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- MESSAGE FROM
- ABDULLAH MOHAMED OMAR
- MINISTER OF TRANSPORT
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- It
is with great pride that I take this opportunity of extending
warmest greetings and salaam to the trustees, management, staff
and workers as well as all those associated with Habibia Sufi
Masjid.
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- I
also convey my warmest greetings to the Imam and congregation of
Habibia. The Masjid and school have developed a reputation
throughout South Africa of being components of an institution
committed to advancing the cause of Islam, Muslim culture and
education. One of the hallmarks of the institution over the
years, however, has also been the fact that it had been designed
to serve all sections of the South African community,
particularly the oppressed people, whether they were African,
Coloured, and Indian – indeed no matter how people were
classified.
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- Throughout
our political struggle, we have advanced the vision of building
a single nation in our country because of our rejection of
racial classification. At the same time it was imperative that
we forged a unity among all the oppressed people, as this was an
important vehicle to bring about a non-racial society. For this
reason creating division in the ranks of the former
disenfranchised people had to be avoided at all cost. Whilst it
was important to advance the cause of Muslims, Muslim leaders
had to be conscious of the fact that they had to fight side by
side with the rest of the oppressed peopled in order to liberate
the whole of the country. This was a pre-condition for the
creation of a dispensation in which people of all religious
groups and culture could live together in peace and harmony. The
new dispensation had also to ensure that while we all saw
ourselves as part of one South African nation, as members of
different religious groups, individual South Africans had the
right to practice and propagates the religion to which they
adhered. In other words, with regard to the exercise of
political rights, our participation in the economy and the other
benefits of citizenship, we are all South Africans and should
enjoy the same rights. But at the same time, because South
Africa is a multi-faith country, it is important that our
constitutional dispensation (and indeed our democracy) should
ensure that we are able to live according to the tenets of our
religion and the values and standards laid down for us. Freedom
of worship and freedom to propagate and advance one’s own
religious values, remain important.
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- The
new constitutional dispensation in South Africa is therefore a
historic step forward for all of us. For the first time it
creates legal protection for rights to religion, language and
culture.
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- Habibia
has played a very important role over many decades. Its role in
the new South Africa will no doubt expand. Today, as we
celebrate the centenary of the great founder of Habibia, Hazrat
Shah Ghulam Muhammad Sufi (Sufi Sahib), and as we join in the
celebration of the official opening of the renovated mosque and
other facilities of Habibia, we can say with confidence and
pride that the institution will continue to serve all sections
of South Africa’s people; that it recognizes the essential
humanity of all human beings and that, in accordance with its
own traditions, it will make a vital contribution towards the
building of a nation and a new South Africa.
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- I
personally congratulate Habibia. I am proud to be associated
with it. I wish the institution every success for the future.
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- ABDULLAH
MOHAMED OMAR
- Minister
of Transport
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