Reporting on the Third Executive Council Meeting

The World Federation’s Third Meeting of the Executive Council for the term 2024-2027 from 30th January – 1st February 2026 was hosted by Africa Federation & KSI Jamaat Dar es Salaam.

In one of the highest attended physical meeting bringing together over 50 councillors as well as many joining remotely, the hybrid meeting brought together regional and community leaders, councillors, delegates and experts in person and on our online platform to deliberate on key priorities and strategic direction for the term, focusing on impactful initiatives and community empowerment including the historic adoption of  Guidance for Leadership paper, ICAIR-Hujjah AI collaboration, mega projects in Karachi and Najaf al-Ashraf, 2050 vision for the community to name a few.

The Election Commission (EC) represented by Alhaj Fayaz Datoo (Online) presented their update on the Standard Operating Procedure for the election of the President. The EC responded to questions from the house ranging from campaign rules to digital voting. It was agreed that the EC would continue to engage with the regional federations over the coming weeks. As an outcome of this discussion, an extraordinary Executive Council meeting will be called on 9th May 2026 to adopt the finalised SOP once the consultations have been concluded.

The extraordinary meeting was subsequently called for 9^th May 2026.

At the conclusion of the afternoon session, an inauguration ceremony was held for the historic Youth Conference – YCon 2026. More than 50 youth delegates from across the globe joined the Executive Councillors and heard directly  from the global community leadership.

The second session commenced with addresses from the President of the host Jamaat, KSIJ Dar es Salaam, followed by the Chairman of the host region, Africa Federation, and concluded with the State of the Community Address delivered by the President of The World Federation.

Host Jamaat Address – Alhaj Mohamed Raza Dewji

In his address, Alhaj Mohamed Raza Dewji highlighted the Jamaat’s continued investment in sustainable community infrastructure, youth engagement, and education initiatives. He emphasized the importance of strengthening local institutions while remaining connected to the global KSIMC network, noting that Dar es Salaam remains committed to serving as a hub for religious learning, social welfare, and regional collaboration.

Host Federation Address – Alhaj Amine Nassor

Alhaj Amine Nassor reflected on the steady growth of communities across Africa and the Federation’s focus on capacity-building, leadership development, and financial sustainability. Alhaj Aminebhai particularly appreciated the work of the Census team and welcomed the roll out of the ID card, he underscored the importance of unity between Jamaats and the global leadership, stressing that Africa continues to play a vital role in strengthening the future of the worldwide KSIMC community.

State of the Community Address

World Federation President – Alhaj Safder Jaffer

In his State of the Community Address, Alhaj Safder Jaffer outlined key milestones, strategic priorities, and transformative initiatives shaping the future of the global community. Among the major announcements were three significant developments:

1. Historic Milestone in Najaf al-Ashraf

The President shared a landmark achievement in Najaf, where a ninety-nine-year renewable lease has been granted to The World Federation. This will enable the establishment of a Religious Centre and Hawza, formally declared a Waqf, ensuring long-term guardianship and a lasting commitment to the preservation of faith, scholarship, and learning for future generations. In his address, the President recounted a personal moment with His Eminence Sayyid Al-Sistani (DA) who congratulated Alhaj Safder Jaffer during his last in-person meeting and prayed for the success of this project which has his blessings and support.

2. Dignified Community Living Initiative in Karachi

The President announced a new housing initiative in Karachi, aimed at providing safe, dignified, and affordable living solutions for community members. This initiative reflects The World Federation’s commitment to social upliftment and holistic community support alongside religious education, propagation and other services. Alhaj Safder Jaffer acknowedged the generous support of Alhaj RazaAlybhai Hiridjee & friends for this mega project; a short video of the project was played on the occassion.

3. Advancing Islamic Scholarship through AI

The President also shared that The World Federation, through its ICAIR department, is collaborating with Hujjah.org to introduce structured AI-supported learning in the field of Islamic sciences.
This initiative aims to responsibly harness emerging technologies to support research, accessibility of knowledge, and future scholarship, while ensuring proper governance, scholarly oversight, and alignment with religious ethics.

After the adoption of the Minutes, the Secretary General Alhaj Ali Jawad Hansraj presented an update on the Incorporation process and acknowledged the efforts of the legal team, as well as Alhaj Shabbar Dhalla who was ably supported by Alhaj Rasool Bhamani and Alhaj Alihassan Kassam.

Alhaj Shiraz Walji, Head of the Global Census Project and his team updated the Executive Council on the OneID secure digital platform, community engagement, local census champions, and a global ID launch. Key focus areas include ensuring data privacy, federation participation, and regional adaptability of questions.

The Councillors expresses profound satisfaction at the progress and appreciated the diligence and professionalism of the team. The pilot will be rolled out in the coming days across jamaats from all regions

OneID – Sign Up Now

Councillor Alhaj Mohammed Ali Gokal updated the Executive Council on their consultations with over 100 people to obtain strategic insights into the challenges and opportunities facing the community. Vision 2050 is a strategic exercise to unify the community’s direction over the next 25 years designed as a long-term, inclusive strategic framework that engages and aligns all regions and Jamaats under a unified purpose, ensuring sustainable growth and preservation of Khoja identity and embodies the values of Connect, Protect, and Uplift. The delegates of the Youth Conference joined the Councillors in a workshop format, followed by presentations from each group to the House.

The WF Awards recognising outstanding contributions were presented to several stalwarts, highlighting their lifelong commitment to education, leadership, and community upliftment. The Awards were presented by Alhaj Safder Jaffer to the nominees.

1. Raziabai Janmohamed: Al Qamar Award
2. Mustafa Fazal Karmali: Al Khalil Award
3. Batulbai Mustafa Faza Karmali: Al Khalil Award
4. Marhum Fidahussein Rajabali Abdulla: Al Nur Award
5. Marhum Shabbir Kermali: Al Khalil Award
6. Mohamedraza Dewji: Al Shams Award

Guidance for Leadership Adopted: A 35-Year Aspiration Realised

The Executive Council unanimously adopted the Guidance for Leadership paper, establishing for the first time a formally ratified ethical framework for all those seeking office bearer roles across the global KSIMC community – whether at Jamaat, Regional Federation, or World Federation level.

The Council resolved that those seeking office bearer positions are to endeavour to maintain Taqwa (God Consciousness) both publicly and privately, avoid major sins, enjoin the good, and forbid the evil. A voluntary oath shall be taken by candidates standing for the position of President or Chairman of community institutions.

The subject has been under deliberation since 1990, during the tenure of the late Marhum Mulla Asghar (RA) and was revisited at the Karachi ExCo in 2018. Its unanimous adoption in 2026 – designated the Year of Mulla Asghar – carries particular resonance. The paper was developed with reference to the guidance of His Eminence Sayyid Al-Sistani (DA).

President Alhaj Safder Jaffer reflected that the adoption was among the most spiritually significant moments of his presidency, describing it as the beginning of a new era of God-conscious leadership for the community.

Read the full paper here

The Secretary General introduced the updates from the various departments and workstreams within the Secretariat. The session began with External Engagement update from Councillor M. Mahdi Karim, followed by presentations from Youth Conference, Risalah Training Institute director Shaykh Mohammed Ali Ismail, Post Madrasah lead Shaykh Safdar Razi, Head of International Outreach Shaykh Nadir Jaffer and Head of Islamic Education Shaykh Murtadha Alidina.

The second part of the Secretariat report comprised of updates from the International Centre for Advanced Islamic Research (ICAIR) by Shaykh Alexander Khaleeli. This was followed by the presentation of a paper by Alhaj Akber Datoo, who is working closely with ICAIR on Artifical Intelligence.

Economic Upliftment Initiatives

The House received updates on ongoing economic upliftment programmes being implemented across regions under the guidance of The World Federation and its partner institutions.

India:

In India, initiatives continue to focus on long-term empowerment through education aid for students, medical assistance for vulnerable families, microfinance support for small businesses, and the restoration of a girls’ school in Mumbai, reinforcing the commitment to both access to education and community resilience. Hundreds of homes are under construction across Mumbai & Gujarat to provide safe & dginified living to those without a roof over their heads.

Pakistan:

In Pakistan, programmes include the expansion of the Fatimiyyah Education Network and Hospital services, community health insurance schemes, housing development projects, and the provision of interest-free loans to support financial independence. Future plans also include the development of a sustainable housing settlement near Karachi, designed to provide stable living conditions alongside access to education, healthcare, and livelihood opportunities.

Housing Strategy:

The House noted that the World Federation’s housing approach follows a multi-tier, sustainability-focused model aimed at addressing overcrowding, improving living standards, and restoring economic dignity. The success of these initiatives depends heavily on philanthropic commitments, and the continued generosity of the community remains vital in enabling both the World Federation and its Regional Federations to expand these impactful programmes.

World Federation 50th Anniversary

The Vice President, Habib Meghjee, updated the House on preparations for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the World Federation. He noted that the milestone will serve not only as a celebration of five decades of service, but also as a moment of reflection on the community’s journey, achievements, and future direction.

Plans are underway for commemorative programmes, historical documentation, community engagement initiatives, and global participation activities that will highlight the legacy of the Federation while inspiring the next generation to carry its mission forward. Further details and announcements are expected to be shared with the global community in the coming months.

The World Federation’s recent initiatives demonstrate a robust commitment to data-driven planning, educational excellence, community welfare, and strategic growth. With active collaboration among federations, Jamaats, and global partners, the Federation is poised to meet contemporary challenges while honouring its rich heritage. The success of these initiatives hinges on collaborative leadership, active grassroots engagement, and the courage to take bold decisions.

On behalf of The WF, we extend our sincere gratitude to KSIJ Dar for their warm hospitality and excellent hosting of the Third Meeting of the Executive Council for the term 2024-2027. A special appreciation to Africa Federation, the host Regional Federation, for their support and collaboration. We also appreciate the hard work and dedication of all the volunteers and staff whose efforts made this meeting run smoothly.