The historic turnout at his Janaza was a profound, visible testament to a life entirely spent in the service of others. From his early days as a fiery, principled activist to his later years as a compassionate servant to pilgrims, Ebrahim embodied the very essence of community leadership.

The Janaza on Sunday, August 16, of Ebrahim Abed in Lenasia saw a massive turnout of community members, reflecting deep local respect and drawing large crowds to Avalon Cemetery.

Having fallen victim to an armed robbery a day ago, Ebrahim Abed became one more casualty of South Africa’s worsening crime levels.

The news of his tragic death was met with shock and sadness for his passing not only impacted a grieving family, but also the wider community.

Ebrahim Abed’s sterling role as a community activist left an undeniable impact on the social fabric, local development, and grassroots upliftment of underprivileged via various humanitarian organisations.

Many people recall Ebrahim Abed’s dedicated service during the annual Haj. He is widely remembered as a cornerstone of his community legacy, where he acted as a vital guide, mentor, and pillar of support for South African pilgrims embarking on the journey of a lifetime.

As a Khadim (Servant) to the Hujjaj, Ebrahim Abed spent years selflessly serving, guiding, and ensuring the physical and spiritual well-being of pilgrims, whether from Lenasia or from broader South African community.

His immense efforts during the Hajj season, combined with his local grassroots activism, cemented his reputation as an irreplaceable community leader.

Indeed, Ebrahim Abed’s decades of dedicated service within the Muslim Youth Movement (MYM) of South Africa formed the intellectual and foundational bedrock of his lifelong activism.

Joining the movement during a transformative era for South African Muslims, he was part of a generation that redefined Islamic engagement by directly linking faith with social justice, community development, and civic duty.

His MYM legacy is that he was part of a core team who campaigned vigorously toward a contextualized understanding of Islam, promoting critical thinking and intellectual discourse relevant to the South African socio-political reality.

Through the movement, he helped challenge traditional apolitical stances, steering youth energy toward combating systemic issues and assisting marginalized groups.

His era in the movement coincided with the birth of pivotal social institutions—such as the South African National Zakat Fund (SANZAF) under the guidance and leadership of late Dr Shaukat Thokan— which permanently elevated structured charity and community welfare.

His decades with the MYM cultivated the very leadership skills, ideological conviction, and deep-seated empathy that later defined his legendary community work and his tireless service to the Hujjaj (pilgrims).

The shared journey of Ebrahim Abed and his wife, Fatima Madi, represented a rare and powerful partnership in Lenasia. Their distinguished credentials as scholars who studied in Mecca elevated their community work from standard civic volunteerism to a deeply rooted, scholarly practice of social justice and religious leadership.

Ebrahim Abed lived by a simple code: that the best of people are those who bring the most benefit to humanity. While his presence will be deeply missed in the streets of Lenasia and the plains of Arafat, the generations of youth he inspired and the institutions he helped build ensure that his legacy will endure.

Yet, his monumental impact cannot be separated from the shared life’s work of his beloved wife, Fatima Madi.

We pray that the Almighty accepts his lifelong struggles, forgives his shortcomings, grants him the highest stages in Jannatul Firdaus, and grants his family strength and solace during this time.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.

*Iqbal Jassat is an Executive Member of the Media Review Network (MRN)

The post A legacy of selfless service: Tribute to Ebrahim Abed appeared first on Al-Qalam.

On Monday 20 July 2026, the hall of the Nursing Section of Leratong Hospital on the West Rand was jam-packed with many recipients of new light from darkness, selfless health workers, ophthalmologists and their support staff, delegates from the Islamic Circle of South Africa, AWQAF SA, IMASA, Hospitals in the Gauteng Department of Health, University Students, Hospital staff, generous Muslim donors and every other person responsible for making the Free Cataract Project the unique South African possibility.

The presence of various dignitaries added hope and courage to the Cataract Project. Of note was the presence of the Pakistani Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Rabbani, who marveled at the Cataract Project by mentioning that through the visits of Madiba to Pakistan on two occasions, South Africa and Pakistan had forged a sincere friendship. Dr Khalid Mirza, also a guest from Pakistan, offered surgeons, technology and relevant resources to the people of South Africa in the future.

The former CEO of Leratong Hospital, Mr Dube, too, made his presence felt because he was the man who initiated the possibility of the Cataract Project at the health facility. This seed has germinated into the very success the Nelson Mandela Memorial Cataract Project has become at the Leratong Hospital and generally throughout the Gauteng Province.

The present CEO of the Hospital, Dr Itumeleng Molathlegi, too, was present with a message to the guests at the Discharge Ceremony.

At this juncture it certainly is noteworthy to comment on the success rate of the Nelson Mandela Memorial Cataract Project. During this Mandela Day Weekend, a total of 179 Cataract Operations were performed across Gauteng hospitals, which included Leratong, St John, Helen Joseph, Sebokeng, Thelle Mogorane, Steve Biko, Thembisa and others.

The total of free cataract operations performed to date in the province, with the active sponsorship and support of the Rainbow Sector of Surgeons and the Muslim community of South Africa, stands at 15 514, a remarkable and praiseworthy humanitarian service to the indigent people of our beautiful country.

Through the will of Almighty Allah, we pray that the count will grow. One of the guests at the Discharge Ceremony actually projected great optimism regarding Cataract operations in the coming days. The partnership between the Gauteng Department of Health and the Muslim Community of South Africa has indeed germinated into the true spirit of Ubuntu.

Ismail Suliman Mahomed

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One of the most effective ways to challenge prejudice is through meaningful human interaction. Research from around the world consistently shows that when people meet, engage and learn from one another, fear and misconceptions begin to disappear.

National Mosque Open Day (NMOD) was launched by SAMNET in 2017 and is held annually on Heritage Day, 24 September.

The initiative encourages mosques across South Africa to open their doors to the public and welcome visitors from all backgrounds. Since its inception, the campaign has grown significantly, with dozens of mosques participating across the country and across Africa.

The concept is simple: invite your community to visit your local mosque, learn about Islam, observe the mosque environment, ask questions freely, and engage with Muslims in a welcoming and relaxed setting. A typical Open Day may include a guided mosque tour, an explanation of prayer and wudu, refreshments, and possibly a Q&A session.

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National Mosque Open Day is not about debate or conversion. It is about building understanding, strengthening relationships and creating opportunities for people to learn directly from one another rather than through stereotypes or misinformation.

Heritage Day provides the perfect opportunity to showcase the diversity of our nation and to demonstrate that mosques are not only places of worship, but also centres of community, service, compassion and learning. It is a Public Holiday when most people are available to attend and volunteer.

At a time when Islamophobia is growing globally, opening our doors is a practical and positive response. Every conversation helps replace suspicion with understanding, strangers with neighbours, and misconceptions with meaningful human connection.

We invite all mosques and musallahs to participate in this year’s National Mosque Open Day on 24 September 2026.

For more information or to register your mosque, please contact SAMNET at info@samnet.co.za or WhatsApp 0843333979 or visit www.samnet.co.za

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-08-21 161134

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In view of these threats, SAMNET proposes the formation of an Association of Masjid/Musallah Trustees.

Our trustees have a wealth of knowledge and experience with:  Rezoning and land issues; Building plans; Architecture and design; Vendors; Type and suitability of carpets; Sound equipment; Fundraising, finance, and maintenance issues and security.

This knowledge can be shared, especially where new projects are envisioned and with communities that do not have this expertise and experience.

At present, when one mosque faces a threat, trustees in other communities may not be aware of it. There is no rapid alert system. Each community often responds in isolation, without the benefit of what others have learned. Protocols, security resources, and best practices are not shared nationally.

The Association of Masjid Trustees creates the infrastructure for collaboration. It is a nonpartisan (not affiliated to any madhab, group, body) national network where trustees can share threat intelligence in real time, coordinate emergency responses, pool resources, and develop tested protocols.

The association does not replace or compete with the imam or the ulema group that a musjid may be affiliated with. It is not intended for fiqh issues, etc. That remains the expertise of the resident imam and ulama.

The association is a practical tool for trustee collaboration on security, safety, and community protection.

It enables faster response to emerging threats; shared learning across communities; Joint advocacy with law enforcement; Coordinated resource deployment; Trustees working together as a national network rather than in isolation

We would like to start by creating a database and WhatsApp group to facilitate this and, from there, progress towards a memorandum, association, office bearers, etc.

This is purely voluntary. We propose two trustees from each institution.

The following information is required: Name of masjid/musallah; Chairman of the musjid board; Physical address; Email and telephone numbers; Proposed names and contact details of two trustees;

If interested, please send your information to the following: info@samnet.co.za or on WhatsApp: 084 333 3979

South African Muslim Network (SAMNET)
Durban

The post ‘Our Communities face escalating threats – urgent need for action’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Far from embracing war criminal Netanyahu’s declarations of victory, a significant majority of Israelis clearly believe the opposite.

The figures are striking, adding to the woes of the settler colonial regime and its fanatical support base, including in South Africa. 

According to the survey of 3,644 participants, 92.1% believe Iran emerged as the winner of the conflict. A further 82.9% believe the war has weakened Israel’s long-term security. More than half, 56.4%, rated Netanyahu’s handling of the war as poor or a failure, while 72.5% rejected claims that Israel had achieved significant gains or eliminated what officials repeatedly described as an existential threat.

The findings reveal more than the abject failure of its multi-billion-dollar Hasbara (propaganda) campaigns; it exposes a humiliating widening credibility gap between political leadership and public opinion.

For months, Israeli officials, supported by sympathetic media outlets, Zionist funded NGOs parading as “think tanks” and a network of Western political allies, projected an image of military success. 

Headlines focused on tactical achievements, targeted strikes and claims of restored deterrence. Absent from much of this coverage was a more fundamental question: did the Zionist apartheid regime’s unprovoked war on the Islamic Republic of Iran actually make the colonial project safer?

The poll suggests that large sections of the Israeli public have already answered that question.

What is conveniently omitted from official narratives is the strategic cost of escalation. The conflict exposed vulnerabilities within Israel’s security architecture, disrupted economic activity, generated domestic uncertainty and heightened fears of a broader regional confrontation. These realities cannot be concealed indefinitely through carefully managed messaging campaigns.

The beneficiaries of the false “victory” narrative extend beyond the Netanyahu regime’s gang of baby killers and war criminals. 

 Media institutions, security establishments and political networks invested in maintaining an image of Israeli military dominance all have a stake in preserving the perception of success. 

Public acknowledgement of failure would raise uncomfortable questions about the decisions that led to the war and the assumptions that justified it.

It is a pattern we are familiar with, having fresh memories of hate-filled, unjust wars, invasions and occupation of a range of Muslim countries across West Asia and Africa. 

From Iraq to Afghanistan, governments have repeatedly declared success while public confidence has steadily eroded. 

Official narratives emphasised tactical achievements while strategic realities told a different story. Military power was presented as proof of effectiveness, even as long-term objectives remained unmet but at a huge cost to millions of people displaced and mercilessly butchered. 

We therefore ought not to be surprised that the same logic appears to be unfolding once again. 
The significance of this poll lies not merely in Netanyahu’s declining popularity. Political fortunes rise and fall. What matters is the apparent collapse of public confidence in the official narrative itself.

When more than nine out of ten respondents believe the opposing side emerged stronger, claims of strategic victory become increasingly difficult to sustain.

To the dismay of the regime and its “friends”, the gap between propaganda and reality has narrowed. 

The evidence speaks for itself, even though agents of Hasbara foolishly seek to frame it differently. 

Iqbal Jassat
Executive Member 
Media Review Network

The post ‘Zionism’s victory narratives collapse despite billions spent on Hasbara’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Despite attempts to seek shelter at the Durban Central Police station, they have been met with further aggression from the police, who tried to disperse them with teargas and rubber bullets. After having their legal status verified at the Home Affairs Office in Che Guevara Road (at the request of local Municipal authorities), they have refused to return to their homes and communities out of fear for their lives. Since 21 May, they have opted to live on the pavement outside the very same Home Affairs office which confirmed their legal status. They have been relying on the goodwill of a few local civil society groups to provide them with food, blankets, medication, hygiene products and other essentials required for human survival.

The South Africa Palestine Movement (SAPM) and SAPM Youth Committee, which has been part of a civil society coordinating group providing support to these displaced refugees, expresses its utter shock and disappointment at the response from government officials as well as the broader religious leadership of eThekwini. It is at times like this when people become internally displaced due to either natural disasters or political violence that the authorities and faith-based groups are meant to activate disaster management plans or open up their doors to provide shelter and refuge to those who have lost the comfort and security of their homes both in their countries of origin and here in South Africa. Being left to fend for themselves in a foreign country is certainly not supposed to be a South African trait, much less an African one. Yet it is a trend that is increasingly becoming prevalent in local communities.

The fact that people (with some brave and notable exceptions) have generally been reluctant to help this group, who qualify for humanitarian relief, is most distressing and painful. The fact that they have been allowed to enter the country by the authorities, given documents to prove their asylum/refugee status, then harassed by local vigilante groups and finally abandoned in their time of suffering is, needless to say, nothing less than unethical and criminal.

South Africa has experienced several waves of xenophobic and Afrophobic violence for the last almost two decades. The country has not gained anything from such behaviour by the local population. If anything, South Africa loses its standing in the international community every time, as well as any foreign investments that may have created possible jobs for the locals who continuously (and erroneously) claim that foreign nationals are taking their livelihoods. In addition, travel for South Africans seeking opportunities abroad becomes even more difficult as we will not be welcomed by other nations while we eject their citizens from our shores.

Apart from the group in Che Guevara Road, there have been increasing reports of foreign nationals being chased out of several other communities and forced to seek shelter in other open spaces. This is simply adding fuel to an already growing fire which may result in mass violence if not extinguished immediately.

SAPM calls upon the government of South Africa and broader civil society to come together in this time of crisis to find solutions for both the challenges faced by the local citizenry as well as foreign nationals. Leaving vulnerable human beings (especially women and children) to survive and fend for themselves in an increasingly violent environment or even forcing them to leave the country is not going to miraculously produce the jobs or service delivery that locals are seeking.

We call on those whose job it is to minister and tend to the frail, helpless, hungry, homeless, poor and vulnerable to rediscover your Ubuntu, if it has been lost.

We call on the political leadership and law enforcement authorities of the country to carry out your responsibility to protect, help and serve all those who reside within the borders of our country, while following the laws of the nation (as required by the constitution)

And most importantly, we call on South Africans to remember what it means to be free in the land of your birth (albeit with many economic challenges). The foreign nationals who currently huddle together in fear and uncertainty in pockets around the country, unsure of whether they will live to see another day, did not leave their land of birth to seek shelter in another African country, only to wonder if they are actually still in Africa.

SAPM/SAPM Youth Committee
www.southafricapalestinemovement.org

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On Saturday, 16 May 2026, the Cape Town Ulama Board hosted the first-ever International Sufi Conference in Cape Town, bringing together a vast collective of local and international guests. Yet, outside our venue walls, the world felt progressively fractured. Gaza is burning. A devastating genocide unfolds on our screens in real-time, global geopolitical systems are fracturing, and the drums of wider regional wars beat with terrifying consistency. In the face of such visceral, industrial-scale cruelty, critics might ask how an assembly focused on the purification of the heart and the quietude of the soul can make any tangible difference. Is it not a form of spiritual escapism?

The answer, as articulated by the profound collective of local Ulama and international scholars who graced our platform, is a resounding no. The Sufi Conference 2026 was not an exercise in isolation, nor was it disconnected from the bleeding edges of global reality. Speakers repeatedly brought the plight of Palestine to the forefront of the discourse.

But more fundamentally, the conference sought to re-establish a critical, forgotten truth: Tasawwuf is not an exotic addition, a separate sect, or an alien branch grafted onto the faith—it is Islam. It is the living manifestation of Ihsan (spiritual excellence), the third pillar of our Deen established in the famous Hadith of Jibril alongside Islam (submission) and Iman (faith). 

Throughout the day, the core of our scholarly talks and discussions focused intensely on Purification (Tazkiyah), Uprightness (Istiqaamah), Inner Peace, and Spiritual Growth. We delved deeply into the necessity of continuous Change, seeking an unshakeable Closeness to Allah, and implementing rigorous Spiritual Training (Tarbiyah). In essence, all of these internal disciplines are not meant to keep us passive; they are explicitly designed to cultivate the spiritual stamina required to assist us in standing up against global and systemic injustices.

For South Africans, this understanding is woven into the very soil we walk upon. The preservation, survival, and eventual spread of Islam across our country did not happen in a theological vacuum; it was forged on the spiritual paths of exiled Sufi masters. Consider the trajectory of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar, a master of multiple Sufi turuq (orders). Shaykh Yusuf did not separate his deep spiritual litanies (adhkar) and inner purification from his commitment to human liberty. His Tasawwuf was his armor. At the farm of Zandvliet, his sanctuary became the foundational node of Islam in South Africa, a refuge for runaway slaves and political exiles.

This was the same path walked by Tuan Guru (Imam Abdullah ibn Qadi Abdus Salaam), a master of the Ba ‘Alawi Sufi tradition, who was imprisoned on Robben Island. It was these Sufi masters who laid down the tarbiyah that kept the light of Islam burning through the dark centuries of slavery, colonialism, and Apartheid. They proved that a heart close to Allah is a heart that cannot be enslaved by man.

By hosting this inaugural conference, the Cape Town Ulama Board aimed to remind attendees that Tasawwuf is the living, breathing heart of the Deen. It is the science that teaches us how to keep our hearts alive when the world around us is drowning in spiritual death.

How does a Sufi conference make a difference while Gaza burns? It makes a difference because it cultivates the exact type of human being capable of standing for Gaza effectively. It trains the soul through Tarbiyah to seek justice not out of a desire for vengeance, but out of a deep, unshakeable devotion to truth, uprightness, and divine balance. It reminds us that peace is not merely the absence of war, but the presence of justice, and justice can only be established by those who have achieved peace within themselves.

True Tasawwuf commands us to witness the suffering of the world, to feel the burns of Gaza in our own chests, and to respond with an unyielding, dignified activism that is anchored in closeness to the Divine. Only when our resistance is purified can it truly begin to heal a broken world.

Sayed Ridhwaan 
Lead Convenor of the Sufi Conference 2026
Cape Town

The post ‘Why a Sufi conference matters while the world burns’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

This latest act of state-sponsored piracy, occurring hundreds of nautical miles from Israel’s maritime borders, represents a gross violation of international law, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), and basic principles of human rights.

By attacking unarmed civilian vessels carrying humanitarian aid for the besieged and war-ravaged people of Gaza, ‘Israel’ has demonstrated its utter contempt for legal norms and its continuing pattern of impunity. The use of drones, communications jamming, armed speedboats, and psychological warfare tactics against 58 civilian boats with over 400 activists from multiple nations is not a security measure; it is an act of military aggression.

The fact that Israeli forces seized seven vessels near Crete, far outside any legitimate zone of control, exposes the faux self-defence narrative as a hollow pretext for thwarting solidarity with a starving and genocided population.

MRN notes with alarm the chilling echo of the 2010 Mavi Marmara massacre, and we fear for the safety of those detained, particularly given documented past abuses against flotilla participants.
We demand the immediate release of all seized vessels and detained civilians, and we call upon all governments, especially those whose citizens are aboard, to uphold their legal duty to protect civilians on the high seas.

Silence in the face of this illegal, militarized hijacking is complicity.

The international community must act decisively to ensure unimpeded access of humanitarian aid to Gaza and to hold Israel accountable for this flagrant maritime crime.

Dr Ahmed Haroon Jazbhay,
Executive Member, Media Review Network,
Johannesburg

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He stands out as a legal giant among those whose contributions have served and continue to serve us in our struggle to build a nation out of scattered hopes and lofty aspirations.

South Africa is now bereft of one of its longstanding founding heroes and his passing is a tremendous loss to the national community. We should be assured that while great people will die, death can never kill their names. Judge Achmat Jappie was one of the most courageous and erudite Judges that the African continent has ever produced. We shall surely miss him.

Our obvious consolation is that he has left indelible imprints and footprints on the sands of time for us to continually remember him. His death represents the end of an era of those eminent jurists who presented legal arguments at our courts and made indelible marks in the judiciary.

Judge President Jappie was one of the very few whose legal brilliance shone beyond the nation’s horizon. Achmat was purely a classical, erudite and distinguished jurist. Very eloquent, brilliant and with such jurisprudential sagacity of a rare breed, he was an epitome of judicial uprightness. His contributions to our law and jurisprudence are unrivalled. He provided superb leadership for the legal system, improved the delivery of justice for the people, and earned the admiration of his colleagues throughout the judiciary. He led the judiciary with tremendous skill and wisdom. He honoured his country with a lifetime of service, and this country will honour his memory.

His commitment to the rule of law and justice for all was total. He left us something to emulate, decipher and make marks on in the course of our life experiences to make this country better.

Achmat Jappie’s death is a huge loss to the law profession and, of course, our dear country. He was a great mentor and seemingly fixed like the Northern Star. We thank Almighty Allah for his life and times. May his profound soul rest in perfect peace.

Farouk Araie
Benoni

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At the same time, so-called “Temple groups” have already begun calling their supporters to take part in incursions into Masjid al-Aqsa, alongside announcing extended incursion hours.  

This announcement needs to be understood clearly:

The Masjid is being opened to both Muslims and settlers alike. It was not opened on Wednesday evening, despite the ceasefire announcement, so that Muslims do not experience an exclusive return to Masjid al-Aqsa  

 The timing coincides with the final day of the Hebrew Passover, which will be used to stage scenes presented as “victory” and to escalate violations. Heavy restrictions on worshippers are expected.  

Incursion hours have now been extended to 6:30 am – 11:30 am and 1:30 pm – 3:00 pm.
This marks their longest duration yet, increasing from three hours in 2008 to six and a half hours today in 2026.

This is part of a long-term trajectory. Settler incursions into Masjid al-Aqsa began in 2003, with fixed timings introduced in 2008. Since then, these hours have steadily expanded. The stated aim is clear: to enforce a “time division” where access to Masjid al-Aqsa is split equally between Muslim worshippers and settler incursions.  

The threat of sacrificial offerings has not gone away. In fact, today ( Friday) carries an even greater risk, with likely renewed attempts to bring offerings into the Masjid or as close to it as possible.  

A new reality is being reinforced. Even before Ramadan, incursions would begin at 7:00 am. During Ramadan, this was pushed earlier to 6:30 am. Indications now suggest this earlier timing will be fixed and continued.  

The Israeli “Home Front Command” has declared that activities will resume from 6:00 am, reinforcing a shift where authority over opening and closing Masjid al-Aqsa is being removed from the Islamic Waqf, despite it being the sole legitimate authority responsible for Masjid al-Aqsa.

There will likely be intensified filming and documentation of the incursions, used as propaganda to project “control” and to normalise a dominant settler presence within Masjid al-Aqsa.

So this is an opening designed to expand incursions and impose a new reality on Masjid al-Aqsa.   

This is a new phase of escalation and violation.  

وَمَنْ أَظْلَمُ مِمَّن مَّنَعَ مَسَاجِدَ اللَّهِ أَنْ يُذْكَرَ فِيهَا اسْمُهُ وَسَعَىٰ فِي خَرَابِهَا
“And who are more unjust than those who prevent the Name of Allah from being mentioned in His Masjids and strive towards their ruin… [Al-Baqarah]

احْفَظِ اللَّهَ يَحْفَظْكَ
“Guard and preserve what is sacred to Allah, and He will guard and preserve you.” [Sunan at-Tirmidhi]

Palestine Activist

The post The reality behind the reopening of Masjid al-Aqsa appeared first on Al-Qalam.