Muslim Views . July 2016
21
The voice is no more, the melody lingers on A tribute to Qari Yusuf Muhammad Noorbhai by one of his students, SHAIKH SADULLAH KHAN.
ON Monday evening, July 11, 2016, Qari Yusuf Muhammad Noorbhai, one of the most outstanding figures in South African Muslim history, breathed his last. With that last breath the world lost so much more than just a man, we lost a significant icon whose contribution to the promotion of the Quran will only be measured by history. Qari Yusuf Noorbhai’s talent as a euphonious reciter of the Quran was at an exalted standard. His distinctive ability to produce original melodious sound (whether in qiraah or qasidah) remains unmatched. His unique talent of harmonising word and sound was completely organic. He repeatedly transcended the expected medium, whether in the art of sound or script. Some may not know but he was also an outstanding calligrapher. He was an elegant dresser, jovial in nature, phenomenal teacher, sharp-witted and outspoken. To me, he was an endearing educator, an unassuming guide and a source of inspiration. I lived in his home like a son for some years, was coached in the finer arts of recitation under his expert guidance and often sought solace from his words of encouragement. At crucial times in my life, he would not forget to call me, empathise and provide profound advice that frequently guided my decisions.
taught at Orient School and at Sufi Madrasah, in Riverside. He was imam at Verulam, at May Street in Durban, Clairwood Junction and, for some time, at Isipingo Beach.
Influence and studies
There are some who come into our lives and leave an indelible mark forever. Qari Noorbhai was such a person. May Allah grant him the highest abode in Paradise.
A life in pursuit of learning and teaching Quran Born Yusuf Muhammad Bana, in Durban, one of eight siblings, he memorised the Quran under the tutelage of his elegant father, Hafiz Muhammad, the son of Hafiz Noor, from Samrod, in India. Hafiz Muhammad is still remembered for his outstanding recitation and correction in Taraweeh at West Street and Grey Street Mosques, in the Durban of the 50s. Yusuf Muhammad Noorbhai attended Greyville School and
As a teenager, he was greatly impressed and influenced by the recitation of the well-known teacher of the Quran, Shaikh Ismail Hanief, of Cape Town, whom he heard leading Taraweeh in Durban. He often reminisced about how he could still hear the echoes of Shaikh Ismail’s readings in his mind after all these years. He furthered his studies in the art of Quranic recitation under scholars at the Harmain, as well as in Morocco but primarily in Egypt where he attained shahaadah and ijaazah in Quranic recitation and Quranic teaching from Shaikh Abdullah Fiqa’ie (inspector of Qirah in Egypt) as well as from the legendary reciter of the Quran, Shaikh Khalil Husary. Qari Yusuf Noorbhai was one of only three people to receive specialised tuition from Shaikh Abdullah Fiqa’ie, the other two being Mufti Baba Ghanouf, of Uzbekistan, and Qari Yusuf Mahmood, of Sudan.
Teaching career Having moved to Johannesburg in 1972, Qari Noorbhai taught at LMA Madrasah and served at Rainbow Masjid, where he led the Taraweeh with the young Sadullah Khan. He then became involved with Nurul Islam Mosque, in Lenasia, where the young Mukhtar Ahmed Haswary had the honour of leading prayer with him.
Towards the latter part of his life, he was officially involved in the establishment and running of Markaz Nur-ul-Qur’an in Oakdene, Johannesburg. He served as judge at numerous Qirah competitions. Together with Shaikh Saleh Abadi, he was the judge of the first National Qur’an Competition Finals, organised by UMMA and held at Primrose Park Masjid in the mid-80s. Subsequent to that, another national Quranic competition was held in the late 80s, in Port Elizabeth, with Shaikh Saleh Abadi, Qari Yusuf Noorbhai, Shaikh Yusuf Booley and Shaikh Muhammad Moerat as the adjudicators. Shaikh Moerat fondly remembers that event and refers to Qari Noorbhai as a ‘cheerful person, excellent company who was humbled by the Quran and dedicated to the accurate preservation of the art of reciting the Quran’.
Legacy Qari Yusuf Noorbahi is survived by his wife, Rabia, and his sons, Riyaaz, Riedwaan, Aslam and Mubeen, and daughters Raziya, Najeeba, Fahima and Atiyyah. Besides brothers Farouk, Goolam and sister Reyhana who have passed on, his surviving siblings are Hafiz Ahmed Saadiq, Ismail, Rashid and Farida. His impact was far-reaching, well beyond the mosque and madrasah. This is manifested by the fact that the Saturday after his passing, on July 16, the Supersport soccer match in Alberton held a moment of silence in memory of the great teacher. Qari Yusuf Muhammad
Students
AMONG Qari Yusuf Noorbhai’s many students were Shaikh Mukhtar Ahmed Haswary (Lenasia), Shaikh Sadullah Khan (Vryburg), Qari Mahdi Nackerdien (Paarl), Hafiz Riedwaan Essat (Zimbabwe), Hafiz Muhammad Gangat (Klerksdorp), Hafiz Zakariyyah Sujee (Johannesburg), Hafiz Mohammed Adams, Hafiz Raees Dassoo, and his son-in-law, Hafiz Rafiq (Cape Town). Hafizah Reyhana Tyer (Paarl, now Port Shepstone) was a hifdh student of Shaikh Sadullah at Islamic College of Southern Africa (Icosa) and then completed her tahfeedh under Qari Noorbhai in Johannesburg, the one female hafidhah who completed under his tutelage.
Farewell
AT the sombre, yet serene janaazah held at Masjidul Quds, hundreds from all over the country – scholars, students, family and friends – gathered to say a final farewell to Qari Yusuf Noorbhai as his students, Qari Mahdi Nackerdien and Shaikh Mukhtar, melodiously recited portions of the Quran. This was followed by an emotional and heart-rending accolade by Shaikh Sadullah Khan where one final moment of poignancy brought tears to all those present as he played a short recording of Surah al-Fatihah rendered in the inimitable voice of Qari Yusuf Noorbhai. It was significant to note that his Janaazah Salaah, led by his eldest brother, Hafidh Ahmed Saadiq Noorbhai (of Durban), was performed in Cape Town at Masjidul Quds, where two of his most renowned students (Shaikh Mukhtar and Shaikh Sadullah) had served as imams.
Noorbhai was laid to rest at Pooke Road Cemetery, in Athlone, Cape Town.
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