Soft-spoken dedicated religious and social worker

Moulavi Mohamed Thameem

On the eve of the 27th night of Ramazan on January 5, 2000, Moulavi Mohamed Ali Mohamed Thameem passed away peacefully after a brief illness at the age of 65 years. The 27th night of Ramazan is a significant night known as “Laylatul Qadr”, a night greater in blessedness and spiritual virtue than a thousand months.

Maulavi Thameem was popularly known as “Thameem Alim". I was fortunate to move with him closely. He was a soft spoken man and dedicated religious and social worker. During the early period of Tabligh Jamat activity he associated with Marhoom Haniffa Haji, then Amir of the all Ceylon Tabligh Jamaat. Maulavi Thameem Alim went on three-day Jamath missions every month from Meeraniya area before his death.

He helped many religious institutions, specially madarasas, which were in financial crisis, while also being an active participant in the Ahadiya movement from 1950. He was the son of Marhoom Mohamed Ali Alim and Fathima. In 1962, he married Izzathul Jakkiya.

Although he did not have proper schooling he was fortunate to have attended the Dharga Town Arabic College and Puttalam Cassimiya Arabic College and become a qualified Moulavi. He was engaged in the gem trade through which he was able to manage his family, provide a proper education to his children and contribute modestly to needy causes.

He was also much sought after for Quthba Bayan (Friday prayer sermons) by many mosques. He also taught children Holy Quran recital. He contributed articles to leading newspapers on important religious and cultural subjects. In recognition of his dedicated service to the Ahadiya movement, Moulavi Thameem Alim was conferred with the title of “Khadimul Ahadiya” in 1994 by the then Minister of State for Muslim Religious and Cultural Affairs, A.H.M. Azwer.

Even in the last stages of his life, he actively contributed to the progress of Al Hikma Muslim College Ahadiya movement. May Allah grant him Jannathul Firdouse.

By M. Fowzul Aleem Farook