The President of our Jamaat (Chacha Paryani) has asked me to prepare the history of the origin of our Jamaat here in Toronto.
 
The month and year that first comes to mind are October 1967, when Toronto had only 3 Khoja Shia Ithnasheri families from Tanzania, East Africa, namely Br Salim Sachedina's family, Ashak Rustom's family and my family. It was not easy to settle in Toronto because all the odds were against us. Coming from East Africa, our culture, religion and community activities went together side by side, but we found ourselves drifting in the open sea, trying to hold on the basic of Islam.
 
By the end of 1969, we had about 12 families mostly from Tanzania, all in their 20s and 30s.  We organised majlis on Thursdays, observed wafats and celebrated khushialis. The majority of us did not own cars (no parking problems) and Toronto Transit buses and subway cars were our only means of transportation.  Despite these difficulties, further compounded by inclement weather, attendance at majlisis was generally good.
 
In the year 1970, we started seriously thinking of forming some kind of organisation or shall I call it "JAMAAT", to cater tothe religious, spiritual and social needs of our community. Our main concern were religious education of our children, theneed to accord funeral rites to the deceased and to provide appropriate facilities for marriage ceremonies within thecommunity. Being all young and inexperienced in Jamaat affairs, we were not fully conversant with the "SHARIAT" of Islam, but we all tried hard, prepared to learn and did our best.  In the process it is very likely that errors of judgement were made.
 
In the year 1971, during the month of Muharram, we were fortunate to have Dr Abdulaziz Sachedina amongst us, who was then a student at the University of Toronto.  During one of his Majlisis, he strongly asked us to form a Jamaat. A committee was nominated to draft a constitution to meet the needs of the members in Toronto, and they were Br Salim sachedina (Chairman), Br Ashak Rustom, Bashir Rattansi, Hussein Daya and myself. The committee tried to obtain copies ofconstitutions from various Jamaats in Africa, but did not succeed.  It had no other choice but to draft one to the best of its ability.
 
Within a couple of months, the drafted constitution was ready, and presented to all East African Khoja Shia Ithnasheris at a general meeting, held at Br Bashir Rattansi's restaurant in Downtown Toronto.  The members accepted the drafted constitution and hence the Toronto Jamaat was born under the name of "EAST AFRICAN KHOJA SHIA ITHNASHERI UNION OF TORONTO"  with 100% membership of 30 including men and women. At this meeting, the Executive Committee was elected and they were: Br Mahmud Habib as President, Br Hussein Daya as Secretary, Br Habib Ladha as Treasurer, Br Yakub Suleman and Sr Sugra Ashak Rustom as Committee Members, and Dr Abdulaziz Sachedina as Director of religion.
 
With limited experience and know how, but with the help of AlMighty Allah and Chaharda Masoomeen, we embarked onthe responsibility of organising our community.  Br Liaquat Virjee had a warehouse in Downtown Toronto and he very generously allowed us to use a portion of it for majlises. The hall was approximately 14ft by 12 ft. With donations from members, we carpeted the hall, painted the walls, and built a "MIMBAR". Due to limited seating capacity, ladies and gents sat in the same hall, gents on one side and ladies on the other, or gents in front and ladies at the back. This system ofseating was adopted from other Majlises held in Toronto by our Shia brothers and sisters from Inia and Pakistan.
 
More than eleven years have elapsed since the formation of our Jamaat, and today when I see the strength of our community, the beautiful Mosque and zainabia Hall (built by Mohamedi trust), I thank Allah for fulfilling three quarters of my dream and Inshallah the remaining one quarter of my dream, which is "UNITY" among the members and non members ofour community will be fulfillef soon - Ameen.
 
Our community as a whole owes a debt of gratitude to every one for his or her contribution towards the building of our Jamaat.
 
The various Executive Committee over the years have also shown their dedication towards our community work. Let it not be forgotten that the members of the Executive Committee, are elected by us, that they are doing honorary work to the bestof their ability and that the President of the Jamaat should be looked upon as a Father of the Community.
 
Was Salaam.
Mahmud J Habib.