Project delves into history of Constantia’s Muslims

The Spaanschemat River Road Muslim Cemetery, during its centennial celebrations, is launching a research project to explore the history of Constantia's Muslim community.

The committee invites anyone with a personal connection, family history, or association with the cemetery to share their stories and have them recorded for future generations on Sunday September 29.

The history of Islam in Constantia dates as far back as 1667 when the Dutch banished three political exiles from Sumatra, Indonesia.

According to Islam Focus, “One of the rulers, Sheikh Abdurahman, along with two of his religious advisers, were exiled to the Cape. One was bundled off to Robben Island while Sheikh Abdurahman and Sayyid Mahmood were sent to the Constantia Forest.”

“We believe that Islam started in the forests of Constantia because these exiled people taught runaway slaves Islam in the forests of Constantia long before Yusuf of Macassar arrived,” said Maghdie Sadien, the imam of the Mahmoud Mosque and the deputy treasurer of the cemetery’s committee.

Two mosques were later established in the valley. In 1902 Dawood Sadien bought Sillery Farm in Constantia and in 1913 donated a portion to be used as a mosque. This became Mahmoud Mosque. Monier Mosque predates Mahmoud Mosque and was established in 1883.

The cemetery, located next to Monier Mosque, was purchased by 105 families for 3 pounds five sterling in 1924.

According to Mr Sadien, many of the families hailed from the greater Constantia area and would have been smallholding farmers and a few wealthier families including the Solomon family.

Under the Group Areas Act, Constantia was zoned in 1961 as a whites-only area. Non-white Constantia residents were forcibly removed to Mitchell’s Plain and other areas. Both mosques were kept going by the congregants, and those who were bequeathed burial rights were able to make a final return to Constantia in death.

According to Abduragman Allie, who has served on the cemetery’s committee for more than 40 years, burials today have reached the sixth and seventh generations of descendants. He said history was being lost, but it needed to be revived and passed on to the youth.

Dr Natheem Hendricks, chair of the cemetery’s committee, said history was frequently written by those in power, and this project would tell the story of Muslims in Constantia by Muslims.

“Part of the reality is that we have a history to tell, and we want to have some control over what is being written about this community because the community played a significant role in forming Constantia, what it is today,” Dr Hendricks said.

The centenary celebrations will be held at Spaanschemat River Road Muslim Cemetery from 10am to 2pm. For more information, contact Shireen Sadien at 084 487 4299.