Manenberg buzzed with excitement on Monday as police and Muslims filled the streets for their morning prayers to celebrate Eid al-Adha.
The group, led by
Moulana Sameeg Norodien and Sheikh Salieg Isaacs of the Manenberg Centre of Islamic Information and Education (MCIIE), gathered in the street shortly after 7am where they cleared a section of Manenberg Avenue before laying their
musallahs down and
making Eid salaah.
Manenberg police diverted the morning traffic as the group erected speakers and chairs for elderly residents for the “Street Masjied”.
Norodien says the event was being held for the second time this year and is aimed at bringing peace and unity to the gang-ridden community.
UNITE AGAINST CRIME: Imam calls for community to not become disheartened
The popular religious leaders also handed out Qur’ans to both Muslims and Christians as part of their outreach project started last year to quell the gang violence.
“Last year we started with the mass thikrs every Thursday night where we go to pray in gang hotspots and hand out food,” says Norodien.
“We have been doing it every week and the Eidgha (open-air prayers) is an extension of that.
“The crowd is smaller than it was last year, but I think the weather and recent shootings have played a role.”
Norodien and Isaacs gave lectures in both English and Arabic and made salaah.
“As we celebrate the
Festival of Sacrifice, we wanted to take the mosque to the streets so the community can see what is happening,” says Norodien.
“On this day it is compulsory for Muslims to attend morning prayers and so we thought about sharing this time by including the whole community.
“We recently got a donation of 20 000 Qur’ans which we have been handing out in Manenberg, Gugulethu and other areas.”
LEADER: Sheikh Salieg in Manenberg
Norodien says while the community is mourning the death of pregnant mom, Sadiqah Newman, 26, who was gunned down by heartless skollies over the weekend, and more shootings yesterday, he called on residents to not become disheartened.
“I know it is weighing heavy on them with this upsurge of violence, but we are calling on them to unite and take the opportunity at the thikrs to stand together to make Manenberg a better place,” he adds.
The event finished shortly before 9am and participants quickly cleared the road, wished each other well and went home to enjoy the rest of the day with their loved ones.
THIKRS: Moulana Sameeg Norodien
monique.duval@inl.co.za