Learning from Past Khoja Mulla Pioneers

The second session of Day One turned to the tradition of zakiri and the zakireen who have carried the message of Imam Husayn (a) to communities around the world. Moderated by Mustafa Jaffer, the panel of three experienced zakireen, including Shaykh Abbas Ismail, paid tribute to the community’s forefathers, who kept majalis alive even when all they could do was read from a book.

The panel discussed how Jamaats host visiting zakireen. Panellists described every majlis as service to Allah (swt) and a debt owed to Bibi Fatima (s.a), and called on Jamaats to revive the custom of committees receiving, hosting and seeing off their zakireen in person, in recognition of the spiritual position of those who serve on the minbar.

On preparation, the panellists said work on Muharram majalis often begins in the month of Ramadan, and spoke about choosing topics that link people back to Allah (swt), drawing practical lessons from Karbala, and bringing verses of the Holy Qur’an into majalis.

Asked how speakers should respond to audiences who can research any subject online, the panel shared guidance from the office of His Eminence Sayyid al-Sistani (DZ) to bring people back to the basics, strengthen their faith, and speak only on what they know. They described the minbar as a place of established fact, and noted that people are seeking deeper and more sincere connection than short-form content can offer.

In this part of the programme