In this week’s edition, we highlight the life of Hajji Faried Galant, who celebrates his 40th anniversary as Matouf, and discuss the impact anti-apartheid martyr Imam Abdullah Haron had on his life.
Cape Town - Serving the guests of Allah: Hajji Faried Galant celebrates his 40th anniversary as Matouf.
Hajj and Umrah is a sacred journey of a lifetime in which pilgrims travel to Saudi Arabia to undertake one of the five pillars of Islam, which must be done at least once in a lifetime by each Muslim if personal circumstances allow it.
Millions of people make their way each year. They celebrate the feast of Al-Adha, or what Cape residents refer to as Labarang Ghajji, and visit the area’s many historical sites during their stay.
The Mother City is known for its beautiful and unique culture, history and traditions, preserved by those before us.
For 40 years, a former Claremont resident, Hajji Faried Galant, has served the honourable guests of Allah.
A celebration was held to mark this milestone.
Hajji Faried, alongside his many brothers and his only sister, were students of the beloved Imam the Martyr, As-shaheed Imam Abdullah Haron, at Al-Jaamiah Mosque, in Stegman Road, Claremont, before the forced removals carried out in terms of the Group Areas Act.
The Imam was very fond of the boys for what they could do with their voices.
“Bilal” is the Malay term for the call to prayer (athaan), and in Arabic the person doing the rendition is known as the Mu’athin.
The name goes far back to when a black Abyssinian slave named Bilal rendered the first call to prayer, and he was also the first black slave to accept Islam.
When the call to prayer is being rendered, you would often hear people in the Cape saying: “Daar bang die Bilal” or “Die Bilal bang!”.
Galant speaks from a place of much strength and courage, and digs deep into his personal and emotional being to recall the influences on his life that have contributed to where he finds himself today.
“Ek voel ma baie ge-eer. The inspiration and stories around Makka go as far back to when I was a little boy, when the Imam was first appointed, and he would inspire us to embark on the special journey. We were often used as models in class to demonstrate things like how to don the ighraam or to ghusl the mayyit. It was taught with such love that I knew then that this was my calling, and that I needed to teach it to others.”
Hajji Faried’s parents, the late Achmat (“Aggies”) and Gadija Galant, have also had a good influence on his life, including his two older Davids cousins, Ebrahim, fondly remembered as “Sep”, and his brother, Saaliem Davids.
“Sep was Imam se regte hand. Ek sal hulle nooit vergeet nie. Die mense het eerste met die skippe weg gegaan Makka toe, soemma tot op vuur maande, dan moet ons hulle uit-bang.
I remember the first time my Boeppa took me by the hand to Imam to show him a bit of what I can do with my voice. I was nervous, but soon felt at ease. Imam had a way of making you feel comfortable. The next morning, he came to the house with a gift for me.
It was a very expensive watch en ek was soemma baie opgemaak met my watch, want ons was nie gewoont aan sulke goed nie en ons het nie eens baie skoene gehad nie. But then I couldn’t stop fiddling with it and, before I knew it, I had lost it.
Then one night, Esha se waghtoe, Imam by the way asked me: ‘Maar waar is jou horloosie?’, so I lied and told him it was at home, and I made up a story and said I had a bit of a rash on my arm, so I had to take it off for a while.
Imam would call me his ‘golden boy’ and he would always let me know how proud he was because other people were admiring me.
“He would always say that I would go far in life. It was a highlight when Imam invited the community to come to listen to me recite alongside the famous Qari, Abdul Baasit. ‘Me? With Abdul Baasit?’ I couldn’t believe it, and Imam had a nice chuckle, and I was featured in the newspaper. He was my mentor, my pioneer.”
Imam Haron was arrested by the notorious Security Branch of the South African Police for his resistance to injustice. He was incarcerated for 123 days without charge, and in isolation was brutally tortured and killed in September of that year.
Hajji Faried recalls: “After the Imam’s kiefaait, there was an earthquake, for this was a great man whose light still shines bright today.
The inquest into the death of Imam is currently under way after 53 years, and I hope we get to see justice.”
The head of the South African Muslim Travel Association, Sedick Steenkamp, was one of the speakers at the 40th celebration and bid farewell to the next group to embark on an Umrah.
"We have come a long way. Hajji Faried Galant will always have our support. It is very special when you find someone who takes care of all the logistics, as well as has the knowledge to act as the spiritual leader at the same time. He is an all-rounder in the true sense of the word.
We extend our best wishes on his 40th anniversary of service, as well as for forthcoming travels, and we pray that the Almighty continues to bless him and keep him dedicated.“
Fatima Galant Abrahams, author of Imam Haron's Bilal and chief producer of The Cape Malay “Jawwap”, a division of Skylimit ProjMan (Pty) Ltd, said: “My uncle Faried has been doing selfless service for as long as I can remember.
“What an exceptional role model (he is), and we wish to congratulate him and say ”baie slamat“ on this milestone. As a child, his impact has significantly contributed and led to our intention to perform Hajj in 2019.
He has always been a leader and at the forefront. We pray that the Almighty preserves him for many years to come and grants him the necessary strength to assist the Mutamireens. We salute you. A life of service to others is one that our grandmother Gadija would’ve been very proud of, and so the legacy continues.”
A 35-year-old designer, Ashoera Dreyer Sampson from District Six will be undertaking her second journey with Hajji Faried.
“I have a very special bond with Hajji Faried. He is always portraying this deep and great love and sincerity, and he deserves recognition for this great work. I am excited to have all of my sisters with me.
We are pleased with the hard work we have put in and looking forward to our trip.”
Living under the shadow of police brutality and apartheid laws, daily life could not have been easy for the generation of that time.
Mogamat Anwar and Faiza Slamdien, a couple from Woodstock, say they were inspired and led to Hajji Faried by a friend in August.
Hajja Fatima Galant Abrahams writes ‘Because Little Things Matter’ for The Cape Malay ‘Jawwap’, a division of Skylimit ProjMan (Pty) Ltd
Cape Times