Al-Qalam 
By Ismail Suder
Just one month to turning 94, Abdool Rashid Khan of Durban has outlived his wife, his two children and nine of his siblings – but he’s not yet ready to give up on life – not just yet.
“I will go when Allah calls me,” he told Al-Qalam, during an interview at Country Bake in Durban’s Musgrave area.
Apart from fragility, he suffers no ailment that usually befalls elderly folk – and his eyesight is sharp as a needle.
It’s been a year now that he’s moved into a small old age home for Muslim men and women in Asherville. Being the oldest resident there, he says boredom is his enemy. There’s not much to do, except making zikr and reminiscing about his life. However, Khan says he misses the warm love of his family, most of whom have passed on. “Yes, it’s very lonely at my age, but I’m really thankful to the few remaining family members who still care about me. A call or visit from them, including from my grandchildren, is something that I look forward to – it makes my day,” he adds.
With nine out of 11 siblings having passed on, he finds solace in talking to his two surviving sisters who live out of KZN – they are too frail to visit him, but they keep in touch with their brother by phone.
About six weeks ago, his daughter, Feroza Motala (64) of Overport, passed away. Her sudden passing has left a deep void in his life, but he is determined to carry on with life until his time comes. A few years back, his son Rafik passed away of a heart attack. He too was 64, and earlier, his wife Asiya, passed on.
His greyish eyes light up when this reporter mentions life in his younger days. “I think those were the best times of our lives.”
His son-in-law, Mohammed Motala, shows Al-Qalam a few photos of him in his 20’s and 30’s, looking rather spiffy in a striped suit, tie and gentleman’s hat.
Born in 1934, Khan opened a motor dealership in Clairwood and was often seen driving in a variety of vehicles that he had for sale. But his personal favourite was a two-tone green 1957 Chevrolet – a twin-finned monster that was talk of the town. His wife was a driving instructor, the first Muslim woman to do so in her days.
Khan recalls the years during the 60’s, 70’s – and even the 80’s – when he would take his family for summer nights “window-shopping” along West Street, checking out the beautiful displays of goods in fashionable departmental stores such as Greenacres, Stuttafords, John Orr’s, Payne Brothers, the Hub, Woolfsons, Ok Bazaars and Cuthberts.
“But the best of our summer night strolls was when I bought delicious ice cream for all at Polar Bar or the ice cream vans parked along the pavement. What a time that was,” his face lighting up with a big smile for the first time.
Khan recalls the times he visited the beachfront with his young children, especially when the merry go-around came to town. “It was the time of apartheid and the best beaches were reserved for whites only, but we made the best with what we had.
“When my time comes to leave this world, I will go knowing our people are free,” he added
