OVERPORT
In 1905, a piece of land was bought by Hazrath Soofie Saheb
RA at the corner of Glenearn and Sheringham Roads, (the area was known as
Hartley Place) from one Shaik Ameer, who was a builder by trade, for forty
pounds. He personally worked and supervised in the building of the Musjid and
Madressa. A home for the Imam and the Muezzin was also built. Soon this
institution fulfilled the needs of the local community in the immediate
neighbourhood of Overport, Sydenham and even Mayville area. He placed one of his
Mureeds by the name of Ebrahim Shariff to be in charge, with himself keeping a
check from time to time.
Ebrahim Shariff, a devoted Mureed of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA
used to bring sundal, chadar, flowers and niaz with members of the Overport
community to be placed on the grave of his Sheikh in Riverside. This was done
annually and was popularly referred to as “Overport ka Sundal”.
Some
of the Imams of the Musjid were - Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA, Ebrahim Shariff,
Shamshudeen, Juman, Kaloo Kamal Shah, Hazrath Shah Goolam Fareed Soofie RA,
Sayed Abdul Hameed, Hazrath Shah Goolam Nizamudeen Soofie, Moulana Bux, Moulana
Muneer Soofie, Sayed Mohamed Basheer, Hajee Goolam Mustapha Misri, Hazrath Shah
Goolam Qutbudeen Soofie RA and Shah Abdul Gaffar Soofie.
Hazrath
Shah Goolam Fareed Soofie RA
He
was the youngest son of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA and was born in India in 1903.
He was the only son and child from the second wife, Haniffa Bi, who was from the
same village as Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA. He was married to Ameer Bi, the
daughter of Hazrath Yusuf Ali Shah RA of Soofie Musjid, Westville on 25 December
1926. According to documents from the Department of Home Affairs, he first
entered into South Africa in 1909. He had five children Goolam Nizamudeen,
Goolam Qutbudeen, Abdul Gaffar, Aziza Bi and Arifa Bi.
He
received his basic Islamic education in the Habibia Soofie Saheb Madressa in
Riverside. It was only in 1935 that he began to serve the community of Overport.
He renovated the Musjid and Madressa. Education in the Madressa was personally
taken care of by him with the assistance of the dedicated ustaads. He readily
assisted those who were in financial and other difficulties. He also helped
people who came to him for spiritual guidance and medical assistance.
He also catered for the deceased by providing ghusal, kaffan
and after performing Janaza Namaaz, the deceased were taken to Riverside for
burial. The insitiution was renovated and extended on several occasions during
his lifetime. Many overseas and local dignitaries visited him. He performed the
duties of an Imam and taught at the madressa in the Overport Darbar for a number
of years.
In
1972 ill health forced him to retire. His eldest son Hazrath Shah Goolam
Nizamudeen Soofie was elected as Trustee and began to serve in this humble
institution. Hazrath Shah Goolam Fareed Soofie RA passed away on 11 Rajab 1394
(7 August 1974) and was buried in Riverside.
HAZRATH
Shah Goolam Nizamoodeen Soofie
He
received his education in the Darbar in Overport under his father. He married
Aziza Bi, daughter of Hazrath Imam Mustapha Qadi of Cape Town. His only child,
Muneer Soofie, qualified as an aalim and is based in Chicago in the U.S.A.
He
extended the Musjid, transferring the existing wuzukhana to the side of the
Musjid. He also renovated and beautified the existing minarets and domes of the
Musijd. The overflow of worshippers is accommodated in the adjacent Madressa
Hall.
Trustees
that served here were:-
1) 1905 - 1911 The founder, Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA
2) 1911 - 1954 Hajee Shah Mohamed Ebrahim Soofie RA
3) 1911 - 1935 Ebrahim Shareef. Legal aspects were handled by Hazrath Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie RA (up to 1947)
4) 1935 - 1974 Hazrath Shah Goolam Fareed Soofie RA
5) 1974 to date Hazrath Shah Goolam Nizamudeen Soofie.