{"id":962,"date":"2020-05-16T15:15:22","date_gmt":"2020-05-16T15:15:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nauthemes.com\/dummy\/taqwa\/?page_id=962"},"modified":"2026-03-09T13:18:41","modified_gmt":"2026-03-09T13:18:41","slug":"about-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/about-us\/","title":{"rendered":"About Us"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-page\" data-elementor-id=\"962\" class=\"elementor elementor-962\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71c7c7ec elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71c7c7ec\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-610c2c6f\" data-id=\"610c2c6f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f24057f elementor-widget elementor-widget-about_us\" data-id=\"f24057f\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"about_us.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"gap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"vector-bg\" src=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/plugins\/ingeniofy\/elementor-widgets\/widgets_classes\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/about-vector.png\" alt=\"\" itemprop=\"image\">\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"abt-sec-wrp\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"abt-vdo brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/about-us-image.jpg\" alt=\"abt-img.jpg\" itemprop=\"image\">\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/mPGLq4d-0gs\" title=\"Click To Play\" data-fancybox=\"\" itemprop=\"url\"><i class=\"flaticon-play-button\"><\/i><\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-6 col-sm-12 col-lg-6\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"abt-desc\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sec-tl\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"theme-clr\">Our History<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 itemprop=\"headline\">About the Lajpor Muslim Association<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/plugins\/ingeniofy\/elementor-widgets\/widgets_classes\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/prayer-head-shp.png\" alt=\"\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>The Lajpor Muslim association South Africa was founded in the mid-1940s, to promote and protect the well-being of immigrants from the village of Lajpor in Surat, India. Some of the earliest settlers migrated to South Africa in the mid-1890's, fleeing the desperate situation created by the 1869 revolts and persecution by the British and the religious conflicts which was instigated. Many of these early settlers left their spouses and children behind to pursue greener pastures in South Africa and other countries such as Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, Barbados, Panama and the UK.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">In South Africa, the immigrants established themselves, mostly as traders. They gradually brought their families over and made South Africa their home. They prospered and thrived, despite the harsh conditions of apartheid South Africa. They had to overcome language and cultural barriers, and the lack of educational and sporting amenities stifled their talents. Many families were forced to send their children to school in distant towns and cities to live with other families just so that they could receive a formal education. Others were forced to leave school early due to the racial apartheid laws that made High School and Tertiary education near impossible. Indians were considered third class citizens and classified as Asiatic under the Apartheid System.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">By the late 1920's, many Lajporeans had established themselves financially and started investing in real estate, in South Africa (under nominee) as well as back in Lajpor and surrounds in India. As landowners, they would secure their families and future generations\u2026or so they thought!. Little did they realise that future generations in India would usurp and fraudulently dispose of valuable lands, and would be the source of family feuds across the globe. Notwithstanding this, their intentions were noble. Our forefathers collectively helped to establish schools, madrassahs, mosques, hospitals, water purification systems and other infrastructure in Lajpor as well as in South Africa. For decades, Lajpor was the envy of surrounding districts, due to its progressive infrastructure.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">To this day, South African contributions continue into Lajpor, aiding in education, social wellbeing and upkeep of various facets of infrastructure.<br \/>Notably, Lajporeans helped shape the political future of South Africa through the Liberation Struggle. The contributions made by stalwarts such as Ahmed Kathrada, Professor Yusuf(Joe) Variawa, Molvi Saloojee, Mariam Vally Saloojee and others will always be firmly etched in the annals of South African history.<br \/>The Lajpor Muslim Association of South Africa, although still committed to assisting destitute families in Lajpor, has increasingly felt a compelling need to address the challenges of the Lajpor and other communities in South Africa, in keeping with the changing geopolitical situation, both locally and abroad. The organization is deeply rooted in its commitment to education and entrepreneurship, offering bursaries annually, and aiding individuals to promote and advance small to medium enterprises. With its newly elected board and progressive attitude, the organization is set to expand its reach and will strive to bring about meaningful change to all peoples of South Africa, Insh-Allah.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- About Sec Wrap -->\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5b8831a elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5b8831a\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3516a85\" data-id=\"3516a85\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8f0fd8d elementor-widget elementor-widget-services 2\" data-id=\"8f0fd8d\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"services 2.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<section class=\"services-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"gap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sec-tl text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"theme-clr\">What We Offer<\/span>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 itemprop=\"headline\">Our Services<\/h2>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/plugins\/ingeniofy\/elementor-widgets\/widgets_classes\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/prayer-head-shp.png\" alt=\"\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"serv-wrp remove-ext3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"serv-bx text-center  wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 0.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"flaticon-open-book theme-clr\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/services\/the-lajpor-muslim-association-bursary-fund\/\" itemprop=\"url\">The Lajpor Muslim Association Bursary Fund<\/a><\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"srv-inf theme-bg brd-rd10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p itemprop=\"description\">Please note that the complete website for the Lajpor Muslim Associatio...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"serv-bx text-center  wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 1s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"flaticon-open-book theme-clr\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/services\/food-relief\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Food Relief<\/a><\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"srv-inf theme-bg brd-rd10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p itemprop=\"description\">Information with regards to our Food Relief programmes going forward w...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"serv-bx text-center  wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 1.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"flaticon-islamic-ramadan theme-clr\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/services\/health-wellness\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Health Wellness<\/a><\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"srv-inf theme-bg brd-rd10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p itemprop=\"description\">Information with regards to our Health and Wellness programmes going f...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-3 col-sm-6 col-lg-3\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"serv-bx text-center  wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 2s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i class=\"flaticon-clicker theme-clr\"><\/i>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/services\/youth-skills\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Youth &#038; Skills<\/a><\/h5>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"srv-inf theme-bg brd-rd10\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p itemprop=\"description\">Information with regards to our Youth &amp; Skills programmes going fo...<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-6808586c elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"6808586c\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3d376197\" data-id=\"3d376197\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7ba1fe43 elementor-widget elementor-widget-scholars\" data-id=\"7ba1fe43\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"scholars.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<section class =\"team-block green-blk\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"gap\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sec-tl text-center mb-5\"><span class=\"theme-clr\">Meet The Committee<\/span><h2 itemprop=\"headline\">Our Team<\/h2><p itemprop=\"headline\">The LMA Committee<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-sec remove-ext7\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"row \">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 0.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/fatima-kola\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Fatima Kola<\/a><\/h5><span>Secretary<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 1s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/enver-kola\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Enver Kola<\/a><\/h5><span>Chairman<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 1.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/dr-m-i-cassim\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Dr. M.I. Cassim<\/a><\/h5><span>Deputy Chairman<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 2s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/mohammed-azhar-bulbulia\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Mohammed Azhar Bulbulia<\/a><\/h5><span>Treasurer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 2.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/hawa-bibi-vally\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Hawa Bibi Vally<\/a><\/h5><span>Deputy Treasurer<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 3s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/nasreen-kola-cassim\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Nasreen Kola Cassim<\/a><\/h5><span>Deputy Secretary<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 3.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/ml-a-h-patel\/\" itemprop=\"url\">ML. A.H. Patel<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 4s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/prof-shahed-nalla\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Prof. Shahed Nalla<\/a><\/h5><span>Bursary Committee<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 4.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/youseff-gabru\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Youseff Gabru<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/faizel-bhamjee\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Faizel Bhamjee<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 5.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/ashraf-perager\/\" itemprop=\"url\">M. Ashraf Perager<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 6s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/imraan-cassim\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Imraan Cassim<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 6.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/dr-shabbir-bhamjee\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Dr. Shabbir Bhamjee<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"col-md-4 col-sm-6 col-lg-4\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-bx text-center wow fadeIn\" style=\"animation-delay: 7s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"team-inf brd-rd5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/team\/hussain-madhi\/\" itemprop=\"url\">Hussain Madhi<\/a><\/h5><span>Board Member<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-bb5b02b elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-stretched elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"bb5b02b\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;stretch_section&quot;:&quot;section-stretched&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-no\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-7ff95b2\" data-id=\"7ff95b2\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-14cb55a elementor-widget elementor-widget-pillars\" data-id=\"14cb55a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"pillars.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<section>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"gap black-layer opc8\"><div class=\"fixed-bg\" style=\"background-image: url(https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/plugins\/ingeniofy\/elementor-widgets\/widgets_classes\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/1920x900.png);\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container pillar_head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"sec-tl text-center\"><span class=\"theme-clr\">About Essential<\/span><h2 itemprop=\"headline\">Pillars of Islam<\/h2><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/wp-content\/plugins\/ingeniofy\/elementor-widgets\/widgets_classes\/..\/..\/assets\/images\/prayer-head-shp.png\" alt=\"heading-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"remove-ext3\"><ul class=\"plrs-wrp text-center\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 0.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"plr-bx\"><i class=\"flaticon-clicker brd-rd50\"><\/i><h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"#\">Shahadah<\/a><\/h5><span class=\"theme-clr\">(Faith)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 1s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"plr-bx\"><i class=\"flaticon-muslim-man-praying brd-rd50\"><\/i><h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"#\">Salah<\/a><\/h5><span class=\"theme-clr\">(Prayer)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 1.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"plr-bx\"><i class=\"flaticon-islamic-ramadan brd-rd50\"><\/i><h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"#\">Sawm<\/a><\/h5><span class=\"theme-clr\">(Fasting)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 2s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"plr-bx\"><i class=\"flaticon-money brd-rd50\"><\/i><h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"#\">Zakat<\/a><\/h5><span class=\"theme-clr\">(Almsgiving)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"wow noanim\" style=\"animation-delay: 2.5s;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"plr-bx\"><i class=\"flaticon-kaaba-building brd-rd50\"><\/i><h5 itemprop=\"headline\"><a href=\"#\">Hajj<\/a><\/h5><span class=\"theme-clr\">(Pilgrimage)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/section>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Our History About the Lajpor Muslim Association The Lajpor Muslim association South Africa was founded in the mid-1940s, to promote and protect the well-being of immigrants from the village of Lajpor in Surat, India. Some of the earliest settlers migrated to South Africa in the mid-1890&#8217;s, fleeing the desperate situation created by the 1869 revolts and persecution by the British and the religious conflicts which was instigated. Many of these early settlers left their spouses and children behind to pursue greener pastures in South Africa and other countries such as Mauritius, Reunion, Madagascar, Seychelles, Barbados, Panama and the UK. In South Africa, the immigrants established themselves, mostly as traders. They gradually brought their families over and made South Africa their home. They prospered and thrived, despite the harsh conditions of apartheid South Africa. They had to overcome language and cultural barriers, and the lack of educational and sporting amenities stifled their talents. Many families were forced to send their children to school in distant towns and cities to live with other families just so that they could receive a formal education. Others were forced to leave school early due to the racial apartheid laws that made High School and Tertiary education near impossible. Indians were considered third class citizens and classified as Asiatic under the Apartheid System. By the late 1920&#8217;s, many Lajporeans had established themselves financially and started investing in real estate, in South Africa (under nominee) as well as back in Lajpor and surrounds in India. As landowners, they would secure their families and future generations\u2026or so they thought!. Little did they realise that future generations in India would usurp and fraudulently dispose of valuable lands, and would be the source of family feuds across the globe. Notwithstanding this, their intentions were noble. Our forefathers collectively helped to establish schools, madrassahs, mosques, hospitals, water purification systems and other infrastructure in Lajpor as well as in South Africa. For decades, Lajpor was the envy of surrounding districts, due to its progressive infrastructure. To this day, South African contributions continue into Lajpor, aiding in education, social wellbeing and upkeep of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-962","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/962","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=962"}],"version-history":[{"count":20,"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/962\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3667,"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/962\/revisions\/3667"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lajpormuslimassociation.org.za\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=962"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}