Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un
“Surely we belong to God and to Him we return” — Holy Qur’an, 2:156
“Life is a great and noble calling, not a mean and grovelling thing to be shuffled through as best as we can but a lofty and exalted destiny” — Mawlana Sultan Mahomed Shah, His Highness the Aga Khan III (1877-1957), 48th Imam of the Shia Imami Ismaili Muslims.
UPDATE, JANUARY 19, 2024: I am grieved to learn — and inform readers — of the passing of Late Salim Harji’s son, Rahim, earlier today in Calgary at the age of 41 after a brief illness. We offer our prayers that his soul may rest in eternal peace. Ameen. We also offer prayers for the courage and fortitude of his mother, Shirin, and sister, Farah, to face this immense loss that takes place only six months after the demise of Salim.
Rahim’s funeral ceremonies will be held at noon on Thursday, January 25, at Calgary’s Westwinds Jamatakhana, followed by samar and zyarat (special prayers for the soul) the same evening at the Jamatkhana.
The following is the original tribute honouring Salim Harji shortly after he passed in Calgary on July 13, 2023, at the age of 70.
JULY 18, 2023: Just over 2 weeks ago, Salim and his wife Shirin had invited me to their place like they had done a number of times since my arrival in Calgary in 2022. My simple gift to them on that day was a booklet of Eid stamps that was released by Canada Post in May of this year.
Then, on Tuesday, July 11, 2023, on the auspicious occasion of Mawlana Hazar Imam His Highness the Aga Khan’s 66th Imamat Day anniversary, I was on my way to Headquarters Jamatkhana. It was around 7:15 pm. As I took the exit, just 500 metres from the Jamatkhana, I found myself unable to change lanes due to a traffic jam on McKnight Blvd. I had two lanes to cross and I did not take the chance. I hoped for a U-turn further away but I did not see one, and I drove to Westwinds Jamatkhana instead, ten minutes away.
After the lengthy Jamathana ceremony, that included a beautiful and inspiring Talika (written letter) of blessings from Mawlana Hazar Imam, along with new appointments to Ismaili Institutions across Canada, I saw Salim waving his hands to me through a large crowd in the Jamatkhana’s social hall, from about 7 metres. There, with his lovely wife Shirin, who had earlier recited the traditional Ginan Amar Te Ayo — it is recited whenever new appointments related to Jamatkhana officials are made — I finished my hot cup of chai. We talked about going to Kananaskis this week (week of July 17). Shirin mentioned she would prepare a picnic basket for the outing. But the trip was not to be. Forty-eight hours later, on Thursday night, July 13, Shirin called me: “I’ve very bad news. Salim just passed away”. I was speechless and in utter shock.
I owe it to the traffic jam, which forced me to drive to Westwinds Jamatkhana and meet him for the last time on Imamat Day. Apparently, he passed away inside the Jamatkhana with the paramedics unable to revive him. Earlier, that fateful evening, he had opened the Jamatkhana! He passed away serving the Imam-of-the-Time and his spiritual children, and just before his body was taken away, the key of the Jamatkhana was retrieved from his volunteer’s blazer.
Salim was a devout murid of Mawlana Hazar Imam and an exceptional volunteer. Over the last few days, since his death, the family has been receiving phone calls from around the world — even from individuals the family never met or knew — expressing their condolences; and many have mentioned how Salim had helped them out during his lifetime — hidden service that was not even known to his closest family members.
Shirin and her children are coping with the tragic death well. She is a woman of strength, courage and faith — she regularly attends Jamatkhana in the morning and evening. Her support for her husband over the years has been remarkable. I have watched their relationship since I was a young boy of 15; it blossomed into a happy marriage that lasted for more than 40 years! For the past couple of days, I have witnessed nothing but love between members of the family who have travelled from across Canada and abroad. The two children, Rahim and Farah, and their families have provided tremendous support to their mum.
Born on August 3, 1952, in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania (then Tanganyika), Salim completed his education at the Aga Khan School before proceeding to London, England in 1971/2, where he got married to Shirin. They migrated to Canada. While Shirin pursued her career in accounting, Salim went on to open a very successful business in printing. They raised two children, Rahim and Farah.
Salim was a jovial individual. He loved life. We called him Elvis in Dar es Salaam. In Calgary, he was known as “Stan the Man”. He participated and gave his support to Ismaili institutions as a volunteer in numerous capacities. He was also a Scout leader. He was passionate about serving and also, if my memory serves me right, helped in building award winning floats that represented the Ismaili Muslim community in the iconic world renowned annual Stampede Parade.
Predeceased by his parents Mr. Jadavji Harji and Mrs. Remti Harji and his older brother Amin, Salim leaves behind his wife Shirin and two grown-up children Rahim and Farah as well as his siblings Firoz, Shiraz, Shemim, Shanaz, Nasreen and Aziz and their families. His entire family and the thousands of friends he made throughout his life will deeply miss his joyful presence. They will be inspired by the wonderful memories of friendship and his genuine concern for everyone he knew.
For me personally, Salim and Shirin have offered me the best support I would wish for during my recent settlement in Calgary. Their home has always been open to me. My daughter Nurin recollects our stay at their home some 16 years ago during our holiday in Alberta, when the couple and their daughter Farah looked after us so well, and Farah treated her like her younger sister.
Salim and I were not yet teenagers when our parents, in a hat-drawn lottery process, were offered ownership to their respective apartments in a newly built Ismaili Housing Society, the Islamabad Flats, on Cameron Road (later changed to United Nations Road.) That was way back in 1963. Our friendship never faltered and we have loved each other for 60 years.
As is customary during any funeral, members of the community are asked to forgive any mistakes committed by the deceased person during his or her lifetime. I went through our friendship and could not recall one instance in his friendship with me when he made a mistake. As a cricketer, he dismissed me a few times but that was because of his superior bowling and my mistakes while batting! He never ever hurt me.
His funeral in Calgary on Monday, July 17, 2023, at the Westwinds Jamatkhana was attended by many hundreds including members of the local Ismaili leadership, the Ismaili scouts and volunteers. The burial took place at the Rocky View Garden of Peace Cemetery. The temporary plaque on his grave adorned with rose stems and the sweet and sacred smell of agharbati (incense sticks) read:
“Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim. In Loving Memory of Salim Harji “Stan the Man”, August 3, 1952 — July 13, 2023. Innalilahi Wa Inna Ilahi Rajiun.”
Indeed, Salim’s beautiful soul has returned to its original abode — in the presence of Allah’s Noor (Light). May his soul rest in eternal peace, Ameen. And may his family have the courage and fortitude to face this immense loss. They are all in our thoughts and prayers.
Date posted: July 18, 2023.
Last updated: January 19, 2024 (announcement of the passing of Rahim Salim Harji)
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