|
HAZRATH
SHEIKH AHMED BADSHA PEER (R.A.)
Durban Mazar
of Hazrat Soofie Saheb ,Durban
Yunus
Shakeel Tar Muhammad (r.a), Lenasia, South Africa Mazaars
in Central Cape Town :: Mazaars
in Southern Suburbs of Cape Town ::
Outside Cape Town
:: Cape Mazaar Society :: Hazrat Khalid Sha
Sheikh Sayed Mahmud Mazar
in Southern Suburbs of Cape Town.
History
: The early
history of the Cape cannot be neglected for it is here that local Muslims have
their roots. Historical research shows that what transpired during the 17th century
at the Cape involved not only the Malays, but also large numbers of Indians, Javanese,
Bengalese, and even Arabians. In fact, there were more Indians brought to the
Cape than any other nationality. Therefore, be we Malays or Indians, our history
originated here and cannot be ignored. Firstly, we must look at events in the
East which led to Muslims being brought to the Cape. There was power struggle
between the Dutch and the Portuguese for supremacy of the seas. There two powers
were competing to plunder and loot as much as possible. In order to do so, they
build up a large naval capacity in the Asiatic sea. The target centres were places
like Bombay, Goa, Cochin, the Coramandel Coast and Bengal in India, Colombo and
Galle in Ceylon, Medan and Padang in Sumatra, Patani in Malacca, Batavia and Bali
in Java, as well as smaller islands like Macassar, Rotti, Timor, Ternate, Tidore
and others. 
Very soon, the
inhabitants began to resist and united to form defences against the imperialist
tyranny. The men to lead the people were of a high calibre; men of great spiritual
intellect who commanded a great deal of respect from the communities. They were
however cunningly captured, and together with their followers, banished to the
Cape. In
the meantime, Jan van Riebeeck, had his own peculiar problem in the Cape. His
plan was to establish a Dutch garrison here to defend the route to the East, but
all was not going well. He had hoped that the capture of the local Hottentot population
adequately serve his labour force requirements. This proved difficult as the Hottentot
soon fled to the interior. Those captured were too lazy to work. Van Riebeeck
wrote to the Dutch Council in the East (VOC) to plead for slaves. The slaves would
be used for the hard labour, in addition to which they could be made carry stones,
build the Fort, make bricks, dig, plough, sow plant and construct homes. They
would also be used to work the salt mines and club seals. This marked the beginning
of the Muslims community in the Cape. The Dutch arrived as Conquerors and slave-masters,
and the Muslims arrived as Conquered slaves. Some historians have a different
view: “the
slaves” arrived here with chains around their necks, leg-irons and handcuffs
on their wrists, but their minds could not be chained. These very ‘slaves’
were the leaders of resistance against the Dutch colonialist and exploiters in
the Far East. These ‘slaves’ did not have experience in battles, but
they brought with them a supranational ideology of liberation …the ideology
of ISLAM. It
is said that 250 years ago a prophecy was made that there would be a “circle
of Islam” around the Cape. According to local beliefs the circle is complete.
Comprising the tombs of Saints and Auliyah (friends of Allah) who were brought
as slaves to the Cape. It starts at the old cemetery on the slopes of Signal Hill,
just above the quarry in Strand Street, where two saintly men lie buried, the
circle continues to two graves on top of Signal Hill. the circle then continues
at a grave much revered, situated above Oude Kraal beyond Camps Bay, and sweeps
around the mountain to a Kramat at Constantia, on the Tokai Road. The circle proceeds
to the most important and widely known of all tombs, the Kramat of Sheikh Yusuf
at Faure, on the farm Zandvleit. The circle is complete by an old tomb on Robben
Island. Modern pilgrims can visit all, except the Island Tomb, in a single day.
Calendar
of Events - Urs :
1.
Sayed Jafer (RA) Urs - 5th June 2005
2.
Robben Island Urs - 4th September 2005
3.
Annual General meeting - 14th September 2005
4.
Sheikh Yusuf (RA) Urs - 8th January 2006
Cape
Mazaar Society : The Cape Mazaar Society was formed in January
1982 initially for the upgrade and maintenance of the Shrine of Sheikh Abdurahman
Matura (R.A.) on Robben Island. However the name chosen “The Robben Island
Mazaar (Kramat) Society” was rejected by the old Prison Authorities. Changing
the name to “The Cape Mazaar Society” meant that we now had to look
at all the Kramats in the Western Cape as custodians.
The Annual Death
Anniversary celebrations of the Saint of Robben Island has grown from humble beginnings
to gigantic proportions to date. At the first celebration only 20 participants
were allowed on the Island. In September 2004, ± 600 visitors from all
provinces of South Africa and a few from foreign lands participated. The
Cape Mazaar Society was founded by His Eminence Hazrath Shaykh Sayyid Irfaan Ali
Shah(may Allah Ta'ala rasie his maqaam and give him a long and healthy life) who
is the master of many tariqah's. Some Ulema have stated that
cape town is known as the Land of the Awilya..
There
are mazaars dating back as far as the early 1600... For
any further information please visit www.capemazaarsociety.com
Address
:
The Cape Mazaar Society
27 Rylands Road, Rylands, 7764, Cape, South
Africa
P.O. Box 443, Gatesville, 7766, Cape, South Africa.
Tel: +27 21
699 0500 (o/h), or
+27 21 705 1895 / +27 21 633 2212 (a/h)
Fax: +27 21
699 0508.
Email: info@capemazaarsociety.com
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HAZRATH
KHALID SHA'S LIFE
Hadrat Sayed Muhammad Khalid Shah Chisti Saberi (alaihir rahmah) was born in 1935
in the city of Ajmer Shahreef in India. He hailed from a very noble family, being
direct descendents of the Holy Prophet Hadrat Muhammad (sallal laahu alaihi wasallam).
His father, Hadrat Sayed Muhammed Iqbal Shah (alaihir rahmah), and his grandfather,
Hadrat Sayed Muhammed Jahangir Shah (alaihir rahmah), were great Awliya of their
time and were very prominent personalities of the CHISTI SABERI SILSILA.
Due
to his great influence, the Chisti Sabri Jahangiri Silsila spread to many countries
like India, U.K., Pakistan, South Africa, etc. and places such as Jherruck, Paak
Patan, Lahore, Bareilly, PeShahwar, etc. In the early sixties, Hadrat Khalid Shah
(alaihir rahmah) had the Buland Darwaza constructed at the Mazaar of Hadrat Sabir
Paak (alaihir rahmah) in Kalyar Shahreef, India. He personally purchased the wood
for the door. Hadrat had once made an intention to make a catera or silver railing
to place around the blessed grave of Hadrat Sabir Paak (alaihir rahmah) to prevent
the people from leaning onto the grave. Upon helping a Hindu devotee in Kalyar
by miraculously making his deaf and dumb child hear and speak within 3 days, the
Hindu had offered to donate silver for the railing. This railing was made by Hadrat?s
mureeds in Surat in India. Due to his personality many Hindus accepted Islam at
his hands in India. Seeing this as a "threat" the government of India
banned him from entering India. As a result of this banning order, he was unable
himself to present the silver catera in the Mazaar of Hadrat Sabir Paak (alaihir
rahmah).
Hadrat Khalid Shah (alaihir rahmah) now focused his attention to
the Murshid of Hadrat Sabir Paak (alaihir rahmah) - Hadrat Baba Farid Ganje Shahkar
(alaihir rahmah)- in Paak Patan Shahreef, Pakistan. Here he establised a huge
Khanqah known as KaShahna-e-Masoodiya Sabireeya Khanqah where the Urs of Hadrat
Baba Farid (alaihir rahmah) is grandly celebrated during the first five days of
Muharram and which attracts devotees from all parts of the world - India, Pakistan
as well as South Africa. In the 1980's, upon the instruction of Hadrat Khalid
Shah (alaihir rahmah), a golden Kalas (a structure mounted on the Dome) was made
by his mureeds which was placed on the dome of the mazaar of Hadrat Baba Farid
(alaihir rahmah). In Hyderabad, he was instrumental in establishing the Jashne
Eid-e-Meelad-un Nabi Organization, the Ghareeb-e-Nawaaz Urs Committee and the
Ghareeb Nawaaz Yateemkhana. Hadrat
Khalid Shah (alaihir rahmah) set his blessed foot for the very first time in South
Africa in 1966. The Chisti Sabri Silsila in South Africa was already founded in
1944 with the blessing of Hadrat Iqbal Shah (alaihir rahmah) by his mureed, Janab
Ibrahim Madari Chist Sabri. May Almighty Allah shower His infinite Mercy upon
his grave. Aameen. He also visited South Africa in 1972, 1976, 1981, 1982, 1983
and 1984. During his visits to South Africa, thousands of people became his mureeds.
He also delivered many inspiring talks throughout his visit. The Chisti Sabri
Silsila spread throughout South Africa, including Botswana and Lesotho. Hadrat
showed a great deal of concern towards his mureeds and well- wishers. He treated
the poor and the rich alike and feared none besides Allah. Many respected people
and Ulema used to seek Hadrat's advice on various issues. There are numerous Karamats
or miracles attributed to him. During
Hadrat Khalid Shah?s (alaihir rahmah) latter years his health began to deteriorate.
His mureeds persuaded him to come to South Africa to receive expert medical advice,
but in spite of all serious attempts to provide the best medical treatment, the
Will and Divine Wisdom of Allah took its course. On the 16th of May 1984 (15 Shahbaan
1404 A.H.) Hadrat Khalid Shah (alaihir rahmah) left this mundane world for the
Aakhirah. He is buried in Watville Benoni (South Africa) where the Urs is held
every year in his honour attracting many devotees from all parts of the country.
A beautiful Mazaar Shareef is being built over his Qabar Shareef. Hadrat Khalid
Shah (alaihir rahmah) left behind 7 sons and 7 daughters
Dargaah
of a saint called Shakeel bawa (r.a), Hazrats original name was Yunus Shakeel
Tar Muhammad (r.a), also known as muhammad bhai aalim in and around johanesberg,
and Lenasia area of South Africa, hazrat was a very famous figure in this area,
the dargaah is in lenasia s.a, hundreds of people are visitin from whole south
africa to lenasia sharif, hazrat made parda last month, 
| 
