All thanks and praise is due to Allah our Lord and our Sustained for having granted us the honour of celebrating the Urs Mubarak of one His beloved servants, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Ajmeri Rahmatullahi Alaih The Rumani family which has its ancestral roots in the Warda-Chiplun area of present day Maharashtra region in India have settled in Cape Town for the past century. Like so many families who migrated to the Cape for economic reasons, they also brought along with them their own unique spiritual and religious heritage. Their deep affinity and attachment to the Chishtiya and Qadiriyya Turuq is a manifestation of the widespread influence of these two Sufi orders in those parts of India. Sufi- or Tariqa- Islam is not merely concerned with the outer form of expression of our faith; it wants to add substance to our faith commitment. It is not satisfied with us merely donning the outward garb of Iman. It seeks to transform our understanding and to bring about a qualitative change in our lives. Tariqa methods to the uninitiated eye may seem arcane and even confusing. It might even appear anti-rational, unreasonable and hierarchic in its approach. Yet if one pursues a careful investigation it becomes clear that there is a methodology at work, a purposive approach, a strong intellectual basis and a palpable humanism at work. Tariqa-Islam aims to reach out to all people drawing them in a loving embrace and to sharing with them an expression of Allah's Rahmah (compassion). It wants people to experience their faith at a deeper more meaningful level. Religious life of any community is given expression by the use of certain symbols and rituals. At one level it suffices that people perform these merely religiously, yet at another level it is capable of generating multiple meanings and interpretations such that it can sustain the intellectual enquiry of others. Like all efforts in life, we will get rewarded for what we put in. We cannot expect the same reward for a job done perfunctorily as we would in the case of one who strives with love, passion and dedication. If our highest objective in life is to reach the pleasure of Allah or to behold the Wajh (Countenance) of Allah on the Day of Qiyama, then it goes without saying that we cannot be satisfied with a mere kindergarten expression of our attachment to the values espoused by our Din or way of life. This higher, more intense, deeper, nuanced expression of our faith, represents a commitment that is more mature and at the same time is a reflection of the Divine Grace which makes such a an expression possible in the first place. In all humility, an excellent expression of Iman or Ihsan, is the end result of our efforts and it is rightly rewarded by the expression: ‘Haljaza ul ihsan illal ihsan’ “Shall the reward of good he anything but good?” (55:61) Our faith commitment has different levels. We all begin with confession by the tongue. We are all Muslim by virtue of the utterance of Shahadah. Beyond that a much more exciting journey of growing self awareness awaits the individual which must ultimately lead him or her to discover their relationship with Allah, The Supreme. It is this cognitive change which is at the heart of the change in behaviour of the individual which Tariqa Islam wants to initiate. The different levels of Islam and the cognitive, affective and behavioural changes in the human personality each stage demands is succinctly captured by Sayed Hosein Nasr when he states that: The total religion called Islam maybe said to consist of the levels of Islam, Iman and Ihsan, or surrender, faith, and spiritual beauty. The Qur'an refers often to the Muslim, the possessor of Surrender, the Mu 'min, the possessor of Faith, and the Muhsin the possessor of Virtue. The aim of Tariqa-Islam or Tasawwuf is none other than to connect the individual to his Lord and Sustainer in a creative interplay of worship, ritual, brotherhood, love, a supportive network and a sharing caring relationship. The primacy of course is given to the Shariah or upholding the Divine law. That is our starting point. As the name implies, the Shariah is the path that leads to water or purity; our association with one another in this network of support, whilst it is cognizant of individual weaknesses and strengths, accepts the supremacy of Allah's Law and Allah's plan in our lives. However it relies not only on obedience to the law but it also cultivates a love for the Law. This love or capacity to love our Creator can only be materialized when we get in touch with our own being. If we go about our affairs on this earth in an unreflective mode, unconscious of our latent capacities, we grow oblivious to the various dimensions of our own creation. If we do not know ourselves what hope do we have of knowing one another, nor what hope do we have of coming to know the Supreme Being under whose command everything both within us and outside of us depends upon? Urs Mubarak occasions are times to reflect on the lives of those rare, noble individuals who realized within their lifetimes and who manifested in their daily concerns and practices, the realization of what it means to be truly Muhsin. Motivated by a Love of Allah , a total dependence on Him, a close and highly cultivated relationship with Allah , they were able to leave an indelible mark on human history such that we are still able to reap those benefits today, many centuries after their demise. They are role models for humanity. Their memory is precious. Their dargahs or mausoleums are not according to popular misunderstanding, tombstones, but rather sacred places which have for centuries becomes touchstones of inspiration for scores of generations to find their way back to Allah and to the Noble teachings of Muhammed, May Allah's everlasting Peace and Blessings be upon him and his Noble progeny. Tariqa-Islam and the path followed by the Awliya- Allah offers humanity a way out of superstition, ignorance, immorality, indecency and ultimate destruction of man’s existence both in this world and the hereafter. It invites humanity towards realizing their inner potential, their latent capacity, their ability to imbue their lives with Godly attributes. Wilayah or sainthood might have many different manifestations but as ordinary, fallible human beings, sainthood touches us in a very tangible way when association with them by memory or visit to their sacred place of burial, inspires the best conduct in us. They have the ability by the Grace Allah has placed upon them to mould our potential in a way that would make Allah more pleased with our conduct. They are a living reminder for us to live a better existence. If our starting point is Shariah or simply surrender to the Will of Allah think of ourselves as being on the perimeter of the circle of life. You are sipping from the life-giving waters emanating from the fountain of Existence; it sustains you. Tariqa-Islam invites you along the myriad of radii which lead from this circumference as pathways leading towards the centre or towards haqiqah (true consciousness). The different radii or paths are but different methods to reach the centre. These methodologies or tariqas arc products of historical and material circumstances which have arisen to meet the perennial human need for Divine Guidance and Felicity, Travelling along this path as a seeker or Saliq under the tutelage of a guide will provide you with a methodology, a support structure, and the collegiality required to help you along, to support you if you fail. Reaching the state of Haqiqa is to live a life fully realizing the Divine presence and living in a heightened state of spirituality. Tariqa Islam invites you to follow a structured approach to your life. It wants you to gain the maximum out of your life. It does not want your life to be squandered in bitterness, or in following a misguided approach. Shariah, Tariqah, Haqiqah are but stages in the development of the individual towards attaining nearness towards Allah and life-transforming knowledge, Irfan, or Gnosis. Throughout history, both in the heartlands as well as in the Diaspora of Islam, Muslims have used their creative genius to honour the sacred memory of the Wali-Allah. In paying homage to these personages, we recognize our indebtedness to them for preserving the teachings of our tradition and especially for distilling crucial elements from our spiritual resources to deal with the many concrete historical problems they encountered. Their engagement with the tradition in a practical manner is a great source of inspiration for us in our times as we seek to redress the many intractable social and moral challenges of our times. The occasion of Urs is one where we dedicate ourselves to the noble teachings of this Great Wall-Allah. It is also an occasion to gain spiritual benediction or Barakah. What make this year's Urs celebration so poignant is that this is the 40th consecutive year that this ceremony has been celebrated by us as a family. This is a significant milestone and it represents a culmination of love and dedication for a particular spiritual understanding of life, which has triumphed despite the many obstacles and hardships which were thrown in its way. This single continuous act of devoted service to inculcate a certain level spirituality within a family reminds me of the Hadith of the Prophet of Allah, May His Peace and Blessings be upon him, that the deed most loved by Allah is that deed, no matter how small, but the one which is done consistently. The single-mindedness of purpose, sincerity and sacrifice of our parents needs to be acknowledged and celebrated. They planted a tree of great spiritual wealth; today we reap its fruits as we sit under its shade. It has been a source of enlightenment; it is a beacon in a vast ocean of darkness. We draw much inspiration from the life of Khwaja Muinuddin Chishti, simply because our parents introduced us to his life and teachings; hence our gratitude will always be for our parents as well. They spoilt us not with plastic wealth but rather chose to inform us about a path which grants eternal success and the Pleasure of Allah; could we ever ask for anything better? We pay tribute to our elders, many of whom have passed on, for having the foresight and wisdom in establishing this event as an important occasion for us to uphold. In particular our sincere prayers go upon the departed soul of our grandfather al-Marhum Roshan Omar Rumani. It was his suggestion in the first instance to his son, our late father Muhammed Sharif Omar Rumani, as he was leaving to take up residence in this country, to establish something that would serve to inculcate the right values in his offspring. The sincerity of this concern would play out its course in history over the next forty years for all of us to see. His concern was not that his son should gather material wealth, houses and lands in an acquisitive, capitalistic manner, but rather that he ensures his children espouse values dear to Allah, His Rasul and His Awliya Ajma’in. This concern for values and morals is best summed up in the expression: Send your roots deep into the soil or perish where you stand. Our dear late father's response to his father's request was to establish the celebration of the Urs of Khwaja Gharibun Nawaz as a family institution we can all be very proud of. For after all what is Urs if not an occasion for the Thikr of Allah? We treasure this legacy as a part of our spiritual heritage. 
Janab Roshan Omar Rumani  
Haji Muhammed Sharief Rumani Hajiane Hawa Bibi M S Rumani It always begins with a tilawa of the entire Qur'an. We have had the honour of some of Cape Town's foremost Qari's and Huffath participating in this recital. Their very presence in our humble midst was always an occasion for great joy and Barakah. May Allah bless them abundantly for their efforts. They were the keepers of a tradition of the fine art of the correct reciting of the Qur’an; a feat recognized the world over today. The Arwah (special prayer for the benefit of the deceased), the Niyaz (sharing a communal meal), the Ekhyrawih Sharif (a unique devotion and Thikr of Allah formulated by Sultanul Awliya Shaikh Abdul Qadir Jilani R.A), the Sandal Sharif and other activities which characterized the Urs celebrations have served to bring beauty and splendour to our lives. These various thikrs make us feel spiritually enriched and elevated. None of this would have been possible without the countless efforts of many individuals and families. Thus over the years Urs became an occasion of great spiritual benefit not only for our own immediate family but many close relatives and friends as well. Little do we realize the benefit of this occasion in cementing closer bonds of affection, sister and brotherhood so vitally necessary in an age of alienation, mutual rivalry and envy. This 40th celebration of the Urs is yet another poignant reminder for us of how the mantle of responsibility which was the preserve of our parents has now passed onto our shoulders. Upon ourselves now falls the responsibility to take this task forwards of imparting that necessary moral guidance to our offspring. When we look at our late father's role we are truly humbled when we realize how diligently and unassumingly he interpreted the brief his late father gave him. His beloved name implies to be of noble character; he truly lived up to the attributes of his name. We know in the depths of our hearts how much we valued him and loved his advice and wise counsel. He taught us to love the Awliya Allah; if you want to gain Barakah in your life, become Ashiqe Awliya Allah, (“people who love the friends of Allah”) This was his unique understanding which he tirelessly impressed upon us. We remember our dear father for many good sources of advice. His life's contribution would never in our estimation be justly dealt with without mentioning his insistence on sharing three things with us at all times, whether in moments of joy or sadness, in time of ease or difficulty; Khawfe khuda………Fear Allah Laak Bar Shukr………Abundant Thanks to the Almighty Allah Hamdardi…………Humility must be the leitmotif in all actions We believe that these noble teachings have as much relevance for us today as when he first uttered those words yesterday. They underpin the ethical, moral, spiritual and intellectual foundations of our lives. As parents and as interlocutors they understood the demands of our tradition and what it entails to live a beautiful life; they took from the tradition and lovingly nurtured our lives on the basis of these teachings. The enormous challenge which faces us squarely today is how we are going to meet up to that responsibility we have of imparting a value system to our own offspring. Can we rely on the tried formulae of yesteryear of celebrating the Urs in its traditional form or is it time to adapt this occasion such that it can help us to draw upon the legacy of Khwaja Gharibun Nawaz in terms of the demands of the 21st century? The times may have changed but the challenges remain the same. Only the settings and the actors change from one scene to the other Thus we need to seek out using our legacy and the many spiritual resources we have at our disposal how we can combat the evils of racism, inequality, poverty, elitism, hedonism and materialism. If we fail to do so we risk losing our children, our most precious gift to the manifold evils of our age. We can do no better in concluding this tribute to the sacrifices of our parents than draw inspiration from the Qur'an: Rabbi aw zi'ni an ashkura Ni 'matakallati an’am ta 'alaiya Wa ala wali dayya wa an 'amala salihan tardahu Wa as lih li fi thurriya Inni tubtu ilaik Wa inni minal muslimin. Oh My Lord Grant me that I may be Grateful for Thy favour which thou has bestowed upon me and upon both My parents, and that I may do righteous deeds such as those that Meet Your approval. And be gracious to me in my offspring. Truly Have I turned to Thee and truly do I bow to Thee In Islam (submission). | 
