It is with great admiration and gratitude that I nominate Aalimah Safoora Cajee for the Aalimah of the Year Award. Safoora is a fully qualified Aalimah and Hijamaah practitioner who has dedicated her life to serving her community with sincerity, humility, and passion. For over five years, she has been a beacon of light in Bosmont Jhb and beyond, selflessly imparting Islamic knowledge to both children and adults, while embodying the values of service and compassion that are the hallmark of a true servant of Allah.

Safoora is the founder and principal of Madressah Nurah, a vibrant institution that nurtures young Muslim minds with Islamic education, moral guidance, and love for the deen. Her classes are not limited to children; she also facilitates adult learning circles and online classes for reverts, ensuring that knowledge is accessible to all who seek it. Her ability to connect with people of different ages and backgrounds is a testament to her sincerity and her passion for uplifting others. Many have found in her not just a teacher, but also a mentor, a role model, and a source of inspiration.

What sets Safoora apart is her unwavering dedication to her mission, even during times of great challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented difficulties for educators and small businesses alike, yet she rose above these obstacles with resilience and creativity. Refusing to let the children of her madressah fall behind, she introduced initiatives to keep them engaged and learning during lockdown. At a time when uncertainty and fear dominated daily life, her consistency provided stability, structure, and hope to the young learners and their families.

In an interview during the pandemic, Safoora explained: “I had to reflect on how COVID impacted my business and my students’ learning, but it pushed me to think differently. The training helped me realise that people are the heart of my work, and that if I could hold onto them with care and consistency, the madressah would survive.” These words reflect not only her resilience but also her deep sense of responsibility to her students and community.

Alongside her teaching, Safoora’s service extends to the practice and teaching of Hijamaah (cupping therapy), a healing Sunnah that she has revived and rooted in her community. She not only serves patients with compassion but also trains women to become qualified Hijamaah practitioners themselves. In doing so, she creates an ecology of empowered women who can open their own businesses, support their families, and contribute to the economic upliftment of the community. Through this, she has shown that an Aalimah’s service goes beyond the classroom, encompassing holistic empowerment that uplifts both hearts and livelihoods.

Importantly, Safoora does all of this purely for the sake of Allah. Her humility ensures that her service is never about recognition but about impact. Yet, it is precisely this humility and quiet strength that makes her so deserving of recognition. She is a living example of how knowledge, when coupled with compassion and perseverance, can transform lives and communities.

Today, as I reflect on her journey, I see in her the embodiment of what this award represents: a woman of knowledge who uplifts others, who remains steadfast through challenges, and who uses her skills to build a stronger, more connected ummah. Safoora Cajee has not only enriched her community but has also inspired many to give of themselves in the service of Allah.