HISTORY OF KSIKJ
The first Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri Kuwwatul Islam Jamat of Zanzibar in Tanzania was established in 1881 and the mosque formally opened in 1882 in Kiponda, Zanzibar.
Shia Islam is the second largest branch of Islam. The Shia community consists of about 154 million to 200 million worshippers worldwide today. The Shia Muslims are broken down to other subgroups such as the Khoja Shias.
With Dhows, khoja Shia Muslims had swept their religion and community from India to Zanzibar from the 1800’s. The khojas migrated to East Africa for a better survival due to severe droughts and famines in India. It was believed that the khojas originated from the Indian trading caste (the Loahanas caste), which was quite high in the Indian system. On the other hand, some think that they originated from Gujarati agricultural class.
THE ORIGINAL FOUNDING MEMBERS
Haji Dewji Jamal was one of the founders of the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Community in Zanzibar in 1881. Born in Bhavnagar, Gujrat in 1820. Dewji Jamal, the grandfather of Alhaj Mulla Mohamedjaffer Sheriff Dewji, was a leader of the Khoja community who openly disassociated himself from Aga khan I as a result of which the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri community came into being in Kutch, Kathiawad, Mumbai and Karachi. He is therefore considered to be one of the founding fathers of the Khoja Shia Ithna Asheri community.
Allarakhia Walli and Dewji Jamal collected Rs.8000 donation from Mumbai for contruction of the KSI Jamaat in Zanzibar. Mohamed Walji Rawji and Walli Nazerali were also large donors. A burial land was also purchased during this period by Jhanmohamed Walji Rawji.”
Versi Advani He was among the first converts to Shia Ithnaasheri faith, others being Dewji Jamal, Mohamed Walji, Lakha Kanji, Mohamed Lakha, Janmohamed Rawji, Nasser Lilani and Saleh Sachedina. He was among the 12 pioneers of Kuwwatul Jamaat of Khoja Shia Ithna Asheris of Zanzibar. His name appears among the signatories of the Kuwwatul Mosque Waqf Registration of 1881, stored at Zanzibar Archives. In 1835, Versi Advani migrated to Zanzibar from Bhuj, Gujarat, India with his three brothers: Khalfan, Abdulrasul and Gulamhussein. It is thought that Versi Advani was probably a Sindhi Khoja who may have intermarried with Khoja of Cutchi and Kathiawari origin.
He also helped in the establishment of Kuwwat Jamaat in Zanzibar politically and financially. Suleman Versi together with Dewji Jamal, Mohamed Walli Dharsi, Saleh Chagpar and Peera Hirji were trustees of “Remtulla Tejani Musafarkhana” which was opened in 1901 in Zanzibar.
Suleman Versi was born in 1856 in Zanzibar. He was a well-known businessman, an importer and exporter believed to be trading with the Middle East and India in multitude of items including spices. It is believed that he was a Wazir or a member in the Elders’ Council of Sultan Barghash of Zanzibar.
Photography: from KhojaPedia.com / ksikj
Source: AF Trade Directory 1960 / ksikj Archive
“Imam Hussain (AS) sahadaat na 1300 saal ni yaadgiri ma aarpan karwa ma avela che, 1351 Hijri.”
Dedicated in memory and completion of 1300 years on sacrifice of Imam Husyan (AS), 1351 Hijri.