TONGAAT
Tongaat
A Musjid, a Madressa and a
cemetery were established in 1905 by Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA. An interesting
history is connected with the purchase of the land on which the Musjid was
built.
Hazrath Hafiz Shah Mohamed
Hussain was born in Surat, a village (now a city) in Gujerat, India in 1878. He
came to South Africa towards the turn of the century and settled in Tongaat on
the Natal North Coast. During one of his visits to the Khanqah at Riverside he
eagerly enrolled as a mureed (disciple) of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA in the
Chistia Qadiria Order. His Murshed recongnised the thirst for Tasawwuf
(spiritual knowledge) in this young man and at once accepted him in the Silsila
(spiritual order).
In a few years, this man was
a reservoir of spiritual knowledge and also a Hafiz of the Holy Quraan
(memorized the Holy Quraan). He obtained the spiritual training from his Murshid
(guide). In early 1900 Hazrath Hafiz Shah Mohamed Hussain RA was bestowed with a
Khilafath Nama (spiritual deed of succession) and joined five others as Khulafas
of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA.
He married Hajra Bi Soofie
RA, the daughter of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA in 1905. Being the eldest daughter
of a noble father, she was showered with gifts especially gold jewellery. After
the Nikah (marriage ceremony), just before she could depart for her new home
with her husband, she complained of a severe throbbing headache. Her father was
told of her sudden illness. When he saw the jewellery beside his daughter, he
told her, “My daughter, you are a child of a Faqeer, and as such, this
jewellery is a burden to you. If you desire, give it to me and I shall use it to
build a House of Allah in Tongaat.” The jewellery was duly sold by Hazrath
Soofie Saheb RA and the money used to buy the land where the Musjid presently
stands. This piece of ground was transferred to Hazrath Shah Mohamed Hafiz
Hussain RA in Trust in 1905.
Eight children were born from
this marriage - Abdul Wahab, Goolam Habib, Mohamed Hafiz, Goolam Nizamudeen,
Goolam Moinudeen, Mehboob Bi, Waqarunissa and Khairoonissa.
The following served here as
Trustees:
1905
- Founder Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA
1905
- 1950 Hazrath Hafiz Shah Mohamed Hussain RA
1950
to date - Local residents.
Some of the Imaams here
were-Hazrath Shah Mohamed Hafiz Hussain Habibi RA and Shah Goolam Mohamed
Miajee. Moulana Yusuf is the present Imam. Some of the Muezzins were Dawood
Sultan Khan, Sayed Yunoos and Mohamed Hafiz. Abdullah Rajmohamed performed Juma
Namaaz. In the early days of Hazrath Shah Hafiz Mohamed Hussain RA, Ashura
(Moharrum), Meelad-un-Nabie and Gyarwin Shareef were held annually. Tea was
served after Juma Namaaz and meals after Eid Namaaz. He was a trustee from 1905
to 1950, after which members of the congregation were chosen as trustees to
administer the institution.
He passed away on 9 December
1950 (Rabi-ul-Awwal 1370) and was buried in the cemetery behind the Mazaar
Shareef of his Sheikh (spiritual master) and father-in-law, Hazrath Soofie Saheb
RA.