"Tammay jamnagri choo" na "tu mavai choo" ohh “African khoja choo”!
Got puzzled? No need, these r just routine questions asked and discussed frequently when two strangers meet in our khoja society.
The entire concept of social community begins as (i) Human, then it is bifurcated down to (ii) Religion, further on we have different school of thoughts in our religion so it is divided into (iii) Sect, also we have geographical boundaries in this world thus we are separated with (iv) Nationality, of course we speak different languages so we are estranged by (v) Language
Is that it??
No it’s not, if someone meets above five criterias then we give the title "Apni Biradari Ka" to the person but the distance from "Apni Biradari Ka" to "Apnay Wala" has some more criteria.
Syed or Non Syed, ohh if non-syed then, Khoja? Great! Khoja, which khoja? Katchi, Katihyawari, Panitali, Mavai, Jamnagri or Sindhi khoja?
Cool now he is "Apnay Wala"
Give me a break sir!
Why is so that when our ladies start searching for the spouse for their child the most emphasis is on the katchi/kathiyawari stuff. People today are talking about global village, inter-marriages between different nationality and different cultures are so common now and we are still stuck up on the areas of Gujrat we belong to.
"saw (100) qasai ek taraf aur ek (1) mavai ek taraf"
“Sanp (snake) chooro aur pehle sindhi maroo”
What the hell is all this.
When we all are Muslims and all of us believe in “Ali-un-wali-ullah”, we belong to same culture and same geographical location then why are we so nosy about this whole cast in its own cast thing?
I was astonished to hear some similar statements from few elder Khoja ladies, lemme quote some phrases
“My father advised me not to ever marry any of our family members to people who belong to Panitali”
“I can marry my child to anyone but not Jamnagri”
Oh Allah, where are we in this 21st century, still the racism on its peak. If this racism would be something like not marrying to Jew or Hindu or any other school of thought in Muslims, it could be justified but not marrying our children to someone who just not belong to the area which I am from, that’s the limit man.
When I get in more detail of this “cast in a cast” issue, believe me, I discovered people giving preferences to their neighbors in sending “Ramzan Iftari” and “Shab-e-Barat” nayaz just because of difference in “cast in a cast”.
Can we stop this racism or it’s really necessary for us as a Khoja to be divided into more sub groups?
Think !
Friday, May 29, 2009
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Bloody month of May
Usually people in sub continent are habitual of using hanging calendars which shows single month per page and at every month end that specific page is folded or removed to welcome new month.
Since last five years, every time when I have to do this exercise in the month of April, to welcome May, it is with shaken hands and distress thoughts as the whole story of May 2004 is flashed back in my mind.
May 2004 a bloody month for the people of Karachi especially Shian-e-Haider-e-Karar!
A hot Friday on May 7th 2004, usual working day for Karachites, life was running normal in the vicinity of Shahra-e-Liaqat located between M.A Jinnah Road and I.I Chundrigar Road. The day was passing along as normal, and then came the time for the afternoon prayers, people working in that area usually go to Khoja Masjid Kharadar for Friday prayers and for Zohareen prayers they go to Masjid-e-Haidri, a historic mosque inside premises of Sind Madrasatul Islam, build in 1894.
The mosque was full of worshippers, It was around quarter pass one when people were all set for Namaz-e-Jamaat, with the voice of “Qad q'amatis sal'ah” the prayers were ready to begin, Imam-e-Jamaat raised the voice for takbeer “Allahu Akbar” and in reply instead of people repeating the same verses a powerful bomb exploded in the mosque. Within no time there was a pool of blood all around the mosque, broken limbs and scattered body parts with loud mourning was witnessed.
The blast was so powerful; it ripped through the mosque's concrete structure and also damaged the roof.
Twenty three (23) people got martyred and more than 200 were injured.
Most of the victims were working in nearby offices and went for prayers during Friday namaz and lunch break, the break never ended and turned to be the break in their lives.
As shaheeds are not considered to be dead so still they are alive by Allah’s will. They will return to this world in the army of Imam-e-Zamana (a.s.), Inshallah.
“Think not of those who are slain in Allah's Cause as dead. Nay, they live, finding their provision from their Lord. Jubilant in the bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the Martyrs glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they cause to grieve. Allah will not waste the reward of the believers."
Since last five years, every time when I have to do this exercise in the month of April, to welcome May, it is with shaken hands and distress thoughts as the whole story of May 2004 is flashed back in my mind.
May 2004 a bloody month for the people of Karachi especially Shian-e-Haider-e-Karar!
A hot Friday on May 7th 2004, usual working day for Karachites, life was running normal in the vicinity of Shahra-e-Liaqat located between M.A Jinnah Road and I.I Chundrigar Road. The day was passing along as normal, and then came the time for the afternoon prayers, people working in that area usually go to Khoja Masjid Kharadar for Friday prayers and for Zohareen prayers they go to Masjid-e-Haidri, a historic mosque inside premises of Sind Madrasatul Islam, build in 1894.
The mosque was full of worshippers, It was around quarter pass one when people were all set for Namaz-e-Jamaat, with the voice of “Qad q'amatis sal'ah” the prayers were ready to begin, Imam-e-Jamaat raised the voice for takbeer “Allahu Akbar” and in reply instead of people repeating the same verses a powerful bomb exploded in the mosque. Within no time there was a pool of blood all around the mosque, broken limbs and scattered body parts with loud mourning was witnessed.
The blast was so powerful; it ripped through the mosque's concrete structure and also damaged the roof.
Twenty three (23) people got martyred and more than 200 were injured.
Most of the victims were working in nearby offices and went for prayers during Friday namaz and lunch break, the break never ended and turned to be the break in their lives.
As shaheeds are not considered to be dead so still they are alive by Allah’s will. They will return to this world in the army of Imam-e-Zamana (a.s.), Inshallah.
“Think not of those who are slain in Allah's Cause as dead. Nay, they live, finding their provision from their Lord. Jubilant in the bounty provided by Allah: and with regard to those left behind, who have not yet joined them (in their bliss), the Martyrs glory in the fact that on them is no fear, nor have they cause to grieve. Allah will not waste the reward of the believers."
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Waiting for the action
Following mission statement is derived from the website of Al Meezan panel. I hope and wish that the panel stuck to their mission and start working on the elements which is in their priority list.
I hope that we will soon start witnessing some progress on mentioned manifesto. (InshaAllah)
Best of luck to the panel!
“Al Meezan shall strive to seek a balance in its endeavour to work for community upliftment and betterment. The community is indeed indebted to the tireless and dedicated services of the preceding leaderships, and to the generosity of the community well wishers, by virtue of which the KPSIAJ has been put on a very strong footing. The contributions of our predecessors in the development of the “Fatimiyah Education Network” and “Fatimiyah Hospital” merit special mention.
However this is only the beginning. The journey is a long way from its fruitation. The metamorphosis of education, medicine, and other social services is in process. With your help and effort, we intend to harvest these phenomena into a more productive engine of growth.”
I hope that we will soon start witnessing some progress on mentioned manifesto. (InshaAllah)
Best of luck to the panel!
“Al Meezan shall strive to seek a balance in its endeavour to work for community upliftment and betterment. The community is indeed indebted to the tireless and dedicated services of the preceding leaderships, and to the generosity of the community well wishers, by virtue of which the KPSIAJ has been put on a very strong footing. The contributions of our predecessors in the development of the “Fatimiyah Education Network” and “Fatimiyah Hospital” merit special mention.
However this is only the beginning. The journey is a long way from its fruitation. The metamorphosis of education, medicine, and other social services is in process. With your help and effort, we intend to harvest these phenomena into a more productive engine of growth.”
Suggesstions for KPSIAJ, Karachi
Although elections 2009 of Khoja Jamaat Karachi were very controversial and series of emails and news letters were circulated during the entire election campaign imposing different allegations on many contestants resulting in load of confusion for voters.
However, now that phase is over and elected panel named as Al-Meezan have got the mandate to lead Khoja Jamaat Karachi for next 3 years (hopefully).
Will it not be good to help them in uplifting of our community by providing them with new ideas and suggestions?
The reason for this blog is to collect different views from community members and we will compile all the comments in different categories and present it to President and General Secretary of Jamaat.
Please speak up and provide your views and suggestions in different fields such as education, community center, religious programs, health and fitness center etc. etc.
However, now that phase is over and elected panel named as Al-Meezan have got the mandate to lead Khoja Jamaat Karachi for next 3 years (hopefully).
Will it not be good to help them in uplifting of our community by providing them with new ideas and suggestions?
The reason for this blog is to collect different views from community members and we will compile all the comments in different categories and present it to President and General Secretary of Jamaat.
Please speak up and provide your views and suggestions in different fields such as education, community center, religious programs, health and fitness center etc. etc.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
History of Khoja Shia Isna Asheri
Twelver Khojas:
A number of Khoja families resented the direct control of the Imam on community affairs and formed a reform movement, some even claimed that Khojas were originally a sunni community which resulted in a court case which ruled in favor of the Aga Khan I.
In the early 1800s, some Khojas went for Ziyarat and while in Najaf, they met the Twelver Mujtahid of the time, Sheikh Zainul Aabedeen Mazandarani. During their discussions they converted to Twlever Shi'ism, at the behest of Sheikh Mazandarani, Mullah Kader Hussein arrived in the subcontinent several more Khoja families left the Ismaili sect and learnt from Mullah Kader, the principles of the Twelver Shi'a faith.
A student of Mullah Kader Hussein, Haji Ghulamali Haji Ismail, remembered as Haji Naji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai, India) was a Gujarati speaking Twelver scholar who was instrumental in converting many Ismaili Shi'a to Twelver Shi'a Islam. He published magazines like Rah-e-Nijat and books of supplications in the Gujarati language. One such book, Majmuaa, is an integral part of Twelver Khoja literature to date. His speeches, his preaching, and his simple way of explaining the faith has earned him respect and he is revered by Twelver Khojas all around the world.
A number of Khoja families resented the direct control of the Imam on community affairs and formed a reform movement, some even claimed that Khojas were originally a sunni community which resulted in a court case which ruled in favor of the Aga Khan I.
In the early 1800s, some Khojas went for Ziyarat and while in Najaf, they met the Twelver Mujtahid of the time, Sheikh Zainul Aabedeen Mazandarani. During their discussions they converted to Twlever Shi'ism, at the behest of Sheikh Mazandarani, Mullah Kader Hussein arrived in the subcontinent several more Khoja families left the Ismaili sect and learnt from Mullah Kader, the principles of the Twelver Shi'a faith.
A student of Mullah Kader Hussein, Haji Ghulamali Haji Ismail, remembered as Haji Naji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai, India) was a Gujarati speaking Twelver scholar who was instrumental in converting many Ismaili Shi'a to Twelver Shi'a Islam. He published magazines like Rah-e-Nijat and books of supplications in the Gujarati language. One such book, Majmuaa, is an integral part of Twelver Khoja literature to date. His speeches, his preaching, and his simple way of explaining the faith has earned him respect and he is revered by Twelver Khojas all around the world.
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