Please click on above thumbnails to see complete picture.

Above Photos courtesy of Mufaddalbhai Gomberawala / Yusu bhai Motiwala

Please click on above thumbnails to see complete picture.

Photos courtesy/permission of Janab Aamilsaheb of Houston & Houstonjamat.com

Shehzada Malekul Ashtar Bhaisaheb welcomes Aqa Moula (TUS) in Houston Over 400 Mumineen Receive Aqa Moula (TUS) at Houston Airport. Houston Mayor Pro Temp Rev. Jew Boney Presents Key to the City.

There was electricity in the air at Terminal D of the Houston Intercontinental Airport. Just after noon on 8-March-2001, Mumineen started trickling into the designated area. By 1:30 PM, the entire arena was packed with Houstonians, and Mumineen from all parts of America and around the globe. Every face of Mumineen, Muminaat, and the many farzand gathered there glowed with joy and anticipation. With the co-operation of the airport authorities, arrangements were made for Mumineen to sit on the carpet in Shakelat of Majlis. After all our beloved Aqa Moula (TUS) was arriving to celebrate Idd-e- Ghadir-e-Khum, and InshaAllah, Ashara 1422 AH in Houston, Texas (USA).

At about 2:45 PM, the airport authorities informed the excited crowd that the Lufthansa plane had landed. Aqa Moula (TUS) disembarked first, followed by the kafla of Shehzada Sahebs, Shehzadi Saheba and othet Khidmat Guzars. Moula (TUS) was welcomed by a bouquet of flowers as soon as He got off the plane on the RED CARPET that lay along the air corridor. Aqa Moula (TUS) was escorted by dignitaries and officials to a special VIP room in the customs area where Shehzada Saheb Malek-ul-Ashtar Shujauddin Saheb, Husain Bhaisaheb Saifuddin, Abdeali Bhaisaheb Shujauddin, and Taha Bhaisaheb Shujauddin were waiting to welcome Moula (TUS). Special Immigration and Customs officials were on hand in this VIP room to process the papers, and this was done in a matter of minutes.

Outside, the crowd that waited with bated breath for Aqa Moula (TUS) to come in through the door. Among those gathered were dignitaries including Mayor Pro Temp of the City of Houston, Rev. Jew Don Boney, Indian Counsel General Ringzing Wangde, Mr. Lutfi Hasan, Member of President George Bush’s Commission to Central Asia, Leaders of the Aga Khan Ismaili community, other community leaders, and business men.

A few minutes later the Golden moment arrived. The door opened and Aqa Moula (TUS) came though the door followed by Shezada Malekul Ashtar Bhaisaheb and others. Almost instantly Mumineen started doing Matam of Imam Husain. There were tears of joy streaming down the the eyes of one and all including the many dignitaries gathered in the area. The Amil Saheb and Members of the Anjuman-e-Shujaee Jamaat of Houston did istiqbal with a bouquet of roses, and the Counsel General of India instantly sat down at the feet of Aqa Moula (TUS). One and all were in inspired awe drawn by the magnetic yet serene personality in the center of the room. Amongst the cries of Moula! Moula! one could hear the distinct strains of Ya Alo Taha Rida which was prayed in unison by the crowd. Truly a moving experience!

Aqa Moula (TUS) then graciously received Houston Mayor Jew Don Boney. The Mayor presented Aqa Moula (TUS) with a gold key to the City of Houston. This honor is reserved only for the most special Heads of State, and there was sustained tabassum in the chehra of our beloved Moula (TUS). Aqa Moula (TUS) read the inscription on the key in detail. In his address, Mayor Boney looked to Aqa Moula (TUS) as being a true International Ambassador of Peace and Goodwill. Grasping the enormity of the moment as the Mayor viewed the Mumineen gathered in front of him, the mayor remarked addressing Aqa Moula (TUS), “The world needs more leaders like you”. In presenting the Key to the City, the Mayor said, “Your Holiness, I present you this key to the city. It is not only to the city but a Key to our Hearts!” The Mayor celeberated the fact that Houston is a city of diverse faiths and people, and congratulated the Bohra community on being a most engaged, organized, and progressive community. Aqa Moula (TUS) asked the Mayor if he had ever been to India, and when the mayor replied that he had not, Moula (TUS) graciously invited him to visit the country. The Mayor said that he wished he would do so.

Then Aqa Moula (TUS) proceeded to the waiting Rolls Royce Silver Shadow escorted by four motor cycles and a pilot car of the special Intelligence division of the Houston Police. As Aqa Moula’s (TUS) car drove off, the pilots turned on the lights and stopped all traffic to make way for Moula (TUS). This honor too, is only reserved for Heads of State. Though it was rush hour, Aqa Moula’s (TUS) motorcade had priority passage to Shehzada Saheb’s house. The Dai had arrived to America!