Joy over first mosque

Women joined in on the trench digging ceremony in July 2015.

After 43 years of fund-raising and struggle, the Kraaifontein Islamic Society is close to building Scottsville’s first mosque.

Muslims in the area started the society in 1975 to establish a mosque and madrasah.

But the group could not afford to buy land. So Muslims in the area gathered at each others homes to worship while the society set about raising money.

Galiefa Alie Abrahams’s home in Midway Street has long served as the community’s makeshift mosque and madrasah.

Jubyer Miller, who will be the imam at the new mosque, said many fund-raisers had been held over the 43-year-long “journey” to make the mosque a reality.

“Ladies in the community made great efforts with their regular Friday cake stalls and selling things like pies and samoosas but we needed more.”

In 1983, Lukman Gabier bequeathed a plot to the society, and between 1992 and 1993 well-known doctors in the community, Dr Muhammed Saheb and Dr Abdol Sataar, bequeathed their plots.

The mosque will be built on the two doctors’ plots, which are between Loop and Midway streets.

Mr Miller said the name for the mosque had yet to be “revealed” by God.

Until now, the nearest mosques have been in Bellville, Goodwood and Bishop Lavis. It’s hoped the new one will be built by December.

Mr Miller said more fund-raisers would be held to pay for building materials.

In the meantime, with the holy month of Ramadaan approaching, the community would continue holding prayers and madrasah classes at Ms Abrahams’s home.

Fatima Mousa, who was one of the women who held those cake sales, said she was happy to see the mosque finally taking shape.

“We held lots of cake sales to have funds raised,” she said.

“I feel happy that the mosque is going to be built after we tried so long, it is going to be beautiful.”

Amina Yon, who has lived in the area for 40 years and was one of the society’s first chairwomen, said she had longed to hear the call to prayer in Scottsville and now hoped to be buried from a mosque there some day.

“We are looking forward to worship in this new mosque, as the Muslim population has grown over the years.”

The society’s next fund-raiser will be at the Special Memories shop, Paradys Park, in Brackenfell, on Saturday July 28.

Tickets are R200 and include a three-course meal and live entertainment.