The first Muslims in Kwa Zulu Natal arrived as indentured laborers, and later on as Merchants from India.
South African Muslims were united and on path of Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah mostly due to the great guidance and legacy of personalities like Hazrat Shah Goolam Mohamed Soofie Saheb (
)
Durban had been graced with the presence of great Sunni teachers who would visit South Africa periodically. Scholars like Moulana Abdul Aleem Siddiqui (), Moulana Shafi Okarvi (), Professor Fazlur Rahman Ansari () and others visited and fortified Ahlus Sunnah wal Jama’ah.
In the 1960s, the South African Sunni Muslim community experienced its first major assault with the arrival of deviant clerics and missionaries who upset the peace for the first time amongst the Muslim community and a divide was created.
Seeing the need for an organisation to benefit of Sunni Muslims In Durban, The Sunni Razvi Society International (Durban-South Africa) was established in October 1978. The Sunni Razvi Society was established in Durban informally as a religious charitable community organisation and later on in 1992 evolved into a registered trust under South African law.
Thousands of books, leaflets, and other printed media began to be produced under the banners of Sunni Razvi Society Publications and Khanqah Qadria Razvia.
In 1979 the Sunni Razvi Society was able to secure the use of property destined to become the Qadri Razvi Centre, and our first Urs celebrations took place. This continued in subsequent years.
The Sunni Razvi Society purchased the property at 8 Main Street, Chatsworth, and appropriately named it the Qadri Razvi Islamic Centre in 1986, which was to house a grand Jamia Masjid, educational and social facilities, which is today known as the Qadri Razvi Centre, or colloquially ‘Sunni Razvi Centre’.
The construction of the first building to occupy the Qadri Razvi Centre, was the Shah Hamid Raza school, which commenced in October 1986 and the first use of the building was in February 1987. The building was completed by 1990, and currently houses all our activities.
Oct 1978
“The Sunni Razvi Society – Durban South Africa”
Birth of the Sunni Razvi Society Durban as a religious community organisation, for the benefit of registered Sunni Muslims.
The First publication work under Society Banner and first Urs Qadri Razvi.
January 1980
The Urs Qadri Razvi in Chatsworth
between the 10-13 January a noteworthy Urs Qadri Razvi at takes place. Dr AM Moola attended as guest of honor. The key note speaker was Moulana MI Khushtar
Mar 1982
Khanqah Qadria Razvia
March 1982, Khanqah Qadria Razvia was established at the residence of Mr Yusuf Mohamed. The Khanqah was to be the nucleus of the publication work already being produced by Mr Mohamed. Publication work was distributed for free nationally and internationally making Sunni Razvi Society a household name. The Khanqah also served as mission control and saw to the affairs of the Sunni Razvi Society Durban and the development of the Qadri Razvi Centre in subsequent years.
May 1986
The Qadri Razvi Centre – 8 Main Street, Chatsworth
Sunni Razvi Society (Durban – South Africa) Acquires the land at 8 Main Street Chatsworth and names the centre Qadri Razvi Islamic Centre
October 1986
“Shah Hamid Raza School”
The construction of the Shah Hamid Raza Pre-primary school gets under way
February 1987
First activities under a roof
The inaugural event under the roof of the first building on the Qadri Razvi Centre occurs with Dhikr and the first Jumma in the same week. At this stage the construction work was still incomplete and there were no electric or water services yet.
April 1989
Completion of the building
Completion of the basic Structure of the building facilitating all the Qadri Razvi Centres Activities. Including the jamaat khana and classrooms. Ongoing enhancements and adornments were carried out in years to follow.
July 1992
Formalization into a trust
The Sunni Razvi Society could no longer operate informally, and a trust was formed in order to manage the affairs of the Society effectively. The Trust now incorporated all other organs under Sunni Razvi Society International (Durban South Africa) banner.
April 2007
First weekly Jumma Feeding
The first weekly Jumma langar was organised. This continued weekly without fail until COVID-19 Lockdowns did not permit any longer.
July 2012
First Mass Zakah Distribution
The first mass scale zakah distribution was co-ordinated and organised. Candidates receiving aid, were interviewed, filtered and documented on a database
May 2014
www.qadrirazvi.org
Launch of the first rudimentary version of our website. We identified the need for an online presence, to propogate the teachings and promote the Centre
July 2014
First Eid-ul Fitr feeding
For the first Eid Feeding project we catered for 1000 hot meals. We were inundated with the community response. The food was distributed in a very short time after the Eid Salah.
January 2015-February 2016
Facilities Upgrade
After being used for several years, the facilities were quite tired and needed an upgrade. New carpets, revamped wudu khana, outside facade and parkings were all upgradeed.
August 2016
Establishment of Adult Madressa
Interviews with Zakah candidates highlighted a need for an educational and support structure for newly reverted Muslims, who had not been educated in the basic Islamic way of life.
Launch of the Adult Madressa class.
2016
Computer Literacy Classes run for the first time
The first round of students registered to attend our first computer literacy program.
The need for PC sponsorships became a crucial factor.
July 2018
Pastel accounting training for the community
As part of our Skills and community development program, we ran a Pastel Accounting class free to the community. We were inundated with interest and had to run the course a few more times to accomodate the community. Mostly young adults attended
March 2020
COVID 19 Pandemic
COVID 19 pandemic causes governmental lockdowns and the Qadri Razvi Centre is not immune to the damages.
the extended lockdowns lead to mass looting and vandalism, and the centre was victim to some vandal attacks.
Recovery from Lockdown
By the grace of the Almighty, Salah at the Centre continued throughout the lockdowns in Jama’at.
Our Jumma congregation resumed as soon as regulations permitted.
Monthly Esaale thwaab/Egyarwee Shareef July 2022/Shaban
Weekly Dhikr July 2022
23/9/2022
Durood Corner
The Online Halqa-e Durood was launched on the occasion of the 104th Urs Ala Hazrat coinciding with the 23 September 2022/25 Safar 1444
We have listed the names of the most notable individuals involved to current day.
Al-Haj Moulana Muhammad Ibrahim Khushtar Siddiqui Qadri
A Scholar and Islamic missionary hailing from India and proponent of Sunni belief system. Moulana was known for his work related to the icon of the Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama’ah ALa Hazrat
. Moulana had mesmerised South Africa with his sweeping tours Of Zikr In 1968.
Moulana was accomplished orator, poet, and spiritual guide (pir) to many.
Al-Haj Ghazi Khan Qadri
A prominent Muslim figure emerging from the Durban Community. Mr Khan was not only chair member of Sunni Razvi Society (Durban) but, also the first presiding president of the Ahle Sunnat wal Jamat, an organisation linked to Hazrat Moulana Shah Ahmad Noorani Siddiqui (),
Mr Khan was also member of the Jum’ah Masjid trust in Grey Street
Haji AG Khan was a respected and honorable member of the muslim community.
Haji Mohammed Hashim Taar
A respected Muslim figure in the who was known to host many Islamic scholars in the 1970s
Mr Tar was also a member of the Jum’ah Masjid Trust.
Haji Abdul Kareem Mohamed Qadri Razvi
Haji A.K. Mohamed, was a respected member of the community and served as Deputy Principal at Anjuman Islamic School.
He was a founding member of Mobeni Heights Muslim Society who saw to the writing of its constitution to sourcing the land for Masjid-ul Mobeen.
He was also a founding member of the Mobeni Heights Civic Association.
Mr Mohamed was a member of the Jumah Masjid Trust in Durban.
He served as the secretary of the original NMJ
Mr Mohamed also served as the General Secretary and chair of the Sunni Razvi Society -Durban for many years before his appointment as trustee in 1992
Haji Yusuf Mohamed Qadri – Essop bhai
Haji Yusuf Mohamed was also a founding member of the Chishti Saaberi Masjid In Woodhurst.
Khanqah Qadria Razvia was set up at Mr Mohamed’s residence in 1982, and it served as base control for the Sunni Razvi Society – Durban, and saw to the affairs and construction of the Qadri Razvi Centre.
Mr Mohamed’s efforts with printing and publication work catapulted the Sunni Razvi Society in the public eye, mostly at his own generous cost.
He was instrumental in the Development of the current Qadri Razvi Centre’s facilities. He Initiated the Friday Feeding projects, and Ramadaan Iftaar programs as well as many of the Qadri Razvi Centre’s good community work.
Goolam Nabie Rasool Qadri -Goolam bhai
A respected member of the community. Mr Rasool ascended to head the Khanqah Qadria Razvia.
He was a student of Literature and Urdu literature.
Some of Mr Rasool’s service to the community include the establishment of Adult Madressa, Research and Publication work, Feeding projects, Humanitarian aid and relief, Dawah work and improvements and upgrades to the facilities of the Qadri Razvi Centre.
Mr Rasool’s selfless work related to the poor is unforgotten until this day.
Current Trust Board
Haji Nazir Mohamed Qadri
(May Allah extend his life and service)
Mr Mohamed is the current contact person at Khanqah Qadria Razvia
Mr Mohamed has Served the community and the Qadri Razvi Centre for more than 25 Years as a volunteer before joining the trust board.
Some of the projects initiated by Mr Mohamed are the computer literacy classes, pastel accounting , feeding projects , social welfare and other projects for community upliftment.
Mr Mohamed has contributed to Islamic research and translation work for publication.
Haji Mahomed Mukthar Cassim
(May Allah extend his life and service)
A respected figure in the Muslim community and attorney at Law. Before joining the Sunni Razvi Society, Mr Cassim served the community of Durban as Chairperson of Mobeni Heights Muslim Society.
He made an influential presentation to the Muslim Charitable Foundation on Trust Deeds. Mr Cassim served the IPCI (Islamic Propogation Centre) and edited some of the books of Sheikh Ahmed Deedat . He was on the legal team that challenged the banning of Deedat’s book by the Publications Board.
Mr Cassim, is one of the first appointed members of the trust board 1992.
Cassim Bux
(May Allah extend his life and service)
A respected Muslim businessman who has served the Qadri Razvi Centre and community of Chatsworth for more than 30 years before joining the trust board.
Mr Bux has been involved in organizing of projects like feeding projects, skills development and events at the Qadri Razvi Centre.