[Qur'an 57:4]

MUGHAMMADIYYAH MASJIED

at a Glance

The Tennyson Street Masjied is an independent Masjied with no affiliation to any other organization, and is a registered NPO.

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Established in 1906, Tennyson Street Masjied is officially known as The Salt River Moslem Congregation incorporating the Mughammadiyyah Masjied.

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2nd April 1906 -

The founding Trustees of The Salt River Moslem Congregation, comprising of Hadjee Abdurahmaan Khan, Hadjee Ebrahim Hadjee Norodien, Hadjee Mahomed Talip Orrie, Mahomed Lutta, Varyan Abrahams, Abdurahman Biharoodien, Marujoodin Norodin, Mahomed Rajab and Abass Noordien (name spellings as per Title Deed document) purchased a certain piece of land situated at Tennyson Street, Salt River or “Eberstadt” as it was then known, for One hundred and twenty-five pound sterling, with the intention of establishing a Masjied to serve the spiritual as well as social needs of the Salt River, and Woodstock “Paapendorp” communities.

This period was renowned as the year when the so-called “Hooligan Riots” took place in and around Cape Town and spread to other areas like Salt River, where a lot of businesses owned by the Jewish community as well as those owned by Indians were looted.

1908 -

While the Masjied building was under construction, Jamaah salaah was performed at a private dwelling, or “Lange” as it was then known, situated at 78 Kingsley Road, Salt River.

1910 -

The first Imams of the community, appointed before the completion of the building of the Masjied, (named by the Trustees as Mughammadiyyah Masjied), was the late Imam Merajudien Nordien (Emam Merai), as well as the young Imam Ismail Talip, aged 19 years.

The late Imam Merai, a tailor by trade, who resided at 40 Cecil Road Salt River, was one of the founder trustees of the congregation and served as Imam of the Masjied until his death during July 1930. During the late Imam Merai's tenure as Imam of the Masjied, he established a Quaderia Thikr group and they held their monthly Thikr programm at the Masjied on the eleventh day of each month.

1914 –

Some serious issues in the community lead to a breakaway by certain family members of the Jamaah. This prompted the building and establishment of the Nur-ul Islam Mosque in Addison Road, Salt River.

1917 –

Imam Merai, with some members of the Masjied’s trustees, established the Salt River Moslem Primary School institution. Emam Merai Nordien was a true “social worker” in the community, working closely with all the churches and other social organizations in the area.

During 1918, at the height of the “Influenza Epidemic”, Imam Merai played a pivotal role when it came to the burial of the Muslims who died as the result of the epidemic. During the winter season he would often turn his home into a “Soup Kitchen” to feed the needy.

After the death of Imam Merai Nordien, the late Imam Ismail Taliep was re- appointed as Imam of the Masjied.

The late Imam Ismail was born in Johannesburg during the year 1887. He completed his Hifz in 1894 at the tender age of seven years, under the guidance and supervision of his late father, Hadjee Mogammad Talip Orrie. The late Imam left South Africa to further his Islamic studies in Makkah under the guidance of the late Sayed Alawi Maliki and returned to Cape Town in 1903.

He served the Jamaah until 1919, when he took up the position of official Imam of the Kerk Street Mosque in Park Town, Johannesburg.

6th May 1928 -

After his return to Cape Town, the late Imam Ismail Talip, who was now conversant in the Arabic, Urdu, Turkish, Malay, Afrikaans, English and other languages, was appointed as chairperson of the Salt River congregation and on 10th August 1930 he accepted the position of official Imam of the Masjied.

He served in this position until his death during August 1962, at the age of 74 years. The late Imam Ismail served the Masjied Jamaah collectively for a period of 47 years. Each and every year, for the month of Ramadan, the late Imam was invited to lead Traweeg Sallaah in Johannesburg and his eldest sons, would stand-in at the Tennyson Street Masjied.

Of the many learned scholars, who recited the Holy Quran with and under the guidance of the late Imam, were the likes of the late Sheigh Abubakr Najaar, the late Sheigh
Nazeem Mohamed, the late Sheik Salie Abadi, the late Emam Shams and the late Imam Braimah Achmat from Johannesburg, whose father at the time, was resident Imam of the Addison Road Masjied.

Other learned scholars, including the likes of Mufti Moosa Mia, Yusuf Ahmed Mia and Mufti Abdullah whose parents establish the Mia’s Farm Institute in Johannesburg and Sayed Thabiet Rifa’I completed their Hifz under the guidance of the Imam . It is reported that Sayed Thabiet Refa’i, son of the late Sayed Mansoor of Saudi Arabia, took under six months to memorize the Holy Quran and was also prominent in leading Traweeg Salaah at the Masjied over the years.

12th May 1938 –

At a General Meeting, the congregation gave the committee and trustees the approval to purchase additional residential properties in Goldsmith Salt River. This was that the rental income of the properties sustain the Masjied’s expenses, as well as to accommodate the Imam in-charge and his immediate family, as long as he is in the employment and service of the congregation.

1951 –

Imam Ismail Talip left for Makah for a full year to upgrade his studies. Emam Mogamat Zain Bardien and Emam Omar Taliep, who also regularly led the Traweegh Salaah at the Masjied, was jointly appointed as stand-in Imams of the congregation.

21 June 1954 -

The Trustees, comprising of Hadjie Ismail Talip, Achmat Noordien, Mogamat Amien Latief, Mogamat Zain Bardien, Omar Talip, Achmat Samaai, Ismail Samaai, Mustapha Jardine and Ganief Rahim (name spelling as per Title Deed) acquired the property adjacent to the Masjied, being numbers 64 to 66 Tennyson Street. This property consisted of two “double story” dwellings and was intended for future Masjied expansions. This property was purchased for the amount of One Thousand Nine Hundred and Fifty pounds.

11th September 1962 -

After the death of Imam Ismail Talip, one of his Hifz students by the name of Sheigh Ismail (Taarien) Moos, who also lead the Traweegh Salaah at the mosque from as early as the 1950’s and also happened to be his son-in-law, was appointed as official Imam of the mosque until his death during 1969.

The official Muathin of the mosque, during this period was the late Boeta Abdurouf Cornelius (Boeta Oufie), who resided in Kipling Street Salt River and served both the late Imam Ismail Talip and the late Sheigh Taarien Moos.

14 February 1971 -

At an Executive Meeting, Imam Omar Taliep (son of the late Imam Ismail Talip), Imam Braimah Samaai and Imam Zain Bardien were appointed as joint Ghatiebs to Sheigh Abdurahman Salie who was appointed as Imam and served the Jamaah, from 02 March 1971 to 30 March 1974.

Hadj lectures were conducted during this period at the mosque, once per week by Sheigh Sulaiman Mosavel, who at the time resided in Goldsmith Road, Salt River.

Other Ulama members who also regularly lectured at the Mosque were the late Sheigh Ismail Hanief, Sheikhs Omar & Gamiet Gabier, Sheigh Faik Gamieldien, the late Sheigh Abdurahman Gafieldien, Sheigh Abdurahiem Salie and many others.

2nd April 1974 -

The committee appointed the late Emam Omar Taliep as Imam of the mosque and he served the Jamaah until his death in April 1985. During this period, the first ever meeting to discuss the establishment of the now National Zakaah Fund (SANZAF) was held in the Masjied and chaired by Sheik Faik Gamieldien.

Hadji Sulaiman Nordien declined his nomination for the position of Emam of the Jamaah and this resulted in the appointment of Emam “Zak” Davids, who was the Ghatieb to Emam Omar Taliep, to served the Jamaah as stand-in Imam, from 30th July 1985 until the official appointment of Sheik Mughammad Moerat on Monday 10th February 1986 and who served the mosque until February 1994, to take up the position of Imam at the Zeenat-tul-Islam Mosque (Muir Street Mosque in District Six)

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8th March 1983 –

The Mosque committee purchased properties 60-62 Tennyson Street Salt River from the Estate of the late Sheik Yusuf Booley for future extensions.

15th January 1995 -

Sheik Eghsaan Solomons, who hailed from the Bo-kaap, was appointed by the mosque congregation as official Imam of the mosque, until his resignation in 1999.The current Imam of the mosque, Imam Moejahied Laattoe, who served the congregation for a period of 5 years as official assistant Imam to Sheik Moegamad Moerat and also stood in after the departure of Sheik Eghsaan Solomons, was officially appointed Imam as from 01 August 2000.

The current Mosque committee, consisting of Ismail Abass (Chair person), Abdullah January (Treasurer), Sedick Kamaldien (Secretary), Abdurahman Tassiem, Mogamat Rajab (Asst. Treasurer), Achmat Slamdien (Trustee), Saban Levendal (Trustee), Rasied Hendricks, Yusuf Jansen (Asst. Secretary), Ganief Slamdien, Boeta Ismail Hassen (Trustee) and Abubakr Datay (Vice Chair Person), under the guidance of Imam Moejahied Laattoe, embarked on a youth development initiative, whereby the youth at the mosque, were drawn into all aspects of the mosque and community activities.

Facilities are created from within the mosque structure e.g. for matriculants to study for their yearend exams in the mosque, practicing Muathin work, arrangement of hiking trips and affiliation to different sporting codes.

Overseas bursaries and enrolment at Islamic Universities are processed on behalf of the youth. Alhamdulillah, one of our youngsters are currently doing his 2nd year in Islamic Studies at the Azhar University in Egypt. Other successful applications were submitted to Islamic universities in Malaysia and Indonesia.

Some committee members (males & females), headed by sister Shereen Marlie, formed an alliance with the Department of Health (Spencer Road Clinic in Salt River) by starting a health forum and thus working with the old and frail as well as awareness and education programms in drug abuse, HIV-Aids, training in home base care and St.John’s first aid.

Boeta Cassiem Johnson, a regular musallee of the mosque, currently heads this forum. The committee has embarked on a social responsibility program, whereby it wants to make one of its rental properties available to be shared by two or more pensioners from the community, to give more of the aged a chance to be meaningfully accommodated.

A welfare program in co-operation with the Zakaah Fund (SANZAF) is administered from the mosque as well as Operation Fitra during the month of Ramadan.

Other spiritual activities at the mosque are, the monthly Tasbeegh Sallaah, running now in its 5th year and Thikr with the youth on Thursday evenings, after the Maghrieb Sallaah. On Tuesday evenings, Mualima Faranaaz Abrahams, from Woodstock, conducts special ladies Fiq classes. During the last 10 days of Ramadan, a great number of youth, with the Imam, spend their Ihtikaaf inside the mosque.

The Salt River Coordinating Council, a then sub-committee of the mosque, now more involved in municipal affairs, driven by Imam Rashied Omar, Imam Moejahied Laattoe, Imam Yusuf Mataar, Sheik Moegamad Moerat, Dr Achmat Davids, Anwar January, Lutfi Omar, Moulana Azeem Khatieb and others, was establish inside the mosque in the mid 1980’s to address the declining social needs of the community. The SRCC organized the first anti-drug march in Cape Town. This took place during the Apartheid era and was attended by various other community organizations throughout Cape Town. The march, led by Sheigh Moegamad Moerat, Imam Rashied Omar, Imam Moejahied Laattoe, Moulana Azeem Khatieb and many other ulama members, started from the Masjied during Ramadan, on a Good Friday, after Juma’ah prayers and proceeded to the homes of various drug dealers in the area, to let them know that their activities will no longer be tolerated.

However, the thousands of marchers, failing to heed to a court order under the then Riot Act, proceeded with the so-called “illegal” march under the watchful eyes of a heavily armed police force. Halfway through the march, in Addison Road Salt River, the police started firing on the marchers with teargas and rubber bullets. Alhamdulillah, fortunately nobody was seriously injured and everyone dispersed.

An anti-drug “Open-day” was also organized on the Shelley Street soccer fields and was well attended by the Salt River and surrounding communities as well as representatives from the PAC / UDF and the ANC. From here on the campaign moved to areas like Surrey Estate, Bo-kaap and Wynberg.

Some of the Ulama, political, sport as well other prominent personalities who frequented the mosque regularly as Mureeds during their youth, were the likes of Sheigh Moosa Goddar, Dr.Yusuf Da Costa, Sheigh Abdul Karriem Toffar (Institute of Shariah Studies), Imam Rashied Omar (Claremont Main Road Mosque), Sheigh Achmat Sedick (Secretary General MJC), Sheigh Ameerodien Du Toit, Sheik Edries Mohammed (Maitland Mosque), Emam Shafiek Jacobs, Emam Phaldie Cornelius (S.R Moslem Primary School – Religious Educator), Moulana Azeem Khatieb (Provincial Chaplain – Department of Correctional Services), Emam Yusuf Mataar, Emam Sulaiman Jardine, the late Dullah Omar (Minister of Justice & Transport), who at that time attended the Salt River Moslem Primary School, the late Dr. Achmat Davids(Historian) Justice Shiraj Desai (Cape High Court Judge),Hassan Khan (CEO Haven Night Shelters) and many others.