About US
This is also where you’ll find the religious MQI Institute.
MQI: 1914- Current
The beginning……
Dikhatole, Asiatic Bazaar, Germiston Location, whatever it was famously known by was situated between the Railway Line and the Industrial area bordering between Germiston South and East giving birth to the “Indian Area” in the early 1900s.
As Germiston had its roots in gold, so too had Allah Ta’ala planned that this old location will be the place where the Jamaat Khana/Musallah/Musjid and Maktab/Madrasah will be established. With the concerns of the Elders of the community and Ulema/Asaatizas from various areas were involved in the establishment and the evolution of the MQI Institution from 1914 to present.
MQI produced luminaries in both the Islamic and Secular fields over the century serving the Ummah in various organisations across the country.
MQI Palmridge 1981 – Current
During the 1980’s, under the then Group Areas Act, the communities of the Old Germiston Location were relocated to Palmridge, which was then declared as the Indian Area.
In the Old Germiston area, the MQI Institute had the Musjid, Madrasah and several properties under its ownership. As a process of compensation for the properties in Germiston, the Municipality had allocated land in Palmridge to MQI. The land allocated was for the religious facilities as well as nine residential plots, of which MQI retained three and returned the six due to financial constraints and development costs.
Currently the status qou regarding the development on the land over the years are:
- Musjid Complex
- Madrasah Complex
- 2 classes for Grade 0 & Grade R from 08:30-12:00
- Madrasah from Class1 to Class10 from 02:30-05:00pm
- Old Jamaat Khana now used as a recreational facility and residence for
caretaker - Residences for Imams,
Muazzien and Caretakers - Three residential plots developed into six incoming generating flats for Muslim tenants
- Mini sports field used by the youth and income generated used for maintenance
- Jungle gym for the nursery children
The Palmridge area has now developed into +15 extensions and has become a fully integrated community. The current population of the original Palmridge “Indian” area is approximately +200 Muslim homes. There is no definite Muslim population census in the new extensions, which is mostly made up of reverts, local Muslims, foreigners of Somalis, Bangladeshis, Pakistanis and others. The numbers are only evident during the Jumuah & Eid prayer days.
The Musjid/Madrasah Complex in the Palmridge “Indian” area is the only institution serving the needs of all the communities.
In recent years there has been much emigration of the original Muslim community from the area to other areas due to schooling, travelling to work, etc and the expansion and integration of the newer extensions into the original Palmridge area. There has been an influx of foreigners into Palmridge and its extensions. Local businesses have sold out to the foreigners and currently 95% of the businesses are owned by these foreigners. This has also created another challenge as their contribution to the running costs, maintenance and support for the MQI institution is very minimal, whereas previously the local businesses fully supported MQI and its facilities.
Being reduced to a poor and working class community and local reverts; the Madrasah currently has more than 80% of non-fee-paying children.
The Beginning with Jamaat Khana
PALMRIDGE MUSJID COMPLEX
PALMRIDGE MUSJID COMPLEX
PALMRIDGE MADRASAH COMPLEX
JANAZAH FACILITIES & HEARSE with 3 CASKETS
Executive Committee
| AHMED ISMAEL BHAM | Ameer Chairman |
| ASLAM CHAND | Deputy Ameer Chairman |
| Shuaib Rajah | Secretary |
| Abdul Haq Rajah | Treasurer |
Management Committee
| Ahmed Ismael Bham | Ameer |
| Aslam Chand | Deputy Ameer / Maintenance/Security |
| Shuaib Rajah | Secretary |
| Shuaib Rajah | Burial |
| Abdul Haq Rajah | Treasurer |
| Qarisab S.A. Panchbaya | Musjid / Madrasah |
| Moulana Cassim Desai | Musjid |
| Moulana Dawood Shuaib | Musjid |
| Rashid Rajah | Madrasah |
Madrasah Committee
| Qarisab Shabbir Ahmed Panchabaya | Principal Afternoon Madrasah |
| Appa Sumayah Ebrahim | Supervisor / HoD Morning Madrasah |
| Appa Zaidah Mashaba | Appa Pre-School, Administration Morning & Afternoon |
| Shuaib Rajah | Shuaib Rajah |
| Rashid Rajah | Madrasah Committee |
| Br Hassen & Sr Khatija Uranda | Caretakers |
Musjid Committee
| Qarisab Shabbir Ahmed Panchabaya | Imam |
| Moulana Mohammed Cassim Desai | Imam |
| Moulana Dawood Shuaib | Stand-in Imam |
| Hafez Nurudeen Abdurahman | Muazien/Caretaker |
| Mohammed Nasir | Musjid Committee |
| Musjid Committee | Musjid Committee |
Finance & Maintenance Committee
| Abdul Haq Rajah | Treasurer |
| Aslam Chand | Maintenance |
| Yusuf Jogee / Abdullah Machele | Maintenance |
BURIAL COMMITTEE
Shuaib Rajah 0744923822
Moulana Dawood Shuaib
Rashid Rajah
LADIES BURIAL
Appa Sumayah Ebrahim
Sr. Aziza Khan
SECURITY COMMITTEE
Aslam Chand 0721539786
Ebrahim Hatia Jnr 0711357014