Firstly Praise be to Allah for blessing us with such a good radio station. I nominate our Bakerton Muazzin at Masjidut Taqwa Sheikh Farouq. The masjid has opened over 20 years ago and he was the Muazzin from the opening.

I don’t live there anymore but I did live in Bakerton for 32 years of which the masjid was there for about 14 years. Bakerton will always be my home and I visit often as my parents, grandparents niece and lot other family members are buried there. May Allah grant them and all marhoomeen Jannatul Firdaus. My brother and other family members still live there. Whenever I go to the masjid I get a warm welcome from sheikh. and it is really awesome and it makes it still feel like home even though I moved out 7 years ago.

He was the Muazzin from when I was in school and I used to walk to the masjid even though the initial Jame masjid was nearer and opposite my school. He is always smiling and used to talks with my friends and I casually like we really friends and also brothers. I was a bit shy when the masjid opened and Sheikh still made friends with me even though there were lot of other more social people.

So many times when I am at the Qabrastaan and I hear his Athaan and just know his voice and it brings a lot of comfort and I than also become aware of the salaah times. What I also admire about him is he gives other reputable residents a chance to give Athaan.  He worked with well known Ulema like Ml Abas Ali, his son Ml Uzair and Ml Abdullah Hajat, Ml Yusuf and Muhammad Asvat (brother in laws on Ml M Ali). Maybe he also got to know me cause my family were also Imaams of the masjid, which speaks volumes to me.

The reason I chose him to nominate is I know him the longest and he is like family and I still see him. Where I currently live (Marlboro Gardens) due to my weakness I focused more on building a relationship with the Ulema and neighbours and family members that I learnt about when I moved there etc. as I did not grow up with them even though I opened up and no more so shy.

I do However have a lot of respect for all Muazzins and it was a difficult choice.  What makes it even more difficult is Marlboro have 2 Muazzins in Marlboro even thought I prefer one as his daughters where in my daughters madressa class and his an alim also, the other muazzin I also admire.

Marlboro is a big community and I am sure they will get lot nominations.  The Jame masjid Muazzin I grew up with passed away, may Allah grant him Janatul Firdaus.  I Had a pitstop in Cape Town but was only there a year and half. So Sheikh Farouq is the one that had the most impact on me.

I have a lot of respect for Muazzins as I always shy away from giving Athaan but our school used to make us give Athaan and I only gave it once. Lot more people hear you than just for example kitab reading and teaching the younger kids the duas. I was also asked by hounourable Ml Yunus Daya of Marlboro once to give Athaan and I declined and was also asked by another Ml Zubair Hajat (another imam in Marlboro)and  declined as it is really difficult.

On a lighter note being married even my wife will hear and I might embarrass her . So writing this also took a lot of courage. But we all want to go Umra so I had to do it, May Allah give us all the opportunity to go. While writing this I also started hearing the beautiful athaan and stopped while also applying for passports for a potential Umrah trip for my family.I remember when I worked in Randburg the Muazzin got the opportunity to go for haj and how grateful he was. This just shows even reading normal zohr salaah at a Jamaat khana, the Muazzins get to know the musallees.

Another reason is Bakerton is also a small community and they have 3 masaajids and I think masjid Taqwa does not have as many musaalees as the Jaame Masjid. Sheikh Farouq is the only full time Muazzin of the masjid. The Marhoom Muazzin Sheikh Moosa and him got along well. I remember them waiting by the robot at the exit of Bakerton to go to Springs town and I used to give them lift.

Another memory is the masjid was opposite the school and he used to also assist in teaching at the school. Just to also show how friendly he was with us as youth and even now is he also talks with us soccer and he always teases me cause I am a manchester united supporter and he is an Asrenal supporter.

May Allah bless him,all the Muazzin, the Ulema and the Ummah of the prophet Salalahu alayhi wa salam with the best of both worlds.