Since its very inception, Habibia Soofie Masjid has not merely been a place of worship but a complex actively devoted to the welfare of the community. This is because the founding of Habibia was inspired by the lifestyles of the Auliyaa - lifestyles that emphasised selfless service to humanity as an integral part of one's worship to Allah. Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief Qadi RA made sure that the masjid made its priority the feeding of the poor, the housing of orphans, and a place of solace and assistance for individuals and their problems. The present custodians of the masjid have placed themselves under obligation to continue this legacy of service, which they attempt to do to the best of their ability. The following are the chief social services performed by the masjid.
Firstly, the masjid on a daily basis provides food and clothing for the poor, largely accessed from donations by the community. This is particularly evident on Fridays when large queues of people line up for these parcels. The masjid also provides limited help for people unable to pay their electricity and water bills. The budget allocated for such help is approximately R 1000 a month.
The masjid also provides a free burial service for the poor. The burial service includes the ghusl [bath], the kafan [the shrouding] and the dafan [the burial itself]. However, better-off members of the community are required to pay for such services. In addition, the masjid also hosts travellers [normally for a maximum of three nights], thus fulfilling a role as a musafirkhana [traveller's lodge]. Of course, all the relevant needs of the traveller are seen to.
The functions held regularly by Habibia also act as avenues for social welfare. For the commemoration of Ashura (10th of Muharram), food (Niyaaz) is cooked for the first ten nights of Muharram. In the month of Rabi-ul-Awwal, the month of the Maulid- Niyaaz is provided for the first twelve nights. At the occasion of the Rampies -the ladies' Mawlid- two to three cauldrons of food are cooked for the occasion. One deg of food costs around R1500. The same occurs during the month of Rabiul Akhir- the occasion of the Urs of al-Ghawth al-Azam Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani RA- when Niyaaz is provided for the first eleven nights. Of course, several cauldrons of food are cooked at the occasion of the Urs itself. It is important to note that it is mostly the needy who partake of this food- a fact which is a source of blessing to the masjid since the ‘ulamah remind us that it is not the giver that is the benefactor of the poor, but the poor that in reality are the benefactors of the givers.
In Rajab, the Urs of Sultanul-Hind Khwaja Moinuddeen Chisti RA coincides with that of Hazrath Moulana Abdul Latief RA. At this occasion 20 cauldrons of food are cooked of which four to five are specifically reserved for the poor.
It is sometimes questioned as to why the better-off members of the community also partake of the food. It is vital to note here that the Niyaaz not only serves to feed the needy, but also serves as an opportunity to reassert equality in Islam and obliterate social distinctions. This is because during the feeding rich and poor partake of the same food and sit next to each other, irrespective of social standing. In this manner sitting, it serves to humble the better-off members of the community.
In Ramadan a daily communal iftaar program takes place, allowing the poor to partake of delicacies not normally available to them. Such iftaar preparation costs approximately six thousand rands for the month. There is also sehri provided throughout the month for workers and staff members as well, and for a dhikr jama'ah which recites at the masjid during the last ten nights of the month.
At ‘Id-ul Fitrah, fitrah hampers to the value of R30 000 are distributed, helping approximately 750 people. On ‘Id day two to three cauldrons of food are cooked for the needy. At ‘Id ul Adha qurban animals are slaughtered at the masjid and the meat distributed to the poor, now mostly through organizations like SANZAF (South African National Zakah Foundation) who have expertise in this field.
Finally, it may be mentioned that at a non-material level the masjid continues to act as a centre of daily counselling for people with emotional, family or spiritual problems.
The masjid does not bear the full amount of the welfare expenses outlined, as a proportion is donated by the community especially for the occasions mentioned. The masjid, however, continually needs to solicit funds- not only for these welfare activities, but also naturally for the running of the masjid itself. In this regard it is worthwhile noting that its expenses come to
R 60 000 month. To continue its work and legacy, the masjid can only rely on the sustained contributions of the community.
Information provided by Dr Usama Kagee
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