Abdul Majeed Mohamed Rajabdeen was born into a middle-class family, his father Abdul Majeed hailing from Mattakuliya and his mother Mariam coming from the Panendam Kanthoori Ootar of Grandpass.
An only child who lost his mother when he was barely two months old, Abdul Majeed was looked after by his paternal aunt, Mathugan Natchiya, and later by his maternal uncle, Abdul Majeed of Grandpass.
His childhood days were spent in the loving care of his uncles and aunts. As a young man, he was employed for a short period by his uncle in the medicinal shop of Aliya Marikar & Sons, in Negombo. Adventurous and enterprising, he later worked in a Colombo hardware store owned by leading trader Abdur Rahman of 3rd Cross Street, Pettah.
In 1935, with a minimum of capital and an abundance of goodwill, he opened a small hardware store in Pettah. He was helped by the leading merchants of the time because of his enthusiasm, integrity and dedication. He built up a wide customer network and expanded into the estate supply sector, where he was immensely successful. The war years boosted his fortunes, and in 1940 he set up another shop, at 72, Third Cross Street. This shop was used as a godown and later as Abdul Majeed’s head office.
In 1936, Abdul Majeed married Noor Nizara, daughter of Abdul Hameed and Ummu Habeeba of Temple Road, Maradana. The couple set up home in Dematagoda, Abdul Majeed’s birthplace.
Allah blessed Abdul Majeed with a large family and later showered him with wealth. By the end of the war years, he was a leading merchant and a landed proprietor.
He was actively engaged in the Zaviya Movement in Colombo, just as his father and grandfather were prominent members of the Shazuliya Tareeka.
A devout and practising Muslim, Abdul Majeed would go for his daily prayers to the mosque in Dematagoda. The Thakkiya in Dematagoda was also a favourite place of prayer. Abdul Majeed bought a property adjoining the mosque, and it has been proposed that this property be given to a Madrasa run by the mosque.As founder of the sole proprietorship A. M. M. Rajabdeen, Abdul Majeed later formed a partnership with his three sons, calling the business A. M. M. Rajabdeen & Sons. It is on this solid foundation that Rajabdeen & Sons Ltd now stands, at 192 Nawala Road, Colombo.
Abdul Majeed believed in honesty, hard work, dedication and honour in both business and in personal life. The merchant fraternity held him in high esteem, and spoke of him as a man who kept his word – so much so that two leading banks, Mercantile Bank Ltd and the National Bank of India, spontaneously offered him facilities, which he graciously turned down because of the riba (interest) factor. He said he could manage his own finances.
Abdul Majeed earned his fortunes single-handedly. Despite his success, he was a simple man with no trace of conceit or haughtiness. He was the same person towards the end of his life that he was at the beginning.
He often quoted from religious discourses. Some of the wise sayings he quoted were: “Never look down on the man who is walking when you are on horseback, for tomorrow the position may be reversed”; “Pay the labourer before the sweat on his brow dries up”; “Success built on trust will stand the test of time”, and “Pride precedes a fall”. How very true!
He taught us by example to care for the elderly, to cherish righteousness, piety and simplicity and to love the relatives of both sides of the family. In this he was assisted in no small measure by his wife, the epitome of grace and love, a wonderfully devoted person to whom all her relatives were an integral part of her life.
Abdul Majeed was a devoted father. An only child, he found love and comfort in all his children. Upon his advent to Makkah for Haj in 1960, he bequeathed his business to his sons, dividing his wealth and business equally.
Never envious of the good fortune of others, Abdul Majeed wished for the children of others whatever he wished for his own children.
His life has left an indelible impression on us all.
May Allah in His infinite mercy grant him the highest abode in Jenna.
Mohinudeen Rajabdeen |
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