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[[Category:Biography]]
 
[[Category:Biography]]
  
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[[File:Haji_Suleman_Walji.png‎|275px|thumb|right|Haji Suleman Walji]]
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[[File:Haji_Suleman_Walji.png‎|200px|thumb|right|Haji Suleman Walji]]
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== Birth ==
 
  
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Born in Mombasa in 1926<br>
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== Birth & Death ==
  
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== Background ==
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Death Date: In The Year 1930
  
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For the past one and half century, we (Khoja Shia Ishna-asheri) have survived and progressed as a community, thanks to many individuals in different walks of life who have quietly dedicated their lives in the service of the community without seeking any position or public recognition.
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==Brief Profile==
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To the community members settled in the West, when they observe middle aged individuals originating from Mombasa actively participating in religious activities and in other social services, invariably they will notice one common bonding force amongst them, i.e. they were taught by Alhaj Mulla Abdulrasul Mulla Hassanali Khaki at the Huseini Madrassah in Mombasa and the inspiration they drew from him.
 
  
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== Youth ==
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Haji Suleman Walji  born in Jamwali, Jamnagar, India moved to Kilwa in 1900 and lived in Kilwa, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Albertville (Kalemie), Congo. He died in Albertville (Kalemie) in Congo in 1930<br>
  
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Mulla Abdulrasul is a self taught individual, businessman by profession.  He was born in Mombasa in 1926.  A voracious reader with special interest in Islamic History and Fiqh, from a very young age, Mulla Abdulrasul sought the company of Ulama to further his knowledge.
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== Kilwana Sawaal Jawaab ==
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At a young age, Mulla Abdulrasul joined Huseini Night School as a teacher when it was established in 1944 in Mombasa under the able leadership of Late M. M. Jaffer.  In 1956 when Alhaj M M Jaffer passed away, Late H. M. Nasser took over as the Head Master of the Huseini Night School with Mulla Abdulrasul as his deputy.  Few years later, Mulla Abdulrasul succeeded H. M. Nasser as Head Master of the Huseini Night School.
 
  
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== Passion for teaching Islamic Education ==
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My grandfather Marhum Haji Suleman Walji was originally from Jamwadi, Jamnagar, India. He arrived in Kilwa around 1900 from India. My father Mohamedali Suleman was born in Kilwa in 1901. At Kilwa, my grandfather converted from Ismail to Ithnaasheri. He, together with some colleagues, held a question-answer session with His Highness the Aga Khan III and a book was published with the title “Questions and Answers at Kilwa.” (This incident happened in Kilwa in 1905 in a ship off Kilwa harbour. His colleagues were Nurmohamed Sheriff Manekia and Suleman Bhimji)
  
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Imparting religious education and conducting classes in Fiqh and Islamic history has been the lifelong mission of Mulla Abdulrasul.
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== Albertville ==
  
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To this day, despite his age and a heart by-pass surgery that he had to undergo, followed by eye problems related to Glaucoma and retina detachments which limited his vision and curtailed his passion for reading, Mulla Abdulrasul is ever ready to conduct classes, even if it be for one student.
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My grandfather and father left for Hajj in 1914. They lived in different places in East Africa and had also worked for the famous company of Nasser Virji. In 1922, they left for India where my father got married. They then decided to stay in Dar es Salaam. In 1926, they moved to Kigoma where I was born in the same year. In 1928, we moved to Belgian Congo. My grandfather opened a shop in Albertville and my father in Moba. Due to the sudden death of my grandfather in 1930 of a heart-attack, my father closed his shop in Moba and moved to Albertsville. At that time Albertsville had 4 Ithna-asheri families. These included business entities from Tanganyika, namely Alibhai Panju & Sons, Ebrahim Haji & Bros, Juma Haji of Dar es Salaam, and Kermalli Pirbhai. There were also 7-8 other Indian families making a total Indian population of 100. We had an Indian Public School which lasted up to 1938 with frequent closures due to low student population. I studied at this school.
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While engaged in business, his doors are open to visitors for individuals to walk in without appointment to seek clarifications on masael of Fiqh; on matters related to matrimonial disputes and on interpretations related to the Islamic laws of inheritance. Women often telephone him to seek clarifications and guidance on a variety of religious questions.
 
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Apart from teaching in Huseini Night School and later on at the Huseini Madrasah, which he continued to serve until the year 2000, Mulla Abdulrasul also took special interest in conducting special classes for adults on Islamic History. For years he also ran special classes for prospective Hujjaj to acquaint them with the masael for Hajj.
 
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In early 1970's, late Dr. Jafferali Asaria, who was the then Hon. Secretary of the Federation of K.S.I. Jamaats of Africa, initiated the idea of adult classes for ladies. Mulla Abdulrasul conducted these classes on Fiqh, History and Muaamelaat (dealings) and indulged in interactive discussion with the participants seated behind the screen.
 
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While on a visit to London for medical treatment, at the request of Mulla Asghar, Mulla Abdulrasul conducted special classes on Fiqh for the new converts to Islam.
 
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In addition to his role as a Madrasah teacher, since 1956, Mulla Abdulrasul has been an active member of the Ghusal Kafan Committee and has, over the years, taught scores of individuals on the related practices and masael. To his credit, he has trained three generations of pupils active in this field. He has also cooperated with the Bilal Muslim Mission of Kenya in running classes on Ghusal Kafan for Muallims from rural areas.
 
  
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Mulla Abdulrasul believed that for a religious leader (whether male or a female) to be effective, one must engage in social activities and be seen to be part of the society. All through his life, he practiced this outlook.
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In 1952, my father died of heart attack and the full responsibility of running the business fell on my shoulders. This business is now run under the name of R M Suleman. I got married in Dar es Salaam in 1952. Currently we have 6 Ithna-asheri families numbering 30 people. There are 6 Ismaili and 2 Hindu families and the total Indian population is 80. There are 1500 Europeans and 32,000 Africans. Albertville is among main cities of Congo. We have headquarters of CFL Railway and also Steam Navigation Company. There is a textile mill with a variety of products. Due to high coal output, there are plans being developed to obtain fuel from coal. There exist political and economic challenges.
  
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== Service to the Community ==
 
  
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In 1974, Mombasa Jamaat convened a special Open Forum for ladies to review rites, rituals, customs and traditions practiced by the community. It was recognised that no effective changes in our traditions could be brought about without active involvement of the ladies section. The entire managing Committee of the Jamaat, accompanied by late Maulana Aqa Haider and Mulla Abdulrasul sat behind the screen as participants reviewed a wide spectrum of traditions and the changes proposed.
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'''The information provided by:''' Br Rajabali Mohamedali Suleman in 1960
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Another sphere of his active involvement has been in match making and as a member of the Marriage Reconciliation Committee.
 
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In addition, he is also an effective Zakir delivering Majalis in Gujarati for which he has travelled to Madagascar and to Paris during Muharram.
 
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It is gratifying that the community leadership has often recognised services of such individuals during their life time.
 
  
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In appreciation of his services, Mombasa Jamaat awarded him with a citation and the Africa Federation presented him with the 'Huseini Medal' while the World Federation of KSIMC presented him with the 'Al Baqir' award.
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'''Source:''' KSI Trade Directory 1960
  
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May Allah (SWT) in His Mercy bless Mulla Abdulrasul with longevity and good health and increase in his tawfeeqaat so that his living example may continue to provide inspiration to all those who dedicate their lives to serve in the way of Allah (SWT).
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'''ARCHIVES SECTION'''
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<br>
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'''THE FEDERATION OF KSI JAMAATS OF AFRICA,DAR ES SALAAM'''
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Reference: <br>
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TRIBUTE TO A LIVING LEGEND<br>
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''9th November, 2015 (26th Muharram 1437)''
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By: Hassan Ali M. Jaffer<br>
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'''Article By:''' [[Hassan Ali M Jaffer]]

Latest revision as of 10:37, 4 December 2020


Haji Suleman Walji

Birth & Death

Death Date: In The Year 1930

Brief Profile

Haji Suleman Walji born in Jamwali, Jamnagar, India moved to Kilwa in 1900 and lived in Kilwa, Dar es Salaam, Kigoma and Albertville (Kalemie), Congo. He died in Albertville (Kalemie) in Congo in 1930

Kilwana Sawaal Jawaab

My grandfather Marhum Haji Suleman Walji was originally from Jamwadi, Jamnagar, India. He arrived in Kilwa around 1900 from India. My father Mohamedali Suleman was born in Kilwa in 1901. At Kilwa, my grandfather converted from Ismail to Ithnaasheri. He, together with some colleagues, held a question-answer session with His Highness the Aga Khan III and a book was published with the title “Questions and Answers at Kilwa.” (This incident happened in Kilwa in 1905 in a ship off Kilwa harbour. His colleagues were Nurmohamed Sheriff Manekia and Suleman Bhimji)

Albertville

My grandfather and father left for Hajj in 1914. They lived in different places in East Africa and had also worked for the famous company of Nasser Virji. In 1922, they left for India where my father got married. They then decided to stay in Dar es Salaam. In 1926, they moved to Kigoma where I was born in the same year. In 1928, we moved to Belgian Congo. My grandfather opened a shop in Albertville and my father in Moba. Due to the sudden death of my grandfather in 1930 of a heart-attack, my father closed his shop in Moba and moved to Albertsville. At that time Albertsville had 4 Ithna-asheri families. These included business entities from Tanganyika, namely Alibhai Panju & Sons, Ebrahim Haji & Bros, Juma Haji of Dar es Salaam, and Kermalli Pirbhai. There were also 7-8 other Indian families making a total Indian population of 100. We had an Indian Public School which lasted up to 1938 with frequent closures due to low student population. I studied at this school.

In 1952, my father died of heart attack and the full responsibility of running the business fell on my shoulders. This business is now run under the name of R M Suleman. I got married in Dar es Salaam in 1952. Currently we have 6 Ithna-asheri families numbering 30 people. There are 6 Ismaili and 2 Hindu families and the total Indian population is 80. There are 1500 Europeans and 32,000 Africans. Albertville is among main cities of Congo. We have headquarters of CFL Railway and also Steam Navigation Company. There is a textile mill with a variety of products. Due to high coal output, there are plans being developed to obtain fuel from coal. There exist political and economic challenges.


The information provided by: Br Rajabali Mohamedali Suleman in 1960

Source: KSI Trade Directory 1960

ARCHIVES SECTION

THE FEDERATION OF KSI JAMAATS OF AFRICA,DAR ES SALAAM

9th November, 2015 (26th Muharram 1437)

Article By: Hassan Ali M Jaffer

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