CAPE TOWN - At just five years old, having already survived three open-heart surgeries, Moegamat “MG” Gallant had already known different songs of praise recited at the mosque “as if he was born with it”.
And this year, Gallant, also endearingly known as the Champ or Fighter, will proudly celebrate three decades as Mu'athin (one who renders the call to prayer) at the Al-Jaamiah Mosque in Stegman Road, Claremont.
Gallant, 40, from Yorkshire Street in Lansdowne is also the life coach and head of sport at Groote Schuur High School, and has faithfully conducted his bilal work - referred to as voor werk in die masiet (front line duties in the mosque). This includes rendering the call to prayer, other items are famously known as the Kaapse poedjies (Cape Malay version of daily prayer against all types of evil) or the tweede dua (second prayer) rendered during the nights of Ramadaan, or the emotional songs of praise to send blessings upon the Prophet Mohammed (PBUH), to the “God is the Greatest” chants that mark the sighting of the moon at the end of Ramadaan or the start of the celebrations of the two Eids, and that of the Hajj pilgrimage and many more.
Gallant recalled his childhood when, at a very young age, he had to undergo three open-heart surgeries.
“I had many nicknames, especially after the heart operation.
“They would say ‘here comes the heart-boy!’ At the age of one year and nine months old, I had open-heart surgery due to a defect in the heart development. Shortly after birth, the opening between two major blood vessels closes but in my case, it remained open and this is called patent ductus arteriosus (PDA).
“One day I was crawling down the passage, my face hit the ground and I was bleeding profusely. I was rushed to the hospital and this was to be the start of the investigation. My father says the first operation was unsuccessful, as well as the second and doctors became really concerned.
“The surgeon who performed the world’s first human-to-human heart transplant operation, Dr Chris Barnard, was called to step in. He was about to leave on vacation but put his plans on hold, and the third operation was successful. I don't remember much about that, but I do have memories of the time I was recovering,” said Gallant.
Gallant said his love of sport came from his parents.
“Although my father has been an influence and great inspiration to my sporting career path, the secret would be that my mother played hockey and also recorded the cricket score on a Saturday afternoon. She would frequent these matches with her father, while staying in Durban.”
He holds a lesson dear taught to him by his paternal grandmother, Hadji Gadija “Aggies”, who inspired him and showed great tolerance. “I remember her tolerance, always giving and ready to smile. She had a famous saying as a lesson to all of us.
She would say, ‘True wealth lies within our character!’ As a young boy, I didn't realise the wisdom in these words. But as you go through challenges in life, you understand that the things we chase are not so much success and that it lies in our character,” said Gallant.
He further said he held in great esteem the beloved martyr, Imam Abdullah Haron, who was the religious leader of his father and family in Lansdowne.
“From a young age, up to this day, for 30 years, I’m full of gratitude for the opportunity to share a spot where Imam could have stood. Great people would deliver sermons here, including my father’s older cousin Ebrahim, better known as ‘Sep’ Davids,” said Gallant.
“I would like to leave some positive words with you regardless of your age. If you want to be successful, you must remember that we’re all different –different homes or cultures– but we do all have goals and we want to become somebody to make our families proud or contribute to the community. I want to remind you that the same way a car needs fuel to move, so too, do you need to take action that would drive your goals, irrespective of what those goals are. The fuel is the amount of action that will determine the success.
May everything be easy,” he said. Gallant’s story is part of the Sky limit ProjMan PTY (Ltd) ‘Because Little Things Matter’ Youtube series, Cape Malay “Jawwap!” and can be viewed at https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=dHyv4xfB66U
Cape Times