How we started.
The history of Al Momin Foundation formerly known as the Jamia Mosque Railway Landhies and Islamia Primary School Association is very intimately linked with the history of the building of the railway line in East Africa. The formation of the Association came about in the later years of the nineteenth century when the British invited Asians from what is now Pakistan and India to assist in creating an access route to Lake Victoria by rail from Mombasa. Our forefathers, the Muslim section of the Asian migrants, realizing the need for social welfare and Islamic religious education for their children, formed into a group in those pioneering days.
Initial Progress of Mosque
They established mosques and religious schools (madrassa) as the railway progressed into the interior and eventually made Nairobi a Centre for their charitable activities. Due to their foresight, un remitting hard work, so ably carried on with equal fervor by their children, the present day generation, this Association takes pride in having one of the largest mosques in Nairobi, Kenya, on Pumwani Road, with an Islamia Primary School attached, which gives education to all Kenyans, predominantly those of African origin. In 1899, when the railway line reached Nairobi, two mosques were erected, near the Railway Station in the Muthurwa area, due to the initiative and zeal of the late Mistry Maula Bakhsh of the Chief Mechanical Engineer’s Department, and many others, who were always in the fore front of these undertakings.
The late Hon. Shamsud Din and Khan Bahadur were, amongst others, who received instruction in religion in this school. Due to financial problems, this madrassa was closed in 1927, but it was revived by the late Mr. Ibrahim Idda in 1932. The advent of the World War II brought an end to this school but due to the untiring efforts of the late Mr. Mulla Ismail the madrassa got a new life again in 1946.In 1952, the Government of Kenya granted to this Association title deeds for the erection of a mosque, a school and staff quarters at the present site, the plot having been finally allocated for this purpose by the City Council earlier in August 1951. Construction of the School building and staff quarters which commenced in April 1956 was completed by 1957. The opening ceremony of the school was performed by H. H. Prince Karim Aga Khan.
Due to lack of funds and other technicalities, the Construction of the present Landhies Mosque could not commence earlier than the last Friday of Ramadhan in 1960, when the ground breaking ceremony was done by the few surviving founders of the Association.
Plans for this project were prepared by Mr. Abdus Sattar. Quite a number of Railways Muslim Staff gave their services to this project free of charge. Without their zeal and assistance, this mosque could not indeed have been built.
The Association continued to play a pivotal role in the spread of Islam through its Tableegh activities. In 1967 the association distributed pamphlets in Kiswahili explaining the salient points of Islam, it also organized commentary of Hadith and Quran by various scholars regularly since 1971, and various other functions and events in the mosque that were attended by Muslims from across the Eat African Region.
In 1973, Our founding Father His Excellency Mzee Jomo Kenyatta officially opened the Kahawa Garisson Mosque built by the Association through the generous contributions from the Muslim Community to be used by Muslim Personnel Serving in the Kenya Army.
In 1978 the Association organized the first ever Quran Competition in Kenya which attracted participants from various madrassas and Mosques around the country.
The Association also financed the construction of two classes within the Makuyu Mosque to be used by the local children for Madrassa. The construction of mosques in various parts of the country has continued to date and is being undertaken as part of the associations desire to propagate the Religion of Islam throughout the Country and provide centers where Muslims from all walks of life can come and learn more about Islam.
Office Bearers
Br. M. Idris Khalid
Chairman
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.
CONTACTS :
Tel: 2729394 / 0733607219
E-mail: Idris@gmail.com
Br. Someone
Vice Chairman
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.
CONTACTS :
Tel: (0) 2721678
E-mail: someone@gmail.com
Br. Munib Chaudry
Secretary
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.
CONTACTS :
Tel: (0) 2721678
E-mail: munib.chaudry@gmail.com
Br. Abdul Rauf Chaudry
Treasurer
Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts. Far far away, behind the word mountains, far from the countries Vokalia and Consonantia, there live the blind texts.