Heritage Project Essay

To me heritage is something that should be of vital of importance, something that has played a piece in history and contri anded to why I am where I am today. For heritage to be important to me, it must have had an wedge on the lives of my ancestors and the choices they made as well as the things which they fought to uph doddery. Heritage defines who we ar, with the unlike types of foods, buildings and ways of life between the divergent cultures that bring us together.The stories and memories passed on from generation to generation, bringing us together and giving us a sense of direction. It is the foundation that we be build upon and anyows us to lay brand-new grounds for the future. Debate virtu onlyy the public representation of Juma masjid. Juma masjid represents the Moslem community, being whiz of the most glamorous and extravagant mosques in the region pot tend to take it for granted and non take into beak its unique architecture and design.With the Moslem popu lation annually increasing, space is non a problem as Juma masjid is the most spacious Mosque in the staboohern hemisphere. It represents the Muslim community as it is greeted with great numbers of Muslims on the days of Eid as well as a number of tourists who assoil the trip into town to marvel at its beauty. Although Indian and Muslim citizenry always having a strong bond and togetherness, they arent allowed into the musjid. This is for any non- Muslim for that matter. In Islam, which has strict rules that one has to abide by and comply too.When you are a Muslim, you believe in the One and Only Allah, all other(a) heritage and cultures are of no effect and are said to be false. There is no place for other pietisms in Islam, a Muslim should non become derailed from Islam and weaken his faith by giving into the occidental temptations and ways of life. Juma Masjid has never caused uproar or been bulge out of anything arguable regarding its grammatical expression. Muslim quite a little should be grateful as South African is a very understanding and accommodating place, with the government allowing Minarets to be built on Mosques.Muslims in Switzerland arent so lucky however, as existing Minarets stand and new ones cannot be built, the Muslim people came out dictum that instead of pick uping to look at life hard for them and drive them out of the country the Swiss government should rather integrate rather than invite out. Throughout history people have been oppressed upon, some more(prenominal)(prenominal) than others of course. Because of this people would always think the past and the way that they were treated and try to turn the oppression around.Our divided past unbosom has an impact on the lives we live today, with sport for instance. White people are highly regarded as cricket and rugby players tour Black African people are associated with Soccer and form most part of the support system in the sport locally. We should ask ourselves, how do we sort this out? One should remember that common interests bring people together, so instead of carrying on with the old bring in the new and expose people to different environments, taking them out their comfort zones and creating a better future for our country lamentable forward.As much as we can say that apartheid is over, there is still the lingering aft(prenominal) effects of stereotypes and racism in different aspects of life. Therefore, we cannot extensive forget astir(predicate) it and move on, we should learn from it and educate rough it, so it does not deter this country again. The Juma Masjid. The first base bit of history touch Juma Masjid may be only from the early 1880s but for Islam, it was introduced a lot earlier in South Africa, most people believe it to be brought into the country in around 1667 by the drape Malays.It wasnt until 1863 though when Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri and Hajee Ma groundworkd Hajee Dada arrived in Durban did Islam really take stumble and open up to them the people at the clock. It is accepted that they were a dialog box the SS Truro, one of the passenger liners that brought down labourers from India and other areas. Aboobaker Amod Jhaveri together with Hajee Mahomed Hajee Dada then purchased a plot of land in 1881 from K. Moonsamy for a brotherhood of ? 115 with the conception of building a Masjid for the Muslim people of the Durban area.There was not much of a structure on the site, but none the slight they turned this small piece into what would become the largest and most visited Masjid in the southern hemisphere in the century to come. This however still wasnt the Masjid to be rather it was a Jamaat Khana. A Jamaat Khana is simple structure in which people could go into and perform their daily prayers. A Jamaat Khana is not even nearly big enough to accommodate the number of Musallees that a Masjid can. A Masjid is much more elaborate in terms of the architecture and minarets, domes and craftsma nships.It wasnt until 1884 when the two founders had the structure rebuilt to make room for the ever growing numbers of Muslim people in the area. This was now the first Masjid ever to be built in the Natal region. This Masjid could now capacitate up to 200 Muslims. Aboobaker being a businessman and knowing the trade, went ahead and purchased land surrounding the Mosque. This be a smart and important buy as in the side by side(p) twelvemonths he would pass away in India from cholera while on a business. This land that had been bought paid dividend as it was used to hit the roof the Masjid even more.As the last surviving trustee and trade taker of the Masjid, Hajee Mahomed had to take action as again space for worshippers was becoming an place because of the influence of Aboobakers business transactions and dealings. It is said that he was an unsophisticated and fair man, who attracted many non-Muslims to the path of Islam by the way he went about with his dealings and manneris ms. Hajee Mahomed then acquired more land from John Stanger for a sum of ? three hundred in 1889 for the Masjid to expand a little more and comfort the Muslims from.Then in 1893 the British Empire abolished slavery and the Indian population wasting no quantify formed the Natal Indian Congress. With the freedom now granted to people, the first minaret was built on the extensions of the Masjid this caused a chain reaction as in the same year two shops were built alongside the Masjid providing some money for the caretaking and nourishment of the Masjid. Then in 1905 during the time in which the Masjid was in full flow, the second minaret was built together with a number of rooms, it in any case facilitated visitors and travellers by establishing toilets and showers for the people at the back of the Masjid.A living area was also built for the Muazzin the Muazzin is someone who gives the call to prayer for Muslims all around, the call for prayer is called the Azaan. With the Muazzin now in place, it was about time a group of trustees took control of the Masjid and in 1916 which proved a rather important and epochal time in this Masjids history. A board of trustees were elected they included. Hajee Mahomed Dada, Moosa Hajee Cassim, Abdoola Hajee Cassim, Omar Amod, Joosab Jan Mahomed Tayob Hajee Khan Mahomed.These Muslim men made up the first batch that took the realms and pressure off Hajee Mahomed as they change by reversaled with him on continuously allowing this Masjid to flourish. These two minarets were the tallest structures in the area of Durban at the time. In 1927 it was decided that it was time to expand and rebuild Juma Masjid, this contract was given to Payne and Payne architectures. A great part of the Masjid was demolished as the second minaret was brought down as tress was completed in 1928 it was also planned that the minaret would be rebuilt.Many part and mediums of the Masjid changed then after but the greatest and most significant took pla ce 15 years later when the Masjid went under construction again. This time in 1943, the entire building rather than just part of it that was demolished everything was brought to the ground except the first minaret. Everything else was rebuilt with the exception of the first minaret as the rest of the Masjid was built and fitted into the Masjid. Juma Masjid is not only a place of worship but also a place of pedagogy and learning for people.A shoal for young Muslim girls was also schematic in 1957, this school has a roll of approximately 400 learners and 300 Madressah students. A Madressah is an institute put in place for children to learn about their religion of Islam and become law abiding citizens, teaching their students morals, values and etiquette. universe in the heart of the bustling Durban central it is convenient for people on the job(p) in the area. Established as a girls school it is now a co-ed school. The Masjid itself is very beautifulJuma Masjid is of major import ance in the Muslim community of Durban, as it is industrious daily by hundreds of Muslim men who attend prayers daily. On Fridays in particular, Grey Street will always be busier than usual as all roads lead to Juma Masjid. Friday is the day of most important after Eid prayers in a Muslims life. Thousands of Muslim men close their shops, leave work early and make their way to Juma Masjid in prayer. Women at home prepare lunch as they get urinate for their prayers as well. cardinal other days are also busier than usual the days of Eid.As thousands of Muslims take the day off from work as everything apart from religion comes to a stop. Everyone in the household is awake early as they ready themselves for the day that lies ahead. Muslim men all flock to Eid Prayers early in the morning as there are large gatherings all around the city. The day is then spent with family, great functions are held as people come together to celebrate this auspicious day of Eid. Juma Masjid has a distin ct Islamic architecture style to, with its golden minaret which glistens in the rays of the sunniness many people often forget its majestic and ticker popping beauty.I for one am yet to come crossways a Masjid that has shops, offices, a school and still a attractively designed Masjid all in one structure. When you calculate this Masjid you are greeted with an archway, which is just underneath one of the golden minarets. Leaving your seat outside your feet are met by the soft and warm red cushioning carpet as they sink into the carpeted floor as you enter this century old marvel. Once intimate, it is realised Juma Masjid is amazing inside as well, built in a baronial style. Juma Masjid is real something to be admired.With a Corinthian type walls on each of its high rise levels. Being Muslim I have visited many different Masjids around the country but not once have I ever come across another Masjid that has a syndicate in its Wudhu area. Wudhu being commonly known as ablutio n, simply killing oneself of impurities and keeping yourself clean and respectable as you prepare to stand forrader Allah in prayer. With the Wudhu area being a square with ablution stations all around it, all comes together with a pond in the marrow and topping it off fish swimming inside is just the wonders of this eldritch sanctuary.