say in our SHAHADA (KALIMAH):

LA ILAHA ILL-ALLAH MUHAMMAD-UN RASULU-LLAH ALIYYUN AMIRUL MU'MINEEN 'ALIYYULLAH which means:  There is no god but Allah,  Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah,  Ali, the Master of believers is from Allah.