Shaykh Nazim in South Africa, November 4

November 4, 2000

Shaykh Nazim at the Aquarium


Shaykh Nazim led tahajjud and salat al-Fajr as usual, with several hundred mureeds in attendance at the home of Professor Da Costa and his neighbor Shafiq.
Shaykh Nazim ascended on the electric lift to the top floor of the Professor Da Costa’s house, where he met privately with some guests.

The group then moved en masse to the Cape Town “Two Oceans” Aquarium. There the Shaykh was taken to a number of highly interesting exhibits of the various sea flora and fauna that inhabits the two oceans which surround the Western Cape – the Atlantic and the Indian.

One exhibit contained a number of large sharks, which swim past the observers slowly and in the “Tunnel” section actually pass directly above them. There Shaykh Nazim sat with the gathered mureeds and led them in a beautiful recitation of the tahlil, “la ilaha ill-Allah.”

Everywhere the group walked people approached the Shaykh to take a "souvenir" photo with him. We expect that following this trip, Mawlana's smiling face will grace the family rooms of many a European tourist, the ultimate grace of their visit to South Africa.

That night dinner was hosted at the home of Suhail Rafuddeen. The generous meal was served to the Shaykh and several hundred mureeds, with typical Cape Town generousity with which the entourage had become familiar.

Following the dinner, a number of the guests requested permission to take baya`.

After dinner Salat al-Maghrib was prayed in the house. Then a number of people requested initiation into the Naqshbandiyya, after which Mawlana Shaykh Nazim and the entourage were efficiently whisked away to the Gateway Mosque. There Shaykh Nazim led Salat al-Isha, and gave a powerful Sohbat.
	Arriving home around eleven pm, host Professor Da Costa had, as usual, layed out an extraordinary spread of eatables for the late night meal, along with hot sweet 'chai' tea. The mureeds enjoyed Mawlana Shaykh's jokes and ribbing, bringing a sweet end to a long day.