Abu Aly Alibhai Aziz, Dr., Missionary

mir Chand (1837-1911) sprang from a noble family ofDewan Sir Eboo Pirbhai, Count Ghulam Hussain Ismail,
gupti Ismailis in Punjab. He was employed in aWazir Madatali Count Mulji Nazarali and Wazir Abdul
governmental department in Amritsar and retired inMalek R. Kassim Lakha attended it. Missionary Abu Aly
1880. He inherited land from his forefathers, andwas also invited, including Missionary Ghulam Ali Shah,
became one of the most famous landlords in Punjab. InAlijah Ghulam Hussain Juma Haji, Jaffer Ali R.
1882, Imam Aga Ali Shah appointed him Kul KamadiaBudhwani and Noor Mohammad Rehmatullah. It was
for Punjab, Frontiers and few regions nearfollowed by another Conference on September 24,
Afghanistan. He performed his duties with such1964.
marked distinction that during his first visit to Amritsar inDuring the gracious visit of Hazar Imam in India at the
1897, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah appointed himend of 1967, he was requested to deliver waez to the
Mukhi on January 1, 1897 with a title of Varas forjamats, who were extremely touched by his words.
Punjab and Frontier province, including the regions lyingThe Mukhi and Kamadia of Darkhana jamat, Bombay
on the borders of Afghanistan. He also travelled withsent their report to the Imam on December 27, 1967, to
the Imam in Sialkot between January 2, 1897 andwhich he replied:
January 11, 1897. Varas Amir Chand visited BombayJanuary 6th, 1968
several times. His last visit took place in the middle ofMy dear Mukhi and Kamadia:
1908 and gave valuable and informative statementsI have received your letter of 27th December, and I
twice in court during the Haji Bibi Case on July 28 andgive my most affectionate paternal maternal loving
July 29, 1908. He is also credited to have converted ablessings to all my beloved spiritual children of the
portion of the depressed class to Ismailism, as well asBombay Darkhana Jamat.
helping them financially to run their cottage industry.I am very happy to hear that my jamats of Bombay
In 1911, he died at the age of 74 years. Varas Amirand Suburbs took a keen interest in the waez given
Chand was also consigned to collect the tithe fromby Missionary Abooali in various Jamatkhanas.
village to village. His task pushed him to indulge in aKindly convey my best paternal maternal loving
daily meticulous procedure, which consisted of washingblessings to Missionary Abooali for his devoted
his hands and fingers. And one meritorious illustration,services during his visit to India.
whose equal seems to have not yet came on record,You should find out from the Ismailia Association of
was that he made a secret will to a certain personTanzania whether Missionary Abooali could tour to
that after the ritual bath of his dead body, he mustIndia every year for at least a month, if not two
wash his hands and fingers at least thrice with soap,months, and then communicate the
so that no smell emaning from the Imam’s coinsAssociation’s answer to me.
remained before interment.He also attended the grand Waezeen Assembly in
Varas Amir Chand’s son Bhagvandas mostlyBombay inaugurated on December 10, 1967, and
served the local jamat in Amritsar. His son Panalal waspresided by Itmadi Ghulam Ali S. Morani, the then
however much active, who kept the torch of servicePresident of the Ismailia Association for India. He
burning.delivered informative lectures and dealt with the
On January 20, 1914, the Imam summoned about eightquestion/answer session on December 16, 1967. The
prominent leaders of the gupti jamats of Punjab at hisPresident prepared the report of the assembly and
residence in Poona, in which Panalal, the father of Abusent it to the Imam on January 10, 1968. The Imam
Aly was also included to discuss the revelation of thereplied as follows:
gupti Ismailis as Muslims in Punjab.He also attended the grand Waezeen Assembly in
There was a minor group of Hindus in Kabul, headedBombay inaugurated on December 10, 1967, and
by Bairam Diyal, who professed the Ismaili faithpresided by Itmadi Ghulam Ali S. Morani, the then
secretly. The local Ismailis in Afghanistan, however,President of the Ismailia Association for India. He
knew them well and deposited their tithe to them, whodelivered informative lectures and dealt with the
in turn remitted it to the Imam in Iran, then in Bombay. Inquestion/answer session on December 16, 1967. The
1915, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah sent a specialPresident prepared the report of the assembly and
message through Panalal, asking them to wear Muslimsent it to the Imam on January 10, 1968. The Imam
costumes and assume Islamic names. Thereplied as follows: January 29th, 1968
Imam’s call created a salutary effect upon theMy dear President:
people and Mukhi Fakir Chand in Kabul was the firstI have received your letter of January 10th, and I have
one to apply the Imam’s recommendations.read your report with much interest.
With the efforts of Panalal, the Ismailis in KabulI am happy to hear that the Waezeen Assembly held
received a new lease of life and immersedon the 10th December at the Dharkhana Jamatkhana
themselves into Islamic traditions through Ismailism.was well attended by my spiritual children and I give
On November 18, 1916, the Imam commanded themmy best loving blessings to all my beloved spiritual
once again to submit to their faith publicly and tochildren who participated in the Waezeen Assembly.
abandon the Hindu customs by assuming MuslimI give my best paternal maternal loving blessings to the
names. On that juncture, the Imam gave new namesfollowing missionaries for their devoted services to my
to these eight leaders, including the names of theirIndia jamat:
fathers and children. Abu Aly’s father, PanalalMissionary Kassim Ali M.J.
was named as Ali and his grandfather, BhagvandasMissionary Abooali
became known as Aziz. Alibhai Aziz also dedicated allMissionary Noormohomed Rahimtullah
of his time to serve the community. He was selectedMissionary Noordin Amlani.
as a member of The Aga Khan Golden JubileeMissionary Abu Aly A. Aziz is a global itinerant and has
Celebration Committee from Punjab, whose firsttravelled extensively. He visited Tajikistan in 1995,
meeting was held on October 12, 1935 in Aga Hall,where 72 years before him, the famous Missionary Pir
Nesbit Road, Bombay.Sabzali (1884-1938) had set foot in 1923. There is
Abu Aly, the son of Alibhai Aziz, the world-renownedperhaps not a single Jamatkhana in the world where
senior missionary was born in Amritsar, India on Augusthe has not delivered a waez. Behind all his success is
21, 1919. His early education started at the age of 4his personality, so attractive that he won the hearts of
years at a Hindu private nursery school, conducted bymillions who have never even seen him, but have only
a Brahmin pandit. He then attended a private Primaryknown his incomparable services for the Imam and
School located in the Government High School injamats. In his missionary framework, he is seen as a
Amritsar, and finally followed the science stream increative, courageous, and patient. He is ambitious, but
Saint-Xavier College, Bombay. He also attended adoes not let himself be blinded by his personal interest.
Madressa to study the Koran and Hadith at the age ofHe labours for his faith not for own sake. With his
7 years as an extra-curricular activity. He also studiedtalent and invaluable services, he was blessed with the
architecture, agriculture and law, notably the Islamictitles of Alijah, then Rai.
jurisprudence.Missionary Abu Aly A. Aziz is a global itinerant and has
His religious education started the moment he could sittravelled extensively. He visited Tajikistan in 1995,
in his grandfather’s lap, the sage Kamadia Azizwhere 72 years before him, the famous Missionary Pir
Ali. In Bombay, he had the opportunity to expand hisSabzali (1884-1938) had set foot in 1923. There is
knowledge by interaction with missionaries, such as Pirperhaps not a single Jamatkhana in the world where
Sabzali (1884-1938), who was his mentor fromhe has not delivered a waez. Behind all his success is
childhood, Chief Missionary Hussaini Pir Muhammadhis personality, so attractive that he won the hearts of
Asani (1878-1951), Ibrahim Jusab Varteji (1878-1953),millions who have never even seen him, but have only
Alibhai Nanji 893-1978), Sayed Muhammad Shah (d.known his incomparable services for the Imam and
1945), Sayed Munir (1882-1957), Sayed Mustaq Alijamats. In his missionary framework, he is seen as a
Didar Ali and many others.creative, courageous, and patient. He is ambitious, but
Due to his linguistic skills, he was called upon to serve indoes not let himself be blinded by his personal interest.
the civil and military censor office. Incidentally, W.He labours for his faith not for own sake. With his
Ivanow (1886-1970) recommended his name to handletalent and invaluable services, he was blessed with the
the task of scanning the public mail. Thus, he had thetitles of , then .
privilege of having worked across the table with W.He started his mission career at the age of 11 years.
Ivanow for five years during the Second World WarHis life now bridges a long span of 83 years, in which
(1939-1945).more than ten thousand lectures, speeches, and
In 1938, Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah commandeddeliveries are on record to his credit. Ever since the
him to join the Ismaili Mission at the Recreation Clubtaperecorder appeared commercially at the beginning
Institute, Bombay, and within a short time, he acquiredof 1950, his lectures and speeches have been
the necessary skills and attained great proficiency inpreserved which are in tune of about 3000
mission field.audiocassettes, circulating around the world among the
He played a key role in the arrangement of theIsmaili jamats and to some extent among other
Diamond Jubilee of the Imam in 1946 and participated incommunities.
different committees. The Imam selected him to reciteHe also uses his poetic skills to lyrically express in Urdu
the ginan after the recitation of a Koranic verse by ahis ardent love for the Imam. He is gifted with a vivid
Syrian Ismaili on March 10, 1946 in Bombay. The Imamintellect, with a conspicuous literary talent. Being a man
graciously graced him with a special robe of honourof literary genius, he gained the opportunity to carry on
and a golden turban.his literary pursuits and became a frequent contributor
The first “Ismaili Mission Conference” was held into different periodicals. No less than a trenchant writer,
the auditorium of the Aga Khan High School,he published 19 books and booklets and some more
Dar-es-Salaam to discuss the religious education andare forthcoming. He is well versed in English, Urdu,
the training of the missionaries and teachers. The ImamPersian, Arabic, Gujrati, Punjabi, Kutchhi, Hindi, and
inaugurated the Conference on July 20, 1945 and toldSwahili. His famous works are Jashan-i Golden Jubilee
the delegates that the Africans should no longer rely(Urdu, 1936), Radde Batil (Gujrati, 1947), Anant Akhado
on missionaries from abroad, but produce its own(Gujrati tr.1947), Zahoor-i Haq (Gujrati, 1948), Mazhab-i
manpower in their Mission Centre.Ismailia (Gujrati, 1948), Religious Correspondence
Soon after the Diamond Jubilee, the Imam orderedCourse - three volumes (Gujrati, 1948), Divine Gems
Abu Aly in Bombay to take over the charge of the(English and Kiswahili, 1955), Fuhari Ya Islam (Kiswahili,
Mission Centre as its Principal. He came to East Africa1956), Ismaili Dharmic Course (Gujrati, 1957), Christianity
in July, 1946 and was destined to attend the Diamondfrom its own Sources (English, 1961), Pork-Its Prohibition
Jubilee Celebration on August 10, 1946 inin Islam (English, 1961), Ghadir-i Khum (Gujrati, 1969), A
Dar-es-Salaam. According to the wish of the Imam,Brief History of Ismailism (English, 1974), etc.
the Mission Centre was opened on May 10, 1947 atHe is well versed in the literature of the ginans and
Dar-es-Salaam under the administration of the Ismailiasteeped in the Ismaili philosophy and history. The most
Association for Africa, Mombasa. Alijah A.G. Abdulsignificant feature of his waez delivery is that he
Hussain, the President of the Ismailia Provincial Council,provides the materials to the jamat in accordance with
Dar-es-Salaam, performed its inauguration ceremony.the demand of the time and is so lucid that the
This Mission Centre took the standing of a college,listeners remain attentive for many hours. Those who
producing several trained missionaries and religioushave heard him on a platform are aware of the
teachers.brilliance of his unmatched oratory.
*)He was the President of the Muslim Association forAfter spending almost 40 years in East Africa, he now
Tanganyika for 3 years (1950-1953). When Tanganyikalives in Vancouver, Canada. His mission, which he has
liberated on December 9, 1961, the Prime Ministerstarted at the age of eleven years, still continues. He
Rashidi Kawawa invited the Muslim ulema andalso spends time replying to his many
scholars to assist the government in including thewell-wishers’ letters.
Muslim law to the New Constitution of Tanganyika.Missionary Abu Aly believes that a man is never too
One of them was Abu Aly in Dar-es-Salaam, knownold to learn. It is good news to know that he obtained
as Shaykh Abualy A. Aziz. He also exhorted Islamichis doctorate degree of Ph.D. on April 30, 2001 from
education for two years (1962-63) in the course forthe Senior University International, Wyoming, U.S.A.
Adults Programme under the University ofafter studying for 29 months. His thesis, Miracles and
Dar-es-Salaam.Gnosis, described the life and work of Pir Satgur Nur in
The first Conference for reviewing the rites and200 pages.
ceremonies with the members of the ExecutiveIt is through his own effort that he rose from a very
Council for Africa was held on January 10, 1964 inhumble position in life to the summit of greatness.
Mombasa at Count Fateh Ali Dhalla’s residence.