Message from His Eminence Sayyid Al-Sistani (DZ)

The main 50th Anniversary programme on Day One included a message to The World Federation from the office of His Eminence Sayyid al-Sistani (DZ) in Najaf, read to the audience by Shaykh Dr Murtadha Alidina. Conveying the greetings and prayers of His Eminence, the message described the founding of The World Federation as “a qualitative leap” in the journey of the Khoja believers, and commended the community for raising the religious, educational and living standards of its members over five decades and supporting believers in need in many countries, making it “a pioneering model” of collective action.

Noting the growing intellectual, cultural and social challenges of contemporary life, the message renewed the guidance given to previous conferences: to preserve solidarity and harmony within the community, adhering to the constitution in the peaceful transfer of leadership and in resolving disputes; to preserve the community’s cultural identity in belief, ethics, traditions and heritage; and to raise the religious and social awareness of young people in the face of those who seek to lead them astray. It closed by urging The World Federation to intensify its activities and to acquaint the community with its work, so that members come to support it, especially its charitable projects.

Shaykh Dr Murtadha Alidina also read an address from Ayatullah Sayyid Murtadha Kashmiri, representative of His Eminence, who conveyed the prayers of His Eminence for the unity of the believers. Describing fifty years as “fifty years of work, of experience, of sacrifices”, he called on the community to see the anniversary as a message to the new generation, to treat young people as active partners in shaping the future of its institutions, and to carry its culture of giving into sustained work in education, welfare and health.

Sayyid Kashmiri paid tribute to Marhum Mulla Asghar, who enjoyed the trust of the great maraji’ in leading the community, and to those who followed him, including the current President, Alhaj Safder Jaffer. He prayed that the fifty years that have passed become a foundation for fifty more years of goodness, service and loyalty.

In this part of the programme