95. Sayed Munir, Missionary - page 398

He was born in the village of Shagnan, Badakhshan in 1882. His name was Muniruddin, better known as Sayed Munir. His father Sayed Muhammad bin Kassim descended from Sayed Sohrab Wali Badakhshani and was an educated man in his village. Nothing is known about the brothers of Sayed Munir. It must however be known that Pir Sabzali had seen his one brother in Rushan, Tajikistan who was the Mukhi on October 31, 1923.
Sayed Munir learnt Arabic, Persian as well as religious education from his grandfather at home. He passed his early age for few years in Iran, and came into contact with Fidai Khorasani (d. 1925). He arrived in Bombay with his father at the age of 16 years in 1899 and beheld the Imam for the first time at Wadi. The Imam told him, 'You give your services as my missionary.' He came into the contact of eminent missionaries and visited Hunza, Chitral, Gilgit and Kashmir. The Imam also deputed him in Egypt, Iraq and Yamen to study the old manuscripts on Ismailism and also brought some historical documents with him in India. In 1912, he joined the Central Board of Mission for Bombay, which became known as the Recreation Club, and taught Persian to the new missionaries. Sayed Munir was a brilliant orator and with his jolly nature he won the hearts of masses.

Imam Sultan Muhammad Shah arrived in Karachi for 27 days on April 10, 1920. Before departure, the Imam deputed him in Sind, Baluchistan and Makran coast to operate proselytizing mission among the Zikri sect. In this context, the Imam issued the following letter:-

I, His Highness Sir Aga Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan, G.C.S.I., do hereby certify that the bearer Sayyad Munir, son of Sayyad Mahomed Cassim of Badakhshan, aged about 37 years, is under my service as a missionary to work in Sind, Baluchistan and Makran.

A photograph of Sayyad Munir is hereto affixed for easy identification.

Karachi:
5th May, 1920

It was an appalling mission he had been assigned. He faced many troubles, which he surmounted with courage and unwavering faith. He continued his mission in Turbat, Lasbela, Makran, Gwadar, Muscat, Pasani and Ormada. He converted Karimdad, a leading learned man in Ormada, who was followed by many Zikri families, notably the families of Alijah Dilmurad Sanjar, Ali Baloch, Saleh Muhammad Jawwad and Alijah Nuruddin, who came to live in Karachi.

He was one of the famous missionaries of the Recreation Club Institute and was sent in East Africa in May-June, 1925. In 1936, he once again went to East Africa with Alijah Alibhai Nanji. He also assisted Pir Sabzali in Karachi and Bombay in the mission works. He also visited Badakhshan, Chitral and Afghanistan on his mission works.

Sayed Munir was a dedicated missionary and preacher. He made himself so busy in whole life that never permitted him to get marriage. In appreciation of his outstanding services, the Imam conferred upon him the title of Honorary Missionary in 1954. He died in Karachi on Thursday, October 8, 1957.

He was not a regular writer. He however compiled a book, 'Guldasta-e-Falsafa' which was posthumously published in 1958 at Karachi.