Ref: PR/AF/2021/030 Date: December 12, 2021
The Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaat of Dar-es-Salaam hosted the Africa Federation 83rd Supreme Council Session from 28th to 30th October 2021 at the KSI Jamaat Imambargha. The Session was attended by about 140 participants and invitees from Democratic Republic of Congo, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Reunion, Tanzania, UAE, Uganda, and the U.K. This Session coincided in marking the launch of the 75th Anniversary of the Africa Federation since its establishment in 1946.
BOOTHS – HOUSE OF KNOWLEDGE
For the first time, each Board had kept a Booth to display and share with the Councilors and Invitees details of their activities and information. This platform was open to all the participants on Thursday Night, 28th October 2021. This new initiative proved to be successful as it provided an interactive session between the participants and the Boards to discuss on various issues pertaining to their respective Boards. It was through this session that a proposal to rename the Booths to House of Knowledge came up.
EULOGY
During the first assembly of the Session, the AFED Hon Secretary Zuhair bhai Jaffer read our Eulogies of AFED Volunteers who passed away since the last Session, they are Alhaj Ebrahim Kassam (AFED Trustee), Alhaj Mohamed Dhirani (AFED Past Chairman), Alhaj Seyed Hassan Naqvi (AFED Tabligh Board (AFTAB) Chairman) and Alhaj Murtaza Jivraj (Kerbala) – Head of the AFED Archives) – Al Fateha.
CITATION AND AWARD
The Chairman, Alhaj Shabir Najafi posthumously bestowed ‘Huseini’ Medal to Marhum Syed Hassan Naqvi, who was the Chairman of the Africa Federation Tabligh Board who passed away in Dar-es-Salaam on 12th February 2021 while serving as Board Chairman of AFTAB.
The Vice Chairman of Africa Federation, Alhaj Aunali Khalfan who worked very closely with Marhum Syed Hassan Naqvi presented a short profile of Marhum Syed Hassan Naqvi. The Citation was read out by Sheikh Murtadha Alidina and received by Marhum’s son Syed Maitham Naqvi and Brother Syed Mohamed Naqvi.
Extract from the Citation
“You played a crucial role in the field of Tabligh in Africa by promoting effective net-working with institutions of higher learning in the field of the religion of Islam and the Madh’ab of Ahlulbayt (‘A), bringing about a reformation in our Madrassahs operating in the Jamaats under Africa Federation by introducing the World Federation Madressah Centre of Excellence (MCE) program aiming to bring up the standards of teaching and better understanding of the religion of Islam.
Your deep concern on the prevention of penetration of social vices and immoral behaviors in our Community is a testimony of the foresight you possessed and the love you had for our youth. You also actively promoted Islamic and Family Values in the families by organizing several workshops, seminars and training conducted by professionals involving youth and parents”.
The AFTAB Team also presented a Token of Appreciation to the family for Marhum Syed Hassan Naqvi for being an inspiration and great support to them.
SUPREME COUNCIL SESSION
The formal Session of the Supreme Council commenced on Thursday 28th October afternoon and concluded on Saturday 30th October 2021.
The Session was addressed by the following:
Alhaj Shabir Najafi – AFED Chairman
Alhaj Amine Nassor – Union Des Associations Khodjas Shia Isnashri De La Reunion UAKSIR) Chairman
Sheilh Haniphe Akbaraly – Conseil Régional Des Khojas Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamates De L.Océan Indian (CROI) Chairman
Alhaj Safdar Jaffer – World Federation President
Alhaj Mohamedraza Dewji – Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat President
Sis Sabira Lakha – COEJ – Secretary General
The following Reports were presented at the Session:
Minutes of the 82nd Supreme Council Session Zuhair Jaffer
Secretariat Report Zuhair Jaffer
Archives Section Zaheera bai Raza
Central Health Board Aunali Khalfan
Audited Accounts, and Budget Zainul Chandoo
Education Loan Recovery Paper and NI Update Hasnain Sherally
Tabligh Board (AFTAB) Sajjad Walji
Education Board Sajjad Karams
Bilal Muslim Mission of Tanzania, Kenya & Uganda Hussein Karim/Iqbal Sunderji/ Shaahid Jemani
Following the request by some members of the Zanzibar Kuwwatul Islam Jamaat and with a view to reach a conclusion on the ongoing issues at the Jamaat, members of the Kuwwatul Islam Jamaat were invited to attend the Session on Friday 29th October 2021. Representatives from two groups of the membership attended the meeting and the way forward was deliberated. It was agreed by both the parties present and the Zanzibar Jamaat Dispute Resolution Committee (ZDRC) that a meeting will be held between ZDRC and the current leadership of the Jamaat to resolve the dispute followed by a joint meeting of the ZDRC with all members of the Jamaat and the current leadership, should the two avenues are not successful then a legal opinion will be sought to bring the long outstanding matter of Kuwwatul Islam Jamaat to a conclusion.
AFED Hon Secretary presented a brief of the activities carried out by the following Boards during the year:
- Africa Youth Network
- Capacity Building Group
- Economic Empowerment
- Editorial Board
- Housing Board
- Sports Council
- Women Board
Sister Sabira Murtaza Lakha, the Secretary General of the Council of European Jamaats (CoEJ) presented a paper on Democratization of Women.
LAUNCH OF VSS WEBSITE
The Africa Federation Tabligh Board officially launched the Virtual Safe Space Website during the Supreme Council Session.
APPRECIATION:
The Africa Federation wishes to record its profound appreciation to KSI Jamaat of Dar-es-Salaam for hosting the 83rd Supreme Council Session, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Br. Aliasgher Rajani, his Committee Members and the Volunteers for successful organization. Dar es Salaam Jamaat is renowned for their warm hospitality and for seamless organizational arrangements.
To AFED Boards’ Chairpersons and Board Members, we are very grateful for their continued efforts and for informative presentations of the annual reports and being actively involved in the setup of the Booth and sharing information with the participants.
We wish to thank all the Councillors, AFED Trustees and Invitees, both gents and ladies for their attendance, participation and for their contributions in the deliberations in the Sessions.
Secretariat