An unprecedented step into community needs analysis and building a future for our community
An ‘evolution in the making’ is a phrase that can best sum up the ethos of the largest and most diverse gathering ever of the leadership of the Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri Community (KSIMC) from  around the globe, numbering over 300 individuals.  The 9th Triennial Conference of the World Federation of Khoja Shia Ithna-asheri Muslim Communities, marked 27 years of its existence. 

Held in Dubai, this was the first time that a triennial conference was convened outside the UK where the World Federation has its headquarters, signifying yet another step in the continuing endeavours of the leadership in projecting the World Federation as a truly global organisation. The single most apparent benefit of the venue and the conference was the networking opportunity for mumineen around the globe. In an amazingly endearing depiction of the diversity in this 124,000 community, spread out in all corners of the globe, Indian accented English was as much at home as Canadian accented Gujarati interspersed with Swahili mixed with Kutchi, during deliberations at the conference and at the dinner table.

The beautiful venue, with asmaul husna and Qur’anic calligraphy forming a spiritual backdrop not to mention the unmatched and exemplary hospitality by the Dubai Jamaat, went a long way to creating an ambiance of spirituality, fraternity and positivity to make the conference all the more productive.

Recognising with profound maturity, that unity does not mean uniformity of opinion; community leaders, delegates and Councillors candidly expressed their views and aspirations on how to respond to the fast changing needs of the community.  In the process, the conference  gave an unquestioning mandate,  to the newly elected office bearers and the Executive Council, to forge ahead by investing in infrastructure and openly embracing new models of management that continue to be transparent and accountable without compromising on compassion or its core values of simplicity and sincerity.

Strategic planning - Not to engage is not an option
The soul of the conference was the day spent on the presentation of the Strategic Plan, by a young and articulate team of professional presenters, which almost seemed like a ‘leadership in waiting’ team. One could use the phrase ‘the shape of things to come’ not just for the content but for the presenters too!.  Appropriately titled, “Creating futures together” this was yet another first for the World Federation. The nine month exercise in creating this strategic plan was an unprecedented step in analysing community needs and in providing a roadmap towards building a future for our community.  The document is an invitation to the entire community, young and old, men and women, to participate in this vision for the future. A stunning multimedia presentation on the two scenarios of the community, in the year 2035, one with planning and the other without planning was a revealing look at the future. The contrast between the bleak look of ‘not engaging’ and the refreshingly vibrant community in the year 2035 by ‘engaging’ clearly demonstrated that not engaging was not an option. The plan clearly articulated the aspirations and needs of the grassroots and now the onus of delivery is upon the leadership and frontline workers. At the same time for it to succeed, the leadership must be given a reciprocal commitment of engagement from the community at large to accord its co-operation and resources in facilitating its execution.

Crème de la crème  - standing as the icons of the unity of the KSI Community
In their keynote addresses, at the opening session, the heads of the Regional Federations, whom the out-going President Al Hajj Hasnain Walji called ‘the crème de la crème of the KSI Community, standing as the icons of the unity of the KSI Community’ delivered their succinct messages on the state of the community and their visions for their regions. Amongst the numerous themes, the most recurrent was the deteriorating economic plight of our brethren in East Africa, articulated by the Chairman of the Africa Federation and the President of Nasimco.   Each of the leaders underlined their commitment to the concept of our enviable infrastructure of the KSI Community and pledged their support to the incoming President Al Hajj Ahmed Hassam.  The Chairman of Africa Federation, Al Hajj Zulfikar Khimji conferred  the Hayderi Medal to Al Hajj Hasnain Walji and Brother Sadique Jaffer read a citation on behalf of Nasimco in recognition of his services to the community.

In his parting message to the community, Al Hajj Hasnain Walji spoke of the need to appreciate and understand the concept of marji’iyyat (following of the maraje – the Islamic leaders), as fundamental to our faith during the ghaiba (occultation) of Imam Mehdi (AS). and while one could ask questions of the maraje, it was conceptually inappropriate and paradoxical to ‘question’ the accountability of maraje as is the current vogue within various quarters of the community.  He passionately appealed to the community, to move out of its parochial thinking and engender a more global approach in dealing with the wider affairs of the Shi’i community as well as humanity.  The distinctions of being ‘Africawalla’ or “Americawalla’ or “Pakistanwalla’ must never be allowed to be the criteria for prioritising the services of the World Federation. In its responsibilities in the service of Imame  Zamana (AF), the sole criterion must always be based on the most deserving irrespective of class, colour or country. 

He concluded by appealing to the community to accord the same outstanding level of support to his successor Dr Ahmed Hassam as he had been accorded during his tenure in office. He acknowledged with profound gratitude the gift of US$1million to the World Federation Foundation Fund by Al Hajj Abid Hemani. The funds were committed to purchasing an investment property in London, the income from which would be used for various projects including a scholarship in the name of the Hemani family. He expressed a hope that this will motivate others to assist the World Federation in entrenching the foundation fund.

‘The way we work will change but we will not be deterred from the core values’
In his characteristically focused keynote address, the incoming President, AlHajj Ahmed Hassam acknowledged the support of the community and pledged to deliver in accordance with the objectives as outlined in his manifesto. Accepting the mantle of leadership from his predecessor, he stated that each period in the history of the World Federation had had challenges unique to that time. The leadership had appropriately addressed the issues in accordance with the needs of the era and ‘paved their own path to lead it to new heights’.

While reiterating his commitment to ethos of the founders of the World Federation, he candidly declared that “the way we work will change but we will not be deterred from the core values’.  However, he added that ‘I do not intend to make this journey wearing their shoes’ and that the ‘discomfort of wearing someone else’s shoes’  would affect the strides demanded by the needs of tomorrow. He opined that while the direction remained the same, the terrain is ever changing and therefore we must move accordingly. In the days to come he promised greater inclusivity in recognition of the diversity of the community and pledged to do so by listening and understanding people from differing backgrounds and encouraging the sharing of  different perspectives. At the same time he reminded the rapt audience that “We must focus on what unites us rather than what divides us”

Recognising the importance of the role of internal tabligh, and the perceived inadequacy  of our present delivery systems he outlined several new initiatives at enhancing the role of the Islamic Education Board to empower dhakireen and muballighen to cater to the needs of the community as well as the creation of a Religious Advisory Council and the Marja Desk. He also reiterated his commitment to enhancing investment in all aspects of education both religious and secular. He went on to deliberate upon initiatives enabling partnerships with Regional Bodies as well as other NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and the United nations.

Finally, he challenged those with the notion that one could not hold onto religious values and at the same time be efficient in running our organisations to ‘open your minds to the possibility of a new way of working without compromising our values’. He was committed to demonstrate that this could be done.

He then conferred citations on the three retiring Office Bearers namely Dr Hasnain Walji, Dr Sibtain Panjwani and Al Hajj Ahmed Daya in recognition of their long standing services to the community.

Addressing the most pressing issues facing the Community
In this milestone Conference, in addition to receiving extensive reports from the team secretariat, articulated by the increasing numbers of younger members of the team, concluding remarks by the Secretary General, Dr Sibtain Panjwani, the house appreciated the unique presentation of the Financial Report by the Hon Treasurer Al Hajj Ahmed Daya presenting his 7th consecutive report marking 21 years of uninterrupted service.  The house also benefited from the profound submissions from  Councillors Asgher Moledina, Manzoor Kanani, Masum Somji, Mohammed Moledina and Akber Mithani relating to the current challenges of the community. The report by the Women’s desk was also well received as was the report by the Youth Networking Desk jointly presented by several youths.

Successfully addressing some of the most pressing issues facing the community, the Constitutional Conference was at long last able to resolve the concern of the Karachi Jamaat on the issue of fair representation and the Chair acknowledged the leadership shown by all, especially the President of Karachi Jamaat, Al Hajj Dost Mohammed Bhojani as well as the efforts of the Constitution Review Committee.

In the wake of the dissension in the leadership of Gujarat, Councillors Manzoor Kanani Councillor Aunali Saleh Mohammed and Councillor Mohamed Moledina had been charged with the responsibility of bringing about reconciliation. Navshir Jaffer, the incoming Secretary General, provided the necessary assistance.  The Chair acknowledged their efforts as well as Al Hajj Noorali Mukhi and Al Hajj Ramzan Asaria in finally resolving the dispute and restoring unity amongst the community in Gujarat at the conference.

The Conference unanimously supported the resolution by the Africa Federation to declare the forthcoming term as the “Term for Eradicating Poverty in East Africa. The house also passed by a majority the resolution to form the Seniors’ Advisory Board, in recognition of its sentiment providing the highest level of service to the seniors of the community.

Elections and Appointments:

Appointments

The following were elected to positions of responsibility within the World Federation:

Board Chairmen

Elected Councillors

Will be announced shortly.

Electoral Commissioner

Amir Somji  - (Arusha, Tanzania)

Auditors

MERALI’S Chartered Accountants & Registered Auditors - (London, UK)

If you would like more information regarding the conference or about the World Federation, you can reach us on:

The World Federation of KSIMC

Islamic Centre
Wood Lane,  Stanmore
Middlesex HA7 4LQ
United Kingdom

Telephone: +44 (0) 208 954 9881
Fax: +44 (0) 208 954 9034
e-mail:  secretariat@world-federation.org