The life of Imam Abdurahman Bassier was long and meaningful. In that time he displayed many noble attributes that many of those he left behind may wish to emulate. A selection of these attributes has been chosen and amplified with the intention that it may resonate and inspire those who knew him and those who will get a glimpse of what he stood for through these pages.
There are two parts to this tribute. The first is a brief biographical account of his life. The second takes the form of a salaah time table which follows the solar months and can thus be used every year. Juxtaposed alongside each month is a theme consisting of a Quranic verse, one of Imam’s attributes as well as a relevant piece of advice he uttered. May Allah Almighty grant him Jannatul-Firdouz, Insha-Allah.
This tribute is a brief outline on the life of the late Imam Abdurahman Bassier. In 1923, Imam Abdul Bassier and his Alawiyah Tariqah Jamaah traveled to recite all over the country. His pregnant wife, Gadija, went along. On 19 th January she gave birth to a son, Abdurahman, in Port Elizabeth. At that time Imam Abdul Bassier was Imam at the Boorhaanol Mosque in Longmarket Street, having been appointed in 1911. Gadija was an equally busy woman. Apart from being a mother of 3 children as well as an extended family at 77 Wale Street, she combined her role as ‘motjie Imam’ with a full-time employment as a laundry lady.
In 1930 the whole Bassier family went on pilgrimage to Makka. Abdurahman, aged 7, contracted the deadly smallpox illness in Makka. He spent more than a month blindfolded and totally isolated fighting for his life. Miraculously he survived, although the disease left its marks on his life. Upon his return from Haj with his parents in 1931, he entered Sub A at Schotsche Kloof Primary School in Bo-Kaap. By 1933 he had progressed to Standard 3 and moved to Prestwich Street Primary where he completed Standard 6. Unfortunately due to the perceived unIslamic environment prevailing at high schools at the time, his father did not allow him to further his formal secular education.
Instead, at the age of 14 he became a tailoring apprentice and a few years later he started his own tailoring business and earned a living as a tailor. However, the yearning for knowledge still burnt brightly within him and soon after leaving school he commenced Islamic studies under the late Sheikh Ismail Edwards, an Al-Azhar graduate and one of the leading Alims at the Cape. It was under Sheikh Ismail that the youthful Abdurahman cut his religious teeth and by 1958 when Sheikh was tragically killed in a car accident, his student had outgrown his milk teeth and was destined for other stages.
Abdurahman’s youthful days were full and varied. It always started with Fajr at the mosque, often preceded by a cold shower. After Fajr he went on long walks into the mountains and to Kirstenbosch , during summer lasting up to 3 hours. Apart from the exercise, these walks were used for memorization and basking in the solitute of nature. Back at the tailoring shop, a respected trade in those days, the conversations were often heated and drawn out over technical issues of the Deen.
After work in the afternoons it was onto the rugby playing fields for practices in the winter and the swimming beaches in the summer. Initially he played for Roslyns Rugby Club in the company of the legendary Freeman, but was later instrumental in the establishment of the Buffaloes Rugby Club, for which he played until 1949. In fact he represented Western Province Rugby Union as a wing in 1948. Weekends used to be spent mountain hiking or camping, while he also loved Western movies and listening to live performances of the Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1949 he undertook his second pilgrimage at the age of 26. This journey made a deep impact upon his outlook on life, especially in his interaction with different people on the trip. Especially the poverty and the piety that he witnessed shaped his vision of society. On the 19 th September 1953 he married Mareldia, eldest daughter of Hadji Noor and Hadji Mymoena Ederies of District Six. It was to prove a match made in heaven, for she bore him 5 children, including a pair of twins, while she was to prove his primary source of support, encouragement and solace. Initially they settled with his parents in Bree Street, but in 1960 they all moved to Sachs Street, where he spent the remainder of his years.
In August 1962 Imam Abdul Bassier passed away at the age of 82 years. His youngest son, Abdurahman, was elected the following month in an open election to succeed him. He was 39 years old. At his first meeting with the mosque committee, he requested that the contributions from the congregation be utilized to start a bursary fund for needy students, and later to fund the Recreational Movement.
A few months later while visiting a sick mureed at the Brooklyn Chest Hospital, he was approached to minister to the Muslim TB patients. Thus for the next 15 years he would conscientiously visit that hospital on Sunday mornings to provide spiritual comfort and hot koeksisters to the patients.
In 1964 his yearning for a platform to serve the broader community was realized when, with the assistance of a recently graduated social worker, Achmat Davids, they established the Boorhaanol Recreational Movement. The Movement aimed to improve the quality of life of the community through adult education and training, recreational activities for the youth, and bursaries to scholars and students. The Movement energized the mosque committee, for the wide variety of activities taking place required hard work and sound planning. At night the Bo-Kaap mosques and halls were abuzz with activities that uplifted, educated, empowered and relaxed people from all walks of life. Imam was at the heart of all of this, ensuring the proper integration of the spiritual with the temporal, while at the same time fulfilling his duties as a tailor, Imam and father.
In 1966 they published the first Boorhaanol Newsletter, or quarterly magazine with the dual purpose of educating its readership as well as updating those who had been displaced to the townships. In 1970 they established one of the first Muslim preschools in the Cape, but not before a long struggle. The reason was that the proposed venue, the old Schotsche Kloof Hall, had been condemned as an unsafe building. It required much fundraising in the form of open-air mini-fetes to repair the hall to the satisfaction of the authorities.
As leader of the Boorhaanol mosque, Imam was obligated to represent his congregation at the Muslim Judicial Council. He served that body with distinction for 40 years in various capacities, being elected as Chairman from 1979 to 1981, and vice-chairman until 1984. During that period he was involved in the establishment of the first mosque in Mitchells Plain, facilitated the resolution of conflicts at the mosques in Bishop Lavis and Factreton, as well as negotiating the re-opening of the Darul-Ilm in Salt River. Later he also served on the Imaarah, the highest decision-making organ of the MJC.
In 1978 he started doing prison missionary work at Robben Island and Pollsmoor prisons. Given the tense political situation as well as the prevailing antipathy towards prisoners, progress was slow. By 1980 with the assistance of Achmat Davids, he established the Muslim Board for Prison Welfare and State Institutions, under the auspices of the MJC, Hospital Welfare Society, Muslim Assembly and Paarl Jamaah. He served as its chairman from 1982 until he fell ill in 2002. He soon realized that Muslims need to have a unified body in its negotiations with State authorities, so he began the long road of setting up a national body. In 1988 the National Muslim Prison Board was established with Imam serving as its co-ordinator until 2002. One of the Board’s main achievements has been the appointment of a Muslim Chaplain in 1998.
In 1982 his attention was drawn to the desecration of the graves of the pioneers of Islam at the Tana Baru cemetery. His response was to approach several Muslim neighbours of the Tana Baru and with the assistance of Achmat Davids they established the Committee for the Preservation of the Tana Baru. Once again progress was slow and for fundraising he urged Boeta Achmat to research and publish the book Save the Tana Baru – an invaluable historical account of our legacy. Imam served as the Chairman of the committee until 1998 when the Tana Baru Trust was established, entrenching the prohibition of any commercial development of the cemetery. He served as Chairman of the Trust until he fell ill in 2002.
Imam suffered a stroke in February 2002 at the age of 79 years. Thereafter his activities were severely curtailed. On Saturday morning of the 24 th July 2004 he passed away peacefully in the company of his lifetime partner and wife Mareldia. He was buried the following day in the grave of his father, Abdul, at the Mowbray cemetery.
"Thus have We Made of you an Ummah justly balanced" [Al-Baqara 2:143]
A balanced lifestyle promotes a healthy body, mind and spirit. Throughout his life Imam strove on the middle path, shunning extremism and extravagance, preferring the long walk of enduring progress to the sprint of popular glory, or the seat of the strident spectator. Aware of his limitations, his plate was invariably full, yet never overflowed whereby he neglected or abandoned his duties, nor was it ever empty before his appetite for service was rekindled. His love for people was matched by his love for nature, where his youthful sojourns into the mountains, the seas and the forests nurtured his love for his Creator.
"And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth, for Allah does not love the arrogant boaster." [Al-Luqman 31:18]
Respect for the dignity of all people personified his character. His kind and gentle manner, humility and sense of humour imbued those around him with a strong sense of security and affection. Never one to seek the limelight, yet at all times aware of his duties towards his Creator and his community. Nor one to raise his voice, those around him always felt the warm glow of gentle encouragement while chastisement was accomplished with wisdom and lack of malice.
"This is the Book in it is guidance sure, without doubt to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer and spend out of what We Have provided for them." [Al-Baqarah 2:2-4)
Imam Abdurahman Bassier was Imam for 42 years while his father, Imam Abdul Bassier served for 51 years. Imam performed all religious duties with love, sincerity and in the best of manners for the sole reason of gaining the pleasure of his Creator through service to humanity. He placed great emphasis on the implementation of the 5 pillars of Islam. His deep-rooted and profound understanding of Tawhid and the Taqwa that flowed therefrom spoke of a man who had pondered deeply over his Creator and lived for His reality.
"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, And He has put love and mercy between your hearts." [Ar-Rum 30:21]
The family forms the moral, emotional and psychological foundation upon which Islam’s social structure is built. Indeed, family cohesion was Imam’s abiding passion – he lived it, he promoted it and he went out of his way to repair it. He was married to Mareldia, they enjoyed nearly 50 years together in a harmonious, co-operative and compassionate relationship. They ensured that they spent time with their children, imbuing them with sound values and a good education. They meticulously honoured all family ties, close or distant, displaying neither favour nor prejudice, only support and security.
"And consult them in affairs (of moment) then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." [Al-Imran 3:159]
Few people engender respect across the spectrum. Fewer still, trust. When over decades, someone’s demeanor remains humble, his speech sincere and his promises honoured, trust accumulates. People will instinctively turn towards you to settle their conflicts and resolve their disputes. They will develop confidence in the institutions you belong to, the causes you promote. That deep trust that people invested in Imam was only a reflection of the total trust that he placed in his Creator. Imam once remarked that the most successful projects that he had embarked upon were those whereby he had placed his total trust in Allah (SWT).
"Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him, and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are of kin, neighbours who are of strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer." [An-Nisaa 4:36]
He was born to serve His Cause. Rich or poor, prisoner or president, day or night, winter or summer, near or far. His only criterion was the Holy Quran. He honoured the orphans, dignified the inmates, empowered the needy, comforted the sick, buried the dead, educated the youth, inspired his family, guided his assistants and assisted his neighbours. All this was done simply and sincerely, with no expectation of reward, except His pleasure – an ample recompense, Insha-Allah.
"God and His Angles send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect" [Al-Ahzab 33:56]
The norms and traditions of a community serve to both differentiate and to unify it. The Cape Muslim community has a rich and proud heritage dating back more than 300 years, and upholding that tradition was close to Imam’s heart. He understood that the moulood, gadaad and arwaag had not only a religious dimension, but a social and psychological one too. When he witnessed the desecration of the graves of our pioneers, including Tuan Guru, at the Tana Baru cemetery, he considered it his duty to reclaim the dignity of a precious part of our history. Undeterred by legal beaurocracy, lack of funding and community apathy, he succeeded in conscientising Muslims about the value of recognizing your roots. His other great cultural passion in the Bo-Kaap was to ceaselessly campaign for Muslims not to abandon their heritage by selling their properties. Long before the word gentrification became fashionable, he foresaw that a Bo-Kaap with 10 mosques and few Muslims would haunt those who exchanged their heritage for a few pennies.
Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand, and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue, and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith. (Hadith related by Muslim)
Imam displayed all the qualities that a good leader should possess - taqwa, wisdom, vision, patience, humility and diligence. Above all, it was his sincerity and commitment that defined his leadership. His emphasis on transparency, respect for constitutions and keeping proper records characterized his involvement. He led by example, always first to volunteer, never shirking his duties or responsibilities, indeed his attitude spoke of a passion to tackle the work and move the organization forward.
"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the latter are better than the (former) : Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better that the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other…" [Al-Hujurat 49:11]
Tasteful humour delivered at the appropriate moment can facilitate a social situation. Imam found himself in many serious, sad and heated situations where his innate sense of optimism would lighten the atmosphere without compromising the dignity of its people. His humour was gentle, characteristically uttered at the right time, never offensive or crude, and often laced with wisdom and moral undertones. Invariably an encounter with Imam left you with a smile, both on your face and in your heart.
"O Mankind! We created you from a single pair, of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. And God has knowledge and is well acquainted with all things." [Al-Hujurat 49:13]
Imam reached out to all people - rich and poor, black and white, male and female, Muslim and non-Muslim. He visited Robben Island where Imam Achmad Cassiem, Ahmed Kathrada and Nelson Mandela were imprisoned during the Apartheid struggle, spreading the message of Islam to all. He also represented Muslims on the inter-faith forum for many years, becoming familiar with other religious denominations. Within the Muslim fold he straddled many boundaries be it Ulema groupings, mosque groupings or racial divides.
"O ye who believe. If ye aid (the cause of) God, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly." [Muhammad 47:7]
In our land of inequalities, the dignity of empowerment far outweighs the riches of entitlement. Imam firmly believed in the innate goodness of every human being, he searched for it and strove to develop it to its full potential. His zeal for knowledge and education led him to establish classes, male and female, in diverse fields resulting in widespread upliftment and empowerment. Whosoever felt the weight of discrimination and inferiority, Imam instilled self-belief and independence. Whosoever languished in despair, he restored dignity and renewed hope. Whatever the occasion, he had the wonderful gift of giving expression to the talent of everyone involved.
"Verily man is in loss; except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth and Patience and constancy." [Al-Asr 103]
Imam’s life was a beautiful manifestation of the triumph of spiritual time over material time. Time is a creation of Allah Almighty, and on the spiritual plane, a thousand years may pass in a twinkle of an eye. Those around Imam were often mystified where he got the time to fit in all his engagements. Many of his good deeds were performed consistently over many years. Such reliability can only stem from sincerity of purpose and purity of heart. Whatever he embarked upon was always preceded by a firm intention (niyyah) – an unshakable commitment to proceed for His sake regardless of the obstacles.Patience formed an indispensable ally to his daily mission, while his spirituality bestowed baraqah on his endeavours.
The life of Imam Abdurahman Bassier was long and meaningful. In that time he displayed many noble attributes that many of those he left behind may wish to emulate. A selection of these attributes has been chosen and amplified with the intention that it may resonate and inspire those who knew him and those who will get a glimpse of what he stood for through these pages.
There are two parts to this tribute. The first is a brief biographical account of his life. The second takes the form of a salaah time table which follows the solar months and can thus be used every year. Juxtaposed alongside each month is a theme consisting of a Quranic verse, one of Imam’s attributes as well as a relevant piece of advice he uttered. May Allah Almighty grant him Jannatul-Firdouz, Insha-Allah.
This tribute is a brief outline on the life of the late Imam Abdurahman Bassier. In 1923, Imam Abdul Bassier and his Alawiyah Tariqah Jamaah traveled to recite all over the country. His pregnant wife, Gadija, went along. On 19 th January she gave birth to a son, Abdurahman, in Port Elizabeth. At that time Imam Abdul Bassier was Imam at the Boorhaanol Mosque in Longmarket Street, having been appointed in 1911. Gadija was an equally busy woman. Apart from being a mother of 3 children as well as an extended family at 77 Wale Street, she combined her role as ‘motjie Imam’ with a full-time employment as a laundry lady.
In 1930 the whole Bassier family went on pilgrimage to Makka. Abdurahman, aged 7, contracted the deadly smallpox illness in Makka. He spent more than a month blindfolded and totally isolated fighting for his life. Miraculously he survived, although the disease left its marks on his life. Upon his return from Haj with his parents in 1931, he entered Sub A at Schotsche Kloof Primary School in Bo-Kaap. By 1933 he had progressed to Standard 3 and moved to Prestwich Street Primary where he completed Standard 6. Unfortunately due to the perceived unIslamic environment prevailing at high schools at the time, his father did not allow him to further his formal secular education.
Instead, at the age of 14 he became a tailoring apprentice and a few years later he started his own tailoring business and earned a living as a tailor. However, the yearning for knowledge still burnt brightly within him and soon after leaving school he commenced Islamic studies under the late Sheikh Ismail Edwards, an Al-Azhar graduate and one of the leading Alims at the Cape. It was under Sheikh Ismail that the youthful Abdurahman cut his religious teeth and by 1958 when Sheikh was tragically killed in a car accident, his student had outgrown his milk teeth and was destined for other stages.
Abdurahman’s youthful days were full and varied. It always started with Fajr at the mosque, often preceded by a cold shower. After Fajr he went on long walks into the mountains and to Kirstenbosch , during summer lasting up to 3 hours. Apart from the exercise, these walks were used for memorization and basking in the solitute of nature. Back at the tailoring shop, a respected trade in those days, the conversations were often heated and drawn out over technical issues of the Deen.
After work in the afternoons it was onto the rugby playing fields for practices in the winter and the swimming beaches in the summer. Initially he played for Roslyns Rugby Club in the company of the legendary Freeman, but was later instrumental in the establishment of the Buffaloes Rugby Club, for which he played until 1949. In fact he represented Western Province Rugby Union as a wing in 1948. Weekends used to be spent mountain hiking or camping, while he also loved Western movies and listening to live performances of the Philharmonic Orchestra.
In 1949 he undertook his second pilgrimage at the age of 26. This journey made a deep impact upon his outlook on life, especially in his interaction with different people on the trip. Especially the poverty and the piety that he witnessed shaped his vision of society. On the 19 th September 1953 he married Mareldia, eldest daughter of Hadji Noor and Hadji Mymoena Ederies of District Six. It was to prove a match made in heaven, for she bore him 5 children, including a pair of twins, while she was to prove his primary source of support, encouragement and solace. Initially they settled with his parents in Bree Street, but in 1960 they all moved to Sachs Street, where he spent the remainder of his years.
In August 1962 Imam Abdul Bassier passed away at the age of 82 years. His youngest son, Abdurahman, was elected the following month in an open election to succeed him. He was 39 years old. At his first meeting with the mosque committee, he requested that the contributions from the congregation be utilized to start a bursary fund for needy students, and later to fund the Recreational Movement.
A few months later while visiting a sick mureed at the Brooklyn Chest Hospital, he was approached to minister to the Muslim TB patients. Thus for the next 15 years he would conscientiously visit that hospital on Sunday mornings to provide spiritual comfort and hot koeksisters to the patients.
In 1964 his yearning for a platform to serve the broader community was realized when, with the assistance of a recently graduated social worker, Achmat Davids, they established the Boorhaanol Recreational Movement. The Movement aimed to improve the quality of life of the community through adult education and training, recreational activities for the youth, and bursaries to scholars and students. The Movement energized the mosque committee, for the wide variety of activities taking place required hard work and sound planning. At night the Bo-Kaap mosques and halls were abuzz with activities that uplifted, educated, empowered and relaxed people from all walks of life. Imam was at the heart of all of this, ensuring the proper integration of the spiritual with the temporal, while at the same time fulfilling his duties as a tailor, Imam and father.
In 1966 they published the first Boorhaanol Newsletter, or quarterly magazine with the dual purpose of educating its readership as well as updating those who had been displaced to the townships. In 1970 they established one of the first Muslim preschools in the Cape, but not before a long struggle. The reason was that the proposed venue, the old Schotsche Kloof Hall, had been condemned as an unsafe building. It required much fundraising in the form of open-air mini-fetes to repair the hall to the satisfaction of the authorities.
As leader of the Boorhaanol mosque, Imam was obligated to represent his congregation at the Muslim Judicial Council. He served that body with distinction for 40 years in various capacities, being elected as Chairman from 1979 to 1981, and vice-chairman until 1984. During that period he was involved in the establishment of the first mosque in Mitchells Plain, facilitated the resolution of conflicts at the mosques in Bishop Lavis and Factreton, as well as negotiating the re-opening of the Darul-Ilm in Salt River. Later he also served on the Imaarah, the highest decision-making organ of the MJC.
In 1978 he started doing prison missionary work at Robben Island and Pollsmoor prisons. Given the tense political situation as well as the prevailing antipathy towards prisoners, progress was slow. By 1980 with the assistance of Achmat Davids, he established the Muslim Board for Prison Welfare and State Institutions, under the auspices of the MJC, Hospital Welfare Society, Muslim Assembly and Paarl Jamaah. He served as its chairman from 1982 until he fell ill in 2002. He soon realized that Muslims need to have a unified body in its negotiations with State authorities, so he began the long road of setting up a national body. In 1988 the National Muslim Prison Board was established with Imam serving as its co-ordinator until 2002. One of the Board’s main achievements has been the appointment of a Muslim Chaplain in 1998.
In 1982 his attention was drawn to the desecration of the graves of the pioneers of Islam at the Tana Baru cemetery. His response was to approach several Muslim neighbours of the Tana Baru and with the assistance of Achmat Davids they established the Committee for the Preservation of the Tana Baru. Once again progress was slow and for fundraising he urged Boeta Achmat to research and publish the book Save the Tana Baru – an invaluable historical account of our legacy. Imam served as the Chairman of the committee until 1998 when the Tana Baru Trust was established, entrenching the prohibition of any commercial development of the cemetery. He served as Chairman of the Trust until he fell ill in 2002.
Imam suffered a stroke in February 2002 at the age of 79 years. Thereafter his activities were severely curtailed. On Saturday morning of the 24 th July 2004 he passed away peacefully in the company of his lifetime partner and wife Mareldia. He was buried the following day in the grave of his father, Abdul, at the Mowbray cemetery.
"Thus have We Made of you an Ummah justly balanced" [Al-Baqara 2:143]
A balanced lifestyle promotes a healthy body, mind and spirit. Throughout his life Imam strove on the middle path, shunning extremism and extravagance, preferring the long walk of enduring progress to the sprint of popular glory, or the seat of the strident spectator. Aware of his limitations, his plate was invariably full, yet never overflowed whereby he neglected or abandoned his duties, nor was it ever empty before his appetite for service was rekindled. His love for people was matched by his love for nature, where his youthful sojourns into the mountains, the seas and the forests nurtured his love for his Creator.
"And swell not your cheek (for pride) at men, nor walk in insolence through the earth, for Allah does not love the arrogant boaster." [Al-Luqman 31:18]
Respect for the dignity of all people personified his character. His kind and gentle manner, humility and sense of humour imbued those around him with a strong sense of security and affection. Never one to seek the limelight, yet at all times aware of his duties towards his Creator and his community. Nor one to raise his voice, those around him always felt the warm glow of gentle encouragement while chastisement was accomplished with wisdom and lack of malice.
"This is the Book in it is guidance sure, without doubt to those who fear God, who believe in the Unseen, are steadfast in prayer and spend out of what We Have provided for them." [Al-Baqarah 2:2-4)
Imam Abdurahman Bassier was Imam for 42 years while his father, Imam Abdul Bassier served for 51 years. Imam performed all religious duties with love, sincerity and in the best of manners for the sole reason of gaining the pleasure of his Creator through service to humanity. He placed great emphasis on the implementation of the 5 pillars of Islam. His deep-rooted and profound understanding of Tawhid and the Taqwa that flowed therefrom spoke of a man who had pondered deeply over his Creator and lived for His reality.
"And among His Signs is this, that He created for you mates from among yourselves, that ye may dwell in tranquility with them, And He has put love and mercy between your hearts." [Ar-Rum 30:21]
The family forms the moral, emotional and psychological foundation upon which Islam’s social structure is built. Indeed, family cohesion was Imam’s abiding passion – he lived it, he promoted it and he went out of his way to repair it. He was married to Mareldia, they enjoyed nearly 50 years together in a harmonious, co-operative and compassionate relationship. They ensured that they spent time with their children, imbuing them with sound values and a good education. They meticulously honoured all family ties, close or distant, displaying neither favour nor prejudice, only support and security.
"And consult them in affairs (of moment) then, when you have taken a decision, put your trust in Allah, for Allah loves those who put their trust (in Him)." [Al-Imran 3:159]
Few people engender respect across the spectrum. Fewer still, trust. When over decades, someone’s demeanor remains humble, his speech sincere and his promises honoured, trust accumulates. People will instinctively turn towards you to settle their conflicts and resolve their disputes. They will develop confidence in the institutions you belong to, the causes you promote. That deep trust that people invested in Imam was only a reflection of the total trust that he placed in his Creator. Imam once remarked that the most successful projects that he had embarked upon were those whereby he had placed his total trust in Allah (SWT).
"Serve Allah, and join not any partners with Him, and do good – to parents, kinsfolk, orphans, those in need, neighbours who are of kin, neighbours who are of strangers, the companion by your side, the wayfarer." [An-Nisaa 4:36]
He was born to serve His Cause. Rich or poor, prisoner or president, day or night, winter or summer, near or far. His only criterion was the Holy Quran. He honoured the orphans, dignified the inmates, empowered the needy, comforted the sick, buried the dead, educated the youth, inspired his family, guided his assistants and assisted his neighbours. All this was done simply and sincerely, with no expectation of reward, except His pleasure – an ample recompense, Insha-Allah.
"God and His Angles send blessings on the Prophet. O ye who believe send ye blessings on him and salute him with all respect" [Al-Ahzab 33:56]
The norms and traditions of a community serve to both differentiate and to unify it. The Cape Muslim community has a rich and proud heritage dating back more than 300 years, and upholding that tradition was close to Imam’s heart. He understood that the moulood, gadaad and arwaag had not only a religious dimension, but a social and psychological one too. When he witnessed the desecration of the graves of our pioneers, including Tuan Guru, at the Tana Baru cemetery, he considered it his duty to reclaim the dignity of a precious part of our history. Undeterred by legal beaurocracy, lack of funding and community apathy, he succeeded in conscientising Muslims about the value of recognizing your roots. His other great cultural passion in the Bo-Kaap was to ceaselessly campaign for Muslims not to abandon their heritage by selling their properties. Long before the word gentrification became fashionable, he foresaw that a Bo-Kaap with 10 mosques and few Muslims would haunt those who exchanged their heritage for a few pennies.
Whosoever of you sees an evil action, let him change it with his hand, and if he is not able to do so, then with his tongue, and if he is not able to do so, then with his heart – and that is the weakest of faith. (Hadith related by Muslim)
Imam displayed all the qualities that a good leader should possess - taqwa, wisdom, vision, patience, humility and diligence. Above all, it was his sincerity and commitment that defined his leadership. His emphasis on transparency, respect for constitutions and keeping proper records characterized his involvement. He led by example, always first to volunteer, never shirking his duties or responsibilities, indeed his attitude spoke of a passion to tackle the work and move the organization forward.
"O ye who believe! Let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the latter are better than the (former) : Nor let some women laugh at others: It may be that the (latter) are better that the (former): Nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other…" [Al-Hujurat 49:11]
Tasteful humour delivered at the appropriate moment can facilitate a social situation. Imam found himself in many serious, sad and heated situations where his innate sense of optimism would lighten the atmosphere without compromising the dignity of its people. His humour was gentle, characteristically uttered at the right time, never offensive or crude, and often laced with wisdom and moral undertones. Invariably an encounter with Imam left you with a smile, both on your face and in your heart.
"O Mankind! We created you from a single pair, of a male and female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that you may despise each other). Verily, the most honoured of you in the sight of God is he who is the most righteous of you. And God has knowledge and is well acquainted with all things." [Al-Hujurat 49:13]
Imam reached out to all people - rich and poor, black and white, male and female, Muslim and non-Muslim. He visited Robben Island where Imam Achmad Cassiem, Ahmed Kathrada and Nelson Mandela were imprisoned during the Apartheid struggle, spreading the message of Islam to all. He also represented Muslims on the inter-faith forum for many years, becoming familiar with other religious denominations. Within the Muslim fold he straddled many boundaries be it Ulema groupings, mosque groupings or racial divides.
"O ye who believe. If ye aid (the cause of) God, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly." [Muhammad 47:7]
In our land of inequalities, the dignity of empowerment far outweighs the riches of entitlement. Imam firmly believed in the innate goodness of every human being, he searched for it and strove to develop it to its full potential. His zeal for knowledge and education led him to establish classes, male and female, in diverse fields resulting in widespread upliftment and empowerment. Whosoever felt the weight of discrimination and inferiority, Imam instilled self-belief and independence. Whosoever languished in despair, he restored dignity and renewed hope. Whatever the occasion, he had the wonderful gift of giving expression to the talent of everyone involved.
"Verily man is in loss; except those who believe and do righteous deeds, and (join together) in the mutual teaching of Truth and Patience and constancy." [Al-Asr 103]
Imam’s life was a beautiful manifestation of the triumph of spiritual time over material time. Time is a creation of Allah Almighty, and on the spiritual plane, a thousand years may pass in a twinkle of an eye. Those around Imam were often mystified where he got the time to fit in all his engagements. Many of his good deeds were performed consistently over many years. Such reliability can only stem from sincerity of purpose and purity of heart. Whatever he embarked upon was always preceded by a firm intention (niyyah) – an unshakable commitment to proceed for His sake regardless of the obstacles.Patience formed an indispensable ally to his daily mission, while his spirituality bestowed baraqah on his endeavours.
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Bo-Kaap, Cape Town
8001, South Africa
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Cape Town, 8001
South Africa
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South Africa
Phone: 021 424 1864
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