In the name of Allah, the All-Beneficent, the Ever-Merciful
Respected Community Leaders & Members
Salamun Alaykum
I pray that you are all well, Insha'Allah. Many of you have embarked on your journey to the Holy Land of the Kaa'ba. Hajj is the only worship where we are required to use our physical self, financial & spiritual self. More than 3 million Muslims perform this great act of worship every year together. They practically demonstrate their loyalty, devotion, dedication, sincerity and love for their Lord & Creator, Allah (swt) the Almighty.
On the 10th year of Hijrah, 9th of Dhu al-Hijjah, on Friday, in the valley of Arafat; the last messenger of Allah, The Holy Prophet (pbuh) addressed his final sermon to all of humankind. His message contained divine instructions for human character which spoke about the formula of unity, brotherhood and how to live in this world peacefully. Our Prophet provided humankind with a comprehensive, balanced, successful and moderate way of living. We must take his example and use the time of Hajj to reflect on his sermon and seek ways to better our self. On that note, I would like to wish those who are going for Hajj a safe and spiritually uplifting trip.
For those of who us who are not blessed to go this time, the Islamic Education team are producing a short video series entitled "Spiritual Gems of Hajj". These videos will have some insightful information on what important acts we can perform at home - look out for them on our social media channels starting next week.
It has been a busy period since our Exco meeting. The World Federation president Al-Haj Anwarali Dharamsi visited the UK recently and held a meeting with the Office Bearers to discuss important updates and projects post ExCo. It was an informative meeting and many key actions were discussed.
The Hon. Treasurer, Mohamedkazim Bhaloo and I met with Baroness Warsi a few weeks ago to discuss the work of the AAPG (All-Party Parliamentary Groups) on British Islam at the House of Lords in London. Councillor Mustafa Jaffer and I paid a courtesy visit to Shaykh Amjad who was visiting London and discussed A matter of mutual interest.
On 7 July, the President Anwarali Dharamsi attended the opening ceremony of the Haadi Residency, Nairobi Jamaat’s flagship housing project which consists of 40 flats. This project was initiated in 2011 by him when he was the AFED Chairmen and the then Nairobi Jamaat President Aasif Karim.
On 26 July, Mohamed Kazim Bhaloo and I met for a full day with the representatives of our regional members for our second meeting of the MCE Advisory Board. Alhamdulillah, this was a productive meeting where we discussed in detail the progress so far, and the immediate and future plans of the MCE project.
The president of NASIMCO, Arif Jacksi, met with the Office Bearers Mahmood Dhala and Mohamedkazim Bhaloo in London to discuss the current projects and the new NASIMCO Executive. Many updates were covered on various projects. Arif bhai also joined us for part of the MCE Meeting and we look forward to an even closer collaboration with the new NASIMCO Executive.
I am very pleased to announce Khoja News is now online! You can read the latest stories simply by searching @KhojaNewsOnline on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. I would like to give my personal thanks to those of you who submitted stories to us via the website. We put in our best efforts to share these stories with you and now with our social media accounts, you get to see more of what is going around in the Khoja world. I’ve followed online, now will you? Find us and follow us online @KhojaNewsOnline. Please share this new platform with your family –it’s a must for all Khojas!
The Madinah and Bab summer courses are in full swing. The participants have been getting to know each other and have been on Ziyarat visits. I am pleased to see so many happy smiling faces on this trip. Today the students attended classes where the boys learned about “Capitalism and the Islamic approach” and the girls had an introduction into “the Discipline of Islamic Mysticism”. Tonight they will end their day with the recitation of Dua Tawassul at Jamkaran Mosque. If you would like to learn more about their trip please visit our website and social media pages for regular updates.
Please read on for more of the news from this month, and if you’d like to receive regular updates from The World Federation please sign up.
With Salaams and Duas,
Shabbar Dhalla
Vice President
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Najaf Retreat Report
Just months after the establishment of our office in Najaf led by Br. Shabbir Dharsi, we took the momentous step of organising a one-of-a-kind Medical Retreat in Najaf al-Ashraf. The course took place over a span of 10 days and hosted a total of 26 participants from 11 different countries. Read the full report here.
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External Tableegh Update
The purpose of External Tableegh is to promote the teachings of the Qur’an and the Ahlul Bayt (as) in communities other than the Khoja community. In the various countries we have visited, there is dire need for the populace to access the true teachings of Islam. Read our article on "Spreading the message of the Ahlul Bayt (as) Far and Wide".
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Madinah and Bab Mentors
The Islamic Education team is committed to ensuring that the Madinah and Bab course continues to reach new heights of excellence, through the spiritual, moral, and educational development of the course participants. To help achieve this, we train mentors to help support the development of the participants. Learn more about the mentors on this year's trip here.
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Madinah and Bab Daily Blog
The Madinah and Bab course is underway and the participants are fully geared up to receive 3 weeks of spiritual, moral and educational upliftment. So far the participants have gotten to know each other and experienced the first tours of Ziyarats. Bookmark this page to get daily blogs and pictures updates of the participants.
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STEPS Series 1 - Knowledge of the Unseen
If Imam Ali (as) had access to ‘Knowledge of The Unseen’, why did he end up being martyred? This and many other questions arise in our minds regarding the level of knowledge accessible by Allah’s (swt) chosen ones. Watch or listen to all four episodes here.
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STEPS Series 2 - Marja'iyyah
Marja‘iyyah – the just, Shi‘i religious authority which the laity refer to when it comes to understanding one’s religious obligations towards Allah (swt) as prescribed to us in the Holy Qur’an and the history of the Prophet (pbuh) and Imams of the Ahlul Bayt (as). Learn about why Marja'iyyah the Shi’i Religious Authority is essential for us here.
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Hajj Workshop
On 21 st July 2019, we ran our second year of the Hajj workshop, held in the newly built venue – The Training Centre, Mumbai. Organised as a collaboration between The World Federation India Office, India Federation, Mumbai Jamaat and Servants of Imam Ali(as) Group – we had an amazing turnout of 35 participants. Read about the seminar here.
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MCE Update
The Teacher Skills Programme (TSP) provides teachers with practical skills, tools and resources needed to bridge the gap between schools and madaris, enabling a more structured style of teaching in the madrasahs – emphasising the learning process centred around each individual child. The team recently held a month long series of training events in India. Find out more here.
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Khoja News is your source for all the latest news and events taking place in the Khoja world. Find us and follow us online!
Search for @KhojaNewsOnline on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook! |
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How to improve youth mental health
A pioneering course aimed at improving the mental health of Khoja youth has won high praise from participants. Twelve participants underwent training during the inaugural Youth Mental Health First Aider (MHFA) course on the weekend of 6 – 7 July. The course was evidence based and designed to increase participants’ confidence, knowledge and skills to step into situations where they notice signs of poor mental health, especially amongst young people facing academic pressure, social media stress and bullying. Find out more here.
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Amazing spectacle” brings community together
This year’s Stanmore Jafferys Festival of Rackets has been hailed the best ever after
460 players took part in 37 exciting competitions. The weekend of 6-7 July saw fantastic finals, thrilling exhibitions, celebrity appearances, a buzzing family picnic and an interactive Wimbledon fanzone marquee. Held at the Royal Masonic School in Rickmansworth, it proved to be a fantastic sporting event bringing the community together. Read more here.
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If you are interested in joining us on the Khoja Heritage Tour please make sure you book by 31st August.
The Hiridjee Student loan application is fast approaching. If you are a female Khoja and need funds to secure your further education, please apply by 31st August to get a loan.
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Ladies Spiritual Retreat
The CoEJ Ladies Spiritual Retreat held on 5–7 July 2019 was attended by 27 ladies from jamaats across the UK. The retreat was held at the Barlings Barn in the idyllic surroundings of Wales. The relaxing weekend included games, spiritual discussion sessions and workshops with Aalimah Masuma Jaffer. The participants enjoyed scenic walks in the woods, swimming and even a trip to the beach. Read more here.
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iSadaqah is a fantastic app which lets you give Sadaqah in 3 easy steps from wherever you are!
We’ve made it even easier for you to give Sadaqah regularly through the iSadaqah app, which you can download now on your smartphone. It takes moments to install, and just minutes to get set-up, and once your details are registered with us, you can then give Sadaqah in just a few clicks.
So, whether you are commuting to work in the morning or in a queue when paying for your shopping, you can use your phone to make a small donation and help those that are deserving of Sadaqah.
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Your continued support, enthusiasm, dedication and passion is what makes The World Federation of KSIMC a success. We'd like to say a special thank you for supporting our global efforts. Together, we are helping and improving the lives of people all over the world.
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