SAMEER RECALLS

1851-1897

“The following items are extracts from the diary of A.L.M. Idroos Lebbe Marikar, paternal grandfather of N.D.H.M. Salih and maternal grandfather of W.M.A. Jabbar, who lent me the diary”

Muhammad Sameer bin Haji Ismail Effendi bin Sahib Dorai

Date	Record
18-Oct-1851 22-12-1267H	My mother’s younger sister, Ummu Hany Umma, married Sinne Marikar’s son, Sahib Dorai (grandfather of Muhammad Sameer)
23-Oct-1853 26-11-1270H	Kader Kandu’s daughter, Ummu Hany Natchia, married Abdul Cader Hajiar’s son, Abdul Careem* (grandfather of Raliya Noordeen-Sameer, wife of Muhamad Sameer)
23-Aug-1854	Ummu Hany Umma got a son, named Ismail (father of Muhammad Sameer)
	Notes from Other Sources
27-Mar-1884	Ismail, set sail to Egypt, Istanbul, and ‘Arabia, to see ‘Arabi Pasha’s people and submit a petition about ‘Arabi Pasha to the Government, and to perform Hajj, in the company of S.L. Mahmood (Haji), A.L.M. Shamsy Lebbe Marikar (Haji), M.L.M. Zainudeen (Haji), and cook Rawther (Haji), Y.L. Sinne Lebbe Marikar (Haji)
27-Jul-1886	Ismail married Haleema alias SevathAmma (d/o CLM Ahmed Ali Marikar+)
7-Mar-1890	Haleema got a son and named him Muhammad Sameer
25-Nov-1891	A.C. Noordeen (son of Abdul Careem*) married Ummu Habeeba (parents of Raliya Noordeen-Sameer), when Ismail, her uncle was the witness for the bride
19-Sep-1893	Noordeen and Ummu Habeeba blessed with a daughter and named her Raliya
1-Jan-1894	Ismail and family shifted to Wellawatte (Colombo 6)
11-Jan-1896	Ismail died and family returned to New Moor Street
12-Jan-1896	Sameer came under the guardianship of his maternal grandfather Kappodear Lebbe Cassim Lebbe Marikar’s son, Ahmed Ali Marikar+
27-Dec-1896	Colombo Muslim Educational Society passed a vote of condolence on the death of Ismail (Full Name: ISMAIL LEBBE MARIKAR alias HAJI ISMAIL EFFENDI)
2-Aug-1897	Yusuf, an uncle of Sameer taught him to maintain a diary

A Diary of events recorded by Muhammad Sameer

1900-1970

Date	Record
31-Aug-1900	Hameedia school was built and I (Muhammad Sameer) was one of the first batch of students admitted
3-Jan-1901	I attended City College, san Sebastian, Colombo
9-Sep-1901	Conveyed to ‘Arabi Pasha my mothers Salaam and prayed for his safe return to Egypt due to start the next day
3-Nov-1902	I received my first prize of a book, at College, distributed by J. Harward, Principal of Royal College.
13-March-1903	My circumcision Kanthuri function
3-Jul-1905	Attended St. Thomas’ College, Mutuwal, Colombo 15
31-Dec-1905	Attended mass meeting of Muslims with regard to the Fez question and listened to the speech of Moulavi Rafiudin Ahmed, BA LLB
1-Jan-1906	Passed London College of Preceptor’s Examination, Lower Form
19-Jun-1906	Joined in the Mowlood Kandury for naming A.J.M. Waleed
3-Nov-1906	Uncle I.L.M. Yusuf brought the 1206 issue of Review of Religions of I.L.M. Abdul Azeez containing the photo of the leter of our Holy Prophet to the King of Egypt, and I began to subscribe to the Review of Religions
4-Feb-1907	W.M. Thaha asked me to help his brother W.M. Hassim in his shop, bade farewell, and left Ceylon.
16-Apr-1907	Took Naseeyath of Alaviyyah at Symonds Road Mosque at the hands of Seyyed Hussein Saqqaf
25-Jan-1908	Accompanied W.M. Hassim to the Notary Office to sign his marriage agreement
10-Jun-1908	Admitted a member of the Maradana Mosque congregation and received a leter from I.L.M. Abdul Azeez referring to me as “the worthy son of a valued friend of mine”
1-Sep-1908	Celebrated the inauguration of the Hejaz Railway between Mecca and Medina at a meeting at the Hameedia School, as the organizer and secretary (photographed)
2-Sep-1908	Traced the Arabic poem composed by my father and approved by Sheikh Abdullah bin Omar Batheeb
10-Oct-1908	Lived at Grandpass and attended prayers and recited Adhan at St. Joseph’s Street Mosque.
1-Jan-1909	Started publishing a monthly, The True Messenger, with A.C.A. Hameed as Tamil Editor
31-Jan-1909	Received letter from Sheikh Abdullah Quilliam about the Liverpool Muslim Mission
19-Mar-1910	N.H.M. Abdul Cader, MMC, recommended me for a clerical post in the Municipality
24-Jul-1910	Attended wedding of Mohammed Macan Markar, Turkish Consul
1-Nov-1910	Received 1,000 copies of Jewels of Islam, composed by me and published at Lahore
6-Nov-1910	Received letter from Alexander Russel Webb about the American Muslim Mission at New York
1-Jan-1911	Started Municipal Clerical Service in the Assessor’s Department under N.G. Power
4-Mar-1911	W.M.A. Jabbar brought me a proposal from the parents of Raliya suggesting a marriage to her
21-May-1911	My dowry function
10-Dec-1911	I married Raliya
18-Jan-1912	Received Islamic Fraternity published by Professor Barakathullah from Japan
23-May-1912	Attended Garden Party to Mayor Keith McLeod at the GOH
1-Jul-1912	Subscribed to the “Comrade”, the weekly nationalist journal of Mohamed Ali, BA, in India
18-Jul-1912	Joined in Mi’raj celebrations at the Abullah Alim donated Hall and read a paper on the Night Journey of our Holy Prophet
19-Jul-1912	Traced reference in Appuhamy, an English magazine of 7 March 1890, to M.C. Abdul Rahman, Mohamedan member in the Legislative Council
1-Jan-1913	Received African Times and Orient Review, published monthly by Duse Mohammed in London, in whish my articles and photos appeared
21-Jan-1913	Received letter from Dr. M.A. Ansari, head of the medical mission from India to Turkey, during the Balkan war
17-Feb-1913	My article about Sultan Abdul Hamid Khan of Turkey appeared in the Magazine, “Mohamedan”, of Madras
8-Jun-1913	I am elected Secretary at the meeting of the Maradana Mosque congregation, to adopt the rules and regulations of the Mosque, and also elected a Board Member
17-Sep-1913	Attended reception to Dr. H.R. Abdul Majeed, LLB, at galle Face Hotel. Roup photo taken and an account by me published in the London Magazine along with photo
7-Dec-1913	Presented an address, at a gathering at Public Hall, to the Interpreter Mudaliyar, M.L.M. Ahmed Lebbe Marikar, signed by me and S.D.M. Burhan
14-Oct-1914	Received letter from Iskander Bin Farus Frazer Hill Poet about the Australian Muslim Mission
26-May-1915	Could not attend office owing to the riots
20-Jun-1915	Joined the All Ceylon Muslim League, founded by C.M. Meera Lebbe Marikar (who was the Secretary)
15-Nov-1915	At the meeting of Moors Union, N.H.M. Abdul Cader, President, released the life history of I.L.M. Abdul Azeez, written by me.
1-Jun-1916	Islamic Review of Woking published my article on the “Prophet’s Trust in God”
3-Jul-1916	Joined Public Service Mutual Provident Association
1-Jan-1917	I inquired from the local head of the Ahmadiyya Movement why there is such a vehement opposition to the movement. He told me that the Holy Quran states in 33 places that Isa Nabi is dead while the Muslims believe that he is alive in the sky and will descend one day. I asked him how to reconcile the fact about his coming down if he is dead. He referred me to page 195 of Asrarul Aalam by Siddi Lebbe, where he states, “There will be one Muslim bearing the name Katham and he will be the best among the saints of the Ummah (seal) followers of our Holy Prophet and he will be the one who will be the last coming ISA ALAIHISSALAM
26-Mar-1918	Attended, with permit card, the funeral of His Excellency Sir John Anderson, Governor of Ceylon, at Kanatte, Colombo
3-Apr-1918	Traced papers of Kandyan Kings presenting land for Mosques and for maintenance of Mosques
7-Jun-1918	I got a copy of the letter dated 22-Jun-1906, from the Government, permitting the Muslims to wear the Fez in court
1-Jan-1919	Traced paers regarding Dehiwela Mosque meeting asking the Government to sell the Crown Land adjoining the Mosque cemetery, and showing that the Mosque had bought the land in 1908
3-Mar-1919	Received ration card from the Municipality issued to me No 107, Old Moor Street
1-May-1919	Elected member of the Executive Committee of the Maradana Mosque
9-Oct-1919	I shifted to Wellawatta
3-Nov-1919	My daughter, Rameela, and son, Thahir, attended St. Clare’s College
5-Jul-1922	Promoted to Index Clerk in the Municipal Service Div. 1 on increased salary
5-Oct-1922	Heard Sarojini Naidu’s lecture at Maradana Mosque grounds (that sweet singing bird of India)
14-Apr-1923	Attended meeting under the presidency of S.A. Marikar, Bat at Law, to consider the form of reception to Muhammad Lord Headly, expected in Ceylon.
15-Oct-1923	Prepared memorandum on the working of the Municipal Assesor’s Department at Chairman’s request
1924	Muslim Committee recommended to government to substitute the word “Muslim” in place of “Mohamedan”, leaving the racial names, Moor, Malay, untouched.
1924	Hon W.M. Abdul Rahman, at the incorporation of the Maradana Mosque Management, wished to include the names of Proctor N.M.M. Haniffa, M.B. Muhammad, and Nafi Naina-Marikar as members of the Maradana Mosque Board of Trustees.
1-Apr-1924	My daughter Saleema and son Ismail attended St. Clare’s College.
11-Jun-1924	Received post-card from N.D.H. Abdul Caffoor stating that some who have gone to the Wembley Exhibition are going for Hajj, viz; N.D.H. Abdul Caffoor, his sons, Muhammad Falil and Muhammad Yousuf.
8-Oct-1924	Received letter of thanks from H.M. Macan Markar for congratulating him at his success at the elections.
1-Jan-1925	My son Thahir admitted to Royal College by Major H.L. Reed, Principal.
5-Apr-1925	Received letter from Yahya Ali, MA LLB. From Madras regarding Muslim Marriage Laws.
1-Jul-1925	Received letter from N.D.H. Abdul Caffoor at Wembley Exhibition, London.
31-Jul-1925	Received letter from N.H.M. Abdul Cader at Wembley Exhibition stating that he was leading London for home.
6-Dec-1925	Nafi Naina-Marikar and Tuan Arif A. raheem, Secretaries, called a meeting of Muslims to protest against a newspaper for caricaturing our Holy Prophet (sal) with J. Hobbs (Cricketer)
6-Jun-1926	Elected Co-Treasurer of the Maradana Mosque
10-Aug-1926	Complimented by the Mayor and Chairman for work in connection with Court Case DC20081.
12-Dec-1926	Received letter from Dr. Bastamiaar A. Careem regarding the purchase of land for his sons.
2-Jan-1927	My friend, L.M. Hasheem, introduced me to his Sheikh Abdul Ghany Sahibul Kadry and he explained how his disciples Mureeds are being trained in spiritual exercises in seclusion (Calwath) and are progressing very high. (Reports of the visions of S.L. Muhammad Haji, W.M.A. Majeed, M.L.M. Azeez, A.L.M. Oduma Lebbe Marikar Hajiar [maternal uncle of Ms. Raliya Noordeen-Sameer] appear in “Ghana Pirashannage Rathinam”, pages 225-255])
4-Apr-1927	Received letter from Captain H.G. Eastman, late Assessor, regarding the success of a Court Case in Colombo.
1-May-1927	My daughter, Noor Jazeela, attended St. Clare’s College.
20-Oct-1927	Shifted to 45, Lily Avenue, Wellawatte.
28-Jan-1928	I attended the opening of the main building of Zahira College by His Excellency the Governor; as the Government granted Rs. 25,000/-, the Muslim public contributed Rs. 25,000/-, and the balance half lakh was paid by N.D.H. Abdul Caffoor Haji for the erection of the building. (vide Ceylon Independent, 30 January, 1928)
4-Mar-1928	N.D.H. Abdul Careem appointed Co-Treasurer of the Maradana Mosque on the death of W.M. Abdul Jabbar who was the co-treasurer with me.
12-Feb-1929	While I was serving on the Jury, Supreme Court, my son Sadiq was born at home.
11-Jul-1929	Attended lecture by Professor Marrs on “Wahabism” at Zahira College, presided by T.B. Jayah, the Principal.
12-Aug-1929	Received copy of 1930 Muslim Almanac prepared by C.H. Mantara.
18-Oct-1929	Received summons from District Court filed against the Mosque, No DC 34834, for appointing I.L.M. Yusuf Alim and H.S.M. Isadeen Haji as Katheebs, and for other causes of action.
1-May-1930	Complimented in office for saving Rs. 58,000/- of Municipal funds by a proposed land acquisition being abandoned.
1-Oct-1930	Traced agreement between Kappodiya Lebbe Avoo Marikar, Chief of the Maradana Mosque Management, and Seyeth Tuan, Chief of the Peer saibo Mosque, in 1869.
18-Jun-1931	My dearly beloved mother died. My Paradise is at her feet.
5-Aug-1931	Dr. M.M. Sadiq Ahmadi, Missionary in America, wrote in the Daily News about Muslim Representation in the Ceylon Legislature.
26-Dec-1931	Obtained copy of the Kadutham Marriage Registration of my grandfather, Ahmed Ali Marikar to Khadija Umma, witnessed to by Ahmed Lebbe Hassen Meera Lebbe Mathicham, granduncle of W.M. Hassim, and Sheikh Abdul Cader Idroos Lebbe Marikar Mathicham, father of I.L.M. Abdul Azeez, and Avoo Lebbe Uduma Lebbe Marikar.
1-Apr-1932	My daughter, Rahma, and son, Farooq, attended St. Calore’s College.
22-Feb-1932	I am summoned by the Criminal Investigation Department to inquire into the complaints that large sums of Maradana Mosque monies have been spent as fees for Mosque work.
6-Apr-1933	Attended funeral of Hon. W.M. Abdul Rahman.
24-Apr-1933	Received letter from C.B. Orr in England thanking me for working up the Turf Club assessment case.
5-Sep-1933	My son, Ismail, admitted to Royal College by Principal, L.H.W. Sampson.
25-Feb-1934	Sunday Times published photograph of Seyed Alavy Bafaky with I.L.M.H. Yusuf, Katheeb Junaid, and others.
17-Apr-1934	Attended burial of H.S.M. Issadeen, Haji Katheeb, at the grounds of the Maradana Mosque.
1-Jan-1935	Promoted to “B” post in Municipal Services on higher salary.
9-Mar-1935	Received letter from A.M.A.Azeez for congratulating him about his success at the CCSexamination as the first Muslim.
10-Mar-1935	Visited W.M.Hassim on his appointment as JP.
1-Apr-1935	Attended the funeralof C.M. Assena Marikar at Dehiwela Muslim Burial Grounds, when the Trustee K.M. Abdul Majeed and the Katheeb M.M.M. Noohu Lebbe objected to the performance of Halara Dhikr of the Shathuliya being performed in Khadiriya Mosque, before burial, whilst S.L. Mohammed haji supported the Halara.
1-Aug-1935	My son Sadiq attended St. Clare’s College.
11-May-1936	Attended the Maradana Mosque congregation meeting and approved with the congregation, (i) the payment of legal fees for the lawyers in respect of the Mosque Court Case, and (ii) the lease of New Olympia Cinema to Abdul Cader.
27-Aug-1938	Appointed Head Clerk,Municipality Veterinary Department.
29-Aug-1938	N.H.M. Abdul Cader, MMC, died at Rutnam Hospital, Colombo 2.
30-Aug-1938	Accompanied by AHM Ismail, I went to Municipal Office to get a permit to bury the remains of N.H.M. Abdul Cader at the grounds of the Maradana Mosque.
11-Jan-1939	My son Farooq is admitted to Toyal College.
10-Aug-1940	Obtained a copy of a Dutch document appointing Kappodayar as Head Moorman.
5-Feb-1941	Received letter from M. Jabir A. Cader about the unveiling of his father’s portrait at the Municipal Gallery at my suggestion. I attended the unveiling reception when A.H.M. Ismail, President of the Maradana Mosque, suggested to me to consider my election as Managing Trustee at the next meeting of the Maradana Mosque.
15-Feb-1941	Retired with credit from the Municipal service.
1-Mar-1941	W.J. Wangsa Achmed published, in his monthly Truth, an account of my Municipal service up to my retirement.
23-May-1941	I am elected Managing Trustee of the Maradana Mosque, proposed by M.L.M. Reyal, MMC, Vice President of the Executive Committee of the Maradana Mosque.
14-Aug-1941	I could not tolerate the method of dealing with the Mosque rents by the staff, and, as the staff could not be reformed, I sent in my resignation from the Trusteeship of the Maradana Mosque to the President, A.H.M. Ismail, MA, LLB.
1-Sep-1941	A subcommittee of the Maradana Mosque called on me at home, in respect of my resignation, and urged me to withdraw it, permitting me to take a new staff and carry on the Trusteeship with a free hand for the welfare of the Mosque. I withdrew my resignation as the President expected me to give my best service to the Mosque when I was elected.
7-Mar-1942	Evacuated to Aluthgama to avoid war effects.
2-Apr-1942	Inspected graves of Muslim soldiers of the Allies buried at Kuppiyawatte as the Officers of the War Graves Committee were expected to visit them.
2-Aug-1942	My daughter Khalisa is admitted to St. Paul’s Milagiriya Girls’ School
3-Aug-1942	Was the first to take action, by deciphering the Arabic inscription on the façade of the Maradana Mosque building as Hijra 1256.
14-Aug-1942	Declared entitled to Rs. 598.94 entail as share of my mother’s Sea Street property.
29-Dec-1942	Government issued me Identity Card owing to threat of Air Raid deaths.
1-Jun-1943	Engaged T.B. jaleel as Kuppiyawatte Muslim Burial Ground Keeper and instructed him to have all documents, books, returns, receipts, etc. printed as of Maradana Mosque.
1-Jun-1943	I re-organized the working of the Maradana Mosque, maintained proper accounts, received rents, issued official receipts promptly and correctly, on the system drawn by me for my successors, to avoid any irregularities.
1-Jun-1943	N.D.H. Abdul Careem, a senior member of the Executive Committee, commended me for the re-organization of the Maradana Mosque administration as follows:- “It is really a pleasure to me to note the amount of interest you take in the working of the Mosque affairs in all its aspects.” (Rahamath Allahi Alai).
14-Aug-1943	Attended Muslim Mass meeting, at 2^nd Cross Street Mosque, regarding burial of unclaimed Muslim bodies at hospitals etc. T.B. Jayah presided.
1-Jan-1944	Traced lists of the congregation of the Maradana Mosque and of the Grand Mosque n 1840 and 1850 respectively.
18-Jan-1944	Received letter from MILM Nuhuman and SHM Mohideen, Secretaries, to consider the terms of the proposed Waqf Act, at a meeting.
22-Apr-1944	Attended funeral of Justice MT Akbar, KC.
28-Apr-1944	Elected a Board Member of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home (MICH)
30-Apr-1944	Appointed temporary Head Clerk of the Civil Defence Milk Feeding department.
30-Nov-1944	Enroled a member of the Ceylon Pensioners’ Provident Society Ltd.
28-Jul-1945	Niece, Miss Sithy Raliyya Burhan, was seriously ill, and before dying complemented her aunt, Raliya Sameer, my wife, who nursed her, saying, “My dear aunt, the more I look at your face the more happy I am.”
3-Oct-1945	I paid first instalment for Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home – building fund.
9-Apr-1946	Attended Muslim delimititation conference. Secretary, Advocate MM Abdul Cader.
1-Mar-1947	Appointed as Head Clerk, Claim Section, Government Valuation Department under, CS Orr.
17-Mar-1947	Attended Seted Abdullah bin Seyed Hussain Saqqaf’s burial at Alaviyya Thakkiya.
25-May-1947	Received letter from AM Hameed MCHMAS Ex Treasurer maradana Mosque, encouraging me to carry on the good work of the Maradana Mosque administration.
5-Jun-1947	Inspected account books of Kupiyawatta burial ground and made some suggestions to the keeper. I visited Kupiyawatta burial grounds and told the Borah Trustee that the title of the portion in their charge is vested by the Government in the Maradana Mosque as successors to the Mussalman United Assembly by an Ordinance and Conveyance.
26-Apr-1948	Obtained a Photostat copy of a letter, dated 20 Jamad Ul Akhir, 1269 Hejira (1850) by Abdul Cader Hajiar (grandfather of Mrs. Raliya Sameer), descendant of Sheikh Mahroof ul Kharkee, from South India where he had gone to see Mapulle Lebbe Alim Sahib. The letter is in Arabic-Tamil and depicts the form of a Muslim’s letter to his wife, of that era.
1-Nov-1948	Al Haj NDH Abdul Caffoor died at his residence, “Icicle Hall”, Kollupitiya, Colombo.
2-Nov-1948	Attended the burial of NDH Abdul Caffoor Haji at the grounds of the Maradana Mosque.
3-Dec-1948	Met Senator ARA Razik on his return from Hajj.
16-Jan-1949	Obtained from GA, lists of Muslim Registrar or Marriages from the inception of the Ordinance.
11-Feb-1949	Attended the laying of the foundation of the Maradana Mosque extension by Al Haj AHM Ismail, MA LLB. President Executive Committee.
6-Jun-1949	Engaged ILM Abdul Azeez’s son-in-law, LM NoorAhmed, as clerk of the Maradana Mosque Office.
10-Jun-1949	I am photographed sweeping the Maradana Mosque.
28-Jul-1949	Wilfred M. Gunasekera drew my attention to the tri-lingual inscribed (Tamil, Persian, and Chinese) stone, from China, of interest to Muslims at the stone gallery of the Museum.
29-Jul-1949	Photographed from different points of the Maradana Mosque building about to be demolished for extension. Also one taken of myself in front of Mimbar and Mihrab.
16-Dec-1949	Attended opening of the weaving class – Fathima Muslim Girls’ School.
1-Jan-1950	SLM Hasheem, an energetic member of the Executive Committee of the Maradana Mosque, took me to the tenant of Madinah Hotel, MM Mutthuwappa, to find out of his suggested scheme of the extension of the hotel.
2-Feb-1950	Read a report by the Governor of Ceylon about the Moors in Ceylon in 1798 in the Times of Ceylon.
9-Mar-1950	Received a letter from Sir Dr. Paul Peiris regarding the famous Moorish doctor whose photo is in the Museum.
5-Jun-1950	Fixed the Maradana Mosque flagstaff by the front boundary wall a the suggestion of AMH Sheriff, veteran Executive Committee Member, as the hoisted flag is the reminder to attend Jumuah prayers.
15-Jul-1950	Arranged and attended Tharaweeh, led by Hafiz M. Abubakr, at the Maradana Mosquem, who recited the whole Qur’an by heart.
28-Aug-1950	Received summons to give evidence in Alaviyya Thakiyya partition case by MUM Hamza vs Thakiyya.
28-Aug-1950	Attended meeting of Summrathul Alaviyya Association.
10-Oct-1950	Khatheeb AJM Warid gave me a copy of his great grand ancestor, Sheikh Ismail Abdul Latiff’s, appointment as Khatheeb of Grand Mosque by HR Governor in 1845.
5-Nov-1950	Fassy Ismail Alim Khaleefathus Shazuly requested me to pay him the half share of the rents of No. 211, Trincomalee Street, donated by Thambirasa Idroos, in equal shares to the Maradana Mosque and Shazuliya Thareeq for prayers at Makkah for his wife by Shazuly Sheikh.
1-Jan-1951	I published a handbook of Janazah Salat: Prayers for the dead.
26-Mar-1951	Received a letter from my nephew, Proctor M. Mohideen Burhan, thanking me for sending his mother’s (my sister) handwriting of the English translation of Salat Prayers.
2-May-1951	ULMM Haji Mohideen defrayed the cost of the northward extension of the Maradana Mosque.
1-Jun-1951	I put up a big board, containing the name Maradana Mosque, in three languages in the premises facing Maradana Road to correct the wrong impression of it being called the Zahira College Mosque. R.H. Bassett, CCS, made the same mistake (see Times of Ceylon 8-May-1932).
6-Jun-1951	On invitation, I attended Thabligh at Kollupitiya Mosque. Opposition started against the Thabligh movement by one Sufi Sahib as it was alleged that the movement is unorthodox, while the movement claims to be puritan.
10-Jul-1951	Bought properties, Nos 184, 186, & 188, High Street.
13-Mar-1952	Al Haj Sir Razik Fareed donated Muslim Ladies College premises at Bambalapitiya.
6-Oct-1952	Wrote to GA Western Province regarding Marakkala Palliya Watta, Maradana Mosque lands.
2-Nov-1953	I accompanied Sheikh Mohammed Abdullah bin Mohammed Shamsuddin Al Fassy Al Shathuly to Dematagoda Zawia as my friend SDHM Saheed had spoken of the high spiritual value of this Thareeq.
2-Jul-1954	Pettah Ward Municipal Election – My son MT Sameer a candidate.
2-Aug-1954	MHA Aziz, Advocate, founder of the Ahadiyya Movement, died.
27-Aug-1954	Received receipts for payment of improvement of Manimusada Thakkiya at Old Moor Street.
27-Dec-1955	Paid my last respects to my brother-in-law, Proctor SDM Burhan, Secretary of the Maradana Mosque, as Times of Ceylon reported his death, and that burial will take place at the Maradana Mosque grounds. But he was buried at Kupiyawatte Muslim Burial grounds of which he was one of the three Trustees.
30-Oct-1956	Release of the Sinhalese translation of the teaching of Islam by Ahmadiyya Association at a meeting presided by Dr. M.B. Drahman, malay Member of Parliament. Prominent non-Ahmadi Muslims like CAS Marikar attended.
3-May-1957	Sir Razik Fareed informed me that he attended Jumuah service in Moscow and distributed my copies of Yaseen books.
25-Aug-1957	I paid annual contribution to the Masjid Mohideen Kotari at Messenger Street, Colombo, as some of my ancestors adhered to the theory of the founder of its Khadiriya Thareeq, that the One original First Cause (God) Awwal Ahad took the shape of the last Ahmed (Muhammad) Akhir Ahmed.
5-Aug-1957	Entered Government Hospital, Colombo North, for treatment of Peptic Ulcer.
10-Aug-1957	My wife, Raliya, visited me in hospital and prayed for my early recovery.
10-Mar-1958	Replied questions of Reyazul Hassan of The Pakistan High Commission in Ceylon, about the Ceylon Muslims, through the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home.
21-Jul-1958	Attended funeral of Seyed Umar Kudsi, foermerly of Abdul Caffoor Limited, buried at Maradana Mosque grounds.
20-Nov-1958	Responded to the appeal of Peer Seyed Thahir Alahudeen Al Kalyani for Muslim Orphanage Fund.
7-Dec-1958	I traced document issued by Katta Lebbe Marikar Cassim Lebbe Marikar (grandfather of Proctor AHM Sulaiman), Trustee Maradana Mosque in 1879, regarding the permit for burial of the ascendants of YL Abdul Wahab and the name of the permit holder appears in the Gazette of 1882.
24-Feb-1959	Sent a copy of my father’s account of his journey to Egypt, Istanbul, and Arabia (for Hajj) in 1884 to the local UAR Embassy.
3-Jul-1959	Traced banath Suad poem recited by Ka’ab before our Holy Prophet (sal) in Ibnu Ishak Seerathul Rasool (The Life of Muhammad by A. Guillaume).
10-Aug-1959	Received letter from my nephew, M Ideroos Allie, in UK bank.
19-Aug-1959	Received report from Noorul Haqa Thanweer Ahmadi in Egypt about Ibn Batuta visit to Ceylon.
22-Oct-1959	In partition case DC 7283 as sixth defendant, entitled to Rs. 804.03 for Main Street property of my mother.
31-Dec-1959	Attended funeral of Mrs. Saboor Chatoor at Kuppiyawatta Muslim burial grounds. Janazah salt by Khatheeb H.B.M. Salahudeen of Maradana Mosque.
20-Feb-1960	Received letter from Archealogical Commissioner regarding the inscribed picture of King Nissankamala along with the Arabic inscriptions on Adams’ Peak.
6-Jul-1960	Present at the death-bed of WM hassim, JP and led recitation of Dhkr-Allah prayers along with some of his children.
9-Aug-1960	Wrote to the Chinese Embassy about the Trilingual stone brought by Chin Ho, the Muslim navigator, to the Muslim’s, Hindu’s and Buddhist’s of Ceylon, now found at Galle.
1-Nov-1960	Shabab ceylan magazine reproduced, from my book, “The Life of Abdul Azeez”.
21-Nov-1960	My son, sadiq, sailed to England.
10-Mar-1961	Sheikh Zahran Ibraheem of Egypt, staying at the Maradana Mosque premises, stirred up the Muslims to a new understanding of Islam, by stating that the Du’a after Salat Prayers is an individual supplication after Salat Prayers.
4-Aug-1961	I received from son, Sadiq, in London a Turkish version of our Holy Prophets’ Mavlidi Sheriff translated into English.
10-Dec-1961	Times of Ceylon published greetings from my children on the 50^th anniversary of my wedding.
1-Jan-1962	MILM Nuhman and MUM Salih obtained information from me regarding the old history of the Grand Mosque for Nuhman to write a book.
2-Feb-1962	David Clay of Lebanon called on me to get at the tomb of Mahmud Pasha Fahmy, one of the Egyptian Nationalists exiled along with Arabi Pasha, at the request of his grandson, Kadry Mahmud of Beirut. (Arabi pronounced ‘Orabi)
10-Aug-1962	Wrote to the Prime Minister that Marakkal Minissu are Ceylonese by descent.
16-Nov-1962	My grandson, Uvais Sheriff, sailed to UK
11-Apr-1963	Invited Professor Nahvi, MA, a Persian of the Bahai Movement at Havelock Road to read the Persian inscription on the Chinese Trilingual Stone from China as it is partly blurred.
10-Aug-1963	Wrote to the Controller of Immigrant and Emigrant regarding issue of documents for Muslim pilgrims.
31-Aug-1963	I wrote to the Grand Mufti Ziyaudtin Babkshnov, Religious Head of Uzbekistan Muslims in Russia.
8-Sep-1963	Received “Al Bushra”, a monthly from Cape Town, South Africa.
25-Jan-1964	Wrote to Superintendent of Census and Statistics regarding “Ceylon Moors”.
1-Feb-1964	Addressed letter to Kadiecha Suleymanova, Russian Minister of Justice, and received Qur’an called “KOPA” in Russian and an album called, “Historical monuments of Islam in USSR”, written in various languages.
1-Apr-1964	Received from the local Russian Embassy a book called, “Life of Muslim people in USSR”.
3-Apr-1964	Prepared a list of Muslim pilgrim centers in Ceylon for the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home as required by the Minister of Cultural Affairs.
7-May-1964	Received “East African Times”, monthly, from Nairobi, Africa.
11-Jun-1964	Deciphered the last line in Puliyantivu Arabic Stone inscription at the National Museum with the aid of Professor Samaq of Egypt teaching at Zahira College.
16-Jun-1964	Received from Mohamed Saeed Ma Yung Fu, Secretary of the Chinese Islamic Association, an Arabic Qur’an and an Album of Chinese Muslims showing their religious activities.
7-Jul-1964	Wrote to Khail El Rauf, Minister of Awqaf, Makkah, regarding Tayammum ablution as water Wudhu harmed me.
13-Jul-1964	Received “Muslim Sunrise” from 637, Randolph, Dayton, Ohio, USA.
20-Jul-1964	Wrote to Imam Khalid Imam Shia Baghdad regarding Tayamum ablution.
10-Aug-1964	Received presents from Kadry Mahmud, via John Farr, of Beirut.
13-Aug-1964	Received from Makkah an English version of the Holy Qur’an sent by the Awqaf department on my application to the King of Saudi Arabia.
1-Jan-1965	I prepared a manuscript of , “The History of The Maradana Mosque”, and “How I served The Maradana Mosque”.
1-Feb-1965	I sent a report on the Wadduwa Jumma Mosque to he Waqf Board.
14-Feb-1965	Received a book called, “Muslims in Finland”, from Ghani Hassan Haji, Kapleeminkatu, Helsinki, Finland, containing photo of Sir M. Zafarullah Khan, Pakistan Minister, with Finnish Muslims.
17-Feb-1965	Received “Muslim Herald” – 63 Melrose Road, London, SW 18, UK.
3-Aug-1965	Director of Census and Statistics informed me that Moors will be enumerated as Ceylon Moors and Indian Moors.
6-Oct-1965	Received receipt for payment for Kandury of Khatheeb Mawlana who was the Sheikh of my father and maternal grandfather.
19-Nov-1965	Reception at Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home, where a Gold Medal and a Citation read by Al Haj AH Macan Markar JP MMC, was presented, respectively, to me by Sir Razik Fareed, Kt. OBE, JPUM, MP, and Hjis Excellency Seyed Abdul Qadir Jailani, Ambassador Extraoerdinary and Plenipotentiary for Iraq in Ceylon, for my services to the community and country.
29-Nov-1965	I wrote, in the souvenir of the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home 1965 issue, many matters of interest to Muslims, particularly about the lives of our great men and the Archealogical evidence of Islam in Ceylon.
1-Dec-1965	Received, “France Islam”, a magazine in French, English, and Arabic, from Paris, France.
10-Dec-1965	Received “Al Borada”, Spanis-Arabic Magazine from Argentina, South America.
8-Jan-1966	Received “Al Bushra” Arabic Magazine from Rabwah, West Pakistan.
21-Jan-1966	Wrote to B.J. Aniff Doray regarding his translation of Fath Ud Dayyan.
27-Jan-1966	Attended Janazah Salat Prayers at The Grand Mosque over the remains of Moulavi Fazil Al haj Shaikh Ul Khadiry buried at Khadiriya Thakiyya at Messenger Street.
2-Feb-1966	Received “Soviet Uzbekistan Today” – Russian Muslim Magazine from Tashkent USSR.
2-Feb-1966	I wrote to the Muslims of Kurunegala to enhance the grandeur of the “kandury” at the tombs of Buvanaka Bahu (Vathimi Kumaraya), Galebandara Auliya, the Muslim King of Ceylon and “Oththa Meezan Auliya” his Queen Mother.
16-Feb-1966	Received “Truth” Muslim Magazine from Adamagbo, Nigeria.
11-Mar-1966	Received “Mujalladathul Hajj”, Arabic Magazine from Makkah, Saudi Arabia.
25-Apr-1966	Received “Voice of Madinah” from babu Bahabba Kustancis, East Transvaal, South Africa.
26-May-1966	Received “Al Fajr” from New Jersey, USA.
17-Jul-1966	Wrote to Government regarding Rent Act.
25-Jul-1966	Obtained a copy of Deed No. 3490, dated 25-Mar-1817, of a property at Great Moor Street (New Moor Street) bought by Meera Lebbe Slema Lebbe Comister (Commissioner), grand uncle of SL Naina Marikar Hajiar, a quarter of which had been donated to my grandmother. (An account of this Comister appeared in John capper’s, “Old Ceylon”).
14-Aug-1966	My wife Raliya seriously sick and recovered, Alhamdulillah!
25-Aug-1966	Replied a letter from Kandy to sugest a name for a road or place at kandy as “Siddi Lebbe Mawatha”.
4-Oct-1966	Received “Muslim World” from West Pakistan.
17-Nov-1966	Took action to bring to the Museum the inscribed Arabic stone at Trincomalee.
1-Feb-1967	I wrote on Muslim Cemeteries, in the International Islamic Institute Journal, edited by M. Murad Jayah.
3-Feb-1967	Received “Thahrier Jadeed”, English-Urdu Magazine from West Pakistan.
26-Mar-1967	Received a copy of the translation of an Arabic poem of Mohamed samy Al Harduy, and Egyptian nationalist exiled in Ceylon, from ILMM Nilam.
29-Mar-1967	Asked Professor SA Imam about an alleged Hadith of our Prophet regarding Ceylon.
16-Apr-1967	Received from Paris a table of Islamic dates of importance calculated from 1956 to 2000.
27-May-1967	Received letter from Abdul haleem Al Sager of UAR Embassy translating Abdul Hameed’s letter of thanks for Carimjee Jafferjee contributing for Hejaz Railway in 1907.
16-Jun-1967	Received news of a magazine “Ayesha” an Ahmadi Muslim Lady’s Magazine, Leroy Place, Washington, USA.
7-Jul-1967	Received “Ahmadiyya Gazette”, Wabash Avenue, Chicago, USA.
27-Jul-1967	Times of Ceylon published my account of Egypt’s and Ceylon’s relationship in the past.
31-Jul-1967	Attended ILM Abdul Azezz centenary celebration at the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home. Secretary M. Marzook Burhan, grandson of ILM Abdul Azeez.
20-Aug-1967	I visited the tomb of Shaikh Bahawudeen Bagoos Kirvani bin Holloo Balankiya, at Grand Mosque, and copied the Arabic projected letters with M. Murad Jayah as “6-5-1279 Hijra”.
27-Aug-1967	Presentation of an address by Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home to ACA Wadood for his work for Islam.
30-Aug-1967	Attended Sir Razik fareed’s Biography Committee Meeting.
1-Nov-1967	Attended Symposium at the Moors’ Islamic Cultural Home.
3-Nov-1967	Araba Pasha’s life history, written by me, appeared in the Ceylon Observer.
26-Dec-1967	Wrote t the Ceylon Daily News on the 14^th Century of the Holy Qur’an.
1-Jan-1968	Received “Relics of Islam” and English and “Al Amanathul Mukhaddass” in Arabic from the Minister of Information in Turkey, containing photographs of our Holy Prophet’s properties etc. etc. and I reviewed these in the Ceylon Daily News.
4-Feb-1968	Mrs. Razeena Mohideen, JP, called on me and perused the Kitab Book maintained by my mother in Arabic, Arabic-Tamil, Tamil & Urdu, and I gace her a copy of an Arabic Bayth song of 1907.
9-Mar-1968	Obtained a copy of a Deed No. 2630 of a property bought by my father.
10-Mar-1968	Received a monthly news bulletin “Dawn” from the Ceylon Moor Youth League, 1 Manthri Road, Colombo 5.
6-May-1968	His Excellency Sir Razik Fareed left Ceylon to take over duties in Islamabad, West Pakistan, as Ceylon’s High Commissioner to Pakistan, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Iraq and Iran.
13-Aug-1968	My article about “Hajarul Aswad” (Stone at Ka’bah) appeared in Sout At Tullab (Student’s’ Voice), the annual magazine of the Islamic Society of Royal College.
13-Sep-1968	My wife Raliya fell sick at 10:30 pm. She was engulfed in a faint sweet smell of death. She sought forgiveness, prayed for Blessings on her children and asked them to be united, and we all around prayed for her as it appeared to be her end.
14-Sep-1968	At 3:45 pm, Allah called my wife Raliya to Heaven, in the words of the Qur’an,”Oh Thous Soul that art at rest, flly contended with thy Lord, thou being pleased with Him, and He being pleased with thee, enter among my servants, and enter into My Paradise.” (Ya Ayyathu-han Nafs Ul Muthamainna Thurjee ila Rabbika RALIYA thun Marliyya fad qulee fee Ibadee wad Qulee Jannathee)
15-Sep-1968	The precious body of Raliya was restored to earth after Janazah Salat and Du’a prayers at the consecrated ground of the Dehiwela Mosque.
22-Jan-1969	Received letter from the Minister of Tourism and Information of Turkey.
22-Feb-1969	Wrote to the Ceylon Daily Mirror that the Moors were called “Marakkala” and were considered as a part of the Sinhala inhabitants till the arrival of the Portuguese in 1505.
18-May-1969	I bought, through Cargills, five volumes of the translation of the Holy Qur’an of the Ahmadiyya Movement to compare with the translation in my possession as a student of comparative religion and sects.
5-Jun-1969	Bought “CEYLON IN PTOLEMY’S GEOGRAPHY” by JR Sinnathamby, retired Deputy Surveyor General, who has established that the Arabs, SONIS or Sonakars, adopted Tamil language before the reputed arrival of VIJAYA to Ceylon.
23-Jul-1969	Received letter and Al Ittihad periodical from Dawood Assad, Convention Chairman and President of the Islamic Serrvice Organization, New Jersey, USA, about the 18^th Annual Convention in the US and Canada.
5-Oct-1969	Received postage stamps commemorating the 1400^th Year of the Holy Qur’an from South America issued by the Guyana Government.
8-Oct-1969	Received “La Message” a French Islamic Magazine from MI Munir, Rosenhill, Mauritius, previously of the Ceylon Ahmadiyya Mission.
9-Oct-1969	Ceylon Daily news published my account of Major HM Newnham CMG, VD, CCS (retd), former Mayor of Colombo, under whom I worked.
12-Oct-1969	Elicited, through the courtesy of the Daily Mirror, the poem “The Better Land” by Felicia Dorothea Hemans and found that the description of the “Better Land” to be like the description of Paradise in the Holy Qur’an.
4-Nov-1969	Prepared a statement of the income of the Maradana Mosque from 1903.
5-Nov-1969	Wrote to the Principal of Ramanathan College suggesting to reprint Sir P. Ramanathan’s “Culture of the Soul among Western Nations.”
14-Nov-1969	Received “Voice of Islam” published by the Japan Muslim Association, Tokyo, Japan.
26-Nov-1969	Received letter and “Jihad” Magazine from South Africa.
28-Nov-1969	Received “LIGHT” paper from Lahore published by the Ahmadiyya.
1-Jan-1970	Received from MACM Saleh, a book “Telephone between Worlds” presented to him by a Californian.
2-Jan-1970	Traced the letter of Justice MT Akbar KC (date torn off) to AM Wapchi Marikar, Manager of Zahira College, suggesting amalgamating his Muslim Educational Society Ltd., with the Zahira College Management.
2-Jan-1970	Traced “Al Ihtidal” an Arabic Newspaper, of 11 Ramadan 1302 (1884), of the Istanbul (Constantinople) which commended my father, Sahib Dorai Ismail Lebbe. The following is a literal translation: “There are five visitors from Ceylon, Yusuf Lebbe Hajiar Sinne Lebbe Marikar Effendi, (Haji) Mohammed Lebbe Marikar Effendi, (Haji) Mohammed Lebbe Marikar Zainudeen Effendi, Shaikh Mohammed bin Sinne Lebbe Marikar Effendi, Shamsi Lebbe Marikar Ahmed Lebbe Marikar Effendi, Sahib Doray Ismail Lebbe Marikar (Haji) Effendi. They are all people of repute in business, in Colombo, Ceylon; in the neighborhood of India. They have come here on political and business purposes, and proceed to Hajj. They called at our office on Saturday last. This is a matter of great honour to us. They are people who extend to us their sympathies on our war with Russia. They have arrived in Istanbul to be received by the Ameerul Mumineen (Sultan) in audience, and we pray that this blessing will be granted to them. There is in this group an individual of great learning; Sahib Dorai Ismail Lebbe who is learned in Law and Logic, whose use of the Arabic language is refined and acceptable. They will be leaving shortly for Madinah and from there they will proceed to Palestine and Damascus before going for Hajj. We are grateful for their visit and thank them. We pray that their Hajj will be HajMabroor (acceptable) and we pray that they will go home safely. May Allah increase this type of warriors to strengthen the cause of Islam.”
1970	Continued to pray daily, five times Salat ordered by Allah and demonstrated by our Holy Prophet Muhammad (sal), considering them to be my Rathib recitals of the Kadirees, Halara movements of the Shathulees, Kalawath seclusions of the Sufees, Latihan Kadjeewan exercises of the Subudi’s, all combined in my Salat Prayer, for the spiritual upliftment of my soul, by being God-Conscious.
	Signed Mohammed Sameer
	12/11/1970