The Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa
P. O. Box: 6710, Tel: (255) 22 215 0897 / 22 215 0964
Email: secretariat@africafederation.org
Web: www.africafederation.org
1437 / 2016
Eid-ul Fitr Message from the Chairman of the Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa, Alhaj Shabir H. Najafi
O people! Verily this day of yours is the day when the righteous are awarded and the wretched are losers. It is a day which is similar to the one on which you shall be standing (before your Lord). Therefore, when you come out of your homes to go to places of your prayer, remind yourselves about the day when you (your souls) shall come out of your bodies to go to your Lord. When you stand on places of your prayer, remind yourselves of your standing in presence of your Lord (on the day of Judgment). And when you return to your homes (after prayer), remind yourselves about your returning to your homes in Paradise.
Extract from the Sermon of Imam Ali bin Abi Talib (as)
on the day of Eid ul-Fitr
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful
My Dear Community Members,
As-Salaamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullah
On this auspicious day of Eid-ul-Fitr, on behalf of my colleagues and myself I extend our heartiest felicitations and greetings to each and every member of our entire community.
The holy month of Ramadhan with it all its grace, mercy and blessings has passed peacefully. We tried as much as possible to pray to Allah (s.w.t.) and pleaded for His mercy to forgive us of our sins and shortcomings. On this day of Eid-el-Fitr let us pray to Allah (s.w.t.) with His grace and mercy that He should accept all our ibadats performed during this month and grant us glad tidings of mercy and forgiveness.
We also extended our help to the needy and deserving families by providing Ramadhan Relief as much as possible so that they too can engage in the Ibadat of the holy month with ease and peace of mind, we wish to thank the World Federation, Nasimco and our Well-Wishers for their support in our efforts, the needs are greater than what we can provide.
I call upon the Community to continue with the spirit of benevolence, caring and sharing that the Holy Month instils in us. We are all aware of economic hardships, this unfortunately has adversely affected our community, and some are unable to meet their basic needs of life which include education for children, medical, house rent etc. I plead to all community members to pay their religious dues (Khums, Zakat and Sadaqah) through the centralized system of the Africa Federation and donate generously towards the Welfare Funds which are used to assist these less fortunate members of our Community in our Jamaats throughout the year.
Every year for the past 11 years, the Tabligh Board of the Africa Federation – AFTAB organizes Qur’an Competition and invites all member Jamaats to participate in the Competition, unfortunately only handful of our Jamaats take interest in this important event which is primarily to encourage and develop our children towards better understanding of the Holy Qur’an and to take inspiration and learn from this divine revelation.
I appeal to all our Jamaats to strive very hard and send participants to the forthcoming Qur’an Competition (QC12) which is taking place in Dar es Salaam from 5th to 7th August 2016.
Here, I would like to quote the Ayat of the Holy Qur’an, in Surah Al Baqarah; Chapter 2, Verse 2 and 3. Allah (SWT), commands humanity that:
“This is the Book (Al Qur’an). In it is guidance surely without any doubt, to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer, and spend out of what we have provided for them (In Charity).”
This being my first Eid Message since I took over the helm of the Africa Federation in April 2016 from Murrabbi, Alhaj Anwarali Dharamsi, I would like to assure each member of the Community the full support and co-operation of my team and myself. We are here to serve the Community together and take it to greater heights of success; apparently this can only be achieved if the Community works together as one team.
I am pleased to inform the Community that we are making good progress in the field of Housing, the Housing projects in Mombasa and Nairobi are continuing well and it is anticipated that both these projects will be ready within the next 12 to 18 months, in Dar-es-Salaam works has commenced at the Band Street Project which will cater for lower and middle income earners. We are also looking into obtaining another plot for a similar project in Dar es Salaam where the need is much more.
I am grateful to our member Jamaats, donors and well wishers for their support and donations towards the Africa Federation Solidarity Day, which is marked annually on the 15th Shab’an, the auspicious occasion of the birth celebration of Imam-e-Zamana (A.T.F.S.). The funds collected during the month of Shab’an from this appeal are utilized by Africa Federation throughout the year for the needy members of our community from our Jamaats.
My office bearers and I are working vigorously on the plan to achieve the vision and the objectives set out by us for the coming three years. We shall continue keeping the community informed of our activities and planning. I look forward to the support from you all to enable us accomplish our plans for the betterment and progress of the Community. Your support makes a huge difference.
As we bid farewell to the blessed month and celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr today, let us take a moment to reflect and think of the families who have lost their loved ones or are physically afflicted and displaced due to the sectarian violence and are unable to celebrate this joyous Festival in peace at home with their families.
It is very sad to witness the atrocities being carried out against Muslims and the Shias in particular; we also continue to witness incidents that falsely unleash the name of Islam. It is of immense importance that we all stand firm and united against the deepening threat of Islamofobia. We must ensure that brotherhood among Muslims of all sects is locally maintained and we, on our part, continue to ensure peace and order at national levels in our countries in this part of the world.
My appeal to the leaders of our Jamaats in Africa is to ensure that we maintain good relationships with all communities locally and build stronger bridges of interfaith and intersect relationships at all levels, this must be sincerely and effectively pursued.
On this blessed day let us all join hands and pray for the safety, security, peace and tranquility of our brothers and sisters in all parts of the world. Let us also pray for the safety and sanctity of the Holy Shrines in Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia which have become targets in recent attacks by the extremists groups.
Let us pray for the safety, good health and long life of our Marjah-e-Taqleed, Ayatullah Al Seyed Ali Al Husseini Al Seestani and Ulema-e-Deen. May Allah (S.W.T.) hasten the reappearance of our Awaited Al-Mahdi (A.T.F.S.).
On behalf of the Africa Federation Office Bearers, Trustees and Councilors, and on my own behalf, I wish you and your families Eid Mubarak with prayers for increase in imaan and tawfiqaat.
In closing I request you to remember with Sura-e-Fateha all our marhumeen and marhuminat, especially those who were with us last Eid, and are not with us today.
Shabir Najafi
Chairman
The Federation of KSI Jamaats of Africa
1st Shawwal 1437 AH (6th July 2016)