the construction of the shrine of shaykh yusuf of macassar at faure by the cape malays presentation...

01/05/23 2nd CONGRESS OF ISLAMIC CIVILISATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, DURBAN, 4-6 MARCH 2016

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bybyEbrahim RhodaEbrahim Rhoda

The construction of the shrine of Shaykh The construction of the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar at Faure by the Cape Yusuf of Macassar at Faure by the Cape Malays and the reconstruction effected Malays and the reconstruction effected by the Hajee Sullaiman Shahmahomed by the Hajee Sullaiman Shahmahomed

Kramat TrustKramat Trust

Portrait of Shaykh Yusuf Al Makassari Al BantaniPortrait of Shaykh Yusuf Al Makassari Al Bantani


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Source: Photo taken in office of the Governor of Goa, Sulawesi, Indonesia on 10 November 2011.

1818thth Century Map of Cape Colony Century Map of Cape Colony

2nd CONGRESS OF ISLAMIC CIVILISATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA, DURBAN, 4-6 MARCH 2016

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ZANDVLIET

01/05/23

Map source: Courtesy Van Riebeeck Society, Trials of Slavery, 2005,Second Series No.36, p.1viii

I.D. du Plessis and the legend of the lost I.D. du Plessis and the legend of the lost grave of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassargrave of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar

1705 - Francois Valentyn1705 - Francois Valentyn 1824 - Survey of landownership1824 - Survey of landownership 1829 - James Holman1829 - James Holman 1838 - Bishop Patrick Griffiths1838 - Bishop Patrick Griffiths 1857 - Dr Karl Scherzer1857 - Dr Karl Scherzer


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The shrine of Shaykh Yusuf at The shrine of Shaykh Yusuf at Zandvliet Zandvliet in 1857in 1857


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Source:Dr Karl Scherzer,Narrative of the circumnavigation of the globe by the Austrian frigate Novara in the years 1857-1858 and 1859, pp.244-248

Interior of Shk. Yusuf’s tomb in 1857 Interior of Shk. Yusuf’s tomb in 1857


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Dr Achmat Davids: The original shrine of Dr Achmat Davids: The original shrine of Shk. Yusuf at Faure,1864Shk. Yusuf at Faure,1864


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Source:The History of the Tana Baru, p.33

The shrine of Sayed Mahmud at ConstantiaThe shrine of Sayed Mahmud at Constantia


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Source: Guide to the Kramats of the Western Cape,p.26.

Cape Mazaar Society, 1996.

Muslim owners of the shrineMuslim owners of the shrine

1866 Ebrahim 1866 Ebrahim

1872 Abdol Kahar1872 Abdol Kahar

1877 Abdol Ragman1877 Abdol Ragman

1907 Abdol Ragman went insolvent1907 Abdol Ragman went insolvent

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The shrine sold by public auctionThe shrine sold by public auction

Shamahomed buys the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf of Shamahomed buys the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar at a public auction on site in 1908 and Macassar at a public auction on site in 1908 and

establishes establishes THE HAJEE SULLAIMAN THE HAJEE SULLAIMAN SHAHMAHOMED KRAMAT TRUSTSHAHMAHOMED KRAMAT TRUST. He then . He then purchased the purchased the dargahdargah from Paul Andtries Braaf in from Paul Andtries Braaf in 1914. He had the site of the shrine fenced in and 1914. He had the site of the shrine fenced in and

instituted measures which had to be observed when instituted measures which had to be observed when visiting the shrine.visiting the shrine.


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Shahmahomed entrenches his rights as the Shahmahomed entrenches his rights as the legal owner of the shrinelegal owner of the shrine

He had the site fenced in.He had the site fenced in. Use the local press to Use the local press to warn visitors of how to warn visitors of how to conduct themselves at the conduct themselves at the shrine.shrine.Code of conduct in glass Code of conduct in glass frame installed in shrine.frame installed in shrine.Install a safe in shrine for Install a safe in shrine for donations for donations for maintennancemaintennance


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Rules to be observed at the KramatRules to be observed at the Kramat


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This notice installed in the shrine on 27 February 1918 and co-signed by two Christians was resented by Muslims as it unnecessarily intruded on their privileges and rights they have freely exercised for generations.

The installation of an iron safe in the shrine to receive donations added to the animosity between Shahmahomed and the Cape Muslim community. Add to this the warnings in the press, then Shahmahomed was surely on a collision course with the Cape Muslims.

Regulations in Cape Times a week before Easter Regulations in Cape Times a week before Easter 19181918


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Just about a week prior to the Easter week-end Shahmahomed had these same regulations published in the Cape Times of 23 March 1918. Shahmahomed made sure that prospective visitors to the shrine were aware of the regulations.

The fencing of the site, the placing of the regulations and the iron safe for donations in the shrine including the warnings in the press enraged the regular visitors to the shrine that the Cape Times reported the following on 3 April 1918:

“So great was the resentment of the Moslem community against these new restrictions, that the largest public meeting ever held at Zandvlei took place last Sunday ,[31 March 1918] over a thousand attending.”

Atmosphere at mass meeting of 31 March 1918 explosive.Atmosphere at mass meeting of 31 March 1918 explosive.Crowd threaten to burn down Shahmhomed’s holiday Crowd threaten to burn down Shahmhomed’s holiday

house, Rahima Cottagehouse, Rahima Cottage


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Putting name on the tablet Putting name on the tablet Opponents agreed that if Opponents agreed that if people decided to erect a people decided to erect a monument, no monument, no individual had any right individual had any right to carve out his name on to carve out his name on that monument to that monument to indicate that the indicate that the memorial had been memorial had been erected by him.erected by him.


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Resolutions taken at Mass Meetinf at the Kramat Resolutions taken at Mass Meetinf at the Kramat on 31 March 19918. on 31 March 19918. [Extract: [Extract: Cape Times, Cape Times, 3 April 3 April 1918]1918]Under the Under the leadership ofleadership ofChairman Chairman Dr. Omar DollieDr. Omar DollieJ.H.M.GoolJ.H.M.Gool M.A.Gamiet & M.A.Gamiet & Dr.I.Abdurahman Dr.I.Abdurahman sanity prevailed.sanity prevailed.


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Shahmahomed sues for £50 for malicious Shahmahomed sues for £50 for malicious damage to propertydamage to property

Defendants:Defendants:Moostafa HendricksMoostafa HendricksMourien AjamMourien AjamJoseph Molvie Hamid GoolJoseph Molvie Hamid GoolOmar Mohamed DollieOmar Mohamed DollieIsmail AbdurahmanIsmail Abdurahman

On 2On 2ndnd June 1919 judgement June 1919 judgement was given in favour of the was given in favour of the defendants with costs on the defendants with costs on the higher scale.higher scale. Took case to Supreme CourtTook case to Supreme CourtAnd finally to the Appeal And finally to the Appeal CourtCourt


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The shrine of Shayk Yusuf in 1909The shrine of Shayk Yusuf in 1909


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Source: Elliot Collection, Western Cape Archives Records Service

The mound had to be The mound had to be transformedtransformed

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Reconstruction of the mound Reconstruction of the mound


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Reconstruction of the Reconstruction of the dargahdargah


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1914

19181925

The Monument to honour Shaykh YusufThe Monument to honour Shaykh Yusuf

Monumental mason Cane Monumental mason Cane & Son erected the & Son erected the Monument. Cane was Monument. Cane was taken to Court by taken to Court by Shahmahomed for failing Shahmahomed for failing to complete the work he to complete the work he tendered for. Cane lost the tendered for. Cane lost the case and committed case and committed suicide by taking arsenic suicide by taking arsenic in 1928in 1928


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Unveiling of the Moument 1925 Monument 2016

State of disrepair of the steps leading to the shrineState of disrepair of the steps leading to the shrine


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1909 2009

A beautiful transformation !A beautiful transformation !


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Interior of the shrineInterior of the shrine


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A vision realisedA vision realised

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Autocrat or Visionary ?Autocrat or Visionary ?

How would you judge How would you judge Hajee Sullaiman Hajee Sullaiman

Shahmahomed in his Shahmahomed in his Kramat project ?Kramat project ?


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the construction of the shrine of shaykh yusuf of macassar at faure by the cape malays presentation...

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