“And it does not beseem the believers that they should go forth all together; why should not then a company from every party from among them go forth that they may apply themselves to obtain understanding in religion, and that they may warn their people when they come back to them that they may be cautious?”
(Surah Al-Anfal 9:122)
The year was 1985, when Hakim Ghulam Baqir(brother of Maulana Ghulam Askari taba sarah) bought 2000 sq.ft(35ft*57ft) of land with the aim of setting up an Imam-bargah, a madrasa, and a mosque to help people obtain an understanding of religion. Back then the land had only 4 Shia houses in the immediate neighborhood. The construction work was started under the financial aid of people from Barabanki district, and help from various Ulama. The residents of the place recall upon the devotion of hakim saying, “He was extremely devoted to the cause, many a time he used to donate whole of his salary for the construction work.” Hakim’s perseverance was backed by the then-residents of the locality. It would soon shape into Askari Nagar and become the most populous ghetto of the lovers of Ahlulbayt in the town of Barabanki within a couple of decades. They went to the villages of Syed-Wada (A cluster of villages of saadats) to raise funds for the building, one member recalls a day when a child of Alampur village offered an egg for the funds expressing his inability to help monetarily, It was this khuloos of momineen who contributed due to which the area of the institution quadrupled, as in upcoming years a plot of land of equal area to the west of the initial site was bought where the Allama Jawadi Hall and the madrasa were built later. Also, a 4000 sq. ft of land at the back of the madrasa was bought which is still vacant and comes in use mostly during Eid-e-qurbaan it also couples up as a site for occasional marriage ceremonies held at the place. In the initial phase of construction three small quarters two of which are currently on rent and one is used by the Maulana(( in charge of Namaz and madrasa) who resides there along with his family) were also built along with a small room serving as an office. After the sudden death of Hakim, a committee was set up to look after the affairs of the place. It selflessly served the institution with a number of Muntazims, Naibs, and a number of members until gradually it was suspended due to a number of differences arising and the members withdrew. Soon volunteers took over with the same devotion towards the place and the institution regained its former level of activeness.
The picture shows the office, the Imam-bargah, and the mosque built during the first phase of construction.
Mosque
Initially the mosque was in a 100 sq.ft(10ft*10ft) of area. This picture shows prayer during M Mah-e-Ramazan in the Mosque as it initially was.
However, later the mosque was expanded into what can be seen in this picture
Once again the mosque required an expansion to suffice the population around it, the expenses of this final reconstruction were borne partly by Allama Zeeshan Haider Jawadi, the picture below shows momineen-e-barabanki with Allama in the mosque.
Congregational prayers are performed in the mosque throughout the year. Moreover, during Ramazan-Kareem iftar is organized and aamals are done during Shab-e-Qadr.
Madrasa
The madrasa recognized by Tanzeemul-Makatib was first set up in Belahra house, then in the residence of Late Nazar Hasnain(Anand Nagar), and finally in Askari hall. The madrasa has produced state and all-India toppers in the annual examination of tanzeemul-makatib. The subjects covered during a 7-year course are Tilawat-e-Quran, Tajweed, Qawaid, Deeniyat, and Urdu (Dictation and recitation). Thousands of boys and girls have studied at the madrasa, some of which went on to pursue higher education in Tanzeemul-Makatib, Lucknow, and to Hauza-e-Ilmia, Qom, Iran. Currently, the madrasa is run in a compound of 2 rooms adjacent to Allama Jawadi hall. Felicitation ceremonies were held for a number of years for the students of the madrasa.
Imam-bargah
Initially, only Askari hall was built to serve as an imam-bargah. These pictures show the hall in its initial days
The picture below shows Allama Zeeshan Haider during a majlis at Askari Hall.
Majalis and Mahafil are organized throughout the year on wiladat and shahadat of
Masoomeens. Various mourning processions are taken out throughout the year. Here is a
picture of one of those.
Apart from this Majalis are organized each and every day during Ayyam-e-aza, most of
which are addressed by learned Ulama from all over the country.
As an expansion of Imambargah Allama Jawadi hall was built on 19th September 2001(1st Rajab 1422) , which was initiated by Allama Zeeshan Haider Jawadi.
The picture below shows the meeting between Muntazim-e-aala of that time Janab Maqbool Hasan with Allama Zeeshan Haider
The picture shows the residents of the area behind the madrasa(right window)
This one was taken in front of Allama Jawadi hall.
Recent works
1) Mosque
a) Renovation and prevention against dampness of walls.
b) Paintwork.
c) Installation of coolers.
d) New wiring.
e) New almirahs.
f) New Minarets were built.
g) Safety wall to guard against any thefts in the future was built over the mosque.
h) Construction of aluminum-based doors to prevent the entry of animals into the mosque.
2) Imambargah-
a) Repair of flooring and wall borders.
b) Repair of Shah-nasheen with tiles.
c) Separate inverter installation.
d) New wiring since the old one had become unsafe.
e) Renovation and prevention against dampness of walls.
f) Replacement of gate.
g) Re-structuring of Anjuman-e-Ghulam-e-Askari.
h) Construction of new storage room at the corner of Allama Jawadi hall.
i) Regular majalis are now organised during ayyam e aza. Since past few years, majalis ashra-e-oola for Barabanki city start from this Imambargah.
3) Madrasa-
a) New chairs have been installed.
b) New cupboards are being built for the classrooms.
4) Miscellaneous
a) Leveling and maintenance of the ground.
b) Re-installation of loudspeakers after a theft.
c) Installation of water cooler for the whole of the locality by a momin.
d) Renovation and construction of new rooms for any Aalim coming for a short period to stay. Here are some pictures
Income
1. Monthly contributions from members: the number of members contributing on a monthly basis are much less than what it once was. Due to this, the contributions have gone down.
2. Occasional marriage ceremonies.
Expenses
1. Ever-Increasing Electricity Bill.
2. Maintenance of the campus.
3. Salaries of Aalims of the madrasa.
4. Construction and renovation work going on.
Need of the hour
1. Deen aur Hum classes had been organized for a couple of years on the campus during Mah-e-Ramazan. There have been no such classes in recent years, so the classes need to be revived.
2. The Mosque has a capacity of 130 and it turns out to be insufficient during eid prayers. The Mosque needs expansion and restructuring.
3. The Mosque being on top is unbearably warm during the peaks of summer, there is a plan to install Air conditioners in it but a lack of funds proves to be a major obstacle.
4. The madrasa needs serious restructuring and renovating and most importantly modernizing.
5. An equal amount of land is vacant at the back of the madrasa. The land equals the existing structure in terms of the area so it can be potentially used for a number of religious projects.
6. A projector can come in handy in a number of ways, during the classes proposed, for the madrasa and for streaming of majalis to ladies.
8. Regular classes for youth and ladies need to be organized.
9. Help from various sources is required to combat the paucity of funds.
The only source of inspiration for us in this world can be our Masoomeen and their lives. They inspire us to support each and every good and revolt against each and every evil with all our might. Institutions like this are a source of Sawaab-e-Jaariya for all its contributors because no one knows who repents in that mosque or who sheds tears during majalis over the grief of Mohammad(p.b.u.h) and his sons, or who gets acquainted with the teachings of Islam in that madrasa.
Contact-
Ali Zaheer Zaidi
09839653311
zaidizaheer0786@gmail.com
PS- Based on suggestions and input received the blog is being edited quite frequently, also number of photographs will be increased, because undoubtedly they are the major attraction, so keep looking.
ILTEMAS-E-DUA.
