From The Africa Federation Archi

From The Africa Federation Archives

1. Q & A – Allama Aqil Turabi – 1950s

2. Pictures - Muharam in Dar-es-Salaam & Jinja

The following questions were asked by Mr. James Buogi of Uganda Broadcasting Services, Kampala, to Allama Aqil Turabi, a religion preacher in the late 1950s. The answers given by him were translated by Mr. A. G. Sabur, the Hon. Secretary of Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamat.

Q.1 For what purpose are you visiting Uganda at the present moment?

A. I have come to Kampala at the invitation of the supreme council of the Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamaats of Africa to recite majlis i.e. to preach for the first 15 days of Muharram. Later on I shall visit and preach at other places in East Africa.

Q.2 What is the significance of Muharram?

A. Every year in the month of Muharram, we Muslims, commemorate the great event of the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain, the grandson of the prophet Muhammad {SAW} 51 years after the death of Prophet Muhamad (peace upon him), Hazrat Imam Hussain, his small children and his devoted followers were deprived continuously for three days of water and food and on the 10th day of Muharram were cruelly slained on the plains of Karbala. No event in history surpasses in pathos the scenes erected on this spot. Imam Hussain was overtaken by an Ommayed army under the brutal and ferocious Ibne-Ziad. They cut off his head, trampled on his body and subjected it to every ignominy. The ladies of his household were publicly exposed, paraded bareheaded in the bazaars like criminals. The martyrdom of Imam Hussain has no parallel in the history of the world. This great leader fought for the predominance of good over evil and became immortal by giving his life for the cause, we believe that Muhamad was last prophet with the world wide message- a message not confined to one race or nation, but intended for all humanity .He unlike his predecessors, was not sent for one age or time but for all mankind to the end of the world. Imam Hussain refused to give his allegiance to, and accept the religious leadership of an irreligious person. He showed to the world that it is better to die a noble death rather than live a slavish life.

Q.3 What is in your estimation, the number of the followers in this sect i.e. Shia Ithnasheri in East Africa and do you think this number is increasing?

A. I understand that there are about 250,000 Shia Ithnasheri in East Africa, the number is at present increasing very slowly but according to my information, the Supreme Council of the Khoja Shia Ithnasheri Jamats of Africa has now undertaken to propagate amongst the indigenous people of this country.

Q.4 Do you have any mission in this country whereby you try to train teachers and recruit new followers?

A We do not have any mission as such, but in the recent years our Supreme Council has sent several students abroad to Muslim countries like Pakistan, Iraq, Iran etc to get training in our religion. As regards the recruitment we do not believe in bribing the people to follow our religion, but we preach our religion openly without any secrecy and we welcome non Ithnasheri to our majalis and other ceremonies.