History of Islam in Barbados (Part 2)
This second blog post is a follow-up to the first one and is based on a leaflet done some years ago by Br. Abdul Samad Pandor (here in Barbados) and is titled “Pioneers of Islam in Barbados.”
Permission was requested from Br. Abdul Samad Pandor to republish his leaflet and due to the leaflet being quite lengthy it has been published in two parts (with this being the second part). Your du’aas (supplications) are requested.
Pioneers of Islam in Barbados by Br. Abdul Samad Pandor (Part 2)
Among the Imams at the Jamah masjid during the period 1951-1967 were Yusuf Patel (of Barbarees Hill), Moosa Kothdiwala and Ibrahim Hafeji (Qari sahib of Baleshwar). Hafiz Ismail Kothdiwala led the first Eid salaah in this masjid and Molvi Ismail Adam (who later emigrated to Trinidad) delivered the first Eid khutbah.
At the City Masjid (Madina Masjid, Sobers Lane), among the early Imams were Hafiz Bhamjee, Hafiz Mohammed Degia, Hafiz Yusuf Samrodia and Brother Hasan Kholwadia. Their madresah was established in 1968 with the arrival of Maulana Mohamed Kara who became the first ustadh there and the permanent Imam of the masjid.
In 1971, Brother Daud Ul Haqq, a Barbadian Muslim revert, was largely instrumental in establishing The Islamic Teaching Centre in Barbarees Hill, with significant assistance from Mohammed Degia. The Centre has since evolved into Masjid Ibn Umar in Harts Gap, Christ Church. Brother Daud attended university in Medinah, Saudi Arabia and, on his return, began a commendable dawah effort among non-Muslims in Barbados.
Hafiz Hashim Bham emigrated to London, and thereafter taraweeh salaah was performed for several years with the recitation of the last ten surahs of the Holy Quran until 1968 when Maulana Dawood make the bold decision to read the complete Holy Quran in taraweeh by himself. He was at the time 50 years old. Yes, his memory was not the best and he made many mistakes; but Maulana Yusuf Piprawala had recently arrived in Barbados and his memory of the Quran was outstanding; he provided the necessary correction errors. The following Ramadhan, Maulana Dawood then went to City (Madina) Masjid and read Quran Taraweeh there, this time Maulana Kara was the corrector. This was the first time the complete Quran taraweeh was performed in this masjid. By the grace of the Almighty, since then Quran taraweeh was performed in this masjid. By the grace of the Almighty, since then Quran taraweeh has been a feature at our masajid during the month of Ramadhan.
In 1966, Maulana Yusuf Piprawala arrived in Barbados to take up the posts of Imam of Jamah Masjid and ustadh at Madresah Quwwatul Islam. Here he found an already functioning Masjid and hitherto successful madresah system. He was a young, enthusiastic and dynamic character. He had been active in Tabligh Jamaat in India and immediately decided to introduce the Tabligh’s methods of dawah in Barbados. As mentioned earlier, Islam was being practised in Barbados but the Maulana realised that the society needed a system that would reinvogorate the masses. This resulted in a reformation of the Barbadian Islamic society and the commendable work soon spread to the neighbouring territories of Trinidad, Guyana and to a lesser extent Suriname. Without doubt, Maulana Yusuf, with assistance from Maulana Kara and several dedicated brothers, was able to instill in Barbadian Muslims a greater awareness of dawah work and its importance to one’s personal spiritual upliftment. Abdulhai (Chotha) Patel – now residing in Canada – gave invaluable assistance in translating the Maulana’s speeches into English. In 1968, the first jamaat left Barbados to go to Guyana and Suriname. Both Maulana Dawood and Maulana Yusuf were in this historic group, with Chotha Patel being the main translator into English.
If Maulana Dawood and Brother Ibrahim Degia are considered the torchbearers of Islam in the mid 20th century, then surely Maulana Yusuf must be acclaimed as the great reformer of the late 20th century.
If a true history of Islam in Barbados were to be written, the names of Maulana Dawood, Ibrahim Degia, Maulana Yusuf Piprawala and Maulana Mohamed Kara would have to figure prominently. They all worked assiduously and made personal sacrifices to ensure that Islam was kept alive in those difficult times.
In conclusion, I wish to state that this is not a thorough historical document. I felt it necessary to outline briefly the role played by our forefathers in laying the foundation for our Islamic way of life. We are fortunate that we have a platform already built for us and we must be grateful to them for their efforts; rather than ignore them, let us make duaa (supplication) that they be richly rewarded for their achievements. We are who we are today because of their efforts and sacrifice. We have a legacy of which we can be proud; let us acknowledge it!
I apologise if there are factual errors in this document or if any other significant contributions have been omitted and assure you these have not been intentional.
Abdul Samad Pandor:
Tel: +1 246 424-6480
Email: abdulp51@gmail.com
Eid Salaah at Passage Road, Barbados
Help me bring you more articles like this by becoming a Patron.
““The example of those who spend their wealth in the way of Allah is like a seed of grain which grows seven spikes; in each spike is a hundred grains. And Allah multiplies His reward for whom He wills. And Allah is all-Encompassing and Knowing.””
