Sadullah Khan – Commemorating The Life and Legacy of Imam Abdullah Haron
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All the bIllahi min ash shaytani R rajim Bismillah R Rahman Rahim Al
hamdu lillah wa Salatu was Salam ala Rasulillah he was early he'll
put up you know pour it in. While I was heard the Hillman to JB
nawala Jamia MBA will mousseline call Allahu Taala Quran Majeed
Smilla Rahmanir Rahim, la caja Arsalan Russo Luna
Wonsan Muhammad Al Kitab al Misa Anna Leah Kuhlman, Nurse Avila
crystal. So the Kola hula de la the McAllen B Habib Al Mustafa
Salah to La he was at morlais. He were either early beta he was IRB,
Al Muslim either Karna Mohan Lucanus or yes beautiful either
either home, Hiram in the Muslim under the law you hold the
printers while yes beautiful.
Oh come our call. So Dr. Yara Seul Allah,
in the name of Allah, most Gracious, most Merciful, all
praises due to our Creator, our cherisher I will nourish and
sustain Sustainer we bear witness, there's none worthy of worship but
Allah, we bear witness who believe in all the prophets, and we bear
witness it Prophet Muhammad, Abdullah Rasulullah sallallahu
alayhi wa, he was happy he was the is the final of all the emissaries
of Allah.
That asserted elders or Allama who fall, teachers brothers and
sisters, mistreated youth, I greet you are the Islamic universal
greeting of peace. May the peace the mercy and the blessings of
Allah be upon each and everyone present. A salam Wa alaykum wa
Rahmatullah heeta Allah Baba wabarakatu.
Today, exactly 50 years ago, on the 27th of September 1969, Imam
Abdullah Harun was killed.
He was picked up at his home as he was preparing to leave for his
mobile number we program at Jamia mosque, where he was the Imam, a
mosque which is further down this very Road in Claremont.
And then he was held incommunicado for 123 days, meaning he had no
access to lawyers, to doctors, or to any members of his family for
that period of 123 days.
his lifeless body was returned to his family with 27 bruises on his
body, severe internal bleeding at the base, I'd be I'd be
severe internal bleeding at the base of his spine, and his seven
throat was broken.
The brutal apartheid forces felt that they had to eliminate him.
And the excuse they said was he fell down a flight of stairs in
prison.
And so our nation lost a man who was an exemplary figure, a
community leader, a social activist, sportsman, teacher, and
an imam.
And though there were 30,000 people at his funeral,
the largest possibly in Cape Town. His dear wife Halima was left was
left. She was left as the sole protector and provider for her
family.
She was committed to the survival in the rearing of her three
children, Sharmila Muhammad and Fatima. That was after the death
of the central figure in the household. her beloved husband and
the children's father, Imam Abdullah Harun
sister Halima suffered tremendous pressure from the state. And with
almost no support from the larger community.
She had to go in work for a tailor, as she was a dressmaker.
And of course, she cannot inherit from a husband as the police said,
The marriage was illegal, and it was not recognized by the law. And
so she had to leave her home and then restart with the family.
Build a home where she's still living in today.
But by but brick by brick, supporting your kids, and reading
them virtually by herself.
unsung heroes things like these are often forgotten, and
conveniently ignored.
Just like the story of Karbala.
The score of a man per se v says primarily through his sisters Aina
whom will Messiah is the one who went through all the trials and
tribulations. So brothers two sons and nephew
Whose cousin has been killed, and then they heads taken on a spear
from Kufa to Syria on a spear. And she was the one who conveyed the
story of choice. Masala Eve, the person the mother of all trials
and tribulations because of the hardship she went through.
So to the legacy of Maha rune cannot be separated from the
patient forbearance of his wife, Halima Harun, who is at the moment
virtually invalid. At the age of 93. She's still alive, may Allah
make it easy for
you. For the past few months, numerous events were held to
commemorate the legacy of Imahara.
From educational programs, to speech and poetry contest to
sporting tournaments, as he was a sportsman very much involved in
rugby and cricket, to the Empowerment Seminar that well,
book shows to art exhibitions, lectures to cut me Quran. In fact,
I want to remind you, the culmination of the series of
events that took place for the past year will conclude these
commemorative events will conclude in sha Allah, where 123 Hartamas
was recited one for each day that he was incarcerated. And that
conclusion at the bottom of all this will be Shalabi Sunday
morning at stegmann Jamia where he was the Imam
that will be from about living TOEFL inshallah. But who exactly
was Imam Harun
part of our community, part of our history? You see, we cannot reach
where we need to be, unless we know where we are. And we cannot
really know who we are, unless we know from where we have come.
Imam habonim reflected the heritage of Muslims and of South
Africans. This week on Tuesday 24th September was National
Heritage Day, celebrating our nation's diversity and our
heritage. I believe more importantly, besides the culture
of struggle against injustice, is the spirit of Ubuntu of humanity
to others. It's about implementing the golden rule of loving for
others what you love for yourself and to Berliners imagine?
What the Quran refers to as the manifestation of either an axon of
justice and goodness.
Our heritage is a legacy of struggle against oppression and
injustice, which in a way defines our historical identity and lies
at the heart of our moral well being.
A struggle for which the conscientious Muslims have always
been an integral part. From the time of check Use of through twang
guru to the head of history of Imam Abdullah Harun.
He loves his mother Aisha and infancy
was revered by his loving aunt Maria was tutored in Makkah by the
likes of Sheikh Abdullah al Maliki, studied locally under
Sheikh Abdullah tamilgun And she is my unev among others, became
half Quran at the age of 14. At 51. He became a young imam of Al
Jamia mosque in stegmann Road in Clayman with a senior member of
the Muslim Judicial Council of that time,
and he was killed for his conviction at the age of 45.
Imam Muhammad was a person who constantly loved to recite the
Quran. He fasted every Monday and Thursday from the age of 16. When
he promised the chef he would do so. As a matter of fact, he fasted
each one of the 123 days that he was incarcerated and tortured in
prison.
And to further corroborate that, when he was a top autopsy was
held, they found there's absolutely no food in his stomach.
The Quran therefore informed him hobbles spirituality, and imbued
his life with clarity of moral purpose and was effected through
his social engagement rather than withdrawing from society, as many
religious people tend to do.
Imam Muhammad was among those kinds of believers of whom the
Rasul Allah Allah wa sallam said in a hadith documented in the
Muslims of Imam Muhammad, and in a student of a Timothy Rasul Allah
say, a Muslim, either can call it a nurse or your spirit or Allah
Allah whom Pharaoh middle Muslim under the law you call it to nurse
who Allah you must be
a Muslim who engaged with people involving in society and patiently
been the trials and tribulations of that engagement
is better than a believer
Who does not engage in social engagement with people in order to
avoid trials and tribulations?
Mm hmm. One's commitment to community and its engagement in
Islamic Propagation are three hallmarks. There are three
hallmarks of his legacy. I want to reflect upon one, his
uncompromising stance when the government's group areas Act was
threatening of Jamia mosque, by forced removals. And he boldly
said at the time, the precincts of this mosque and quoting the
precincts of this mosque are inviolable, and the building is
sacred forever, forever. No mosque can be sold or destroyed. The
mosque still stands there today, they move the community. But
Joomla was held every week, and the advanced little goes off.
It's so ironic that the fourth noble struggle, I will just inform
that one of the massages in Phoenix there'll be no Joomla due
to violence. So it was also reflect on noble struggles of
people like these and are we betraying the legacy by the crime
and corruption that is manifest in our society.
Number two, besides uncover uncompromising and principled
stand
here, this passion to promote the deen his capacity to go into the
townships just longer in younger and convey the message of Islam
make Dawa to people who are most marginalized and most often
neglected. He did it at a time where it was not fashionable to do
so no politically correct to do so. No funding available, like
they allow you to do so at the time that you face dangers.
Despite the dangers he face. He did what he did, because his
integrity and commitment outweighed his fears.
Imam Harun therefore was a living embodiment point number three of
boon to humanity to others, consciously caring, compassionate,
deep understanding of the real needs of society. His deep sense
of Islamic values committed him to the Humane consideration of
freedom of honor of dignity of respect and tolerance for
everyone. He was committed to uplifting the education of those
around him. His desire from an informed improved society made him
envision a nation that could be free from discrimination from
racism and injustice. His international travels connected
him with freedom fighters and liberation movements worldwide.
And he is impartial engagement with people who are not from his
faith, not from his cultural background, yet he embraced them
with an embrace of common humanity in that spirit of Ubuntu. When he
died,
Reverend Bernie Ranko Anglican priest faster 67 days at the
comet, the in Signal Hill demanding bring awareness to the
larger community about Imam Abdullah Haroon, who only knew
about him somewhat because the evening he died, there was an
earthquake.
And I'm not relating the two, but I'm saying is I remember that
event. And this man went in publicized and fasted for seven
days demanding a commission of inquiry, which inshallah now will
be opened.
He was the person the first person for whom a church service was held
in the Cathedral in London, because of his recognition of his
struggle for freedom for all people. For the first time a non
Muslim was honored in that way.
Imam Harun thus connected with all segments of society reach out to
all irrespective of color of gender of age or creed. And so
much of what he did was remarkable and exemplary. Is he?
Luckily, Bible Eman, villainous many of us forget this. We are so
preoccupied with our religiosity of how we look and how we dress so
preoccupied and judging those who don't dress like us who don't look
like us who don't have our mother route from our school of thought
or our thinking. The essence of reasoning after accepting faith,
Vera Susa Allahu alayhi wa sallam said, the word
is love for all of humanity. What is denial, fame and to be
committed to do God Illa Koulibaly you have to do good to everyone,
irrespective whether those people are good people are not Muslim or
not.
So he's deep sense of Islamic values, committed him to these
human consideration and he was connected, and so much of what he
did was exemplary. His primary focus on empowering the youth
many, many of the shoe has Hanif Merson, people are students of his
he's concerned for the well being of society. His capacity for Dawa
in areas most abundant and ignored his ability to reconcile his NT
upon
did X activism was his duties as an Imam, his capacity to break
down racial barriers, his efforts at securing aid for families of
freedom fighters, which was indeed the most dangerous thing to do,
and his unique grace for creating interfaith understanding and
connection. All of this was remarkable Indeed, even by today's
standards.
Imam arrows activism personified the ethical message of the Quran
that he had memorized, bearing witness. shahada is the foundation
of the Islamic value system bearing testimony the shahada is
the foundation of the Islamic value system. Imam Abdullah Harun
love the shahada to his tell his last breath, dying with shahada as
a Shaheed Inshallah, in the estimation of Allah.
And he certainly perpetuated the command which we eat every week
and alpha in Allah yet mu B largely were eaten in kuruva.
While ha Anil fascia you will mocha Certainly Allah commands
justice and goodness and magnanimity to near ones Allah
forbid evil, corruption and injustice.
If a man had the courage of conviction to speak the truth to
power, even at the cost of his life, this is the true nature of
struggle is our beloved Muhammad sallallahu alayhi wa alayhi wa
sallam said of the Luigi had killed him in the salon in Jarrah
Hadid, documented in the Muslim of Imam Muhammad, the humble manager
at NSA, the best jihad is to have the courage to speak out for
justice in the face of an oppressive leader. He spoke the
words that he spoke, he did the deeds that he did, where it was
definitely not easily easy, and certainly not convenient. He did
so the risking arrest, detention, torture, exile, or even death, but
he realized that the ultimate accountability is only to Allah.
And therefore I say, Isn't the man from our community. So we engage
in undermining each other making everybody cough and everybody bad?
False. We don't celebrate our great ones. And our children will
forget us too. Because you know what, there's nothing to
celebrate. Some of us will even be shy wise, we're gonna be bumped
the lagoon. Why not speak about something but we'll do something
we must celebrate. We must commemorate. We must remember.
This is one where we have gone
are we going in the right direction. The Imam was neither
defeated, nor was he conquered by his captured his or his tortures.
They killed his body, but his mission is still alive. They
silenced his voice, but his message continues to inspire. His
body lies vary. But the spirit of sacrifice still lives on. It lives
on in every person he taught and helped with a young or old male or
female. It lives in every poor home that he visited, whether it
be in Melbourne, or in London or in younger in every life he
touched, whether it was Muslim or not.
And therefore, through commemorating his life, we also
salute all those who fought for justice, all those who die in
detention.
Among them are people like Sulayman or the called Bob Lazar,
Luigi Solomon's. Luigi was thrown out of the police headquarters
building seventh floor to His death on nine September 1964
Bahama, Timo was tortured to death and thrown from the top floor of
the John Foster square building. Steve Biko was severely tortured
and pointless but and then they transported his naked and shackled
body for 1190 kilometres to a black prison hospital in Pretoria.
He died in the cell also drafted Timber 1977. So this week,
Islamia College unveiled a special commemorative board. And if you go
outside, on the left hand side, as you go look to the left, there's a
special board, I want you to have a look at it.
Which is a specific significance for three reasons. One,
it is the first public landmark in our country that displays all the
names of the 117 people who died in detention under apartheid
police to it is Islamia College, which is located by the way on
Imam Abdullah Hassan Imam Irun road. And thirdly, we did it in
the week. The 50th anniversary of the killing intention of this
community leader and political
Mamula role. Recognize that we as people of faith should always be a
voice of conscience, activist for freedom and justice. And we are
supposed to reflect the mission of the prophets of which Allah says
look at ourselves. Rasulullah
Wenzel nama Amil Kitab will mishandle the humaneness of your
place
indeed sent messengers throughout history to guide humankind with
clear guidance and the balance in order that all of humanity may
live with justice. Imam Harun embodied that message.
Mr. Harun was indeed a fearless and courageous undergoing
incarceration, torture and pain, separation from his loved ones,
all due to his selfless principled stand for freedom and justice of
the people of his land, the confluence of September in
Muharram.
And this being mind this coming together of these two months,
brings to mind the confluence of people throughout history who's
fought for us for justice and truth. From the example of Libby
Musa alayhis salam before the error of our suits sal Allahu
alayhi wa sallam, Musa alayhis salam who took on the despotic fit
our own. And through the time of the companions of Rasulullah were
his grandson, saying, stood up for justice against the oppressive
forces of his time, and in our times in our community here at the
southern tip of Africa in our town, that legacy of fighting
injustice, injustice and corruption through the life of Mr.
Harun, who stood up
against the repressive forces of apartheid. He was indeed a
fearless and courageous man.
And such dedication cannot emanate from anyone other than someone who
has tremendous moral conviction and spiritual strength. He was
indeed, Imam Abdullah Harun a guaranteed hero from the Muslim
community,
and is part of our historic struggle against injustice in
South Africa, an outstanding specimen of altruism of caring an
icon in our liberation movement, a humanitarian, a religious leader,
a spiritual guide, a teacher, a youth, motivator, an activist, a
visionary, a revolutionary, a philanthropist, and above all, an
exemplary Muslims.
That is why commemorations are so important in keeping the lessons
of the past alive, because we often overlook the rich legacy of
those who went before us.
And therefore, I conclude by saying, Imam Abdullah Harun was a
man whose life we should know about whom our children shouldn't
be taught, a personality our grandchildren should remember. And
an icon our nation should never forget.
Insha Allah the legacy lives on
Bilotta Pulu Lima ukca Luffy Sabine rely on what but the
goon those who are killed in the way of Allah don't say that they
did they alive, though you may not perceive it. We asked Allah
subhanho wa Taala to grant Imam Abdullah Harun the highest place
in Jannah Allahu McPhee Allah who were humbled by the diligent of
who you are hammer Rahman ALLAH forgive him, have mercy on him,
elevate the status or most Merciful of those who show mercy.
Why should women be enough was the DP in which you IDI masala in and
raise him up on the day of piano among the prophets among the
righteous among the pious amongst the martyrs Workfit Lena Wallah
who Yoruba aalameen And forgive us and forgive him here Allah, Oh,
Lord of all existence. Akula kolyada was stuck with Allah
Assalamu aleikum wa rahmatullah just very three quick
announcements is very sad to note that neither Mohamed nor Karim
from giant was kidnapped, and it's a mark and a stain on the legacy
of people like these in the struggle that we had to have this
kind of thing being a common feature in our society. Where
people are
maybe kidnapped, Ransom ransom, held hostage, increase of violence
against women or against people in general.
crime and corruption is rampant.
We ask Allah subhanho wa Taala as you empathize with the Mohammed Al
Karim and family. Well Allah returned him safely.
That the masjid way the Juma was cancelled when Imam Hassan villa
is the imam in Phoenix due to violence in the area. May Allah
subhanho wa taala, grantee Daya and may Allah Subhana Allah grant
that the people in authority do things that can alleviate the
causes of those kinds of violence. And may Allah subhanaw taala make
us an ummah, conscious to play our role,
like Imam Hassan did to address the issues that affect the larger
community of which we are part and manifest our Islamic prisons in
the most positive sense with Eman and with axon and I want to remind
you in sha Allah on Sunday, they had no Quran at Stefan road. I
would like all of you to attend if you can Inshallah, even you come
from Lebanon o'clock we'll go
or lunch, then inshallah please be there. It will be hard no Quran
with a few words being said to conclude the commemorative
ceremony that we had for the past year. Accord holy ha that was
started Allah wa salam ala
just asked others to stand before they can fill the gap see a few
people standing outside