Once upon a time, silence filled Thomas Lane. Today, let’s explore the Simon’s Town Masjid. It stands as a testament to a once-vibrant Muslim community. This community resided in this picturesque area.
The Simon’s Town Masjid, also known as the Noorul Islam Mosque, holds deep historical roots. The original mosque was built in 1888. It was later rebuilt in the late 1920s. For many years, this part of Simon’s Town was called the Malay Quarter. This name reflected its strong Islamic community before apartheid’s forced removals.
Let’s step back to the late 1880s. Imam Abdul Karriem Jarley became the first Imam. He served until his death in 1904. Born in Simon’s Town in 1842, he was highly respected. He promoted the Khalifa practice, a religious ceremony with tambourines and chanting. Imam Karriem rests in the Malay Burial Ground. Christopher Bird granted this land to the Muslim community in 1823. Before the mosque, Muslims worshipped in private homes.
In 1904, Imam Mogamit Saleh Saban took over. He lived in Hospital Lane. He balanced family, community, work at Albertyn’s Stables, and mosque duties. Imam Saban kept a diary from 1904 to 1928. It gives us a glimpse into Simon’s Town life during that time. He helped form the Helpmekaar Society and the Muslim Burial Society. He tirelessly raised funds for the mosque and the Moslem School.
Imam Saban’s personal life was also full. His first wife, Momentie, passed away in 1906. A year later, he married Marriyam Dollie from Bo-Kaap. He had more children with her. He also adopted children from needy families. Though his house is gone, the fig tree from his backyard still stands in Hospital Lane.
Imam Armien Baker followed in 1928. He served until 1965. Born in 1910, he was a dynamic leader. He cared deeply for his community. He translated the Koran into Afrikaans. This task took him five years. He completed it in 1961. He lived in Devon Street with his first wife, Tayba Appleby. After her death, he remarried Jane Solomon. A plaque marks his Devon Street home. It tells visitors that he translated the Koran there.
In 1959, Imam Baker spoke to the Group Areas Board. He powerfully said, “I will lose my birthright.” He emphasized his family’s 200-year history in Simon’s Town. He feared becoming “merely a number” if moved to Bonteheuwel.
The Simon’s Town Masjid stands as a symbol. It reminds us of the vibrant Malay Quarter. Despite the changes, the mosque endures. It echoes with the stories of Imams Karriem, Saban, and Baker. Their legacies live on in this sacred space. It shows the enduring spirit of a community.