Our History

Over 100 years ago, in 1912, Anjuman e Faiz e Panjetani (A.F.P) was formed for the purpose of rendering help and ameliorating the condition of pilgrims going for Ziarat & Haj. The organisation aimed to help Zaireen perform their pilgrimage with comfort and ease, and one of the ways in which the Faiz achieved this goal was by setting up Musafirkhanas (Pilgrim Residences) in Iraq at Kazmain, Karbala, Najaf and Basrah. 

These Pilgrim Residences were managed for a long time by the Haji Jetha Gokal Family in Basrah. In 1968, Haji Abdul Hussain Jetha Gokal, chairman of A.F.P. Trust in Iraq, was martyred. The Government of Iraq confiscated the moveable and immoveable properties of Faiz e Panjetani in Iraq along with all Jetha Gokal properties and suspended the activities of the Faiz in Iraq.

In 2004, the new Government of Iraq constituted a committee to look into all such issues of Auqaf properties illegally seized by the previous Iraqi Regime. The President and Vice President of the A.F.P. along with their team made several visits to Iraq and represented the case of the Anjuman e Faiz e Panjetani before the Prime Minister of Iraq and the judiciary. After 10 years of constant follow up, Alhamdulillah, all the Pilgrim Residences located in Kazmain, Najaf and Karbala were registered in the name of A.F.P. in the Land Records.

The Government of the Republic of Iraq - General Secretariat for the Council of Ministers, NGO's Directorate, have confirmed the Registration of Anjuman e Faiz e Panjetani as an NGO in Iraq under Serial No.2176626, Registration Certificate Ref. No.1858 dated 30/12/2013, to carry on its day to day activities in the territory of the Republic of Iraq.

1912

In 1912 A.D. (1330 A.H.) Anjuman e Faiz e Panjetani was formed in Bombay (India) as a society to help Zaireen perform their pilgrimage with comfort and ease by setting up Pilgrim Residences in Iraq at Kazmain, Karbala, Najaf and Basrah.

1932

This institution was subsequently made into a trust by a deed executed on 27th February 1932 by the then trustees consisting of Haji Dawood Haji Nasser Mowji, Hasanali Peermahomed Ebrahim, Doctor Rajabali Kasamali Nathani, Goolamhusainbhoy Jaffer, Haji Sheriffbhoy Hassam, Esmail Abdul Karim Panju, Haji Datoobhoy Jetha Esa Thavar, Haji Goolamhusein Valimahomed Ladiwalla, Goolamhusain Allarakhia Soomar, Hasanalibhoy Allarakhia Thavar, Haji Sheriffbhoy Hassam and Haiderali Haji Bachubhoy Ali J.P.

1940

The Pilgrim Residences in Iraq were managed from 1940 to 1950 by Haji Kassimali bhai Jetha Gokal and his brother Haji Abdul Huseinbhai Jetha Gokal. After the demise of Haji Kassim Alibhai in 1950 in Karbala, the responsibility fell upon Haji Abdul Husein bhai Jetha Gokal who was assisted by Yassin Kassim Ali Gokal and Haji Mustafa Kassim Ali Gokal. In 1954, after regulatory changes, the A.F.P. was re-registered as a society in Iraq under the leadership of Haji Abdul Husein bhai Jetha Gokal.

Haji Abdul Husein bhai Jetha Gokal continued to devote the majority of his time to looking after pilgrims coming to Iraq, and other philanthropic activities such as building mosques and hospitals.

Most of the pilgrims were coming by sea to Basra on the British India (BI) Line which used to have weekly sailings from Bombay and Karachi to Basra. The pilgrims from East Africa used to transit in Bombay or Karachi. From Basra, the pilgrims would normally travel by train to Hilla and then by car to Najaf or Karbala.

1968

After the martyrdom of Shaheed Abdul Husain Jetha Gokal and the confiscation of the properties by the previous regime, the matter of returning the properties to the AFP was pursued from 1970 by Marhoom Al-Haj Sultan Ahmed Moloobhoy, the President of the AFP till he passed away in 1981. 

Marhoom Al-Haj Sultan Ahmed Moloobhoy

1981

Marhoom Al-Haj Roshanali Dawood Nasser, who became the President of Faiz after the death of Al-Haj Sultan Ahmed Moloobhoy, then pursued the matter relentlessly with various authorities in Iraq for 30 years, until he passed away in 2008.

Marhoom Al-Haj Roshanali Dawood Nasser

2003

Hujjatul Islam, Syed Alauddin Al-Mussawi and advocate Mr. Mehdi Karbool (eminent lawyer retained by the maraji) were authorised to represent the AFP in the governmental and legal proceedings relating to the release of the Musafirkhana properties which had been encroached upon by various people. 

2009

AFP, headed by the president Al-Haj Salmaan Sultan Moloobhoy and Marhoom Al- Haj Mohib Ali Nasser (Vice President) along with Trustee Al-Haj Gulam Virjee (SukuSuku) of Dubai and Marhoom Al- Haj Gulamali Meghani (G.M.) of Bhavnagar made frequent visits to Iraq to follow up various cases pending in Iraq courts and succeeded in obtaining the release of most of the properties.

2013

With the help and dua’as of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Syed Ali Hussaini Al Sistani (DA) and various government officials, Anjumane Faiz e Panjetani was finally recognised as a foreign NGO in the Republic of Iraq by the NGO’s Directorate on 30/12/2013. Seen in the picture from left to right Al Haj Gulam Virji, Al Haj Salmaan Moloobhoy, President, AFP Dr Ali Makki Director General NGO Directorate, Mr Basil Al Mousavi Dy Director General NGO Directorate, Mr Mahdi Karbool lawyer of AFP, Haji Ali Shamsa.

2016 

Following decades of hard work by many people, on the joyous occasion of the Wilaadat of Imam e Zamana (ATF) the first of the three repossessed residences was opened to zuwwar on 17th Shaban 1437 (25th May 2016) in Najaf. 

Al Najaf Residence was inaugurated by Syed Murtaza Al-Kashmiri Vakil Mutlaq of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Syed Ali Hussaini Al Sistani In the presence of Syed ‘Alaa Al-Musawi, then Head of Waqf Shi’ae of Iraq and Honorable Minister, Syed Mohammed Raza Al Sistani, son of Grand Ayatullah Al Sistani, Shaikh Ali Al Najafi son of Grand Ayatullah Shaikh Basheer Al Najafi. Syed Mohammad Al-Musawi Secretary General WABIL London. Basil Al Mousawi, Deputy Director General of the NGO Directorate and many Khoja brothers and sisters from around the world. 

The ‘Al Najaf Residence’, as it was named, has a capacity of about 70 pilgrims and is located just 90 meters away from the Haram of Imam Ali A.S. This property has been carefully restored to its original heritage architectural aesthetics while simultaneously being upgraded with modern amenities. The restoration work took almost 20 months.

2019

The launch of the Al Kadhmiya Residence on 12th January 2019 in the presence of dignitaries Syed Murtaza Al-Kashmiri Vakil Mutlaq of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Syed Ali Hussaini Al Sistani, Syed ‘Alaa Al-Musawi, then Head of Waqf Shi’ae of Iraq and Honorable Minister, Syed Mohammad Al-Musawi Secretary General WABIL London, Syed Ezzidin al Hakim son of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah al Hakim, Syed Mohammed Reza Modaressi, son of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Mohammad Taqi al-Modaressi, Representatives of His Eminence Grand Ayatullah Bashir al-Najafi, Sheikh Sattar al Murshidi Head of Ataba Samarra, 5 Representatives of Sheikh Mahdi Al-Karbalae Head Ataba Hussainiya, Dr. Jamal al Dabbagh, Head of Ataba Kadhmiya, Dr. Sami al Araji Minister and Head of Investment Commission of Iraq, Mr. Ali al Dabbagh, former Minister and spokesman of Government of Iraq and many more.

This property is virtually touching the boundary of the Haram, less than 5 minutes walk to the Haram entrance with unparalleled views of the Holy Shrines from the restaurant and some rooms.

The restoration took around 20 months.

2020

Marhoom Al Haj Mohib Ali Roshan Ali Nasser vice president of Anjuman e Faiz e Panjetani passed away on 22nd October 2020. We lost a community leader and a philanthropist. Marhum was also Malli Vakil of Grand Ayatullah Syed Ali Al Hussaini Al Sistani (DA) (May Allah give him long life), President of KSI Jama Masjid Trust Mumbai, Chairman of Alimaan Charitable Trust, Najafi House, Mumbai

Marhoom Al Haj Mohib Ali Roshan Ali Nasser

2021

Al Qasr Residence, a newly constructed 13 storey Pilgrims Residence in Karbala al Muqaddasa was opened in mid 2021.

Al Qasr Residence is located on Bab al Qibla Street of the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain a.s. near Qa’atar Rasool only 350/400 metres from the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussain a.s.

The total capacity of Al Qasr Residence will be approximately 450 guests, however, we are now ready with rooms to accommodate 330 guests.