Share memories of members of your family who you have lost during the Coronavirus pandemic, either due to Covid-19 or any other cause. Please write to Malik Merchant at Simerg@aol.com; you must include your full name and contact information. Please read earlier tributes in Issue # 1.
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Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“Surely we belong to God and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
Huzurmukhi Madatali Merali Jamal
(Canada)
Submitted by Shahida Mamdani-Sunderji, daughter of Madatali Jamal
Huzurmukhi Madatali Merali Jamal (April 30, 1930 – April 13, 2020), husband of Dilshad Jamal for 66 years, father of Shahida Mamdani-Sunderji and Amin Jamal, father-in-law of Begum Jamal, and grandfather of Shelina, Shairoz, Rahim and Aminmohamed, passed away in Ottawa during the spring of 2020, just over two weeks short of his 90th birthday. He was surrounded by his family in volunteers uniform at his funeral.
For the past several years, Mr. Jamal had dedicated his service to the Ottawa Jamat, at both the old and new Jamatkhana locations on Carling Avenue and Conroy Road, respectively. For years he lovingly tendered the Jamatkhana garden on 991 Carling Avenue. In the evenings, Mr. Jamal would present himself regularly as a volunteer at both the Jamatkhanas. His record of Jamatkhana attendance and services as volunteer was impeccable. He was accompanied and supported in his service and Jamatkhana attendance by his loving wife of 66 years, Dislshad. He served the Ottawa Jamat enthusiastically until the very last months of his life, when dementia took over.
Born and raised in Kakumiro, Uganda, he and his family settled in Scotland in October 1972 following the expulsion of Asians from Uganda, decreed by dictator Idi Amin. Huzurmukhi Jamal held positions of Mukhisaheb and Kamdiasaheb during his years in Uganda and Scotland. In 1985, he migrated with his family to Ottawa.
His dedication to the house of Imamat inspired his children to serve in numerous positions in the Jamat. His son Amin and wife Begum served as the Kamadia and Kamadiani of Ottawa Jamat for 4 years, which included the Golden Jubilee period of Mawlana Hazar Imam’s Imamat from July 11, 2007 until December 13, 2008. This service of his children filled Mr. Jamal with immense joy and happiness.
He was very fond of Ginanic literature, and instilled the wonderful tradition in his children. His daughter Shahida recites Ginans in Ottawa Jamatkhana regularly. Ambitious for his family, Mr. Jamal always asked them to take on life’s challenges and meet them with courage, hard work and wisdom.
He is deeply missed by all his family members in Canada and around the world, as well as his friends and the entire Ottawa Jamat.
We pray that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Ameen.
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Huzur Mukhiani Razia Jamal
(United Kingdom)
Submitted by Navrose Chappell, daughter of Razia Jamal
Razia Jamal, born in Kampala, Uganda, in 1947, passed away peacefully in hospital on Sunday, May 3, 2020 with her three children by her side, her family including her much loved grandchildren, brothers and sisters holding her hand virtually, whilst her favourite Zikr tasbih played in the room.
Before she passed away, she spoke with all of her family, received Chanta (sprinkling of water on face), and the Stoke-on-Trent Mukhisaheb bestowed Dua upon her and the family via a conference call.
Razia served Stoke-on-Trent Jamati Institutions for over 40 years. She held the position of Jamati Kamadia Saheba for six years and supported her late husband Huzur Mukhisaheb Shiraz Jamal as he undertook the role of Jamati Mukhisaheb.
She was a dedicated volunteer who also undertook the role of Vice Captain and Captain at Stoke-on-Trent Jamatkhana during her service. Razia was an integral part of the Team in securing a permanent building for Stoke-on-Trent Jamatkhana which was founded in 2000.
As the Central Property Management (CPM) Lead for Stoke-on-Trent Jamatkhana for 14 years, Razia was also the first female CPM Lead in Europe.
Since her passing, the family have received many touching tributes conveying how much of an inspiration she was regarding her voluntary work, remarking on her wonderful services, writing how she was a real example of how voluntary service (seva) should be conducted, describing her as a legend, and commenting on her immense dedication to Stoke-on-Trent Jamatkhana.
Razia was a strong, classy, beautiful, thoughtful and humble lady, who loved her children, grandchildren and family immensely.
She will be fondly remembered by all of her family, friends, Stoke-on-Trent Jamati members, and all the other Ismaili brothers and sisters who she has worked with during her lifetime of seva.
Razia will be deeply missed every day, and we pray for her soul to rest in eternal peace. Ameen.
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Alijah Saheba Zubeda Ebrahim Jamal (Canada)
Submitted by Shariffa Keshavjee, friend and colleague of Zubeda Jamal
Alijah Saheba Zubeda Ebrahim Jamal’s funeral took place at Burnaby Lake Jamatkhana, in Burnaby, British Columbia, on August 6, 2020. Originally from Kisumu Kenya, she settled in Vancouver, and attended the Darkhana Jamatkhana.
Zubeda and I became friends as she encouraged me to take an active role in the Guiding Movement. In 1959, when I was in Kisumu, Zubeda was a Commissioner of the Girl Guides. I led the Brownies from the Siriguru Singh Saba School. We took the Brownies and Girl Guides camping.
I am grateful to Zubeda for her encouragement because it led me to serve as a girl guide to date. I remain a Trustee with the Kenya Girl Guides Association and an Honorary Associate with the World Association.
Rest in peace dear Zubeda. Ameen.
Date posted: August 12, 2020.
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Zubeda was an aunt of mine, as also of Shariffa Keshavjee who has written the tribute to her, our common ancestor being Jamal Pradhan, Zubeda and my father’s grandfather and mine and Shariffa’s great grandfather, the lines being through Ebrahim Jamal (Zubeda’s side), Valli Jamal (my side) and Hasham Jamal (Shariffa’s side).
These three + brother Ahmed were pioneers to East Africa, Hasham Jamal coming in 1900, my grandfather Valli Jamal in 1903 at age 15 and Ebrahim and Ahmed at the start of the 1910s decade. Hasham Jamal and Valli Jamal had come to East Africa as agents of Sheth Allidina Visram and my grandfather actually sailed with the Sheth from Kisumu to Entebbe within three months of his arrival in Kisumu and then onwards by foot to Kampala. He was sent by Sheth to Wadelai and Congo and the quest was ivory.
Within a decade as with other Sheth’s agents the two branched out on their own as a family partnership. The Kisumu Jamals were life-long heads of the Jamat and we see Zubeda followed the lead in Kisumu as well as Canada and was bestowed the title of Alijah. All our siblings were friends with Zubeda in our annual vacations spent in Kisumu in Ebrahim chacha’s home.
May Allah grant her the choicest place in Zana al Firdoush.
Vali Ismail Valli Jamal
(writing from Kampala Uganda)
P.S. It is noticeable that all three marhums in the post had the Jamal surname!