A REPORT OF THE CENTRAL BILAL BOARD AND BILAL MUSLIM MISSION OF TANZANIA VISIT TO IKWIRIRI CENTRE
An entourage comprising of Mohsin Lalji (CBB Chairman), Inayat Alidina (CBB Hon Sec), Riyaz Nasser (BMMT Chairman), Mehboob Somji (BMMT Vice Chairman) and Maulana Syed Arif (BMMT Head of Tabligh) visited Masjid Ahlul-Bayt (A.S.) in Ikwiriri on 20th April 2014, a follow up on the first visit made last year by the CBB Chairman and BMMT Chairman.
The aim of this second visit was to chart out plans to improve the administration of the center, assessment of the opportunities available for Tabligh, improve facilities with quality infrastructure and to see the welfare of the community.
The Resident Muballigheen of the Centre Sheikh Haji Magene, the Chairman, Secretary and members of the Bilal Muslim Mission Committee of Ikwiriri Center were pleased to receive the delegation. The hosts took the delegation on a tour of the centres run by BMMT and other Shia organisations in Ikwiriri.
The Masjid has been built on approximately an acre of land with a borehole and owned by Bilal Muslim of Tanzania. Both the Maalim’s house and the toilets are in bad state and need to be demolished and rebuilt. There is still a large part of this land which can be utilised if need be, but it needs to be secured to avoid any possibilities of encroachment.
A decision was made to build a fence around the Masjid and a contract was given out to a reliable contractor already. The cost of this was generously donated for the Isale-thawab of marhum Asgerali Abdallah Lalji.
Currently Madrassah classes for children and ladies are being held at the Masjid, for the sanctity of the Masjid, many ladies are unable to attend classes every day and also controlling the children to maintain respect of the Mosque is proving difficult. The committee in charge of the centre have requested BMMT to look into possibility to build Madrassah classes which can also be used as nursery school for students in the mornings.
MADRASATUL ZAINUL ABIDIN (AS)
The Madrassah is conducted in a run down facility made of mud and grass thatch facilitated by a Muslim brother in the area. It is not owned by Bilal Muslim Mission. The facility is very small to accommodate about 70 – 80 students in it. There are no desks or chairs available and children are sitting on the floor. The Maalim, graduated from Bilal Muslim Mission Temeke Hawza was teaching the students under the able leadership of Sheikh Haji Magene, he is a volunteer. The Head of Tabligh of Bilal Muslim Mission Tanzania, Seyed Arif and the delegation were impressed with the recitation of the Duas and the Holy Qur’an by the students. It was also observed that the children in this area are very diligent, intelligent and fast learners.
The CBB Chairman Alhaj Mohsin Lalji donated 3 plots out of the property which was available for sale to Bilal Muslim Mission in order to start preparations to build the classrooms and provide modern infrastructure for Madrassah and also a nursery school. Land Sale Agreements endorsed by the Local Government were given to BMMT Chairman for their records. Currently there is only one nursery school in Ikwiriri provided by Pentecostal Church. Providing a combination of Madrasah and Nursery school will be very much appreciated by the majority of the residents, in the town, there is big population of Muslims in Ikwiriri.
MADRASATUL FISABILLILLAH
The delegation visited Madrasah, seen above and discussed the progresses made, challenges being faced and opportunities available to spread Madh’ab of Ahlul Bayt (A.S.), it was felt that there was a lot of potential to tap into if appropriate steps are taken. The number of children is substantial and as majority of the population are Muslims, the parents are pushing children to attend the Madrassah classes. This facility also has been provided by a Muslim brother and its run by Sheikh Haji Magene of Bilal Muslim Mission in Ikwiriri.
MADRASAH Al-KAUTHAR AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
The team also took this opportunity by visiting Madrassah Al-Kauthar, run by another Shia Tabligh organisation. An estimated 250 plus students attends these Madressahs.
It was observed that the students are studying in these Madressahs in a very difficult environment due to the deplorable state of these Madressahs.
The delegation did not have time to visit all centres at Ikwiriri. Insha’allah CBB and BMMT are planning to visit all the centres in the country and attempt to address issues on short, medium and long term priorities.
Central Bilal Board and Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania appeal for contributions from well wishers and those who wish to donate for the Madrassah projects at Ikwiriri which need your support and help.
CBB and BMMT would like to express their sincere appreciation to the family of Mzee Seif of Ikwiriri for the hospitality extended during this visit.
Secretariat
Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania
Head Office, Dar es Salaam