“Inna Lillahe Wa Inna Ilayhi Rajeoon”
“To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return”
(Surah Al Baqarah – 2:156)
Marhum Haji Mulla Hassan Aliredha Nathani (April 1947- June 2022)
With great grief, we received the news of the demise of Marhum Haji Mulla Hassan Aliredha Nathani on 4th June 2022 in Dubai.
Who was Marhum Hassan Nathani?
Marhum Hassan Nathani was born in 1947 in Zanzibar. His parents were Mulla Ali Redha Nathani and Mulyani Zahra Nathani, both of whom served the Khoja community for decades before they passed away. Marhum spent his childhood in Zanzibar and moved to Dar-es-Salaam after the African revolution (1970s). After living a few years in Dar-es-Salaam, he eventually moved to Dubai in 1976 and settled there for good.
Marhum Hassan’s dedication to Community Service
Marhum Hassan was sincerely dedicated to Azadari and serving the community. The dedication that started at a young age grew in strength over the years, and he was constantly involved in community service in one way or another.
During his brief years in Dar-es-Salaam, Marhum was one of the founding members of the Ithna-Asheri Union Volunteer Corps (IUVC) in 1971-72. Community members who knew him would describe him as someone who would always be the last to sit down to eat niyaz after ensuring that everyone else had eaten or someone who would serve in the Sabil at Imambargah until the end of the program.
After moving to Dubai, Marhum stepped up into many roles of service as and when the need arose. He was a frequent visitor to the shrines of Ahlul Bayt (as) and was also a Zakir. He started to organise Majalis to commemorate specific events from the lives of Ahlul Bayt (as) that were previously not acknowledged within the community. He was also accredited for preparing and transporting the replicas (shabi) of the shrines of Ahlul Bayt (as) for putting up at the Imambarghas, which would enhance the experience of Azadari for the community members.
Marhum Hassan was a role model for the youth. He not only encouraged them to be of service to the Ahlul Bayt (as) in whichever way they could but also guided them by example. Marhum was very well known for organising Majalis, preparing and serving at Sabeel during the Aayam-e-Aza in Muharram, organising Niyaz, Du’a recitations, Shabe Dari and many other programs. Following a major surgery in 2001, when the doctors had given up hope of his recovery, Allah (swt) blessed him with time and even during his prolonged illness, he continued to be available to anyone who needed him and helped in whatever capacity he could.
Marhum’s service to the community was not tied down by boundaries. He was the first point of contact when someone passed away, and this was not limited to just the East African community. He would take over the legal process to help facilitate the funeral arrangements for the deceased to provide some relief to the bereaved family. However, when it came to his own circumstances, he prioritised the grief of Ahlul Bayt (as) above his personal suffering. When his beloved wife passed away on the day of Aashura in 2009, he announced that he would not receive condolences until the following night and requested the community members not to attend the funeral but instead remain in the Imambargha for the Majalis of Imam Husain (as). His love for the Ahlul Bayt (as) was embodied deep within his soul and consistently reflected in his actions.
Marhum had a burning passion of serving as a Khadim – a servant – to Allah (swt), Ahlul Bayt (as) and our community in every possible way and strove to fulfil the needs of the poor and needy, irrespective of their nationalities. He was a people’s person and a pillar for many communities, not just the East African ones, who relied on him deeply. The vacancy that his loss has left within the community will be irreplaceable, and he will always be remembered as the sincere, ever-ready, true servant of Allah (swt) and the Ahlul Bayt (as).
The Khoja News team offers our deepest condolences to the Family of Marhum Haji Mulla Hassan Aliredha Nathani, The KSIMC of Dubai and our community members, especially in Dubai and East Africa. We pray to Allah (swt) to grant the Marhum maghferat and elevate his position in Jannah, Ameen.
We request our readers to remember the Marhum with a Surah Al Fateha