Khoja Timeline

762 Demise of Ismail b Jafar al Sadiq as

765 Shahdat of Imam Sadiq as

883 The earliest Ismaili missionary arrived in Sind

909 Fatimid caliphate staterted

958 Ismaili principality was established in Sind, with its seat at Multa, where large numbers of Hindus converted to Ismailism.

1005 Ismaili rule ended in Sind

1067 Missionaries sent from Yemen (Sulayhids of Yemen who acknowledged the suzerainty of the Ismaili Fatimid caliphs-Imams) founded a new Ismaili community (Bohra) in Gujarat

1094 Split on the 19th Imam of Ismaili Fatamid caliph-imams/ Nur Satguru arrived in Sindh (according to a narration)

1164 The announcement of Qiyamat by Hasan (8th August, 17th of the holy month of Ramadan 559 AH)

1179 Nur Satguru arrived in Sindh (according to a narration)

1242 Nur Satguru arrived in Sindh (according to a narration)

1256 Mongols destroyed Nizari setup (Alamut)in Iran (15th December)

1276 Pir Sadr al Deen or Sahdev (?) arrived in Sindh

1356 Pir Shams in Punjab

1804 Hasan Ali Shah Mahallati born in Kahak, 1st Agha Khan

1813 In 1813 Macdonnel Kinneir, notes that near Alamut there were quite a few Ismailis who were called Husaynis.

1817 Khalillulah, 45th Ismaili Imam was killed in Yazd by a Mulla along with few of his family members

1817 Hasan Ali Shah took the seat of Imamat, 46th Ismaili Imam, Agha Khan 1

1829 Habib Ibrahim refused to pay religious tax, Dasond, to Agha Khan (1827 according to one narration)

1829 The Aga Khan, in order to overcome this opposition, sent to Bombay as his agent, Mirza Abul Kassim, who was accompanied by the Aga Khan's mother, Bibi Sarcar Mata Salamat (1744-1832) in 1245/1829.

1830 Mirza Abul Kassim’s (Aga Khan;s re[resentative) suit was withdrawn by British Government (July 22nd)

1830 Habib Ibrahim and his friends (11 friends) were outcasted from the community

1830 Ali Shah born, Agha Khan 2nd, 47th Ismail Imam

1833 Khojas went to Karbala meeting Ayatullah Zainul Abedeen Mazandarani and Mulla Qadar

1834 Fateh Ali Shah Qajar died

1835 Barabhai: After five years, in 1251/1835, they were re-admitted conditionally, who had however laid a root of a dissident group.

1837 1st Agha Khan was ruler of Kirman

1840s Hasan Ali Shah arrived in India (not in Bombay), 46th Ismaili Imam, Agah Khan 1

1841 Agha Khan first left Iran towards Afghanistan and then Balochistan (Sunni Khoja account)

1843 Hasan Ali Shah Mohallati was also the first Nizari Imam to make Bombay the permanent seat of the Immate

1843-4 Aga Khan helped Sir Charles Napier in his conquest of Sind. For this favour, he got a pension from the British Government of India.

1844 Aga Khan First arrived in India (Sunni Khoja account)

1845 Hasan Ali Shah arrived in Bombay (18th December)

1845 Circular from Agha Khan 1: All should be practicing their rituals as Shias and not Sunnis. This was opposed by Katch (Kera) and Mahuva

1846 Hasan Ali Shah moved to Calcutta

1847 Habib Ibrahim is a witness in a court case

1847 Sajan Meharali’s case which decided against the rights of Khoja females to inherit according to Mahomedan Law….When the Aga Khan was yet in Calcutta, a fresh litigatiion, known as Sajan Mehr Ali Case was carried in 1263/1847, in which the question of the rights of female inheritance among the Ismailis was brought before the Supreme Court of Bombay.

1848 Hasan Ali Shah returned to Bombay (26th December)

1848 Second ex communication of Habib Ibrahim (Barabhai)

1850 Mahim Jamat Khan..4 of the friends of Habib Ibrahim were killed (last day of Muharram. 13th November 1850) 3 died with the sword and the fourth one died in hospital due to the attack

1850 Noor Muhammad Amersy was killed by Aga khan followers

1850 out of 19 who were accused to kill the reformers at Mahim Jamat Khana, 4 were sentenced to death (18th December 1851 according to Sunni Khoja account)

1850 Few reformists who became Sunnis separated their mosque and graveyard. The other issues challenged the Aga Khan's authority, and claimed themselves as the Sunni Khojas, stressing that the Ismaili Khojas had been Sunnis since their conversion to Islam by Pir Sadruddin. They also built their own separate prayer-hall and grave-yard in 1266/1850.

1851 declaration of rights pronounced by Justice Sir Erskine Perry: All the things belong to Jamat Khana and Khojas and NOT Agha Khan

1851 Four Aga Khanis were sentenced to death at Mazagon for Mahim massacre (18th December)

1858 Agha Khan 1 arrives in Katch to settle the disputes raised due to the circular of 1845

1860 Haji Dewji Jamal first came to Zanzibar from India in 1860 and soon settled on the Island of Zanzibar.

1861 Agha Khan circulated a general announcement declaring the Khojas to be the 'Shi' ites' (20th October 1861) when the dissenting Khojas publicly joined the Sunni fold, the Aga Khan issued a decree in which he expressed his desire to bring the Ismailis to conform to the practices of the Shia Imami Ismaili creed of his holy ancestors, regarding marriage ceremonies, ablutions, funeral rites etc. The decree ended thus, "He who may be willing to obey my orders shall write his name in this book that I may know him."

1861 Article in The Bombay times and Standard, May 4.

1862 Aga Khan gave an ultimatum to Sunni Khojas to join him else would be ex communicated (August)

1862 Sunni Khoja Jamat came into existence (September)

1862 Article to the editor of the times of India (21st November): Reformist Khojas were Sunnis

1862 Article to the times of India (November 27th): Agha Khan should be removed from Bombay

1862 January 2nd, The loyalty of the Ismailis for their Imam can be gauged from the reaction of the Bhuj jamat at Kutchh, who sent a letter dated January 2, 1862 in reply to the communication sent by the plaintiffs as illustrated by E.I. Howard to the Hon'ble Court. It reads: "We are upon the right side, but should His Lordship Aga Khan ask for the signatures, we are ready to give thousand times a day. Whatever order comes from him, we are bound to obey." Observing the above letter, Justice Sir Joseph Arnold (1814-1886) remarked: "This is a very decided letter; at any rate, there can be no mistake about that." (cf. "The Shia School of Islam and its Branches", Bombay, 1906, p. 93).

1862 Mukhi Alarakhia Sumar and Kamadia Khaki Padamsi (d.1877) called a meeting in Bombay Jamatkhana on August 16, 1862.

1863 Aga Khan expressed a determination to exclude the reformists (1st April or 31st March)

1863 Mulla Qadar bin Nahif opened a Madrasa in Mumbai

1864 A voice from India being an appeal to the British Legislature by Khojhas of Bombay against The Usurped and Oppresive domination of Hussain Hussanee commonly called and known as “Aga Khan” by a native of Bombay now resident in London.

1865 Ibrat e Afza translated in Gujarati

1866 Khoja Case..All the Khojas are Sunni. It was rejected by the court. The celebrated Khoja case which lasted for 25 days was litigated in the High Court of Bombay between the months of April and June, 1866, before Justice SIR JOSEPH ARNOULD. (November 21st)

1867 Khoja settlement in Mombasa dates to 1867 when Waljee Hirjee a prominent Khoja Ismaili merchant of Zanzibar opened a shop at the Old Port.

1870 Dewji Jamal established a branch of his company in Lamu, chief port of Kenya. This is the first report of a Khoja in Kenya.

1872 Mulla Qadar once again visits Mumbai to teach Shism

1873 Mulla Qadar was sent to India where he stayed for 27 years. ( An Outline history…Mulla Asgar)

1877 Sultan Muhammad Shah born, 3rd Agha Khan, 48th Ismaili Imam

1878 Killu Khatav got martyred (1295 AH)

1879 Muhammad Bakir Khan (d. 1296/1879), brother of Aga Khan died

1880 Birth of Adelji Dhanji Kaba (28 Feb, 17th Rabi al Awwal 1297)

1880 first Khoja Masjid build in Zanzibar

1880 In 1880 Hemraj Ladhani sailed with his family by dhow from Kutch to Bagamoyo.

1881 Sheikh Abul Qasim Najafi came to Mumbai (1307 Hijri)

1881 an Ali Shah Mahallati died, 1st Agha Khan, 46th Ismaili Imam (April 12)

1881 Shah took the seat of Imamt, 2nd Agha Khan, 47th Ismaili Imam (April 12, 1881)

1881 Haji Dewji Jamal was one of the founders of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Community in Zanzibar in 1881.

1882 The first Ithna-asheri to settle in Mombasa was Abdalla Datoo Hirjee. He arrived on the island from Zazibar in 1882

1882 Pira Vall, first president of Kuwwatul Islam Jamat of Zanzibar in 1882

1884 Time of India newspaper: In or about 1849 Khojas (other than Ismailis, i.e. Isnaasharis and Sunnis declined to acknowledge the supremacy of Agha Khan and were practising their respective faiths.

1885 Ali Shah died, Agha Khan 2nd, 47th Ismail Imam

1885 Sultan Muhammad Shah, Agha Khan 3rd took the seat of Imamate (Aug 17, 1885)at the age of 8 years

1885 one of the Dewji Jamal’s son, Nazerali Dewji , shifted to Lamu from Zanziber and John Kirk, the British Consul in Zanzibar, reports it to his deputy in Lamu. He explains Shia Khoja split issue in the letter.

1885 Walji Ramji a leading Ithna-Asheri piece-cloth merchant of Lamu. He arrived on the island in 1885 along with his brothers Molu Ramji and Damji Ramji.

1887 Nazerali Dewji moved from Lamu to Mombasa to establish a new branch of Dewji Jamal & Co.

1887 In 1887 the combined Khoja population (both Ismailis and Ithna-Asheris) on the island was estimated at only twenty five compared to around 1,900 in Zanzibar and 385 in Bagamoyo

1888 British East African Company (IBEA) in 1888, Mombasa became the chief commercial entrepôt of East Africa.

1896 Jaffer Dewji moved to Mombasa following his brother, Nazerali Dewji.

1898 Walji Bhanji left Kutch and arrived with his family in Mombasa

1890 Jiwan Visram established a school-madrasa on the island in the 1890’s.

1892 First issue of Rahe Najat got published by Haji Naji Saheb, student of Mulla Qadar (Zilqad 1310)

1892 Khoja Vrutant was written..first edition

1894 Khoja Kawmna Mazhabna Ketlak Mul tatvo tatha Kriya Sambadho Nanu Pustak published by Agha Sultan Muhammad Shah Agha Khan

1895 300 families living in Lamu

1896 Dewji Jamal bought land for building a mosque-imambara.

1896 In Lamu shortly after the conflict began, one faction, with the help contributions from Zanzibar, built a temporary new mosque outside the 1896 mosque-imambara. This was later re-built in the 1900’s with contributions from Jivraj Khatau, Jivraj Meghji and others who had left Mombasa’s “Bustani” (see below) into the splendid mosque that can be seen today on the Lamu the sea front.

1896 few aga Khan followers poisned themselves … an appeal pg 74

1897 First Namaz e Juma was prayed at Shustri Imambara, Bhendi Bazar (Friday 26th Jamaadiul Aakhar 1315 Hijri, 22 November 1897)

1897 As the Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri population on the island increased – by 1897 it had grown to about a hundred – arrangements were made to meet at individual houses to perform the ‘majlis’, ‘matam’ and other communal rituals.

1897 Dewji Jamal & Co bought a shamba called “kitumba” with a small bunaglow from Maryam bint Mohamed bin Mbarak Karooso for use as a cemetery.

1898 Khoja Trust was established

1898 Masjid land was purchased in Samuel Street; now known as Palagali or H Abbas street.

1898 Jiva Jooma was sentenced to death (August)… an appeal pg 74

1899 the Mombasa community decided to build a mosque and imambara.

1899 Mombasa Khoja Shia Ithna-asheris became caught up in the ongoing communal discord and conflict in Zanzibar and Lamu.

1899 KSI Jamat of Mumbai established (1319 Hijri..so it become 1901)

1899 Arambagh, Mumbai was purchased (Rabi al Akhar 1317 Hjri)

1899 Masjid was built in Arambagh, Mumbai (Rajab 1317 Hijri)

1899 Mombasa Jamat established

1900 In 1900 Dharamsi Khatau, Jivraj Khatau and Walji Bhanji bought land along present day Haileselassie Rd for use as a cemetery.

1901 First KSI Jamat was established

1901 In this year Nasser Dewji died onboard a German ship while returning from pilgrimage to Mecca and was buried at sea.

1904 In 1904 work on the mosque-imambara, named “Kuwwatul Islam” (now Husseini) was completed

1904, Mombasa - Visiting dignitaries from Zanzibar at the opening ceremony of the “Kuwwatul Islam Mosque” on Old Killindini Rd.

1905 Haji Bibi case: Haji bibi widow of Jungi Shah, Uncle of Agha Khan 3rd..Some of the relatives of Agha Khan were Ithna Asheris

1905 Khoja qavm not itihas was written and published by Jafar Ali Rehmatullah

1905 In early twentieth century, around 1905/1910, Jetha Gokal called a great 'Mela' in Jamnagar and invited all Shia Ishanashri people because they had just changed their religion from Agakhani due to their studies and the efforts of Haji Ghulamali/Haji Naji (a prolific Shia writer and founder of Rahe Najat). In that 'Mela' Haji Naji was also invited. Jetha Gokal's wife's name was Mongi Bai who also became Shia Ishanashri but her parental family remained Agakhani.

1907 Hasan Bin Sabbah nu Jivan Charitra by Adelji Dhanji Kaba got published in Amreli

1908 Haji Bibi vs Sir Sultan Muhammad Shah

1912 Agha Jahangirshah No Risalo was translated by Adelji Dhanji Kaba and published in this year in Amreli..The original book is written in Persian by Jahangir Shah bin Agha Hasan Ali Shah

1913 Khoja Panth Darpan first part got published in Amreli

1914 Kilvano patro..Adelji Dhanji Kaba

1915 Khoja Panth Darpan fourth part got published in Amreli

1918 Khoja vrutant second edition got published

1919 Imam Kevo Joieye? Book by Adelji Dhanji Kaba got published in Amreli

1920 Aga Khan visits Karachi for 26 days

1922 Aga Khan visits Karachi to meet Prince of Wales (March)

1925 Demise of Adelji Dhanji Kaba (19th Feb, 25th Rajab 1343)

1925 Birth of Mavlana Saheb Khaki in Burundi (3 rajab 1343 Khaki, 28th January)

1927 Khoja Reformers society in 1927 in Karachi

1928 Mr N.L.Parmar, the Hindu editor of a vernacular weekly who ventilated in his paper the grievances of the Khoja Community was stabbed by knives (23rd November)

1929 A leading reformed was waylaid by three men and attacked with Hatchets who were Ismailis (in Karachi) (25th October)

1932 Karim Goolamali from Kharadhar, Karachi writes to Ali Soloman Khan, son of Agha Khan 3rd (27th November)

1936 Birth of Karim Al Husain, Agha Khan 4th

1937 Sharia act in India passed

1939 Shame e Hidayat, A text book in Gujarati language by Haji Muhamed Jaffaer Sheriff Dewji of Mombasa in 1939

1945 Africa Federation formed

1948 The 3rd Aga Khan seeks nationality of Iran from Muhammad Raza Shah Pehlavi

1957 Sultan Muhammad Shah dies, 48th Ismaili Imam, Agha Khan 3

1957 Karim Al Husain, Agha Khan 4th took the seat of Imamate (11th July 1957)

1958 Arusha Conference

1962 Shia Imami Ismail new constitution in Africa

1964 Aga Khan 4th for the sake of participation in Olympics took Iranian nationality

1964 The revolution of Zanzibar

1964 Al Hajj Ebrahim Hussein Sheriff Dewji on 9th January, 1964 in Zanzibar at a young age while in the position of the Chairmanship of AFED

1965 In 1965, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin succeeded his father at the age of 53, heralding a new era for the Bohra community.

1966 When the two jamats were reunited on 28 October 1966 under the famous slogan “ek bano nek bano” (be one and good), the wall between the two cemeteries (known then as the “Berlin Wall”), was finally brought. The “Berlin Wall” brought down by representatives of the two jamats: Abdulhussein Dharamsi Khatau and Sadak Jivraj Meghji

1968 Shaheed Hamid Ali Bhojani. He nominated himself for the manageing committee of Jamat at the age of 23 years

1969 An account of the Khoja Sunnat Jamat, Bombay published in 1969 in Karachi: Oxford Book House

1972 The expulsion of Ugandan Asians by Idi Amin, Uganda Exodus

1976 WF formed

1980 NASIMCO formed

1980 Ali Raza Nanji of Nairobi started a Madrasa syllabus project in English

1983 Conference of World Ahlulbayt League (London, 5th Aug)

1984 Gujarat Federation formed

1986 December: first set of draft notes published (Madrasa syllabus of Ai Raza Nanji)

1987 Madagascar unrest

1988 March: first full set of notes published (Madrasa syllabus of Ai Raza Nanji)

1991 Evacuation of an entire community of 1,100 from Somalia

2001 Earthquake in Kutch

2005 CoEJ formed

2011 February: Dubai retreat of MCE

2008 Nairobi Aalim residence and adjacent facility opened by Ramzan Nanji (22nd June , 18th Jamadi al Akhar 1429 AH)

2012 November, Harben Madrasah retreat