history of the shia muslim community - Az

HISTORY OF THE SHIA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER JAMAAT
The Shia Muslim Community of British Columbia
dates back to 1967, when a few members of our
community immigrated to Vancouver. The first
settler was Alhaj Razahusein M. Devji in October
1967. His family followed him shortly. Other early
settlers included Alhaj Sultanbhai Jagani, Alhaj
Amirali Rashid, Alhaj Murtaza Gokal, and Marhum
Roshanbhai N. Dewji. These individuals and their
families started organizing majalises and religious
functions in their homes.
Due to political instability in 1972 caused by Idi
Amin Dada in Uganda, a number of our brothers
and sisters immigrated to Vancouver. Vancouver
was a popular destination due to its weather,
beaches and mountains, and the fact that it had
a promising future for immigrant families. The
early settlers assisted new immigrants from
Africa, India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.
In 1975, the Jamaat was formed and formalized.
Among the first individuals to sign the first
constitution were Alhaj Huseinbhai Jagani, Alhaj
Husein P. Visram, Alhaj Sultanbhai Jaffer, Alhaj
Razabhai Devji, and Alhaj Syed Ahmed Zahir. The
society was registered on June 9th, 1975.
In 1978, the community decided to build its
own Imambara instead of renting halls.
A three- quarters acres site with a residence
was purchased at 3360 Sexsmith Road in
Richmond, BC. The Jamaat built a facility just
less than 8,400 square feet at a total cost of
about $300,000. The members of the Jamaat,
and other Jamaats Worldwide, provided physical
and financial support.
Marhum Mulla Asgher M.M. Jaffer as well as
elders of our community -- Alhaj Marhum
Hassanali H.K. Manji, Alhaj Marhum Hassanali
Nasser Virji, and Alhaj Marhum Huseinbhai S.
Jagani -- laid the foundation of the Sexsmith
Imambara. This Imambara served the community
for 23 years.
The Jamaat purchased an initial 50 graves at
Forest Lawn Cemetery in Burnaby, BC. Currently
we have 460 graves at Forest Lawn Cemetery
of which 90 have been used, and 500 graves
in Behesht-e-Zahra (Chilliwack) Cemetery have
already been purchased with an option of 500
more graves.
HISTORY OF THE SHIA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER JAMAAT
With dedication and foresightedness, the
Al-Muntazir Madressa was formed. It was
formed by the Alhaj Roshanbhai R.M.Dewji.
The Madrasah has had excellent leadership over
the years, with every administration striving to
achieve higher goals. It has flourished with
assistance from Resident Aalims and the
volunteers. Currently the Madrasah has an
enrolment of over 200 children.
The Jamaat’s first elected President in 1975
was Alhaj Razahusein R.M. Devji who served
the Jamaat for over a decade. The Jamaat has
also benefited from the leadership of Alhaj
Sultanbhai Jaffer, Alhaj Roshanbhai N.M. Dewji,
Alhaj Amirali Rashid, Alhaj Akber Mithani, Alhaj
Mohamed Hemraj, Alhaj Jafferbhai Ladak, Alhaj
Mohamed R.N. Dewji, Alhaj Hassanali Fazel, Alhaj
Gulam Jagani, Alhaj Mahmood Jaffer and Alhaj
Husein Bhojani.
As the community grew and the areas of
responsibility widened, the Jamaat established
subcommittees for running the Social and
Welfare programs, Youth activities, Tabligh,
Matrimonial, Funeral, and Seniors committees.
The Jamaat has been blessed with respected
Aalims over the years. The first resident Aalim
was Seyyid Amirhusein Naqvi. Followed by him
was Seyyid Muhammad Rizvi for seven years
before moving to Toronto and Sheikh Hasnain
Kassamali for eight years. Maulana Sayeed Hijazi
and Maulana Javed Jaffery have also guided the
community. Currently we are blessed to have
Sheikh Murtaza Bachoo as our religious
consultant.
HISTORY OF THE SHIA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER JAMAAT
The Ladies Committee and dedicated Jamaat
volunteers have been instrumental in assisting
with organization and development of the
Imambara Centres. Sister Rukaiyabai Dharamshi
is a lifetime member of Ladies Committee and
helped guide the Ladies Committee in its infancy.
Past Chairladies of the Jamaat include; Sis. Zainab
Jaffer, Sis. Maher Rashid, Sis. Ashraf Devji, Sis.
Mumtaz Shabbir Dewji, Sis. Masuma Fazal, Sis.
Shamim Jagani, Sis. Hamida Suleman, Sis. Kaniz
Jetha and Sis. Zainab Bhojani.
The Ladies Senior Committee has been
formed and led by Sis. Gulbanubai Visram.
Alhaj Kurbanbhai Virji leads the Men’s Senior
Committee. We also have a very vibrant
Az-Zahraa Youth Group led by Br.
MuhammadQasim Dewji.
With the exponential growth of our Jamaat, the
Community began a search in the early 1990’s for
a larger facility to cater for Religious, Educational,
Social, and Recreational programs. With the grace
of Almighty and the efforts of the Multipurpose
Centre Task Force, a 9.8-acre site in Richmond,
B.C. was acquired. In June 2000, a number of
dignitaries including the President of the World
Federation, Alhaj Hasnain Walji, joined our
Jamaat in laying the foundation stone.
HISTORY OF THE SHIA MUSLIM COMMUNITY
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VANCOUVER JAMAAT
The new Centre is named Az-Zahraa Islamic Centre and is located at 8580 No. 5 Road, Richmond, B.C.
It was officially opened on August 25th, 2002.
Of the 9.8 acres, 3.3 acres is constructed and 6.5 acres is used as an Islamic School Playground, which
also features a Fruit Trees Farm. The 55,000 square foot facility has a Mosque, Imamabara, Islamic
School, Madrasah, and a number of other facilities to serve our community for decades to come.
As the community expands, more activities are added to fulfill additional needs.