Updated 23 June 2009

In 1944, a young, unassuming eighteen year old youth was called upon to light a candle in the section of Mombasa known as Old Town. The candle that he lit then has continued to burn brightly and has now become a beacon that sheds light across the globe to regions as far as Britain, Canada and the USA.

Al Haj Mulla Abdulrasul Mulla Hassanali Khaki commenced his services to the community as a Madrasah teacher at the Husseini Night School, Mombasa in the early 1940s.  Over the years, he extended his services from being an honorary religious instructor to that of an active social worker also. He played a significant role in various matters including adult education for men and women, teaching Islamic history and Fiqh, match making, counseling and resolving matrimonial disputes.

Equipped with the basic religious knowledge acquired from Mulla Abdulrasul and inspired by his selflessness, his students - both male and female - have continued to pass on the torch of service with zeal and enthusiasm as they migrated from East Africa to settle in different parts of the world.

Many former students of Mulla Abdulrasul who settled in new regions have and continue to serve as madrasah teachers, imams for congregational prayers, zakirs and zakera, and have also volunteered on committees that perform nikah and ghusl kafan. Some have even qualified to assume the roles of resident ‘Aalims in various Jamaats in the West.

To his credit, Mulla Abdulrasul has trained three generations of followers of the Ahlul Bayt (as). A unique feature of his attributes as a teacher has been to instill in his students not only a burning desire to serve, but also to pass on the tradition they received to the next generation.  In this way, the spirit of his legacy continues.

Mulla Abdulrasul continued to render active services as a madrasah teacher until the year 2000 – a noteworthy record spanning six decades. To this day, he continues to provide guidance and assistance to all those who are dedicated in the service of the community and in promoting the faith for the pleasure of Allah (SWT).

Along with likes of Haji Naji and Mulla Asghar, Mulla Abdulrasul is a shining example of how individuals arising from within one Khoja Community can have had a lasting impact on the global community. The Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri community has survived and prospered over the past 150 years, and the credit goes to such individuals who have dedicated their lives to the community and promotion of our faith. 

Thus, in recognition of the great services rendered to the community by Al Haj Mulla Abdulrasul Hassanali Khaki and because he is a role model for all of us, The President of The World Federation, Dr. Ahmed Hassam has the pleasure of awarding him the AL-BAQIR AWARD in Recognition of Outstanding Service to Tableegh.

May Allah (SWT) in His Mercy bless Mulla Abdulrasul with longevity and good health and increase in his tawfeqaat so that his living example may continue to provide inspiration to all those who dedicate their lives to serve in the way of Allah (SWT).