ASSALAMO ALAIKUM WARAHMATULLAHE WABARKATOHU ALL MEMONS,
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Here is a general awareness and knowledge question for you to share your knowledge and awareness about our own community.
Today, Memons are scattered throughout India but majority of them live in the port city of Karachi in Pakistan, with significant communities in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Mauritius, Singapore, Australia and Burma. In Karachi today there is a community of Memon people from Bantva and their descendants known as Bantva Memons. Also another prominent category is Halari Memon who works under the banner of Halari Memon General Jama'at. Halari Memon is a group of several subcategories and are also the follower of Hanfi Muslim. Memons are known for their involvement in business and philanthropy, with Memons having played a major part in the building of Pakistani industry, an increasing number of Memons are turning to professional occupations. Memons had also taken active participation in Freedom Fight Movement of India.
This is a bit of information available from search engine about our community. Now please bring some sort of depth knowledge about the community.
Here is a general awareness and knowledge question for you to share your knowledge and awareness about our own community.
Please comment on this question and also spread awareness about this blog among all Memons.
JAZAK'ALLAH KHAIR.
very little, only of our local Jamaths/Organizations
ReplyDeleteExplore the world and know your own community. Please invite more and Memons to share their knowledge about community and exchange with others..
ReplyDeleteMy humble request to all MEMONS
ReplyDelete"Please speak in MEMONI language" with your family members and all Memon friends. Do learn and speak as many languages as you can but don't neglect your sweet mother tongue.
JazakAllah M.Anis Hara bha for your valuable suggestion. We all should practice speaking "Paanji Boli" at home and with all community members.
ReplyDeleteToday, Memons are scattered throughout India but majority of them live in the port city of Karachi in Pakistan, with significant communities in the United Kingdom, Canada, USA, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Tanzania, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Malawi, Kenya, Mauritius, Singapore, Australia and Burma. In Karachi today there is a community of Memon people from Bantva and their descendants known as Bantva Memons. Also another prominent category is Halari Memon who works under the banner of Halari Memon General Jama'at. Halari Memon is a group of several subcategories and are also the follower of Hanfi Muslim. Memons are known for their involvement in business and philanthropy, with Memons having played a major part in the building of Pakistani industry, an increasing number of Memons are turning to professional occupations. Memons had also taken active participation in Freedom Fight Movement of India.
ReplyDeleteA Brief Memon History
ReplyDeleteThe origin of the Memons as a community dates back to a period in history listed as 824 AH when some 700 Hindu families, representing some 6178 people belonging to the old and famous Lohana community of Sindh, accepted Islam.
In adopting the Islamic faith, the new adherents accepted a new form of dress and style of living that differed substantially from their fore bearers. But certain customs and elements of unity remained an inherited tradition throughout their lives and it is on account of this that they were and are easily distinguishable from other Muslim communities.
In narrating the history of the Memons and their religious and cultural life of that time, what is sincerely intended is the attempt to highlight the unity and the great struggle for identity and subsequent triumph in spite of the forces of evil. Their achievements provide a source of inspiration to succeeding generations.
The Arabs ruled Sindh for almost 300 years and in that time the brotherhood, culture, morality and spiritualism of Islam produced a profound effect on the people of the region. It came as no surprise when 700 families of the Lohana community, settled at Thatta, accepted Islam under the auspicious hands of Pir Yusuffuddin Saheb (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) and followed the Hanafi path.
Pir Yusuffuddin Saheb was a saint of a high order, coming from the sainthood dynasty of the world renowned Hazrat Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani of Baghdad (May the mercy of Allah be upon him). It was after a revelation descended on him at Holy tomb of Sayed Abdul Razzak Tajudin Saheb (May the mercy of Allah be upon him) that Pir Yusuffuddin came to Sindh to preach Islam.
It was Pir Yusuffuddin who originated the term Momin that was to later become the designation of a million followers of Islam. Impressed by the strength and character as well as the determination, courage and dedication of the new adherents to Islam had called them Momins and appointed Adam (Sunderji) as their leader and guide.
Pir Saheb then gave Adam a set of clothes-a long shirt, trouser, a waistcoat, a jacket and a turban-clearly identifying the new leader and his flock. In so doing Pir Saheb introduced the dress form that was to become a tradition for centuries.
We quote Pir Yusuffuddin's address to Adam and his flock (as recorded for posterity):
"Dear Brethrens, from today onwards you are Muslims, you have one Allah, one Prophet, one Holy Book (Qur'an) and you are all brothers. Believe in Allah; follow His Path and act according to the orders given in the Qur'an. You will be honored in religion as well as in the world and you and your off springs will prosper for a long time".
When the people of Sindh saw the spread of Islam, they severed all their social, economic and religious ties with the new adherents of Islam. The new wave of opposition led Adam and his people to Pir Saheb for his wise counsel and guidance saying; "As we have accepted Islam, our people are displeased with us. They have broken all social contacts and have ceased all transactions with a view to make us revert to our old faith. What shall we do now? We are prepared to follow your advice."
ReplyDeletePir Saheb replied:
"I advise you to migrate from here so that you can easily perform your duties to Islam after reaching another place. Our Great Prophet (May the blessings and mercy of Allah be upon him) once before advised Muslims to migrate during the early years of Islam. You, too, should now, likewise, go to another place."
(b) A question arises. It is natural to ask how is it that Muslims were compelled to migrate from Sindh when the Islamic Government of Kabul ruled the region?
History and research would indicate that while it is correct to say that Sindh was ruled by the Government of Kabul, Islamic conquerors were never wholly involved in the spread of religion and, during their rule, there was freedom of religion. The work of promoting Islam was left to the preachers and saints like Pir Yusuffuddin. During this period the Province of Sindh and, in particular, the city of Thatta, had several saints and men of religion.
When Pir Saheb ordered Adam and his people to migrate, between a 100 and 150 families of Momins (Memons) left the city of Thatta to settle on the banks of a nearby river, the Varaya.
However, peace was never fully realized by the Memon community in spite of having left their homes in their original settlements in Sindh. Between 859 AH and 866 AH when Jam Sanjar ruled Sindh, chaos and disorder followed a weak government in control. In the border areas between Southern Sindh and Gujarat, the powerful Baloochis spread havoc by raiding and looting caravans plying trade. As a result, movement between Sindh and Gujarat was halted and the Memons (who were mainly in business) found life intolerable and were forced to migrate again this time from Varaya. With their livelihood threatened and uncertainty about the future, the Memons split and small groups ventured out in different directions - an event in history that subsequently divided one big Memon community into different factions.
One group, under the leadership of Ladha, migrated to the State of Halar in Kathiawar and became known as the Halari Memons. Another group proceeded towards Karachi, a port of Sindh, and they became known as Sindhi Memons. A third group, made up of fifty young men, proceeded towards Punjab and settled in Lahore. The Cutchi Memons, on the other hand, migrated to Bhuj, the Capital of Cutch. They originally settled there under the leadership of Kaneya Seth, the son of Markun Seth who assumed the Islamic name of Rukunuddin. Markun Seth was the son of Adam Seth, the first leader of the Memon Community (appointed by Pir Yusuffuddin). When the Memons migrated in different directions from Varaya, those left behind followed Kaneya Seth to Cutch.
The migration and movement of the Memons from their original home in Nagar Thatta in Sindh caused stress and severe hardship, forcing families to fight starvation and, for most, it was a virtual hand-to-mouth survival.
ReplyDeleteThroughout these trying times they were stead fast in their faith and pursued the principles of Islam with a great sense of devotion and dedication. The great bond that was established in such circumstances, united families, made sharing a priority of the time and, more important, made them realize the importance of oneness.
These simple people who put their trust and faith in Allah and never once wavered through out the long, arduous struggle to survive, were handsomely rewarded-Allah eventually took mercy and showered them with His generosity and an abundance of fortune.
For the believers in the power of Allah, the true testing time had come and gone and, after 400 years of wandering and search of a true permanent home, the Memons had finally set roots. Their arrival in different parts of India heralded a new beginning, a life of plentiful and an abundance of fortunes as the business acumen of these Islamic migrants set the stage for continuing success and prosperity.
Memons played a prominent role in the Indian Freedom struggle against British rule and occupation both physically and financially. By the close of the 19th Century when the struggle assumed noteworthy proportions, a number of Memons courted imprisonment and wealthy members of the community made large-scale donations. Such notables were the Late Umer Sobani and Sir Adam gee Hajee Dawood who spontaneously associated themselves and their families with Mrs. Annie Besant's Home Rule League that spearheaded the freedom struggle. They joined the movement from its inception and gave liberally towards its expenses.
ReplyDeleteDuring the War years the Memons amassed considerable wealth and this was invested in a systematic importation of valuable goods, shares in new industries and landed property but financial disasters overtook the Memons as well as other major investors after the War had ended. Prices dropped dramatically and traders suffered heavy losses. There was a chain reaction new industries in India, which prospered on account of the shortage and high prices of foreign goods during the war years, were forced to shut down. Industrial shares, which dropped dramatically, found no takes and, added to this, the price of landed properties fell to add to the woes of the business sector.
This was the age of depression and the collapse of the Indian commercial empire sent shock waves through the nation, as bankruptcy became the order of the day. However, most Memons, in order to maintain credit in the commercial sector, struggled along to meet their commitments and liabilities by resorting to extreme measures.
These measures included the sale of all their properties and other assets as well as the traditional gold and precious ornaments of their womenfolk.
ReplyDeleteOne result of this action to overcome the financial depression of the time was the continuance of the Memon tradition in commerce while others panicked and opted out, the Memons, in spite of the heavy losses sustained, endured the depressive years and continued to trade.
But the chance to recoup and regain their prestige was, however, blunted by yet another disaster with the post-war fall in the exchange value of the rupee. On account of this the Indian merchant had to pay twice the original amount for imported goods. As the Memons were heavily involved in the importation of goods, they suffered heavy losses.
Just as it seemed the commercial sector of India was set to recover, other losses seemed inevitable on account of the momentum gained by the combined efforts of the Khilafat Movement, the Non-co-operation Movement of India and the Swadeshi Movement.
Launch of the powerful Swadeshi Movement, there was a nation-wide spontaneity for the boycott of British manufactured goods. Within a short time, British goods, valued at millions of crores of rupees, piled up in godowns (warehouses). Nobody volunteered when the goods were offered for sale well below cost and eventually, following pressure by the Indian boycotters, it all went up in smoke.
It must be recorded here that the Memons represented a substantial group involved in the importation of British manufactured goods and needed little encouragement to associate themselves with the founders of the Swadeshi Movement.
The many factors that contributed to the financially depressive years drove many Memons in another direction in search of financial rewards. This time they invested heavily in landed properties which Offered Low Returns But Seemed Moreover Secure. In effect some dramatic changes were undergone the comforts of life were curtailed to counter the changing situation of limited income and high expenditure that highlighted the period.
As in earlier times, confronted as they were with numerous difficulties, the Memon spirit of adventure never ceased. The political upheavals, the changing social patterns, the call of the professions and occupations, all combined to encourage Memon movement and settlement throughout India and the rest of the world. Wherever they went and settled, the Memons left lasting impressions with their mosques, welfare and educational institutions, hospitals and musafarkhanas that emerged through Jamat's (community based organizations) that were constituted every where.
The Memon Community is basically a peace loving business community. Memons are by nature generous, kind-hearted and charitable people. Not only do they support their less fortunate jamati and community members by monthly maintenance allowances, scholarships and other necessities but also help humanity at large by establishing hospitals, maternity homes, orphanages, schools, colleges, industrial homes and other humanitarian activities, whose benefits are traditionally open for all person without distinction of caste, color or creed. All large nation-wide funds start with the donations of Memons and generally they are among the topmost donors.
Whenever the Memons have settled they first built a mosque and madrassa, and if in considerable numbers, also established a Jamat. Many mosques built by Memons have become outstanding architectural landmarks of their particular cities. Such mosques include Zakaria Masjid of Calcutta, Minara Masjid of Bombay. New Memon Masjid of Karachi and Bitul Muqarram Masjid of Dacca. Memons have also built large mosques in the countries spread from Japan to South Africa. The Jama Masjid of Durban built by the Memons, is the largest mosque in the Southern Hemisphere.
Great knowledge shared by Imranbha. JazakAllah. Please visit the blog regularly and you can also post anything you want to post.
ReplyDeleteSalaams, Imran Bha has shared great info on The origin of the Memons as a community from 824 AH when some 700 Hindu families, representing some 6178 people belonging to the old and famous Lohana community of Sindh, accepted Islam.
ReplyDeleteWhat is confirmed is that The Memon community's origin is Sindh, but Islam to this area dates back even earlier than the 711 conquest of Sindh by Muhammad bin Qasim, therefore the Memon's Islamic history is not confined to this one incident of the Lohana Tribe, but rather 4 different stages of Islamic History of the Memon's is recorede.
1. Muslim Traders who settled in this area
2.The Muslim Conquest
3.Mass conversion to Islam including a few tribes e.g. Lohana
4. Islam being accepted as a why of life for it's moral teachings.
I have made an extensive historical analysis of all the above and have documented references to show how Memons:
1. Arab Origin
2.Arab Interaction
3.Sindh origin
4.Migration of Memons
5.Contribution which I will share Insah Allah
Thank you Shazmina Aapa & Yunoos Bhai
ReplyDeleteI met a taxi driver who told me about Memons but I didn't know what it was. I told him my friend was from malawi and he told me to ask my friend what they are. I asked my friend and he said all memons are bastards, and then tried to set me up with a memon bride. What's the truth about memons?
ReplyDelete