Local Muslim organisations have announced that world renowned Muslim scholar Huzoor Maulana Zain ul Akhtab Siddiqi will arrive in Guyana on February 20 for a packed programme set for February 20-25 countrywide.
Siddiqi will be accompanied by Shaykh Esa Alexander Henderson and a large delegation of sponsors from the International Muslim Organisation of Toronto (IMO) Canada led by President Al Hah Omar Farouk. The IMO is the largest Muslim organisation in the Toronto area, a press release said.
Locally, the visit was coordinated by the Anna Catherina Islamic Complex (ACIC), the Guyana United Sadr Islamic Anjuman and with the full support of all the Sunni Muslims organisations in Guyana. Representatives from Muslim organisations from Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Holland and the USA are also expected to attend. The delegation arrives on February 20 and the opening programme is set for the Peter’s Hall Jama Masjid, East Bank Demerara.
On February 21, the scholars will conduct Jama (Friday) prayers at the Queenstown Masjid/MYO on Woolford Avenue, Darul Uloom in East Street, Georgetown and the Alexander Village Old Mosque. The same day, the Central Jama Masjid in New Amsterdam will host a programme with the scholars at 6.30 pm.
On February 23, the Anjuman Hifazatul Islam and the Windsor Forest East Masjid will host the delegation at 6.30 pm, while the main programme will be held at the ACIC on February 24 at 1.30 pm.
On February 25, the University of Guyana Islamic Society will host a programme on the Turkeyen Campus at 11.30 am and the final programme will be held at the Mon Repos Masjid, ECD at 6.30 pm. The delegations will also be hosted at meetings by the Central Islamic Organisation of Guyana as well as the Inter Religious Organisation. The scholars are also expected to pay courtesy calls on government functionaries, the opposition leader and members of the diplomatic corps. The programmes will be staged under the theme ‘Muhammad (SAS) is the way to Paradise’.
An eminent scholar in the ranks of Ulema, Siddiqi (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 was raised in Blackburn, England and from an early age initiated intense studies in several different distinctions under the instruction of his father. “He delivered his first public lecture at the age of 3 years” and initiated the Hajveri School of teaching. He is also the founder of the Suyuti Institute of Learning, the release said.
An accomplished solicitor with his own practice, the release said that Siddiqi is “an expert in both Islamic and British Law” who has provided evidence on intricate areas of Islamic Law. “Huzoor Zain Saheb is now recognised as an elite speaker and dynamic personality amongst the ranks of the Ulema,” the press release said. He is fluent in seven different languages and has enthralled diverse audiences of up to 20,000 people, it added. Siddiqi has also lectured for many years on a broad range of matters, especially on complex areas concerning Aq-aaid (belief) spirituality and intricate areas of the law.
Twenty-year-old Henderson is “a young convert to Islam, who is gaining great fame worldwide with his presentations. Born in England of “English parentage” Henderson was an atheist who converted to Islam four years ago under Siddiqi’s guidance. “His knowledge of Islam is equivalent to a scholarly level already,” the release said, adding that he is currently studying Micro Medicine at a university of England.
