Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din and Lord Headley visit South Africa in 1926

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The Moslem Outlook, describing itself as ‘The only Weekly Mouthpiece of the Muslim community in South Africa’, published the following news item about the forthcoming expected arrival of Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din and Lord Headley in its issue for February 20th, 1926 (vol. II, No. 55) on its front page and page 2. First we give the text of the item, and then we display scanned images of the original newspaper pages.

Muslims of Africa Welcome Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din and Lord Headley

A RED-LETTER DAY IN MUSLIM AFRICAN HISTORY

GREAT RECEPTION PREPARED FOR MONDAY NEXT

Monday 22nd February, 1926 will ever be remembered by Muslims of South Africa. That day will witness the landing on South African shores of Al-Haj El Farooq (Lord Headley) and Al-Haj the Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din, B.A., Ll.B., world renowned Imam of the Woking Mosque, England. Great and sincere will be the welcome extended to our distinguished guests by Muslims of this country. From far and near have we received messages from our brethren expressing their joy that the first Muslim Mission to South Africa has become a reality. From all centres in the Union — and even from far across our South African borders — have we received communications from representative Muslim communities expressing the wish that our distinguished guests pay them a visit, and thus reveal once more the real and loving brotherhood that exists among Muslims. Islam is not a dormant force in Africa, it is pulsating with life in its most intensive form. That spirit will, we are sure, be evidenced on Monday next.

RADIO MESSAGE TO “MOSLEM OUTLOOK” READERS

Just as we went to press we received from Al-Haj Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din and Lord Headley a radio message to the effect that they heartily desired to thank their co-religionists for the welcome that will be extended to them on their arrival in South Africa on Monday next.

WHAT MUSLIMS IN EAST AFRICA DESIRE

“The Moslem Outlook, the excellent Muslim organ of Africa issued from Cape Town gives us to understand that a Mission consisting of Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din of Woking fame and Al-Haj Lord Headley is expected to visit South Africa for religious preaching. Some local enthusiasts insist that they should also visit Tanganyika on their way back just as other Indian missionaries did sometime ago, notably Mr. Chamupati of Gurukul. The Anjuman Islamia of this place is in correspondence with Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din’s mission.” — The African Comrade.

S.A. PRESS ON THE MUSLIM MISSION

The majority of South African newspapers have informed their readers concerning the forthcoming visit of our distinguished guests. Several of our contemporaries commented on the fact and here we reproduce the opinion of the leading Johannesburg daily “The Star”:

South Africa is a long way behind America in receiving public lecturers from the rest of the world, but the latest announcemment in this respect is very interesting indeed. A telegram from Cape Town published yesterday says that Lord Headley, “the well-known British Muslim peer” (the only one as a matter of fact) is coming out on the Balmoral, accompanied by a Muslim dignitary from Woking Mosque, to speak at various places in the Union.

Lord Headley is a firm believer in immortality. Apart from a claim he makes to have seen his own father after the latter’s death, he reasons from the scientific view that matter is indestructible, going on to say that: “This being the case, is it conceivable that the human mind, heart, soul and intelligence — which together form the grandest creation we know anything about, and which control and direct matter — should alone be singled out for total destruction? Is it at all likely that indestructibility should be confined to the grosser forms of creation?”

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South African Muslims’ appreciation of notable service

ELOQUENT ADDRESSES TO

AL-HAJ KHWAJA KAMAL-UD-DIN & LORD HEADLEY

The following are the draft copies of the addresses, which we are privileged to publish, and which will be presented to Al-Haj El Farooq (Lord Headley) and Al-Haj Khwaja Kamal-ud-Din on Monday next, at 8 p.m., in the City Hall, Cape Town.

To AL-HAJ KHWAJA KAMAL-UD-DIN, B.A., LL.B.

DEAR SIR AND RESPECTED BROTHER IN ISLAM

On behalf of the Muslim community in South Africa, we, the undersigned, desire to extend to you a hearty welcome on this your first visit to South Africa.

We are deeply conscious, as indeed is the whole Muslim World, of the untiring energy and zeal with which you have laboured in the cause of Islam particularly as head of the Islamic Mission at Woking, in England.

Your erudition and genial disposition, combined with a deep sense of modesty and sincerity of purpose, have contributed in no small measure to the spread of enlightenment concerning the fundamental truth of Islam in the West. Your lucid writings have indeed borne good fruit, and it is our earnest prayer that Allah may bless you abundantly as you conyinue your labours in the noble cause. Happy indeed are we to bear testimony to the fact that, as a worthy son of Islam, you have dedicated your life to the propagation of Islam in the West.

May your ministrations continue with Allah’s blessing, to be productive of good.

In conclusion we express the hope that your sojourn in this land may be a happy one and that you will return to Woking with renewed energy to labour for the noble cause you have at heart.

To THE RT. HON. LORD HEADLEY (AL-HAJ EL FAROOQ)

May it please Your Lordship, as a respected Brother in Islam, to accept this address as a token of esteem and goodwill from the Muslim community of South Africa.

We, the undersigned, desire to extend to Your Lordship a hearty welcome on this your first visit to South Africa.

We have learnt to recognise in you a Muslim imbued with the spirit of high ideals. As President of the British Muslim Society you have rendered, at great personal sacrifice, glowing service to Islam in the West. The whole Islamic world appreciates highly your valuable writings that so truly breathe the spirit of toleration.

It is our earnest prayer that your life may prove an enduring testimony that Islam, contrary to Western opinion, is an elevating and ennobling force that seeks to manifest the potentiality of brotherhood founded on lasting and triumphant religious ideals. May you long be spared to serve the cause which we know you have at heart.

We hope that your sojourn in this country will prove a pleasant one and that you will carry away with you a firmer conviction of the unity that obtains in Islam.

Shown below are scanned images of the front page and page 2 from The Moslem Outlook, February 20th, 1926.

Front page:

Page 2: