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World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim Communities: A pioneer of humanitarian services

Sheikh Nadir Jaffer , head of External Tableegh of World Federation KSIMC

SHAFAQNA-IQNAThe World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri is a Muslim organization active in humanitarian affairs worldwide. This report with the help of Nadir Jaffer the head of the propagation arm of the community, the External Tableegh takes a look at the activities and the programs of the WFKSIMC.

The Khojas are a Nizari-Isma’ili Shia community of people originating in India that appeared some 600 years ago. Their faith was a mixture of Hindu beliefs and Isma’ili branch of Islam. Through years, the followers of this faith split into several groups: some converted to Shia Twelver or Isthna-Asheri and migrated to Africa where they formed powerful and influential communities. In today’s world, in addition to eastern African countries, the Khoja communities are spread in India, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America. They are mostly economic agents, businessmen and have a prominent place in charitable and humanitarian activities in either their own countries or across the globe.

The biggest Khoja communities live in India, Pakistan and Tanzania. In Europe, most Khojas are residents of London, the United Kingdom.

World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri

The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri registered as a charity organization in London in 1976. The federation is an independent body with a president and a board of trustees picked through internal election every three years. The federation’s policies are decided twice a year. The WFKSIMC’s secretariat is located in Stanmore Islamic Center, London.

Some of the federation’s programs worldwide include:

  • Rapid response to emergencies and international disasters
  • Relieving financial deprivation through economic development and building human capacity in low-income regions
  • Provision of healthcare and medical facilities by establishing health centers, medical clinics worldwide
  • Supporting clean water projects in developing countries
  • Provision of low cost housing
  • Provision of basic necessities to most vulnerable groups including women and children
  • Sponsoring students from developing countries who wish to study in developed countries
  • Engagement with various communities in a bid to promote cohesion in societies
  • Publication and distribution of Islamic books

The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri is made of:

  • The Federation of Khoja Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Africa
  • The Council of Khoja Jamaats of Europe
  • The Federation of Khoja Jamaats of Australia
  • The Federation of Khoja Jamaats of India
  • The Organization of Shia Twelver Communities of North America
  • The Federation of Khoja Ithna-Asheri Jamaats of Pakistan

The current President Elect of The World Federation of KSIMC is Alhaj Anwarali Rajabali Dharamsi.

The current head of the World Federation’s External Tableegh, Sheikh Nadir Jaffer, who represented the World Federation in the Iranian city of Qom, says big groups of Khojas in Africa reside in numerous countries such as Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia, Burundi, Madagascar, Kenya, South Africa, Congo etc. In the first place, the Africa Federation (AFed) was established and in the second step as many Khojas are living across the globe, the World Federation was founded. There are independent subsidiaries of the World Federation including the Council of Jamaats of Europe (Coei), the Organization of Ishna-Asheri Shia of North America (Nasimco), the Organization of Australia-Asia-Pakistan and the Gujarat Federation of India.

According to Sheikh Nadir Jaffer the WFKSIMC is a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) that is registered with the United Nations and owns an economic-cultural seat at the UN.

For now, Khoja jamaats in every city have their own committees, mosques and hussainiays (mourning halls); for instance 14 jamaats in 14 cities across Madagascar have their own committees. There are some 100 Khoja jamaats across the world.

When asked about the social activities, Sheikh Jaffer says Khoja people are very active economically, religiously and culturally and at the same time regarding the sensitivities, they do not enter political factions. The World Federation is very alert about the catastrophes surrounding Muslims globally, as it issued a statement and condemned the atrocities committed by Myanmar’s government (and army) against Rohingya Muslims. The World Federation also takes a stand in other international issues related to Muslims. He reiterates that senior Khoja figures enjoy strong bonds with their countries’ heads of state, for example, they have very good relations with most of African presidents.

WFKSIMC’s Humanitarian Activities

Sheikh Nadir also touches on the WFKSIMC’s humanitarian measures, saying the body has run special programs in different countries such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Haiti, Nepal, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Thailand, Philippines, Chile, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Somalia and South Africa.

The World Federation KSIMC distributed 13.5 million food packages in 21 countries during the holy month of Ramadan. It contributes to the costs of marriage ceremonies in Afghanistan every year. The organization distributes warm clothing in winters in Afghanistan, Yemen and Pakistan and runs an assistance office in Syria. Most of the federation’s activities in Somalia, Haiti, Bangladesh and Philippines are religious and humanitarian.

In addition to all above-mentioned, the federation contributes in provision of housing, clothing for the poor, sponsoring widows and orphans, building mosques, hussayniays and medical facilities. The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri sends physicians from the US, the UK, Canada, France and Tanzania to various countries such as Syria, India and Iraq where doctors treat needy patients free of charge.

The head of the External Tableegh says the World Federation KSIMC has educational programs as well and is in contact with the most prominent universities of the world. It finds talented students and provides them with a scholarship to study at universities of Australia, India, Canada, Malaysia, South Africa, Morris Island, the United Kingdom and France. In addition, it holds educational courses for teachers and managers in various countries.

When asked about religious activities, Tableegh and propagation of Shia faith, Sheikh Jaffer answered that the World Federation has offices in Qom, Najaf, and Mumbai. It works in tandem with Al-Mustafa International University and Jameat al-Zahra Shia seminary for women and sponsors non-Iranian Muslims who wish to study in Iran by paying them the cost of their living and education. The World Federation runs about 30 different religious, cultural and charity programs in Qom. At the moment, some 150 Khoja female and male students study at Al-Mustafa International University and Jameat al-Zahra, in the Iranian cities of Qom and Mashhad. They will begin spreading the Shia faith within Muslim and non-Muslim communities and countries once they return home. Jaffer continues that the World Federation has an Islamic center in Nepal where the majority of the population are Hindus or Buddhists.

ASK An EXPERT

AskanaLim.org is a website where experts answer people’s questions about religion and faith. The World Federation also publishes and distributes interfaith and Islamic books, produces audiovisual contents and translates Islamic, educational books. The WFKSIMC holds and attends book fairs. Staging educational courses for preachers and Imams and sending them to different countries in the holy months of Ramadan and Muharram is another activity.

WFKSIMC Relations with Iran 

We asked Sheikh Nadir Jaffer about the relations between Ithna-Asheri Khojas and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He stresses that holy shrines of Shia Imams in Iran and Iraq attract members of the Khoja communities from Asia, Africa, Europe and North America every year.

WFKSIMC members meet with Ayatollah Safi Golpaygani in Qom

The World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri sent its assistance for Iranian victims of the 2003 massive earthquake in Bam, the 2017 earthquake in Kermanshah and the 2018 floods. The WFKSIMC is working closely with the offices of top Shia religious authorities and maraji in Qom and Najaf. Also, it has been staging summer courses for developing Islamic sciences for the past 17 years in Iran where volunteers from several countries attended them.

Source: International Quran News Agency IQNA

Read more from Shafaqna:

The World Federation of Khoja Shia Launches the ‘Fatima (sa) Inspires’ Campaign

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