Welcoming the Holy Month of Ramadhan
Message from the Africa Federation Chairman,
Alhaj Shabir Najafi
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
“O people, verily the month of Allah (SWT) has come to you with benediction, mercy and forgiveness. It is a month wherein you have been invited to the banquet of Allah and have been made worthy of Allah’s magnanimity.” – [Holy Prophet Mohammad (SAWW)]
The gracious month of Ramadhan has arrived and we thank the Almighty for granting us the opportunity to witness the month that is the best of all months in the estimation of Allah (SWT). Its days are the best among the days; its nights are the best among the nights.
Fasting during the holy month of Ramadhan has a deep spiritual dimension of compassion and self-sacrifice. Fasting also plays an important role in making us more conscious of the plight and hunger of the under privileged, poor and displaced persons.
Alhamdulillah, the Mosques and Community Centres have reopened as the situation has now eased following the outbreak of the Covid 19 Pandemic in early 2020. Certainly, community Members are looking forward to attend the congregational prayers and other religious programs and social events during the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
I would request members to continue to take precautions, and maintain good hygiene as the virus has not completely disappeared. Those members who have not taken the vaccination against Covid-19 virus, we urge them to get vaccinated; it is not only for their own protection but also for their loved ones and the people they come in contact with.
Sadly, the World is witnessing yet another major catastrophe of deaths and destruction caused by the invasion of the Russian forces across Ukraine since February 2022, the war which is still ranging on has already created largest refugee crisis in Europe since World War II, over 4 million Ukrainians have fled their country to the neighboring countries. Similarly, the consequential sharp rise in oil and food prices will cause a ripple effect in the world economy; including Africa, this will certainly cause high inflation and financial crisis as many countries are still reeling from the economic crisis cause by the Covid-19 pandemic since early 2020.
Our communities will be affected as the global economic situation continues to deteriorate further. These events, sad and harsh as they are, does provide lessons to us as a community to reflect and be prepared against the hard times ahead. It is therefore important for us all to work together in unity and make our community much stronger and equipped economically and religiously to withstand such challenges.
In Africa Federation, the Boards who are the arms of the Secretariat in delivering our Vision and Strategies have lined up a number of programs during and after the Holy Month of Ramadhan. The Pre-University Preparation Workshop by the Tabligh Board (AFTAB) in collaboration with the Education Board (EBS), Capacity Building Group (CBG) and Africa Federation Youth Network (AYN) will be held from 25th June to 3rd July 2022 in Dar es Salaam, we urge students preparing to go to universities to take up this opportunity available to them. The AYN (Africa Federation Youth Network) are planning several programs and events for the youth and children during the Holy Month of Ramadhan. The AFED Sports Council will organize a mini Sports Festival in the month of June 2022. Also, the famous and grand annual AFED Qur’an Competition organized by AFTAB will inshallah be held in July 2022, after a gap of two years.
The opening of the two AFED Housing Development projects in Dar es Salaam recently – The AFED Business Park and the AFED Towers marks yet another milestone in the history of Africa Federation. These landmark projects being part of the Vision of Africa Federation for the term 2019-2022 are some of the notable achievements that we should all be proud of.
This year again, Africa Federation along with the World Federation provided financial assistance to our Jamaats under Africa Federation to assist those families who are in need of support for food items and other household necessities during the Holy Month of Ramadhan. We also received donations from Lady Fatima Trust of the U.K., Jaffer Foundation of Mombasa, Kenya and from some well-wishers for the Ramadhan Relief Assistance.
The Mainstay Foundation of the U.K. have also provided financial assistance to Bilal Muslim Missions of Kenya and Tanzania in support towards the Ramadhan Relief requirements for the needy and deserving families and Iftar at the Centres. Other Bilal Institutions have been supported jointly by Africa Federation and the World Federation for similar type of assistance to ease their plight for the Holy Month of Ramadhan.
Charity is essentially food for the soul and also serves as a means of salvation. The significance of Charity (i.e. Zakat, Sadaqah, Donations) in this holy month has countless blessings compared to any other month.
We appeal to our Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Community members in Africa and the African diaspora around the globe to support our endeavors by donating to Africa Federation. This will help the AFED Secretariat to continue assisting community members who are in need of financial support in education and other areas.
Please contact Africa Federation Secretariat office in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania by email: secretariat@africafederation.org or visit our website: www.africafederation.org should you require more details to remit your contributions and donations.
“Be steadfast in prayer and regular in charity; And whatever good you send forth for your souls before you, you shall find it with Allah; For Allah sees well all that you do.”(Holy Qur’an, Surah Al-Baqarah – 2:110).
May this Holy Month bring to us peace, harmony and prosperity, brighten our minds that we may reflect deeply for seeking God-Consciousness and make this World a better place for everyone to live together in peace and social harmony – Ameen.
In conclusion, may I request you all to remember all the past leaders and volunteers of our Community who have served selflessly with great devotion and who are no longer with us today, also let us remember all the Marhumeen for the Maghferat of their souls with Sura-e-Fateha.
With Salaams and Duas,
Shabir Najafi
Chairman
30th Shab’an 1443 A.H.
2nd April 2022