A Letter to the Amil of Zainee Masjid

[S. Insaf]

Moiz Saleh Bandukwala
4/36 Mohammadi Mansion,
7 Sutar Chawl,
Mumbai - 400002

Janab Amil Saheb, 4th April 2009
Zainee Masjid,
282, Shaikh Memon Street,
Bohra Masjid Gali, Mumbai - 400002

Respected Sir,
Abbasi Khalifa was collecting a royalty of five hundred Dirhams from the Zavvareen-e-Imam Husain for Ziyarat of Imam Husain. Mohibbane-Husain still flocked for the Ziyarat of Imam Husain. One old moomenat spun cotton during her lifetime and accumulated five hundred dirhams and immediately came for Ziyarat of Imam Husain. The Khalifa called her and enquired whether she could not have waited for some more and had some more Dirhams for hiring a camel for her journey. She had said that she had no patience to wait as she was sure of her life because of her old age. The Khalifa was very much moved by her faith and love and affection for Imam Husain and he stopped collection of royalty.

Sir, You are collecting a royalty of Rs. 1000/- per Ziyarat per day for Imam Husain's Niyaaz during Ashoora and a further royalty of Rs. 500/- per majlis and Maatam-e-Husain thereafter upto Chehlam for Majlis and Matam-e-Husain. Does your conscience permit such collection of royalty? Is it not commercialisation of Shahadat-e-Imam Husain like a television serial? Dawat-e-Hadiya is Haq ni Dawat and Shahadat-e-Imam Husain is its core. Is not something wrong somewhere?
I had come to see you for settlement of Ramazan dues during January 2009. You refused to meet me because I do not have a beard. Having a beard is a Sunnat and not a Farizat as per Islamic Shariat. However, I would have a beard if you stop collection of Royalty for Imam Husain's Niyaz, Matam and Majlis. Insha Allah God will reward you otherwise.
I hope and pray you will consider my proposition favourably.
Thanking You,
Your respectfully,
Moiz Saleh Bandukwala

[canadian]

Three cheers for Moiz Saleh Bandukwala. What a courageous person! God bless him.

May I please ask Bohras like Aziz, Mutameen and A M Zindabad: Since when did keeping a beard or wearing a "topee" of a particular type only become part of our religion?

[SBM]

Since when did keeping a beard or wearing a "topee" of a particular type only become part of our religion?

SINCE AQA MOULA SAID SO

[mutmaeen]

bro canadian

keeping a beard is optional-wearing a particular topi is ur choice-it has got nothing to do with ur religious make-up
for ur info i dont have a beard-and many a mumineen in coimbatore are like me-clean shaven

[anajmi]

Keeping a beard is the sunnah of the prophet (saw). And so is covering your head while praying. However the bohra administration will not allow anyone wearing a head gear other than the bohri topi to go to a bohra mosque, even if the guy is a bohri, which is against what the prophet (saw) has taught. Even if the guy is allowed into the mosque, he will get weird looks and taunts.

[canadian]

Bhai Mutmaeen:

With all due respect, may I say that Coimbatore jamaat may be an exception; that's why you can claim that keeping beard, wearing bohri topi are optional. I travel a lot and I have seen enforcement of these innovations (e.g. keeping beard, wearing bohri topi, saaya, kurtu-ijaar, rida, paying najwa and wajebaat- not zakaat-,kadambosi, matam at all occasions, etc.) at all the jamaats I have come across.

Although I am officially still a Dawoodi Bohra, my wife and I have now stopped going to the masjid. I only regret that religion of my mother has come to this sorry state, i.e. it is now a cult.

[mumin]

bro. canada; if one is in riba then zakat is not accepted, but sabil, najwa for syedna present and past and imam uz zaman salam etc are all accepted and the bhaisaheb also accepts salams. can you explain why? SPECIALLY IN THE U.S. where house is mostly purchased on mortgage .

[mutmaeen]

bro canadian

u r right-when u dont stand up u have to take a lot of crap -but when en masse there is a show of guts usually u have ur way-thats whats the case in my town