On 24 April 2017, the late Chairman of Hujjat Seniors, Azadali Jafferali Kassam, delivered a thought-provoking speech inviting the youth to better integrate with the elders of the community:
“I begin in the name of Allah (swt) the Beneficient, the Merciful,
Salaamun alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabarakatu,
I stand before you today promoting the Seniors of the KSIMC of London, and in particular - our recruitment drive. The Seniors are those same people that attend other Jamaat programmes and other congregational gatherings and form the same audience comprising the mo’mineen and mo’minaat of our community.
At the recent AGM elections, on 29 March 2017, a team including myself was appointed to continue the smooth running of this branch of the Jamaat - the details of the election are on the Senior’s noticeboard.
Presently, we have around 130 gents and 230 ladies members - the membership keeps increasing Alhamdulilah. The ladies are the hub of our community, and would only be pleased if the younger sisters would befriend them - they would only find them to be gentle and motherly - so approach them.
We are the new-image group without age restrictions - we are the Seniors of KSIMC of London and the Wednesday morning programme is open to all - no different to Jumeraat, Jumah, Wafaat, Kushali or Fajr programmes or other Jammat functions.
Pay us a visit and witness for yourself the number of youthful Seniors present. Each week, we have different speakers from various walks of life and I can assure you the topics are informative, interesting and beneficial for all ages. We typically end the programme with Zohrain salaat and with a contribution of £2.50 per member, when no donor is available, a subsidised sumptuous lunch is served.
Membership is £10 per year, from January to December - we run our own team and balance our own books. For example, recently we had an Eid barbecue which served 250 people on-the-house, which set us back £1000 - this was paid from the subscription fund.
Our aim is to have everybody, regardless of age, to become members of the Seniors of the KSIMC of London; over-50’s and Jammat-paid members qualify as ordinary members and under-50’s and all others become associate members - membership forms are always at hand. Therefore, there is no reason for why any of you can’t become members. May I put the motion across that we, tonight, have at least 70 new members - how about that? Yes we can, and to make a total of 100 - and by the end of the year 1000, why not, to make a union demonstrating the strength of our community.
Join us when you are free on a Wednesday morning - we welcome you as a participant, volunteer or speaker, or if you have any ideas and plans we’ll assist you with your organisation, in any specialised way, you will only be a bonus to us. You can enlighten us in your field of expertise that you are a champion in. You’ll find the audience are experience although retired professionals that have knowledge, in particular historical knowledge, from their forefathers and want to pass on this heritage to you as younger members of the Jamaat - and you, in turn, can convey their legacy to your future generation. So please, interact with us, and if you have extra time on your hands help us organise an outing.
There are three further items to bring to your attention:
1) The opening of a new centre - Masjid-e-Ali (as) of The Ahlulbayt Islamic Association on 29 April 2017 in Aberdeen, Scotland. A group of 20 of us will fly out on the 28 April and return on 30 April inshaAllah.
2) The highlight of the year, Zainabiyya day will be on 3 May 2017 - if you’ve not received an invitation, please see me and I will make sure the necessary arrangements are made.
3) I pray that you, as the Jamaat congregation, will support the Seniors in their pledge to sponsor Iftar at the centre in the Holy month of Ramadhan as we have done so for the past few years. Last year, with your contributions we raised in excess of £2,500. The concept is that if one is not able to sponsor the entire Iftar individually, they are not denied the opportunity to sponsor it as part of a collective effort - whatever the amount for the thawaab of their marhumeen.
Khushali Mubarak to you all and may Allah (swt) bless you all with barakaat inshaAllah.
Wassalaamun alaikum wa rahmatullahi wabaraktu.”