22 Jul Tribute to an ardent lover of the Holy Quraan
Hafiz Professor Ismail Haffejee rahmatullahi alayhi
(1934 – 2021)
Hafiz Ismail Haffejee was born at sea in the Indian Ocean in the year 1934 to Moulana and Mrs Ebrahim Haffejee rahmatullahi alayhima, who arrived in South Africa from India. His Father initially served at the West Street Masjid as an Imaam and Ustaadh and thereafter relocated to the then Transvaal (now Gauteng).
At a young age, his son Ismail completed the Hifz of the Holy Quraan around the year 1949/50.
He matriculated with an exceptional pass and was awarded a seat at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg where he qualified as a medical doctor. Subsequently he qualified as a paediatrician and assumed various positions in his medical career, culminating as a Professor and lecturer of Paediatrics at the UKZN medical school in Durban, South Africa.
He was a role model and mentor to many young doctors due to his soft, gentle and caring nature towards his students and patients alike.
His love of the Holy Quraan:
He commenced leading the Taraweeh Salaah from the age of 15 and continued doing so until this year at the age of 87, for a period of almost 70 years in total!
(During the last Ramadan in 2021, he led the entire 20 Rakaats Taraweeh in the Pinetown Masjid.)
He was extremely meticulous about his Salaah and daily recitation of the Holy Quraan, often seen reciting the Quraan Shareef with great discipline and passion. Even at an advanced age, he recited the Holy Quraan most beautifully and meticulously in his recitation in terms of Tajweed and its rules.
A man of exceptional and sublime character, manner, gentle and polite to young and old.
He passed away after a short illness on Tuesday 28 September 2021 at his residence in Durban and was laid to rest at the Al Hilaal Cemetery in Durban. His demise heralds the end of an era and generation.
He is survived by his wife, 5 children, grandchildren and extended family. His son and daughter are also Huffaaz of the Holy Quraan.
May Allah Ta’ala bless him for his great service to the Deen, grant him Jannatul Firdaus and grant his family sabr e jameel (a beautiful patience) and ajar e azeem (a great reward), Ameen.
~Jamiatul Ulama KZN
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