The grand opening of a mosque in Emdeni, Soweto, over the weekend marked a breakthrough in the effort to dismantle misconceptions about Islam in townships. The greatest misconception was that Islam was a foreign religion, one exclusively meant for Indians.
When Dr Suliman Ismail established his surgery in the designated Black township in the 1980s, at the height of apartheid in South Africa, he immediately confronted misconceptions about Islam.
“In the 80s, people were not really exposed to Islam in the townships. This was during the struggle days, when the townships were inflamed and people were reluctant to accept Islam,” he said.
Dr Ismail then began little efforts to address this, one of which was the establishment of a madrassa in his surgery. This would become the first steps towards a flourishing organisation serving the local community. The Emdeni Muslim Association (EMA) would become the vehicle to drive his aspirations.
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Township misconceptions
Also speaking at the opening of the Emdeni mosque, Hafidh Yahya Jantjie recalled his first days as a Muslim. After converting from Roman Catholicism, he immediately found himself cast aside.
“Going to a township as a Muslim is very difficult because you are entering a region in which it’s not understood and it’s perceived as an Indian religion. This is a big fairytale that Islam is an Indian religion; it has been our attempt to go to each person and make them understand what Islam is about,” he said.
He pointed out a common struggle amongst Black Muslims – that their families often sidelined them. This, he explained, was not out of hatred but, instead, the result of people not understanding what Islam was about. It was a challenge that could be fixed through education.
“I found Islam to be the closest deen to our African culture. I am a stronger African than I was before. I know who I am today because Islam requires that you know yourself. You cannot worship Allah if you don’t know yourself.”
“People don’t really understand what Islam is,” Jantjie explained, making it the duty of every Muslim to “go out and make people understand what Islam is”.
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Emdeni Masjid
The opening of Masjid-Ul-Taqwa was a milestone for the EMA. This was because it was the culmination of decades of effort, despite the obstacles scattered along the way.
“There was always a need to get a masjid built in this community. We’ve been applying for vacant plots with no success, [even] with all the documentation and all the financial reports backing it but it was never in our favour,” said Jantjie.
With the establishment up and running, Muslim residents of Emdeni will have access to a stunning prayer facility. It will also be a centre for the greater community’s upliftment, said Dr Ismail.
“The intention is to “uplift and empower the community of Soweto and surrounding areas and propagate Islam. It will also be a focal point for community initiatives for Muslims and non-Muslims, a safe space for our children, for the development of the future flag-bearers of the deen.”
Also addressing the inaugural gathering at the mosque was Moulana Ebrahim Bham of the Jamiatul Ulama of South Africa. He took the opportunity to encourage Muslims to strengthen their bond with Allah.
“Just as we need food and drink, we need a relationship with our Creator. If we don’t have a relationship with our Creator, I can take an oath, we will never be happy. Until you mend your relationship with Allah, you are not going to become happy.”
The grand opening of the mosque in Emdeni featured a number of prominent guest speakers. You can watch the full ceremony here.
