Al-Qalam 
The first Islamic Library in Overport, Durban, is to open its doors to the public soon. It will be dedicated to the late Mohamed Amra who spent his life spearheading numerous Islamic projects.
Marhoom Mohamed Amra was an active member of the Islamic Forum and. He was responsible for acquiring The Mariam Bee Sultan Centre in Overport. He initiated its transformation into an active Islamic Centre. Now just under two years since his passing, work at the centre is almost complete and under the auspices of the Islamic Forum which is in the process of establishing the first Islamic Library in Durban in his honour.
It is a fitting tribute to an activist who was involved in so many Islamic Projects, including as MYM president, trustee of IDB and other charity works.
In 2015 he launched Baitul Hikmah, an Islamic bookstore and publishing house with the niyyah of reviving a culture of reading and learning in our community. He worked passionately and tirelessly to bring this dream into fruition and was still immersed in it even in the first days of his admission to hospital with Covid-19. The Baitul Hikmah book and coffee shop is well established at the centre and has an extensive range of Islamic books and toys.
His daughter, Tazkiyyah Amra, said: “Our father’s life was truly an extraordinary one. Spent in tireless service of Allah, family, and community, he cleared paths, built bridges, dug wells, and sowed seeds for others to journey to Allah. He had abundant tawfeeq – Allah’s enabling Grace. He achieved in a few decades, works worth several lifetimes. As one of his closest friends said in consoling us upon his passing; ‘your father was amongst those who chose Allah, and so Allah chose them (for His work)’”.
“Mohamed’s labours were not for acknowledgement. He did not like to be praised. He sought ubudiyya (loving servitude of Allah). It is therefore only fitting that we attempt to fill the massive void left by his return to Allah, through renewed commitment to following the path he followed.”
Ahmed Manjra, trustee of the Arabic Study Circle, has generously donated the book collection to the library and urges other organisations and individuals who have similar collections to do the same.
He said “Our community had collected over many years important books which were used by the community in the days before the electronic age. Now that most information is web driven most of these precious works are collecting dust and will soon be lost to the community if they are not preserved and find a new home. The Mohamed Amra library will be proud to acquire whatever is available to add to the collection.”
