Islam in Cape Town’s connection to Tarim
I am from Cape Town, South Africa, where we have a rich legacy that was inherited from Tarim. Coming to Tarim, I got to see the source of some of our traditions; for example, we make du’a in congregation after every salaah; we greet one another after salaah, and we commemorate Laylat min nisfi Sha’baan and other significant events in the same way as they do in Tarim. Whenever my mother recites Surah Yaseen and comes to the ayah, “سَلامٌ قَولًا مِن رَبٍّ رَحيمٍ” she repeats it 3 times. I never used to do it because I didn’t know why and neither did she. When we visited the cemetery called the Zambal for the first time and paid our respects to Imam Al-Haddad, it was explained to us that he got his spiritual opening through this very ayah, while repeating this ayah. And that is why to this very day, people in Cape Town repeat this ayah 3 times, every time they come across it.
My heart has always been attracted to the weekly gatherings that take place in Cape Town, which is known as the Mother City. But I have come to realise that the real Mother City is Tarim. Tarim is the real Mother City because she protects. And she nurtures. And she guides. She guides to the Prophet ﷺ. And she guides to Allah ﷻ.
The knowledge shared in the dowra and through the hubabahs was not merely book-knowledge, but experiential knowledge that could only be transmitted from their full hearts into my yearning one. From hearts who truly know and trust their Lord and immensely love the Prophet ﷺ. Who truly believe that every solution is a du’a away. For whom du’a is the first port of call and not the last resort or an afterthought.
If you were to ask me what I gained from travelling to Tarim, I’d say that I came with my tainted perspective. I came with my scepticism. And I was taught the true reality of our beautiful deen.
I came with my arrogance. And I was truly humbled.
I came with my hard heart. And it was softened to its core.
I came with my ignorance. And I was enlightened.
I came without friends. And I leave here with sisters.
I pray everyone gets spiritual openings and gets to experience the lived reality of our deen in Tarim. Aameen.
My heart has always been attracted to the weekly gatherings that take place in Cape Town, which is known as the Mother City. But I have come to realise that the real Mother City is Tarim. Tarim is the real Mother City because she protects. And she nurtures. And she guides. She guides to the Prophet ﷺ. And she guides to Allah ﷻ.
The knowledge shared in the dowra and through the hubabahs was not merely book-knowledge, but experiential knowledge that could only be transmitted from their full hearts into my yearning one. From hearts who truly know and trust their Lord and immensely love the Prophet ﷺ. Who truly believe that every solution is a du’a away. For whom du’a is the first port of call and not the last resort or an afterthought.
If you were to ask me what I gained from travelling to Tarim, I’d say that I came with my tainted perspective. I came with my scepticism. And I was taught the true reality of our beautiful deen.
I came with my arrogance. And I was truly humbled.
I came with my hard heart. And it was softened to its core.
I came with my ignorance. And I was enlightened.
I came without friends. And I leave here with sisters.
I pray everyone gets spiritual openings and gets to experience the lived reality of our deen in Tarim. Aameen.
You may also like: Dowra Reflections 1: Journey to Tarim
