Sri Lanka Moor Family Genealogy

Al-Alim Naina-Marikar Khaleefathul Khadiry - Family #16    

Yehiya Muhammad Naina-Marikar (known as YM Naina-Marikar and more affectionately as “YM”) was born on November 18, 1883. He was the third issue of Muhammad Yehiya, son of Alim Naina-Marikar Khaleefathul Khadiri, whose lineage is traced back to the early Arab settlers at Beruwela. He died on April 9, 1952.

Alim Naina-Marikar Khaleefathul Khadiry was a well known Alim who was highly respected for his Islamic knowledge and deep devotion. He held the exalted position of Chief of the Khadiriya Order in Ceylon up to his death.

YM Naina-Marikar married Muhsina Abdul Majeed, the second daughter of AR Abdul Majeed who was the eldest son of the Hon MC Abdul Rahman, Member of the Legislative Council, the first Muslim to be appointed a Legislative Councillor for the entire Muslims of Ceylon. He held this position until his death.

Muhsina was an aristocratic lady of noble parentage. A great-grand daughter of Qutub As-Sheikh Yahya Moulana Al-Yemani Al-Abasi Nasab Wa Siddiqui Hasab of Matara. Her motherly love for her children and others was par excellence. Her deep devotion to her husband often kept her sedately occupied with her pots and pans in order to turn out an unctuous and palate-soothing dish that would satiate his tired nerves. Devoid of any vanity she was frugal and possessed a fullness of heart to serve others. She did not mess up her home with China ornaments and female frivolities. She maintained a reasonably decent abode with its bare necessities only and abhorred a vainglorious life, being a righteous and pious lady. She spared her husband all those vexatious cares which exhaust a mans mind. In her company he found the cosy spot where body and soul are relaxed, where criticism becomes praise, and blame a caress. Her untimely demise, at the early age of 48, in 1944 caused a deep gap in his life. He missed her much when he needed her the most. Yet, he bore the calamity as expected of a true believer and adapted himself admirably to the changed circumstance, to live a further 8 years and 13 days. Many were the proposals that were offered to him for a second marriage, yet, he opted to remain single until his end. When he was ailing seriously he used to call out her name in the hope that she may hear him and respond to his overtures but had to resign to the fact that she was not there anymore knowing that she was gone.

During the early years of their life, YM Naina-Marikar and his brother, Yousoof, lost their father and came under the care and guidance of of a close relative named Minna Marikar Lebbe Marikar who had no issue. They were defrauded, in their young years, of the sweet food of academic education and had to be content with whatever they could achieve within the circumstances that they were faced with. Thus, they were absorbed into the business of Minna Marikar who traded in laces and embroidery of local make. When Minna Marikar became ill and decrepit the two brothers became the custodian of the small business and after his death they ventured out into a business of their own which later became one of the most famous of Moor businesses titled Zitan Stores. It was established at No. 228, Main Street, Pettah.

Yousoof suffered a road accident, being knocked down by a cyclist, and suffered a leg injury which incapacitated and restricted the free use of his right leg. He retired from active business and handed over the entire management of Zitan Stores to his brother YM Naina-Marikar. The business thrived and elevated YM to a very high social status amongst the Muslim community in Ceylon. Profiteering of an unscrupulous nature or taking advantage of a dearth of utility articles and goods in the market was not his way of life. He toiled from 8 am until 10 pm on a daily basis in carrying out his business successfully and fruitfully. He was a very strict disciplinarian and set a valuable example to his colleagues and employees. He was looked upon as a fair and just businessman and the popular name of Zitan Stores reached new heights amongst the communities in Ceylon.

He purchased premises 251, 253 at Main Street, Colombo in the Pettah and expanded his business importing a large variety of goods. His uncanny sense of sizing the market demands was unprecedented and un-parallelled.The ruling rates for his merchandise remained and advertisement throughout his business career. His was, indeed, a service purely motivated to serve the nation, primarily, and through this honorable objective he succeeded in earning the plaudits and praise of every customer he dealt with. He was, primarily, a Wholesaler and secondarily an accredited retailer.

YM was a very philanthropic and kind gentleman who spared no pains in alleviating the hardship and suffering of his community enjoying distinction and honor amongst the people. He was the only Muslim to be marked out for recognition on the occasion of the Coronation of King George VI, for his philanthropy and public spiritedness, as a Justice of Peace, Western Province.

The General Secretary of the Central YMCA, referring to Mr Naina Marikar’s investiture, said,

your appointment has given satisfaction to all those who know you, as you have proved yourself as one of the leading public-spirited citizens of Colombo. All those, like you, who prize the interest of the public above their own, are surely the salt of this earth.

The first Muslim Civil Servant in Ceylon, Mr AMA Azeez, commented,

His career is an inspiration and a warning, particularly to those young Muslims who think that by virtue of the years they have spent in a secondary English School and by virtue of the little and imperfect English education thay have acquired, a business career does not suit their dignity or their achievements We should be proud of Mr Naina Marikar, especially at this time when the Muslim community is gradually losing its pre-eminent place in the commercial and trading world of Ceylon. His career reminds one that the days of business giants are not over for the Muslims of Ceylon.”

Our lives are not worth living if we do not make it worthwhile for others to live, were the watchwords of Mr Naina Marikar’s life. Succinctly summed as a ‘simple, sincere man, unspoiled by riches’, by the first elected Mayor of Colombo, the late Sir Ratnajothi Saravanamuttu, he will ever be an example and inspiration not only to his community but also to the general public, who know too well the many acts of charity he has bestowed.”

Ceylon in Coronation Year May 1937, has this to say:

As a philanthropist, Mr Naina Marikar has won pride of place among people of all classes in this country. He has the rare knack of being generous, and, by setting an excellent example, inducing the same generous impulses in others. And, with this bountiful benevolence towards noble and deserving causes, he combines a personal thoughtfulness, wholly unknown nowadays, which sheds, like his own ingratiating smile, a light on those around. When the earnest efforts of those selfless people to promote the welfare of our less fortunate brethren fall into historic perspective, his name will be enshrined in the lasting gratitude of generations to come. We are, perhaps, too near the canvas to assess correctly his many spontaneous acts of splendid self-sacrifice, but with the passage of time there is no doubt that he will receive full justice and ample appreciation at the hands of posterity. “

His benefactions knew no limits of caste or creed. His purse strings remained opened for the amelioration of the poor and needy, and the cause of educational and social movements. His benevolence fell as the gentle rains from Heaven, profiting man, society and association. He was strongly of opinion that, ‘no man is great in the eye of God’. ‘Be happy and contended’ was his motto, and the keynote of his success was due to his powers of initiative, breadth of vision, sporting instincts, and practical mindedness, combined with magnitude of conception. His gentlemanly personality, innate nobility of character, understanding ways, simplicity, and kindly simplicity have won him the esteem, regard, affection and confidence, not only of his community, but everyone in the island. “

Being and ardent supporter of the Moors’ Sports Club, he furnished the entire building and provided all the sports goods needed for the opening of the new pavilion by His Excellency Sir Edward Stubbs. Subsequently, he ceiled the entire roof too. The Hon Gen Secy, commending his lively interest in sports in general, observed:

If the other Moorish merchants would follow the example he has set, the level of efficiency of the community would be considerably raised. There is hardly any institution needing help that has not benifitted by Mr Naina Marikar’s generosity, and, he can justly claim to be one of the leading intelligent philanthropists in the country.

He built a palatial home at No. 76, Rosmead Place, Colombo 7, using only imported Burmese Teak wood for the entire woodwork. He lived there with his wife, Muhsina until their death.

– extracted from an article written by NMM Bishrul Hafi in the MICH Souvenir IV of  1977-1982 (20.2.1979)

[Major portions of this family tree have been submitted by the kind courtesy of NMM Bishrul Hafi in Sri Lanka]

1  Al-Alim Naina-Marikar Khaleefathul Khadiry

    2  Muhammad Yehiya Naina-Marikar + Ponnachi Umma

          3  Yousoof Muhammad Yehiya

 

          3  Muhammad Umma Muhammad Yehiya + Abdul Hameed CLM (82)

                4  Zahir Abdul Hameed Muhammad + Ummu Naleefa 

                      5 Izzun Naleer Zahir + Mawirathul Khairiya  Hasheem, d:Sep 18 2007

NALEER - NAVIRATHUL KHAIRA Wife of Marhoom Izzun Naleer, daughter of Marhoom U.L.M. Hasheem and Marhooma, Sithy Hareerah, daughter-in-law of Marhoom, A.H.M. Zahir and Marhooma Ummu Naleefa, sister of Marhooma Sithy Faleela and Marhooma Ayshathul Noor, sister-in-law of Marhoom M H M Zaheer and Marhoom M H M A Cader, mother of Hashim (Dubai), Sadun Naima, Rooshana, Razia and Ajmal, mother-in-law of Shiraz Salih, Faizal Wahid and Shuhaiba, expired. Janaza took place on 18th September 2007. 31A, Vaverset Place, Colombo 6. 

                            6 Ahamed Hasheem Naleer       

                            6 [2] Saad Naeema Naleer + [1] Shiraz Salih  

                                  7 [3] Ahmed Salih      

                            6 Rushana Nizreen Naleer + Faizal Wahid (BOI)

                            6 Razia Nuzhath Naleer

                            6 Ajmal Hamid Naleer + Shuhaiba

                      5 Sadun Naima Zahir

                4  Naleer Abdul Hameed Muhammad

                4  Ummu Mahfula Abdul Hameed Muhammad + Mohideen HHM  

                      5 Mazahim Mohideen + Sithy Saheeha      

                            6 Gazzali Mohideen

                            6 Sabry Mohideen

                      5 Sithy Mohideen + Madhath Salih  

                            6 [1] Shiraz Salih + [2] Saad Naeema   

                                  7 [3] Ahmed Salih      

                            6 Shamil Salih

                            6 Ifthiqar Salih

                      5 Hashim Mohideen + Khairul Nissa           

                            6 Naushad Mohideen

                            6 Basseth Mohideen

                            6 Fathima Silma Mohideen

                      5 Abdul Hameed Mohideen + Badry-Nissa Junaid (10,13)

                            6 Hisham Mohideen + Miss Haleem

                            6 Zulaiha Mohideen

                            6 Nihad Mohideen

 

          3  Naina-Marikar Yehiya Muhammad, JP (18-11-1883 to 9-4-1952) + Muhsina Abdul Majeed (1895 to 18-3-1944) (108)     

                4  Ibrahim Naina-Marikar

                4  Bishrul Hafi Naina-Marikar + Ummu Zowher Rizan** (13,18)   

                      5 Jamaludin Rizvi Bishrul-Hafi + Rozia Jehan        

                            6 Ifthar Rizvi

                            6 Fathima Ayesha Rizvi  

                            6 Saeed Rizvi (deceased 1.5 years)

                4 *2nd spouse of Bishrul Hafi: + Noor Masooda Rizan** (13) - **sisters

                      5 Akhtar Bishrul Hafi + Shuaiba Saleem (18)

                            6  Shalimar Akhtar

                            6  Fathimah Akhtar

                      5 Muhsina Bishrul-Hafi + Nazeer MM

                            6  Sumaiyya Nazeer + Sameel

                      5 Ummu Zowher Bishrul-Hafi + Muhammad Sirajudeen Ghouse (18)     

                            6 Imran Ghouse    

                            6 Inshira Ghouse + Nihad Mohideen (10)

                      5 Nazri Bushrul-Hafi + Ghani AM

 

                4 *3rd spouse of Bishrul Hafi: + Vaseela Salih                         

                      5 Tarzi Bishrul-Hafi + Hameem Muhammad

                              .6  Rifqi Miras Bishrul Hafi

                      5 Bishrul Hafi  

                      5 Athira Bishrul-Hafi + Zulfa

                      5 Ahmed Nashath Bishrul-Hafi + Shakila Mahesha

                      5 Hajara Bishrul-Hafi + MTM Fahim

                              .6  Asif Fahim

                      5 Narjis Bishrul-Hafi + TMZ Zuffer

                              .6  Zaneen Zuffer

                              .6  Shazreen Zuffer

 

                4 Yehiya Naina-Marikar + Mafrooha Iamail (23)

                      5 Missiriya Yehiya

 

                4  Sadiq Naina-Marikar + Zohera Naina Marikar (13)

                      5 Fathima Maziya Sadiq

                      5 Fathima Rehana Sadiq + Mohamed Zafir Cassim Jalee (UK) (son of MCM Jaleel & Noor Sadeeka Jaleel)
                            6  Noor Zihana Jaleel

                      5 Imthiaz Hussain Sadiq

                      5 Reza Sadiq

 

                4  Zuhairul Amir Naina-Marikar + Sadathul Ashira (13)

                      5 Fathima Miliza Amir + Nawaz Raheem (30)        

                            6 Aflathun Nawaz 

                            6 Rubia Sadoona Nawaz

                      5 Hazli Feron Amir

                      5 Fazeeya Yasmin Amir

                      5 Zareena Firza Amir

                      5 Fairoz Riza Amir

 

                4  Shihabu Zuhri Naina-Marikar + Violet Loos  

                      5 Shireen Ali Zuhri

                      5 Ifthikar Zuhri

                      5 Kareema Zuhri

 

                4  Izzethul Hussain Naina-Marikar, CCS (passed out first in the examination, first Muslim for overseas appointment, Sri Lanka Ambassador in the Philippines, 1982)  + Angela  

                      5 Shiraz Hussain

                      5 Nehla Hussain (France)

 

                4  Sithy Abbasiya Naina-Marikar + Samsudeen Hathy (13)    

                    5  Faizal Hathy +  [155] Fazilet Nazim (1st Marriage)

                        6  Shihara Hathy

                    5  Faizal Hathy + Ayesha Cader (d/o I.A .Cader, M.P, Beruwala)                                        

                    5  Afzal Hathy + Mariam Cader

                        6  Nazreen Hathy

                        6  Arshard Hathy    

                    5  Imroze Hathy + Akram Mansoor (410) (div)

                    5  Ruzhan Hathy + Imthiyaz Rahman
                        6  Mohamed Jauffer Fazeem Hathy + Noorul Ameena Marzook
                            7  Fathima Nabeeha Hathy
                   

                    5  Mehroon Hathy + Fazli Shafeek Wahab (s/o Muhammed Shafeek Wahab) (80)

                        6  Ashraaq Wahab + Zahrah Imtiaz (d/o Mohamed Imtiaz of Gampola)
                              7  Mohamed Rahil Wahab b:2021

                    5  Sheroon Hathy  + Deepa Ratnayake

                        6  Framgee Hathy

 

                4  Fouzul Hanoon Naina-Marikar, JP + Nazick AMM, Major CLI (44)

                      5  Abdul Rahman Fahmi Nazick + Farahana Hameed (Galle)

                          6  Fathima Fazlah Nazick + Sadir Zarook

                              7  Soraya Zarook

                              7  Amber Zarook

                         6  Fathima Faznah Nazick + Sabir Salih

                              7  Aleena Sabir-Salih

                              7  Sanaya Sabir-Salih

 

                      5 Fahima Nazick + Feizal Waffarn (div)

                          2nd spouse of Fahima Nazick  + MJM Inam (div)

 

                      5 Seema Nazick + Parry (Ashroff) Nicholas (Islam)

                          6  Sarah Ashroff Nicholas + Nipun Amarasena (Islam)

                          6  Daanyal Ashroff Nicholas

 

                4  Mathar Sadi Naina-Marikar, d;21 July 2009 + Fathima Zulfiqar Mihilar (18, 106) (div)

                      5 Fathima Muhusina Mathar

                      5 Fathima Marina Mathar

                      5 Sithy Rizna Mathar

                      5 Muhammad Kamil Asif Mathar

 



Sadie: He did not glitter but he was gold

Tribute - NAINA~MARIKAR MOHAMED SADIE HUSSEIN (Mathar)

Veteran journalist and English literature scholar M.I.M Sadie passed away last Tuesday after almost half a century of dedicated and highly professional though low profile service to the print media. In deed and in words Mr. Sadie’s career was summed up classically in the headline of another newspaper’s tribute - If reading maketh a man, then Mr. Sadie was proof of it. He was a walking dictionary, encyclopedia and a press button source of classical quotes.


An old boy of Zahira College, Mr. Sadie who hailed from a leading business family joined the Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd., (Lake House) and served there for about three decades. His command of the English language, commitment to hard work late into the night and his rare literary knowledge set the page for him to become the head of his department.

He later joined the Weekend Express newspaper group and about 10 years ago began what was to be the last long lap of his career at Wijeya Newspapers where he worked for the Sunday Times and the Daily Mirror. Not for him was the fame or the influence of bylines or other perks and privileges.

Yet close colleagues and friends were aware of the vital role he played in maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards in journalism. On July 21,at the age of 74, Mr. Sadie died as quietly as he lived and worked. As he would have wished, his family did not want the publicity even of an obituary notice.

His only daughter, Fathima Hameed - though sad and shattered over the death of her loving and caring father –said her strength in consolation was that he had died on the day when Muslims believe the Holy Prophet Mohamed was taken by God for a visit to heaven.

Fathima has faith and hope that her father also is with God in heaven.So be it.Goodbye Sadie and thank you for your hard work, sincere friendship, selfless generosity and the wonderful contribution you made towards producing a better newspaper.

Champion of fine English expression


NMM Sadi Hussein

It was saddening to read of the passing away of the old stalwart of fine English expression in the columns of the press, the dear Sadi (Sunday Times, July 26, 2009).

Sadi’s health had declined in recent months. It was noticeable that his grasp of environment and topic were slipping.

The major contributing cause was his solitary existence at an unostentatious home down Vihara Lane, Wellawatte.

What does one say when an old scribe goes to his reward on the basis that he had done his best, and that he could not have done better?

Into a glow of red sunset,
Eyes set and chin held firm, 
Sadi walked off stage and set
Life’s play over and race well run.”

God bless and keep you.

Rohan Jayawardane