Regarding the religious activities of Sheikh Abdillahi Nasser, Gholam Hossein Mokhtar said, “He was very active and dedicated himself to serving the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.). He was an all-encompassing role model, and in terms of personality, he was humble and had a pure motivation to serve.”
On the occasion of the demise of the divine scholar, the preacher of the teachings of the Quran and AhlulBayt (a.s.) in East Africa, and Kenyan member of the General Assembly of the AhlulBayt (a.s.) World Assembly, Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir Juma, a commemoration was held online and in person on Tuesday, January 18, 2022, from 19:00 Tehran time at conference Hall of AhlulBayt (a.s.).
In the ceremony, on the moral characteristics of Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir, Gholam Hossein Mokhtar stated, “The late Hojat al-Islam Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir was a man of God and an influential scholar who played an important and prominent role in East Africa and the entire Islamic world.”
“His fluency in Swahili, English, and Arabic had equipped him with an eloquence and expression that appealed to any listener. Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir was my teacher, friend, and guide. We had a close relationship, especially in propagation activities,” he continued.
“Some of his lectures have been on the description of true Shiism and Wilayah, as well as on some topics such as Salman Rushdie,” the religious expert continued.
“He was very active and devoted himself to serving the school of AhlulBayt (a.s.). He was an all-encompassing role model. In terms of personality, he was humble and had a pure motivation to serve. He was a good listener and always ready to help spread Islam everywhere. To this end, he traveled extensively, leaving behind a treasure of books and lectures, both visual and audio. I have been able to accompany him personally on some trips, such as a trip to South Africa,” he said on the religious activities of Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir.
“When he came to visit us in Arusha, I took him to visit some villages. In his opinion, there was a lot of work in these villages to spread the true message of Islam. He wanted to continue this constructive journey with me. Every time I was with him, I benefited from his views, conversations, and wisdom,” Gholam Hossein Mokhtar added.
“Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir has a sense of humor,” he added, “When I was with him, I never felt tired. I remember meeting him a lot in Mombasa. At the last meeting, he said, ‘I am getting older day by day, but I am still trying to finish translating the whole Quran into Swahili’.”
“He said, ‘My desire is to inspire others to serve in the way of truth’. Today I can say that he inspired many around him. I remember inviting him to give a public talk on the Me’raj program in Arusha. I can still feel the influence of his words in my heart, which was because of his honesty,” the religious expert stated.
“I participated in many programs of Sheikh Abdillahi Nasir. At a meeting in Mombasa, where he invited many African scholars and leaders, his amazing advice and encouraging and supportive remarks gave all participants insight and encouraged them to continue the path they have chosen. In Mombasa, he had a close relationship with the late Sheikh Hassan Malupa and Soheil JanMohammad at the Matuga School,” he emphasized.
“He was my inspiration, and he still is. He advised me about the importance of heartfelt communication with people to accept the message of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). When I started building the Masai school in Itmoudia in the Mandoli region, he was a pioneer in building the school, and he was one of the founders. Whenever we invited the Sheikh to Arusha, one of his constructive duties he assigned for himself, was to spread the teachings of the AhlulBayt (a.s.). He also played an important role in establishing the Ansar al-Imamiya Mosque in Arusha,” Gholam Hossein Mokhtar said, regarding the influence of Sheikh Abdillahi Nassir on him.
“I cannot describe the character, sacrifice and hard work of this great man in the development of Shia in East Africa. All I can say is that he is an integral part of our history,” he said in the end.
The Ahl al-Bayt World Assembly is an international non-governmental organization (INGO) that was established by a group of Shiite elites under the supervision of the great Islamic authority of the Shiites in 1990 to identify, organize, educate and support the followers of Ahl al-Bayt.