Marhum Abbas Sherali Alloo was born in Zanzibar on March 5, 1936 to Sherali Kassamali Alloo and Leilabai Gulamhussein Dhalla. When he was still a young boy, he moved to Dar es Salaam with his parents and later joined his father's business. His service to the Community began since his early twenties. He was appointed as a Councilor of the Africa...

Dr. Murtaza Mohamed Hussein Rashid Hasham fondly known as "Daktari” was born in Mombasa in 1962. He graduated from University of Nairobi, in 1987. Doctor Rashid owned and practiced at Pwani Medical Clinic where his philanthropy work was well known.Dr. Rashid was very active in community activities from his youthful years to promote Islam; serving in Ithna Asheri...

Alhaj MohamedBaqir Alloo, of Toronto, Canada was a rare example of a person who devoted his leisure time continuously in service of the community since his youth. His service in various spheres spanned over 65 years. Baqirbhai was a member of the large Alloo family, born Zanzibar in 1928. His grandfather had emigrated from India in about the...

Community Lost a Legend and a Visionary Leader Marhum Alhaj Habibbhai Mulji was an accomplished social worker and acknowledged leader of our Community in Africa.  Born in Mwanza in 1930, he started serving the community in several positions from a young age of 30.  From Nairobi to Dar es Salaam he served in the Managing Committee under different...

The demise of an iconic lady, Hamidabai Pyarali Manji in India on November 11, 2002 had left people across the world crying even though people had never met her. She was an icon; people were used to her image everywhere. She had created special bond and people were very saddened by her death. After her death, I thought...

Imam Hussein’s (‘a) Azadari is a religious and worldly gain but do we take its advantages? Its actual season is Muharram; however, we can perform the good deeds throughout 365 days. The Azadari is one’s desirous contemplation however when we hear the history, our hearts cry and the lovers grieve over it with a heavy heart. Those who...

For the last 25 years (since 1940), in Mombasa on the eve of Ashura (10th Muharram) the procession is organized but this year there were noticeable changes. Firstly, during the procession, every year the “‘marsia” (poems) are recited in “Urdu” and for the last five years some Arabic marsia have been recited. This year in addition to these,...

EXCERPTS FROM SALSABIL NEWS OF AUGUST 1956 The Islamic New Year commences on the first day of Muharram, the first month in the lunar Islamic calendar, which differs from the Gregorian calendar. The occasion comes with very little celebration as compared to January 1st in the case of the Gregorian calendar. Except for Muslim dominant nations, it is...

Asser Damani or The Asserwala family originated from Madhapar, Cutch, India. Asser had five sons and two daughters; Ladha, Jaffer, Moledina, Khalfan, Karim, Rehmat and Fatma Asser. Many of his grandsons migrated from Madhapar to Bukoba, Tanzania. It was believed that 75% of all the earliest members of Bukoba Jamaat were from this family. The first Imambargha in...

In the evolution of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Community, acquisition of graveyard or cemetery as a burial place has been of prime importance. Wherever they settled, members of the Khoja community have paid special attention to the acquisition of burial place before even building of a Mosque or Imambargha. There is a historical background to this outlook....