Vol. 29 No. 9
DHUK-HIJJAH 1436 l SEPTEMBER 2015
The legacy of a martyr This is an excerpt from the keynote address delivered by SHAIKH SADULLAH KHAN at the 10th anniversary dinner of the Imam Abdullah Haron Education Trust, held on September 5.
AVING spent much of my childhood in Bo-Kaap, and subsequently schooling elsewhere, I returned to Cape Town after university studies to lead taraweeh at Stegmann Road Mosque, in the mihrab where Imam Abdullah Haron stood to lead his congregation. So I am pleased to be connected to this illustrious Imam Haron in any way and so privileged to be asked to deliver the keynote address in his honour. We are here, on the one hand, to acknowledge the outstanding contribution made by this organisation (IAHET) to empower members of marginalised communities, and, on the other, to pay tribute to the legacy of a martyr from our community after whom the organisation is named. We are in a commemorative period of the year. We have, coming up on September 24, national Heritage Day, celebrating our nation’s diversity and our heritage. Our heritage is the legacy of struggle against oppression and injustice, which defines our historical identity and lies at the heart of our spiritual wellbeing; a struggle of which the conscientious Muslims have always been an integral part. We are also in a commemorative spirit, marking the ruthless murder of a brave son of Africa by the brutal forces of apartheid. We salute Steve Biko who was killed on September 12 but never destroyed. And we reflect on the supreme sacrifice made by As-shaheed Imam Haron on September 27, 46 years ago, this month. He was among that kind of mu’min of whom the Prophet (SAW) said: ‘…mixes with people gets involved in society.’ Imam Haron connected with all segments of society, reached out to all, irrespective of colour, gender, age or creed.
H
The late Imam Abdullah Haron addressing members of a brigade in Stegmann Road Mosque. Imam Haron was as comfortable speaking to dignitaries as to children, and was consistent about the need for justice for all. In this period of Hajj, and coinciding with the 46th year of Imam’s arrest, torture and death in detention, we reflect on how much of his legacy, based as it is on Quran and Sunnah, we have implemented in our lives and that of the ummah. We cannot but admit that much as we celebrate Eid and sacrifice, there is still much that is left to be desired in the way in which we relate to our community, our mosques, our workplaces and our environment. Photo SUPPLIED
His primary focus on empowering the youth, his concern for the wellbeing of society, his ability to reconcile his anti-apartheid activism with his duties as imam, his capacity to break down racial barriers, his efforts at securing aid for the families of freedom fighters, and his unique grace of creating inter-faith connection are all exemplary. Little wonder that it was the first time in the history of St Paul’s Cathedral, in London, that a prayer service was held for a Muslim, in October 1969, where the anti-apartheid priest Canon Collins said: ‘He is a martyr, a victim of the appalling racial system of South Africa. He was doing work for the victims of persecution.’ A valiant voice against the oppression of the racist apartheid regime, Imam Haron’s words still echo in the memories of freedom fighters: ‘These apartheid laws are a complete negation of the fundamental principles of Islam. They are designed to cripple us
educationally, politically and economically. We cannot accept this type of enslavement. The monster of racialism is vicious. How much more can we bear?’ He spoke these words when it was not politically correct and certainly not convenient. He risked arrest, detention, torture, exile or death. He was detained on Moulood Day, May 28, 1969, under the Terrorism Act, tortured and, after 123 days (with no opportunity to see his loved ones), he breathed his last, in jail, on September 27, 1969. More than four decades after being martyred in police detention by the apartheid state’s security branch, Imam Abdullah Haron was posthumously honoured by the South African government, in 2014, by being awarded the Order of Luthuli: Gold. The award recognises South African citizens who have contributed to the struggle for democracy, human rights and justice.
We have come a long way; we have all the potential to become a prosperous nation, united in its diversity. That potential can only be realised if we have principled leadership, leadership with integrity. We need principled, conscientious leaders like Imam Haron today, leaders who have the commitment to serve people. We often celebrate how far we have come. The concern should be: in which direction are we going? Are we moving from where we were to where we are supposed to be? We fought a noble struggle so bravely against the racism of leaders imposed upon us; it is unfortunate that we now have to fight the corruption of leaders we have chosen. History has taught us that it is far more effective to be a catalyst for peace when we are strong enough to guard ourselves. A voice of peace echoes far better when we are able to resist pressure, challenge oppressors, ensure
our freedom, be intolerant of corruption, practically eliminate discrimination and be vigilant adversaries to injustice. People of faith and people of conscience always support the legitimate aspirations of the oppressed, whoever they are and wherever they may be. It is our collective duty to perpetuate the mission of the noble prophets who came throughout history as beacons of light, liberators of humanity; their primary mission was that people live with justice. Whether it be the struggle of Moses against the despotic Pharoah, the martyrdom of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson, Imam Husain at Karbala, Malcolm X gunned down in New York or our very own Imam Haron martyred in detention; they all fought to uphold the principles of truth and justice. Their effort was in fulfilment of a moral obligation that serves as a universal message which has left a lasting legacy of struggle and resistance against corruption and injustice. Imam Haron reflects the best of our legacy, a superb specimen of altruism and humanitarianism, an icon in the struggle against injustice and racism. From Moses, through Sayyidina Husain to Malcolm X to Imam Haron: They have been morally on the side of those against unjust rulers, reproaching tyrants and encouraging the oppressed to persist and patiently persevere in their struggle for justice, freedom and dignity. Their lives and struggle provide evidence of the moral victory of right over wrong, of virtue over vice, of principle over compromise, of the oppressed over the oppressor, of the denied over the denier; the ultimate victory of blood over sword. Their legacy exposes those who watched what was happening, knew what was right and yet, did nothing. How many are there even today who shy away, not only from mentioning their struggle but who abandon the very memory of their lives? May Allah preserve us from minimising their struggle.