by
Fidahusseinbhai A. Hameer
In the 35 years of its history, the Bilal Muslim Mission has gone
thought a lot of crises during which Allamah Seyid Saeed Akhtar Rizvi (AM) stood
like a pillar. “This Bilal is
Imame Zamana’s mission and Allah will take care of it,” he used to tell us.
He quoted the question Abraha asked Hazrat Abdul-Mutalib (a.s.), “You
are asking for your animals, what about Khana-e-Kaaba?” to which Hazrat Abdul
Muttalib replied, “Kaaba is Allah’s property, He will take care of it.”
Marhum told us, “Similarly Allah will take care of Bilal, you don’t
have to worry.”
Over the years the deaths of prominent people involved with the Mission
have been received with profound shock but at all times Allamah Rizvi was a
pillar of strength always reassuring that things would continue as planned.
Among those who passed away were Haji Rafiq Somji the first Hon. Secretary of
the Mission, then Haji Ahmed Sheriff, the founder member and first Chairman,
then Haji Ali Mohamed Jaffer who was also a founder member followed by Bwana Ali
Sheriff, Chairman of the Bilal Muslim Mission Arusha Branch. Immediately
thereafter Alhaj Mulla Asgherali M.M. Jaffer, who had the Mission’s welfare at
heart and was an ardent supporter, also passed away.
Allamah was a pillar of strength and always reassuring.
“Personalities will come and go. It is the institution that matters”
he used to tell us.
And alas that pillar of strength is now gone. Allamah’s departure from this world is a real loss for us.
Allaamah was a faqih, a muhaddith, a historian and a real treasure
of knowledge. There is no
replacement in the whole world, the tower of strength and reassurance on which
we leaned, is gone.
We pray to Almighty Allah (s.w.t.) to reward Allamah Saheb for his
services to mazhabe Ahlul Bayt A.S. and place him in Jawarehe-Maasumeen A.S. and
give us all the strength and fortitude to carry on the heavy burden he left
behind.