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Shrine of Hazrat Shaykh Ahmed Badsha Peer
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Located in the bustling streets of Durban, surrounded by the daily rhythm of the city, lies the historic Brook Street Cemetery. This is the final resting place and "Mazaar" (shrine) of the revered Sufi saint, Hazrat Shaykh Ahmed Badsha Peer.[1]
Locating the Grave of Hazrat Shaykh Ahmed Badsha Peer
[edit]Grave of Hazrat Badsha Peer, Brook Street, Durban
The following morning after breakfast at the Rooknoodeen residence, Soofie Saheb inquired about the grave of Hazrat Shaykh Ahmed. The individuals present could not recall such a figure. He later approached the Imam of the Grey Street Jumah Musjid, but again did not receive any clear guidance.
Eventually, Hazrat Soofie Saheb requested to visit the Muslim cemetery on Brook Street, Durban. Upon arrival, he engaged in muraqaba (spiritual meditation) near the entrance. During this state, he was divinely inspired to identify a specific grave.
He walked straight to the grave, removed the overgrown grass and weeds, and placed the shawl he had been carrying over it. This act marked the first known placement of a chadar (cloth covering) on the grave. Hazrat Soofie Saheb then informed those present that the individual buried there had spiritually foreseen his arrival. He identified the man as Hazrat Shaykh Ahmed Badsha Peer, a spiritually elevated individual who had held great influence during his time.
From that day forward, the saint came to be widely known as Hazrat Badsha Peer — the "King (Badsha)" among the spiritual leaders (Peers) of the region.[1]
Local accounts described a humble man who lived in Durban in earlier years, dressed in tattered clothing and often seen wandering near the Grey Street Jumah Masjid and the Brook Street Cemetery. Regarded by many as a diwana (one absorbed in divine love), he lived a life of solitude, detached from material concerns and family ties.
He was also remembered for traveling to far-off towns across what is now KwaZulu-Natal, particularly areas where Indian Muslim communities had settled. Despite the transport difficulties of that era, he is believed to have journeyed to towns such as Pietermaritzburg, Ladysmith, and Newcastle.
Oral traditions hold that he often spoke of a man of Shari'ah (Islamic law) who would one day arrive from India. He urged those seeking salvation to follow that man when he appeared — a prophecy many believe was fulfilled with the arrival of Hazrat Soofie Saheb himself.[1]
Legacy
[edit]Today, the Shrine of Hazrat Badsha Peer remains an important religious and spiritual landmark in Durban, especially for followers of Chishtiyya and Qadiriyya Sufi traditions. Annual urs gatherings are held at the site, attended by devotees from across the country. Though simple in appearance, the shrine holds a significant place in the spiritual memory of South African Muslims, especially among the early descendants of Indian indentured labourers who preserved Sufi customs in their new homeland.[2]
See also
[edit]- Islam in South Africa
- Soofie Saheb
- Juma Mosque (Durban)
- Brook Street Cemetery
- List of kramats in South Africa
References
[edit]- ^ a b c "Life History". Habibia Soofie Saheb Badsha Peer. Retrieved 2025-04-27.
- ^ Vahed, Goolam (2005). Muslim Portraits: The Anti-Apartheid Struggle. Madiba Publishers. ISBN 9780620356110.
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