The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) adopted the Indian Islamic Heritage (IIH) in 2021 to digitize the Muslim heritage to preserve India's diverse cultural and cultural history. It formed a committee consisting of Aslam Abdullah, a trustee of the organization, Dr. Hussain Nagamia, Saeed Patel, Siraj Thakur, and Altaf Patel. The committee's purpose is to supervise the setting up of a website dedicated to the Indian Islamic heritage and invite people of India to submit information on historical sites from their areas. People can submit photographs, history, videos of masajid, sacred places, educational institutions, graveyards, and other places of importance built by Muslims all over India beginning in 622 AD when they constructed the first masjid in Gujarat.
The project also has information about hotels and halal zabeeha restaurants near those sites for tourists. It is a progressive project with newer sites added regularly.
The project also intends to develop written material on these sites for educational institutions in particular.
Indian Islamic Heritage
American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin works for the Muslim educational development in India through financially supporting institutions, individuals and honoring high achieving students at high school and secondary levels. Its annual conventions held in India and the US offer forums to Muslims of India to interact and participate in its educational movement. Formed in 1989, it has succeeded in creating a network of institutions and experts.
In addition to that, it also promotes awareness and information on the unique Indian Islamic heritage. In 2020, it launched its project to document every Muslim monument, mosque, and shrine digitally. It is an evolving and progressive project as it would keep on adding additional information as and when they are available.
The objective is to preserve the historical contribution of Muslim Indians in an easily retrievable format. The AFMI hopes that the website would become a leading source of Indian Islamic heritage.
The Objectives
This project is a people's project. Everyone can participate in it. In almost every village and town of India, one can identify mosques, monuments, shrines, schools, graveyards, hospitals, ruins associated with Muslims, past or present. The project intends to preserve digitally every such building regardless of the shape and form it is at present.
Basic information about such sites will help us identify them correctly and record their existence before they disappear. The basic information should include the following.
Name
Is it a mosque, shrine, monument, hotel or restaurant or other
Year of its construction
its physical address
A short description of the place, such as the size and the management
Its current stays if it is a ruin or functional and its purpose.
District and state
Current photographs - Max 10
A two to three-minute video of the site from all angels
Once you have this information, you can upload it on our Submission page. Our editorial board will process the information and put it on the website.
We believe that through people's participation, we can preserve every institution constructed by Muslims in India. Therefore, we will duly acknowledge the individuals and groups submitting or collecting the information. You can also email us the info if you have difficulty in logging in or uploading.
The website site requires that you create a username and password to use it. For further details, you can email us at the following address.
Our vision
We have a very ambitious vision of collecting, processing, and digitally preserving every institution associated with Muslim Indians in any form or shape, past or present. Of course, it is not easy to collect such information. But it is doable if we follow a road map.
The information is out there in various forms. The Internet has rich material on many of these institutions; the record of the Archaeological Survey of India, the Imperial Gazetteer of India, research done by scholars, and books written on the subject offer essential data. Yet, the fundamental data is out there in India's villages, towns, and cities. The project wants to capture and combine all sources of data to develop a comprehensive study.
The project has identified five main categories.
Masjid. This category includes places of worship of Muslims. It has functional and nonfunctional structures.
Shrine. It contains tombs, graveyards, dargahs, Imambaras, mausoleums, etc.
Monuments. It includes buildings such as forts, parks, gardens, or other monuments.
Eateries: It includes halal and Muslim safe hotels and restaurants in the cities and towns of mosques, shrines, and mausoleums.
Other includes schools, inns, or any different structure not included in the above categories.
The project intends to document essential information such as name, year of construction, short history, current use, management, and address. It also wants to have a photograph and a short video.
Why are we doing it?
To preserve Muslim Indian heritage
To inform Muslims of India of their diverse and rich heritage
To educate the world Muslim community of Muslim heritage in India
To tell Indians of their contribution to the world Muslim community.
To motivate younger generations to research their heritage
To motivate Muslim educational institutions in India to include courses on the legacy of the Muslim community
To promote heritage tourism
To make the data on Muslim contribution in India available to the world
To motivate the community to protect and preserve their heritage
To encourage the community to cherish their legacy
AFMI Board of Trustees
Dr. Abdur Rehman Nakedar
General Secretary
Dr. Abdul Raheman Nakadar was born in a Village-Kadi-in Gujarat. He did his secondary schooling in Mumbai and went to Gandhi Medical College-Bhopal for his MB; BS degree (1962). He went to the UK in 1964 to do MRCP and then immigrated to the USA in 1973. He took early retirement in 1999 from his thriving Internal Medicine & cardiology practice in Livonia-MI to pursue his other interests.
For 25 consecutive years (1974 to 1999), he conducted free medical camps in India, for all, but especially for the poor, irrespective of their caste or creed.
He founded the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin (AFMI) and pioneered Gold, Silver & Bronze medal programs for X and XII students. This Medal program is considered one of the most successful inspirational and motivational programs that created a grassroots educational movement in India. This program takes place every year in different cities of India. In 2020, this International Educational Convention will be its 30th convention.
Under the banner of AFMI, he conducted three Dalit & Minority International conventions, one in NY (2008) and the two were in Delhi. PM of India Mr. Manmohan Singh presided in one of these Conventions held in Delhi in 2011.
To spread his education message, he has built an educational institution spread over 25 acres (www.drnik.net) near his birthplace in Gujarat, India. This institution is probably the most prominent English Medium Minority Educational Institution in the state. It is open to all.
He has helped and guided communities in building hospitals, schools, and other social institutions in the USA and India.
Dr. Nakadar has actively participated in political activities and has been invited to the White House and the State Department for briefings, presidential inaugurations, and other social occasions, like “Iftars”.
He publishes the Muslim Observer newspaper (www.muslimobserver.com) that he founded 21 years ago. On the website, it has a worldwide reach. The mainstream media and policymakers recognize it as a Muslim-American voice.
His mission is to establish a Muslim Media Network, an Institution for American Muslims.
He firmly believes media is vital for articulating Muslims and Islam issues and developing a thriving, vibrant, peaceful, and inclusive community.
Ali Qureshi
He is a originally from Mumbai India and settled in New Mexico. He served in Indian Airforce and has his own business
Aslam Abdullah
He is originally from Bhopal, India, Studied in Delhi, London and USA, his focus is Islam, its history and its contribution to world civilization. He is based in Southern California and the resident scholar at Islamicity.org, the largest Islamic web portal in the world
Dr. Tajuddin
Dr. Tajuddin is from Karim Nagar in Telengana. He is a physician and the founder of several organizations devoted to the cause of Muslim Education in India
Our Team
The American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin selected the following organization members to manage the project.
Aslam Abdullah
Aslam Abdllah is an AFMI trustee and past President. He is a resident scholar at Islamicity.org. Born in Bhopal, he is a US citizen and currently resides in Southern California. He is the President of the World Council of Muslims for Interfaith Relations. He is heading the Indian Islamic Heritage Project.
Saeed Patel:
He comes from the Indian state of Gujarat and is an entrepreneur, philanthropist, social and justice activist. He lives in the N.Y. area and cares deeply about fairness, justice, and social causes.
Patel has promoted various ventures of education and health services for the last 30 years. In addition, he is the President-elect of the American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin.
Altaf Patel :
Altaf lives in London, England, and runs I.T. company paesuk.com,PAES is won best Thames’s gateway innovative product of the year award. PAES involved in design and architect web/App design for IIH. Altaf interest is in serving humanity wherever and whenever the opportunity arises.
Sirajuddim Thakur
Born in Village named Mothia, Tal-Hansot, Dist-Bharuch, in 1948.
Studied Mechanical Engineering at S V R Regional Engineering College, Ichchhanath, Surat (Now known as Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology). Graduated with B.E. (Mechanical) Degree in 1972
Reached Toronto, Canada, in August 1972. Citizen of Canada, since 1975
He is presently residing in Ajax, Ontario, Canada, which is nearby to Toronto.
Worked in AVIONICS (Aviation Electronics), till retirement (2014)
Founding member of Jamiatul Muslemin of Toronto (Madina Masjid), also was a Council member for many years. Still a Founding Patron Member of JMT.
Founding member of Scarborough Muslim Association (Jam-E-Abubakr Siddique, Mosque), Past President of S M A. Still a Founding Patron Member of SMA.
Founded Abdul Gaffar Sheikh, Welfare, Charitable Trust at Navi-Palod, Kim Char-Rasta.
Past-President of AFMI (American Federation of Muslims of Indian Origin, USA & Canada).
Hussain Nagamia
Dr, Nagamia was from Baroda and a famous cardio surgen in the state of Florida. He is the founder of the Nagamia Institute of Islamic Science
Babu Khalfan
Babu Khalfan was born in Madagascar and raised in Tanzania. In 1971, Babu immigrated to the United States and founded Signs+Decal corporation. Together with his sons, his sign business is celebrating a remarkable 50 years. It is one of the leading architectural signage, metal, and glass fabricators in New York City.
His projects are in New York City, Washington D.C., Boston, and Los Angeles. In addition, his work appears in airports, train stations, and large commercial buildings like One World Trade Center.
Continuing his success as an entrepreneur, Babu created Morgan Publishing House in 1998. It has evolved into inspirational and educational books, various city books, and knowledge-enhancing materials. The writing is original, fun, and motivates every age group from 9 to 95!
While the project was in its final stages, the team lost Hussain Nagamia as he succumbed to his illness. May God accept all he did for the project.
