Cape Town
Hadrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه travelled to Cape Town in early 1905 in search of land to build a Khanqah. He stayed at the residence of Abdul Ganie Parker in Cross Street, in what was later known as District Six. One Friday morning, he requested his host, who was from the district of Kokan, India, to arrange for a horse and cart so that they could look around for suitable land. After a while, the horse stopped at the spot where the present institution stands in Rylands in what was then known as Doornhoogte. He got off the cart, accompanied by Abdul Ganie Parker and few other Muslim brothers who had accompanied them on this historical ride. He walked for a while around the spot and then decided to purchase the land.
He stayed in Cape Town for about seven months while the necessary documents were being prepared by his attorneys for the transfer in Trust of the properties concerned. Meanwhile his brother-in-law, Hadrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه was in charge of the Khanqah in Durban during his absence.
In Cape Town a small wood and iron house was built on this land where the local people came to meet him when news of his arrival spread. His spiritual outlook, his humility, character and his dedication to serve Islam and the Ummah selflessly won the hearts of many, including the leading Sheikhs, Imams, Huffaz and other leading personalities of the time. He was visited daily by people during his short stay here. He accepted the invitation of all, irrespective of caste, colour, creed, language or status in the community. Many entered the fold of the Chistia Silsila. After laying the foundation of the present Musjid and completing the Madressa which was used as a Jamatkhana, he returned to Durban and instructed Hadrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه , who was also one of his six Khulafas, to proceed to Cape Town and take charge of the Khanqah that was being erected there.
Since then the following have served as Trustees:
1905 Founder
1905 – 1916
1916 – 1937
1937 – 1987
1987 to the present
(Hazrath Shah Imam Latief known as Imam Baboo and his younger brother Hazrath Shah Goolam Ahmed Habibi رضي الله عنه who passed away in 1980 assisted Hazrath Shah Imam Abdul Karrim Qazi رضي الله عنه in the administration from 1945 onwards.)
Hazrath Moulana SHAH Abdul Latief Qadi Siddiqui Habibi رضي الله عنه
Affectionately known as Mamoojaan, he was born in 1860 in Ibrahim Pattan, Ratnagir, India. His father’s name was Hazrath Mohamed Yusuf Qadi Habibi رضي الله عنه and mother’s name Aisha رضي الله عنه . He had one brother, Hazrath Hassan Qadi رضي الله عنه and seven sisters – Zainab Bi, Khurshid Bi, Fathima, Kulsum, Amina, Khatoon Bi and Latifa. Zainab Bi the eldest of them all, was married to Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه .
Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه was a Siddiqui, a direct descendant of Hazrath Sayeddena Abu Bakr Al-Siddiqui رضي الله عنه . He received his basic Islamic education in Ibrahim Pattan and he went to Bombay in 1900 for his higher studies where he studied under an Ustaad who was originally from Panipat, in Northern India. He became the mureed of Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah رضي الله عنه of Hyderabad, India.
He first served as an Imam and teacher in Zakaria Musjid in Bombay before coming to South Africa. Hazrath Soofie Saheb, his paternal uncle, invited him to the Darbar in Riverside to teach at the madressa where he taught for four years.
However, the love for his family beckoned him. He told Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه that he wished to go back to India, who in turn told Moulana that he was going to Cape Town to established a Khanqah and that he should wait until his return.
On his return to Durban from Cape Town, Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه instructed Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه to proceed to Cape Town and take charge of the darbar at Doornhoogte. He at once set off for Cape Town. Meanwhile Hazrath Soofie رضي الله عنه arranged to bring Moulana’s entire family including his father, brothers and sisters from India. They joined him at the Khanqah in late 1905. Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه was able to concentrate fully on the supervision and administration of the newly established Khanqah under the watchful eyes of his father, Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Qadi Siddiqui Habibi رضي الله عنه . In 1904 he was conferred the Khilafath in the Chistia, Habibia and Qadiria Silsila by Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه , being one of his six Khulafas. In the early 1890’s he married Khurshid who was the sister of the second wife of Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه . They had four children, all of whom died in infancy. He then married Jamal Bi رضي الله عنه in India in 1898 and had two daughters – Khairunissa and Khadija Bi. He carried on with the mission of Hazrath Soofie Saheb with extreme dedication. He went about his duties following the tariqa of the Mashaikhe Chist. People were now being accepted and enrolled as mureeds (disciples) in the Chisti Silsila. They were given training in tasawwuf also. The Khanqah was thus fulfilling the various needs of the community under his leadership.
Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه made a trip to Cape Town in 1906 and was very satisfied when he found the khanqah completed and functioning well. There was a Musjid, Madressa, Yateemkhana, Musafirkhana and Cemetery.
The Urs Shareef of Hazrath Sayeddena Abdul Kadir Jilani RA, Hazrath Khwaja Moinuddeen Chisti رضي الله عنه and Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah رضي الله عنه were held annually at the Darbar. The Ashura in Moharrum and all the auspicious nights in the Islamic Calendar were observed.
In 1911, Hazrath Shah Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه performed Haj and went to India to visit Ajmer and Hyderabad (his Sheikh, Hazrath Khwaja Habib Ali Shah رضي الله عنه had passed away in 1904). He then went to his village in Ratnagir before returning to Durban by ship. During his absence, Hazrath Soofie Saheb had passed away on 29 June 1911. From the docks he proceeded to the Mazaar Shareef of Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه where he paid his respects and offered Esale Sawab Fateha after which he met his sister, Hazrath Zainab Bi رضي الله عنه , the wife of Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه , and other family members.
Hazrath Moulana Shah Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه returned to Cape Town a very broken-hearted man. On 17 April 1916 (18 Jamadus Sani 1335) he passed away at the time of Zohar Azaan. Imam Husain Jakoet of Habibia Soofie Musjid who was one of his mureeds, gave the ghusl and performed the Janaza Namaz as was requested by Moulana. Imam Husain Jakoet, Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi and Hajee Wazir Parker placed him in his grave. The permission to bury him in the Darbar was only obtained a day before his demise.Although it was a great setback to his Mureeds, they nevertheless gained strength when they realised that the various activities at the Darbar that were established by Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه had to continue. Undoubtedly, the mission that Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه brought to the southern most tip of the ‘Dark Continent’ was carefully nurtured by his devoted Khalifa and brother-in-law, Moulana Shah Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه . May Almighty Allah shower His Rahmah on them and all those who have helped them. Ameen. Hazrath Shah Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه had two Khulafas-
1. Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه who was married to his youngest sister, Latiefa Bi رضي الله عنه .
2. Hazrath Sayed Shah Ahmed رضي الله عنه of Kardar in India was on a private visit to Cape Town to meet his mureeds in the Qadiria Order, when he requested Hazrath Moulana Shah Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه that he be inducted in the Chistia Order.
Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه
He was born in 1884 in Bankot, India, a small village on the shores of the Arabian Sea in the Kokan district of Ratnagir. His father, Hajee Ahmed and his uncles were businessmen. Among other things, they supplied mangoes to the local market and to Bombay. He came to Cape Town in 1907 in search of his brothers who were trying to open a business. He came to the Khanqah to seek shelter for a few nights. Although he found his brothers, he stayed at the Darbar and became the mureed of Hazrath Shah Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه . His brothers however, left for India without Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه . He was awe-struck by the spiritual outlook of his Sheikh and decided to serve him and the Silsila at the Cape.
Although his Sheikh persuaded him to return home, it was of no avail. He was eventually allowed to stay on at the Khanqah. He married Latiefa Qadi رضي الله عنه , the sister of the Sheikh and the youngest daughter of Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Qadi رضي الله عنه with the prior approval of Hazrath Soofie Saheb RA. Four children were born from this marriage:-
1. Nizambi – married to Hazrath Shah Goolam Mohamed Soofie Sani رضي الله عنه of Durban.
2. Khursheed BI – mother-in-law of Hazrath Shah Mohamed Saeid Soofie of Durban.
3. Abdul Latief (Imam Boboo) – fatherin-law of Hazrath Shah Abdul Aziz Soofie of Durban.
4. Goolam Ahmed.
He continued with the task of administering the various affairs of the Khanqah. In keeping with the Chisti policy of the founder, Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه and his Sheikh, Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief رضي الله عنه , he went out inviting people to the Khanqah to take part in the various activities. He helped people with their difficulties. Orphans were well cared for. The madressa was functioning well. In short, he dedicated himself to the work of his Sheikh. He spent most of his time, especially after Esha, at the Mazaar of his Sheikh. After s short illness he passed away on 5 August 1937 (1356 AH) at the fairly young age of 53 years. He was buried at the Darbar, near the Mazaar Shareef of his Sheikh.
Hazrath Shah Imam Abdul Karrim Qadi Habibi Siddiqui رضي الله عنه
He was the youngest son of Hazrath Ahmed Qadi Siddiqui رضي الله عنه and Kulsoom رضي الله عنه . He was born in the year 1912. His mother, Kulsoom رضي الله عنه , was one of the seven sisters of Hazrath Shah Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه . He was educated in the Habibia Soofie Madressa, Cape Town. In 1936 he married Khurshid Bi, the daughter of his maternal uncle, Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه . The following children were born – Goolam Ally, Qutboodeen, Zubeda, Goolam Rasool, Zohra, Khairunissa, Shabeer, Sabir. He was given the control and administration of the Khanqah at the tender age of 17 years, after the death of his father-in-law in 1937. He was assisted by members of the family and certain members of the congregation. His brothers-in-law, Hazrath Shah Imam Abdul Latif (Imam Baboo) and Shah Goolam Ahmed رضي الله عنه , both sons of Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه , were very young, 8 years and 6 years respectively, at the time.
With the help of the community he brought changes at the Darbar. In the 1940’s he enclosed the verandah of the original Musjid. The present extension at the rear of the Musjid was undertaken by him in 1964. The Madressa was rebuilt with brick. A shelter was built between the Madressa and the Musjid for feeding purpose during functions at the Darbar. The present foundation for the extension was laid by him and other members of the family and members of the congregation in 1986.
He became the mureed of Hazrath Shah Goolam Hafiz Soofie رضي الله عنه fourth son of Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه , during his visit to Durban in 1947 and a few years later he was conferred the Khilafat by his Murshid.
Hazrath Shah Imam Abdul Latief Habibi (Imam Baboo)
He is the present Trustee and Sajjada Nashin of the Habibia Soofie Darbar, Cape Town and the eldest son of Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه . His mother, Latiefa Bi رضي الله عنه was the sister of Zainab Bi رضي الله عنه , the wife of Hazrath Soofie Saheb رضي الله عنه . He was born at the Darbar in Cape Town, where he received his Islamic education. He was constantly under the guidance of his father and after his demise, his mother took a keen interest in his education. When he came of age, he, with his younger brother, Hazrath Shah Goolam Ahmed Habibi رضي الله عنه assisted their brother-in-law Hazrath Shah Abdul Karrim رضي الله عنه in the affairs of the Darbar. From early 1940’s he was in charge of performing nikah, janaza namaaz and other religious needs of the community. He assisted in the various major renovations and extension and is fully involved in the present administration of the Darbar. He married Amina Bi رضي الله عنه , the younger daughter of Hazrath Shah Goolam Hafiz Soofie رضي الله عنه in 1948 who is also his Sheikh. The following are his children-Mohamed Ebrahim, Mohamed Yusuf, Goolam Hoosain, Zainab Bi, Shamsunnissa and Hafiza. His wife passed away in November 1959. He saw to the needs of his young children while attending to the various needs of the community in general. In 1969 he remarried – a son (Mohamed Riza) and a daughter (Khadija Begum) were born. He performed Haj in 1968 and visited the Middle East. especially Damascus, Baghdad. Jerusalem, and Pakistan and India, He was conferred Khilafath in the Chistia Habibia Qadiria Order from Hazrath Peer Hafiz Pasha Habibi رضي الله عنه of Hyderabad, Deccan, India in 1988 when he was in Cape Town during the Urs Shareef of Hazrath Shah Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه . Presently he is assisted by his sons. Shah Mohamed Ebrahim Habibi, Shah Hafiz Mohamed Yusuf Habibi, Shah Hafiz Goolam Hoosain Habibi, Mohamed Riza Habibi and his nephew, Hazrath Moulana Shah Goolam Qutboodeen Qadi. Mohamed Yusuf and Goolam Hoosain became Hafiz under Hafiz Shumshudeen of Cape Town. Hafiz Masood Ahmed Qadi and Mohammed Usama Qadi are also assisting in the supervision of the buildings and administration. The following are housed in the Darbar – Musjid, Madressa, Musafirkhana, Cemetery, Islamic Nursery School, a Bookshop and the Mazaar Shareef of Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi رضي الله عنه .
The following are some of the Imams that served over the years at the Darbar – Imam Sudlev Dollie. Imam Mohamed Kajal, Imam Shah Samad Qazi رضي الله عنه , Shah Imam Mustapha Qazi رضي الله عنه , Imam Abdur Rahman Gamieldin (father of Sheikh Shakiar Gamieldin), Imam Abdur Rahman Umar, Imam Dawood Haffejee, Hazrath Shah Mohamed Yusuf Habibi رضي الله عنه (father of Imam Baboo). Shah Abdul Latief Habibi (Imam Baboo) Shah Imam Abdul Karrim Qadi رضي الله عنه , Hazrath Shah Moulana Goolam Qutboodeen Qadi Habibi, Hafiz Mohamed Yusuf Habibi, Hafiz Goolam Hoosain and Hafiz Masood Ahmed Qadi.
Hazrath Shah Moulana Goolan Qutboodin Qadi Habibi
He is the eldest son of Hazrath Imam Abdul Karrim Qadi رضي الله عنه . He studied in Lucknow from 1959 to 1963 and majored in Arabic in Madina University in 1965. He is the nephew of the present trustee, Hazrath Shah Imam Baboo, whom he assists in the administration of the Khanqah at Cape Town. Khilafat in the Chistia Silsila was conferred upon him in 1988 by Hazrath Peer Hafez Pasha Habibi رضي الله عنه of Hyderabad.