November 9, 2000

Departure from Cape Town to Durban

Professor Da Costa's home, which had served as a zawiya for Shaykh Nazim for 10 days.

At the morning brunch, Shaykh Seraj Hendricks, head mufti of Cape Town, joined Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and Shaykh Hisham at the table. 

Hajji Ibrahim Patel, with two granddaughters. Hajji Ibrahim had provided three homes in which visiting mureeds from overseas stayed in great comfort. All remarked on the incredibly hospitality displayed by our Capetonian hosts. Right: a mureed with his new Naqshi "taj".

Mureeds gather in the Da Costa's garden as Mawlana bids farewell to the erstwhile zawiya. Mrs. Da Costa, wife of host Dr. Yusuf  Da Costa, looks on.

Many mureeds gathered at Airport Oval, the same building where they had welcomed Shaykh Nazim only ten days earlier. There in a hired-out hall, they prepared to say farewell to the Grandshaykh.

All prayed salat al-Dhuhr.

Then a number of ladies took baya`.

Farewell hugs and a tearful  sendoff of salawats for Mawlana Shaykh. Mawlana and travelers then went to the nearby airport to board the flight for Durban, 900 miles northeast.

Upon arrival in Durban, Mawlana Shaykh and the entourage were whisked to the LaMercy area home of Naeem Malek, a Jaguar/Mercedes car dealer. Visiting mureeds were hosted at the nearby "Two Oceans" hotel.

After a brief rest, the group gathered and traveled by combi and car to downtown Durban. Mawlana Shaykh led Salat al-`Asr in a mosque located in a large downtown office building. Right: Imam Ghulam Mohamed Kazi greets Mawlana Shaykh, 

Mawlana Shaykh gave dua and led Dhikrullah.

Following salat, the group traveled to the home of A.K. Perak, a Durban businessman, where a large group of Durban's business community had gathered to welcome the Shaykh with a lavish dinner. Hafez Abu Bakr Mahomed, a top advocate and one of the Shaykh's hosts in Durban, introduced Mawlana to the group, after which Mawlana gave a sohbat. After dinner, each spent personal connecting with Mawlana on a personal level.