Orient Islamic School’s (OIS) MegaMindZ Robotics Team has secured a place at the FIRST LEGO League National Championships in Johannesburg, after placing first for Robot Performance and third overall among approximately 40 schools at the KwaZulu-Natal regional tournament. 

The Durban-based school was the only Muslim school competing.

Now in its second year of participation, MegaMindZ returned to the competition after narrowly missing qualification for Nationals by just one position last year. Months of preparation, research and teamwork have now seen the learners take an important step forward.

Ten OIS learners, from Grades 9 to 11, took part in the FIRST LEGO League, an international science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) programme that encourages young people to become creative thinkers, problem-solvers and innovators.

The competition has three main components: a robot game in which learners design, build and programme an autonomous LEGO robot to complete challenges; an innovation project based on a real-world problem; and the demonstration of core values such as teamwork, inclusion, respect and professionalism.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Feroza Ismail, MegaMindZ FLL Team Educator, told Al-Qalam that the experience goes beyond building and programming robots. “It challenges the learners to think critically, experiment, learn from their mistakes and work together to develop creative solutions to meaningful, real-world problems,” she said.

Educator and mentor Muhammed Minty said that the educators deliberately gave learners the opportunity to take ownership of the project. “As mentor educators, we took a back seat on this project and made our Grade 11 learners coaches.”

There was a lot of hard work and late nights behind this project. “Seeing the learners drive one another, apply what they had learnt in coding, robotics and science and take the lead had been particularly rewarding,” Minty added.

The team’s innovation project was developed around the 2026/2027 season’s BIOGLOW theme, which focuses on biodiversity, ecosystems and environmental protection. The learners developed a rainwater harvesting system connected to automated drip irrigation, designed to use water more efficiently when growing crops. 

The project was inspired by the challenges of water scarcity in South Africa and the need for more sustainable farming practices.

The prototype uses soil moisture sensors to detect when the soil is dry, activating motors that release water through a drip irrigation system. This allows plants to receive water according to their needs while limiting unnecessary wastage.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

For Grade 11 learner Maseehah Khan, the competition was an experience filled with challenges, excitement and valuable lessons. “What’s been most enjoyable is seeing our teamwork come together and watching our ideas turn into reality,” she said.

Competing against approximately 40 schools also exposed the learners to different levels of talent and creativity, pushing them to challenge themselves and learn from others. Khan said that being selected as a female coach had made the experience particularly special, describing it as a responsibility she was proud to carry.

The team is now preparing for Nationals, where it will focus on refining its robot, improving its programming and attachments and strengthening its innovation project.

The learners representing Orient Islamic School are Zaara Mariam Ponnan, Maseehah Khan, Zainab Mahmood, Omar Mahmood, Mohammed Ziaudeen Ahmod, Afzal Patel, Rayhaan Gani, Shahbaaz Moolla, Yusuf Essa and Komal Ullah.

The team’s qualification is also an opportunity to highlight the importance of exposing young Muslim learners to STEM. As technology and scientific innovation continue to shape society, encouraging learners to develop their skills in these fields is important in preparing them to contribute to future advancements.

The MegaMindZ team will now take its rainwater harvesting project and robotics skills to Johannesburg, where it will represent OIS at the national competition.

“Our aim is to challenge ourselves, push our capabilities even further and make the most of this incredible opportunity,” Ismail said.

The post Orient secures place at Robotics National event appeared first on Al-Qalam.

The South African Muslim Network (SAMNET) has issued an open letter to the Government warning of increasing anti-Muslim hatred in our country – and to take urgent action.

Dr Faisal Suliman, head of the South African Muslim Network (SAMNET), told Al-Qalam that in the past three years, explosive devices have been thrown onto the grounds of a Durban mosque, a worshipper in Tzaneen was attacked with a corrosive device after evening prayers, and walls in Durban were painted with messages telling Muslims to “Go”. 

And on social media and forums, a deluge of hateful content links Muslims and Muslim migrants to terrorism, crime and conspiracy, he said.

 “Each incident is distressing on its own. Together they form a pattern that international experience tells us will grow if it is not confronted early,” he added.

SAMNET has produced a paper, following extensive research, that sets out what Islamophobia is; how it is showing up in South Africa; the effects it has on people and on society; and what they are asking of government, institutions and our fellow citizens.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

In summary:

■ The threat is real and escalating. South African mosques and worshippers have been targeted with desecration, attempted bombing, corrosive attacks and hate graffiti, increasingly blended with xenophobia towards migrant traders.

■ The harm extends well beyond direct victims. Research consistently links Islamophobia to anxiety, depression and avoidance of health care, and every attack sends a message of fear to an entire community.

■ Visible Muslims bear the heaviest burden. Women who wear the headscarf and bearded men face the most street abuse and measurable penalties when applying for jobs.

■ Left unchecked, prejudice becomes policy. Overseas, everyday hostility has hardened into hiring discrimination, dress-code exclusions and lost trust in public institutions within a few years.

■ The legal tools exist but are incomplete. The Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act was signed in May 2024 but has still not come into force. We call for its urgent proclamation, proper hate-crime data, and clear religious-accommodation rules in workplaces and public institutions.

In the document, SAMNET also warned that Islamophobia in South Africa was becoming a worrying trend.

“If the tide is not turned in South Africa, the country could face entrenched economic disadvantages passed between generations; residential and social separation; eroded trust in police and the State; weaker social cohesion that extremists of every kind can exploit, including damage to South Africa’s standing as a human rights democracy.

SAMNET also called on the National Government – among other things – to proclaim the Prevention and Combating of Hate Crimes and Hate Speech Act without further delay, and fund its implementation.

“We call on the SAPS to flag suspected religious motive when cases are opened, and publish annual hate-crime statistics broken down by targeted group.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

“We want Government to Issue clear national guidance on religious dress, beards and prayer in the public service, and finalise a nurses’ uniform policy that accommodates the headscarf, as the SANDF has done.

“It must prioritise complaints of religious hate speech, including online, and publicise outcomes so that the public sees consequences.

Newly elected municipal councils and political parties

“Following the 4 November 2026 local elections, government must commit publicly to rejecting anti-migrant and anti-Muslim scapegoating, remove hate graffiti promptly, and handle applications for mosques and community facilities fairly 

“It must adopt written accommodation policies covering headscarves, beards, Friday prayer, Eid leave and exam scheduling; protect existing prayer facilities; and provide accessible procedures for reporting harassment.

“It must avoid attaching religion to crime or terrorism stories where it is irrelevant, give Muslim voices a fair hearing, and act promptly on South African complaints about hate content”, it said.

The post SAMNET: ‘SA must stem Islamophobia before too late’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

For patients who cannot afford private healthcare, accessing specialised treatment can be difficult, often compounded by long waiting lists in the public health system. A new healthcare project in Durban aims to help address this gap by bringing a range of medical services under one roof, with a focus on patients who might otherwise struggle to access care.

The Islamic Medical Association of South Africa (IMASA) has launched its Legacy Health Centre project in Mayville, Durban, which is planned as a multi-specialty day hospital providing subsidised and, where possible, free healthcare to disadvantaged communities across KwaZulu-Natal.

Located on Deering Lane, adjacent to Ahmed Al Kadi Private Hospital, the centre is expected to offer renal dialysis, diagnostic imaging, surgery, physical rehabilitation and post-hospital recovery care.

According to Solly Suleman, head of the IMA Baytul-Nur Trust and chairperson of IMASA, the project represents a long-standing vision to make specialised healthcare more accessible to those in need. “It’s long overdue and a project for the pleasure of Allah, to help disadvantaged communities at large,” said Suleman. He also highlighted the importance of doctors participating in the initiative to help ensure its success.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

IMASA revisited the idea of a charity hospital in 2008 but found that running one independently would be too costly. It instead partnered with private investors to establish Ahmed Al Kadi Private Hospital, with the IMA Baytul-Nur Trust retaining a share in the hospital. This partnership helped build the experience and resources needed to work towards its original vision of providing charitable healthcare.

The Legacy Health Centre will build on this foundation, combining subsidised and charitable services with income from paying patients to help keep the facility running in the long term.

Services

The planned three-storey facility will include a six-bed charity day hospital with an operating theatre, a 22-bed step-down care unit, a 20-bed renal dialysis unit, a radiology unit, physical rehabilitation facilities and specialist consulting rooms. The basement will provide 90 parking bays.

The charity day hospital will serve indigent patients without medical scheme cover, while the step-down unit will provide recovery care, including wound management and rehabilitation, for patients who no longer require acute hospital treatment.

The new dialysis unit will increase capacity from 15 to 20 beds, expanding provision for patients who depend on regular treatment. The radiology unit will offer diagnostic imaging at reduced rates for eligible patients. Income from paying patients will help subsidise charitable services.

Plans also include healthcare training, public health education and community awareness programmes focused on kidney health, prevention and early detection.

Yasiera Mahomed-Suliman, vice-chairperson of IMASA Durban and an IMA-Baytul-Nur trustee, told Al-Qalam that her years working in underserved communities had given her firsthand insight into the barriers people face in accessing quality healthcare.

“You see the reality of people who stand in long queues at government hospitals and clinics, sometimes for hours, only to leave without receiving the care they desperately need. Others simply cannot afford private healthcare and are left with very few options. Healthcare should never be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it; it is a fundamental human need,” she said.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

The project is estimated to cost R120 million. The properties have been acquired, plans finalised and a professional team appointed. Municipal and town-planning approvals and a healthcare licensing application have been submitted to the relevant authorities.

The project remains in the fundraising and preparation stage, with construction and the procurement of medical equipment still to come. No opening date has been confirmed.

“The IMASA Legacy Health Centre is particularly close to my heart because it’s going to represent more than just a healthcare facility. Our vision is to create a sustainable legacy of compassionate, accessible and quality healthcare that will serve our communities for generations to come,” said Suliman. 

The post IMASA’s medical facility to improve access to healthcare in KZN appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Social Intifada founder Khalid Vawda says South African schools should partner with Palestinian schools to learn about each other’s community and history.

He was commenting on the furore that erupted after Emmarentia Primary School in Johannesburg erroneously displayed an Israeli flag during a concert – and which the school subsequently apologised. The incident highlights how schools could get caught up in wider political disputes over Palestine.

The controversy raises questions about who gets to shape what children learn about human rights, history and the experiences of people beyond their own communities.

The Israel flag controversy unfolded against a broader disagreement over Palestine-related activities hosted at the school, with the South African Zionist Federation (SAZF) criticising the school’s involvement in initiatives organised by Social Intifada.

Disagreement

Speaking to Al-Qalam, Vawda argued that the debate reflects competing ideas about what children should be taught and whether engaging with injustice is being unfairly framed as political indoctrination.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

“Teaching kids about justice, teaching kids about injustice, teaching kids about standing up for the oppressed, this is not indoctrination. This is instilling values in children,” he said.

The disagreement raises a difficult question for schools: where does education end and political influence begin? Schools have a responsibility to provide age-appropriate learning environments, but they also help young people develop an understanding of history, society and the principles that underpin human rights. When an issue such as Palestine enters that space, those responsibilities can collide with deeply held political positions in the wider community, he said.

For Vawda, South Africa’s own history makes it difficult to separate the discussion of Palestine from the country’s struggle against apartheid. He pointed to the historical connections between Palestinian liberation movements and the anti-apartheid movement, arguing that young people should understand the relationships that shaped both histories.

“Our kids need to learn their history and where they’ve come from,” he told Al-Qalam.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

Vawda proposed one way to move beyond the immediate dispute: ‘Establish partnerships between South African and Palestinian schools’. These could include exchanging letters, poetry and educational materials, as well as online meetings that allow pupils to learn about one another’s communities, he added.

He believes such contact could challenge the distance created when people are known primarily through news reports of conflict.

“And what this does is it humanises a conflict. It humanises a war. It humanises people who have been actively dehumanised for decades now,” he said.

The post ‘SA must partner with Palestine Schools’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

The recent passing of Mohamed Cassim Jaffar, an icon of Durban’s tight-knit Malay community, has left a void – he was 92.

“Boeta Cass” or “Oupa,” as he was fondly known by his extended family, was a man who commanded great respect amongst the community at large. He led a full life, having spent the prime years of his life as an educator. Coming from a cricketing family, he naturally took to cricket and was passionate about the sport. He was a top wicketkeeper for the Rosslyns Cricket Club during the 50’s and 70’s.

Outside his teaching work, Boeta Cass dedicated himself to community and charitable work, and also gave up time to counsel many people who sought his help.

To his four daughters (the Late Nadia Jaffar Jogie, Fadeya Jaffar Mohanlall Fazlin Jaffar Kola and Adeba Jaffar Sallie), he was a tower of strength. Sadly, his wife, Zubeida Mahomed (whom he married in 1936), passed away in 2004.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Adeba, his eldest daughter, told Al-Qalam that her father was a man of integrity and dignity. “He never ever said a nasty word to anyone,” she said.

She remembers how his eight grandchildren would often gather around to listen to his interesting stories about life in the Casbah and in the Greyville areas of Durban.

“My father dedicated most of his life to teaching at high schools and at the Bechet Teachers Training College. “Everyone always spoke highly of ‘Mr Jaffar’ and said that he was their best teacher – the best biology teacher. Everyone looked up to him.”

“He played an integral part in the Malay Community. He was a founding member of the Cape Malay Vigilance Society. He often went out in the scorching heat during Ramadan collecting funds – and he also helped towards the current building on Keal Road, which is now the A.M Moola Hall. We were just little girls and my dad was always out driving with the late Mona Vahed and other members of the Trust. He served as the Chairman of the Islamic, Educational and Religious Trust for many years.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

“The fondest memories were always having our dad with us for every school holiday. And our road trips often included driving to Cape Town, Johannesburg, Kruger National Park and other places of interest in the then smallest of cars, a little Volkswagen Beetle.”

“His proudest moments were watching his grandchildren excel academically at school and on the sports field, and seeing the older ones enter university and establish themselves in their chosen careers. He watched his great-grandchildren grow, and took an interest in everything they did up to his last days. He remembered everyone’s birthdays, even his sons-in-law and grandsons-in-law,” she added,

He is buried at Riverside Cemetery.

The post Passing of ‘Boeta Cas’ (92) leaves void in Durban’s Malay community appeared first on Al-Qalam.

The anti-migrant unrest in Durban is affecting businesses, communities and eroding investor confidence, but despite the gloom, courageous entrepreneurs were still ploughing money into the economy, said Ebrahim Patel, President of the Minara Chamber of Commerce.

He was addressing guests at the glittering Business Recognition Awards 2026 and Gala Dinner, hosted by the Chamber and held at the NMJ Conference Centre in Durban recently.

The prestigious event recognised outstanding businesses and individuals whose achievements, innovation and dedication continue to contribute to South Africa’s economic growth and community development. 

Top honours went to the following winners: 

• Business Entity of the Year – Large: Woodford Group 

• Business Entity of the Year – Medium: Minnies Food Enterprise 

• Business Entity of the Year – Small: Daily Dippers 

• Businessperson of the Year: Munir Jeeva, CEO of Afrisave Group 

• Businesswoman of the Year: Mariam Galant-Diedericks 

• Young Achiever of the Year: Waheed Amanjee, Co-Founder of Whizmed 

• Community Builder of the Year: Sheikh Bilal Ismail, Community leader 

• Professional Achiever of the Year: Professor Yahya Choonara 

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Patel emphasised the importance of building an inclusive economy through entrepreneurship, partnerships and opportunities for businesses of all sizes. 

“Tonight, we celebrate the achievements of enterprises and individuals. More importantly, we celebrate what those achievements represent: the courage to recognise opportunity, the conviction to invest, the resilience to navigate uncertainty, and the leadership to create value for others and contribute to our economy.”

“We meet at a difficult moment in a world defined by extraordinary uncertainty. The relationship between economic power, technological capability and human capital is changing rapidly. Geopolitics is reshaping trade, technology and artificial intelligence are redefining productivity, and economic uncertainty is forcing governments, businesses and societies to reconsider what resilience truly means. 

“These are not separate challenges. They are interconnected forces that are redefining our world – and they require a considered and collective response.” 

He pointed out that across Europe, high fuel prices, the rising cost of living, housing shortages and pressure on public services have led to social unrest. “These are the very pressures felt by our own citizens. What is our strategy to respond to these challenges? 

“In Durban, recent unrest has affected businesses, communities and investor confidence, while the images circulating internationally have sent concerning signals to investors and trading partners. 

“As the local government elections approach, there is understandable anticipation and anxiety within the business community. Whatever the electoral outcome, our priorities must remain clear: effective governance, accountability and a constructive partnership between government and business. Our economy cannot afford prolonged uncertainty or delays in implementing the commitments made in election promises.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

He said Government, business, labour and civil society must work together to restore confidence, strengthen social cohesion, widen economic participation and create conditions in which investment can flourish. 

“At the global level, geopolitical tensions continue to reshape global markets. Trade is increasingly influenced by strategic rivalry, national security, industrial policy and geopolitical alignment. The escalating conflict involving the United States and Iran has pushed inflation higher and increased borrowing costs for businesses and consumers alike.

“For South African businesses already operating under pressure, the consequences are substantial. For households and consumers, it is financially devastating.” 

Patel said history has taught us that “uncertainty” was also the environment in which leadership was being tested. “It reminds us of an important truth: that in an interconnected world the nations and businesses that emerge stronger are not those that avoid disruption but those that adapt with speed, discipline and purpose. 

“South Africa has overcome difficult chapters before. We have demonstrated the capacity to rebuild, to innovate and to find common purpose when the circumstances demand it – we must draw on that same capacity now,” he added.

The post ‘Courage required in gloomy economy’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

Before a voter puts a cross beside a name, there are questions a ballot paper cannot answer. What makes someone worthy of public trust? How should religious conviction inform political loyalty? And what does a citizen owe to people beyond their own community?

At the International Peace College South Africa (IPSA), eight students took up these questions through a seminar examining Muslim youth and political participation. Held on 3 October, the Contemporary Islamic Thought Seminar brought citizenship, Islamic scholarship and electoral choice into a single programme, with students presenting on subjects that reach well beyond their classrooms.

The theme, “Muslim Youth and Political Participation: Citizenship, Voting and a Just Future”, gave the gathering an ambitious scope. Across two sessions, the presentations moved from the meaning of national belonging to the judgements involved in choosing whom to support.

For Muslim students, these questions sit at the intersection of religious education and everyday life. Political decisions shape access to education, livelihoods and the safety of neighbourhoods. They also raise questions about justice, the exercise of authority and responsibility for the welfare of others. Connecting those concerns requires both an understanding of faith and an ability to examine the world in which its principles must be applied.

The programme began with belonging.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Saleem Parker’s presentation on love and loyalty to one’s nation, considered from an Islamic perspective, sat alongside Rasheedah Khan’s examination of the responsibilities of citizenship through fiqh al-muwatanah, the jurisprudence of citizenship.

Together, their subjects framed a question that extends beyond elections: how should Muslims understand their obligations within a shared society? Love of country is an expression of attachment. Citizenship gives that attachment practical consequences, bringing the rights and needs of fellow citizens into consideration.

The historical presentations widened the discussion. Nihad Moses addressed the political activities of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and his Sahabah, while Fagmieyah Darries examined the history of Muslim political involvement in South Africa.

Their subjects placed contemporary participation within two important frames of reference: the early Muslim experience and the community’s own history in this country. For students considering their place in public life, both offer starting points for enquiry into how Muslims have understood authority, responsibility and collective action.

The second session turned to the ballot itself.

Zainab Achmat’s topic, “Is Voting Permissible? What the Scholars Say!”, addressed the religious question underlying electoral participation. Nabeelah Esack followed with an examination of the criteria that should inform the choice of whom to vote for.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

The sequence mattered. Permission to participate does not, on its own, resolve the judgement required of a voter. Choosing a representative demands an assessment of the people seeking power, the commitments they make and the grounds on which they can be trusted.

For a Muslim electorate, that is also a question about how ethical commitments become standards of public judgement. What weight should be given to integrity, competence and the treatment of vulnerable people? How should competing considerations be assessed? A discussion of criteria creates room to examine the reasoning behind a political preference.

Tasleemah Ellis brought an international perspective through her presentation on the impact of Muslim votes in the United Kingdom and United States. Fazlin Davids returned the discussion to South Africa, addressing the possible and certain benefits of voting.

Placed together, these topics connected the question of participation with the question of consequence: what influence can voters exercise, and what can they reasonably expect it to achieve?

Across the presentations ran a common question: what does responsible political participation require of a Muslim? Examining it meant bringing religious scholarship into conversation with history and the practical choices facing voters. For young Muslims, these questions bear directly on how they understand their faith, their citizenship and their responsibilities towards others.

The questions explored at the seminar extended beyond whether Muslims should vote to what should guide them when they do. Citizenship, scholarly interpretation and political experience each formed part of that enquiry. At its heart was the challenge of translating a commitment to justice into a choice on the ballot – and sustaining that commitment once the votes have been counted.

The post Faith and the Muslim voter appeared first on Al-Qalam.

With Matric finals approaching, learners are entering the final stretch of a demanding year, often carrying the weight of academic expectations, university applications and uncertainty about what comes next.

Speaking to Al-Qalam, career coach and strategist Farhana Hassam said many Matrics are already mentally and emotionally exhausted after months of prelims, extra classes, tuition and workshops.

“Rest is not wasted time,” she said, encouraging learners to prioritise sleep, healthy routines, manageable study sessions and short breaks rather than feeling they must study every waking hour.

She advised learners to break their workload into realistic goals and focus on what they can control: their preparation, effort and wellbeing.

For those struggling with anxiety or fearing they may disappoint their parents, Hassam said such feelings do not mean they are incapable or unprepared.

“Learners should remember that their results are a reflection of their performance in a particular period, not a measurement of their worth, intelligence or potential,” she said.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Hassam also urged parents to create a calm and supportive environment. Rather than repeatedly asking how much their children have studied or what marks they achieved, she suggested asking how they are feeling and how they can help.

“Avoid comparisons with siblings, friends or other learners,” she said, adding that practical support, including ensuring children eat, rest, sleep properly and have a quiet place to study, can make a significant difference.

While Matric results can influence which opportunities are immediately available, Hassam cautioned against viewing them as a final verdict on a learner’s future.

“There are many pathways into further study, employment and career development,” she said. These include alternative programmes and institutions, qualifications, learnerships, skills-development opportunities and opportunities to redirect one’s career later.

For learners uncertain about what comes after school, Hassam recommended making informed rather than panic-driven decisions.

She encouraged learners to consider their interests, strengths, values, subjects and the type of environment in which they would like to work, rather than choosing a career because it is popular or because their friends are pursuing it.

University, she noted, is only one pathway. Depending on individual circumstances, learners can also consider TVET colleges, learnerships, skills programmes, employment, entrepreneurship or taking time to explore their options.

“Careers and life is not linear. There is also no single definition of success,” she said.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

Hassam, who has more than 12 years of experience in recruitment and talent-focused roles and over four years of full-time career coaching experience, supports high school learners with career guidance, subject choices and post-school planning.

Her message to Matrics facing the final exams is simple: “You are not running out of time, you have your whole world right in front of you.”

The post Matric learners: ‘Your results do not define your future’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

“God is not an estate agent,” says celebrated journalist and author Yvonne Ridley.

Yvonne Ridley has a gift for the sentence that refuses to leave the room. In our interview, the British journalist moved from the story of a runaway donkey in Afghanistan to the moral responsibilities of Muslims towards Palestine, wielding humour and indignation with equal precision.

The remark came as she praised Jewish opponents of Zionism who reject religious justifications for territorial claims. She speaks with admiration of their dissent, and with fury at what is being done in their name beneath an Israeli flag that, in her words, “has now become a butcher’s apron”.

But before the political arguments came the donkey.

In 2001, reporting for the Sunday Express, Ridley entered Afghanistan beneath a blue burqa. She likened its anonymity to “putting on Harry Potter’s invisibility cloak”. Her cover unravelled when the animal carrying her towards the Pakistani border bolted, exposing her camera to a Taliban soldier.

“I was done for by a rogue donkey.”

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

Having surrendered her camera, she closed her eyes and waited to be shot. She might subsequently have escaped. Instead, seeing her local guides detained and surrounded by an angry crowd, she turned back.

“And I realised I couldn’t leave them behind.”

She imagined her guides would admire her return. Instead, she recalled, they looked as though she had made their predicament considerably worse. The Taliban now had a British journalist in their custody.

For the next 11 days, she expected to be killed. She describes herself as “the prisoner from hell”, swearing, spitting and throwing things during interrogations. 

“You don’t kiss the hand that slaps you.”

Their restraint confounded her expectations. Recalling the brutality she had anticipated, she delivered an incredulous question: “Why aren’t you living up to the job description?”

Her subsequent interviews with former Guantánamo Bay detainees sharpened that contrast. Hearing their accounts, she considered herself fortunate to have been held by the Taliban rather than the Americans. Her verdict was deliberately barbed. “Thank God I was captured by the most evil, brutal regime in the world and not by the Americans.”

By her account, the Taliban had treated her more humanely than the Americans had treated the Guantánamo detainees she interviewed.

“When I was released, I don’t know who was happiest, them or me.”

A religious cleric had invited her to embrace Islam during captivity. Ridley declined to make such a decision as a prisoner, but promised to study Islam and read the Qur’an if released.

“If you give your word, your word is your bond.”

She kept that promise without expecting it to change her faith. “I wasn’t looking for a religion. I was a practising Christian.”

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

A former Sunday school teacher, she found familiar figures in the Qur’an. What moved her was its account of women’s spiritual equality and its demand for justice, including towards one’s enemies.

“The theme of justice really swept me away,” she tells Al-Qalam.

Her solidarity with Palestinians, however, preceded her conversion by decades.

At 13, she recalled, a Palestinian woman asked her to sign a petition. Ridley initially refused. Television coverage had taught her to associate Palestinians with hijacking and terrorism. The woman explained the history of dispossession.

Ridley imagined her own family being forced from their home, strangers wearing her clothes and eating their food.

“And I was shocked that I hadn’t understood this from the media.”

Her conversion brought an additional responsibility – protecting Masjid Al-Aqsa. She urged religious scholars to prepare their communities spiritually for that obligation.

“We don’t need weapons,” she said, envisaging collective Muslim mobilisation.

For Ridley, solidarity demands a response to suffering. She described seeing images of children mourning their father, a journalist killed in an Israeli strike.

“Children shouldn’t have to see that sort of thing.”

The sentence carries none of her usual verbal fireworks. It needs none.

She urged people to stand with Palestinians through peaceful protest. In Afghanistan, she had turned back rather than leave her guides to face danger alone. Now, she asks others to act on the same conviction: that we cannot walk away from people whose lives are at risk.

The question she imagines facing Muslims on the Day of Judgement is characteristically direct: “What did you do to protect Masjid Al-Aqsa?”

The post Yvonne Ridley: ‘God not an estate agent’ appeared first on Al-Qalam.

What began with seeds, soil and lessons in sustainable gardening has now produced a first harvest for 37 participants in SANZAF’s Agriculture Programme in Sea Cow Lake, Durban.

The Agriculture Programme forms part of SANZAF’s Skills Development Programme and includes some of SANZAF’s chef students, as well as members of the public who were invited to take part. Facilitated by Garth Concur, the programme will consist of 12 courses over the coming months, with a team on the ground overseeing the day-to-day work. According to Concur, the first garden was planted about five weeks ago and has flourished with the spring rains. 

Participants recently gathered for their first harvest after learning how to prepare soil, make compost, plant and care for crops, use drip irrigation and manage pests. The programme is aimed at building practical skills that can contribute to food security, self-reliance and future livelihood opportunities.

Speaking to Al-Qalam, SANZAF Marketing representative, Alika Ahmad said that the programme was introduced to give beneficiaries hands-on experience in sustainable living and food security, while helping students learn how to grow their own food.

Participants have been growing spinach, cabbage, lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, beetroot, celery, spring onion, basil, coriander, rosemary and carrots. A drip irrigation system was installed to help water the crops, while participants were taught how to care for the plants and harvest them correctly to maintain quality and allow for regrowth.

Luckys Advert

al qalam website water (1)

WhatsApp Image 2026-11-05 at 08.49.12

During the gardening workshops, participants also learned about different types of soil and sand, how compost supports healthy plant growth, how to make compost at home and natural pest-control methods.

The first harvest gave participants the opportunity to put the lessons they learned into practice. “The first harvest was a moment of immense pride. For participants, it was proof that they can produce food with their own hands – from seed to plate,” said Ahmad.

Participants had planted their own seeds, monitored their growth and harvested fresh vegetables, with some produce taken home. “It gave them a real sense of achievement, confidence, and hope that they can become self-sufficient, Alhamdulillah,” added Ahmad.

For SANZAF, the significance of the project lies in what participants can do with these skills beyond the programme.

Participants can start backyard gardens to grow food for their families and reduce grocery costs. For the chef students, the project also introduces the farm-to-table cycle, with the possibility of growing fresh produce that can eventually be used in their own restaurants. “This goes far beyond just food security,” Ahmad noted.

To help participants continue what they have learned, SANZAF provided starter kits containing seedlings and compost. The participants can use these to start their own gardens and monitor their growth in their classrooms, keeping the practical learning going beyond the farm.

The programme is ultimately aimed at helping participants become self-sufficient, both in producing food and potentially generating an income. “In the long term, InshaAllah, we want to see these participants become fully self-sufficient, able to feed their families and generate an income,” said Ahmad.

Lake Glencairn

Screenshot 2026-11-05 172642

For the participants, the first harvest was a rewarding step in their journey, giving them the opportunity to put their skills into practice. They enjoyed the pruning process and expressed gratitude to SANZAF for the opportunity to learn and gain practical experience.  

SANZAF’s vision extends beyond the 37 participants, with hopes that they become ambassadors of change. “We want them to eventually share their knowledge, train others in their communities and develop their own sustainable micro-farms and agribusinesses,” she said.

The post “From seed to plate” – Durban participants reap their first harvest appeared first on Al-Qalam.