GUYANESE from all walks of life, countrywide, were treated to some inspiring and enlightening lectures from one of the world’s renowned Muslim scholars, His Eminence Huzoor Maulana Zain ul Akhtab Siddiqi who recently visited Guyana.

Huzoor Zain Akhtab lived up to expectations with his oratorical skills when he engaged various audiences during his one-week programme. Not since the late Maulana Shamshuddin, the late Maulana Shah Ahmad Nooranie and the late Maulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (may God’s Mercy be on all of them) made visits here, spanning the middle and latter halves of the last century, did the visit of any other Muslim scholar to Guyana generate such hype as Maulana Zain.

UNITY
His visit to Guyana brought about the unity of all the Muslim organisations here. In fact, the entire Muslim community was mobilised for this historic visit and benefited from the packed programme.
Although the programme was coordinated through the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC) and the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman, it had the support of all the Muslim organisations in Guyana. The Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana (CIOG), the Guyana Islamic Trust (GIT) and the Anjuman Hifazatul Islam (HIFAZ) and Darul Uloom are the major organisations that lent support to the tour, while all the other Muslim organisations were also committed to the visit.
An eminent scholar in the ranks of Ulema, Huzoor Zain Saheb is the son of the eminent Mujadid-e-Maslaqe Ahle Sunnah of the 19th century, Hazrat Allama Maulana Muhammad Abdul Wahab Siddiqi (Alayhi Rahmah). He grew up in Blackburn, England and at a very young age he pursued intense studies in a number of different disciplines under the instruction of his eminent father.
He delivered his first public lecture at the age of three years. Huzoor Zain Saheb initiated the Hajveri School of Teaching and is also the founder of the Suyuti Institute of Learning. Huzoor Zain Saheb is now an accomplished solicitor with his own practice, and has appeared in higher courts as far as the European Court.
An expert in both Islamic and British Law, he has provided expert evidence on intricate areas of Islamic Law. Huzoor Zain Saheb is now recognised as an elite speaker and dynamic personality among the ranks of the Ulema. A unique thinker, his vivacious delivery has swayed several audiences on a global scale. He has travelled the globe on innumerable occasions during the course of the previous 20 years delivering his message in an eloquent manner.
He is fluent in seven different languages and has captivated diverse audiences of up to 20,000 people, with his unique deliberations.
At the main programme at the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex, Guyana’s leading Islamic centre, he inspired his audience which included Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Opposition Leader David Granger. Prime Minister Hinds lauded the Muslim community for coming together to host the tour of Maulana Zain, and expressed the hope that such unity can be emulated by the Guyanese community at all levels.
Meanwhile Granger, who is also Chairman of A Partnership for National Unity (APNU), in his remarks complimented the Muslim community for their historic coming together and thanked them for the great work being done to improve the welfare of the Guyanese nation.
Also speaking on the programme were Chairman of the Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana (IRO) Pandit Krishna Persaud, CIOG’s President Al Haj Fazeel Ferouz and President of the International Muslims Organisation of Toronto, Canada, Al Haj Omar Farouk.
The programme was interspersed with Quranic renditions by Qari Mustapha Kanaker and Qaseedas by Roy Razack, Mohamed Shahid, Reyad Razack, Ameer Ali and Sister Jameela Ali.
There was also a presentation by Shaykh Esa Alexander Henderson, a young convert to Islam, who is gaining fame worldwide with his scholarship. Twenty years old and born in England of English parentage, Shaykh Esa was an atheist but converted to Islam four years ago through Huzoor Zain Siddiqi. His knowledge of Islam is already at a scholarly level.
The visit of Huzoor Maulana Zain and Shaykh Esa Alexander was made possible through the International Muslims Organisation of Toronto, Canada (IMO), the largest Muslim Organisation in the Toronto area. The scholars of Islam were accompanied by a 25-member delegation from Canada, led by its President Al Haj Omar Farouk.
Addressing the main programme at ACIC, Al Haj Omar Farouk lauded the Islamic Complex for organising the tour. He was accompanied on the tour by IMO Directors Ameer Ali, Roy Razack and Mohamed Haniff. Al Haj Farouk pledged the continued support of IMO to the Guyanese community and not only Muslims.
Huzoor Zain made presentations to the Inter-Religious Organisation of Guyana (IRO) where he entertained questions from members of the organisation.
Programmes were also held at the Peter’s Hall Jama Masjid, East Bank Demerara, the University of Guyana Turkeyen Campus (in association with the UG Islamic Society (UGIS), Meten-Meer-Zorg West Masjid, West Coast Demerara, Central Jama Masjid in New Amsterdam, Berbice, the Windsor Forest East Masjid, WCD, and the Mon Repos Masjid, East Coast Demerara.
The scholars conducted the Juma (Friday) prayers at the Queenstown Masjid/MYO on Woolford Avenue; Darul Uloom in East Street, Georgetown; and Alexander Village Old Mosque. The scholars and delegation were also hosted to lunch/meetings by the CIOG, GIT and HIFAZ.
In the meantime, courtesy calls were made on President Donald Ramotar, Prime Minister Samuel Hinds, Leader of the Opposition David Granger, Minister of Culture, Youth & Sport Dr. Frank Anthony and Attorney General and Minister of Legal Affairs, Anil Nandlall.
The delegation also visited Wakenaam Island, Essequibo and the majestic Kaieteur Falls during the packed week of activities.
The programmes were staged under the theme: “Muhammad (SAS) is the way to Paradise” and there were large gatherings on each occasion. In addition, many overseas Guyanese Muslims took the opportunity to return home for the visit of the eminent scholar and delegation.
PRO of ACIC, TV Host Reyaz Hussein was the Master of Ceremonies for the ACIC Programme. Mention was also made of the contributions of Sisters Raheema Rahaman, Bibi Shanaz Khan, Farouk & B.A. Amin and family, Farzan Amin, Adam Amin, Oemar Ghafoer and Ibrahim Amin as well as the sisters group of ACIC led by Farida Gafoor.
Honorary membership to the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex was conferred on Directors of IMO, Roy Razack and Mohamed Haniff, oldest member of the delegation Al Haj Imdad Farouk and his wife Hajjin Bebi Nazmoon Farouk as well as Maulana Zain and Shaikh Esa.