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
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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
http://sufi.co.za/Shajrah.htm
:: http://www.sufi.co.za
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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,
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