Huzurala (tus) graciously bestowed Mumineen and Muminaat of London the azeem sharaf of Pehli Tarikh Majlis, ziyafat and qadambosi in London’s Al-Masjid al-Husaini yesterday - Sunday 1st Jamadil Awwal 1427 (28th May 2006).

Huzurala (tus) as always arrived well in time for the scheduled 11 am start and proceeded for Busaheba’s ziyarat. Molana (tus) then presided over the pehli taarikh majlis which began with tilawatul Quran by Shahzada Aali Qadr Shahzada Mufaddal bhaisaheb Saifuddin (dm).

The pehli taarikh majlis ceremonies were followed by a ziyafat by London Jamaat who had put together a backdrop with Huzurala’s (tus) words which included the quotation in English, “I feel at home” which Molana had said in Imamul Zamaan’s (as) Milaad Waaz Mubarak.

What followed the majlis and ziyafat was a striking testament to the very homely feeling that Huzurala (tus) clearly feels when amongst his beloved Mumineen children - especially here in London. It is traditional that qadambosi takes place on Pehli Taarikh and this began as expected. There were surges, pulls, pushes and the odd struggle even in what was a generally orderly qadambosi process at he heart of which sat Molana (tus) in utter serenity and calmness. Haddiyat took place, araiz were submitted and one after the other Mumineen, their children, their babies received the magnificent sharaf of qadambosi.

Then - just after zawaal, Huzurala (tus) announced that he was leaving for namaaz but reassured us all that the bethak would resume after that. Barely 15 -20 minutes later Molana returned  and the bethak resumed. The proceedings were well disciplined, Mumineen were proceeding quickly without excessive fuss. Huzurala sat for each one of us, one after the other, a loving smile and gaze blessing each and every Mumin young and old as he bent down to hold Molana’s hand. Mere seconds for each individual but bearing the barakaat of an eternity.

It was past 3 o’clock when the line of Mumineen men came to an end and so by rights should the qadambosi. The miyanah had been called for and was brought in ready to carry Molana away but, for all his 95 years, Molana was not yet finished. With a flourish of his hand Molana dismissed the miyana for he had seen the ring of Muminaat within the masjid just standing for deedaar and the announcement came suddenly, thrillingly, wholly out of the blue that qadambosi for Muminaat was now beginning. There was a sudden rush of Muminaat, they came initially in a rush, from all around, from downstairs in the Mawaaid and from all four corners, bahensahebo came swiftly to attend in khidmat and for their own qadambosi sharaf. Again the proceedings were swift and orderly

It was past 4pm when the bethak approached its end and it did so only after the last remaining Muminah had received her qadambosi sharaf. Only after over 5 hours in the masjid did the bethak end, only then did Huzurala (tus) get up to leave, only then did Molana (tus) finally retire to his room. Only then did Molana go to eat.

May Allah t’aala grant our bloved Aqa and Mola (tus) sehat, aafiyat and long, long life until Qiyamat.

Ameen

Abde Syedna-l-Min`aam (tus)

Mustafa Shaikh Dawood Feeroz