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Baad salaam ul Jameel
For the previous few days it had been cold and raining heavily here in
Arusha, but half an hour before Aqa Maula’s scheduled arrival, the rain
ceased and the sun began to smile. This “mojizo” (miracle) has been
witnessed many a times during past visits. Aqa Maula (TUS) arrived at the
Kilimanjaro International Airport at 12:30 pm after a 50 minutes flight from
Zanzibar aboard a chartered Air Tanzania Boeing 737. It was Maula’s tenth
visit to Arusha, the last one being in 2003.
Maula TUS was received as a state guest by the District Commissioner of
Arumeru, Mr. Wawa Lali and protocol officer Mr. Kassim Mamboleo. Janab
Amilsaheb of Arusha, Shk. Khuzeima Shk. Qutubali Bhanpurawalla was the first
to receive Aqa Maula (TUS) as he alighted from the aircraft and into the new
black Range Rover (Vogue) with special “Syedna” number plates, waiting on
the tarmac. Also present were Ayanul Jamaat and scores of Mumineen. Aqa
Maula’s motorcade which included a pilot car (Land Cruiser) emblazoned with
LONG LIVE HIS HOLINESS on its sides, sped off to Arusha in a police escort.
Aqa Maula’s (TUS) isteqbal function was held in a large warehouse in the
Njiro Hill suburb of Arusha, where hundreds of Mumineen had lined up either
side of a cordoned path leading to the warehouse, with hundreds more seated
inside waiting patiently for hours. His arrival was greeted by thunderous
“nara” of Maula Maula reaching a deafening crescendo inside the warehouse as
Aqa Maula (TUS) became jalwa afroz on a raised dais. With hands clasped,
Mumineen cried unashamedly as they jostled to catch a glimpse of the “Noorani
Chehra” and “Salami” of their Maula TUS.
The brief isteqbal ceremony included “wadhawani rasam” performed by Shahzada
Aliwaqar Qusai Bhaisaheb Vajihuddin DM, presentation of bouquets by three
farzando, tilawate Quran-e-Majid, Qasida Ya Ala Tahar Rida and Madeh.
Finally Aqa Maula addressed mumineen:
MUMINEEN NI JAMAAT, MUMINAAT NI JAMAAT ANE TAMARA
PYARA FARZANDO ARUSHA AYO CHHU TAMARA CHEHRA NI MASARRAT DEKHWANE TAMNE
DEKHI NE KHUSH THAU CHHU TAMARA CHEHRA PAR ROSHNI DEKHWANE AYO CHHU.
He did zikr of Taher Saifuddin Maula’s (RA) visit to Arusha and his doa
mubarak for Arusha residents. After tilawat of Alo Taha Mana Be ul Barakati
Maula ended his address with zikr of shahadat of Imam Hussein AS. Mumineen
responded with purjosh matam and buqaa. Soon after Maula left for his
qiyamga which was nearby.
Aqa Maula performed iftetah of the new qiyamga bhai Saifuddin Khanbhai had
especially built, in a short span of 43 days. Perched atop Njiro Hill, it
offers a panoramic view of both Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Meru as well as the
city below. There is a distinct African flavour in the architecture, and the
animal trophies and wild life statues set in the terraced and rocky
landscape completes the feeling of the African wild.
Later at night Aqa Maula TUS arrived for ziyafat at bhai Saifuddin’s
residence which adjoins Maula’s qiyamga. During ziyafat he was bestowed with
the title of MKD. After ziyafat Aqa Maula left for his qiyamga.
May Allah grant Aqa Maula (TUS) sehat afiyat malabis fakhera till roze
Qayamat – Ameen.
Report
By:
Sheikh Murtaza Janoowalla
Photographs By:
Mu. Huzeifa Karimjee
Official Malumaat.com reporters
Reporting from Arusha |
