My first re-collection of Marhum Hashim Bhai Hassan Okera was in my teens. Arrived at the Zainabiya Islamic Centre, in Marsta, Sweden, were two brothers: Marhum Hashim Bhai and his brother Nazarali Bhai. These two brothers, of Somali origin, who didn’t speak a word of Swedish then, only a few years later became Office Bearers of the Jamaat, entrepreneurs, enrolled at universities, teachers of Madressa and even prominent local politicians in the Green party. The multilingual muballigh par excellence, Marhum Hashim Bhai, was truly a unique individual. He could speak to the Ulemaa in all various languages (Urdu, Farsi and Arabic), lead the mu’mineen in eloquent adiya and Amaal, and spoke to young and old in splendid Gujarati, Kutchi and Kiswahili – and even to the native Swedes in his newly found lingo ‘Svenska’.
I am certain the same rendering as above can be said for the Mu’mineen in Toronto, Nairobi and Mogadishu. Wherever Marhum Hashim Bhai settled, there was a presence of Ahlulbayt (as) centric tableegh, merged with an international sophistication, yet a homely Khoja scintilla that never went unnoticed. Wherever Marhum Hashim Bhai was, social service and helping out in crisis was a continuous trait of his. When refugees arrived in a country, Marhum Hashim bhai was there. Where books needed translating and publishing to propagate Islam, Marhum was pushing. At times of guiding inquisitive Christians and those of no faith towards the mosque, Marhum Hashim Bhai was ever ready to give a guided tour. A question: Could there be a country, city or jamaat where this globetrotter muballigh didn’t make a lasting impression? I cannot believe there is!
Today the Khoja, Shia and many Muslim communities mourn and stand in shock as this international muballigh who has left this temporal abode.
On behalf of the World Federation, its Office Bearers, the Regional members and mu’mineen in many Jamaats around the world whom Marhum Hashim Bhai Hassan Okera touched – we send collectively our sincere condolences to his children: Siddika Bai, Raihanna Bai, Muhammad Bhai and Khadija Bai; his brother Nazarali and indeed his wife Nuri Nisa Bai and all family and relatives. Al Fateha
Arifali Hirji
Secretary General
The World Federation of KSIMC
26th Mar 2021
