Salamun alaikum,

FEDERATION SAMACHAR is grateful to Br. Aun Ali Khalfan for granting this interview

His decision to stand for WF high office was received after we had printed our last issue.

EDITOR

Aun Ali Khalfan

To be obedient to Allah is to serve mankind

Publisher and Designer
Born on 26th November, 1939 in Madagascar. 
Started business in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Signs Writers Ltd. (Signage, Design and Fine Art).
Settled in New York in 1969 
Founder and President of Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, Inc.

Community affiliations:

• Founding Member of the World Federation
• Member of the World Federation Executive Council (First Term)
• Founding Member of Al-Khoei Foundation, New York
• Founding Member of Nasimco
• Founding Member of the Boy Scouts of America’s National Islamic Committee on Scouting and Chairperson of the Islamic Emblem
• Member of the New York Host Lions Club
• Former and First President of the Shia Ithna Asheri Jamaat of New York
• Former President of New York Asian-American Lions Club

Why do you want to be President of WF?

I would like to be the President of the WF because I think my extensive experience working with Muslims and people of other faiths across the world has given me a unique insight into the real challenges that communities like ours face.  My biggest goal is to build bridge between our community and people of other faiths using the Qur’an, as the Qur’an is a best source of information to unite and guide us as a community. 

What are your short- range objectives?

• To improve our outreach efforts in order to educate people of other faiths about Islam
• To establish and improve educational systems within our community
• To place more emphasis on the Qur’an in our religious functions (lectures)
• To ensure that our community promotes the inclusion of groups such as women, youth, seniors and people with disabilities.
• To establish a sustainable financial support system for the community as guided by The Qur’an

What is your greatest accomplishment?

I see my greatest accomplishment as my ongoing effort to reach out to the world in order to educate people about the Islam through the gift given to us by Allah swt – The Qur’an.  I founded Tahrike Tarsile Qur’an, Inc., a non-profit organization which publishes and distributes Qur’an and Islamic Literature, over 30 years ago.  To date we have published The Qur'an in more than 40 different editions of The Qur’an and over 50 other Islamic titles and children’s books. We have distributed over 2 million copies of the Qur’an to bookstores, universities, Islamic centers, prisons, healthcare facilities, Seminaries, government officials and agencies across the globe.

On behalf of TTQ, I attend literary and religious meetings all over the world where I exhibit Qur’ans and Islamic Literature, most of the time we are only one of two or three organizations amongst hundreds representing Islam.  These events include but are not limited to Book Expo America, Book Expo Canada, Boy Scouts of America Jamboree, The London Book Fair, American Academy of Religion, Middle Eastern Studies Association, Frankfurt Book Fair, New Delhi International Book Fair, Tehran International Book Fair, Sharjah Book Fair, etc.

What do you say are the greatest strength and weaknesses in our community?

Our greatest strengths include our global presence and our history of building sustainable community centers wherever we have migrated.  With these centers, however, must come schools and other educational facilities that work to educate ourselves and as importantly the communities we live amongst on the teachings of the Prophet.  Our centers must serve us spiritually and also be open to communities of other faiths.  We need to start working together as a united community that enacts principles of sincerity and forgiveness.

What is your plan for recruiting leaders to help assist you in WF?

Our community is filled with talented, educated, ambitious, sincere and professional individuals.  It is important that we engage as many of these individuals as possible by creating a more inclusive environment, especially for those who have historically been excluded.  Examples of these groups include women, youth, seniors and people with disabilities. 

My plan for recruiting leaders will begin with a grassroots consultation to find out why the aforementioned groups have not come forth and actively participated in the leadership of their community.  This will be followed by a detailed examination of the institutional barriers that inadvertently discriminate against certain groups of people.  Existing policies, programs and practices will be examined in this process.

Once we fully understand the barriers that people face in working with their community, we will develop a detailed action plan to recruit and train leaders from these marginalized groups.

Where do you see WF in Next Five - Ten Years?

My vision for the WF is an independent, inclusive, and united Islamic organization.  Become financially independent of using money of Khums and using our own resources to support our community.  Improving the area of Islamic education for the enlightenment of our future generation.

How will you work to forge a partnership between WF and AF?

Through sincerity and patience, I will strive to bring about understanding between the two organizations. We need to meet with the AF’s leaders and start an ongoing dialog which leads to a greater understanding of each other and progress towards meeting our mutual goals.

What is your message to the community?                     

My dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam, be sincere, loving, caring and forgiving. Strive for peace and have everlasting patience. Every individual can do something, no matter who you are or what position you play in society. Every one of us has the opportunity to build a more peaceful world by reaching out to others whether as part of an organization or as individuals. If you strive on the right path, on the path of God, you will always be satisfied.