Bo-Kaap:The Treasure Chest of Cape Town

 786 - Alghamdu lillaah, Alghamdu lillaah Aghamdu lillaah... I have just and always experience the RICHNESS of Bo-Kaap... within 10 minutes I had a plumber, mechanic and a welder serving me in solving the problems i had with my toilet cistern and car brakes, Alghamdu lillaah some were students of mine, others old friends. We know each other in Bo-kaap and we serve each other for the love of Allah SWT... Show me another community, so small, so dynamic and so skilled. We have experienced plasterers, painters, builders, ( by the way I just fixed my own roof and built my own 7m staircase Alghamdu lillaah - my father taught me so much about building and restoration). We also have exceptional cooks and dressmakers, tailors, electricians, locksmiths and more exceptional skills in one small area - all knowing each other Alghamdu lillaah. Why?. Because when the Christian missionary schools in the Cape said become Christian then you can get education beyond grade 4. Our forefathers said Hou julle education, os gat ose kinners 'n ambag leer en dan gat sy leerbaas fe hommie Deen leer - Allah SWT Gee Rizq, Algahmdu lillaah.... nie julle nie (we created our own Bo-Kaaps language which was our protection against full colonialism) and our forefather became the best in the building trade (some without being able to read and write)and still needed by the all other communities. Our fathers worked and eventually we qualified as doctors, specialists, teachers, professors, counselors, lawyers and many more, chefs, artists (I am one too and more than 80 paintings of mine were sold internationally- Alghamdu lillaah. We have the good rugby coaches, soccer and cricket teams, Karate instructors - all in one small area - our forefathers were not slaves they were citizens who built the Bo-kaap and city, even the parliament house. NOW all people are visting Bo-kaap, for the colourful houses - NO - to feel the Spirit of Bo-kaap -YES, We have Saints (whose graves were untouched by two major fires) Yes - now when LBGTQ wants to force itself on our children and youth through education- we now have our own private university and pre-university - Algamdu lillaah - with the first international Holistic Methodologist Profession, accredited on merit by SAQA as a Completed South African Qualification - so now we have our own and the new internationally needed, holistic learning culture with our own publishers, authors, and self-teaching textbooks that show the traps and give qualitative solutions - this is exciting, Alghamdu lillaah - Islam teaches when you provide people with their needs Allah SWT Will Provide for you. We even have our our singers (I am a ballad singer too), guitarists, Bo-Kaap has their own political activists and architects, draftsmen - oh. the list goes on Alghamdu lillaah. Even though Council has often not played the ball with us, we played our own game and are winning Alghamdu lillaah. The non-muslims who came to stay here, came mostly for the sound of the Athaan and to experience the practice of caring and sharing, which the Imaams and sheikhs and moulanas of Bo-kaap ensured that spirituality and ethics are prevalent in the Cape in general. Without our imaams and our masaajieds from Where Allah SWT's Name is Called, we are nothing.....some of our non-muslim neighbours and foreign students became Muslim. More who come to Bo-kaap want to embrace Islam, but are still apprehensive. For them I say - we are ready in everyway to make you our brother and sister in Islam - In shaa Allah Aameen. As Allah SWT States in Qur'an that His Friends do not fear and neither do they grieve - yes Muslims are free and safe - in this world and the next even during suffering because they know Allah SWT is with those who have patience during hardship and They know With difficulty comes Ease.. Alghamdu lillaah. To those who try to discredit the people of Bo-Kaap and the Cape Muslims, I say, for your own progress and to save yourself from the punishment of Allah SWT.... stop it and join us - we and the Athaan offers you life and success forever through Allah SWT's Care - And Allah SWT Knows Best... Shukran and thank you for reading Alghamdu lillaah - Bo-Kaap is a Treasure Chest Alghamdu lillaah.-- I nearly wrote another Book ! --- Bo-Kaap also has a great sense of humour....Alghamdu lillaah..

To all men and women of Bo-kaap who helped me when I needed it and all those who supported my classes and work - I say Shukran Jazeelan, without you and your children, By Allah SWT's Grace, I would not have been able to do today what I am doing Alghamdu lilaah- My sincere love to all of them and May Allah SWT Reward them Abundantly in shaa Allah aameen... And to all the people of Bo-Kaap and the Muslims of the Cape we are all indebted to all of you Alghamdu Lillaah .. all the best to you and your families in shaa Allah Aameen.

...and to our forefathers and mothers and our parents who have passed on, who created this heritage for us to hold on to and to value, Alghamdu lilaah- we ask Allah SWT to Grant them Nuur in their Qubuur and all of them High Places in Jannah - In shaa Allah Aameen Aameen Aameen

Shukran Jazeelan Salaam

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