FEATURE - "We are only a handful of Muslim people in the Swiss community, but we are trying our best to grow Islam and pass on the teachings.” This was the start of a conversation with Hajjah Hajar Mossiman, who hails from a small town in Switzerland. The elderly woman came to speak about her experience as a Muslim female in her community at a recent conference held at the Jumu’a masjid in Cape Town.
The Swiss Muslims are one of many small communities around the world who lack prayer facilities and Islamic classes for women and men. Many of these Muslims struggle to benefit from the teachings of Islam. However, after a great effort from the passionate community a few years ago, Muslim residents are now able to benefit from a small Jamaat khana in the area.
Mossiman along with her translator Hajjah Khadija Leuenberger spoke about the expansion of the Swiss Muslim community. “A few years ago Sheik Abdalqadir sent us to Hafith Abdellah Castineira and his wife, Aisha Hernandez. He told us to find a room that will be solely for the purpose of thikr and prayers in jamaah,” she recalled. The community acquired a room and soon after immediately started Qur'an classes with Hafith Abdellah.
“Not only have we started to do our prayers and thikrs in this space, but we also made use of it during the month of Ramadan where we finished our taraweeh salaah every night," she said. “Everybody has been happy and content with the facility since we have it. It has strengthened the Muslim community by bringing us closer to each other.” Mossiman added that like any small community, this one has its factions and politics. “We always find a way to make up and keep our Muslim community strong.”
She said the leader of the small jamaah now offers various Islamic classes throughout the week. Every Wednesday Hafiz Abdellah gives of his time to teach the community both hifz and the Quran. On Friday, residents will all gather for Jumu'a prayers as a group, and will have thikr to maintain a sense of spiritual upliftment. “Many of us are grateful for this and have benefited from it, alhamdulillah.”
She said the number of people attending the thikrs has increased over the past few years. “Since we started the monthly thikrs, the crowd has surprisingly got bigger with many people from Italy, England and other countries attending.” With her time being spent in Cape Town for the past couple of days, she is thankful for the respect and hospitality that has been shown to her from the Muslim community in the Mother City.
"My message is to promote the union as we are about bringing together experience and generations of all kinds.” The organizations goal is to also establish a European foundation for a Muslim corporation progress in future. At a gathering last month, members lauded the contribution of women representatives in the union.
"The good points that came out was that of opening more women forums and independent youth groups for Muslims, which we are looking to do in the future," she said. “Where ever we stand this is where we need to participate and it’s not about competition but rather that of cooperation,” she said. If you would like to know more about the European Muslim Union, you can visit the union’s webpage at www.emunion.eu VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
The Swiss Muslims are one of many small communities around the world who lack prayer facilities and Islamic classes for women and men. Many of these Muslims struggle to benefit from the teachings of Islam. However, after a great effort from the passionate community a few years ago, Muslim residents are now able to benefit from a small Jamaat khana in the area.
Mossiman along with her translator Hajjah Khadija Leuenberger spoke about the expansion of the Swiss Muslim community. “A few years ago Sheik Abdalqadir sent us to Hafith Abdellah Castineira and his wife, Aisha Hernandez. He told us to find a room that will be solely for the purpose of thikr and prayers in jamaah,” she recalled. The community acquired a room and soon after immediately started Qur'an classes with Hafith Abdellah.
“Not only have we started to do our prayers and thikrs in this space, but we also made use of it during the month of Ramadan where we finished our taraweeh salaah every night," she said. “Everybody has been happy and content with the facility since we have it. It has strengthened the Muslim community by bringing us closer to each other.” Mossiman added that like any small community, this one has its factions and politics. “We always find a way to make up and keep our Muslim community strong.”
She said the leader of the small jamaah now offers various Islamic classes throughout the week. Every Wednesday Hafiz Abdellah gives of his time to teach the community both hifz and the Quran. On Friday, residents will all gather for Jumu'a prayers as a group, and will have thikr to maintain a sense of spiritual upliftment. “Many of us are grateful for this and have benefited from it, alhamdulillah.”
She said the number of people attending the thikrs has increased over the past few years. “Since we started the monthly thikrs, the crowd has surprisingly got bigger with many people from Italy, England and other countries attending.” With her time being spent in Cape Town for the past couple of days, she is thankful for the respect and hospitality that has been shown to her from the Muslim community in the Mother City.
European Muslim Union
Another guest speaking at the conference was Hajjah Sumayya who spoke about the European Muslim Union (EMU). The union was established to serve the Muslim community in Europe and to promote and facilitate the dialogue and mutual improvement of the host societies and the Muslims, where the Muslim communities live in minority. Sumayya was recently appointed as the women’s coordinator of EMU."My message is to promote the union as we are about bringing together experience and generations of all kinds.” The organizations goal is to also establish a European foundation for a Muslim corporation progress in future. At a gathering last month, members lauded the contribution of women representatives in the union.
"The good points that came out was that of opening more women forums and independent youth groups for Muslims, which we are looking to do in the future," she said. “Where ever we stand this is where we need to participate and it’s not about competition but rather that of cooperation,” she said. If you would like to know more about the European Muslim Union, you can visit the union’s webpage at www.emunion.eu VOC (Aishah Cassiem)
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