Ramadan is a special time, evoking a sense of responsibility and giving back. In addition to fasting, congregational prayers and Quranic recitation, the month gives way to selfless volunteerism. Even with the demands of daily life—and the added challenge of fasting—volunteers show up, setting tiredness aside to serve their communities.
For 30 days, they set up the venues, brew chai, distribute dates, and prepare iftar meals. These efforts require time and energy, yet they commit without hesitation, not for recognition, but out of an understanding of duty and value of the wider community.
In this article, we present a range of volunteer stories from Dawoodi Bohra community centres across the world to celebrate the spirit of volunteerism this Ramadan.
Volunteering is in the family, Bahrain
Husaina Barwaniwala
For 15 years, Husaina Barwaniwala has volunteered at her community centre in Bahrain. Originally from Kasrawad, a town in Madhya Pradesh, India, Husaina credits her father as her inspiration for doing khidmat (voluntary service).
“(In Kasrawad) our house was near a bus stop, so we often met travellers from our community. My father made sure to invite them in for tea. He wouldn’t let anyone leave without a cup,” she said.
That spirit of generosity endured in Husaina, even after moving to Bahrain. Each Ramadan, she volunteers for dinner service, a commitment she prepares for by carefully managing her time and health.
“I have felt immense satisfaction throughout the years, and it is heartening to see my children eager to volunteer as well,” she said.
Khadija Aliasger
Khadija Aliasger, a teacher, shares a similar story of service inspired by familial traditions. She grew up in Mumbai which was frequented by Dawoodi Bohras from around the world, hence in her house, hospitality was a way of life.
“In Mumbai, it was almost a rule—if a family member was visiting, they had to come over for a meal,” she said.
That hospitality extended beyond relatives.
“Our flat was on the second floor, and our neighbour from the fourth would stop by each evening—just in time for dinner. If they did not show up, mummy would call them to enquire why they had not come,” she said.
For Khadija, community service is a unifying factor that strengthens social connections and makes a person more confident.
She now trains young children to volunteer, especially through Dana committee, which ensures zero food wastage at communal meals.
Serving dinner since 35 years, Calgary, Canada
For over 35 years, Qaeedjohar Essaji of the Calgary community has dedicated himself to serving meals, turning a simple act into a way of life.
“Serving others is not a duty, but a privilege,” he says. What began as handing out glasses of water in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, evolved into a lifelong commitment to community service.
In Calgary, he leads a well-organized team during Ramadan, ensuring meals are prepared, served, and cleaned up efficiently. “When you see people smile after a meal, it makes you feel good,” he shares. Qaeedjohar balances this with running a pharmacy, prioritizing service as a source of joy and fulfillment. He emphasizes involving youth, believing they thrive when given responsibility.
“If we create space for them, they will step up and do better than we can.”
The green champion, Karachi, Pakistan
In Karachi’s Shabbirabad neighbourhood, Aamir Hazari is a well-known face—not just for his dedication to cleanliness and community service but also for his love for nature. As an active member of the Dawoodi Bohra community’s international Nazafat (cleanliness) committee, he has volunteered at events worldwide. But his true passion lies in turning waste into something valuable.
Throughout the year, Aamir volunteers at the FMB community kitchen, where he transforms organic waste into compost. When he’s not busy with community work, he’s tending to his beloved plants at home. “He loves experimenting with his plants,” shared a close friend.
This Ramadan, Aamir took on a unique project at his community centre in Shabbirabad. He collected date seeds after iftar in order to repurpose them into coffee powder. Leading the effort, he formed a team that gathered 300-350 date seeds daily. After drying and grinding them, they produced a rich, aromatic coffee powder.
So far, they have yielded 8kg of coffee powder and planted more than 300 seeds.
Inspired by Nanaji (maternal grandfather), Nottingham, UK
Adnan Bhaijee, a 34-year-old locksmith from Nottingham, has spent nearly a decade preparing chai during Ramadan.
For him, it’s more than just a task—it’s a way to bring people together.
Balancing his business, family, and volunteer work, Adnan credits his flexible schedule for allowing him to serve.
Inspired by his late grandfather, who was known for his chai-making skills, Adnan sees this service as a way to honour his legacy. Today, his chai has become a community favourite.
“I love experimenting with flavours and seeing people enjoy a good cup of chai which in a sense is the soul of iftar in our community,” he said.
For Adnan, the smiles, compliments, and connections forged over a cup of chai is what makes the service meaningful.
Promoting a sustainable Ramadan, Melbourne, Australia
This Ramadan, the Dawoodi Bohras of Melbourne launched the Bring Your Own Cup (BYOC) initiative to promote sustainability and reduce waste during daily iftar gatherings.
Led by Husain Fakhri, a volunteer, the campaign encourages community members to bring reusable cups, eliminating the need for disposable ones.
“It aligns with Islamic principles of avoiding waste and caring for the environment,” Husain said.
The response has been overwhelming—90% of community members, including the youth, adopted the practice from day one. Challenges, such as keeping tea warm, were addressed with high-quality urns. The switch also cut costs on disposable cups and dishwashing.
Beyond BYOC, the community engages in sustainability efforts like zero-waste iftars, Blackburn Lake Sanctuary cleanups, and food donation drives.
"Small steps create lasting change, and BYOC is the community’s heartfelt effort to unite faith with environmental stewardship. By inspiring conservation at the community level, we hope the message gets internalised to each individual’s home," said Husain.
The renowned chai of Saifee masjid, Mumbai, India
For nearly a century, Saifee Masjid has been a centre steeped in significance for the Dawoodi Bohra community.
Among its Ramadan traditions, the chai has caught the imagination of community members for decades.
Taher Arsiwala, 45, has volunteered at the masjid since he was 15. Every night, his team serves tea to nearly 2,000 people. On special occasions, the number quadruples to 10,000.
To ensure each cup is served hot, volunteers follow a system that delivers tea within five minutes.
“This service has been passed down for generations,” Taher said. “Some have volunteered for 45 years, others for 25. The older train the new, and the cycle continues,” he said.
Serving the elderly, Nairobi, Kenya
Every evening during Ramadan, 19-year-old Mohammed Qusay arrives early at the Dawoodi Bohra community centre in Nairobi with a mission: to serve.
While many volunteers assist during the holy month, Mohammed’s dedication stands out. For the past three years, he has ensured elderly members, especially those in wheelchairs, are safely escorted to iftar. “It’s a heartfelt duty,” he says.
He began to volunteer at the age of eight, when he first handed out water during meals. A pivotal moment came at 13 when, at a communal meal, he asked his brother to hand over the house keys as he took leave. Instead of giving him the keys, his brother handed him a bucket of curry and asked him to serve elderly community members who were still eating.
Balancing his family’s water purifier business with his own venture, Mohammed prioritizes community service, a value instilled by his father. “He takes on extra work so I can serve,” he shares.
The gratitude and prayers of the elderly fuel his passion.
“These elders have watched me grow up. They are like my extended family. Despite our age difference, we share countless moments of joy, laughter, and connection. They’re young at heart, and spending time with them is truly rewarding,” he said.
Champion of composting, Philadelphia, USA
Maria Chinwalla, a volunteer with the Dawoodi Bohras of Philadelphia, transformed an inspirational spark into a community-wide composting initiative.
After witnessing waste reduction efforts during the community’s annual Ashara Mubaraka event in London in 2022, she partnered with Rot Star Compost to introduce composting during iftar gatherings.
Now in its second year, the initiative has engaged both young and old community members, diverting 430 lbs of waste from landfills.
“This is a form of devotion,” Maria says, emphasizing the spiritual significance of minimizing waste during Ramadan.
“In a small community, change begins with small steps," she said. “Now, composting has become second nature here.”
Since the start of this project, Maria has seen how behaviours have changed towards waste. People have become more mindful of throwing waste in the garbage, and with the help of young and old members alike, the community has developed a habit of composting.
Through her leadership, Maria has shown how small initiatives can make a big impact.
