Message from A'immah

A message from the masjid's a'immah, Sheikh Muhammad Carr and Sheikh Ismail Londt.

"Islam means ‘the offering of peace’. The message of Islam is one of peace, beauty and love. The Islamic greeting ‘Peace be upon you…’ represents its message.

Islam preaches compassion to all. It promotes education and positivity and it calls toward respect for the self and the entire creation. Its message should be studied directly from its book, the Holy Quran and from the life of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. The actions of certain individuals or groups, generally based on emotion, are not necessarily representative of the message of Islam. The follower of Islam, a Muslim, is a peaceful, compassionate and progressive individual. The follower of Islam is a positive contributor to humanity and is one that all can depend on.

The Auwal masjid, established during a time of grave injustice and human oppression, represented that message of peace to the community. It became a safe-haven for all the oppressed and it inspired its visitors through education and spirituality. It gave hope at a time when things were bleak and men and women were shackled and humiliated. It reminded all of goodness and respect and people were once again given the opportunity to show and experience humanities angelic and compassionate side.

This should never be forgotten. The Auwal Masjid played an important role in shaping South Africa, its past and it’s present. Its leadership was focussed and determined and its community was always vibrant. We pray that Allah bless the souls of all our pioneers and that He guides the current leadership to that which is pleasing to Him and beneficial to the community.

The Auwal masjid deserves the support of the entire South African Muslim community and we pray that it maintains its position as a true beacon of light and a means of inspiration for all! Ameen."