Sri Lanka Moor
Family Genealogy
Sheiq
Fareed-I - 50
Sinnamamu
Naina-Marikar Sheiq Fareed I, Sinne
Mamu Naina Alias Mamina Pulle
Assena
Marikar Sinnamamu Naina-Marikar
1
Sheiq Fareed-II Assena Marikar arrived in Sri Lanka in 1060
AD
2 Arasi Marikar Sheiq
Fareed II, aka Meera Lebbe Marikar, b:1795
3 Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar, b:1829 + Thanga
Natchiar (210)
4 Mariambu Natchiar Wapchie
Marikar + Marikar PBLM
5 Hajara Umma Marikar + Mohamed
Ismail Abdul Rahman Mudaliyar (108)
6 Azhara Azeema Mohamed Ismail + Mohamed
Ali Mohideen Bawa
(210)
7
Hajara Mohamed Ali, d:Oct 30 2011,
Colombo + Issadeen
S.S. d:2005 (Issadeen Town, Matara) (260)
obit:
HAJARA ISSADEEN Beloved wife of
late S.S. Issadeen, mother of Ismeth, Kabeer, Yasmin,
Imtiaz, Malik, Fazal & Naushard, mother-in-law of
Aneesa, Inthu, Uoosoof, Kimie, Zainia, Zaveeni &
Farhana, expired. Janaza leaves residence 15, Shrubbery
Gardens, Colombo 4 at 02.45 p.m. Monday 31st October to
Dehiwala Muslim Burial Ground. DN Oct 31 2011
8 Ahamed Ismeth Issadeen + Aneesa Hashim (d/o ALM
Hashim, Bar at Law, ex Ambassador to
Saudi Arabia)
9 Nadia Issadeen
8 Ahamed Kabeer Issadeen + Inthu Nadarasa (Botswana,
London)
9 Ishan Issadeen
9 Sheik Siraj Issadeen
9 Ayesha Issadeen
8
[3] Yasmin Issadeen + [4]
Uoosoof Mohideen (10)
9 [5] Renoza Mohideen + Zavahir Jainulabdeen (New
Zealand)
10 Zahara Zavahir
10 Hana Zavahir
10 Zayd Zavahir
9 [6] Rehana Mohideen
8 Imtiaz Issadeen +
Kimie Yoshida (Australia)
9 Sheik Illiyas
Issadeen, b: Tokyo, Japan
9 Izumi Issadeen, b:
Tokyo, Japan
8 Abdul Malik Issadeen
+ Zainia Ahmed (Botswana)
9 Hafiz Luqman
Issadeen (Hafiz-dar ul Uloom Zakariya 19-Nov-1999)
9 Hafiz Omar Issadeen (Hafiz-dar
ul Uloom Zakariya 12-Nov-2000)
9 Mariam Issadeen
8 Ahmed Fazal Issadeen
+ Zavini Junaideen
9 Zafer Issadeen +
Shazra Abdeen
9
Azma Issadeen + Arshad Junaid
10 Iyaad Junaid, b:2010
10
Liyana Junaid, b:2012
9 Adnan Issadeen
8 Naushard Ali
Issadeen + Fathima Farhana Mowjood
9 AbdulRahman Mohamed
Yasir Naushard Issadeen
9 Mohamed Yaqoub
Naushard Issadeen
9 Mohamed Yaseen
Naushard Issadeen
9 Mohamed Yusuf
Naushard Issadeen
9 Mohamed Imran Naushard Issadeen
9 Fathima Fathoum
Zeleeha Issadeen
7 Laila Shahabdeen +
Sheriffdeen
7 Ahamed
Shahabdeen Mohamed Ali, d:12-Sep-2005
+ Noorul Hidaya Mohideen, d:Dec11 2003 (d/o MLM Mohideen)
obit:
ALLY - A.S.M. (Sahabdeen). Husband
of late Hidaya, father of Aslam Ally (Harcourts),
father-in-law of Rizmi, brother of Hajara and Laila,
brother-in-law of late S.S. Issadeen and Sheriffdeen,
grandfather of Zayan and Zamani, expired. Janaza leaves 98,
Kawdana Road, Dehiwela to Dehiwela Muslim Burial Ground at
9.00 am on Tuesday 13th September. DN Tue Sep 13 2005
obit: ALLY
- NOORYL HIDAYA Beloved wife of A.S.M. Ally (Shehabdeen),
beloved mother of Aslam Ally (EAP Edirisinghe International),
beloved mother-in-law of Rizmi and grandmother of Zayan and
Safra, daughter of the late Mr & Mrs M.L.M. Mohideen,
daughter-in-law of the late Mr & Mrs M.B. Mohamad Ally,
expired. Janaza on Friday 12th December
at 10.30 a.m. to Dehiwala Jumma Mosque. 98, Kawdana Rd, Dehiwala. DN Fri Dec 12
2003
8 Mohamed Aslam Shahabdeen + [94] Rizmi
Bin Hassan (111)
9 Zayan Bin Hassan
9 Ahamed Bin Hassan
9 Safra Bin Hassan
9 Zamani Bin Hassan
6 Athariya Ismail + M.C.A. Kudthoos
7 Nilamdeen Ghouse
(deceased)
6 Abdul Rahman M.A.C. + Asma Hanim Hashim
7 Mohideen Rahman, Dr. + Faloona
Mooseen (div)
7 2nd Spouse of Mohideen Rahman, Dr: +
Fatheena Khalid
8 Shabeen Rahman
8 Shimla Rahman
7 Vazeerathul Khairiya Rahman +
M.M.M. Rila
8 Ahmed Rizan Rila +
Fathima Shihara
8 Asma Rizan Rila
8 Ahmed Rizni Rila
8 Muhanmmad Rifdi Rila + Farsha
Nizar
8 Rifath Rila
7 Vafirathul Zariya
Rahman + M. Irfan (div)
8 Fathima Hafsa Irfan
+ Azhan Abu Saheed
9 Malik Abu Saheed
9 Murad Abu Saheed
7 2nd
Spouse of Vafirathul Zariya Rahman: + S. Fazli
8 Ahmed Riham Fazli
8 Ahmed Fawaz Fazli
5 Kawla Umma Marikar + Aboobucker
CM (71)
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Misbah 1901 + Noor
Thahira Naina-Marikar 1904 (93)
7 Mohamed Abdul Rauf Misbah 1925 + Sadoona
Nizar 1937 (71)
8 Fathima Nizreen
Misbah 1956 + Mohamed
Imthiaz Azeez (314)
9 Afkham Azeez + Tasleema
Mueenudeen (g/d of Dr. Shaideen, of Castle Lane, Colombo
4, Family #244)
10 Zainab Azeez
10 Zahra Azeez
10 unborn Azeez
9 Afraz Azeez
9 Bilaal Azeez
9 Ayoub Azeez
8 Fathima Fazeena Misbah: + Mohamed Hilmi
Sulaiman
9 Fathima Aashika
Sulaiman + Mass Muhammed Brumoon Ahamat (settled in USA)
10 Jannah Maryam
Ahamat
10 Haroon
Abdullah Ahamat
10 Abdullah Moosa
Ahamat
10 Rayyaan Eesa
Ahamat
9 Dr Mohamed Ahsen Sulaiman + Ayesha Jawzi
Nizar
9 Ahmed Aadil
Sulaiman+ Fathima Amal Ihtisam
7 Mohamed Aboo Haniffa Misbah 1926 + Noor
Nada Fawzy Sheriff (112)
8 Fathima Shahnaz Aboo Haniffa 1956
8 Namoos Aboo Haniffa 1960
8
Izza Aboo Haniffa 1962
8 Shiraz Aboo Haniffa 1964
7 Noor Zohera Misbah 1927 + Caffoor
A.M.A.
8 Noor Thahira Caffoor 1948 + Mahmood Marikar
Sirajudeen
9 Fathima Shihana
Sirajudeen
9 Mohamed Sabri
Sirajudeen
9
Shamsul Mackie
Sirajudeen
8 Noor Zahira Caffoor 1951+ Sheikh Abdul Cader Mohamed
Firdous
9 Fathima Nasrin Firdous
9
Nusri Mohamed Firdous
8 Noor Fakira Caffoor 1953 + Burhanudeen Ahmed
Ayard
8 Fathima Laika Caffoor 1959
8
Mohamed Muhinudeen Hussain Caffoor 1963
8 Aynul Badriya Caffoor 1968
7 Mohamed Shoib Misbah 1928 + Noorul Faiza Kiyas 1932
8 Mohamed Azmeer Shoib 1959
8 Mohamed Imthiaz Hussain Shoib 1960
8 Fathima Shyama Shoib 1963
8 Fathima Sa'adoona Shoib 1965
8
Sithy Fazilathul Najimiya Shoib 1969
8 Fathima Shamila Shoib 1970
7 Mohamed Mohideen Misbah 1929 + Noor Faiza
Cassim
7 Mohamed Abul Hassan Misbah 1930 + Khairul Hidaya
Mohamed 1939
8 Noor Muthrika Abul Hassan 1963
7 Ahamed Hilm Misbah 1932 + Sithy Thahira Uvais Alim
1936
8
Fathima Farisha Hilmi 1962
8 Fathima Yasmin Hilmi 1964
8 Mohamed Ruski Hilmi 1965
8 Fathima Zeenia Hilmi 1962
8
Ahmed Hussain Rizvi Hilmi 1969
7 Noorul Inaya Misbah + Rauf MHM
8 Hamziya Rauf
8 Misriya Rauf
8
Faizeena Rauf
8 Noor Naima
Rauf
8 Badriya Rauf
7 Dhoorathul Nissa Misbah
7 Zaibun Nissa Misbah 1935 + Zain ALM
8 Mulafer
Zain
8 Iqbal
Zain
8 Hussain Zain
8 Fathima Zain
7 Hameed Shafi Misbah 1936 + Saudin Neima
Zain
8 Fathima Rinoza Shafi
8
Mohamed Riffaan
Shafi
8 Fathima Minoza Shafi
7 Mahmood Kazey Bay Misbah
7 Fathima Muina Misbah + Hussain Khalid
MKM
8 Mohamed Fazul Ifhaam
Hussain + Fathima Seheen Jezly (USA)
9 Fathima Afraah
Ifhaam + Mohamed Shazwan Careem (Canada)
10 Mohamed
Shayaan Shazwan
9
Fathima Amani Ifhaam
9 Fathima
Amraah Ifhaam
9 Mohamed
Ayyoob Ifhaam
8 Fathima Zureeka
Hussain +Musthafa Kamal Mohamed Fauzil
9 Mohamed Arshad
Fauzil
9 Fathima
Amana Fauzil (Deceased)
8 Fathima
Feeaza Hussain +Mohamed Fazeem Fuard (USA)
9 Mohamed Ashfaaq
Fazeem
9
Fathima Aamina Fazeem
9 Ateeb
Mohamed Fazeem
7
Mohamed Misbah 1939
7 Mohamed Thahir Misbah
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Noorul
Hidaya
6 Aboobucker Mohamed
Masood
6
Aboobucker Mohamed Mahboob + Kubra
Hashim (10,71)
7 Mohamed Fahim Mahboob + Fathima
Rinza Dhahlan (10,71)
7 Markil Mahboob
6 *2nd spouse of Aboobucker Mohamed Mahboob: + Ummu
Kuluda
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Saeeda +
Muhsin M.M.
7 Jiffry
Mushin + Firla
7 Fareeda
+ Salaudeen
7 Fouzi+
Zuhair aboobucker
7 Wazir
Mushin+ Zohra
8 Asif Iqbal
8 Muzamill
Wazir+ Zeena
9 Akif
Muzaffar
9 Mazahir
Muzamill
9 Murshid
Muzamill
8 Imthika
Shafi + Salem Shafi
9 Abdul
Rahman Shafi
9 Umamah
Shafi
8 Fazal
Wazir + Zainab
9 Yahya Fazal
9 Yusha
Fazal
9 Yoonus
Fazal
8 Farzana
Wazir+ Infas Zarook
9 Zulaiha infas
9 Sahla
infas
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Marliya + Jaward M.M.
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Zubair, Dr.
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Khalid+ Rahma
Umma
6 Aboobucker Mohamed Noorul Hidaya
+ Bawa MF
7 Khyrun Nissa Bawa
5 Hafeel Umma
Marikar
5 Abdul
Cassim Marikar (deceased young, no
issue)
5 Abu Haniffa Marikar (deceased young, no
issue)
5 Abeera Umma Marikar + M. Abubucker
4 Abdul
Rahman WM Hon (MLC) b:26-Mar-1863, d:6-Apr-1933
+ Hajara
Umma Marikar-Haji (13) d/o Isubu Lebbe
Marikar
5
Ummu Razeena Abdul Rahman + Ghouse
Mohideen (13,90)
6
Sharker Mohideen + Sithy Zanooba Shahul
Hameed
7 [4] Yousoof Mohideen + [3] Yasmin Issadeen
8 [5] Renoza Mohideen + Zavahir Jainulabdeen (New
Zealand)
.9 Zahara Zavahir
.9 Hana Zavahir
.9 Zayd Zavahir
8 [6] Rehana Mohideen
7 Ayesha Mohideen + Rashid Abdul
Rahman
7 Ismail Jiffrey Mohideen, d:2003
+ Khartoun
Marzook (div) (11)
5
Razik Fareed Abdul Rahman, Sir,
Kt., JPUM, OBE, b:29-Dec-1893, d:23-Aug-1984 + Ameena
Umma binthi Ibrahim (221, 111,
319)
6 Binthi
Hajara Razik + Mohamed
Abdul Cader Abdul Hameed (13)
7 Alavi Fareeda Abdul Cader
+ Shafeek MSM
7 *2nd Spouse of Alavi Fareeda Abdul Cader:
+ K Rasanayagam (div)
7 *3rd Spouse of Alavi Fareeda Abdul Cader: + CRBC
Fernando
8
Yasmin Fernando
7
Sithy Zubaida Abdul Cader, b:Oct 12 1931 + Rasheed
Bin Hassan (111)
8 Zeena Zabeedi binthi-Rasheed + [14] Irfan
Shibly Mohideen (40)
9 Fathima Noorul Laieka Mohideen + Shahul
Hameed Abdul Cader (13)
10 Ahmed Salahudeen Abdul Cader (decd)
10 Mohamed Malkan Abdul Cader + Asma Naphiel
11
Aaqib Abdul Cader
11
Aara Abdul Cader
10 Sithy Fathimathul Amina Renoza Abdul Cader + Aslam
Ashroff Cader (172)
11 Aashiqa
Ameena Aslam Cader b:2015
9 Mohamed Fayaz Mohideen + Fathima Milhana
Kiyasdeen
10 Fathima Habsath Mohideen
10 Mohamed Ashrafudeen Mohideen
9 Fathima Khadija Mohideen + [19] Mohamed Munsif
bin-Hussain
10 Faeeq bin_Munsif
10 Fatheena binthi-Munsif
10
Faker
Bin Munsif
7 *2nd
Spouse of Sithy Zubaida Abdul Cader: + Mohamed Azar
8 Aftab
Azar
8
daughter
5
Ummu Rakeeba Abdul Rahman + Mohamed
Fuard
6 Jaward M.F.A. + Sithy Rahila
7 Mohamed Iqbal Jaward + Fathima Riyaza Mohideen
8
Fathima Mazneena Jaward
8 Ahmed Shamli Jaward
7 Mohamed Inayath Siddiqui
Jaward
7 Fathima Afreeha Jaward
7
[7] Ahmed Aflal Jaward, b:1961 +
[8] Ayesha Farzana Farook, b:1969
8 [9] Abdel Raqib
Jawad, b:1997
8 [10] Abdul Azeez
Jawad, b:2000
3
Arasi Marikar Samsilebbe Marikar, b:1832
4 Aboo Salih Samsilebbe Marikar, b:1865 +
(spouse #1)
5 Yoohoneya
Aboo Salih + Mohideen
6 Noor
Naleema Mohideen + Atha
7 Barzenjee
Atha
7 Muinudeen
Atha + Hidaya
6 Noorul
Hidaya Mohideen + 1st Spouse Zainudeen
MCM (80)
7
Abdul Cader Zainudeen + Name Not Known
7 Siraj
Zainudeen (80) + Lareefa
Mohideen (12)
8 Shezmin Shiraz
8 Shiham Shiraz d:Feb 2023
8 Shazan Shiraz
8 Shammi Shiraz
6 Noorul
Hidaya Mohideen + 2nd Spouse SL
Marikar Halimdeen (128)
7 Shifa Halimdeen + Nejla
Mihilar California, USA (18)
8
Nadia Noor Shifa + Ryan Mansergh
9
Cora-Rose Mansergh
8
Sadiq Mohamed Shah Haleem Shifa + Christine Riley
9
Weaver Shifa
9
Franklin Shifa
4 Aboo Salih Samsilebbe Marikar, b:1865 +
(spouse #2)
5 Harid
Aboo Salih + Name Not Known
6 Shafi
Harid
6 Nawara
Harid + Dr Awn
6 Azhar
Harid + Bahija
6 Niyas
Harid
6 Rizvi Harid + Ameena
7
Ifthi Rizvi
6 Feroze
Harid + Hamdiya
4 Aboo Salih Samsilebbe Marikar, b:1865 +
(spouse #3)
5 Liyau’deen
Aboo Salih + Rafeeka 1st Spouse
6 Moomin
Liyau'deen
5 2nd
spouse of Liyau’deen Aboo Salih + Binthi
Mazahima (Salonica) d/o ACM Muheed & Khadeejathul
Raliya (13)
6 Mohamed Kamil Fareed
Liyau’deen d:July 2021 + Fathima Mahliya
7
Fathima Nasuha Kamil
7
Ahamed Nabeel Kamil
4 Aboo Salih Samsilebbe Marikar, b:1865 (spouse #4) + Sithy Johara Umma
(fourth bed)
5 Noor
Hafeela Aboo Salih+ Abdul Hai Mohideen
6 Nawaz
Mohideen + Bintha Nawaz
7 Noorjehan
Mohideen + Zaheer Buhary
7 Fathima
Zulfa Mohideen + Rubil Sally
7 Dina
Azad Mohideen + Akhther Haji ( Pakistani )
7 Sarah
Mohideen + Jumaath
6 Noor’Umma
Mohideen + Spouse
6 Hinaya
Mohideen + Ziard
7 Zumra
Ziard
7 Zanhar
Ziard
7 Zahran
Ziard
7 Fathima
Ziard
7 Aysha
Ziard
5 Kanimathul Rahma
Aboo Salih + Bhari Majeed
6 Hussain
Iqbal Majeed
7 Amal
Majeed + Anas Marzook
7 Dina
Majeed + Mohideen
7 Salman
Majeed + Nuzrath
6 Ismath
Hilmy Majeed + Ghousathul Maimoon (1st Spouse )
6 2nd
spouse of Ismath Hilmy Majeed + Rushdi Uvais
7 Mohamed
Thurab Hilmy + Fazleena Yahya
8 Ahmed Adam Thurab
8 Ahmed
Yusuf Thurab
8 Azra
Maryam Thurab
5 Sithy
Ponnatchchi Umma Aboo Salih + ARM Munsoor
6 Sithy
Zanooba Munsoor + Jaufer Mahroof
7 Zimara
Mahroof
7 Ifadha
Mahroof
7 Haseef
Mahroof
7 Munsif
Mahroof
6 Sithy
Zareeha Munsoor + Nizar Mohideen
6 Sithy
Nazeera Munsoor + Rizvi Humza
7 Fathima
Relina Rizvi + Ishrath
7 Fathima
Amani Rizvi
6 Sithy
Fouziya Munsoor + Dr MIM Zaheer
7 Dr Afzal
Zaheer MD (Hons) NeuroAnaesthetist –NHSL + Dr Fawaza Zarook
6 Sithy
Salma Munsoor + MZM Zufer
7 Inthikhab
Zufer + Thameema Khiard
7 Inshirah
Zufer + Hassan
5 Najumudeen HASM, b:1905
+ Sithy Ayesha Sheriff, b:1907
6 M Fauzee Najumudeen, b:1934,
d:2021 + Evelyne
7 Yasmin Fauzee, b:1962 + Aaron
6
Sithy Halima Najumudeen + Samy ASH (Galle)
7
Frozny Samy + Mira
8
Sara Samy
7
Shibree Samy + Famidah Zahir
8 Nasha
Samy
8
Nashita Samy
6 Honeya Najumudeen + Sakkaf Fazeel
7
Name not Known
7 Fathima Zahra Sakkaf + Mohamed
Haniffa Sheriff (20,30,46,60,70,90,93)
8 Mohamed Ajmal Sheriff + Zainab Barrie
9 Anam
Layana Sheriff
8 Mohamed Almaz Sheriff + Fathima Nuha Ithisham
6 Farook Najumudeen, b:1941
+ Sithy Feroza, b:1945
7 ALM Quadir Farook, b:1967,
President and CEO, InfoMc, USA + Penelope
Rigatos, Greece, b:1960, Owner, Director, Treasurer of
InfoMC, Inc, USA
8 Kyle Alexander
Farook, b:1991
8 Noelle Eleni
Farook, b:1993
7
Fathima Farriyah Farook, b:1966 +
Mohammed Haseeb, Manager Project Services, ANZ Australia. (S/O
A.C.A.Haseeb and Fakiri Haseeb) ,
b:1960
8 Abdul Azheem Haseeb, b:1985
8
Abdul Hakeem Haseeb, b:1989
8 Fathima Hafsa Haseeb, b:1991
7 [8] Ayesha Farzana Farook, b:1969
+ [7] Afllel A Jawad, Career Diplomat, Ambassador of Sri Lanka
in Norway- S/O M.F.A.Jawad and Sithy Rahila Jawad,
b:1961
8 [9] Abdel Raqib Jawad, b:1997
8 [10] Abdul Azeez Jawad, b:2000
6 Iqbal Najumudeen, 1947-2004 + Roushan
Jehan Ismail , b:1947 (80)
7 Najma Nishwan Iqbal, b:1971
+ Dr Muhsin Samy, b:1865
8
Husam Muhsin Samy
8 Nashwa
Samy
7 Ayesha Shihan Iqbal, b:1975
+ Rizvi Majeed, b:1965
8
Raeesah Majeed
8
Amjad Majeed
8 Faadal
Majeed
8
Faaiq Majeed
5 Raffiudeen HASM b:1910
+ Sithy
Zahira
6 Mohamed Hassan Inenui Raffiudeen, b:1948
6 Mohamed Ikram Jisty Raffiudeen
6 Baraka Shireen Raffiudeen
6 Nooray Zemzem Raffiudeen
4 Moomina Umma Samsilebbe Marikar + Sheikh
Marikar
5
Fatheela Umma S.M. + Mohamed Zain
6 Rafeeka Umma Zain +
Liyaudeen HASM
6 *2nd spouse of Rafeeka Umma Zain: +
Gaffar
6 Awfer Gaffar + Girlie
Berenger
6 Lafir
Gaffar
6 Sithy Sameena Gaffar +
Azwer MZM
6 Fidwi
Gaffar
6 Iynul Nazeera Gaffar + Haseeb Mohamed
Mohideen
5 Jabir SM Dr
6 Jabir SM Dr (junior)
4 Pitche Thamby
5
Miskin Bawa
6
Ahmed Lebbe
4 Sinnala Marikar alias Marikar Pulle
5
Rasa Marikar
6
Sinnala Marikar
Arasi Marikar Wapchi Marikar (1829-1925)
About the year 1016 A.D., a few Arabs, among whom were expert physicians and master
masons, settled in Ceylon. One of them was called Sheikh
Fareed. They were welcomed by the natives and settled
themselves in different vocations. Their history was
maintained orally until about the year 1770. In the "Thombu"
of 1770 (the Government record), there is reference to one Paridoe.
It is a custom of the Muslims to carry the name of theor
ancestors in the line of genealogy and this Paridoe is the
name carried from Sheikh Fareed.
There lived a wealthy lady, possessiung vast
extents of land at Ambagahawatte, in the lineage of this Fareed.
When she passed away, Arasi Marikar Wapchie Marikar,
was the heir left behind to inherit this property.
After collecting his own share, Arasi Marikar
Wapchie Marikar bought the shares of several other heirs
of this land and donated a portion of it to build a mosque and
later built another mosque called the Fareed Thakkiya. He had
started off his career as an apprentice working under expert
builders. His flair for Islamic architecture can be seen in
the many arches used in his architecture. He mastered the
building profession and undertook the erection of buildings
independently as a building contractor.
So long as brick and mortar endure his name will
be long remembered as the builder of the General Post Office
in Colombo, the Colombo Museum, Colombo Customs, Old Town Hall
in Pettah, the Galle Face Hotel, Victoria Arcade, Finlay Moir
building, the Clock Tower, Batternburg Battery etc. The Old
Town Hall in Pettah, which is now a busy market, was built on
a contract for the sum of 689 Streling Pounds.
In January 1877, the completed building of the
Colombo Museum was declared open by His Excellency, Governer
Gregory, in the presence of a large crowd, amongst which there
were many Muslims present. At the end of the ceremony His
Excellency asked Arasi Marikar Wapchi Marikar what honour he
wished to have for his dedication. The same question was asked
by His Excellency from the carpenter who assisted Wapchi
Marikar with the wood work of the Museum who desired a local
Rank and was honoured accordingly. Wapchi Marikar, noticing
the large number of Muslims present, feared that they would
spend their time at the Museum on Friday during the Islamic
congregation prayer, and requested that the Museum be closed
on Fridays. This request has been adhered to by all
authorities in charge of the Museum to this day.
When the throne of the last Kandyan King was to
be exhibited at the Museum, the then Prime Minister, Mr.
D.S.Senanayake, obtained the consent of Sir Razik Fareed,
Wapchi Marikar’s grandson, to keep the Museum open on the
intervening Fridays only.
Endowed with wealth, Wapchi Marikar
contributed to the development of his communities
wefare, religious, economical, social, and educational needs
and searched for more avenues and opportunities to help them
in every way possible. He resided in the vicinity of Marakkala
Palliya Watta, the present Maradana Mosque grounds and
patronized the mosque. His family residence was acquired by
the state for railway extensions thus compeling him to build a
large house at Vauxhall Street where he moved in subsequently.
He continued to contribute towards the development of the
Maradana Mosque by being a prominent member of the
congregation. He also joined hand with and financed M.C.Siddi
Lebbe, from Kandy, who started the Muslim educational
movement in 1880.
Siddi Lebbe,
in his "Asrarul A’lam" on page 199 writes,
"I have two friends in Colombo, one who takes
great interest in educational matters, opening up schools and
spending liberally his money is Arasi Marikar Wapchi
Marikar philanthrophist, who comes forward to spend in
all good causes. The other is Ghulam Mohiyadeen Sahib
Bahauddin of Tanjore (Kashwat Alim)".
Wapchi Marikar and Siddi Lebbe set about looking for a
place to establish a school for the Muslims and eventually
selected the abandoned portion of the Maradana Mosque grounds.
Since Wapchi Marikar was, at that time, the Vice President of
the Management Committee of the Maradana Mosque, he urged the
committee to grant a lease of the land in order to build the
school.
A society, called the "Jamiyathul Uloom"
(Muslim Educational Society) was thus formed.
Wapchi Marikar, at his own cost, erected a building for the
school and also built four houses that would be rented and the
income utilized for the maintenance of the institution.
During this period, Wapchi Marikar was
involved in the construction of Masjid-E-Careem at 4th Cross
Street, Pettah, for Carimjee Jafferjee. At his request
Jafferjee contributed money for an additional building at the
Maradana Mosque grounds for the cause of Muslim education.
When the Kuppiyawatte burial grounds was given to
the Muslims (Crown grant 3325 dated 18-8-1879), a condition
was laid down by the Government that a boundary wall must be
erected within three years of that date. The Mussalman’s
United Assembly had insufficient funds and approached Wapchi
Marikar who negotiated with Careemjee Jafferjee for building
the wall in exchange for a portion of land for use of burial
of the dead of the Borah community.
When the Muslims of Ketawallamulla needed a
mosque they approached Wapchi Marikar who bought a
house at Clifton Lane and converted it into a mosque. A.L.M.
Meera Lebbe Marikar, who lived opposite the mosque, was
made the Trustee. M.L.M. Ahmed, JP of Ahmed Brothers,
3rd Cross Street, Pettah, is the son of A.L.M. Meera Lebbe
Marikar.
The school building was finally completed and
Madarasahul Zahira ( Zahira
College) began to function. Arabi Pasha conducted the
opening.
The houses constructed for the purpose of revenue
for running the school were acquired by the government in
1906. Using the compensation received from the acquisition, Wapchi
Marikar built a row of houses facing Darley Road,
presently T.B.Jayah Mawatha.
Wapchi Marikar was also the Treasurer and Manager of the
Colombo Muslim Educational Society.
In 1907, Wapchi Marikar was relieved of
the burden of management and Advocate Abdul Cader was
appointed as Manager of Zahira College. However, Abdul Cader
had to relinquish his position on account of relocating
himself to Batticaloa in the Eastern Province.
An address presented to Wapchi Marikar by
the Moors (Muslims) of Colombo in 1907 reads as follows:-
ARASY MARIKAR WAPCHI MARIKAR ESQ.
The late Manager
of the Mohamedan Boys’ Maradana School, Colombo.
(MADARASATHUL
ZAHIRA)
Sir,
We, the members of the
Colombo Muslim Educational Society, have the pleasure of
conveying to you our warm appreciation of the work done by
you, with zeal and energy, in managing the Mohamedan Boys’
Maradana School for the last fourteen years; and of
expressing to you, on your retirement from the said
managership, heartfelt and sincere gratitude, on our own
behalf and on behalf of the Mohamedan Community of Colombo,
for the said work as well as for the pecuniary assistance
generously rendered by you for establishing the said school
to impart religious abd secular education to the Mohamedan
youth of this country; for your liberal endowment towards
its upkeep; and for your enthusiastic cooperation with which
we have so long controlled and conducted the affairs of the
said institution. While announcing our hope that you will
find health and strength to continue to cooperate with us
for long, as a member of the Treasurer of our Society, in
conducting the said afairs for the future, we beg to state
that we have resolved to place in the upper storey (which
will, in the future serve the purpose of a Muslim Reading
Room or Library and Lecture Hall) of the new wing of the
Madrasah, which has now been constructed through your
eterprise, an enlarged photograph of yourself as a memento
of your benevolent acts.
In conclusion we pray that
Almighty Allah may be pleased to grant you long life, good
health, happiness and prosperity.
Yours
affectionately,
Cassim
Lebbe Sheikh Abdul Cader Marikar
President
Colombo Muslim Educational Society
(Uncle of the late N.D.H.
Abdul Caffoor)
1. Mohamed Ismail Abdul
Rahman Mudaliyar (Trustee Maradana Mosque 1902) (Father of A. Cader
A. Raheman)
2. M Abdul Cader, Advocate,
Jaffna
3. Colande Marikar Meera
Lebbe Marikar (VP & Treasurer, Maradana Mosque) (Father of M.L.M.
Reyal)
4. Idroos Lebbe Marikar
Abdul Azeez (Trustee Maradana Mosque 1903-1913) (Father of Rishard A
Azeez)
5. Sulaiman Lebbe Noohu
Lebbe (Trustee Kuppiyawatte Burial Grounds, 1903) (Grandfather of
M.U.M. Saleem)
6. Ismail Lebbe Marikar
Mohamed Usoof Alim (Katheeb, Maradana Mosque) (Father of M.Y.M.
Hamza)
7. Oduma Lebbe Marikar
Ahmed Lebbe Marikar Alim (Father-in-Law of W.M.
Hassim, JP)
8. Wapu Marikar Abdul
Jabbar (Treasurer, Maradana Mosque) (Father of A.J.M. Jameel)
9. Assena Lebbe Muhallam
Segu Lebbe (Katheeb, Maradana Mosque) (Father of S.L.M.
Hashim)
10.Aboobucker
Lebbe Marikar Oduma Lebbe Marikar (President, Executive
Committee, Maradana Mosque) (Brother of A.L. Ibrahim Lebbe)
The descriptions of the signatories are later
interpolations for better understanding of the persons
involved in relation to presently known persons
amongs the Muslim Community.
In 1907, Wapchi Marikar built, at his own
cost, an extension building to the existing first school
building. A section of the Educational Society collected a sum
of Rs. 12,750 and entrusted it to Wapchi Marikar for
the construction of houses along the street adjoining the New
Olympia Theatre in Maradana. Unfortunately, the Colombo Muslim
Educational Society did not function for very long and it
became incumbent on Wapchi Marikar to manage the affairs of
Zahira College all by himself as a single individual using his
own personal finances and the welfare of some other Muslim
philanthrophists.
Finding the income from rents of the Darley Road
properties insufficient to manage the school he offered the
income from his own properties at Wellawatte to augment the
revenues of Zahira College. In 1921, being physically unfit to
attend to the daily affairs of Zahira College, Wapchi
Marikar discussed the matter with two of the members of
the now defunct Education Society and handed over the
management to the Maradana Mosque.
He was a devout and pious Muslim who built,
served and developed mosques spending liberally for all
religious affairs. His maxim was "cut ones coat according
to the cloth". He passed away on May 14, 1925 at the
ripe old age of ninety six. His only son was the Hon. W.M.
Abdul Rahman, M.L.C. and his daughter was Mariambu
Natchar.
Hon.
W.M. Abdul Rahman (1868-1933)
Hon. W.M. Abdul Rahman was born at Colombo on 26-Mar-1868, educated at
the Government School at Gasworks Street and later on at
Wesley College, Colombo. He joined his father’s building
enterprise in 1888 but retired in 1898. In 1900 he was
nominated to the Legislative Council as the Muslim member.
In his honor the Moor’s Union hosted a dinner
party presided over by Abdul Azeez. He died on
6-Apr-1933 and was buried at Kuppiyawatte Muslim Burial
Grounds, Maradana.
On November 14, 1902 a Committee of the
Legislative Council was appointed to consider the treatment of
criminals. The committee comprised of Hon A.J. Lascelles,
Attorney General, Hon Loos. Hon
H.H.Cameron, Hon H.L. Crawford, Hon S. Bois, Hon W. M.Abdul
Rahman. Another committee was appointed on January 23, 1903 to
consider the Customs Duties Amendment Bill. composed of the Attorney General,
Auditor General, the European Member, the Mercantile Member,
the Principal Collector of Customs and the Mohamedan Member,
the Hon. W.M.Abdul Rahman.
On February 10, 1943, Abdul Rahman
supported the enlargement of the Executive Council in the
Legisltive Council. On December 15, 1905 the Attorney General
moved that the bill for the consideration of the Tariff
amendments be undertaken by a committee consisting of the
following:- Attorney General,
Auditor General, PCC, Hon J.Ferguson, Hon M.F.Walker, Hon
Abdul Rahman. On November 22, 1906 the hon Treasurer
moved that the following sub-committee be appointed to reply
His Excellency the Governor’s address: The Hon Treasurer, Hon
Director of Works, Hon Registrar General, Hon Low Country
Sinhalese Member, The Planting Member, The Hon General
European Member, and the Hon W.M.Abdul Rahman, the
Mohamedan Member.
On December 12, 1906, in the Legislative Council,
The Hon member for the Mohamedan Community, Hon W.M.Abdul
Rahman expressed the condolences of his community at the
death of Sir Alexander Ashmore, the Colonal Secretary. On
February 10, 1909, the Hon W.M.Abdul Rahman opposed
the expenditure of large sums of money on the lake Scheme from
Loans on account of many other urgent works that were of
higher priority and were being kept in abeyance.
In the Legislative Council, on February 25, 1909,
Hon W.M.Abdul Rahman desired that His Excellency the
Governer should have the power to appoint deserving members in
Government service to some of the higher posts without having
to take competitive examinations. He claimed that it was
unfair to expect senior Government servants to compete with
boys fresh from school.
Abdul Rahman
was a member of the Agricultural Society, Orient Club, Ceylon
Turf Club and Liberal League. He was also the Vice President
of the Social Reform Society and a keen supporter of sports.
He was a member of the Executive Committee of the Maradana
Mosque and the President of the Ceylon Muslim Educational
Society Ltd., Muslim Spiritual Society and the Moor’s Sports
Club. He was a member of the Agricultural Society and the
Orient Club and one of the principal members of the Ceylon
Turf Club. He was also widely traveled in India. Abdul Rahman
also owned wide extents of land and property in Ceylon besides
owning a large coconut estate in Kurunegala in the North
Western Province. He also spent a large portion of his time
and money for the development of education of Muslims in
Ceylon.
In 1905 a massive public meeting was held at the
Maradana mosque grounds to protest against the action of the
Supreme Court in refusing to hear M.C.Abdul Cader
address the court as an Advocate because he wore a Fez cap,
the national headgear of the Ceylon Moors, on his head. The Hon
W.M. Abdul Rahman presided at this meeting. Subsequently
permission was granted by the Colonial Secretary for Muslims
to wear the Fez cap in court provided they also wore the long
black coat which they normally wore at ceremonies.
In 1912 Abdul Rahman presided at the mass
meeting of Muslims to protest against the Italian invasion of
Tripoli, then ruled by the Turkish
Sultan.
At an interview by a news reporter of the "Ceylon
Independent" in 1917 Abdul Rahman said,
"English education among
the Muslims was at a low ebb and
considering the population the percentage of really educated
men was awfully small. We have the Zahira College, started
about tenty six years ago by my father "
" and there is every possibility of
enlarging the building, mproving the school by the addition
of a Science Laboratory and employing a larger and more
efficient staff of teachers
"
Speaking on the conditions of the Ceylon Muslims,
Abdul Rahman said,
" it was deplorable. The apparent
prosperity of the people was due to the fact that they
possess ancestral property on which they live at ease. There
was great competition in trade now and the trade that used
to be in the hands of the Moors is now shared with others.
For the past seven or eight years a revival was noticeable
and young Muslims were taking to the professions and the
Clerical Service and evincing a greater interest in English
education. If that was not followed up with energy, the
Muslims, he feared, would, in another
twenty or thirty years, be only rawers of water and
hewers of wood".
In 1924, N.H.M.Abdul Cader submitted a
Bill to the Legislative Council for incorporating the body of
the Maradana Mosque management. Abdul Rahman objected
and suggested certain safe-guards for the congregation who are
permanent residents of Maradana. his
suggestions were included in the Bill.
Abdul Rahman
passed away on April 6, 1933, leaving three children. One was
Sir Razik Fareed and the other two were daughters, Mrs.
Razeena Mohideen (wife of Ghouse Mohideen),
manageress of the Muslim ladies College, Colombo and the first
Ceylon Moor woman Justice of the Peace, and Mrs. Rakeeba
Fuard (mother of M.F.A.Jaward, Private Secretary
to Sir Razik Fareed).
According to a memo issued by the Department of
Income Tax, Estate Duty & Stamps, dated Colombo, 29
january 1936, it is mentioned that an estate duty amounting to
Rs 10,591.70 was paid in full on account of the estate
of Abdul Rahman as per Estate No: ED/A 72 – DC
Colombo Case No.6456 – Hon Mr Wapchi Marikar Abdul Rahman
– Deceased
In the matter of the Last Will and Testament of
the Hon Mr Wapchi Marikar Abdul Rahman of “Razeendale”
Bambalapitiya South in Colombo, under Testamentart
Jurisdiction No 6456, where Abdul Rahman Abdul Razik
(son of Abdul Rahman and later referred to as Sir Razik
Fareed), the inventory of the estate of WM Abdul Rahman was
declared as follows:-
MOVEABLES
Amount in Imperial
Bank of
India
Rs 69.52
Amount due on
promissory note dated 14 December
1927 Rs
3,000.00
Household furniture etc.
Rs 3,179.00
Rents outstanding at
date of
death
Rs 914.00
Total
Rs 7,162.52
IMMOVEABLES
1. Premises bearing
assessment No.423 (formerly No.54) Galle Road, Bambalapitiya
being Lot B in
Plan No.610 in extent
1A.1R.7.54P
Rs 35,000.00
2. Lot B of premises
bearing assessment No 24/1 Temple Road, Maradana in extent
0A.1R.9.11P
Rs 5,000.00
3. Premises
Nos.713D/54, 713C/55, 713B/56, Third Cross Street, Pettah, in
extent
0A.)R.1.57P
Rs 25,000.00
4. Premises bearing
assessment No 483B/55 (being a divided portion of Lot 10 of No
55 Kensington
Gardens) presently 6
Foenander Place, Wellawatte, in extent
0A.1R.0P
Rs 15,000.00
5. Premises bearing
assessment No 30/14, now No 3 Turner Road Wellawatte, in
extent 0A.0R.12.75P
Rs 7,000.00
6. Mylagama Estate
situated at Mahagalboda Megoda Korale of Waudawili Hathpattu
in the
Kurunegala District,
North Western Province:
Bearing
coconut
- 250
acres
Coconuit
about to
bear
- 25
acres
Coconut
young plantation - 100 acres
Paddy
Field -
25 acres
Jungle
- 75
acres
Rs 87,000.00
7. Kahinda
Kutikarambee Hena at Eriyagama in Yatinuwara, Central
Province, in extent 3A.0R.25P
Rs
1,000.00
8. Dandeniya and
Dandeniyahena situated at Nugawela in Pannil Pattu of Atakalan
Korale in the District
of Ratnapura,
Sabaragamuwa Province, in extent
14A.1R.4P
Rs 700.00
9. An undivided half
share of 80 acres at Meepitiya in the Hiryala Hatpattu of
Ihala Visidekay Korale in the
District of
Kurunegala, North Western Province, value
unknown
Unknown
10. An undivided 5/6
share of 80 acres of land at Dompe in the Uda Pattu of
Kuruwita Korale in the District
of Ratnapura,
Sabaragamuwa Province, value
unknown
Unknown
11. An undivided Ľ
share of 777 acres 3R.23P at Kosgahakanda Atulugama Korale of
Three Korales in the
District of Kegalle,
Sabaragamuwa
Province
Rs 1,000.00
12 An undivided 2/3
share of 0A.2R.29P Galapolakapalla Galapitiya situated at
Bandarawela in the
Mahapalata Pattu of
Udakande in the District of
Badulla
Rs 1,000.00
13 Allotment of land
in the Plan of David Dewapura in Wellawatte in the extent of
0A.2R.64P – to the
value of Rs 12,000 (STRUCK
OFF THE LIST)
14. An undivided 2/3
share of No 10 Temple Road, Maradana being lot No 10 Temple
Road, Maradana
beong lot No 8 in Plan of
Chas Schwallie dated 25/9/1871 containing in extent
0A.0R.18.75P
Rs 4,000.00
15 An undivided 2/3
share of No 38 Ward No 1306 Colpetty in extent of 0A.0R.6.15P
according to
Plan No 348 dated
30/7/1924
Rs 4,000.00
16 An allotment of
land marked Lot 9 and bearing assessment No 17, 19th
Lane A situated at Wellawatte
in extent 0A.0R.77.85P
as per plan No 4118 dated 25th July 1933 by MJ
Theideman,
Surveyor
Rs 12,650.00
Total
Rs 204,632.52
Sir Razik Fareed Kt. OBE, JP UM (1893-1984)
Sir Razik Fareed Kt. OBE,
JP UM (1893-1984), was born on 29-Dec-1893 and educated at
Madrasathul Zahira and Royal College, Colombo. He held the
prestigious positions of President, All Ceylon Moors’
Association, Member CMC, HR, Senate, First Member Colombo
Central, High Commissioner for Sri
Lanka in Pakistan. Gifted lands to
establish Muslim Ladies College. Founder Member
Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home in 1944 and held the position of
its first President. Established
Maternity Homes in the City of Colombo and rural hospitals
in predominantly Muslim areas. Died:23-Aug-1984.
Sir Razik Fareed's
birth anniversary - December 29
Sir Razik Fareed was born on the 10th day of
Muharram 1312 (29th December 1893) at the Layards Broadway. He
is the son of W.M. Abdul Rahuman and Hajara Umma his mother
passed away when Sir Razik was only three years. He was the
grandson of Wappichchi Marikar. He came into residence at
'Hajara Villa' Fareed Place, Colombo in 1915.
Sir Razik Fareed
inherited from his ancestors the spirit of service to his
community and country. Wappichchi Marikkar founded Zahira
College Colombo, while Sir Razik founded the Muslim Ladies
College two leading schools for boys and girls.
Sir Razik championed the cause of Sinhala - Moor
unity and a united Sri Lanka, thus demonstrating that the
interest of the Moor community and the welfare of all Sri
Lankan were near and dear to him. In this respect he proved
his sincerity by his relentless service to the Muslim
community and the country. No wonder he was popularly known as
the 'Uncrowned King of the Ceylon Moors.'
In 1930 he entered politics and was elected a
member of the Municipal Council. He was a Senator and a Member
of Parliament in a long political career capped by his
appointment as a Minister in 1960. Later he moved into the
diplomatic field and was Sri Lanka's High Commissioner in
Pakistan. He wanted the Muslims to be politically mature and
that they identify themselves with national parties. He left
the choice with the people in selecting the national party
that they should support.
Muslims were elected as representative in
majority Sinhala voter electorates like Borella, Akurana and
Beruwala. The majority community reposed confidence in
Muslims.
In 1946 Sir Razik was associated with Mr. D.S.
Senanayake in founding the United National Party. He
established the Muslim Ladies' College to give every educated
Muslim boy and educated Muslim bride. Former principal of
Zahira College Colombo Marhoom A.M.A. Azeez said that he would
live in the history of our country as the 'Father of the
Government Muslim School.'
Sir Razik was a person with a generous heart. He
has spent much of his wealth on the poor without many knowing
it. He served the community as president and later life
president of the Moors Islamic Cultural Home (MICH) for more
than 40 years. His grandfather and father had done a great
service to Muslim Community. In 1932 Marhoom Sir Razik was
made a Justice of Peace and an unofficial magistrate.
Sir Razik Fareed lived with unity with other
communities in this country. Sir Razik's father was a good
friend with the Sinhalese Tamils and Burgher communities leaders. Sir Razik was
example Sinhala-Muslim Ekamuthukama. He was good example
today's Muslim politicians and follow the examples of Mahroom
Sir Razik Fareed, Dr. Baduidin Mahmood, Dr. M.C.M. Kaleel and
Dr. T.B. Jayah who made an effective contribution to the
community and country. They lived with self-respect
maintaining the dignity and well being of the community.
The late Prime Minister S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike
said, "I regard Sir Razik not only as the leader of the Ceylon
Moors but also one of the greatest
Ceylonese Leaders."
A grateful community has established a foundation
inspired by a sense of gratitude called the Sir Razik Fareed
Foundation to foster and preserve for posterity the humble
service rendered by him.
He passed away on August 23, 1984 at the age of
91.
'Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Illahi Rajioon'
M. Ruzaik Farook JP,
President Sri Lanka Islamic Society
- Dec 29 2003
Sir
Razik Fareed's 20th death anniversary is tomorrow:
Flame that lit lives of
thousands
by P. P. M. Saheed - SO Aug 22
2004
Twenty years ago
today, a flame that lit the lives of thousands in this country
was extinguished. But the light of the great are never really
snuffed out. They continue to fire our spirit, our wills, give
us courage, help us to sacrifice and continue to illumine
every dark corner if our lives
as long as we continue to remember and honour that
great goodness of soul that make such men unique.
This is why today, I stand in testimony to this
great light and recall that surging spirit of a man who served
his country so well, so ably, so dedicatedly. He was as Dr. W.
Dahanayake called him, "the uncrowned king of the Moors of Sri
Lanka." He was Sir Razik Fareed, a man so towering in mental
stature, so noble in word and deed, that all honour sat
lightly upon him and the minutes of his everyday moved in
slow, measured tread, as though time itself passed and paused
at his feet in order that he could make the fullest use of
every ticking second.
Acknowledgement
I pen this note to acknowledge him not to
merely remember him. We in Sri Lanka,
will always remember. not only the
Muslim community but the people of all races and creeds. We
have all of us benefitted from this one life; and I may well
quote Shakespeare in saying that this, indeed, was a man
" whence cometh such another."
His long years of national and community service
are studded with many milestones. Member of the Central Muslim
Youth Conference in 1913
Lieutenant of the Colombo Town Guard in the civil
strife of 1915
.President of the All Ceylon Moors Association for
nearly 40 years
.President of the Moors Islamic Cultural Home for over
30 years .Founder
member of the United National Party Member
of the Colombo Municipal Council for 16 years Member
of the then State Council and Senate .Member
of the House of Representatives for Colombo Central for three
terms .High
Commissioner for Sri Lanka in Pakistan in 1968 President
of the Ceylon Kennel Club
.President of the Ceylon Poultry Club and Orchid Circle steward
of the Ceylon Turf Club.
He straddled the political scene of our country
for over a generation and was also a distinguished member of
the Peace Council of Sri Lanka. Above all, he put country
first evidenced by what he maintained both publicly and
privately many times over. When Great Britain wanted to give
us our independence, he said:
Let us (Muslims) not think of our own selfish
interests. We join hands with the majority community and we
say we want independence: we want freedom for Sri Lanka". All
his life, he also worked for the amelioration of the
conditions of the Muslims of this country.
His doughtly efforts saw the establishment of
schools for Muslims all over the island as well as Muslim
Teacher Training Colleges at Addalaichenai and Aluthgama. He
gave Muslim education the massive impetus that has put it in
seven-league boots today, and furthermore he never detracted
from his great vision of a united Sri Lanka - a nation of
multi-racial, multireligious, multi-cultural unity where all
communities lived in harmony, equality and peace.
Sir Razik Fareed was also the "Father of the
UNANI system of Medicine in Ceylon." In paving the way for our
independence he said on the floor of the House in 1945:
"It is our political sanctity if I may say so,
and a sense of justice, that made us stand up and fight side
by side with the Sinhalese in the course of obtaining Dominion
Status". To Sir Razik, Sinhala-Moor unity - Sinhala Yonaka
Ekamuthukama was almost an article of faith. He was, above
all, a great bridge-builder between communities, and here,
above all, in his loss felt most keenly.
Many of us remember Sir Razik as the last
surviving Sri Lankan knight
for he was the link with British honours. But Royal
conferment only served to emphasise the true nature of the
man. He had been a true knight all his life with all those
knightly qualities impelled him to serve, alleviate pain, ease
the pangs of distress, set to right the wrongs of public and
community life, defend the oppressed, succour the enfeebled,
uplift the downtrodden.
I still remember with pride his words in his
presidential address at the opening at the new building of the
Moors Islamic Cultural Home in 1965:
"The island needs the close co-operation of all
creeds and communities to develop its resources with patriotic
zeal and, if need be, with sacrifice. This must transcend all
other considerations. Let me therefore appeal to you and to
all right-thinking citizens to sink all differences in the
national interest and strive to make Ceylon a happier place to
live in and die for. I exhort my fellow compatriots to
remember what the Prophet of Islam meant when he said:
Patriotism is part of the Faith."
When I consider the breathtaking arena of Sir
Razik Fareed's life's, work I have
often wondered how such frail shoulders could bear all they
carried. This, to me, was the wonder of the man who my close
personal friend for a great many years. Everyone's just battle
became his own. He fought the British-owned Gas Company of
Colombo a long time ago so that the city of Colombo be lit by electricity. He fought for
the education of Muslim girls and set up the Muslim Ladies
College, which is today one of the biggest educational
institutions for Muslim girls in this country.
Fought for a cause
What is more, he fought for the cause of the
Moulavis - the Islam and Arabic teachers who were at the mercy
of mosque trustees and carned a pitiful pittance of about Rs.
30 or Rs. 40 as salary. Sir Razik Fareed brought them into
recognition as government teachers on par with the others,
thus giving these skilled, erudite scholars a place in the
educational sun.
This is only as it should be. Sir Razik inherited
from his family, a love for education.
His grandfather, Wapiche Marikar, built and
nurtured Zahira College and a number of Arabic schools in
Colombo. Sir Razik Fareed's father, W. M. Abdul Rahman, was
President of the Muslim Educational Society and superintended
the educational progress of the Muslim community. This is the
mantle Sir Razik inherited and wore with such grace all his
life. He it was, who was instrumental in founding a Department
for Arabic studies in the University of Peradeniya.
How does one measure the worth of such a man? It
is said that the soldier is measured by his medals; the
politician by his words; the artist by his canvas; the
craftsman by his hands.
How, then, does one consider the worth of this
distinguished son of Sri Lanka? As his friend and associate
for many years, I have only one yardstick as I look around and
see all who honour him on this his 20th death anniversary. I
see the outpouring of love, of deep respect, and feel the keen
sense of loss. Yes, dear brothers and sisters, this is how I
would measure him: by the love he awakened in us, the respect
he so easily earned, the admiration he commanded, the valour
of his every action, the fortitude of his every earthly hour.
Association
My association with Sir Razik Fareed, then (A. R.
A. Razik) started in 1947, when I went to him to get a job as
an English Assistant Teacher, which I received on the same
day. This was a miracle. This association lasted till his
death in August 1984 - a period of 37 years.
To him I was always "dear Saheed" or "dear
M.P.M.".
I recall with what great joy I congratulated him
by letter on June 12, 1981, when he was honoured as a national
hero of Sri Lanka. It was also then that I decided to put this
tribute into more concrete form. I had already established a
fully equipped meeting hall in Kandy to cater to the social
and cultural needs of the Muslim community. What better name,
I decided, than the Sir Razik Fareed Assembly Hall and so it
was.
And so did hundreds gather at this hall on
Saturday the 28th November 1981 to honour Sir Razik Fareed and
acknowledge that if today, we as a community can raise our
heads to be equal with all others, it is because of the
single-handed efforts of this great and good man.
On that occasion my heart was too full for words.
But I could say with prayerful conviction that this was a full
man-living a truly Islamic life and devoting himself to the
service of man
which ultimately is the one and only way to seek God as
enjoined by all the great religions of the world.
Such then is the pith and substance of this man
we never can forget. Generosity was the very nature of his
being. He gave away all he had to the people he served,
eventually living in a rented room in the last days of his
life. And, like an intricately-cut jewel, many other facets of
his nature gleamed and glowed and enriched all about him. His
love for the beauty of nature led him to cultivate the orchid
and learn the many enchanting secrets of the flower.
Even his home in Fareed Place, Bambalapitiya held
a small orchidarium where trailing vandas
and large-clustered dendrobiums where trailing stars in
glorious profusion. How often have I seen him among his
orchids, tending them along with his wife, Lady Ameena who
shared his love for beauty.
It was Mr. Eric Garth of Kundasale, Kandy, who at
my request, paid gracious tribute to Sir Razik in naming a new
hybrid orchid he grew after Sir Razik. To this day, orchild
lovers around the world see this clear blue flower with its
deep-blue lipped sepals and know it as the Sir Razik Fareed and so
does a flower perpetuate his name.
This orchid was registered with the Royal
Horticultural Society of England on 15-11-1984.
For us, however, he will always be as a flower in
our hearts. Sir Razik Fareed was a beacon, a guiding light, a
tower of strength, a fortress of courage, a champion that
belonged not only to each of us individually but to all the
nation and moreso, all the Muslim world.
It behoves us, surely, that Allah sends us such
men with rare frequence and this, the, is our greatest joy -
that we in our lifetime have seen the passage of such a man as
this. May i conclude by recalling the words of Shakespeare.
"His life was gentle, and the elements so mixed
in him that nature might stand up and say to all the world:
'This was a man'"
Yes, this indeed was a man and,
dear brothers and sisters, the mark he has left on all over
lives will never be erased:
"Those who are not grateful to their Fellowmen
will not be grateful to Allah" Nabi Muhammed (O.W.B.P)
Posted by F.S.Mahmood on
February 13, 2008
Sir Razik and the Moors claim
Arab descendency. But Lady Fareed is the daughter of a
Nobleman who sojourned in this country and shared in the work
of Ceylon Moors.
The Government archivist has
document which is of Dutch origin, it is the
Tombo. It was maintained under the Colombo
Dissawany as long ago as the year 1766; details of Sir Raziks
ancestry are itemized under the “head and Land Tombos of the
four Gravets of Colombo.” The extract of the document under
reference contains the first name Segoe Paridoe.
The subsequent reference to
this line of descendancy appears on 16th March. 1829 when a
lady by the name of Thangachy Umma, by her application No.
1585, applied and was granted letters of administration on the
even date. She was a widow, having been married to one
Wapotchy. She applied for letters of administration as the
administratrix of the property of her grandfather Mamouna
Pille. The correct name is Mahmud Naina; (Pulle is only an
honorific)
Thangachy Umma sold by deed
No.1585 to one Moetatjie, wife of Asma Marikkar Segoo Pardoo
of Colombo, a garden called Ambagahawatte for a consideration
of ₤37 equal to 493 Rix Dollars and four fanams. Moetatjie
Umma died intestate in 1859. Her son Segoe Paredoe Udema Lebbe
Marcar applied to the District court of Colombo for letters of
administration. This was application No. 3173 supported by
M.F.G Morgan, Proctor, dated 17th August, 1866. This
Application contained an annexure giving the names of 43 heirs
of Moetatjie Umma which is filed of record. Among these names
there appears the name of Sella Umma who was the widow of
Aresy Marcar of Slave Island and she is named in the annexure
as the daughter in law of Motatjie Umma. Aresy Marcar was
Motatjie Umma’s son. Yet another heir to these properties was
Wapche Marikkar, grandson of Motatjie.
Mamouna Pulle referred to
above was possessed of vast property. One such property was a
land near the former Victoria Memorial Eye Hospital. This
area, however, was earmarked under a scheme of widening of
roads. It was acquired and the owner was promised
compensation. It was agreed by the then Government Agent that
he, his heirs or representatives should have a plot of
Cinnamon land in the neighborhood. The present Dewatagaha
Mosque stands on this land. Justice Berwick in District Court
Case No. 61162 dated 15th November, 1873 affirms this
compensation was agreed on in 1845 and on this land stood an
old grave of Mussulman, which has since then come to be
regarded as place of sanctity.
He further says
“it would seem that the
administratix Thangachy entered into possession of the ground
with the consent Government Agent as an exchange for the land
taken by Government and that from that time she and some
persons not very well defined either in number or in their
connection with the deceased Mamu Nayana, by calling
themselves of his famiy or descendents began enhancing the
religious character of the place and the collection of
offerings and the erection of those buildings which have at
length become woven into the present Mosque, but evidently
without any but a very vague and indeterminate system of
management or responsibility or trusteeship. The usual history
in such cases is that some particular old man specially either
with the religious sentiments, or the constructive faculty
having leisure and taste that way, expands his leisure and
energy in what the neighbors look on as the laudable business
while at the same time they leave him to work alone at his
hobby till it has developed beyond all original contemplation
and they step in and claim common credit for it, or, as in
this case legal title.”
The late A.M Wapche Marikar
had two children by his wife Thangachy Natchia. One was a boy
and the other a girl. His son was Named Abdul Raheman and his
daughter Mariambu Nachia. Abdul Raheman Married Hajara Umma,
elder daughter of Isubu Lebbe Marikkar Hadjiar. They had three
children, two girls and one boy. The girls were named Ummu
Razeena and Ummu Rakeeba and the Boy Razik.
Sir Razik, when he came age,
married the grand-daughter of Seyed Abbas, a member of the
Dosh Sultan Family. This was a family great renown. Seyed
Abbas was very pious. He was used to constant devotion to
Allah. He died at Tharaweeh prayers in the Grand Mosque, New
moor Street, while prostrating in Sujood.
Seyed Abbas married Muthunga
Natchia or Magdoom Natchia, a sister of Naina Marikkar and
father of Abu Backer, A.M. Thowfeek, a.M Shahul Hameed and
A.M. Kudoos. Seyed Abbas had a daughter named Moomina Umma
should marry her cousin, Abu Backer. But owing to a
misunderstanding the proposal fell through. Her father, Aeyyed
Abbas, looked for a pure Arab for the hand of his daughter. It
was this time that Ibraheem bin Ahmed was carrying on
successful silk shop in the premises known today as Bulgarian
Hotel. Ibraheem bin Ahmed was from Arab country called
Zabeedee. He was very prosperous businessman and was investing
large sums of money on immovable properties on either road
facing his shop. A prominent figure among local Muslim
circles, he joined in all their activities. He was very
magnanimous with his offers of help for the educational
movement, for Zahira College and Hameedia School.
Seyed Abbas married his
daughter Moomina Umma to Ibrahim bin Ahmed, a nobleamn of Arab
descent. A beautiful daughter, named Amina Umma was born to
him. She was destined to become the wife of Sir Razik Fareed
in 1913. He was the envy of many suitors.
Ibrahim bin ahmed’s
nephew (his siter’s son) Abdulla Seyed Mohamed Dawood Al
Battah is a Quazi in Crater.Aden. He is very regular
correspondent with his cousin, Lady Fareed. Amina Umma or Lady
Fareed has a genealogy extending right up to Mohammad (Sal)
and her genealogy is given below
The roots of tree
or SHAJARA
Sir Razik, by this
marriage, had one daughter whom he named Hajara.
Unfortunately, she was destined to die early.
Source; - SIR RAZIK FAREED