Following the profound loss of a community pillar with the passing of Imam Gasan Moos, an educational waqf trust has been established in his honour.
Imam Moos, 74, passed away on Tuesday morning, shortly after Fajr prayers.
At the time of his passing, he was surrounded by family and close friends.
On Sunday, Imam Moos’s son, Saawmiet, shared that his father remained in the Intensive Care Unit under observation and was being treated for an infection.
The Salaatul Janaazah was performed at the Shukrul Mubeen Mosque on York Road in Lansdowne, Cape Town where Imam Moos had served as the officiating Imam for over four decades.
He was later laid to rest at Johnstone Road Cemetery.
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Imam Moos was born in Newlands, Cape Town, but was displaced from the area due to the apartheid-era Group Areas Act. He and his family were forcibly relocated to Lansdowne, where he would later become a respected figure in the community.
For the past 40 years, Riedwaan Kenny, a close friend of the late Imam, worked alongside him at the mosque and madrasa.
Kenny shared that the Imam left school in Standard 7 (Grade 9) and went on to train as a cabinet maker at Baker and Steyger. He then pursued Islamic education at the Institute of Islamic Studies in Salt River.
Imam Moos also served the masjid as the muadhin, at a time when it was necessary to physically climb into the minaret to render the adhan (call to prayer).
Imam Moos became the Imam of Shukrul Mubeen Masjid in August 1980, at the age of 29, following the passing of Imam Achmat Hendricks.
He went on to serve as the Imam of Shukrul Mubeen Masjid for nearly 45 years, right up until his passing. In addition to his role as Imam, he also served as the madrassah principal until the end of his life.
He described the Imam, a father of four and grandfather of eight, as a devoted family man.
Imam Moos also served with several organizations, including the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC-SA), the Voice of the Cape Radio Station during its establishment, the Refocus and Upliftment Foundation (RAUF) drug rehabilitation program, and as a counsellor.
“His lounge was his office and he had no hesitation to officiate at the janaazah of any person in the community,” Kenny said.
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Meanwhile, Awqaf SA has announced the establishment of the Imam Gasant Moos Education Waqf Fund to continue his legacy.
Awqaf SA Project manager Hasanain Abdullah said it was the wishes of the Imam’s children for the education waqf to be established.
The fund will provide bursaries and educational support to help deserving learners meet their educational needs.
The waqf was established and announced on the same day of the Imam’s passing.
“The wish of the siblings was to continue the legacy of the late Imam Gasant Moos, so this is why they have set up a waqf fund. The Imam was deeply involved in the community, education was one focus,” Abdullah said.
“There is an opportunity for donors to contribute to this waqf fund, to earn sadaqah jariya. This waqf fund aims to benefit learners that are either in primary school, secondary school or even tertiary institutions, to cover their fees for a year.”
He further added: “Education is a cornerstone of a great civilization but it has lots of positive knock on effects. So if we were to invest in something, it would be for education.”
Banking details for the fund is: Awqaf SA; FNB Islamic Finance; Account number: 62052040145; Branch Code: 250655; Ref: DES.360
