Jamiatul Ulama to Build First Head Office since Inception 77 Years

Jamiatul Ulama to Build First Head Office
since Inception 77 Years ago

Article by Dr Zaid Bulbulia

In this article we examine some of the past achievements of the Jamiatul 'Uama since it was formed 77- years ago. Despite the vast challenges, which the Organisation has faced, they have been able to adapt to their environment while being able to offer exceptional service to the community. Despite these achievements the Organisation presently feels a dire exigency to reorganise and reconsolidate its efforts, and make a renewed commitment to serving the greater Muslim Community. A project to initiate the process of change, is currently underway, namely, that of building the first head office.

Snippets of past highlights

The Jamiatul 'Ulama was formed in 1923 and was established for the purpose of servicing the religious needs of the Muslims, and it has been fulfilling this duty ever since. Its initial founders and the great 'Ulama and scholars who rejuvenated it in the mid 1930's, were people like the late Maulana Muhammad Mia (RA), Mufti Ebrahim Sanjalvi (RA), Maulana Muhammad Akhalwaya (RA), Maulana 'Abdul-Kader (RA), Maulana Moosa Nana (RA), Maulana Saleh Mangera (RA), Maulana Sulaiman Nadwi (RA), Maulana Ismail Yusuf Gardee (RA), Maulana Ismail Kachwee (RA) and many others, too numerous to mention, who spent their lives serving Islam and the Muslims through the Jamiatul Ulama Transvaal. The late Mufti Sanjalvi (RA), for instance, served as the Mufti of the Jamiat for approximately 40 years until he passed away. While the Jamiat paid attention to the overall Dîni needs of the Muslims, initial emphasis was on education. So, as early as 1951, we find the Jamiat drawing up a syllabus for the entire Transvaal, and correspondence on the suggestions of various 'Ulama like Maulana Ahmad Hathurani on the improving of the present syllabus, is on record from as early as 1946. Of late, members of the Jamiatul 'Ulama Transvaal have played an active role in the establishment of Muslim Schools, and the syllabus of the Jamiat is being largely followed in these schools. It is not possible to enumerate all the services and achievements of the Jamiat in this article but a brief look at some of the activities will give the reader a perspective of the Organisation.

As early as 1927, the Jamiat published its first book designed for Shafi'î students and adults guiding them in the manner of performing Salâh. In 1938, the famous Nasbu ur Raaiah (an essential reference book on al-Hidayah; a leading Hanafi fiqh text) and Faidul Bâri a commentary of Sahih al-Bukhari, was published by the Jamiat. These books enjoy international recognition. In the late 1950s, the Jamiat arranged the translation of Mufti Kifayatullah's widely acclaimed basic fiqh book called Talimul Islâm for implementation in their madâris. Since then, the Jamiat has kept up a continuous string of publications and pamphlets up to today motivated only for the Islah [reformation] of the Ummah.

In the 1950s, the Jamiat took up the cudgels with the Nationalist government against the Group Areas Act and succeeded in defending our masâjid and madâris from the bulldozers of the group-areas act. In the 1970s and 1980s, while the emphasis was on education, interaction with government on Muslim affairs, Muslim Personal Law etc., and the need to monitor halâl and harâm more closely became more necessary. By the late 60s, proper hilâl [moon-sighting] procedures were already in place and Radio announcements of the starting of Ramadhân and Eid were already aired by the mid 1970s.

As the needs of the Muslim community grew, the Jamiat correspondingly responded.

The 1980s is noted for the leading role the Jamiat played in the infamous Qadiani case in the Cape along with the Muslim Judicial Council. It was also in the 1980s, that more branches and representatives were needed to service the ever-growing and geographically diverse Muslim population. It was just not possible to service the entire Transvaal Muslim community from our head-office. Several more branches came into existence, and today, AlhamduIillâh, the Jamiat has 13 fully operational branches and zones.

The need of a newsletter was also consequently felt, and in February 1989, the quarterly Ar-Rasheed was launched.

The 1990s inaugurated the Jamiat into a completely new era: an era of rapid change, expansion, and diversification. It was the prime mover in the formation of the United 'Ulama Council of South Africa, a national 'Ulama body representing Muslims on national issues. The council has seven 'Ulama bodies as its members. In 1994, a high powered, Ulema delegation met with President Mandela, who gave his personal assurance that his government would ensure that all obstacles are removed in the path of Muslims in implementing Muslim Personal Law in South Africa. Among the many researched memorandums which the Jamiat submitted to the government included the issue of pornography, abortion, the introduction of religious education in state controlled schools, capital punishment and many others.

Some current achievements...

Over the past two years the Jamiat's commitment towards bringing the work of Dawah to a wider audience has seen the formation and significant growth of their Radio Station, Radio Islam. The station has an extremely wide listener base, with its programming content appealing to both young and old. Through the air-to-air medium the Ummah has now the ability to interact with each each other over broader issues. In essence Radio Islam has become the focal point as a learning channel for many families.

The Jamiat's recent sterling efforts to address the dire requirements in relief areas was witnessed during the Cape Tornado relief programme, the Mpumalanga and Mozambique flood relief, the Turkish earthquake disaster and notwithstanding the Kosova initiative. These initiatives seen the Jamiat redistribute in access of R3 million rands to the various relief projects.

The future

The Jamiat in no way regards its activities as fulfilling all the needs of the Muslim Ummah — far from it. There is much more needed to be done. Much is being contributed by other structures of the Ummah such as the Tablighi Jamaat and other Dîni organizations as well as all these activities must compliment each other while working in their respective areas of activity. While the need constantly rises, more manpower and resources are needed. The Jamiat, presently feel a dire exigency to reorganize and reconsolidate its efforts and make a renewed commitment to serving Din, They wish to inject the Ummah with a new generation of determined Muslims imbued with a rekindled zeal and enthusiasm for serving the Dîn, 'Ulama and non- 'Ulama alike, and for all to make common cause with the Jan-fiat for the greater interest of the Muslim community of South Africa.

It is with this vision, that the Jamiat have embarked on a building project which will see them in their first head office, after 77 years of dedicated and committed service. Through this project, the Jamiat, believe that they will best be able to manage their resources while offering more effective service to the community. They therefore call on all well-wishers to contribute generously to the project.

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