Ebrahim Rhode delivered a presentation titled "The construction of the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar at Faure by the Cape Malays and the reconstruction by the Hajee Sullaiman Shahmahomed Kramat Trust" at the 2nd International Congress on Islamic Civilisation in Southern Africa.

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byby
Ebrahim RhodaEbrahim Rhoda
The construction of the shrine ofThe construction of the shrine of
Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar at Faure byShaykh Yusuf of Macassar at Faure by
the Cape Malays and the reconstructionthe Cape Malays and the reconstruction
effected by the Hajee Sullaimaneffected by the Hajee Sullaiman
Shahmahomed Kramat TrustShahmahomed Kramat Trust

2. Portrait of Shaykh Yusuf Al Makassari Al BantaniPortrait of Shaykh Yusuf Al Makassari Al Bantani
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Source: Photo
taken in office of
the Governor of
Goa, Sulawesi,
Indonesia on 10
November 2011.

3. 1818thth
Century Map of Cape ColonyCentury Map of Cape Colony
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ZANDVLIET
14/03/16
Map source:
Courtesy Van
Riebeeck
Society, Trials
of Slavery,
2005,Second
Series No.36,
p.1viii

4. I.D. du Plessis and the legend of the lostI.D. du Plessis and the legend of the lost
grave of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassargrave of Shaykh Yusuf of Macassar
 1705 - Francois Valentyn1705 - Francois Valentyn
 1824 - Survey of landownership1824 - Survey of landownership
 1829 - James Holman1829 - James Holman
 1838 - Bishop Patrick Griffiths1838 - Bishop Patrick Griffiths
 1857 - Dr Karl Scherzer1857 - Dr Karl Scherzer
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5. The shrine of Shaykh Yusuf atThe shrine of Shaykh Yusuf at ZandvlietZandvliet in 1857in 1857
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Source:Dr Karl
Scherzer,
Narrative of the
circumnavigation
of the globe by the
Austrian frigate
Novara in the years
1857-1858 and
1859, pp.244-248

6. Interior of Shk. Yusuf’s tomb in 1857Interior of Shk. Yusuf’s tomb in 1857
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7. Dr Achmat Davids: The original shrine ofDr Achmat Davids: The original shrine of
Shk. Yusuf at Faure,1864Shk. Yusuf at Faure,1864
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Source:
The
History
of the
Tana
Baru,
p.33

8. The shrine of Sayed Mahmud at ConstantiaThe shrine of Sayed Mahmud at Constantia
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Source:
Guide to
the
Kramats of
the
Western
Cape,p.26.
Cape Mazaar
Society, 1996.

9. Muslim owners of the shrineMuslim owners of the shrine
1866 Ebrahim1866 Ebrahim
1872 Abdol Kahar1872 Abdol Kahar
1877 Abdol Ragman1877 Abdol Ragman
1907 Abdol Ragman went insolvent1907 Abdol Ragman went insolvent
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10. The shrine sold by public auctionThe shrine sold by public auction
Shamahomed buys the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf ofShamahomed buys the shrine of Shaykh Yusuf of
Macassar at a public auction on site in 1908 andMacassar at a public auction on site in 1908 and
establishesestablishes THE HAJEE SULLAIMANTHE HAJEE SULLAIMAN
SHAHMAHOMED KRAMAT TRUSTSHAHMAHOMED KRAMAT TRUST. He then. He then
purchased thepurchased the dargahdargah from Paul Andtries Braaf infrom Paul Andtries Braaf in
1914. He had the site of the shrine fenced in and1914. He had the site of the shrine fenced in and
instituted measures which had to be observed wheninstituted measures which had to be observed when
visiting the shrine.visiting the shrine.
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11. Shahmahomed entrenches his rights as theShahmahomed entrenches his rights as the
legal owner of the shrinelegal owner of the shrine
He had the site fenced in.He had the site fenced in.
Use the local press toUse the local press to
warn visitors of how towarn visitors of how to
conduct themselves at theconduct themselves at the
shrine.shrine.
Code of conduct in glassCode of conduct in glass
frame installed in shrine.frame installed in shrine.
Install a safe in shrine forInstall a safe in shrine for
donations fordonations for
maintennancemaintennance
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12. Rules to be observed at the KramatRules to be observed at the Kramat
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This notice installed in the shrine on 27
February 1918 and co-signed by two
Christians was resented by Muslims as it
unnecessarily intruded on their privileges and
rights they have freely exercised for
generations.
The installation of an iron safe in the shrine to
receive donations added to the animosity
between Shahmahomed and the Cape Muslim
community.
Add to this the warnings in the press, then
Shahmahomed was surely on a collision
course with the Cape Muslims
.

13. Regulations in Cape Times a week before EasterRegulations in Cape Times a week before Easter
19181918
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Just about a week prior to the Easter week-end Shahmahomed
had these same regulations published in the Cape Times of 23
March 1918. Shahmahomed made sure that prospective visitors
to the shrine were aware of the regulations.
The fencing of the site, the placing of the regulations and the iron safe for
donations in the shrine including the warnings in the press enraged the
regular visitors to the shrine that the Cape Times reported the following on 3
April 1918:
“So great was the resentment of the Moslem community
against these new restrictions, that the largest public
meeting ever held at Zandvlei took place last Sunday ,[31
March 1918] over a thousand attending.”

14. Atmosphere at mass meeting of 31 March 1918 explosive.Atmosphere at mass meeting of 31 March 1918 explosive.
Crowd threaten to burn down Shahmhomed’s holidayCrowd threaten to burn down Shahmhomed’s holiday
house, Rahima Cottagehouse, Rahima Cottage
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15. Putting name on the tabletPutting name on the tablet
Opponents agreed that ifOpponents agreed that if
people decided to erect apeople decided to erect a
monument, nomonument, no
individual had any rightindividual had any right
to carve out his name onto carve out his name on
that monument tothat monument to
indicate that theindicate that the
memorial had beenmemorial had been
erected by him.erected by him.
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16. Resolutions taken at Mass Meetinf at the KramatResolutions taken at Mass Meetinf at the Kramat
on 31 March 19918.on 31 March 19918. [Extract:[Extract: Cape Times,Cape Times, 3 April 1918]3 April 1918]
Under theUnder the
leadership ofleadership of
ChairmanChairman
Dr. Omar DollieDr. Omar Dollie
J.H.M.GoolJ.H.M.Gool
M.A.Gamiet &M.A.Gamiet &
Dr.I.AbdurahmanDr.I.Abdurahman
sanity prevailed.sanity prevailed.
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17. Shahmahomed sues for £50 for maliciousShahmahomed sues for £50 for malicious
damage to propertydamage to property
Defendants:Defendants:
Moostafa HendricksMoostafa Hendricks
Mourien AjamMourien Ajam
Joseph Molvie Hamid GoolJoseph Molvie Hamid Gool
Omar Mohamed DollieOmar Mohamed Dollie
Ismail AbdurahmanIsmail Abdurahman
On 2On 2ndnd
June 1919 judgementJune 1919 judgement
was given in favour of thewas given in favour of the
defendants with costs on thedefendants with costs on the
higher scale.higher scale.
Took case to Supreme CourtTook case to Supreme Court
And finally to the AppealAnd finally to the Appeal
CourtCourt
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18. The shrine of Shayk Yusuf in 1909The shrine of Shayk Yusuf in 1909
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Source:
Elliot
Collection,
Western
Cape
Archives
Records
Service

19. The mound had to beThe mound had to be
transformedtransformed
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20. Reconstruction of the moundReconstruction of the mound
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21. Reconstruction of theReconstruction of the dargahdargah
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1914
1918
1925

22. The Monument to honour Shaykh YusufThe Monument to honour Shaykh Yusuf
Monumental mason CaneMonumental mason Cane
& Son erected the& Son erected the
Monument. Cane wasMonument. Cane was
taken to Court bytaken to Court by
Shahmahomed for failingShahmahomed for failing
to complete the work heto complete the work he
tendered for. Cane lost thetendered for. Cane lost the
case and committedcase and committed
suicide by taking arsenicsuicide by taking arsenic
in 1928in 1928
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23. 
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Unveiling of the Moument 1925 Monument 2016

24. State of disrepair of the steps leading to the shrineState of disrepair of the steps leading to the shrine
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1909 2009

25. A beautiful transformation !A beautiful transformation !
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26. Interior of the shrineInterior of the shrine
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27. A vision realisedA vision realised
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28. Autocrat or Visionary ?Autocrat or Visionary ?
How would you judgeHow would you judge
Hajee SullaimanHajee Sullaiman
Shahmahomed in hisShahmahomed in his
Kramat project ?Kramat project ?
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