In the name of Allah, the Merciful. Salawat upon the Prophet, Hadhrat Muhammad and his progeny, the pure and immaculate.

And upon his companions who were faithfully by his side.

And upon all Muslims who believed in him without ever having sight of him.

Maulana Syed Saeed Akhtar Razavi, in his capacity as a Director of the Preparatory Committee of the first Conference of World Ahlulbayt League (held in London on 5th August 1983), requested me to prepare an outline of the role of Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheris in East Africa.