Zikre Husain (A.S)

Mukhliseen Mukhlisaat...

with eager hearts await the saa at.

for all are hoping it be their land

that His Holiness shall command

to be the center of Zikre Hussain.

where all will join, each bhai each bhen 

to shed our tears and pound our chest

for not a moment shall we rest

our eid is near ,our eid of sorrow

hearts will ache as our ears will ring

with the shahaadat of the shohada s king.

Mumineen Muminaat...

all will gather the showering barakaat

from the  east coast to the west 

our faith will be put to test...

to leave our jobs and business behind

and open our pockets our hearts and mind 

we will blindly follow our guiding light

leading us in the pitch dark night

our children beside us with hands held high

their eyes gleaming  with love and pride. 

Moula ! Moula ! shouts each Momin as He ascends

and in a flash these days are gone and soon it all ends.

Amate Syedna (tus)

Shakira Y. Frosh

By: M. Aliasger Bhai Rasheed


Zakat, the fourth pillar of Islam, instructs its members to give part of their worldly wealth to help those in need and further, to the cause of truth. As Allah states:
"They will question thee concerning what they should expend (for charity). Say: whosoever good you expend is for the Parents, the kinsmen, orphans, the needy and the traveler and whatever good you may do, Allah has knowledge of it". (2-211).


Persons who have received in abundance, should respond in gratitude and in respect for what Allah has bestowed them, they should return to him part of their abundance. This repaying to Allah is accomplished by helping those whom Allah commands us to help, through his Awliya kiraam (A.S) sustaining the needy. It is the Awliya Kiraam (A.S) who are commanded to accept and take the Zakat from the Ummah and purify them with the thorough purification. It is their duty to distribute amongst the rightful and the needy.
Human sharing is at most a goodly loan to Allah, which will be repaid many times over both here and the hereafter.


The Zakat, required by a law is not to be regarded as a free gift, but is a mandatory, minimum "Waajib" on various categories of wealth. From the time of Rasulallah (S.A) Zakat has been gathered and dispensed under the auspices of Islamic state, and Rasulallah (S.A) himself frequently imposed payment of Zakat on the members of the Arab-Tribes seeking integration into the expanding Ummah. From the beginning the social responsibility of the believer has been understood to extend through out the entire community of believers and Zakat was considered the expression of this responsibility.


The period of Maulana Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) is regarded as the Golden Period amongst the past era’s of Doat Mutlaqeen (A.S). Burhanuddin Aqa (TUS) with his Mauezet Hasanah and his Hikmat, summoned Mumineen towards Iman and Allah’s path. There has been no such record in history as in this period, of Mumineen sacrificing their souls and offering their wealth in the Qadam Mubarak of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS). And no doubt that this sacrifice is to such an extent that Maulana (TUS) without any hesitation proclaims- "MUMINEEN TAMNE DEKHI NE MEIN GHANO KHUSH THAOO CHOO - TAME MAARA CHO ANE MEIN TAMARO CHOO". May Allah enhance the umarsharif of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) till the day of Judgment.


The command of Zakat is in itself related with the command of Qarzan Hasanah. Allah subhanahu states in Quran: "If you offer loans to Allah, then surely Allah will double your wealth and eradicate your sins". Al Dai Al Ajal Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) has specified the importance of Qarzan Hasanah in this period in three different ways.


Qarzan Hasanah, as in respect to Mumins faith.
Qarzan Hasanah, as a law and ordinance.
Qarzan Hasanah, as an act, deed and duty.


The Dai of Rasulallah (S.A) ascertained Mumineen through his manifests, that Qarzan Hasanah is not just a deed or an act of formality, but it is a command of Allah.
The term Qarzan Hasanah, in Quran has been used in three different ways. Informative - Commanding and as an Oath. Where the commanding term has been used, Maulana Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS) states " Allah has associated the law of Qarzan Hasanah with the command of Zakat. As the command of Zakat implies on the category of people having wealth (Saheb ul Maal) in the same way the command of Qarzan Hasanah, in the same way the command of Qarzan Hasanah implies on the same category.


The affirmation of Qarzan Hasanah is supported by the denial of Riba, (Interest). Al Dai Al Ajal Syedna Qazi Al Noman (R.A) states. " The Riba is denied in Islam.( It has been regarded Haram in Islam) for the fact, that people might not stop from the good deeds, (Maroof)". The negation and the denial of Riba and on the contrary the affirmation of Qarzan Hasanah can be proved by simple logic.


It is but obvious and the law of nature that people are always in the need of loans, (Qarzan Hasanah).
(2) Allah has regarded Riba, (Interest) haraam in Islam.


The above two points confirms the denial of Riba and affirms the command of Qarzan Hasanah. Because Allah has closed all the modes of getting loans except Qarzan Hasanah. Ultimately, Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (TUS), with his kind deeds summons Mumineen towards this command of Qarzan Hasanah. Infact it is impossible to count that how much Huzurala (TUS) gives as Qarzan Hasanah. And it is the mere ahsaan of Maulana (TUS) that he gives us the sharaf of accompanying in this kind deed.

Maulana states; " Qarzan Hasanah aapo, ehma ghani barakat che, Mumin tamara si le ehno ahsaan !". May Allah give us taufiq to perform this khidamt and may Allah enhance the Umarsharif of Aqa Maula till the day of judgment.
Ameen.

Abde Syedna (TUS)
Aliasger Sh Saifuddin Rasheed

My Life as a Dawoodi Bohra Teenager

By Mufaddal M. Mustafa Jamali

            As Salam Alaikum.  Respected Members of the Church and Community, Respected Janab Saheb, Mumineen, Muminaat. My name is Mufaddal Jamali and I would like to welcome everyone to this special celebration event in honor of his Holiness, Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin (TUS). Today, I would like to present to you an inside look at my life, as a teenager living in America, and also as a very active participant in religious activities. Similar to a normal teenager, I go to school every day and I try to work hard to achieve the straight A’s in my report card that every parent hopes to see. I try to engage in after school activities such as volunteering to give back to the community. In the spring, I play tennis for my school, working hard to get better each day. I participate in these activities like a common American teen, but unlike an average American I also go to our markaz for prayer sessions on a regular basis. Sometimes it could be once a week, other weeks multiple times, or in rare cases such as in Ramadan, everyday for thirty days. In other religions a teenager this devoted to his religion would be hard to find, or perhaps even impossible. However, for a Dawoodi Bohra teenager, this characteristic is a commonality. Not finding a child like this in a Dawoodi Bohra family would be hard or perhaps even impossible.

            There are two important reasons for why the culture of a Dawoodi Bohra teenager is so unique and unlike any other. One reason is how parents raise their children and teach them to prioritize certain activities. I remember how my parents would make me pray namaz and come to majlises starting from an early age. Sure, it was hard the first few years, but after those first few years it became like a normal habit. Now, religion is engraved in my life and if at anytime I decide to avoid it, a feeling of regret will arise.

            The most important reason for a teenager’s success in a Dawoodi Bohra community is our spiritual leader Syedna Mohammad Burhanuddin (TUS), the person whose salgira we celebrate today. Moula shows us the path that we need to take in order to lead a successful life. He does not say that religion is the only thing that matters, but instead  emphasizes education and being an important figure in today’s world. Nevertheless he doesn’t abandon religion, because that is the key element which keeps a Dawoodi Bohra’s life in balance. It is not just a coincidence why Mumineen are never in trouble with the law or filling bankruptcy on a normal basis. It is because that is how we are brought up. Moula teaches our parents to live their lives in a certain way, the right way, and it is our duty to pass those teachings to our children to keep up and honor this tradition.

I know many may question how all of this may be possible.  But, the truth is that the secret lies in the teachings of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin (tus).  He teaches our parents, and us, that the key to success is to have faith, and prioritize our Mohabbat and our beliefs.  And believe me, when that is done, other things fall into place.  My Maula teaches us that we can have it all - religion, social life, community involvement, professional goals, and more - So, why settle for anything less than that?? This is why I am standing today on this podium, giving this speech, because my parents brought me up the right way, and set me up to lead balanced life that will result in nothing short of success.

By Rashida M. Aliasger Rasheed   

Wherever we turn, we are able to see the effects of the advances of technology – from medicine to education, and more.  Advances in medical technology have allowed doctors to treat patients in the first few critical moments after a health trauma.  As a teacher and a parent, I see technology used in the classroom – whether it is to enhance students’ fine motor skills or to teach them how to read.  In our everyday home or work lives, going a few days without the internet, telephone, or even a cell phone would seem impossible.

Yesterday, while watching the video of Aqa Maula (tus) performing the Iftetah of the Qubbah Mubarakah of Syedna Hatim (R.A.) in Yemen, it became evident  that a Mumin’s life in the era of our Maula (tus) would be impossible without the technology  that allows us to be so close to our Maula, without physically being there.

Watching the video of the Iftetah, I was able to see every unique amal of Aqa Maula (tus), from entering the Qubbah Mubarkah, to performing Tasleem at the Qabr and  holding the Gilaf and performing Ziyarat.  Seeing all these unique and momentous Aamaal being performed, my Mohabbat and Tafadi for my Maula grew even more stronger. All the Bayanaas that I had heard during Ayyam e Tabudaa’t  helped me realize how much my Maula cares for me and all Mumineen. A single Amal of holding the Gilaaf and instantaneously recollecting the Kalemaat Nooraniyah of Syedna Taher Saifuddin (R.A) Aqa Maula (tus) remembered us Mumineen in his Dua Mubarak.  This Amal alone of Aqa Maula (tus), made me realize that our Maula (tus) puts us Mumineen above anyone and anything.  That Amal of Aqa Maula (tus) was the Khulaso of Tafaadi and Mohabbat.

 Even when we are not fortunate enough to be physically present in the Hazarat of our Maula (tus), we have become so used to the many opportunities of Deedar via video relay, that it is difficult to imagine a Mumin’s life without technology.  Every Moharram, those who are less fortunate and are not able to attend Ashara with Aqa Maula (tus), wait and pray daily for news of a video relay.  It is hard to imagine an Ashara, no matter where we are in Bilad Imaniyah, without doing Deedar of our Bawa Shafiq (tus). It may be difficult to live our day to day lives without the advances of current technology, but it would be impossible for a Mumin to live their life without the technology that brings them closer to their Maula (tus).  Yesterday, while watching the video relay it became clear to me that while we may all be bounded by technology in our everyday lives, it is the same technology that has the sharaf of being in the Khidmat of Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin Saheb (tus), bringing Mumineen closer to their Maula (tus). May Allah Subhanahu enhance the Umer Sharif of Aqa Maula (tus) till Qayamat.

Ameen.

As per the Khushi of Aqa Maula (tus) regarding Taharat in Mumineen's houses  Anjuman e Taheri, Columbus and Aayaan ul Jamaat are actively making arrangements that the Farmaan of Taharat be carried out by encouraging installation of  an Indian Style baitul khala (Commode) in Mumineen's houses. Recently, during the Los Angeles trip to meet with Shezada Aali Waqaar Qaid Johar BhaiSaheb Izzuddin Saheb (D.M), Janab Saheb and Aayaan ul Jamaat were instructed to carry out this farmaan. All Mumineen are encouraged to carry out this farmaan as well and obtain the Khushi of our Bawa Shafiq (tus).

The EAST WEST COMMODE, shown below, is easy to install and  does not require any plumbing. For more information, please contact Shk Khozema bhai Doctor. Also  more information regarding EAST WEST COMMODE can be found by visiting http://www.eastwest.mydiyweb.com