Cassim Sema
Encyclopedia
Moulana Cassim Mohammed Sema (May 12, 1920 – June 9, 2007) was the founder of the first madrasa in South Africa
and possibly the first madrasa that uses English
as its medium of instruction. He also played an immense role in the establishment tabligh as well as da'wah among the non-Muslims of South Africa
.
Moulana Cassim Mohammed Sema was born in Newcastle
, a town in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
, South Africa
. At the age of five, he commenced his education at Oswald's School in Newcastle. However, his education was terminated after the completion of standard six. His first Islamic tutor was Moulana Hafiz Shamsuddin, under whom he completed the recitation of the Qur'an
and studied Urdu
. Thereafter, Moulana commenced the memorisation of the Qur'an
under Hafiz Aminuddin, under whom he completed seven paras. He then memorised two more paras under Moulana Ali Ahmad Ansari. Moulana Mia of Watervaal Institute was an inspiration to Moulana when he visited Newcastle
in 1935 and told Moulana to either study medicine or become an 'Aalim abroad. Moulana chose Islam
and departed for India
on October 23, 1935. There, he enrolled at Jami'a Islamiyya in Dabhel
and completed the 'Aalim-Fadhil course. He eventually graduated in September or October 1942 at the age of twenty-two and decided to return to South Africa
, where a post as a teacher awaited him in Mia's Farm. Unfortunately, World War II
started and the operation of passenger ships terminated due to the risk of Japan
ese attacks. However, due to demand, a steamboat called Tilaawa was arranged to transport passengers to Africa
. On November 23, 1942, it departed from Bombay with 1,000 passengers and 300 crew members. En route, it was attacked by Japanese torpedoes and sank. Moulana and 124 passengers were the only survivors. They were transported back to Bombay. Moulana was then employed by Majlis-e-'Ilmi in Simlak
, where he taught Atharul Sunan. He passed a year in Simlak
, preparing his own meals and occasionally leading salaah at the masjid. Moulana left India
and arrived in South Africa
on February 5, 1944. He received a number of job offers, but accepted the offer from Wasbank. He taught in Wasbank and passed two years in the formulation of a madrasa syllabus.
Moulana married Sakinabibi on September 30, 1945. She bore him five children, four sons and a daughter: Imran, Luqman, Zakariyya, Mohammed, and Maryam. Shortly after her death in 1998, Moulana married Wedadt Breda, who bore him a daughter, Qudsiyyah, in 2003.
In 1949, Moulana started to propagate Islam
within the African communities of the Msinga Reserve. Over a period of ten years, nine hundred people converted to Islam. On October 30, 1960, the first da'wah ijtima was held in Wasbank, after which a building that housed a masjid and madrasa was built in the Makhakhane area. Moulana was part of the first tabligh jam'aat of South Africa
. In 1961, they travelled to Malawi
for the first ijtima of southern Africa
. He was instrumental in organising the first South African ijtima in Ladysmith
in 1961. A few months later, he travelled with the first South African jam'aat to India
for four months. On his return, he was arrested at the Makhakhane Masjid because he had broken an apartheid law which stated that Indians were not allowed into African areas. He was fined and, for the next ten years, forced to fight for the protection of the Makhakhane Masjid, which the government wanted to destroy. During this period, da'wah and nightly madrasa sessions continued secretly. Then a masjid was established in Tugela Ferry
, which the government also wanted to demolish. However, the masjid survived. Also, despite the oppressive laws of apartheid, Moulana regularly preached Islam
at the Msinga Reserve. After twenty-three years of service in Wasbank, Moulana returned to Newcastle in 1968, becoming the principal of its madrasa and head of its Muslim
community. He lectured every Friday in Urdu
, but shifted to English
as the younger generation arrived. In 1967, the Jamiatul 'Ulama Kwazulu-Natal met to devise a single madrasa syllabus for the entire province. Moulana's syllabus was chosen. Thereafter, Moulana worked with the Jamiatul 'Ulama KwaZulu-Natal for a year. He then established a furniture-manufacturing store in Alcockspruit, which was eventually closed due to new industrial laws.
Moulana passed a few months as the principal of the madrasa and imam
of Glencoe
, while negotiations in the purchase of land for a madrasa were finalised. Moulana had been attempting to establish a madrasa with boarding facilities since 1946. Eventually, in 1969, the building that had housed St. Dominics Academy, a Roman Catholic convent, which had been vacant for fifteen years, was bought for R 83 000. Darul 'Ulum Newcastle was opened on May 13, 1973. Moulana then decided to travel to the Indian subcontinent
for a 40-day jam'aat before officially establishing the madrasa. However, he was unable to acquire a ticket, therefore he travelled to Jeddah
via London
, where he met the jam'aat. He then travelled with them to Pakistan
. There, Moulana met his former teacher, Moulana Yusuf Binnori, whom devised the curriculum of Darul 'Ulum Newcastle. Moulana then travelled to India
and returned to South Africa
thereafter. Classes at Darul 'Ulum Newcastle started on September 9, 1973 with nine boarding students. For the first three years, Moulana taught alone while his wife cooked the students' food and washed their clothes. The first jalsa was held on December 4, 1977, during which the first batch of students graduated from a three-year 'Aalim course. However, in 1983, the first students completed the new six-year course.
Moulana Cassim Mohammed Sema died on June 9, 2007. His funeral was attended by almost 4,000 people. Moulana was 87 years old and had been teaching until the last year of his life. His wife mentions that he only missed three Jum'ah in his life, the reason being sickness or some other similar excuse. An example of his humility which engendered loyalty and love for him from people was that he accepted invitations from even the poorest of people, eating in their humble homes.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and possibly the first madrasa that uses English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as its medium of instruction. He also played an immense role in the establishment tabligh as well as da'wah among the non-Muslims of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
.
Moulana Cassim Mohammed Sema was born in Newcastle
Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
Newcastle is the third largest city and urban center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Newcastle is located in the North West corner of the province along the Ncandu River and is moderately industrial....
, a town in the province of KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal
KwaZulu-Natal is a province of South Africa. Prior to 1994, the territory now known as KwaZulu-Natal was made up of the province of Natal and the homeland of KwaZulu....
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. At the age of five, he commenced his education at Oswald's School in Newcastle. However, his education was terminated after the completion of standard six. His first Islamic tutor was Moulana Hafiz Shamsuddin, under whom he completed the recitation of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
and studied Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
. Thereafter, Moulana commenced the memorisation of the Qur'an
Qur'an
The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...
under Hafiz Aminuddin, under whom he completed seven paras. He then memorised two more paras under Moulana Ali Ahmad Ansari. Moulana Mia of Watervaal Institute was an inspiration to Moulana when he visited Newcastle
Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal
Newcastle is the third largest city and urban center in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. Newcastle is located in the North West corner of the province along the Ncandu River and is moderately industrial....
in 1935 and told Moulana to either study medicine or become an 'Aalim abroad. Moulana chose Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
and departed for India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on October 23, 1935. There, he enrolled at Jami'a Islamiyya in Dabhel
Dabhel
Dabhel is a town in Gujarat state of India. It is famous for its Arabic education, most notably given in Jamiah Islamiah Talimud-din.Dabhel lies some 25-30km south of Surat and 10-15km north of Navsari, to the east is Vesma crossroad on NH 8 and to the west is Maroli...
and completed the 'Aalim-Fadhil course. He eventually graduated in September or October 1942 at the age of twenty-two and decided to return to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, where a post as a teacher awaited him in Mia's Farm. Unfortunately, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
started and the operation of passenger ships terminated due to the risk of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese attacks. However, due to demand, a steamboat called Tilaawa was arranged to transport passengers to Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. On November 23, 1942, it departed from Bombay with 1,000 passengers and 300 crew members. En route, it was attacked by Japanese torpedoes and sank. Moulana and 124 passengers were the only survivors. They were transported back to Bombay. Moulana was then employed by Majlis-e-'Ilmi in Simlak
Simlak
Simlak is a village in Navsari district, Gujarat, India. The population is approximately 2000 people, with 90% Muslims.The village has a school and a masjid. The school was built with the aid of foreign donors....
, where he taught Atharul Sunan. He passed a year in Simlak
Simlak
Simlak is a village in Navsari district, Gujarat, India. The population is approximately 2000 people, with 90% Muslims.The village has a school and a masjid. The school was built with the aid of foreign donors....
, preparing his own meals and occasionally leading salaah at the masjid. Moulana left India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and arrived in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
on February 5, 1944. He received a number of job offers, but accepted the offer from Wasbank. He taught in Wasbank and passed two years in the formulation of a madrasa syllabus.
Moulana married Sakinabibi on September 30, 1945. She bore him five children, four sons and a daughter: Imran, Luqman, Zakariyya, Mohammed, and Maryam. Shortly after her death in 1998, Moulana married Wedadt Breda, who bore him a daughter, Qudsiyyah, in 2003.
In 1949, Moulana started to propagate Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
within the African communities of the Msinga Reserve. Over a period of ten years, nine hundred people converted to Islam. On October 30, 1960, the first da'wah ijtima was held in Wasbank, after which a building that housed a masjid and madrasa was built in the Makhakhane area. Moulana was part of the first tabligh jam'aat of South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. In 1961, they travelled to Malawi
Malawi
The Republic of Malawi is a landlocked country in southeast Africa that was formerly known as Nyasaland. It is bordered by Zambia to the northwest, Tanzania to the northeast, and Mozambique on the east, south and west. The country is separated from Tanzania and Mozambique by Lake Malawi. Its size...
for the first ijtima of southern Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. He was instrumental in organising the first South African ijtima in Ladysmith
Ladysmith, KwaZulu-Natal
Ladysmith is a city in the Uthukela District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It is north-west of Durban and south of Johannesburg. Important industries in the area include food processing, textile and tyre production...
in 1961. A few months later, he travelled with the first South African jam'aat to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
for four months. On his return, he was arrested at the Makhakhane Masjid because he had broken an apartheid law which stated that Indians were not allowed into African areas. He was fined and, for the next ten years, forced to fight for the protection of the Makhakhane Masjid, which the government wanted to destroy. During this period, da'wah and nightly madrasa sessions continued secretly. Then a masjid was established in Tugela Ferry
Tugela Ferry
Tugela Ferry is a town on the northern bank of the Tugela River, in central KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. During the apartheid era it formed part of the KwaZulu homeland, and at present it is included in the Umzinyathi DM...
, which the government also wanted to demolish. However, the masjid survived. Also, despite the oppressive laws of apartheid, Moulana regularly preached Islam
Islam
Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...
at the Msinga Reserve. After twenty-three years of service in Wasbank, Moulana returned to Newcastle in 1968, becoming the principal of its madrasa and head of its Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
community. He lectured every Friday in Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, but shifted to English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
as the younger generation arrived. In 1967, the Jamiatul 'Ulama Kwazulu-Natal met to devise a single madrasa syllabus for the entire province. Moulana's syllabus was chosen. Thereafter, Moulana worked with the Jamiatul 'Ulama KwaZulu-Natal for a year. He then established a furniture-manufacturing store in Alcockspruit, which was eventually closed due to new industrial laws.
Moulana passed a few months as the principal of the madrasa and imam
Imam
An imam is an Islamic leadership position, often the worship leader of a mosque and the Muslim community. Similar to spiritual leaders, the imam is the one who leads Islamic worship services. More often, the community turns to the mosque imam if they have a religious question...
of Glencoe
Glencoe, KwaZulu-Natal
Glencoe is situated in the Umzinyathi District District of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.The main economic activity in the area is coal mining while sheep and cattle ranching are also practiced.-History:...
, while negotiations in the purchase of land for a madrasa were finalised. Moulana had been attempting to establish a madrasa with boarding facilities since 1946. Eventually, in 1969, the building that had housed St. Dominics Academy, a Roman Catholic convent, which had been vacant for fifteen years, was bought for R 83 000. Darul 'Ulum Newcastle was opened on May 13, 1973. Moulana then decided to travel to the Indian subcontinent
Indian subcontinent
The Indian subcontinent, also Indian Subcontinent, Indo-Pak Subcontinent or South Asian Subcontinent is a region of the Asian continent on the Indian tectonic plate from the Hindu Kush or Hindu Koh, Himalayas and including the Kuen Lun and Karakoram ranges, forming a land mass which extends...
for a 40-day jam'aat before officially establishing the madrasa. However, he was unable to acquire a ticket, therefore he travelled to Jeddah
Jeddah
Jeddah, Jiddah, Jidda, or Jedda is a city located on the coast of the Red Sea and is the major urban center of western Saudi Arabia. It is the largest city in Makkah Province, the largest sea port on the Red Sea, and the second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital city, Riyadh. The...
via London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he met the jam'aat. He then travelled with them to Pakistan
Pakistan
Pakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
. There, Moulana met his former teacher, Moulana Yusuf Binnori, whom devised the curriculum of Darul 'Ulum Newcastle. Moulana then travelled to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and returned to South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
thereafter. Classes at Darul 'Ulum Newcastle started on September 9, 1973 with nine boarding students. For the first three years, Moulana taught alone while his wife cooked the students' food and washed their clothes. The first jalsa was held on December 4, 1977, during which the first batch of students graduated from a three-year 'Aalim course. However, in 1983, the first students completed the new six-year course.
Moulana Cassim Mohammed Sema died on June 9, 2007. His funeral was attended by almost 4,000 people. Moulana was 87 years old and had been teaching until the last year of his life. His wife mentions that he only missed three Jum'ah in his life, the reason being sickness or some other similar excuse. An example of his humility which engendered loyalty and love for him from people was that he accepted invitations from even the poorest of people, eating in their humble homes.