His eminence Kausarali Najmuddin, the representative
of His holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in East Africa, at the Burhani Masjid
in Old Town, Mombasa on Friday evening / BRIAN OTIENO
His eminence Kausarali Najmuddin [R], the representative
of His holiness Syedna Mufaddal Saifuddin in East Africa, at the Burhani Masjid
in Old Town, Mombasa on Friday evening / BRIAN OTIENO
The Dawoodi Bohra Community Mombasa outreach
coordinator Hamza Taher Shura at the Burhani Masjid in Old Town, Mombasa on Friday
evening / BRIAN OTIENO
The Dawoodi Bohra Community at the Burhani Masjid
in Old Town, Mombasa on Friday evening / BRIAN OTIENO
The Dawoodi Bohra Community in Mombasa has called
for unity among people of different faiths and cultures in Mombasa saying the
diversity brings strength.
The community said mutual respect and shared
purposes among different faiths and cultures have been the driving force behind
Mombasa’s continued peace and harmony.
“Our interfaith friends, your attendance reflected
the harmony we cherish in Mombasa. All our brothers and sisters from diverse
backgrounds thank you for blessing us with your time, warmth, love and unity,”
His eminence Kausarali Najmuddin, the representative of His holiness Syedna
Mufaddal Saifuddin in East Africa, said on Friday evening.
He spoke at the Burhani Masjid in Old Town during
the commemoration of the 1500th birth anniversary of the Noble
Prophet Mohammed in a solemn and uplifting Mawlid an-Nabi programme.
Faithful from across the country, including Malindi,
Lamu, Nairobi, Kisumu, Eldoret , and India recited the Quran, lifting the
spirits and smoothing the hearts of the community.
“Tonight we stand together in unity, Muslims from
different backgrounds, friends from different faiths, citizens of this
beautiful Coastal city, we are reminded that our strength lies in our togetherness,”
Najmuddin said.
He said Mombasa has always been a place where
cultures meet, where diversity is embraced and communities live side by side
with respect and dignity.
“Our spiritual leader, His holiness Syedna Mufaddal
Saifuddin, may God give him long life, has sent his benedictions and prayers
for the prosperity and growth of Mombasa and its people,” Najmuddin said.
He said the main purpose is to be humble.
“Gatherings like this do more than fill the program.
They remind us of who we are and what we stand for. They remind us that the
teachings of the Prophet are alive and meant to shape our character and our
society today,” Najmuddin said.
The Dawoodi Bohra Community Mombasa outreach
coordinator Hamza Taher Shura said the commemoration of the 1500th birth
anniversary of the Noble Prophet Mohammed is an extraordinary milestone that
calls for reflection, unity, gratitude, and renewed purpose.
“This is not merely a celebration of a historic moment.
It is an opportunity to reconnect with the message, mercy and timeless wisdom
of Rasullallah, whose light continues to guide humanity across 15 centuries,” Shura
said.
At the commemoration, there was recitation of the
holy Quran and Na’at, two deeply revered Islamic traditions.
Na’at is a poetic genre dedicated to praising
Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), celebrating his physical and spiritual excellence,
character, and exalted status, which serves as a profound devotional expression
of love and reverence.
He said for generations, the holy Quran and the teachings
of the Prophet (PBUH) have resonated in Mombasa schools, community halls and
schools.
“The values they imbibe, such as sincerity,
justice, humility, patience and compassion form part of Mombasa’s moral and
cultural fabric,” Shura said.
Shura said their spiritual leader has constantly expressed
a wish that every household should have at least one hafiz.
A hafiz is one who commits the entire Quran to
memory.
He said the Bohra community in Mombasa has more
than 75 members who have memorized who whole Quran and there are 200 more who
are currently on their journey of memorizing the entire Quran.
Shura noted that these efforts are not just
educational initiatives but investments in building communities grounded in
character, knowledge and the light of the Quran.
The community outreach coordinator said faith is
intertwined with the soil.
“To love our nation, to serve our communities and
to contribute to peace and progress are acts of devotion,” he said.
“Just as the Kenyan flag unites many colours into a
dignified whole, the diverse Muslim communities come together to form a vibrant
fabric of this Coastal city,” Shura noted.
Leaders who joined the Dawoodi Bohra Community in the Mawlid an-Nabi programme include Mombasa county assembly speaker Aharub Khatri, MCAs, ambassadors and other diplomats.
INSTANT ANALYSIS:
There are more than 684 families of the Dawoodi
Bohra community in Mombasa today. The Dawoodi Bohras are active across diverse
professions and industries, contributing significantly to Mombasa’s economic
landscape.
