Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - المسجد الأعظم بالكوفة

The heading in Arabic could be translated as - The Great masjid in Kufa. Yes one of the holiest shrines on shiite (followers of Ali Ibn Abi Talib) muslims is located in Kufa close to Najaf in Iraq.

This masjid hold a significant importance for the Shiite muslims, because it was the place where Ameer ul Mumineen (the commander of the faithfuls) was martyred on 19th of Ramadan. The masjid has been restored to its past glory after close to 1400 years of neglect. It is the fourth important masjid in Islam after Masjid ul Nabawi in Medina, Masjid ul Haraam in Mecca, and Masjid ul Aqsa in Jerusalem.

This was done by none other than The 52nd Da'i al-Mutlaq Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin saheb TUS. Here is a glimpse of how the masjid looked like before and after restoration:

Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - Before Restoration (1915)

Al Masjid Al Azam bil Kufa - After Restoration

As mentioned earlier Kufa masjid was the place where Moulana Ali Ibn Abi Talib was martyred by Ibn Muljim (a kharajiite) on 19th of Ramadan. This happened when Ali AS was prostrating for the Fajr (early morning) prayer. And this happened in the Mehrab (the place where the custodian of the masjid prays).

In this Mehrab Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin saheb TUS placed this grand decorated Mudawwara (round shaped). In Kufi script its written "Fuzzto wa rabbil Kaaba" which means – “I swear to Allah (the lord of Kaaba) that I've won.” These were the last words of Moulana Ali AS after he was attacked. 

Some special features:

• The mosque has been decorated with gold and silver and precious stones such as diamonds, rubies and in every corner of the mosque one will find Ya Ali written.
• The Qibla in which maula Ali Ibn Abi Talib was martyrd has been made with a gold zari. It is composed of gold, silver, rubies, diamonds.
• The whole interior of the Mosque has verses of the Quran surrounded in gold in Arabic calligraphy.
• In the section of the qibla there are tear shaped engravings in marble, bordered with gold and rubies.
• The whole mosque has marbles and tiles which have been brought from Greece. These tiles are also found at Kabatullah in Mecca. The special feature of these tiles is that it is cool in bright sunlight and in summers, especially in places with a dry climate like in Iraq.
• Special Rugs have been brought from Iran which are used inside the mosque.

Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah

Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah – a recently started initiative by the Spiritual leader of Dawoodi Bohras His Holiness Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin(TUS) and his mansoos Syedi wa Maulaya Aaliqadr Mufaddal bhaisaheb Saifuddin(TUS). It was month of Shawwal 1432 when Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah was started.  Infact the thali(tiffin) system was already running in Misr since many years and it was London where it was started in Rajab 1432.

Huzurala (TUS) had a deep concern that no single mumin should go to bed hungry and this is one of the reason for starting this unique service- Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah.

It is the service through which the members of the community gets the food cooked in the one common kitchen of the community. Each mumin should contribute some amount so to get the barakaat of the participation. It is not merely business transaction of buying and selling but it is to include all mumineen in the Barakaat of Aale Mohammad’s SA Maa’edat. Mumin should not think that the niyaz thali(tiffin) he is getting is because of the contribution he had made in it. His contribution is used to feed others, and what is he getting is the barakaat of his contribution. It is asked for the contribution from the mumin only because that mumin should also be getting the sawaab of feeding his mumin brothers & sisters. Rasulullah ^SA in his ahaadeeth shareefah had said: “There is no deed greater than feeding the hungry”.

There are many benefits of this Faiz. Mumineen residing in the foreign countries may not be able to distinguish the halaaland haram foods, they also may not be able to get halaal food easily; but due Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah every mumin will be getting halaal food. Not only this, but also hygienic food.

In the beginning when it was started many mumins were thinking that is it really possible to cook everyones food together that also daily. But see today almost in all the places where mumineens are residing this service has been started and inshallah each and every mumin would be taking barakaat from this faiz. Mumins would also be aware of the incidents(mojizas) in which people got cure by having this food.

Some of the main benefits of Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah:

Ø  Halaal food
Ø  Hygienic food
Ø  Shifa
Ø  Affordable to financially weak
Ø  …and lots more.

Many people of the other communities also appreciated this move. One of the print media wrote: “It is rare to find a common kitchen of two brothers of a family but Dawoodi Bohras are having a common kitchen for the whole community!”. Another one gave the name “Community Kitchen” to this service.

May each and every mumin takes the barakaat of Faiz al Mawaid al Burhaniyah. May Allah grants a long and healthy life to our spiritual father our maula Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin(TUS) and to his mansus Syedi wa Maulaya Aaliqadr Mufaddal bhaisaheb Saifuddin(TUS).

By:

Abde Syedna TUS

Aliasgar Saify (Pulgaon)

E. & O. E.