The Centenary of KSI Jamaat Mumbai was commemorated from Friday 30th Oct. 1998 to 1st Nov.
1998 at Bombay in a befitting and purposeful manner under the presidentship of Haji
Mohibali R Nasser.
The KSI Jamaat, Mumbai was established in 1319 A.H. and thus it is considered as
'PARENT JAMAAT'. A localised community of a few thousand then has, at the turn of
the century, become
an important global community of about 1,30,000.
An array of distinguished guests had graced the occasion and those who could not come sent
their valued messages which were printed in the commemorative souvenir taken out on this
auspicious occasion. Some of the important messages were from Marja-e-Taqleed
Ayatullah al-Uzma Sayed Ali al-Husaini Seestani, His Holiness Ayatullah Sayed Ali
Khamanie, Supreme Religious leader of Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Atal Behari Vajpayee,
Hon'ble Prime Minister of India, His Excellency Hujjatul Islam Ali Akbar Nateq Nouri,
Speaker of Islamic Consultative Assembly (Iranian Parliament), Hujjatul Islam Sayed
Murtaza Kashmiri, Representative of Ayatullah Sayed Ali
Seestani. His Excellency Mr. P.C. Alexander, Governor of Maharashtra, Mr Manohar Joshi,
Hon'ble Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Haji Huseinali (Chacha) Paryani, Ex.
Director, Sajjadiya Trust, Canada, Mr. Ghulam Abbas Sajan, President NASIMCO, Canada and
from a number of Presidents, Chairmen and Secretaries of K.S.I. Jamaats and Trusts around
the globe.
The distinguished guests from outside India, who attended included: Mr. Mohamedbai
Dhirani, Chairman Africa Federation, Mr. Huseinali (Chacha) Paryani, Executive Director,
Sajjadia Trust, Canada, Dr. Amir Lakha, President, London Stanmore Jamat, Mr. Asghar
Bharwani, Chairman,
Dar-es-Salaam Jamaat, Mr. Abdul Hameed Karim, President, Dubai Jamaat Mr. Mustafa Kanji,
Chairman, Kampala Jamaat Mr. Mushtaq Raashid, President, Hodaida Jamaat Mr. Ramzan
Nanjee, Chairman, Jafari Academy Mr. Hassim Abdul Momin, Chairman, Bilal Muslim
Mission, Madagascar, Mr. Ghulam Khimji, Trustee, Nairobi Jamaat, Mr. Ebrahim Kassam,
Trustee, Kampala Jamaat, Mr. Mustafa Jaffer, Ex-Chairman, Newyork Jamaat, Mr.
Hussein Walji, Ex-Chairman, Mombasa Jamaat, Mr. Zulfikar Khimji, Ex-Chairman,
Nairobi Jamaat, Mr. Asghar
Dhanji, Secretary General, Africa Fed., Mr. Sajjad Hemani, Hon. Secretary, Dubai Jamaat,
and many others from Dar-es-Salaam, Madagascar, Nairobi and other African Countries.
The celebrations commenced on Friday 30th Oct. 1998 with Quran-khwani and Majlis for
Marytrs prominently - Hirjeebhoy Allarakhia, Laljeebhai Sajan and Killu Khatau who
sacrificed their lives for the firm foundation of K.S.I. Jamaat, Mumbai and construction
of the K.S.I. Mosque at Hazrat Abbas (a.s.) street, Bombay, and Ulema who guided the
community towards the Islam.
Prominent among them were Mulla Abdul Qadir Husain (a.r.) Haji Naji, Ayatullah Shaikh Abul
Qasim Najafi Sahab, Ayatullah Shaikh Mohammed Hasan Najafi Sahab, Hujjatul Islam Shaikh
Mohammed Jawad, Maulana Aashiq Abbas Sahab, etc.
On Saturday the 31st of Oct. 98 the delegation of distinguished guests and members of
K.S.I. Jamaat first visited the graveyard (Arambagh) to pay homage and recite Surah Fateha
on the graves of the martyrs. And then they visited Ja'fari Sports Complex followed
by lunch by Nasser family.
The main Centenary celebration function commenced in the night with recitation of verses
from the Holy Quran. The function was then inaugurated by senior-most former President of
K.S.I. Jamaat, Bombay and Present President of K.S.I. Masjid Trust Haji Roshanali Haji
Dawood Nasser by
releasing the souvenir which was later auctioned.
Haji Mohibali R. Nasser, President K.S.I. Jamaat Mumbai then read (in English) the
message from Ayatullah Sayed Ali Khamanei, supereme religious leader of Islamic Republic
of Iran.
Haji Akbarali K.M. Tejani, member Managing Committee, K.S.I. Jamaat then delivered his
welcome address.
After the welcome address Mr. Mohammedbhai Dhirani, Chairman Africa Federation, Mr.
Huseinali (Chacha) Paryani, Ex. Director Sajjadiya Trust, Canada, Dr. Amir Lakha,
President, London Jamaat and Mr. Asghar Bharwani, Chairman, K.S.I. Jamaat, Dar-es-Salaam
addressed the gathering. All of them accentauted on solving the present problems and
to alleviate the plight of
the under-privileged in providing homes to the homeless, education including Deeni Taalim,
medical assistance to those who are unable to afford the high cost of medical treatment
and other social services like assistance of widows and orphans - including
non-Khoja beneficiaries also. They also said that we should take benefit of progress
and achievements of each other and establish close contact.
After the speeches, the dignitaries and Ex office bearers were felicitated and presented
momentoes and shawls by present office bearers of K.S.I. Jamaat, Mumbai.
After the presentations a citation was read by Haji Amirali Merchant and presented by Haji
Roshanali Lakhani to Haji Roshanali Haji Dawood Nasser conferred to him for the
philanthropic, exemplary and meratorious services rendered by him for the welfare of the
Shia Isna-Ashari Community in general and K.S.I. Jamaat in particular.
In his key-note presidential address, Haji Mohibali R. Nasser first took stock of the
great sacrifices given by Martyrs who gave their lives and service in nurturing the
Mumbai Jamaat and 'Din-e-Haq'. The president then delineated the religious services
rendered by the ulema for the establishment and cementation of the K.S.I. community. Then
he apprised the gathering of the future projects to be undertaken for the benefits of the
community.
After the presidential address, Mr. Yasin G. Badami, Vice-president K.S.I. Jamaat Mumbai
expressed sincere thanks on behalf of the Jamaat to all the distinguished guests and toher
individuals for their whole-hearted co-operation which made the celebrations a memorable
and successful
occasion. Then Mr. Huseinali (Chacha) Paryani laid the foundation stone for construction
and renovation of Abbasi Orphanage.
On Sunday, the 1st Nov. 1998 the distinguished guests visited Suhana complex, orphanage
and project site of the proposed 100 houses at Mumbra for the weaker section of the
community. With the visit of Andheri Mehfil in the evening the centenary celebrations
programme was concluded.
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