About Salie Manie
There is a saying : “Knowledge is the lost property of a believer”. I thus felt that I had an obligation to spread and make available whatever new knowledge I acquired along the way.
Introduction
In the early part of my life I studied Radio and Television theory. I was obsessed with the challenge of understanding the theory of transmitting sound, colour and pictures from one point to another, through the air.
What made it extremely difficult was the fact that these were “non-visible” processes. It was probably the first time I truly grappled with matters of the unseen! To compound my problem, I had to understand how this was achieved electronically. The technical people that I had contact with, at the time, did not understand these concepts and quite frankly did not even bother about it. It literally took me several years to develop a decent understanding of these matters.
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For a short while, later in my life I was involved in lecturing on these topics. I was then compelled to simplify these complex and abstract concepts in order to communicate it in an understandable manner to the students.
Much later, as a Trade Union Leader, I became part of the process of drawing up of a new democratic Constitution for South Africa. It was enormously difficult to explain these legal technical terms and concepts in simple understandable language to the general members of the Trade Union.
As a result of the above experiences, I was fortunate to develop two abilities. Firstly, to work through and understand complex matters and secondly, to be able to explain it in simple language. That became the key motivation why I have embarked on this process of writing on the subject of Tasawuf – in order to be of assistance to the new Seeker.
Knowledge is an Attribute of our Glorious Creator and therefore has no limits and boundaries. No human being can acquire absolute understanding about anything because knowledge has endless, layers upon layers of meanings and understanding. As Muslims we believe that life has two very distinct components – a material as well as an unseen component. Only Allah SWT has full and total knowledge of the physical and the unseen worlds – He the Almighty is Al Aleem.
I started my journey to seek knowledge since I was a teenager. My questions were then, very basic and focussed mainly logic and the material world. It was always difficult for me to accept things without understanding it, which led me to be asking questions all the time. Some of these questions took years even decades for me to find answers.
This did not mean that these questions were settled forever. New and deeper questions would arise all the time. I soon realised that one will never reach a point where there are no more questions. In reality one can actually never say that one knows everything that there is to know about any matter. That is why we are commanded to seek knowledge from the cradle to the grave.
It is absolutely impossible for an ordinary person to work through the countless questions about the unseen on their own. My life-changing moment was when I attached myself to a true knower of Allah (Arif-billah) – Shaykh Hazem Abu Ghazalah. With the assistance of his teachings, inspiration and guidance I have found it possible to grapple with matters of the unseen. The most significant impact it had on me is how it improved my understanding of Tawhid and the Beautiful Names.
The various articles and booklets I have written reflects my thinking and understanding of matters at that particular time in my journey. Over time, however, I have managed to acquire a better understanding and deeper insight into some of these topics. One reason why I have not replaced the previous articles with my latest views is to cater for those people who might find themselves at the same juncture where I was, at that point in my search. Thus, some articles may appear to be a repetition but are in fact not completely so. In certain instances, I have consciously resorted to repetition because it reinforces what was previously covered.
I have realised that the success of one’s search for the truth is directly linked to improved behaviour in one’s daily life. This should start by trying to do the smaller things correctly – to consciously avoid committing minor sins.
If we are truly sincere and yearning to get closer to Allah SWT, then the veils will be lifted. The first sign of progress is when one is given answers and improved understanding of matters. If one perseveres then one is blessed with wisdom and deeper insight. For a few fortunate one’s it is then followed by actual experience and witnessing of the Truth.
May Allah SWT shower His mercy and forgiveness on me for all my mistakes and shortcomings contained in these writings.
Close Accordion
“The path of the true Seeker is not easy, but for the weak slaves like us, all that are required, is unwavering and sincere effort.”
Muhammad Shafiq Jacobs
Imam of Mogammadiyyah Mosque
Tennyson Street, Salt River, Cape Town
August 2016
I met Salie Manie for the first time at a gathering of the remembrance of Allah where I gave a talk on the spiritual dimension of Islam. Afterwards he approached me and posed some thought provoking questions which prompted me to arrange for a weekly get together to discuss various topics on the spiritual dimension of Islam.
I then came to know that his grandfather was the prominent and well known Sheikh Muhammad Khair of Dorp Street. Salie Manie was amazed when I told him that my grandfather was one of his grandfather’s students. My grandfather performed the ritual washing and Kafn (shrouding) of his grandfather when he passed on.
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For the next two years we regularly met and I came to know Salie Manie as a very deep and critical thinker and one who has an intellectual and logical approach to everything.
As a political activist during the time of Apartheid in the 1980’s, he became the Western Cape leader of SAMWU (The South African Municipal Workers’ union). He later became a member of Parliament alongside with president Nelson Mandela and many other political icons. Salie Manie remained deeply religious even during the political struggle against Apartheid.
He was quoted at the time: “My mother was a religious instructor at the mosque. Religion has always played a central role in my life. The concept of justice has been deeply ingrained in our family. My mother brought us up not to compromise on what was right and wrong. I believe in God. I also believe in social justice. I see myself as a Muslim, but I also see myself as a socialist (Gabriels, 1992 : 77)”
Through the grace of Allah(SWT), Salie Manie was guided to a deeper understanding of Islam which led him to Tasawuf, the spiritual dimension of Islam. He met the illustrious spiritual guide, the honorable Shaikh Hazem Abu Ghazala from Jordan, world leader of the Qadiri Shadhili Tariqah and the spiritual connection was made in his pledge of allegiance.
Salie Manie has developed an inner peace, tranquility and serenity which reflects in his beautiful paintings of nature which adorns his house – even his spiritual guide the honorable Shaikh Hazem commented on its beauty. As Salie Manie’s understanding of the spiritual dimension of Islam grew, he felt the urge to write on these topics. The booklets he produced were very informative and were endorsed by the Honorable Shaikh Hazem Abu Ghazala who then gave him “Ijaza” (spiritual license) to write and produce books and articles for the enlightenment and spiritual upliftment of its readers.
This is certainly the continuation of the legacy of his grandfather Sheikh Muhammad Khair, to contribute towards the dissemination of knowledge and the improved understanding of the spiritual reality of the nature things.
Close Accordion
Ashiek Manie
Brother
Cape Town
August 2016
Salie Manie has lived a very full and varied life but he has always been a seeker of the truth. He moved from a career in electronics to active involvement in politics and has come full circle to the path of Tasawuf, to which he has now dedicated his life.
His involvement in politics started as a shop steward for the South African Municipal Workers Union (SAMWU). In the time leading up to the first democratic elections in 1994, he was very active in various organs of civil society to champion the voice of the oppressed people.
This was a volatile and dangerous period in South Africa’s history and many expected a bloody revolution.
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Salie’s true commitment and his willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good was apparent which resulted in him being pushed into various leadership positions. He was a dedicated and charismatic leader with great appeal to the general public and will be long remembered for this.
Salie served as a member in the first democratic Parliament in 1994, alongside the first two presidents of the new South Africa: Nelson Mandela and Thabo Mbeki. Salie also wrote the first concept document for the establishment of the South African Hajj and Umrah Council (SAHUC) which is the regulatory body that oversees the affairs of Muslim Pilgrims, and later became the Chairperson. When he retired from mainstream politics, he started actively pursuing the path of Tasawuf. The event that changed his life was when he attached himself to Shaykh Hazem Abu Ghazalah, the world leader of the Shadhili Sufi order.
He started his writing, in order to convey to others, some of the complex spiritual concepts and terminologies that he was confronted with on the path of Tasawuf. He sought primarily to simplify the information and make it accessible to ordinary people. Most of his writings are based on existing worksof his Murshid, Shaykh Hazem and well known scholars in the field.
He emphasises the crucial challenge of translating knowledge into action. His easy-to- read style of writing has assisted many in clarifying some of the complexities on the path of Tasawuf.
May he be greatly rewarded for his unselfish nature and the various roles he has played – we are grateful for all his efforts.