Suggestions for Sadaqah

“My mercy encompasses all things, but I will specify it for the righteous who give Zakat” (7:156).

Let us try to give generously in Ramadan, both sadaqah (optional charity) and zakat al-mal (obligatory charity). During Ramadan the reward is so much greater. Here are couple of recommendations for sadaqah (donation) for the family members:

1.Begum Bazar Family Graveyard.Committe
The graveyard where our loved ones are burried needs donation for the maintenance  There is no permanent source of income, other than the charity from the family members. Please contact Mr. K.M. Halim, Chairman and Permanent Motawalli at  (8801) 9023-4777 or send donation to the committees following bank account :
Islami Bank Bangladesh Ltd. Islampur Branch, Account No.4983-1.  http://www.nawabbari.com/main_committees.html?string=committees2.html

2. Salimullah Orphanage, Azimpur Dhaka 

http://www.nawabbari.com/main.html?string=smo.html 

3. Helpline Charitable Foundation (estd March 2006): 26/2  Nawab Bari, Dhaka 100Helpline is a non profit organization run by the DNF family members donation. The organization has the follwing objectives:

A.     Monthly basis help for the less fortunate family members: Under this program HFC have been extending support to about 25 members of our family for their education and 18fembers of family who are old, handicapped and sick.

B.    HFC Rehabilitation & Development Scheme: This program funds family members to start small business and change their plight.

C.    Special emergency help on case by case basis (e.g. Cancer treatment and medical help).need.

Couple of contact names out of 28 major donors and collectors are listed below:

Dhaka Bangladesh: 1.K Manzar Nadeem, 2.xx, 3.Khwaja Khawer Hassan , 4.Azra Salim, 5.Rafi Omar, 6.Sunny Ahsanullah, 7.Salma Begum, 8.Najmul Hassan, 9.K.M.. Halim, 10.K Zeeshan Quader, 11.xx, 12.K.M.Ahmer, 13.Beenu Apa and 14.K. Saberuddin, 15.xx, 16.Khwaja Tanveer Arzoo, 17.xxx , 18. Mrs. Qamar Bano, 19. Shima Baji, 20.Shahjahan Siraj (Jewel), 21. Beenu Apa, 22. K.M.Mohsen, 23.Md Giasuddin, 24.Khwaja Abdullah, 25.Sayema Mami/K.M.Nadim Zarrar, 26. Nasreen Begum, 27. K.M.Zarrar, 28.K.M.Aziz, 29. Khwaja Khawer Waseem 30.Syed Zaki Hossain

Manchester UK:Shafi Ali (0161 736 1996) ,

NY USA: S.K. Yawer Hassan (718 699 1620), Shahriar Kamal (Bappi) (718 815 0183)

Dubai UAE: Khwaja Zakeruddin (00971 42 540271).

Toronto, Canada: Nawaz Quader Khwaja (905 507 4930)

4.Nawab Bari Primary Health Care  (estd Aug 2007) A free treatment centre for the Nawabbarians .Other services and activities include free Arabic lessons for the poor, blood donation and providing temporary space for the dead body.  Please contact Mr. K.M. Hanif (Nanna Bhai) President of Nawabbari Prathomik Chikithshaloy for donation at #0088-02-7391328(Res), 0088-01713015065 (Mob).

Birth Announcement: Nehan

Mrs. Nahin Nurani Chowdhury [daughter of Late Khwaja Masood Nasarullah] and Naveed Jan Chowdhury asks for doa from all the people of Nawabbari for they have been blessed by a son, Nehan Masood Chowdhury, born on the 23rd of August at Enfield London.
 
Let us pray that the child would grow up as a good and successful human being. Ameen.

Family Eid Milan in Karachi

This is a reminder to request members of the family to kindly make it convenient to attend the Annual Family Get-together by joining us at the Family EID MILAN  in Karachi, God willing, on the First Day after Eid-ul-Fitr, which is likely to be, on or about 4th or 5th October 2008. The news may kindly be conveyed, by word of mouth, to members of the Family living in Karachi, and around the world. This should help those living abroad and planning to visit Karachi to make their traveling plans accordingly.

     

The venue will be E/8 – 1, 4th Gizri Street, Phase IV, Defence Housing Authority – same venue as in earlier years, through the kind courtesy of Aliya and Nabil Tebawi and by kind permission of Murad and Baneen Mashooqullah, who live there.

    

Members of the Family wishing to attend are requested to contribute Rs.300/- per couple, i.e. Rs.150/- per head. All CHILDREN, above twelve years, as well as those, irrespective of age, who are dependent on their parents, Rs.100/- per head. It would be appreciated if those wishing to attend, register the number of persons attending, with Khawaja Arshad (584-1835 or 0300-224-3436), at the latest, by Sunday 21st September 2008. Those who wish may also inform Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin by telephone (92-21)567-4639 or  0300-292-1903 or sayeed@cyber.net.pk 

 

Please be kind enough to make a note of the dates mentioned above, and remember to make your registration without waiting to be contacted by Khwaja Arshad who, and members of his family, have had the sad experience, in the past, to keep telephoning and reminding one person after another, to register. Please do not forget that the caterer has to be given the number of guests expected well in advance.

 

It will be appreciated that the amount of contribution has been kept as low as possible to make it convenient for a large number of persons to attend and make the occasion a success. This has been possible, in the past, due to the kindness and generosity of a few members who helped with donations to enable us to meet the total expenses.

 

Therefore, those wishing to support this cause – whatever is conveniently possible – may kindly send their contributions to Khwaja Arshad, or let him know the amount they would like to contribute on the day of the function.

 

We sincerely hope that every effort will be made by members of the family to make this Annual Family Get-together a great success.

 

More Muslims Arrive in U.S., After 9/11 Dip

NY Times September 10, 2006

By ANDREA ELLIOTT

 

…..The events of Sept. 11 transformed life for Muslims in the United States, and the flow of immigrants from countries like Egypt, Pakistan and Morocco thinned sharply.

 

But five years later, as the United States wrestles with questions of terrorism, civil liberties and immigration control, Muslims appear to be moving here again in surprising numbers, according to statistics collected by the Department of Homeland Security and the Census Bureau. …..

 

To some longtime immigrants, the life embraced by newcomers will never compare to the peaceful era that came before. “They haven’t seen the America pre-9/11,” said Khwaja Mizan Hassan, 42, who left Bangladesh 30 years ago. He rose to become the president of Jamaica Muslim Center, a mosque in Queens, and has a comfortable job with the New York City Department of Probation.

 

Read the interesting article:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/10/nyregion/10muslims.html?pagewanted=print

Sariya Mashooque is a Canadian Teacher

 I would like to share this good news with rest of the family that my eldest daughter Sariya Mashooque has successfully completed her B.Ed course in June 2008 and officially became a bilingual teacher in Canada. Last year she had completed her B.A. (Hons) in french emersion course. Now she is a bilingual teacher and teaching in a Toronto school.     

 

In order to celebrate the achievement last month we organized a party inviting all the family members. The party was held at HOST- an Indian/Pak cuisine in Mississauga, ON.    

 

Attached here is a picture from the party. From right to left- my son, my wife, Sariya, Sara my youngest daughter and me. Standing in the front two kids are guests (daughter of Dr.Dilshad and daughter of Uttol). 

Mashook Khawja ,Toronto

Toi Ka Kurta, Zari Ka Topi

A Ramadan Special Feature by Anas Khwaja

Dhaka Nawab family’s rich tradition is 250 years old. This distinct culture encompasses every aspect of day to day life from religious customs to food and clothes.

 

“Toi Ka Kaam “or embroidery design is part of this unique culture. It is the art of decorating fabric with another layer of designed cut clothes through stitching using a needle. The design varies from geometric and floral to astronomical patterns.

 

This embroidery design is primarily done on Kurta and not limited to Shalwar, Sari or even bed sheets. “Toi Ka Kaam” is popular among all ages and genders. The intensity of the design work can be extensive to light.

 

“Zari Ka Topi” is circular in shape. The cap (topi) is made of string wrapped with Zari (Kalawatoon). The color is mostly dual tone. The body is sprinkled with geometric, floral or astronomical patterns.

 

Both ‘Toi ka Kaam’ and ‘Zari Ka Topi’ are signature styles of Dhaka Nawab family and represent artistic taste.

 

History:

Covering one’s head with a Topi is the sunnah and until mid-twentieth century men in Nawabbari were rarely seen without a topi of some sort.

 

In absence of any written document it is difficult to find the Zari ka Topi’s introduction date to the family. Probably this precedes the date of the photographs from the late nineteenth century where family members including Nawab Ahsanullah is seen wearing the Topi.

 

Through my interviews, I found Jamila Begum (daughter of K.M.Alamgir great grand daughter of Syed Kotwal Fayezuddin) to be one of the pioneer’s weavers of the Zari Ka Topi. Later on she taught her brother Syed Abdul Shafi how to braid topi. Syed Abdul Shafi passed on this trade to her two daughters Syeda Nurunnesa (B) Begum & Syeda Khursidunnesa (Nunni) Begum.

 

Another lady from the family, Ferdousi Begum acknowledged picking up this art from the sister duo.

 

According to Khawja Ashhad Belal grandson of Late Ishrat Bano, she had learned weaving and other crafts from a “Mame” (Lady of English origin), who was hired by her father. All those crafts were Ishrat Begum’s hobby.

 

Unlike Zari ka Topi, Toi Ka Kaam was probably an idea of the twentieth century. There are many women in the family who have mastered this art and still practice them as a hobby and business.

 

Conclusion: Only three elderly ladies in the entire family now know the art of making topi. They are aging and on the verge of loosing eyesight. It is high time for the new generation to learn this trade.

 

Moulvi Andullah Welfare Trust (MAWT) or any other NGO should step forward and arrange a workshop to pass on this knowledge to the new hands. Family members can revive the trend by ordering topi which costs approximately 600 Taka. These topis make a wonderful gift as well. I urge all family members to rescue this unique culture from extinction.

 

Topi Designers:

Syed Abdul Shafi (late)

Syeda Khursidunnesa (Nunni) Begum daughter of Syed Shafi and wife of Syed Khwaja Mashook Hussain Shahbazi.

680 Bagh E Shahbaz 1st Floor(Gabtola Bara Maghbazar  Dhaka, Bangladesh

Tel (8802) 934-7305

 

Syeda Nurunnesa (B) Begum daughter of Syed Shafi and wife of Khwaja Iqbaluddin.

26 Fcc Road Mahuttuli Police Fari, Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Cell 01191433632 (c/o K.Wajji)

 

Ferdousi Begum daughter of Khwaja Shamsul Huq & wife of K.M.Mahmood

40/5 Ahsanullah Road, 6^th Floor  Dhaka

Cell 01552633106 (c/o K.Anas s/o K Sadruddin)

 

Ishrat Bano (late) daughter of K.M.Masrur and wife of K.M.Ashraf

Mansur Castle, 40 Ahsanullah Road, Nawabbbari Dhaka. 

Toi Ka Kaam Designers:

Naiyar Begum d/o K.M.Naser & Huri Begum 35/1 Ahsanullah Road, Nawabbari Dhaka

Phone: 7391060 Sajeda Begum d/o Barkat Ahmed & w/o Khwaja Naveed Phone:

Hasmat Begum d/o of Syed Abdul Bari and Masarrat Bano and wife of K.M.Alamgir

Address 12, Islampur, Dhaka-1100 Phone: 01924496992 Qamar Jahan Begum wife of K.Kaiser Huq, Address 18, Shahzada Mia Lane Dhaka, Phone: 01914879822

Fazilat Bano d/o K.M.Ashraf & Ishrat Bano Adress: 19 Ahsanullah road, Nawabbari. Dhaka Phone: 7391328 Zafar Bano d/o K.M.Ashraf & Ishrat Bano Adress: 8/14 block-A Lalmatia, Dhaka Phone: 8126009 Fatema Tanvir d/o Fazilat Bano Adress: Sultanabad Housing. Purana Paltan, Dhaka Phone: 9553344 Moneyma Shahid (Muuni) d/o Fazilat Bano Adress: Uttara, Sector no- 5, house no-12. Dhaka Phone: 8933112  Runa Amin daughter of Zafar Bano Adress: Nawabbari, Dhaka Phone: 7395252

Ramadan 08 in Nawab Bari

Moulvi Abdullah Welfare Trust (MAWT) in collaboration with Songsod arranged iftari hawkers in the Talab Kinar. It is a month long temporary arrangement where hawkers are paying 200 taka -500 taka depending on the size of the stall. This innovative idea will bring some extra cash in MAWT’s coffer.

 

Photo Courtesy: Mohammed Talha

 

Academic Achievements

From UMBEREEN RAHMAN in Dubai (U. A. E.)
UMAIR, our younger son, born on 19th November 1991, appeared for his O’ level exams from DUBAI GEM PVT.SCHOOL, where he has been studying since KG1.

By the grace and mercy of the Lord Almighty, and the hard work he put, he has achieved outstanding results. He secured 7A’s with stars and 2 A’s, altogether 9 A’s in 9 subjects.

From the results that we got through the website, it appears very likely that he has topped in his school. We are now looking forward to the re-opening of  schools on 1st September, after the holidays, when we hope to know, for certain, the position he has attained.

From NAHEED AHMAD in Karachi

We are happy to announce that both our sons, NAADIR and TAYMUR, completed their final A level and O level examinations, respectively.

Taymur obtained 8 A’s and 2 B’s in his O level examination.
Naadir finished school this year getting A’s in all the five subjects he sat for in the A level examination.

We are delighted with their results and pray that Allah bless them in all their future endeavours.

 
DNF Mgmt:
If your child, brother, sister or any other relative has:
1.  achieved outstanding results in any major exam i.e the O or A level exams,  SSC or HSC/High School, exams, BBA, MS, MBA, MPA, Phd, ACCA, CA, CPA, CFA, USMLE, MCAT exams;

2. received a scholarship (Fulbright, Rhodes);

3. has been accepted to a top-tier university i.e. Ivy League schools, Oxbridge;

4. or has been offered a job i.e. at a big multinational firm (i.e. Mckinsey), investment bank (i.e. Goldman Sachs) or international institution (i.e United Nations, USAID, CIDA)

please share it with us and with the world, don’t just keep it to yourselves and your drawing room…

September Family Newsletter is now available online

August Dhaka Nawab Family Newsletter along with all the archived versions since December 2005 is now available online. To read the September 2008 DNF Newsletter, click on the FAMILY NEWSLETTER button from the menu bar on the top or click the link below: http://www.nawabbari.com/main_news.html 

 

Due to space limit we cannot fit articles with more than 100 words in the GupShup section. Please email them Dhaka Nawab Family Newsletter editor Khwaja Sayeed Shahabuddin at sayeed@cyber.net.pk or sayeed425@gmail.com .

 Also please be kind enough to print out the Newsletter for the elderly if he/she is not very comfortable with digital world and misses the paper version.  

Ramadan Mubarak

As the crescent moon is sighted…

And the holy month of Ramadan begins…

May Allah bless you with happiness

And grace your home with warmth & peace. 

Muhammad Fanas, a Lebanese Musaharati, wakes observant Muslims for their overnight “suhur” meal before the day’s Ramadan fast in Sidon’s Old City. Photograph: Mahmoud Zayat

 

 As-Salaamu-Alaikoom-Wa-Rahmatullaah. Ramadhan Mubarak.”May Allaah Ta’Alaa grant you and your family the “tawfique” to earn maximum benefit from this Ramadhan, keep all of you in good health and ease the burden of life in these difficult times.” (A’ameen)

Dr Parvez Ahmed