Post by muskaan chisti on Jul 31, 2008 10:52:11 GMT
Assalamu 'Alaykum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
Hazrath Sheikh Ahmed Badsha Peer R.A. arrived in colonial Natal from India in 1860 as an indentured labourer and was posted to one of the sugar cane farms in the North Coast. He was given an honourable discharge by the authorities when he was discovered to be mystical. He had no family here and instead of returning to India he chose to spend the rest of his life in Durban especially in the environs of the Grey Street Juma Mosque and Badsha Peer Square (Brook Street Cemetery) . He also visited his ex colleagues on the farms encouraging them to persevere and overcome their hardships that they had to contend with in their working places and in their living conditions. He advised them to complete their contracts and start a new life in Natal. It seems he was ordained by Allah to sow the seeds of Islam in this part of Africa. He also induced the local Muslims, many of them traders to improve the quality of their Islamic life and warned them of the appearance of a spiritual guide in the near future who would nurture and sustain the advancement of Islam in South Africa. He was not taken seriously because of his outward 'untidy' appearance and a carefree personality. His value lay in the forsaking of worldly pleasures and being intoxicated in the love of Allah(majzoob). He passed away in 1895 and was buried in the Brook Street Cemetery.
Hazrath Shah Goolam Muhammed Soofie Siddique R.A more popularly known as 'Soofie Saheb', arrived in Durban from India in 1895. He was the personality who was frequently being alluded by Hazrath Badsha Peer R.A as the guiding light of the future. Among other deeds, he located the grave of Hazrath Badsha Peer R.A ,informed the people of the esteemed greatness of the personality buried and held the first Urs Shareef, a function that is still being maintained up to the present day.
A modest wood and iron structure was erected over the grave to give shelter to the people who came to pay their respects. Over the years, this simple structure has undergone a number of renovations.
Hazrath Soofie Saheb R.A linked Hazrath Badsha Peer R.A to the Qadiriya Order. His Pir 0 Murshid is not known. The Shijra Shareef of the Chistia Order is read at his functions from the time of Hazrath Soofie Saheb R.A.
Wa'alaykum 'Assalam wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu
