In the desolate desert British outpost
the Parsis strove to establish their customs
and religious institutions
Itamar Toussia Cohen
When Merwanji Sorabji Khareghat first disembarked on the shores of Aden, what he saw was a ramshackle, nearly abandoned town. The few inhabitants lived in thatched huts, while the only stone structure standing was the al-‘Aydarus mosque — housing the grave of Abu Bakr al-‘Aydarus, the patron saint of Aden. For centuries, the al-‘Aydarus mosque provided the Muslim community of Aden a place to congregate, and provided shelter for the town’s inhabitants during emergencies, such as during the naval battle which saw Britain conquer the ancient port in 1839.
The town’s 250 Jewish inhabitants had their synagogue, and even the 50......