TERM 1997-2000

Secretary General's Report at Triennial Conference 2000

The Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani, in his opening speech remembered the recently passed away President of The World Federation, Alhaj Mulla Asgar (Asgherali M. M. Jaffer). He said that today at this Conference, We are all united to pay our respect to Mulla Saheb.

Only now that he is gone do we truly appreciate his record of humanitarian services, generally, as well as to muslim communities internationally. Today is our chance to express our heartfelt appreciation for the way he occupied the office of the President that brought honour to this organization by the manner in which he filled his role far above any feelings of partisanship.

The Secretary General remembered other Marhumeen, such as Marhoom Alibhai M. Jaffer, Marhoom Haji Hussein Haji, Marhoom Jafferali Asil, Marhoom Haji Mohammed Javari, Marhoom Mohammed Raza Rashid, Marhoom Alhaj Nazirali Gulamhussein and few others who are no longer with us now.

Among the Ulema who are no longer with us this year, he remembered Maulana Zeeshan Haider. He was the founder member of Tanzeemul Makatib. He was a well known Aalim & Zakir and served many East African Jamaats from early nineteen seventies. He translated Nahjul Balagha, Mafatul Jinan and Tafser of Quran in Urdu. Maulana Karar Hussein, also one of the founder members of Tanzeemul Makatib and served our Jamaats in East Africa, passed away this year. Moulana Adibal Hindi who ran many religious institutions also passed away this year

Among those who also passed away were Ayatollah Sheikh Murtaza Buroujerdi, Ayatollah Mirza Ali Gharavi and Ayatollah Mohammed Sadiq al Sadr.

The Secretary General said that the community will remember this eventful term as the “Term of reminding and reflection” which saw many well-wishers, dedicated community workers and Ulema depart from this world.

The Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani, said that over a period of 24 years, The World Federation has evolved as a body serving not only its members but also Muslims from all over the world. Primary objective being preserving our religious identity, eradication of poverty, illiteracy and poverty from within our community.

Responding to the appeal from the needy has to be done with care, courtesy and confidentiality, always conscious of the fact that all applicants receive due respect. Applications are received from many of parts of the world and they have to be heard patently and with empathy. Each application has to be dealt on its merit. Disbursement of Huquq monies will always remain an immense responsibility on the shoulders of those entrusted with the task of disposing.

In addition, the World Federation receives applications from throughout the world for emergency due to natural disaster or war, capital projects, ZCSS projects, MAB projects and Aalim grants.

The World Federation is a global institution and its secretariat is a hub around which the whole wheel of the World Federation rotates. It has over 40 people from many parts of the world who continuously give their time to the World Federation without charging a penny.

They range from those who visit each and every patient who comes for medical assistance to the United Kingdom via the World Federation, to those who continuously visit towns and cities for the new ZCSS sponsor parents. Then there are representative who assist the Secretariat who are based in Australia, Canada, USA, Sweden, United Arab Emirates, France, Kenya and Tanzania.

The volunteers, together with the staff at the permanent Secretariat keep the World Federation running continuously throughout the year. But this is not enough. The World Federation has the community numbering over 100,000, now settled in many parts of the World. They replicated mainly African experience in almost all places and formed Jamaats and later on to forming regional federations. It is from these institutions that the WF receives solid support and backing. World Federation's strength as a community is its ability to raise and generate funds whenever required in the name of our faith.

Finally, the Secretary General said that it’s his privilege to present the report for the term October 1997 to October 2000.

Tabligh:

At the 7th. Triennial Conference of the World Federation held in October 1997, the President of the World Federation, Marhum Mulla Asgar (Asgerali M. M. Jaffer) declared the next three years term as the term of Islamic Education activities. The community throughout the world was affected by a process of social transformation that uses information technology to relay ideas and information from one remote station to be received in any part of the world within seconds. Digital Television, along with the Satellite and Cable Television, Internet and E-mail have proved to be extremely successful in exchanging useful information.

With this development, there is huge disadvantage of inaccurate portrayal of Islam, particularly the religion of Ahlul Bait A.S. given this; the World Federation has to evolve to respond to this new challenge.

The first task was to establish resource Centres at strategic places, fully equipped with modern technology and materials. First Dar Al Tabligh, London and later on Dar Al Tabligh, New York was the location chosen for this purpose. Islamic Education Board (IEB) of the World Federation is based in their headquarters at Dar al Tabligh, London.

Digitizing of Resources:

The medium of information technology was used to reach the wider audience and explain the true Shia perspective. IEB has embarked on digitizing Islamic literature so that it is readily available on the Internet. It has its own web page and is maintaining a Quran theme page. This contains translations and articles on the Holy Quran. Research students frequently visit the site and it has proved to be so beneficial that the faculty of Jurisprudence at the School of Oriental and African Study – University of London – has provided link to it.

The IEB is working closely with the Ahlul Bait Digital Islamic Library Project (DILP), which was started six years ago with the aim of putting Shia literature on the net for the public. After six years, it now has major Shiite works available on their site. The World Federation has assisted this organization. It is now digitizing works in Arabic, French and Spanish.

Radio Broadcast - "A Success Story"

Driving to work one morning, two weeks ago, and being a little dissatisfied with Radio 2 and Capital Radio, I turned to 558 AM. And I heard a very sweet voice telling me about the words of the Quran. I was fascinated.

I was fascinated by the enthusiasm. It was so infectious that I listened to the whole programme. I now listen every morning, for the duration of my journey into London. In fact, I now time my drive to ensure that I can listen to your whole programme.

Although not a Muslim by upbringing, what you say has truth, simplicity and common sense running like threads throughout. I am not sure I will ever be a believer. I was brought up a Catholic, but your words reinforce my belief in how to live a rewarding life”.

(Comment from a listener after listening to Radio Broadcast from IEB).

This is the expression of spiritual contentment from a non-Muslim after the Radio Broadcast, the thirst for spirituality that can be quenched through the Quran.

For the past year, IEB has been broadcasting programmes on Islamic concept for better understanding among Muslims and Non-Muslims residing in London and surrounding areas. It had to learn the discipline required to produce daily programmes.

There is tremendous encouraging response as well as demand for audio cassettes from listeners. WF now has successful broadcast content available to try out in any part of the world. The World Federation is grateful to Marhoom Mulla Asgar (Asgherali M. M. Jaffer), Brother Mustafa Mawji, Brother Maqbul Rahim, Brother Safdar Jaffer, Brother Mustafa Jaffer and Sister Ummulbanin Merali for making the programme a success.

Majalises on TV:

12 Majlises in Urdu were broadcast on TV in Muharram 1419 (1998) and with popular demand from the listeners, these Majlises were repeated during Muharram 1420 A.H. (1999). Similarly, in last Mahe Ramadhan, lectures by Marhoom Mulla Asgar (Asgherali M. M. Jaffer), Brother Mustafa Mawji and Brother Safdar Jaffer were broadcast on TV for United Kingdom audience.

Audio/Video/CD Library:

Under IEB, Audio/Video/CD library of Islamic material is established at the World Federation building at Anderson Park Road in Birmingham. A comprehensive database of nearly 500 audio cassettes and 75 video tapes has been set up. Facility for duplication s of audio and videotapes are available at the library. A CD writer has also been acquired to enable material to be copied on to CD’s.

Institution of Zakiri:

Islamic Education Board (IEB) has a database of Zakirs and Zakiras mainly from our own community. Over the years, the number is increasing. Soon we will have sufficient pools of Zakirs and Zakiras to fulfill the need of our community.

To facilitate interaction between them, the World Federation, over the past 8 years held many seminars. The last one was held in March 1998 at Birmingham. Among many issues discussed was the need to have more Shia references in English and to shift the focus of content on more practical issues affecting our Community. IEB has published and distributed Zakir’s Compendium. This is a book containing Namaz-e-Mayyit, Talqeen and Namaz –e- Juma Khutba. This is an aid to every Zakir who, more often, also perform the role of resident Aalim of the host Jamaat.

Holy Quran Exhibition:

The first exhibition of the Holy Quran was held at the Islamic Centre, London, in December 1998. IEB of the World Federation was a co-organizer of the major event. Mulla Asgherali M. M. Jaffer was invited to speak on the role of Muslims in promoting the message of the Holy Quran. Radio 4 also interviewed him for listeners in the UK.

The exhibition displayed the Holy Quran in different prints and there were thirty different translations of English language, sixty different translations in Persian language as well as copies of translation in many languages of the world. Subjects ranged from Sciences of the Holy Quran, Bibliographic, Concordances containing over 6000 verses on different subjects, Tafser, Stories from the Holy Quran and research and Theses related to Quran. There were Multimedia resources on more than 20,000 different subjects as well as paintings and calligraphy works of the Holy book were on display for the public to appreciate.

A philanthropist made is possible for Dar al Tabligh to obtain a number of Books on Quran and Theses exhibited at the Quran Exhibition. The Quran Library at Dar al Tabligh now has nearly 150 Theses on Quran presented at Universities in Iran. It is proposed to publicize it among academic institutions and invite researchers and scholars to avail themselves of it for research.

Tabligh Among Bosnian Muslims:

The policy WF adopted 8 years ago has now begun to show results in Bosnia. Since 1992, the Bosnian desk at the World Federation has carried out extensive work in this field in two ways.

Firstly, translation and publication of books like Principle of Religion, A First Course in Islam and the Holy Quran are printed and distributed to Bosnian in Europe and elsewhere. Ten issues of the magazine ‘Muslimanski Zivot’ were published for distribution among Bosnians during the term 1997-2000. In them, a book by Sayyid Akhtar Rizvi on “Imamat” and a book by Tahera Kassamali on ‘Raising Children’ have been published in parts.

Secondly, adopting a special mode of communication developed by the Bosnian desk, WF was able to run a correspondence course for those who are eager to learn about Islam.

During the period 1997-2000, nearly 2500 individual contacted the Bosnian desk at IEB out of whom, 1200 are participating in the correspondence course and about 250 practices Jafferi Fiqh.

War In Kosovo:

In 1999, Kosovo was engulfed by war. There are large communities of Albanians in Kosovo. Albanians are predominantly Muslims with over 40 per cent followers of Bektashi Sufi Order who believe in Twelve Imams a.s. The community responded generously to our appeal on the plight of Kosovo Muslims.

The World Federation, through the Albanian Islamic Society, sent food, clothes and money for the purchase of an ambulance. WF embarked upon propagation of Islam within the community by printing an Albanian translation of the Holy Quran and distributed it among refugees in Europe and North America. A Mosque was re-built in Kosovo by a donor from Dubai, through the World Federation.

The WF provided financial assistance to a Shia publishing firm in Macedonian to print the following books in Albanian:

1. The Roots of religion (published by Dar Rahe Haq, Qum) was translated into Albanian and published and distributed by the World Federation.

2. Five thousand copies of translation of the Holy Quran in Albanian were reprinted and distributed.

The Minister for Religious Affairs of the Albanian Government had a meeting with the Chairman of Islamic Education Board. He requested assistance for Muslims in Albania and promised all cooperation and assistance.

Madressa - Our Enduring Institution:

The Madressa remains the enduring institution of the community. Children take religious instruction and education through it. They are run on a voluntary basis by committed and dedicated group of teachers.

One such vivid example that comes to the mind is Alhaj Mulla Abdulrasul Mulla Hassanali in Mombasa whose lifelong mission has been to serve the cause of Madressa. In every Jamaat we have some highly dedicated individuals like Mulla Abdulrasul. This is the important responsibility taken by them, which really belongs to parents

Our communities throughout the world have a Madressas, some well-established, self-sufficient and of good standard while others lack resources and basic facilities. IEB has played a facilitative role in bringing Madressa administrators and teachers to gather, provide financial assistance, organize teacher seminars and more importantly provide books and other resource materials to our community Madressa, religious institutions outside our community and secular schools and institutions.

However more needs to be done. Challenges facing us today are different from those that existed even 10 years ago. The demands will change even further due to globalization. As a result, the problems facing our children living in the west may become almost identical to ones in the east and they need to be approached collectively. Unfortunately, the lack of co-ordination between Madressas is a real setback and this need to be addressed.

The role of Madressa in the community presented at the symposium organized by the Council of European Jamaats, Alhaj Hassan Ali M. Jaffer stated:

“We spend huge sums of money in recruiting Ulema to serve as Resident Aalim. Mostly to lead congregational prayers only; we recruit renowned Zakereens for the moths of Muharram, Safar and Ramadhan, and we spend colossal sums of money for Niyaz, all in the good name of religion. Necessary as these endeavors are, how much resources do we expend to effectively upgrade the role of Madressa education and in training potential Madressa Muallim, in introducing modern teaching aids for religious education and in supplementing the income of Madressa teachers to make them economically self-supporting and consequently more devoted in their assignments.

The challenge is to give Madressa education the same level of importance that we give secular academic education. Given the choice of exercising one option only, the first priority must go to Madressa.”

The Secretary General, Dr. Sibtain Panjwani stated that the World Federation will have to move the needs of Madressa to the top of the IEB agenda.

He further stated that IEB has produced, printed and distributed many books. Some of them are as follows:

1. Al-Islamu Dini – A set of 11 manuals for Madressa students 2. Ahsanal Qisas –Stories for children 3. Kalimatun Tayyabi – Majlises for children including Khutba and Masaib Workbooks for children 4. Al Islamu Dini – Key stage 1 and 2 for secular schools according to Islamic Religious Education Syllabus in Harrow, Ealing and Hertfordshire schools.

In addition, audio cassettes on many subjects are available from our resource centre. WF has distributed more than 10,000 copies of thesis books to individual throughout the world.

Aalim Grant:

World Federation subsidizes the cost incurred in procuring the services of Aalim. Member Jamaats in Europe, USA, Australia and India receive a substantial contribution to the costs of maintaining their resident Aalim. Certain nonmember Shia Organizations also receives this assistance in the light of their needs of a resident Aalim. For Moharram, those Shia Organizations who are unable to have a Zakir, WF would step in to commit part or all the expenses for the sole purpose of ensuring that the remembrance of Imam Husain (AS) is spread far and wide in all parts of the globe.