Report Tabligh works Year 2013-2014

In the name of Allah, Most Compassionate, Most Merciful

"Tabligh works in Ethiopia is like farming in the starving country on the rocky land that has few rose plants", (Hashim Okera February 2013)

The call of Imam Husayn a.s. to save Islam

 is echoing in Ethiopia,    

“Hal Min Nasirin Yansiruna”

Why Tabligh in Ethiopia, or in Somalia or in Djibouti?

Alhamdo Lillah there are 1000 active indigenous Ethiopian Shias all over Ethiopia. And hundreds squattered through out Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea.

This became a blow to t

  

The enemy of Islam and humanity to stop the spread of the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. in the Horn of Africa. The book title "Shia" 400 pages against Shia taught was published in Amharic languages that has falsified the Shia faith.

The book has all false information against Shia faith the faith of the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. Hundreds of books has been distributed throughout Ethiopia. This is second book in Amharic language that has falsely propagate againt the Shia Faith.

Such actions of Wahhabi or Salafis are not the first attempt to discourage Muslim Ummah to know the truth behind the sufferings of Ahlul Bayt a.s. To learn about the Shia Islam leads to know how the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his daughter Sayyida Fatima binte Muhammad
s.a.w. suffered in Islamic history; that has been not taught to the majority of Muslim Ummah.


Ethiopia the Land that Prophet Mohammed s.a.w. blessed. The Land of
the start of Islamic Calender Hijra

Our Mission:

To convey the message of Prophet Mohammad s.a.w. and Ahlul Bayt a.s. in Horn of Africa.

Our Goal:

To strengthen and support Indigenous Shias the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia, sothat Indigenous Shias in Horn of Africa can practice Islamic faith independently.

Objectives:

In regards with that to teach them Islamic Doctrines according to the Ahlul Bayt a.s.,

to facilitate establishment of permanent Mosques, Hussayniyyas, Schools, Translation of Islamic Books in the local languages, publications and distribution of Books

Immediate and Short Term Plan.

By seeing the need of immediate Tabligh works, I came to conclusion that I am going to settle in Ethiopia,until we establish a permanent Shia centers means Masjid, Hussayniyya, Schools and Liberaries etc allover Ethiopia. Goal:

To strengthen and support Indigenous Shias the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. in Djibouti, Ethiopia and Somalia, so that Indigenous Shias in Horn of Africa can practice Islamic faith independently.

Objectives:

In regards with that to teach them Islamic Doctrines according to the Ahlul Bayt a.s.,

to facilitate establishment of permanent Mosques, Hussayniyyas, Schools, Translation of Islamic Books in the local languages, publications and distribution of Books,

Immediate and Short Term Plan.

         By seeing the need of immediate Tabligh works, I came to conclusion that I am going to settle in Ethiopia, until we establish a permanent Shia centers means Masjid, Hussayniyya, Schools and Liberaries etc all over Ethiopia. 

         All active colleagues who are aggressive Tabligh workers from East Africa to Europe and North America are welcome to join in this noble work. But without the financial help and donations of Mo’mineen we will not be able to take any step.

         To invite Shia Muballighs for permanent will go for 6 month Amharic language course, to reach the grassroots.

         We will go with rental center and rental library and book store location to find more about Ethiopian Shia. Trip to different parts of Ethiopia will be done to make proper census and the needs of our Ethiopian Shia brothers, so that we can organize them properly to run their own centers. We will avoid all kinds of project that will make Ethiopian Shia dependent for life for any Tabligh works.

         Shia Organization will be invited to see Ethiopia and the opportunities available for Tabligh work in any section they are interested in.

         We will prepare Muballighs within local Shias by providing them short courses and seminars in Djibouti and Ethiopia.

         We will also send Ethiopian Shia children to our different Hauwzas in Africa or Asia.

         Distributions of books in full scale.

Translation of Books.

Long Term Plan

After our full scale research and ground works

         Permanent Shia Centers including Mosque and Hussainia, Liberary and bookshops in Addis Ababa, Wallo, Harar, Diri Dawa and Djibouti and were ever needed

Hussainia in Djibouti Hussainia in Dire Dawa Hussainia in Dire Dawa

Need of Tabligh works and need of support of Mo’mineen all over the world.

Leadership and affiliation: 

Hojjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda

Alhamdo Lillah, Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda open heartedly came forward to accept my request to affiliate our Tabligh works in Horn of Africa with IHS Kitchener, Ontario. Since start of 2013 IHS Horn of Africa has been established with the blessing of all the executive of Islamic Humanitarian Services,  Kitchener, Ontario. 

 

Director of HIS Haji Sultan Hudda meets with IHS Project Incharge Hashim Okera at the IHS Head office in Kitchener, Ontario.

Coordination:

On behalf of Islamic Humanitarian Services of Kitchener, Ontario; Hashim Okera of Canada is supervising and coordinating all the Tabligh works in Horn of Africa viz Ethiopia, Djibouti and Somalia. He stays continually 2 to 3 months in Horn of Africa to coordinate and supervises all the Tabligh Activities,

 

Hasham Ukera (Khadim of Imam Mahdi a.j.f.j.)

Background: Hasham Ukera has been active in Tabligh works since last 40 years from Mogadishu Somalia were managed to send 10 students to Hawza Ilmiyya in Qom, amongst them Sheikh Muslim Bhanji of Dodoma, Tanzania, Late Shekh Ghulam Moosa Okera of Arusha, Tanzania and others. Recently also managed to serve Women, Girls in Srinagar, Kashmir, India but because of instability of fund could not sustain the Darul Quran Sayyeda Fatima al Zahra, he has to discontinue. He managed to establish Women Development Scheme in Srinagar were 200 sewing machines were distributed on long term loan system the needy women after training them tailoring in the Darul Quran al Zahra together with religious and language studies. The situation of Shia women in Jammu and Kashmir is very bad. Hashim Okera feels that IHS should try to help in at least Women Development Scheme in Srinagar Kashmir should be re established and to help women to give them tools to earn their livings.

We must strengthen the foundation of Self converted Indigenous Shias of Horn of Africa.

 

Today we have Four active centers in Ethiopia, One in Somalia and one Djibouti all in rental location.

Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Hussainia in Dire Dawa. Hashim Okera with Ethiopian Mo’mineen.

Addis Ababa

Opening of Hussainia in Addis Ababa in new location by Sheikh Qasim Maysami of Al Mustafa International University on 27^th July 2013, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

         

Sheikh Maysemi Qasim reciting ziyarate Aashoora on opening ceremony.

Activities:

Majalise, Islamic studies and prayers is been practiced in our all centers.

 

Addis Ababa: 

Sheikh Abdul Moneim of Sudan and Sheikh Hassan Marindso of Kenya gave the lectures on sacrifice of Imam Hussain a.s.  The Majlis was heard from 5^th night until Shame Ghariba, full Niyaz followed after each Majlis. T

  

Hojjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda giving lecture on 5^th Muharram 1432 at Hussainia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

 Attendance: This year also some sufi ulema took part in our Hussainia to commemorate the tragedy that took to Ahlul Bayt a.s. in Karbala. The attendance was from 30 to 40 people every day and Majlis was ended with Niaz.

The Commemoration of Martyrdom of Imam Hassan a.s. in Hussaynia in Addis Ababa

                                                             

Around 12 univeristy students female took part to know more about Shia Faith. Sheriff Abdullahi, Shekh Nadir and Hashim Okera explained the oppression done to the Ahlul Bayt a.s. after the demise of the Prophet Mohammad s.a.w. Sheikh Shariff Abdullahi and Sheikh Nadir particularly emphasized the danger of Takfiris in the name of Islam that are destroying the image of Muslims and asked all to welcome all faiths to come together and follow the teachings of Ahlul Bayt a.s.

Dire Dawa, Ethiopia

Sheikh Moosa of Kenya gave all lectures on the tragedy of Imam Hussain a.s. in our Hussainia in Dire Dawa.  Sheikh Abdul Warith of Sudan also was busy in leading discussion with the youth in our Hussainia.  Attendance was 25 to 30 every day and on the day of Ashoora many Sunni Sheikh participated to commemorate the tragedy towards Ahlul Bayt a.s.

The mo’mineen of Wallo region organized Majlis for 3 days in the Hussainia in Baati. The Majlis program was followed by Niyaz, 25 to 30 people took part every day.

Galka’yo, Somalia (Puntland)

Imam Zeynul Abedeen Center was established.

With the continuous help of Mo’mineen of Canada and worldwide under Islamic Humanitarian Services of Kitchener Ontario this year Hussainia was established in Galka’yo. Somali Shia as well as other Sunni and Sufis took regular part for 10 days in Aza e Hussayn and Shohada e Karbala.

The Majlis was included by Lectures on the tragedy of Karbala by Somali scholarsdifferent speakers the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. and towards Ahlul Bayt a.s.. All Majalises were ended by full Niyaz.

    

Library:

In our all rented Hussainia one room is allocated for Library. Books are in high need. We do not have enough books in our Libraries.

   

Please send Islamic Books and Holy Qur'an by airmail.
Books needed in English and Arabic language.
Hashim H.Ali

P.O.Box 28293/1000, Addis Ababa, ETHIOPIA
Mobile: +251 927 168602

Muballighs:

"The Islamic Center without a Genous Aalim is like a body without a
soul" We must strengthen the foundation of Self converted Indigenous
Shias of Horn of Africa. (Hashim Okera; April 2012)

Visit of Hujjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda during Muharram and Masha Allah Sheikh delivered 2 Majalises in Hussaynia of Addis Ababa.

Muballigh Sheikh Hassan Marido reciting Hadithe Kissa before start of Majalis.

Muballigh Sheikh Moosa Shali of Kenya and Shiekh Mohamed Bisle with Hashim Okera in Addis Ababa Hussaynia

       

During the last year we could invite 4 Muballighs from Kenya 2 from Sudan and 1 from Iraq. All served during Moharram and Holy Month of Ramadhan in our different Hussaynia. Their stay was Maximum 3 months.

Niyaz:

  

  

      

Alhamdo Lillah after every program full Niyaz is served at the cost of $200 where 40 to 50 people take part, both male and female participants.

 

Local Muballigh

There is a local Shia Muballigh who converted many youngster into the faith of Ahlul Bayt a.s. IHS supports fully Sheikh and pays regular Salary per moth. Sheikh is also incharge of Husayniya in Jijiga, Ethiopia near the border of Somalia.

IHS Horn of Africa would like to encourage such local Muballigh. We should send them to Islamic Republic of Iran or Iraq to all our local Muballigh. IHS headoffice must consider this as priority project.

The Tabligh Coordinator Hashim Okera meeting with a local Shia reciter of Aza e Hussain and the event of Karbala.

Hasham Ukera managed to admit him in Al Mustafa Short Course in Qom for one month

Iftar

This year we had full Iftar and Dinner at our centers in Djibouti and Dire Dawa.

Holy month went well we had Sheikh from Najaf for Djibouti.

And 2 sheikhs from Kenya and One from Sudan. 

The attendance was from 30 to 50 person each day. We had regular Iftar for the whole month in2

Centers Djibouti and in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, 

The impressive comment from the participants.

"After 20 years of being Shia today we became real Shia after having listened lectures from Sheikh and Muballighs,"

Visits:

Different people visit time to time in our all centers. Last year we were blessed with Hojjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda’s visit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. And Sayyed Khalkhali of UK also known as Sayyed Mohsen Mousavi visited Hussainia in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

  

 

Hojjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda discussing with one of Muballigh from Sudan, Sheikh Abdulwarith,  who served at IHS Ethiopia,  how to improve the Tabligh works in Horn of Africa.

The Culture Affair of Islamic Republic of Iran visit Hussaynia in Addis Ababa

Partnership:

Since the Tabligh works in Horn of Africa is wide, we continuously need partner who can sponsor many projects.

During May 2013 Brother Inayat Dhaya introduced our activity to Haji RazaAlly Hiridjee of Madagascar to support our work. For which IHS Horn of Africa is thankful to Brother Inayat Dhaya.

Hagi RazaAlly Hiridjee visited AddisAbaba and was convinced with our work and immediately he promised to finance rent of the Hussainias were ever needed in Horn of Africa. Hashim Okera asked him to please take full approval from IHS Kitchener particularly Sheikh Shafiq Hudda. Alhamdo Lillah Hagi Raza Ally Hiridjee started financing the cost of Hussainias in Ethiopia 3 places and in Djibouti. From the start of January 2014 Hagi Raza Ally Hiridjee stopped funding because the coordinator Hashim Okera and Hagi Raza Ally Hiridjee did not agree with the condition imposed by Hagi Raza.

 IHS Horn of Africas policy is that anybody should finance or donate without such condition that harms our Tabligh works. From December 2013 Hagi RazaAlly Hiridjee insisted either my condition or no funding. That was the end of his partnership.

Alhamdo Lillah by the grace of Almighty Allah s.w.w.t., Imam Mahdi ajf and IHS Kitchener our Tabligh works was not affected.

Translation and publishing of Shia Books in Local Language.

As per our Tabligh works one of the objectives to promote the Shia faith in the Horn of Africa is to translate Shia Islamic Books in the local language. There are some books translated by the Culture Center of Islamic Republic of Iran in Amharic languages. IHS Horn of Africa translated two books in Somali language. “Then I was Guided” by Dr.Tejani and “Ashoora Uprising” by Imam Khomeyni in Somali language. We could also print 2000 copies each of both books.       1. 15 copies of each book were sent to London, UK to Somali Ahlul Bayt Center. 2. Brother Munawar Habib Okera, Mombasa, 3. The World Ahlul Bayt Assembly of Islamic Republic of Iran. 4. Brother Mahmood Okera in London, UK and to Brother Hassan Okera London Uk. On their demand. 6. 100 copies each in Hargeisa, Somaliland. 7. 100 copies each in Jijiga and 8. Dire Dawa. 9. 100 copies each to Islamic Republic of Iran Culture center in Addis Ababa. 10. 100 copies each at Djibouti Hussaynia.

These first publication in Somali language has demand all over the world where Somali speaking community are in research on Shia faith. We need to reprint another 2000 copies as soon as possible also, we need fund for postage and mailing.

The Third Book that is in process of translation is “Aqaaed al Imaamiya” in Somali language. We will soon need other fund about $2000 to print 2000 copies. The Somali speaking in Ethiopia are part of Ethiopians in Ogaden region. Somali speaking are spread all over the world in wide community. Many are been influenced by Shia TVs. But need books in their native language.

Threatening of Wahhabi, Takfiris in Ethiopia

The book has all false information against Shia faith the faith of the follower of Ahlul Bayt a.s. Hundreds of books has been distributed throughout Ethiopia. This is second book in Amharic language that has falsely propagate againt the Shia Faith.

Such actions of Wahhabi or Salafis are not the first attempt to discourage Muslim Ummah to know the truth behind the sufferings of Ahlul Bayt a.s. To learn about the Shia Islam leads to know how the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. and his daughter Sayyida Fatima binte Muhammad s.a.w. suffered in Islamic history; that has been not taught to the majority of Muslim Ummah.

We must get full financial support so that we can combat all these wahhabi, by motivating local shia and printing more books in local languages.

Eid Family Gathering

In Addis Ababa center we had family gathering with children. Gifts were distributed to the children. Neighbouring Christians and Shia and Sunni families took part in Addis Ababa.

We are moving forward and now support is must for our all projects until we establish permanent masjid with Hussaynia.

University and College Students taking regular part in Hussaynia in Addis Ababa and Dire Dawa.

Five days in a week about 7 to 15 youths female take part in our Aqlaak, Islamic History and English Class in Hussainia Addis Ababa, time during 12.00pm to 3.00 pm. Sister Fatima Martha a convert Shia Female gives instruction under IHS Horn of Africa. Sister Fatima Martha was sent to Dar es Salam to take 2 weeks crush course with Sayyed Imam Rizvi of Dar es Salam the brother of Sayyed Mohammed Rizvi in Dar es Salam.

Fund Raising

The Coordinator of Tabligh works in the Horn of Africa, has been fund raising throughout Africa and North America. The donors from North America channel through IHS head office at Kitchnener, Ontario and Sister Zehra Mehdi is one of my colleague since Mogadishu Somalia in Tabligh works. She tries to collect fund for IHS Horn of Africa. But the response all over is very poor. More volunteers are needed who can fundraise.

Accounts and Book keeping

The Coordinator Hashim Okera has been doing all account works together with Tabligh activities all over Horn of Africa and travelling. It is been tried to keep account accurate. But because of the pressure of job and also lack of regular electricity in Ethiopia, the accounts might delay. But everything is recorded accordingly.

Place where we need to improve:

 Tabligh works in Ethiopia is not easy but not impossible.

-       Since there is threat of all kinds and we are working in foreign country we need some fund in reserve. And some fund for emergency.

 We will continue to invite Shia Tabligh Organizations of the world, to work aggressively in Ethiopia and Djibouti, to promote the teaching of Ahlul Bayt a.s.

 To invite Muballighs from neighbouring countries who can speak Arabic Fluently with English for Muharram.

 Fundraising: To invite generous Mo’mineen to contribute generously for the cause of Tabligh in the Area.

 To translate Islamic books from Arabic/English to local languages Amharic, Oromo, Somali and Tigrinya.

 To reprint Shia books in Amharic in the local languages those are out of print.

 To rent a center for daily activities like Salat, Majalises etc where ever needed.

 To rent locations in different parts to establish library and bookshops to promote knowledge of Ahlul Bayt a.s. and distribute Books free of charges.

Comments

This is really sad that our Shia community worldwide who are capable to come together and build a permanent Islamic Center for indigenous Ethiopian Shias are still waiting. If each Shia brother and sisters contribute a $ Dollar for such good cause we would establish Islamic centers in different part of Ethiopia where indigenous Shia community reside. And also would publish Shia Islamic books in local languages. This would fulfill the dream of the Prophet Muhammad s.a.w. to propagate, the peaceful real Islam that loves humanity, in every corner of the world. We need continous Muballigh volunteers to visit Horn of Africa to visit local Shias.

Disappointments

 Lack of permanent Aalim or Muballigh who can speak Arabic and English. For Djibouti Arabic and French.

 Lack of enough Shia Books in English, Arabic and French

 Lack of Response from Shia Tabligh Organization of the World who can cooperate with us or open the branch here to do Tabligh works in Horn of Africa.

 Lack of support to send Ethiopian Shia children to seek Islamic higher education.

Acknowledgments

a. Alhamdo Lillah; Almighty Allah s.w.t. who gave us Tawfiq to do Tabligh in Horn of Africa to spread the teachings of Prophet Mohammad s.a.w. and His Ahlul Bayt a.s.

b. The Tabligh Coordinator in the Horn of Africa, Hashim Okera would like to thank Hojjatul Islam wal Muslimeen Sheikh Shafiq Hudda for agreeing to merge the whole Tabligh works in Horn of Africa under Head office of Islamic Humanitarian Services in Kitchener, Ontario. Thanks also goes to all directors and volunteers of IHS Kitchener

c. Thanks to Ahlul Bayt a.s. World Assembly, Tehran, IRI,

Sayyed Mousawi Lari, Sayed Mohamed Mousawi and Office of Sayyed Mohamed Taqi Modarrasi, Karbala, Iraq for Sending free Islamic books. (But we need books continuously)

d. Thanks to Sister Zehra Mehdi of Birmingham who has been fundraising for IHS of Horn of Africa in UK.

e. Thanks to Hagi RazaAllybhai Hiridjee of Madagascar for his full support during the good days in 2013.

f. Thanks to the all donors who use to contribute to the cause either through IHS Kitchener or direct to the coordinator.

g. Thanks to Imam Mahdi ajf who always guide us on the right path in the regard of Tabligh works.

h.  Thanks to Brother Suheyl Janmohamed of Mombasa who sent 4 Muballighs to Ethiopia.

i;Thanks to Sayyed Moneim of Sudan to send Muballighs and cooperate with us in Tabligh works.

j. Thanks to Brother Ali Yousuf of Comfort USA to sponsor and arrange for 2 highly educated Women to get Islamic knowledge in Dar es Salam, TANZANIA.

k. Thanks to all donors who always donate towards this mission.

I would like to request the Head office IHS to send a letter of thanks to all who helped us in our Tabligh works.

 The message is clear; “We cannot ignore Tabligh activities in Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa at large; since there is not a single Shia Center in where native Shia can get together for prayers and other Majalises”. Wama Alayna Illal Balaagh. (Hashim Okera12th April, 2012)

                   

Hashim Okera

Coordinator of Tabligh Works

IHS of Horn of Africa

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

+251 927 168602