A different Eid Milad for Cutchi Memons in the city

Usually, Eid Milad celebrations at the Cutchi Memon Jammath Khana on Kamraj road are fun affairs that have seen comedians and qawwals perform. But this time around, a sombreness hangs in the air. This is the first Eid Milad event happening in three years and the organisers choose to facilitate Covid Warriors from the Jammat.

On the dias, Farook Mahmud recounts all the horrors of the pandemic as a video of the tireless work of the Covid Warriors plays on the screens and also lists their contributions, he says “Nearly 2.2 million meals were fed across the city. We set up a helpline and vaccines and PPE kits were distributed for free for those in need.”

Among the people being felicitated are: Arham, Faraz, Ibrahim Akram, Ismail Latif Sait, Irfan Razak, Suhael, Tanveer and Umar who were handed a bouquet and trophy for their efforts. They worked on the field helping people find hospital beds, with funerals irrespective of community and distributing food to the needy. “At a time where most people were afraid for their lives, these people not only risked their lives but their families to help the most vulnerable. No one asked them to but it was the will of Allah that they carried out,” Mr Mahmud adds.

A special token of Rs 1 lakh was given to Ismail Latif Sait for his role in organising funerals while being the most at risk. Ibrahim Akram, of Beijing Bites, said “As Allah says, saving one life is the equivalent of Saving the whole of humanity. He gave us the strength to fearlessly risk our lives and do what we must.” Next up on the dias was Irfan Razak, of the Prestige group, recounted a tale while thanking the Covid Warriors for risking their lives with a passion. He spoke of Merchant in Baghdad who went to a Sufi shop with jars, “Seeing the beautiful jars he was surprised and asked what they were. The Sufi replied ‘These are jars of faith, hope, love, compassion.’

The merchant wanted to buy a few, but was just presented with a small box and was quite surprised. To which the Sufi replied, ‘Here at this shop we don’t sell fruits, we sell seeds and it is up to you to sow them.’ In the same manner it is up to sow the seeds of faith, hope, love and compassion.”

Finally, Hashim Musa, the secretary of the Jammat, gave the vote of thanks stressing on the importance of staying united in the face of adversity.