Books

A moving reflection on the life and legacy of Abdeyah da Costa, whose century-long journey captures the spirituality, elegance and moral world of Bo-Kaap Muslim life. By ASLAM FATAAR THERE are certain people whose lives illuminate far more than their own personal journeys. Their lives gather together...

A reflection on the various engagements the writer was involved in while discussing the Prophetic legacy across public worlds – from the southern tip of Africa to the Far East. By PROFESSOR ASLAM FATAAR Over the past few weeks, I have had the privilege of participating in...

Politics and Peril: The South African Crisis is a new book by academic and columnist Imraan Buccus. Part memoir but mainly political analysis, the book weaves together personal experience with a critical account of South Africa’s ongoing crisis. Drawing on influences from luminaries in South Africa and...

In this Ramadan book review, DR ILYAAS AMIEN explores Shaykh Dr Muhammad Al Ninowy’s The Book of Mercy, a powerful reflection on rahma and compassion through the exploration of a classical text. The Forty Hadith on Mercy and Those Who Show Mercy. By Shaykh Dr Muhammad bin...

A reflective review of Malay Mosaic: The Echoes of Alastu, examining Cape Malay heritage, faith, family memory and spiritual resilience in post-Apartheid South Africa. Review by DR MUALIMA HAJIR BAWA Yumnah Jones, 2026. Malay Mosaic: The Echoes of Alastu. Ubumuntu Publishers, Cape Town This profound and insightful...

A thoughtful review of A Journey of the Muslims and the Heritage from Cape to Newclare examines Cape Muslim identity, forced removals and community memory in Johannesburg’s Newclare. By DR MUHAMMED HARON Zainoodien Moosa, 2024. A Journey of the Muslims and the Heritage from Cape to Newclare:...

A Cape Town couple’s new children’s book, We Love Ramadan, uses gentle storytelling, family experiences and local Muslim heritage to nurture a love for Islamic values among young readers. By YASEEN BARDIEN With the holy month of Ramadan fast approaching, Zaahied Sallie and his wife, Nurah Tape,...

For students of Islamic history, community leaders and families seeking a trustworthy account that preserves love for the Companions and the Household together, is essential reading. Book review by MUAAZ YUSUF KALLA Deterring the Ignorant Aggressor from Transgressing Against Our Lady Fatima. By Muhammad bin Yahya bin...

This book invites us to imagine differently, to write our own intellectual futures, and to forge education that is both African and Islamic. Review by ADNAAN ADAMS Living African Philosophy of Higher Education by Emeritus Professor Yusef Waghid. Springer Briefs in Education. ISBN 978-3-032-00390-4 Introduction: A philosophy...

‘This book restores a sense of intellectual dignity to a conversation that is often hijacked by slogans. It shows us that the Islamic tradition, when approached with sincerity and expertise, contains the tools to address modern challenges without abandoning its core.’ Review by DR MOHAMMED AMEEN ALLY...