On a day dedicated to celebrating South Africa’s diverse “rainbow nation,” mosques across the country are opening their doors to the public for the annual National Mosque Open Day. Held on Heritage Day, 24 September, this initiative, driven by the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET), invites people of all faiths and cultures to step inside, ask questions, and connect with their local Muslim communities. The event aims to demystify Islam and highlight the Muslim community’s deep-rooted and ongoing contributions to South Africa’s history and identity.
According to Mohamed Kharwa of SAMNET, the event was born from a need to create opportunities for intimate engagement with Islam. “We identified that a lot of preconceptions, misconceptions or just, you know, we haven’t been creating the opportunities for our neighbours, for our friends, for those we work with… to actually intimately engage with Islam,” he explained.
By choosing Heritage Day, a public holiday, the organisers ensure that more people are available to visit and that mosque communities have the time to host them. This initiative provides a “safe environment” for visitors to ask questions they might otherwise be afraid to ask, fostering genuine dialogue and mutual understanding.
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A shared heritage
The National Mosque Open Day is more than just a tour; it is a platform for preserving and sharing a history that is inextricably linked to the broader South African story. Kharwa emphasised the critical importance of documenting the Muslim contribution, which spans from the fight against colonialism and apartheid to social activism and nation-building.
“Islam is not disconnected from the history of South Africa. Muslims are not… passively living in the country. We’re actively contributing,” he stated. The initiative encourages the preservation of historical records, from handwritten Qur’ans to stories of anti-apartheid meetings held illegally in mosques, which were often “centres of resistance.”
This year, participating mosques range from the historic Auwal Masjid in Cape Town, the first in the country, to newer centres in townships, each with a unique story to tell. The concept has expanded beyond South Africa, with nearly a hundred mosques in Southern Africa and beyond participating, including in Sierra Leone, Malawi, and Kenya.
The event has grown significantly since it was piloted in 2017, with dozens of mosques now participating annually. Many offer more than just conversation, providing child-friendly activities, light snacks, and even free medical screenings in partnership with the Islamic Medical Association. This effort is a call to build friendships, strengthen community bonds, and reinforce the message that Muslims “are here, we are part of South Africa, we are engaged, we are part of its future as much as a part of its past.”
Participating Mosques
For a full list of participating mosques and their event dates, please visit the official announcement from the South African Muslim Network here.
Image: IQNA
