by Ebrahim Rasool
In the name of Allah, gracious and merciful. We are grateful to our Lord who has loaned South Africa a rare human being, a rare Imam and a rare comrade – Sheikh Abdul Gamiet Gabier.
He returned from studies in Cairo at a time South Africa emerged from the fearful silence that followed the Sharpeville massacre, the jailing of Nelson Mandela and his generation, the exile of Oliver Tambo and his comrades, the killing of Imam Abdullah Haron and Steve Biko, and the fear generated by a ruthless apartheid security branch. At this moment of his return, the trade unions stirred in 1973, Portuguese colonialism was collapsing in 1975, our youth found their voice in 1976, and the people started to regain their courage.
My first encounter with Gabier was when my grandfather was on his death bed and the last he heard was the melodious recital from the Qur’an by a young sheikh in Salt River.
My next encounter was that young sheikh becoming the Imam at my mosque in Primrose Park and my madrassah teacher.
That was the experience which inspired my heart towards justice because Gabier shed tears on that mimbar (pulpit) for the suffering of black people under apartheid.
He taught me the recitation of the Qur’an, but more crucially, how to live the Qur’an. No wonder Primrose Park Mosque became the head quarters of the Muslim struggle against apartheid, particularly of the Call of Islam.
In 1983, we launched the United Democratic Front in Rocklands, Mitchells Plain.
While some debated whether we could make common cause with people of other faiths and ideologies, and whether the Muslim Judician Council (MJC) should affiliate to the UDF, Gabier took a stand and represented us with passion, next to Allan Boesak, Archie Gumede, Trevor Manuel, Rita Ndzanga and other Struggle icons.
He was a fast learner, shouting his first Xhosa word, “Amanda”, which he later perfected to “Amandla”.
From there we decided to transcend our organisational homes – he was MJC chair and we were in the Muslim Youth Movement/ Muslim Students’ Association. We needed a vehicle that would act while it talked, have the courage of our convictions, stand for justice next to other faiths, ideologies, and other markers of difference.
So was born the Call of Islam in 1984 in Primrose Park Mosque. My teacher became my comrade; my Imam, my political leader; my revered Sheikh, my friend; and the passionate orator, the strategic operator.
He never abandoned or condemned the MJC. His job was to guide them to the right, to inspire them to their better selves, to open the mosques for those with more courage than the serving Imam, and to show the best face of Islam and Muslims to the millions of oppressed South Africans.
The killing of Ebrahim Karelse in Salt River during the 1985 emergency by the police saw Gabier at his finest. Thousands of people from the Muslim suburbs and African townships gathered in Salt River as he led the janazah.
Now Allahu Akbar joined Amandla in a show of defiance, the singing of Senzeni Na mingled with the Eid Takbir.
It was here that Timmy Lakay – the cricketer – was shot by Constable Farmer – the undercover Security Branch officer – and where the enraged crowd killed the policeman. Gabier was given the choice: become apartheid’s state witness or spend the punishment in prison. He was prepared to go to jail.
We prevailed on him to choose exile, where he worked his fingers to the bone in Canada to support his family. However, he linked up with the ANC’s Johnny Makatini and worked for apartheid’s isolation.
Politics for him was not a career – even though he became an Ambassador in Saudi Arabia and a councillor in Cape Town.
Politics was an expression of his passion for justice. Sometimes the passion made him politically incorrect, but never politically quiet.
When most were fearful and silent, his was the voice for justice and courage. When many were debating details and jurisprudence, he stood for the values and principles of Islam. Thus we drew inspiration and courage from him so that we could be proudly Muslim and courageously political.
The Call of Islam inspired people, mobilised Muslims into the Struggle, displayed the finest values of Islam to the suffering masses, and had icons like Sheikh Gabier, alongside Imam Hassan Solomon and Mawlana Farid Esack. In the background, approvingly, stood Sheikh Nazim Mohammed. Our ancestors like Sheikh Yusuf and Tuang Guru would be proud that from their progeny emerged an Abdul Gamiet Gabier.
May Allah reward him richly and may his legacy of justice, peace and rights always be cherished by each successive generation.
* Rasool is former ambassador to the US.