Humaizara in Egypt is the resting place of Imam Abdul Hassan Aliyush Shazuli, the founder of the Shazuliya Thareeq which has a large following in Srilanka.
Shazuli Imam who was born in 1196 in Kimara, 32 years after the death of Qutub Muhiyuddin Abdul Qadir Jailani, and died in 1258 was a descendant of Hazarath Hassan, grandson of the holy prophet.
Another link with Egypt was the royal mission sent by the Sinhala monarch of Srilanka Bhwenekha Bahu I in 1283 to Qalawuun, the sultan of Egypt. Thus mission was led by Al-Haj Abu Usman.
The exile of the Egyptian Pashas led by Ahamed Arabi Pasha, to Srilanka (then Ceylon) and their 20 years stay here had lasting influence on the Ceylon Moors in Srilanka, who among other things adopted the Pasha’s re fez cap as their headgear (it has fallen into disuse now).
According to the historical records, Ahmad Arabi (1839-1911) became under secretary of War in 1882, then Minister of War in Mahmud Sami’s cabinet and was created a Pasha.
As minister of War, Arabi Pasha armed the forts of Alexandria and attained such power as to alarm the British and French who sent naval squadrons to Alexandria in June 1882. Rioting directed against foreigners, particularly Europeans broke out in that city, prompting the British to bomb the forts and land troops.
Arabi Pasha’s army was defeated at Tel el Kebir on September 13, 1882 and he was captured in Cairo and tried on December 3, and on his plea of guilty was sentenced to death. But this was commuted to banishment to Ceylon (Srilanka) where he spent almost 20 years of his exile along with other Pasha.
In May 1901 was pardoned by Khedive Abbas and he returned to Egypt where he died in Cairo on September 21, 1911.
Arabi Pasha had beneficial influence on the Ceylon Moor community, exhorting them to work for their cultural and educational upliftment.
He helped to spark off the educational renaissance which resulted in the establishment of Az-zahira, which is now Zahira College, Colombo.
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