Aliraza Rajani – former President of Dar es Salaam Jamaat and Community of Toronto (ISIJ Toronto)

This is an interview with Aliraza Rajani, born in Tanzania in 1951, who later became a community leader in both Dar es Salaam and Toronto. The discussion covers his childhood in Songhia, Tanzania, his education, and early career. He shares insights into his decision to enter community service, his tenure as president of Dar es Salaam Jamaat where he focused on housing and education, and later, his role as president of Toronto Jamaat, where he facilitated community development projects. Aliraza reflects on the differences between managing communities in Africa and North America, his relationship with regional and world federations, and his candid views on the current state and future challenges facing the Khoja Shia Ithna-Asheri Muslim community, including disunity and the misuse of social media. He also touches upon the spiritual needs of the youth in the community.