TERM 1988-1991

Haji Naji Year

At the Executive Council held on 14th. January 1989 at the Islamic Centre, London, it was unanimously decided to declare 1989 as Haji Naji Year and recommended various activities to be undertaken throughout the world in memory of Marhum Allama Haji Gulamali Esmail (Popularly known as Haji Haji)

The Council adopted the proposal that two scholarships be awarded in memory of Haji Naji.

The Council also recommended that a wing that was to be sponsored by World Federation at the Kidney Centre in Karachi also to be named after Haji Naji.

Foundation Fund

At the Executive Council held on 14th. January 1989 at the Islamic Centre, London, the Council recommended that the President and the Office Bearers undertake to travel around the world to collect the Foundation Fund. All Councilors expressed their full co-operation of assisting the President in raising the Foundation Fund. A sum of nearly Pound Sterling 40000 was pledged by various Councilors present.

World Conference of Khoja Shia Isnaasheri Businessmen

In order to have a greater cohesion amongst businessmen and professional in Khoja Shia Isnaasheri Community, an initiative was taken for calling a World Conference of all our businessmen and professionals at London on 14/15th October 1991.

It was decided that it SHALL NOT duplicate the work being done by 'World Federation' or any of their 'Regional Federation'. Nor will it usurp any of their powers. On the other hand, it was also agreed that neither World Federation nor any Regional Federation would get themselves involved in any economic or business projects which would be left to the businessmen themselves or their organizations to undertake.

The idea behind such a Conference is as follows:

1. To enable us to know each other personally and better so that mutual beneficial business can be transacted.
2. To discuss the challenges facing our community and devise ways and means of surmounting the same.
3. To launch an Economic Council on the principles of Chamber of Commerce.
4. To publish an International Trade Directory
5. To launch International Fund for investment in Trade and Industry
6. To launch an emergency Fund which can be used to meet any unexpected challenges like the recent mass evacuation of our entire population from Somalia
7. To establish a permanent Secretariat.

The Businessmen Conference was held, after the World Federation Conference, on 15th & 16th October 1991.

Settlement and Welfare Board (Set-Wel) of Supreme Council

The political upheaval in Somalia at the end of last year (1990) gave rise to the necessity of evacuation of member of our Community residents there. The efforts of the Chairman and members of Nairobi and Mombasa Jamaats were successful in meeting the necessity.

Having evacuated our Brothers, the question of their resettlement arose. This task required efforts to be made on a global basis.

They tried to settle them in Great Britain; Where World Federation endeavored to pursue this application in London but without much success.

In North America, NASIMCO handled the settlement in Canada. Papers have been filed with the authorities for the sponsorship of 11 families only.

To date 25 families have migrated to Pakistan. Mehfile Murtaza has either fully or partially maintained a substantial number of these families. They now advised that the body has spent Rs. 1.4 million already and are unable to continue any longer.

It advised that every family that is migrating to Karachi will now have to be covered by an advance remittance of USD. 30000.

SET-WEL COMMITTEE:

In view of the slow progress and the resultant feeling of despondency among the evacuees, the Supreme Council has set up a settlement and welfare board.

Action Plan The Set-Wel Committee adopted the following plan of action:

1. Raised USD 3.5 million from our community members around the world to meet the cost of resettlement.
2. Evacuees would be settled in Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Pakistan.
3. The Global appeal for funds to meet the target to be made immediately.
4. Required data pertaining to all the families have been compiled. They are 40 families from Nairobi and 81 families from Mombasa.
5. Kenya (Nairobi and Mombasa) upto now has spent USD 1 million in evacuation, their day to day living expenses, medical expenses and air passage etc.

Appeal: SET-WEL Board appeals to all the Jamaats worldwide and their members to contribute generously to this noble cause so that our brothers can be settled in minimum delay.

Islamic Education Board (IEB)

Report - 14th. January 1989

The Chairman of the Islamic Education Board, Haji Muhsin Jaffer, presented a comprehensive analysis of all work of the Islamic Education Board. The two principle priorities of the Board were seen:

1. To be serving the Community of member Organization throughout the world and
2. Serving in the area of Tabligh in the wider context.

World Federation has been looked upon as a point of reference for guidance on religious affairs throughout the world. The World Federation would need to be well-equipped to deal with this great responsibility.

The Council needs to lend its full support to the Islamic Education Board and recommended that the IEB call upon the experts in the field to assist in its endeavors.

Report - Triennial Conference 11-14th. October 1991

At the Triennial Conference of The World Federation of the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Muslim Community held at Hussaini Islamic Centre, Stanmore, from 11th to 14th October 1991, Jaffer Dharamsi presented the followoing report:

Madressas

1. SYLLABUS presented by The Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaats of Africa was adopted, with slight modification, by the World Federation.
2. TEXTBOOKS production work is going on both in Toronto and Nairobi, but again there are little joint efforts in this matter. However, whatever is produced should prove highly useful for all the teachers and it will save them a lot of time and headaches. "Elements of Islam” was translated into Swedish and published by Bilal Muslim Mission of Scandinavia. The Cost of translation and publication was borne by the Islamic Education Board. Translation in Portuguese is also almost ready and should be going into print shortly. Notes on Madressa syllabus have been translated into French and distributed to teachers of Paris Madressas.
3. SUPPLEMENTARY BOOK Islamic Puzzle Book for children aged 5-8 years is published by IEB. The second book for older children is under print. A book of Islamic Poems written by Dr. Husein of Nigeria is also under print. Material for publication of additional books on Islamic Poems, Puzzle, Crosswords, Dramas, are ready for the incoming Board to publish as many as possible for the use of our children. It is regrettable that despite much publicity, the response in buying these books has been poor. Most of the Madressas have paid least attention to drawing these books to the attention of their students.
4. JIGSAW PUZZLES with Islamic themes, prepared by Muslim Welfare House, London, were widely distributed to all the members.
5. ISLAMIC COMPUTER SOFTWARE, efforts were made to encourage Software Engineers to prepare Islamic Software. The progress was slow but the Board is particularly grateful to Al Mahdi Islamic Software Centre of Nairobi for taking keen interest and preparing a number of Islamic Software.
6. TEACHER’S TRAINING Seminars and Workshops were arranged. It is the best way to ensuring that children are taught in a most effective way. The Board has intended to publish edited version of the papers presented at the Teacher’s Seminar held in Nairobi in 1985 but due to a number of reasons, the editing has not been completed. It is hoped that the incoming Board will see to its publication.
7. CRASH COURSES for 10 days for teachers and students from France, Portugal and Sweden were arranged for girls. Plans are in hand for holding such courses for boys as well.
8. OTHER MADRESSAS for non-members has been extended support in establishing Madressa in their areas. Syllabus, Books and advice were given. A number of Pakistani Organizations (who are not members of World Federation) have availed themselves of IEB.’s services.
9. BUREAUCRACY, a number of Madressas faced problems because of poor relations with the Managing Committee of it Jamaat. There is an urgent need for a solution to this ever-recurring problem. The children suffer unnecessarily because of misunderstandings or disputes between Madressa Teachers and the Managing Committee.
10. GENERAL, some of the Madressas have been kind enough to always keep the Board informed of their activities and of new developments. It allowed the Board to pass on the received notes, information etc. to other interested parties. The Board, in turn, always tried to maintain close relations with the Madressas and supply them with their requirements of Syllabus, Books etc.

Tabligh

1. PUBLIC LIBRARIES: The Board supplied books worth thousands of Pounds to public libraries all over the world.
2. GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS: Close relations have been maintained with Education Authorities in U.K. Many problems that our children face in schools in practicing Islam have been resolved through the efforts of the Education Officer. The Board has actively participated in the School Exhibitions by putting up a stall to inform the student community about Islam. I.E.B’s representatives have attended many of the Conferences and Seminars held on Islamic Education by other Muslim Organizations.
3. INTER FAITH: The Chairman of the Islamic Education Board (IEB) represented Shias in both Harrow Inter Faith and the Inter Faith Network of United Kingdom. It afforded an opportunity to clear misunderstanding and misconceptions about Islam and the Shia faith in particular and enlist support of other faiths in meeting our demands in U.K. Mr. G. H. Musa of Gloucester now represents the Shias in the Inter Faith Network of U.K.
4. CONVERTEES: Books have been distributed to new converters as well as to interested non-Muslims, all over the world. Individuals and Organizations doing Tabligh work among non-Shias and/or new converters have been given moral and financial support.