TERM 1985-1988
Contents
Hawza - "Madrassah As Seyyid El Khui"
In 1975 Ayatullahil-Uzma Abul Qasim El Khui confirmed that the situation at the Hawza at Najaf was deteriorating fast. He cautioned that mere expression of grief and sympathy is not enough. What was needed and rightly expected of the Momineen was to establish Hawza all over the world.
He laid special emphasis on Western Countries, and specifically recommended a Hawza be established at London.
Ten years after his appeal, in March 1985, a modest Hawza "Madrassah As Seyyid El Khui" was established at Birmingham to coincide with the 1400th birth anniversary of Imam Hussein (A.S.). It started with just 3 students under Principal Janab Maulana Zafar Abbas Saheb Qibla.
After a year of struggle at present there are 5 students. As the accommodation at Birmingham was temporary, it was shifted to Stanmore from November 1985.
The expenditure of this Hauza is Pound Sterling 3000 per month. Though several applications have been received it was not possible to increase the number of students due to limited funds.
The curriculum is streamlined in such a manner that the student should acquire enough Islamic knowledge in various sciences within 4 years. Subjects taught were Arabic, Usool, Fiqh, Tafsir, Hadith and ancillary sciences like Mantiq, Kalam and Falsafa etc.
Several applications of students from abroad are received and are being scrutinized. One local candidate from Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri community has applied and has been called for interview.
As per the Executive Council Meeting report of 28th Sept 1986, five students have completed the first year at the Hawza
Projects of WF for 1985-1988
Proposed Milton Keynes Imambara Project
The Jamaat had been offered a prime site at Milton Keynes at a discount of 75% on the land price. The President Mr. Mahmood Datoo, on behalf of the Jamaat, has pledged that 10% of the cost would be raised locally and sought the blessings of the Council to embark upon the Project. Due to central location, the Centre could also be used for I.E.B activities like short courses, preparation of audio visuals programmes and seminars. The planning brief prepared by Muhsin Dharamsi, at the request of the Jamaat, would ensure that the Centre would have multipurpose usage such as Imambara, Madressa, Video Studio, Conference hall and Playground facility all in an area of 2000 sq. feet. The total cost of the Project would be Pound Sterling 177,000 to include cost of one acre of land and other legal and other service charges.
The Council approved the Project with the recommendation that the Office bearer liaise with the Jamaat and accord appropriate assistance.
Proposed Birmingham Jamaat Extension Project
The Jamaat is planning to build an extension to the Imambara due to expanding community in Birmingham. The extension would provide a nursery and classroom on the ground floor and flats on the first floor. The nursery would be used by mothers with the babies during Majaalis and as classroom for Madressa or playgroup. The first floor flats would be used for Students, M.A.B. patients and visitors.
The Jamaat would raise a large portion of the funds locally and requested to Council to raise either by way of grants or loan or any other means thought appropriate. The Council recommended that the Office bearers liaise with the Jamaat to explore the possibilities.
Islamic Education Board (I.E.B.)
At the Executive Council meeting held on 8th. July 1984 at Birmingham, the Chairman of the I.E.B reported as follows:
- Hajj Booklet completed and distributed
- Salaat book was in the final stages of preparation
- Shia Academy was holding classes in 3 parts of London
- The Basic correspondence course on Islam has been temporarily suspended
- Video Cassette on Salaat was in the final stages of preparation
- The Council has a preview of the matter completed so far.
The Council recommended that as the I.E.B had done little in terms of coordination of Madrassas apart from issuing syllabus, a special effort to be put in to activate I.E.B. Sub Committees as per its original terms of reference and assist the running and formation of Madrassas under Jamaats.
Further at the Executive Council meeting held on 15th. Dec 1985 at Stanmore, Mulla Asgar (Asghar Ali M.M Jaffer) briefed the Council on the activities of the I.E.B.
1. The following five members have been nominated to serve on I.E.B:
- Dr. Hasnain Walji
- Mr. Mohsin Haji Ali
- Yusuf Sabur
- Abdulhusein Akbar
- Mahmood Hooda
2. A publication to cater for the report on the activities of Madrassa all over the world, named AL MADRASSAH had been initiated and the first issue had already been circulated.
3. Video Cassette on Salaat is ready for circulation. The current priority of the I.E.B would be Suitable Textbooks for Madrassa, Teachers Training Seminars and Workshops.
4. Copies of the Bilal Trust talk show on Radio Tanzania would be circulated as soon as received by I.E.B.
5. Mr. Mahmood Hooda informed about a Youth Seminar to be held at Peterborough over the Christmas Holidays and the Jamaats should send Youths to this Seminar.
It was also recommended that in future, if possible, all Seminars should be held with the coordination of I.E.B to give wider coverage.
It was reported at the Executive Council meeting held on 20th. April 1986 at Peterborough that the activities of I.E.B. are on the increase. The original brief is now been implemented and the I.E.B is in touch with Madressa Worldwide. A publication of Tadabbur Fil Quran is now being prepared. It has unique features with color photographs on creation accompanied with Ayats from the Holy Quran. Also 2 issues of Al Madrassah have been published and a third one is being prepared. In the meantime the work of Book distribution is carried out.
Medical Advisory Board
India Trip
Dr. Walji and Mohamed Daya presented a report of their trip to India with Slide and Video Presentation of the plight of our brothers and sisters both Sadat and non-Sadat.
A full detailed report was submitted to the Secretariat with the highlights as follows:
- Eye Treatments
- Medical Camps in various villages
- Special cases of Heart Transplant, Kidney etc.
- TB Beds
All the above were ongoing Projects of WF.
Dr. M.T.I. Walji sighted a case study of Dr. Hanif Lakdawala in a slum colony called Millatnagar near Ahmedabad. Dr. Lakdawala was successful in tackling the problem of Malnutrition and Health Care Immunization with the basic concept of Health Care Education rather than drugs.
It was recommended to emulate Dr. Hanif Lakdawala in areas like Govandi in Bombay.
Dr. Walji called upon the Council to maximize efforts to help the needy Sadats.
The Council responded to this emotional appeal of Dr. Walji by recommending strongly that concrete steps to be taken to organise Preventive Health Care Scheme especially for Sadats.
Stanmore
Dr. Amir Lakha reported on the screening programme at Stanmore and outlined a proposal of dispensary in Mombasa that the M.A.B. was studying. The London branch of the M.A.B. had now established contacts with several well-known Hospitals in London to enable our patients to have better services at these Hospitals.
Dar es Salaam
Dr. Fuad Sheriff reported that the Hospital Project at Dar as Salaam had begun and thanked Haji Haiderbhai Haji for the encouragement in initiating the Hospital Project.
He also reported on the screening programme at which 340 families had participated. The result of the survey revealed that 12% had diabetes, 15% Hypertension and 25% of the ladies were obese. These shocking results meant that the community would have to be actively involved in health education by way of seminar to change their diet. Prevention rather than treatment are given priority in the long run.
Hajj Medical Mission (H.M.M.)
Hajj Mission 1985
The 9th Hajj Medical Mission is now ready to proceed with Dr. Moledina of Bombay, Dr. Rajpar of Trollhattan, Dr. Moledina and Dr. Nasser of Mombasa with Maulana Zafar Abbas as Aalim and Mohd Panju Jessa as administrator.
It was pointed out that a circular be sent out clearly defining the role of Hajj Medical Mission which was a WF sponsored Project and Haj Assistant Committee which was an independent Project to avoid any confusion in the community.
Hajj Mission 1986
This was the 10th year where Dr. Gulamabbas Rajpar (Sweden), Dr. Anis Lakha (U.K.) and Dr. Faiyaz Kapasi who served the Hujjaj. The team also had Haji Husein Remtullah and Haji Mohamed Panju as administrator and Maulana Syed Hassan Naqvi Saheb as a religious guide in matter of Fiqh.
Dr. T.M.I. Walji emphasized that the role of the administrators of H.M.M. which starts six months prior to Hajj to ensure that the drugs and equipment are available at the time of Hajj. During Haj, the administrator was responsible for arranging accommodation for the Doctors, Dispensary, Drug transfer, helping in emergency. All these activities are of vital importance to the mission to enable the Doctors to utilize all their time in seeing the patients. Executive
Tahrike Tarsile Quran (T.T.Q)
This Organisation is currently involved in distributing the Holy Quran and other books on a worldwide basis. Brother Aunali Khalfan, the Organizer and Founder of T.T.Q briefed the Council on its activities.
The Council felt that while it could not recommend any financial commitment at this stage, the World Federation ought to assist the Tahrike Tarsile by buying and distributing the Books.
Youth Group
On the directive of the Executive Council, the Secretary General contacted the respective Jamaats with a view to form an active Youth Group for U.K. Written proposals to form such a body had been presented at a Sports gathering in Peterborough to all the participants. The London Jamaat had agreed to convene a meeting to form this Youth Body.
Further Mr. Sibtain Panjwani presented a draft proposal in the form of a paper enlisting the terms of reference for the operation of the Youth Body.
After deliberation and several recommendations, the Council approved the paper in principal. The finer details of the actual operation would be finalised by the Office bearers.
Aalim Grant - Sub Committee
Application for Aalim grants were received from various Jamaats and more were anticipated.
Apart from the normal requirement of the Jamaat to submit their accounts so as to justify the need, the Secretary required further guidance on certain delicate issued while considering the application.
There had been instance where the Jamaat financial conditions entitle them for grant, but the Aalim may not be entitled for several reasons. It was becoming increasingly difficult to convey such information without hurting the feelings of the Aalim concerned.
The Executive Council resolved that a subcommittee be formed to look into the ways and means of solving the problems of Grants and Recruitment.
The following were nominated to serve on the subcommittee:
1. Yusuf Sabur - Leicester 2. Mohsin G Ladak - Leeds 3. Kassamali Somani - Birmingham 4. Rafiq Hussein Shah - Watford 5. Mohsin Kassam - Essex
Gujarat Federation
At the Executive Council meeting on 20th. April 1986, Mr. Hasnain Walji presented the report on the current state of affairs of Gujarat Federation.
The unfortunate incidents related to Gujarat Federation have paralyzed most of the activities of World Federation in India. The voluntary workers who had devoted their time and money have all resigned, with no intention to serve any further.
Ever since its establishment 1979, certain Jamaats opposed it formation and remained aloof from it, refusing to become its members.
The field of work charted out for Gujarat Federation was:
- Zainabiya Chile Sponsorship Scheme with more than 600 students of Sadat & Non Sadats sponsored under the Scheme.
- Medical Assistance
- Monthly Assistance to the needy.
- Housing Projects
- Samuh Lagna
- Assistance to Capital Projects like Mosque, Imambara, Madrassa etc.
As is the case with any Organisation, it was not possible to satisfy all the applicants who came for assistance. As such there was an aggrieved element with the society, which gathered strength gradually as their number grew.
Dr. Kapasi, Umedali Bhanabhai and Haji Gulamali Bhanji (Bapu) were defamed. World Federation was reported to the authorities who impounded the Account Books. A criminal case was registered with the express order by the court that the World Federation must NOT cease to function and the Office bearers must continue in the Office. This paradox, displaying distrust coupled with an insistence upon the distrusted to continue in the office, cannot be explained.
At World Federation level it was decided not to answer the pamphlets and allow the dust to settle before taking any steps.
The efforts of Haji Haiderbhai Kassamali Haji, Haji Gulamali Bhanji (Bapu) and others directed towards getting the case withdrawn. It was advised that the case would be withdrawn and all the confiscated papers would be handed back. This does not in any way mean that the Gujarat Federation will resume work. The consensus in Gujarat is that the Gujarat Federation must be wound up. Haji Haider Bhai Haji also supports this as there is now a need to replace Gujarat Federation with a Trust which should be responsible to the World Federation and not any Jamaat in India.
At present activities in India are at a standstill, except the Madressa Grant which is being distributed through Masoomeen Trust, Bombay and certain projects of K.S.I. Medical and Welfare Society, Bombay
The Court case against Gujarat Federation has not been withdrawn as promised by the party who had filed the case. Hence Gujarat Federation has ceased to function.
A new team has agreed to serve the Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme which will take some time to complete the legal formalities.
It must be noted that World Federation in its independent way has not stopped the assistance to the needy Shia Community of Sadat and non Sadat in India. During every visit of the President and other representatives, many families and religious projects have been assisted.
Review of activities in India-28th Sept 1986 Executive Council Meeting Report:
After separate visits by the President, Hon. Treasurer and Mulla Asgar (Asghar Ali M.M Jaffer), a full report covering Hyderabad, Bangalore, madras, Bombay (Govandi) & Gujarat Federation had been circulated by the Secretariat.
As per the Council’s recommendation, the Secretariat has embarked on a plan of activities to widen the venues of services through existing agencies other than the Gujarat Federation.
While existing Projects like Zainabiya Child Sponsorship Scheme (Z.C.S.S.), T.B. Beds and other general Medical Projects, financing of Madrassah continue in Gujarat, Projects in other areas of India have been given priority. The order of such priority is Education, Accommodations and Primary Health Care.
Z.C.S.S has been activated and 100 sponsorship have been allocated through Imam E Zaman Mission of Hyderabad. Also housing scheme for 11 Sadats have been financed at the cost Rs. 7500 per unit in Qayamnagar.
At Govandi (Bombay), the M.A.B. with the cooperation of Dr. Gulam Abbas Moledina, a Primary Health Care project is planned.
