Indigenising Islam as a Minority: A South African Community with Southeast Asian Origins, and the case of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks: Middle East Institute -NUS:Feb 16, 2023

 YouTube Video:

https://youtu.be/8yFBwaHPfE0?si=4k6JAyrHODh_H6KF

The Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore, in coordination with Wardah Books, invites you to join Dr Hisham A. Hellyer, a scholar in the Middle East Program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace (USA), Dr Suzaina Kadir, Vice Dean and Associate Professor, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS and Mr Fazlur Rahman, a Muslim community leader for a discussion on the ‘indigenisation’ of Islam as minorities, with reflections on the South African Capetonian Muslim community in general, and the example of the late Shaykh Seraj Hendricks, often referred to as the ‘Mufti of Cape Town’. Capetonian Muslims are indelibly impacted by South-east Asia, one of the main origins of Muslim South Africa, while deeply impacted by Western traditions. The community’s history as a deeply integral component of South Africa, which was cut off from much of the world due to its earlier apartheid regime, has since become a focus of interest of many Muslim minority communities. Shaykh Seraj Hendricks was a contemporary South African Sufi shaykh and Islamic scholar who drew from his own Western education and training from sages and savants in Mecca, many of whom also taught numerous South-east Asian Muslim religious authorities.

YouTube Video: Indigenising Islam as a Minority: The Case of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks- CIS Cambridge-Oct 25, 2022

https://youtu.be/jFo8ok0lcnY?si=DXwIp3TbKXCOTu6q

The Centre for Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge, in coordination with the Woolf Institute, invites you to an evening in the company of Dr Hisham A. Hellyer, Dr Timothy Winter, Dr Asim Yusuf, Ms Arzoo Ahmed for a panel discussion on the case of the late Shaykh Seraj Hendricks and his role and impact as a Muslim minority leader in Cape Town, South Africa, as an example of the indigenisation of Muslim religious authority as a minority, deeply impacted by Western traditions. Dr Hellyer will also share insights on his recently published book "Shaykh Seraj Hendricks: A Luminous Lamp in the Shade of Table Mountain", a contemporary Sufi shaykh and Islamic scholar who was one of the main reference points for the Muslim community of the Cape in South Africa, who drew from his own Western education and his training at the hands of sages and savants in Makka. Speakers: Ms Naz Shah MP is the Member for Parliament for Bradford West and Labour’s Shadow Minister for Crime Prevention; first elected in 2015 and retained her position in both the 2017 and 2019 General Elections, her past roles were as Shadow Minister for Community Cohesion and Shadow Women and Equalities Minister under the previous Labour leadership. She is also the vice-Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on British Muslims. Dr Hisham A. Hellyer is a visiting fellow at Cambridge University’s Centre for Islamic Studies & scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. A senior associate at the Royal United Services Institute (UK), he has held posts at Harvard (USA), the American University (Egypt), and the University of Technology (Malaysia). The author of 7 books, including “Muslims of Europe: the ‘Other’ Europeans”, his expertise, ranging from international politics to belief, features regularly in the international press. Elected in 2020 as Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, he was appointed senior scholar of Azzawia Institute by Shaykh Seraj Hendricks. Dr Timothy J. Winter is currently the Shaykh Zayed Lecturer of Islamic Studies in the Faculty of Divinity at Cambridge University and Director of Studies in Theology at Wolfson College. Educated at Cambridge, Al-Azhar and London universities, he is also the founder and dean of Cambridge Muslim College. He has published and contributed to numerous academic works on Islam, including as Director of the Sunna Project, and is a leading figure in inter-faith activity, notably as one of the signatories to the Common Word statement. He is well-known as a contributor to BBC Radio 4’s ‘Thought for the Day’. A prolific writer, Dr Winter is the author of several books, including ‘Traveling Home: Essays on Islam in Europe”. Dr Asim Yusuf was a founding trustee and first chair of the British Board of Scholars and Imams. A consultant psychiatrist and clinical director working for the U.K. National Health Service and a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr Asim has a special interest in spirituality and mental health and is internationally recognized as a leading authority on the topic of Islamic spirituality and mental health. The founder of the Islamic Ethics and Global Citizenship Initiative, he was made OBE in 2022, for services to the Muslim community. Ms Arzoo Ahmed is Head of Ethics at Our Future Health, the UK’s largest ever health research programme. Over the last year, she was Ethics Lead for the Newborn Genomes Programme at Genomics England, and prior to this she was a researcher at the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. She is a Research Associate on the Qatar National Research Funded project: Genomics, Islamic Ethics, and Public Engagement. Between 2016-2019, Ahmed was Director at the Centre for Islam and Medicine and a Research Associate at the Office for Public Management. Ahmed is completing an MA in philosophy at King’s College London, holds a BA in Physics and an MPhil in Medieval Arabic Thought from the University of Oxford, and an ‘Alimiyyah certification from Al-Salam Institute. Thanks to the Woolf Institute for their support of this event.

Shaykh Seraj Hasan Hendricks Website:

https://serajhendricks.com/

Shaykh Seraj Hasan Hendricks Obituary: Dr.Hisham Hellyer

https://www.almadina.org/studio/articles/shaykh-seraj-hendricks-obituary

Book:Shaykh Seraj Hendricks: A Luminous Lamp in the Shade of Table Mountain - Dr.Hisham Hellyer - Dar al-Turath al-Islami

“In this tribute of reverence and love, Shaykh Dr Hisham A. Hellyer fulfils the time-honoured tradition of recording in writing the biographies of luminaries who have passed on – most particularly, that of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks. He weaves into it the fascinating backstory of how the Muslims at the Cape, after two centuries of forced migration, isolation, social subjugation and enslavement, began, after the abolition of slavery in 1834, to re-establish links with the Muslim world, and specifically Makka. From this contact, the suppressed aspirations of Cape Muslims sprung into a resurgent and resilient tradition of scholarship that continues to the present day.”
– Maulana Taha Karaan

“Shaykh Seraj Hendricks was one of the very few inheritors to the mantle of the great luminary of Makka, Sayyid Muhammad b. Alawi al-Maliki, may Allah have mercy upon them both. It is not an easy task to speak of the likes of such a man as Shaykh Seraj, but this work has managed to bring together so much for those of us that valued the noble shaykh so much. As Shaykh Seraj’s muqaddam, Shaykh Dr Hisham knew Shaykh Seraj and his tariqa well indeed – and as a scholar in his own right, his writing will educate the reader about Shaykh Seraj, his life, and the legacy he leaves behind.”
—- Shaykh Afeefuddin Al-Jailani, Darul Jailani International

“It is challenging to pay tribute to my brother, friend and colleague, Shaykh Seraj Hendricks. He was a fabulous scholar, a visionary colleague, a profoundly knowledgeable and patient mentor, and a loving and transparent friend. It is difficult to capture all aspects of the positive contribution of my friend and colleague Shaykh Seraj Hendricks; but this book by Shaykh Dr Hisham A. Hellyer should give a glimpse to the vast light of Shaykh Seraj. May Allah ta’ala bless his soul, grant him forgiveness and company of the pious.”
—- Shaykh Dr Muhammad al-Ninowy, Founder, Madina Institute Seminaries

“In this tribute of reverence and love, Shaykh Dr Hisham A. Hellyer fulfills the time honoured tradition of recording in writing the biographies of luminaries who have passed on – most particularly, that of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks. He weaves into it the fascinating backstory of how the Muslims at the Cape, after two centuries of forced migration, isolation, social subjugation and enslavement, began, after the abolition of slavery in 1834, to reestablish links with the Muslim world, and specifically Makka. From this contact, the suppressed aspirations of Cape Muslims sprung into a resurgent and resilient tradition of scholarship that continues to the present day. Through this narrative Shaykh Dr Hisham has rightfully earned the gratitude of the Cape’s Muslims.”
—- Maulana Taha Karaan, Mufti of the Muslim Judicial Council, Cape Town

“Shaykh Seraj Hendricks was, like his name, a “Seraj”–a light- giving lamp–in his teachings and his example, for his family, students, and community. This work, A Luminous Lamp, sheds light on this beautiful life and legacy in ways sure to inspire.”
—- Shaykh Faraz Rabbani, Founder, SeekersGuidance

“A loving tribute to a beautiful soul who touched the lives and hearts of many, A Luminous Lamp elucidates the humility and integrity of Shaykh Seraj Hendricks, his scholarly lineage and erudition, and the century-long traditions and community of Azzawia in Cape Town, South Africa.”
—- Dr Mona Hassan, Associate Professor of Religious Studies & History, Duke University

“The iconic Azzawia Institute is situated on the slopes of the Table Mountain ampitheatre overlooking Table Bay where South Africa’s first Muslims arrived as slaves and exiles. Founded in 1920 by his grandfather, Shaykh Muhammad Salih Hendricks, the late Shaykh Seraj was steeped in his grandfather’s Makkan ethos and Ghazalian traditions. A scholar of note, an eloquent orator, a defender of social justice, a supporter of the creative arts, a spiritual beacon and a community leader, Shaykh Seraj was many things to many people. This brief bio-publication, a fitting tribute penned by Shaykh Dr Hisham A. Hellyer, gives the reader precious insights into the shining legacy of one of Cape Town’s finest sons.”
—- Shafiq Morton, Author and Journalist, Voice of the Cape

“Shaykh Seraj Hassan Hendricks illuminated the hearts of those who saw him, with a presence of altruism and compassion, that resulted in serenity in those who came to him. A linguist, a philosopher, and an advocate for women’s rights, he was a pioneer among the people of knowledge, in pursuit of justice. The lamp shines; and those who seek, flutter towards its light. This eloquently written book by Shaykh Dr Hisham A. Hellyer, one of Shaykh Seraj’s closest students and inheritors of his legacy, echoes Shaykh Seraj’s passion for his religion, which embodied the attributes of love, upon the middle way. As Shaykh Seraj’s children and spouse, we encourage all those who respected Shaykh Seraj to read this book, A Luminous Lamp, and we pray you all find benefit.”
—- Rhoda Hendricks, Rashid Hendricks, Nuha Hendricks, and Alia Hendricks – Shaykh Seraj Hendricks’ wife and three children

Article:Shaykh Seraj Hendricks on the History of Tasawwuf at the Cape- Muslim Views

https://muslimviews.co.za/shaikh-seraj-hendricks-and-tasawwuf-at-the-cape/

YouTube Video: Interview with Shaykh Seraj Hendricks:How the Ihya Overcame Apartheid

MishkatMedia -Jun 18, 2018

https://youtu.be/MkrUHjhWC1c?si=SYLq203zsYyDWmvC

A remarkable encounter with Shaykh Seraj Hendricks who discusses the deep influence of Imam al-Ghazali in Cape Town, and also reminisces about his own role in the struggle against apartheid. Shaykh Seraj is a graduate of Umm al-Qura University in Makka, where he studied for ten years. Widely regarded as Cape Town’s most influential Muslim scholar and writer, he has been Head of the Fatwa Committee of the Muslim Judicial Council of Cape Town and Lecturer in Islamic Studies at the University of Johannesburg.

Book: A Sublime Way:The Sufi Path of the Sages of Makka- Seraj Hendricks, H.A.Hellyer, Ahmad Hendricks- Mecca Books meccabooks.com

About The Book
In The Sublime Way: the Sufi Path of the Sages of Makka, Shaykh Seraj Hendricks, Ustādh Dr H.A. Hellyer, and Shaykh Ahmad Hendricks, describe the path of the way of the scholars of Makka – Ṭarīqa ʿUlamā Makka – who came from around the globe and engaged with each other in that holy city.
The authentic and indigenous spirituality of the Holy Cities has survived. This book is an authoritative Sufi guide in English transmitting the teachings of the great sage from the Holy City of Makka, Shaykh al-Sayyid Muhammad b. ʿAlawī al-Mālikī (d. 2004). This Meccan scholar represents one of the true inheritors of the Ghazālīan legacy in the modern age. The brotherhood follows the spiritual path of “self-purification (tazkiya), inner excellence (iḥsān) and the path (sayr) to God Most High”
Shaykh Seraj Hendricks and Shaykh Ahmad Hendricks were khulafa– spiritual representatives – of the pre-eminent sage, Sayyid Muhammad b. Alawi al-Maliki, who was a prominent master of this way. This volume explains various practical aspects of Sufism, and provides the reader with both some of the litanies and practices of the order, while also introducing how it engaged with a particular community of Muslims in South Africa. Scholars from around the world have provided glowing recommendations for it, including the likes of Shaykh Abdal Hakim Murad, Shaykh Muhammad Ninowy, Shaykh Afeefuddin al-Jailani, Dr Mona Hassan, and many others.

“This is a book that I believe, Allah Willing, would please the souls of the noble scholar, al-Sayyid Muhammad b. ʿAlawī al-Mālikī, and that of his forefathers, for it shows how united the scholars of Makka were in their Sufism. Indeed, it’s a very good explanation of the different facets of the path of Sufism, the way of the scholars of Makka – Ṭarīqa ʿUlamā Makka – who came from around the globe and engaged with each other in such a beautiful way in Makka. May Allah bless the authors for their efforts, and may He allow us to benefit.” – Syed Hasan b. Muhammad bin Salem al-Attas, Imam, Masjid Ba’Alawīe, Singapore