A man on a spiritual quest
Return to South Africa, Hazrath’s mentor told him, your work is there
THE Soofie Saheb Mosque stands serenely overlooking the Umgeni River, with the Indian Ocean off to the left. Those who offer their prayers in it will be well aware of its history. For those who have never entered the mosque, and might have given it just a cursory glance, it provides a fascinating glimpse into the past, and the story of the man after whom it has been named: Hazrath Goolam Mohamed Soofie Saheb.
Eidris Ameen, the master of ceremonies at the mosque, opened the pages of history for Sunday Tribune readers…
In 1895, said Ameen, the ship SS Hoosen docked in Durban harbour. On board was Hazrath, who had been raised in a strict Islamic home, and received his education from his father, the imam of the local masjid and a teacher at the madressa.
Hazrath excelled in his studies and qualified as a hafiz (one who has memorised the Qur’an) at this same madressa. When he was 22 years old, his father died, and he was duly appointed the imam of the masjid and a teacher.
In 1892, he went to Mecca to perform the Hajj. What was extraordinary, though, was that he carried his mother on his back during the entire pilgrimage. Then, after paying his respects to the Prophet Muhammad in Medina, he returned home to India and turned to a life of spirituality.
Feeling that he needed a spiritual guide to set him on the right path to Tasawwuf (the inner dimension of Islam) he made a journey to Baghdad, in search of such a person.
“He became a disciple of Khwaja Habib Ali Shah, who told him: ‘Your work is in South Africa’,” said Ameen.
On his arrival in the country, Hazrath carried only a walking stick in one hand and a small bundle in the other, which contained a few items of clothing, a Qur’an, and other essentials to his Islamic prayer life.
He walked to the Jummah Musjid – in those days a simple building in Grey Street, where he spoke to people about his home village in India. Some were excited to find they were from the same district.
Hazrath was a man on a quest… he was looking for a specific grave – that of Hazrat Sheikh Ahmed. As no one seemed to have knowledge of this, he walked to the local Muslim cemetery in Brook Street, and proceeded to meditate until he was able to identify the grave. Having done so, he removed the grass and weeds and, taking a shawl from his shoulders, placed it on the grave.
He told others at the cemetery that the person in the grave – Hazrat Sheikh Ahmed – had foretold his own arrival in the country. “He also said Ahmed was the Badsha (king) of the Peers of his time. Consequently he became known as Hazrat Badsha Peer in this country – a name which is familiar to this day,” said Ameen.
Buying land on the northern bank of the Umgeni River, Hazrath (Soofie) built a wood-and-iron cottage, and the site is now home to the Soofie Saheb Mosque.
Ameen said that in 1911, Hazrath made a trip to India, which was his last to the country of his birth.
Not long after he returned to Durban, he developed a high fever and lay on the floor holding the feet of his mother.
Two days later he performed wudu (washing the hands, mouth, nostrils, arms, head and feet with water) and, because he was so weak, asked to be helped to the door of the house. His second son, Hazrath Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie, and one of his disciples did so.
Looking towards the Khanqah (a place for Sufi gatherings and of spiritual retreat) he greeted Allah. Returning to his room, he told his mother he was about to meet his Creator. Then, lying down on the floor, and facing in the direction of Mecca, he died, aged 63, just as the muezzin was calling the faithful to prayer.