Islamic Publications in South Africa as a Mirror of the

Muslim Community

Ashraf Dockrat (UJ)

2nd Islamic Civilization in Southern Africa Congress

IRCICA/AWQAF

4-6 March 2016 (University of KwaZulu Natal)

Publications as Reflection

Is this a viable study?

Literature as a mirror of the history of a community

Credibility of study

Islamic Publications in South Africa

Bibliography of Islam in South Africa (Mahida)

No bibliography of Islamic Publications in South Africa

Loss of tangible heritage

A Primary Source

A primary source is "a document or physical object which was written or created during the time under study. These sources were present during an experience or time period and offer an inside view of a particular event." (Princeton University Library)

The Sample

Sufi text-Translated from Urdu into English-1980’s

Community based publication-1961, Transvaal

Mosque Pamphlet-Pretoria, 1960’s

Jalsah (School) publication-Durban, 1936

Shari’ah and Tasawwuf

Name: Shari’ah and Tasawwuf

Author: Muhammad Maseehullah Khan

Publisher: The Majlis

Date: n.d. (c. 1980)

No. of Pages: 140 hb

Notes: This book has been revised by White Thread Press (UK) under the title: The Path to Perfection. Pages: 160, Format: Softcover, Dimensions: 6" x 9", Pub. Date: Jun 2005 Reprint 2009 (ISBN: 978-0-9728358-7-9)

Synopsis

This work clearly presents a selection of the most important teachings of Mawlana Ashraf Ali Thanawi (d.1943). As such it is a reflection of the essential themes of Deobandi spiritual thought in South Asia during the 20th century.

The author Mawlānā Shaykh Masīhullāh Khan Sherwānī (d.1992), a renowned student of the eminent sufī Shaykh, Mawlānā Ashraf ‘Ali Thanawī, wrote Shari’at & Tasawwuf to pass on to future generations of Muslims the numerous benefits of his teacher’s wisdom.

The South African Connection

Mawlānā Masīullāh Khan visited South Africa in the 1980’s and 1990’s and has a number of disciples in the country. The Thānwī tariqah was perpetuated by these disciples in South Africa. Jalalabād, in UP, India was home to his khanqah and Darul Ulum. A number of South African ʿulamā studied and graduated from this institution in the 70’s, 80’s and early 90’s. They brought back to South Africa the teachings of this preceptor the ṭariqah of Mawlānā Thanawī

Synopsis

The teachings gathered here are notes of admonition and encouragement for the sālik [one on the path to his Creator]. These teachings promise to provide are sustenance for the ailing hearts and souls of our time.

The work aims to awaken the heart and serves as an introduction to the spiritual sciences. It exposes the profundity of the psychological and spiritual disciplines of Islam and provides clear insights and perspectives on the practices of taṣawwuf. The book goes beyond simply diagnosing the spiritual ailments that afflict modern man but also puts forward means of eradicating them, so that the readers can as individuals, as communities, and as an Ummah can reap the benefits of a spiritual way of life. This is evident from the contents listed here:

Contents

Taṣawwuf & the Path

Taṣawwuf

The Need for Taṣawwuf

Taṣawwuf and the Qur’ān

Statements of the Ṣūfīs

The Technical Terms of Sharīʿa and Ṭarīqa

Sharīʿa, Ṭarīqa, Ḥaqīqa, and Maʿrifa

The Pledge

The Nature of the Pledge

The Mode of the Pledge

Instruction upon Taking the Pledge

The Need for a Shaykh

The Signs of a Qualified Shaykh

Congeniality with the Shaykh

The Benefits of a Qualified Shaykh

Rights of the Shaykh

Self-Reckoning

Contemplation of Death

The Spiritual Struggle

The Need for Spiritual Struggle

Moderation in Spiritual Struggle

Types of Spiritual Struggle

The Four Fundamentals of Spiritual Struggle

Talking Less

Eating Less

Sleeping Less

Associating Less With People

Character Traits

The Path to Perfection

Contents

Equilibrium and Beauty of the Four Internal Faculties

The Faculty of Knowledge

The Faculty of Wrath and Desire

The Faculty of Justice

All Character Traits are Natural

Types of Character Traits

Blameworthy Character Traits

Greed

Covetousness

Anger

Falsehood

Envy

Miserliness

Ostentation

Vanity

Pride

Malice

Love of Fame

Love of the World

Praiseworthy Character Traits

Unity

Sincerity

Repentance

Love of Allāh

Longing

Fear

Hope

Abstinence

Trust in Allāh

Contents

The Three Fundamentals of Trust

Restraint

Forbearance

Patience

Gratitude

Truthfulness

Consigning One’s Affairs

Contentment

Annihilation

Annihilation of Annihilation

guidance & Admonition

Attaining Proximity to Allāh

Dying Before Death

Dominance of Praiseworthy Character Traits

Passing Thoughts

The Nature of the Lower Self

Types of Thought and Their Rulings

Signs of the Acquisition of a Relationship with Allāh

The Six Spiritual Faculties and Their Effects

Conditions for Permission to Initiate into the Path

Contents

Sulūk

Searching for Another Shaykh

Obstacles

The Harms of Matters beyond Our Control

Advice for Those Involved in Remembrance and Devotional

Practices

Important Advice for the Spiritual Traveler

General Admonition

Further Advice

The Exercise of Pās Anfās

Ḥakīm al-Umma Mawlānā Ashraf ʿAlī Thānawī

Mawlānā Masīḥullāh Khān Shērwānī

Reception of the Book

The book was widely distributed when first published.

Circulated in Deobandi circles amongst those affiliated to “Hazratjee” Mawlana Maseehullah Khan Sherwani.

However in subsequent years it has gone out of publication and even though it was re-printed in the UK it is not extensively used in sufī circles in South Africa.

The Majlis: (Mahida:1993)

The Majlis: (Mahida:1993)

Context

Mawlana Maseeullah visits to South Africa in the 1980’s and 1990’s

South African students in Jalalabad, UP, India

Translation of book by Ml AS Desai of Majlis who is a student and disciple of the author.

Known at the time for opposition to “bid’ah” and folk Islam.

Purpose is to present a shariah minded tasawwuf

Serve the needs of the muridin in South Africa

Al-Haq May/June 1961

Editor Ahmed Ebrahim Lambat: MadressaQuwwatul Islam of Germiston and Districts

Al-Haqq

Magazine organ of “Germiston Study Circle”

Dates: May/June 1961 (Zil-Hajj 1380

Contributors: Ahmad Ebrahim Lambat; Essop Wadee, Ayoob Ismail Kachwee (Deoband, India); Mohamed Bera, Akoojee Ebrahim Lambat, Yakub Ismail Pandor, Ismail Moosa Jogee

The Germiston Muslim Community

Leadership in community affairs: Ahmad Ebrahim Lambat (MadressaQuwwatul Islam of Germiston and Districts)

One contributor is a student from the community studying at the time at a famous seminary in Deoband.

Mawlana Ayub Kachwee is currently the Deputy President of the Jamiatul Ulama South Africa.

Nature of articles show that it addresses immediate needs of community. Id al-adhah, Zakaat, Haj

Germiston Muslim Community

Catalyst for:

Ml Abdul Hamid Ishaq

Hifz class

Arabic classes

Darul Ulum Madrasah Arabia Islamia: 1982

Your Souvenir Visit to the Mosque (est. 1888)

Queen Street Mosque: Pretoria (1960’s)

The Universal Truth Movement

Queen Street Masjid: Pretoria

Pamphlet for persons visiting the Queen Street Mosque

The Hidden Jewel of Pretoria

Universal Islamic Movement: 1960’s

Mawlana Abdur Razaq Ismail-first English speaking Imam

Contacts with Afrikaaner Community and University of Pretoria, Department of Theology-Professor Pistorius and Professor Van Selms

Apartheid

1st Annual Report-1935: Jami’atul Banaat (Muslim Girls Educational Conference) Grey Str

Annual Report/JalsahJami’atul Banaat: Muslim Girls Educational Conference

Awards event but produced as a annual report. Published Bombay

Girl’s only event

Date: 15/16 February 1936

Students and Teachers contributions

Jami’atul Banaat: Muslim Girls Educational Conference 1932 Urdu Language

40 items

Fatimah Bibi Qamaruddin wife of Master Abdul Ghaffar (Principal, Madrasatul Banaat al-Muslimin, Jami’ Masjid Grey Street, Durban)

Chairperson: Maryam bint Qasim Jogee

The Programme:

Participants

Aisha bint Yusuf Parak

Khadijah bint Ghulam Husain Mayet

Fatimah bint Musa Variawa (Secretary)

Ruqayyah bint Shaykh Abdul Latif

Aishah bint Sulayman Vahed

Behn Maryam

Maryam bint Ismail Shaikh

Mariam bint Abdul Latif

Zainab bint Muhammad Khan

Principal’s Report: 1935 Academic Year

Number of Students Enrolled 280

Candidates in Examination 265

Passed 215

Failed 50

English Class

Enrolled 111

Passed 63

Failed 48

Gujarati Class

Enrolled 25

Passed 20

Failed 5

Some Features

Urdu classes doing well; old and new syllabus completed. Teacher Aminah Bhai bint Uthman making very good progress.

Miss Raipun efforts in the English classes are appreciated and cannot be forgotten

Some Muslims unfortunately send their children to missionary schools. Our trustees have identified this problem. English and needlework is being taught (Examples of student’s work is on display)

“The purpose is to provide Muslim children with Islamic education in an Islamic environment.” (p.32)

Lack of space

Female Teachers

Fatimah Bhai wife of Master Abdul Ghaffar

Aminah Bhai daughter of Uthman Haji Somar

Fatimah Bhai wife of Abdul Aziz

Ruqayyah Begum daugther of Sayyid Sharfuddin

Mrs Oliver

Miss Raipan

Halimah Bibi daughter of Abdul Halim (new)

The Patron: Haḍrat al-Aqdas Raʾs al-ʿUlamāʾ Imām al-Dīn Amīn al-Millah ʿĀrif BillāhMawlānā bil Faḍl Awlānā Molvī Qārī Ḥakīm Shāh al-Ḥāj Aḥmad Mukhtār Ṣāḥib Ṣiddīqī

Khajandī Qādrī Naqshabandī (resident of Meerut)

Inspectors

Mawlana Ahmad Mukhtar Siddiqi (Islamic Studies)

Mawlana Molvi Hazrattuddin (Islamic Studies)

(cf. for bio of ulama; Osman, 2016, Early Guiding Stars)

Mr Lewis Herlz (English)

Seth Tayyib Shakur (Gujarati)

Mr Hajji Sulaiman Muhammad Mayet (Gujarati)

Islamic Literature as site of study

Methodological tools for this study?

Loss of a heritage

Attempts to preserve this tangible heritage. Community Histories

Database of Islamic Literature in South Africa

Urgent need Organisational supportSupport from Muslim JamaatsPreserve our tangible history