Updated 24 April 2012
Blessed with the mausoleum of Imam Ali (AS), the Hawza of the holy city of Najaf has trained great scholars who went on to play a significant role in the development of seminaries in cities like Qom and Mashhad. Its founding dates back to the year 448 AH (1056 AD) by Abu Ja’afar Muhammad ibn al-Hassan al-Toosi . Al-Toosi was an intellectual giant, a genius by all standards. He was the undisputed authority in fiqh, the founder of the science of hadith, an innovative mentor of the science of usool, and the scholar of scholars in all branches of knowledge related to the science of biographies, akhlaq, and ilm al kalam. That is the legacy of al-Toosi who laid the foundation for the hawza which has been functioning since 449 A.H. The hawza at al-Najaf al-Ashraf has for the past ten centuries attracting students from all over the world.
A historic Picture of the two recent legends of Najaf – Ayatullah Al Uzama Syed Abul Qasim al Khui (R.A.) and Ayatullah al Uzama Syed Ali al-Husaini Seestani (H.A.)
Now during the month of Ramadan 1433, some fortunate international students will be able to imbibe Islamic Knowledge in the very precincts which basks in the bounties of the Amir ul Mumineen , Imam Ali (as), and breathe in the air that has touched the dome of the gate of knowledge, something not found in any place of the world. Students will have a unique and memorable opportunity to maximise their Taqwa, their Iman and strengthen their Ruhaniyat. All the more so, as we read in In Tuhfa Al‐Gharawiya: Imam Jafar Al‐Sadiq (as) has said: "Staying overnight at Ali (as) for one night equals the worship of seven hundred years." The students will be blessed with about 30 nights from 25 Sha’aban to 24 Ramadan (July 16 to August 14, 2012) when a crash course has been organized by the International Khoja Hawza of Najaf.
This the first time such a course has been organized at the first ever established Khoja International Hawa in Najaf. The establishment of the Khoja Hawza has its own poignancy in the fact that the very first contact of the Khoja Community towards the path of Ahlul BaitAS) was with Ayatullah Zainul Abedin Mazandarani in Najaf in the mid 1800 when Haji Dewji was introduced to the Marja of the time by Mulla Qadir Husain Karbalai. Since those days, the KSI Community has been blessed with the support and patronage of the Maraje, by way of religious guidance as well as the mujtahedin allowing the use of hukook funds for establishing imambargas and tabligh projects.
The course is open for both girls and boys from age 15 to age 22. Please note the course is for French and Gujarati speakers only.
During the holy month students will stay in Najaf near the Shrine of Imam Ali (AS) and will also visit other shrines of Imams around Iraq throughout the duration of the course.
PLACES ARE LIMITED so please book your place in advance by completing the application form.
Accommodations and meals for students will be provided free of charge. Students will be responsible for purchasing tickets, visas, internal transportation, and additional personal expenses. Students will need approximately $300 for transportation for ziyarats etc.
Applications from East Africa, Madagascar, La Reunion, Comoros, Mayotte, and Mauritius will be accepted.
Registration will be on a first come first serve basis.
For further information contact Sheik Nawsad Alihoussen at nwsdal@yahoo.fr or khojamadressanajaf@yahoo.com
Additional info can also be found at www.khojamadressa.com or by calling 00964 7819494371