LOOKING AT THE OTHER SIDE ………………………………………
An Eid Message from the then President of The World Federation of K.S.I. Muslim Communities, Marhum Mulla Asgharali M.M. Jaffer – 1st Shawaal 1410 (27th April 1990)
In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.
The holy month of Ramadhan has passed. It was a month of spiritual rejuvenation. And the thin crescent of Shawaal has heralded the advent of Eid-ul-Fitr, a day of fulfillment and rejoicing.
Imam Ali (A.S.) says In Nahjul Balagha: ‘Surely, it is a day of joy for those whose fasts have been accepted and whose acts of worship have been blessed. Any day that passes in obedience to Allah is indeed a day of Eid.’
But among all the flourish of joy, fanfare and ostentatious display of delight, let us not forget thousands of Muslims to whom Eid-ul-Fitr is just another day. There in the distant countries, I can see an old mother, expectantly peeping out of a small window, waiting for her son to return. I can see a bride who wakes up every morning to find that her husband is not by her side. I can see the small innocent faces of children questioningly looking at their mothers, to find out when father would return home, beaming with a loving smile, his hands full of small gifts.
They will not return. They are behind bars, in detention or in jails, suffering for their firm commitment to Islam. Come with me on the other side of the corridor, and you see the blindfolds, the shackles, the whips and the blood streaming from the bare backs of young and old Muslims.
Let us not forget the poor in remote villages and towns whose children will not have a new shirt or a pair of shoes to wear on this auspicious day. For their breakfasts on Eid day, there will be crumbs of dry bread with perhaps no tea.
Eid calls for a soul-searching moment. Let us pause and think. Allah has ordained upon us to pay FITRA on this day so the needy may partly share our wealth and be assured of our care. A Muslim who rises on a new day without any care or concern for his fellow Muslims is not among them.
Fitra is a calculated poor-rate which may not suffice to feed all hungry mouths. More than that, there is a need for generous contribution towards the relief of poverty; and this contribution has to continue as long as Allah, the Sustainer, in His ultimate Mercy continues to bless us with abundance.
And again, money will not answer all the questions. A voice of protest, however feeble, must be raised to express our distress and disgust at the tyrant rulers of many countries who continue to torture the pious Muslims in the dark dungeons. They have been deprived of their freedom. This is the peril of the purpose; for which they have displayed their valour. We have to be brave enough to join the chorus of protest.
It is these thoughts of care and concern that I wish to share with you as I extend my best wishes to you all on this joyous occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr.
I pray that may Allah accept all our deeds and sacrifices. – Ameen.
Wassalamu Alaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatu.
The historical landmark from Africa Federation (formed in 1946) – the Mother of all Federations to the World Federation (formed in 1976):
The World Federation of KSIMC registered in the U.K. since 1976 is also an NGO in Special Consultative Status with the ECOSOC of the United Nations, consisting of about 125,000 community members worldwide, mainly in Africa, Australia, Canada, India, Middle East, Pakistan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The World Federation is made up of six member organizations based in different regions: The Federation of KSI Jamaats of Africa, The Council of European Jamaats, Federation of Australasian Communities, India Federation, Organization of North American Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities and The Federation of KSI Jamaats of Pakistan.
“IT’S A PEOPLE’S FEDERATION” –
Says Chairman Alhaj Habib Mulji in Eid Message – Shawaal 1410 (April 1990)
I begin in the Name of Allah, the Most Merciful, The Most
Beneficent.
In the words of Imam Zainul Abedeen (A.S.), may I express profound gratitude to Allah (S.W.T.) for the blessing of life to witness yet another holy month. This holy month, like a good friend, kept us company and availed us of the benefits of both worlds and upon completing its cycle has bid farewell to us.
As we tearfully bid farewell to the Holy month, we supplicate to the Almighty to convert our few acts of worship into many acts and to shower His blessings and favours upon this community perpetually.
I am very happy to extend felicitations of Eid on behalf of my colleagues and myself on this joyous occasion. During our first year in office, we have enjoyed the confidence of the Jamaats and of men and women in the community at large. For this, I bow my head in humble gratitude to The Almighty. My prayers to Him are that He strengthens the bonds of our unity further.
Customarily Eid Messages have counselled the community on any particular subject but in my message, I shall break with this tradition and instead seek suggestions and counsel from the community in the interest of advancement of this community.
Just as the community is anxious to learn and adopt suggestions from its elected leaders and functionaries, likewise, my colleagues and I ought to be and are keen to get an insight into the thinking of the community.
This is your Federation. Jamaats exist because of you and it is through Jamaats that the Federation exists. Everyone has the betterment, advancement and progress of the community at heart. This community is neither wanting in competent and able persons nor is it a community of indifferent people. It is the sincerity of thought and purpose of members that inspires the functionaries to new heights.
Our community is endeavouring to advance itself in the spiritual, social, economic and educational spheres of life and by the Grace of The Almighty we have achieved quite a measure of success. But, as the path of progress is unending, to find the shortest and simplest path that would please The Almighty and His Prophet (S.A.W.W.) is not the responsibility of the functionaries alone.
Our community today faces a number of aggravating issues. For any community whether ours or others bent on progress, it is usual to be beleaguered by predicaments and to endeavour to seek solutions.
In the course of these endeavours, various ideas, suggestions and guidelines are needed. But these must not be confined to leaders only; rather, members of the community need to also contribute so that leaders and functionaries are encouraged to turn towards new directions and to increase the pace of action.
In the Holy Quran, the Almighty, in verse 38 of the chapter on Al-Shura (The Counsel), praising the believers says, “They obey the commands of their Lord and conduct their affairs with counsel among themselves.”
A THINK TANK has now been established with the hope that members of the community will contribute their thoughts for the benefit of the fraternity because thinking and pondering is the sign of a dynamic community and is also a form of worship. To make this scheme successful and beneficial you should come forward with your ideas and suggestions and uphold a precept that the advancement of the community is as much your responsibility as it is that of the elected leaders.
Finally, we Pray to the Almighty to grant health and long life to our Guide and Mentor, our Grand Mujtahid, Ayatullah Al-Udhma, Seyyid Abulqasim Al-Khui, under whose guidance this community moves from strength to strength.
As we celebrate Eid, let us not forget our brothers and sisters who were with us during the last Eid, but are now parted from us. Among them are the Leader of Islam, Ayatullah Al-Udhma, Seyyid Ruhullah Khomeini (Rahmatullahi Alaihi) and the Vice Chairman of the Federation, Mohamed-Rafiq Somji. We beseech The Magnificent, The Merciful Allah (SWT) to grant all departed souls lofty abodes in Paradise. For the benefit of their souls let us offer the Fatiha.
Article source: Federation Samachar Shawaal, 1410 AH / May 1990
Alhamdullilah, both the Federation of KSI Jamaats of Africa and the World Federation of KSI Muslim Communities have made great strides and grown in many folds and in many spheres of operations since their inceptions; i.e. in areas such as; Islamic Education, Tabligh (Internal & External), Secular Education, Health, Social Welfare, Publications, Relief & Economic Development, Youth & Women Development, Seniors and few more.
We salute and applaud the past visionary leaders of our community and the volunteers who sacrificed their valuable time, energies and resources to bring these institutions to where it is presently. Some are no longer with us today, let us please remember them and all the Marhumeen with Sura-e-Fateha for the maghferat of the departed souls and pray for them all to receive Allah’s (SWT) continuous blessings and mercy – Ameen.
Prepared by: Murtaza Jivraj (Kerbala)
SECRETARIAT
AFRICA FEDERATION ARCHIVES SECTION
29th May 2020 (6th Shawaal 1441 AH)