Sunday, 12th November 2017
Mira Road
Mira Road witnessed a milestone in its history this evening when the much awaited Community Welfare Centre was inaugurated by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) at the hands of Mr. Shahid Lateef, Chief Editor of Inquilab Urdu newspaper who dedicated the Centre to the citizens of Mira Road by cutting the ceremonial ribbon. The Centre comprises of AlShifa Charitable Consultant Polyclinic, Family Counselling Centre and Legal Guidance Centre.
After a melodious recitation of the Qur’an inspiring men to selfless social service, the Unit President of JIH Mira Road, Qazi Muhammad Ataul Haq spoke of the unit’s dream of establishing a comprehensive Islamic Centre and enumerated its numerous projects which include an AV auditorium, an Islamic library, a madrasa, a Widow Rehabilitation Centre, an Interest-free Credit Society and the freshly inaugurated projects.
Dr. Abdul Khaliq, President of Medical Service Society, Mira Road lamented that the ever-increasing cost of healthcare facilities is driving the community towards ill-equipped municipal and government hospitals or they are being forced to pay through their nose to seek the advice of specialist doctors in private hospitals and clinics. Hence, we are starting a branch of Al-Shifa Charitable Polyclinic where renowned consultant doctors of various specialities would treat patients at affordable fees. He explained that they have tied-up with certain diagnostic centres and hospitals to enhance the scope of services.
Advocate Shahood Anwar, Coordinator of APCR- Mumbai explained that when stuck with legal matters, members of the Muslim community are usually on the receiving end with hardly anyone to help them out of the legal quagmire. Soliciting expert legal advice is not within the capacity of the poor within the community. Hence, we are starting a fortnightly free Legal Guidance Centre where expert lawyers would fulfil their social responsibilities.
Mufti Hussain spoke of the escalating domestic and financial problems that have been plaguing the Muslim community since ages. Family disputes are rising drastically, and a lack of proper knowledge about Islamic guidelines pertaining to their solution, coupled with the absence of family elders in today’s nuclear families, is leading to an unprecedented rise in divorce and separation cases and fights over inheritance shares. Mrs. Salma Baig, a renowned family counselor cited various instances from the life of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ to stress upon the fact that this initiative is very much a part of deen. She explained that we are starting a free two-staged Family Counselling Centre where expert religious scholars experienced in this field would arbitrate between disputing family members and solve their matters in light of the balanced guidance offered by the Qur’an and the Sunnah.
Local MBMC Corporators, Mr. Zubair Inamdar and Mr. Ashraf Shaikh applauded the efforts of the Jamaat and offered all possible assistance from their side. The Nazim of JIH Mumbai, Muhammad Abdul Qadeer could not hold back his tears when he recounted the efforts that have gone into this project and extended his heartfelt gratitude to the countless people who have helped realize it.
The compere for the evening was Mr. Sharif Syed who ensured a smooth flow of events, while Mr. Baqar Ali extended the vote of thanks. Doctors, lawyers, religious scholars and notable personalities of Mira Road were seen in overwhelming numbers to witness an evening that would God-willing bring about a new morning in the lives of thousands of this Centre’s beneficiaries.
