First Roots established in Mauritius

His Eminence, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui Qadiri Razvi landed in Mauritius for the first time on 2 January 1965 to work as Imam and lecturer (Khateeb) of the Jummah Mosque after having officiated at the Memon Hanafi Mosque, Colombo, Sri Lanka. With a host of young, energetic and enthusiastic friends, he founded the Sunni Razvi Society, which was destined to become the leading socio-religious organization presently in Mauritius. He then created the Sunni Razvi Academy and re-started the practice of Halqa Zikr (zikr circle), which is now adopted island–wide. Through the establishment of the Sunni Razvi Society, His Eminence introduced with great zeal, the great genius and Islamic Revivalist, Imam Ahmed Raza Khan (RA).

The Qadiriyya Tariqa is well known for its Zikr (remembrance of Almighty Allah) to polish ones heart, to attain the love of the Holy Prophet (SAW), the love of His Companions (Sahaba), the love of the Saints (Awliya), the love of the descendants (Ahl-e Beyt) of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and to follow the sacred Islamic law (shariah).

Prior to the arrival of His Eminence, the Holy Lives of such great Saints of Islam were engraved in the realm of the memory of but a few fervent seekers of Islam. They were the Sufi Saints such as Hazrat Sayyiduna Ghaus-ul-Azam Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), Hazrat Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA), Hazrat Pir Jamal Shah Bawa, Hazrat Pir Zahoor Shah Bawa and Hazrat Pir Jahangeer Shar (Holy Shrines of the last three being found in Mauritius).

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The immediate task His Eminence was, therefore to animate the love of such Saints in the hearts of the Muslims so that they might be directed towards the path of spiritual attainments. Thus he began organizing continuous weekly Thursday Halqa Zikr at the Jummah Mosque. From the 2^nd September 1965 to present date, more than 1130 Monday weekly Halqa Zikr have been performed amidst a great number of participants. Indeed, such regular practices may mean much to those who follow them with the required piety and sincerity of purpose. To mark the glorious 100^th weekly Thursday Halqa Zikr with dignity, a great ceremony was performed at the Jummah Mosque with a program full of religious activities and speeches.

The Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebration organized by His Eminence has passed down to history as an event of great mass participation. For the 1967 celebration, the press reported that 50,000 people were present at Taher Bagh (Mauritius), a record captioned by one paper: ‘Maulana Khushtar makes history’. Another striking feature of His Eminence mission was that he was able to wonderfully revive the tradition of paying salutations to the beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) in the Mosques after prayers and during Halqa Zikr and other occasions.

Hafiz the poet said “Accept every instruction thy teacher giveth, for he knoweth which is the Path and where is thy good”

For one entire month during the Ramadaan of 1967, His Eminence spoke on the life and teachings of Maulana Jalaluddin Rumi, the great mystic of the East whose sacred works are considered as sacred scriptures, and the study of his work can be considered to belong to the highest standard of culture. He was the first to organize visits to Holy Shrines on beneficial and rewarding nights of Shab-e-Baraat. Fortunately enough, this practice is practiced island-wise.

A great contribution to the success of the Society was by the late Maulana Ayub Razvi, the sympathetic brother of His Eminence and Director of the organization. Maulana Ayub managed the affairs of the Society very professionally and in a way that commands admiration. The ladies wing was placed under the guidance of Begum Ayub Rizvi who organizes wazifa (daily recitals of the Name of Allah) and other Islamic observances for ladies. They pass whole nights in prayer on the occasion of 10^th Night of Muharram, Shab-e-Baraat, 27^th Night of Ramadaan and the night of Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi.

He has worked wonders both pre-independent and post-independent Mauritius. He has composed and sung the praise of this country, especially when it became independent and when it reached the status of the Republic. Ministers and laymen, poets and lovers have expressed their appreciation of his poems rendered in so beautiful lyrical forms. His anthems as a gift to the Nation do echo on the mountains and over the valleys of this country.

Many famous personalities such as the then Governor-general, Sir Leonard William and Sir Raman Osman, Former Prime Minister of Mauritius, Dr Sir Seewoosagu Ramgoolam, the Hon. A Jugnauth, Hon A Pasooraman (Minister Of Education, Arts and Culture) and several other statesmen of their time were friends of His Eminence. They even looked to His Eminence for guidance on religious and other matters.

His leitmotiv has always been to preach racial and spiritual harmony amongst the various communities and diversified religions in Mauritius. He is a patriot to the core and is respected by other religious communities. As a poet, his poetry influenced through mysticism has proved to be a fountain of knowledge for both the ascetic and the aesthetic. As a religious leader, he has shown the mettle of his pasture as someone unparalleled here in eloquence and the delivery of the true Islamic message in our present era. His love for Mauritius knows no bounds.

He is described as a mystic. Who is a mystic? A mystic is one who shows compassion and sympathy to humankind, while he is absorbed day in and night in the immensity of Gods love and mercy. Kwaja Moinuddin (RA) said a man should develop river-like generosity; sun-like affection and earth-like hospitality, as the river, the sun and the earth extend their benefits to all and sundry, so also man should rise above the narrow mindedness in dealing with his fellow human beings. Inspired by this ideal of human service, the early Islamic mystics applied this creative energy to solve the problems of contemporary society.

Preaching for over a quarter of a century, both in Mauritius and abroad, propelling man to tread on the true Path, speaking and writing on divine injunctions, creating institutions in this direction, showing unbounded love and compassion to one and all, he rightly does justice to this saying: “it was the deep and genuine concern for man in distress which made the mystics cynosure in public eyes”

Hundreds count his publications on various topics of Islam. His annual Souvenir Magazine published on the occasion of Eid-ul-Fitr has reached its reached its15th year of publication.

In 1990 the Silver Jubilee Year of the Sunni Razvi Society International was celebrated in Mauritius. To write comprehensively on the glorious achievements during those 25 years of its existence would require volumes and volumes.

Acknowledging the great contribution of His Eminence in the socio-religious domain, the Municipality of Port Louis named a street after him.

Listed below are some of the great projects, monuments of pride that His Eminence helped manage and direct in Mauritius.

Sunni Razvi Academy

The Sunni Razvi Academy was founded on 28^th April 1967 to serve the educational and spiritual needs of the community. Apart from celebrating Islamic events, it trains Muslims in the fields of ‘Imamat’ (priesthood) or ‘Hafiz’ (memorizing the Holy Quran by heart). In the past it housed a madrassa within its precincts. It now proposes to re-institute courses in Arabic and Urdu for those who want to gather some pebbles from the vast shore of knowledge. The Academy is a three-story building with a residence for the spouse of the late Maulana Ayub Razvi, the brother of Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui, within its precincts.  

The first floor houses a hall for ladies activities, led by Begum Ayub Razvi. Every Friday after Jummah prayers, the Muslim ladies are assembled there to do recitals (wazifahs). On special nights such as Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi, Shab-e-Baraat, Lailatul-Qadr and other special occasions, ladies pass the entire nigh in prayer.  

The first floor also houses a big hall where all kinds of Islamic functions are held. Apart from the five times daily prayers, Taraweeh Ramadaan prayers are regularly read there, most of the time led by His Eminence himself. On Monday nights, Halqa Zikr is being regularly recited and this has been going on since 1967 until today. It is to be noted that on this floor, there are mural paintings of the sacred mausoleums of Ghaus-ul-Azam, Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) and other Saints of Islam. Other religious functions celebrated there are Igyarween Shareef on the 11^th of each Islamic lunar month in memory of the Polestar of Saints, Hazrat Sayedena Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), the Yaum-e-Ashura in memory of the Great Martyrs of Karbala and the Urs Shareef (birth anniversaries of the Saints). The Qadiriyya also recite Zikr on the eleventh of each month of the Muslim calendar, especially the eleventh of Rabi-ul-Akhir, the day Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) breathed his last on Monday, 11th Rabi-ul-Akhir at the ripe age of 91 years. This is called Igyarween Shareef in Urdu (the blessed eleventh night) in the Indian sub-continent.

Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) was profuse in sending salawaat (prayer for Mercy and Blessings) and salaams (salutations) on the Holy Prophet (SAW). His most famous salawaat is called Durood Ghauthiyya and his Qaseeda is universally popular amongst the Qadiriyya. Muslims all over the world commemorate his anniversary by praying to Almighty Allah for his mercy and favor and they recite the Qaseeda and it is very popular and chanted from Mombassa to China and from South Africa to Toronto.

The third floor houses the office of His Eminence and place of residence with His Eminence personal library which is perhaps unique in Mauritius as none can match the number of rare volumes of books on the life and teachings of Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (RA). There are also numerous dormitories for visiting guests. Hence the reason the Academy was chosen as the World Headquarters of the Sunni Razvi Society International. From the Academy the Sunni Razvi Society extended by creating branches throughout every nook and corner of the island. At Mesnil, Phoenix, a Khanqah, the first spiritual center in Mauritius was erected. Today students of this Academy are pursuing higher studies at Bareilly Shareef, India while others are working as Imams in Mauritius itself. The Academy also succeeded in lodging students from both Mauritius and abroad. A growing number of dignitaries and laymen that call at the Academy for guidance and spiritual knowledge give clear indications of the fulfillment of the aims and objectives for which this

Academy was created. It is a 24-hour functioning body, ready to help any one in need of spiritual enlightenment.

The Academy has also been successful to the full measure in propounding the religious views of the Ahle-Sunnat-Wal-Jamaat. Students of the Sunni Razvi Academy have founded in their localities branches of the Sunni Razvi Society with a view of combating irreligiousness and preaching peace, unity and inter-communal fraternity, which form the themes of almost every sermon of His Eminence.

The motto of the Sunni Razvi Academy since its inception 35 years ago is:

“come in to learn, go out to serve”  

A befitting function was organized for the laying of the Foundation Ceremony stone. A procession left the Jummah Mosque on 28^th April 1967 after the Friday prayers and proceeded in a stately march with the recitation of Zikr to 28 Sir Edgar Laurent Street where the ceremony took place. Speeches were delivered by personalities of Mauritius and after his thought provoking speech; Maulana Khushtar laid the foundation stone. It was officiated in a unique way, for never before had such a ceremony been performed thus like. A stone from the Holy Hill of Meena and water obtained from the baths taken at the Kaaba together with water from Zam Zam, Madina and Bagdad, mixed with cement, His Eminence performed the sacred ceremony with Zikr on his lips, accompanied by resounding voices of the audience.

Khanqah Qadiria Razvia

This white and green painted building is found in Mesnil, Phoenix, and the second largest agglomeration of Muslims. On every Thursday, Halqa Zikr is recited there and has been ongoing without fail. It is also a meditation center for Muslims. Hakqa Zikr is also read in assemblies at the seaside, the riverside, in the forest, on the mountains and everywhere, where seekers gather for such a practice. His Eminence laid the foundation stone on a large piece of land on Sunday 20^th February 1983 (Jamaadi-ul-Akhir 1403 Hijri) at about 10am. The land was donated by a faithful mureed (disciple). The first weekly Halqa Zikr was held on Thursday 14^th April 1983 (1st Shabaan 1403 Hijri) under the patronage of our Shiekh-ul-Tariqat in a little tent and ladies were seated in a van just outside the tent after Asr salaat.

On the 21^st April 1983 (8th Shabaan 1403) the 1^st Igyaraween Shareef was held after Asr, together with the second Qadiri Halqa Zikr. These events of Urs and Halqa Zikr and thus today we have arrived at the 897^th weekly Halqa Zikr under the guidance of His Eminence.

Our records show 216^th monthy Igyaraween, 17^th Alahazrat Urs, 18^th Urs Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti and 17^th annual Urs of Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA)

Eid Gah and Zikr Manzil

His Eminence mentioned that the responsibilities of an Imaam in not limited to the Mosques and the five times prayer, but have to instigate other important religious and social activities as well. To offer Eid prayer in Eidgah is sunnat. The beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) left Masjid Nabawi on Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ud-Adha, to offer prayer (salaat) in Masjeed Eidgah, despite of the fact that fifty thousand benefits are acquired when a person offers salaat in Masjid Nabawi. The Arabic definition for Eid Gah is Mussalah Eid. So when His Eminence landed here, in Mauritius, they were deprived the opportunity of following this sunnah too.  

The Zikr Manzil and the Eidgah stand in all their majestic beauty on the slope of the mountain at Vallee Pitot. It is a very big plot of land donated to the Society by the Government of Mauritius It is an imposing one-story building that overlooks the beautiful landscape of the mountains, valleys and meadows of Vallee Pitot and the blue ocean further away. The atmosphere is serene and adds to the beauty and charm of the Eid Gah. Such a refined piece of architectural mastery has become a feast for the eyes. It is another petal added to the fragrant rose of the Eid Gah, which is itself a pride to the community. As the name implies, the Eid Gah is a place where open-air prayers on Eid days are held. When the Society first started construction, help from the non-Muslims communities had been forthcoming. For example the Sugar Factory of Belle Vue Mauricia sent bulldozers to bulldoze the mountain terraces.  

A mosque, the Qadiri Razvi Central Mosque with an Imams residence has also been built within the precincts of the Eidgah. Recently a Zikr Manzil was built, again within precincts of the Eidgah complex. As the name implies, the Zikr Manzil is a place where Zikr is recited. It is also a social hall for the celebration of the Eid Milan Party, which is attended every year by the Prime Ministers, Ministers, The Lord-Mayor of Port Louis, the Leader of the Opposition, the Ambassadors and top personalities of the Island. As Eid-ul-Fitr is a national holiday in Mauritius, top Muslim and non-Muslim personalities attend the Eid Milan Party to broadcast their Eid messages. The Prime Minister thus expresses his best wishes from the Government of Mauritius to the nation.

The Zikr Manzil being a component of the Eidgah complex has other major roles to play. Apart from Qadiriyya Halkqe Zikr, it is a venue for the monthly Igyarween Shareef, the Urs Shareef, the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi and other celebrations. It houses a Madrassa as well, thus catering for the educational and spiritual welfare of their pupils. Many Islamic performances are observed here. However, the mass participation of people, each year, for the Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi celebration gives the Eidgah all its historic importance. The Eid prayers fulfill another practice of the Holy Prophet (SAW) and the Eid Milan Party has become another annual feature here. His Eminence has always emphasized that mere speech is nothing action is everything.

For this purpose, the recitation of Zikr is necessary to cleanse the heart of the veils of rust and reach Almighty Allah.

It is also a sign of gratitude and thankfulness to Him. The mind that concentrates on Gods creation purifies the heart, which is then filled with divine love. In an assembly where Zikr is recited, the Angels themselves join in and hence the spiritual atmosphere reigns supreme. It becomes more serene and enlightened when a Pir who is connected with the lineage of the Prophets leads the assembly and Saints to convey spiritual influence to his disciples. Thus Zikr is a religious practice that has been observed throughout the ages. This has taken various forms according to the Sufi Order (Tariqa), which the spiritual leader follows. Zikr brings in its wake moments of spiritual ecstasy, which the person experiences when he performs it on a regular basis. From this stage of ‘Tariqat’ he can even move to the other stages of ‘Haqeeqat’ and ‘Marifat’. To be able, however, to pass through all these stages, one should be endowed with a Great Spirit of sacrifice and devotion. It is a matter of ones own preparation to tread upon the Path of spiritual awakening. It is a case of self-annihilation as the poet Iqbal puts it. Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) commented that the way to draw nearer to Almighty Allah is through constant Zikr.

In this world where pure materialism prevails, constant recitation of Zikr is a sure way to save us from the grip of the darkness in our heart. Zikr equips us with the armament to fight against evil forces outside and within ourselves. As Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA) said: “With your spiritual light, dispel the darkness of ignorance.” Hence, the foundation of the Zikr Manzil has all its importance in being a venue for regular practice of Zikr. Thanks to the indefatigable effort of His Eminence, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui Qadiri Razvi, a Zikr Manzil has emerged from within the precincts of the First Mauritius Sunni Razvi Eidgah.

Just at the Sunni Razvi only, the weekly Qadiriyya Zikr has reached 1511^th (August 1997). The naats (religious poetry) written by Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (RA) were propounded, its contents explained and the melodious ways of reciting them were taught so that to start every Zikr session, the Naats were read. There were special circles set up by His Eminence specifically for naat reading. This started in Port Louis and filtered down to the villages. Today there is hardly a Sunni Muslim who does not know by heart at least one religious poem of Alahazrat.

These activities revived Islam and people from all strata of society flocked to such sessions. They acted as a means and bond to attract people to Allah and His Beloved Prophet (SAW). They imbibed love for and respect to the Holy descendants of the Beloved Holy Prophet (SAW) of Allah. At the time when Mauritius was recovering from deep economic recession the Muslims were being prepared to manage stress by reciting the Qadiriyya Zikr which provided the necessary shield

Remembrance of Saints

More recently, the celebration of the Urs (death anniversaries) of the awliya (Sufi saints) has gained momentum in Mauritius over the years. Muslims gather to celebrate the successful completion of the life of these Sufi mystics. Such a gathering is referred to as Urs, in Urdu, and hawl or ziyara, among those who speak Arabic. Sufi Shrines are deeply connected with Spiritual Orders.

Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Qadiri (RA) helped the Muslims much by the preparation of the teachings of Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA), Kwaja Moinuddin Chishti (RA), Alahazrat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (RA) and other spiritual personalities. It had been the norm to celebrate Urs on a yearly basis at specific locations in Port Louis, but the remaining part of the island it was a rare event.

When His Eminence arrived in Mauritius in 1965, the Urs of all spiritual preceptors was revived. For the first time in Mauritius the Urs of Syed Pir Jamal Shah Qadiri Bin Murtaza Shah Bawa was celebrated on 13 April 1967 (second Muharram 1387). Urs of the Great Saint of India, Sultan-ul-Hind Hazrat Kwaja Muinuddin Chishti (RA) has also a special place in the heart of our beloved Pir, His Eminence, Maulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqiu Qadri Razvi. This glorious, sacred and stately celebration is given all the splendor and respect it deserves and it runs normally for two days.

The Urs of this Holy Saint is one of the most popular religious functions in India. It draws a large number of participants from different parts of that great country. Members of all other faiths attend it as well. This Saint is universally known and loved for the number of miracles that are attached to the sacred eminence of his personality. Members of various communities go to manifest their love and respect at his Holy Shrine.

The Urs of Hazrat Sayyiduna Ghaus-ul-Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA) started to be celebrated on the 11^th of every lunar month and annually at the Jummah Mosque, Port Louis and was extended to the Sunni Razvi Academy soon after its construction. These have been occasions for the remembrance of the life, work, sacrifices and teachings of Ghaus-ul-Azam (RA).

In 1990 more than 237 monthly Igyarween Shareef have been celebrated with due respect and sincerity. These functions have been organized with a view to rekindle the love of Hazrat Ghaus-ul-Azam Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani (RA). On such occasions comprehensive programs are elaborated which comprise the following items:

Quranic recitals

Chanting and recitation of the Qaseeda Gauthiyya

Qadiriyya Halqa Zikr

Khatam Shareef

Salaam and salawaat of the Holy Prophet (SAW)

Bazme Ghausia and Qadria Langar (Taqseem-E-Tabarruk)

Under the able guidance of His Eminence such “stately celebrations” have made an everlasting impression on the hearts and minds of the Muslims and, no doubt, the benefits that accrue to those participating in such sacred ceremonies are tremendous. Throughout every nook and corner of the island, people know and talk about these celebrations and especially the poor, rejoice at this resurrection of the time of ‘Aam Khana’ (food for all), which had been abolished long before the arrival of His Eminence.

Ever since the arrival of His Eminence, the Urs Shareef of that Guiding Star of the eastern firmament, Alahazrat Ahmad Raza Khan (RA) has been celebrated due respect to its sanctity. A glimpse from the sacred life of this great Saint and genius scholar is enough to convince any Muslim about this grandeur as a true Muslim. He lived a blessed life since his childhood up to his last breath. His religious work has immortalized him to such an extent that learned men opine that the world has not produced such a better theologian. Among his disciple’s rank eminent theologians, one of whom being the great globetrotting missionary, Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Qadiri Razvi.

The death anniversary of Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui Qadiri (RA) is another function that does not escape His Eminence. Indeed during his lifetime, Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (RA) had devoted a part of his precious time in paying occasional visits to Mauritius to reanimate the love of religion among the Muslims. He was a very fervent and pious Muslim and people always pay tribute by attending the Urs in his honor.

The Urs of the great personalities of Islam once introduced gained momentum and began to be celebrated in all parts of the country:

Alahazrat Imam Ahle Sunnat Imam Ahmad Raza Khan (RA)

Hazrat Hujjatul Imam Shah Hamid Raza Khan (RA)

Hazrat Mufi-e-Azam Hind Shah Mustafa Raza Khan (RA)

Hazrat Maulana Ibrahim Raza Khan Jilani Mian (RA)

Hazrat Mualana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui al-Qadiri (RA)

Hazrat Peer Jamal Shah and the performance of Fateha for innumerable other great spiritual leaders was recommended by His Eminence.

During the 10 beautiful nights of Muharram, the martyrdom of the Saints of Karbala (RA) is narrated and on the 10^th day the Urs of Imam Hussain (RA) is celebrated all round Mauritius.

The Grand Annual event (Me`raj Shareef) is also celebrated which has a special place in the heart of every Muslim. During this the Universal Preceptor, the Savior of Muslims on the day of Resurrection, the Chosen Most Cherished, First and Last Prophet, the Almighty Hazrat Muhammad Mustapha (SAW) went to meet his Creator. That meeting of a lover with His Beloved, has, since been observed throughout the centuries as a night of prayers, contemplation, meditation and salvation. It is on that very night that Allah Almighty sent prayer as a token of His Mercy through His Most Beloved Prophet (SAW) to his followers.