Rabia Mayet | rabiamayet@radioislam.co.za

17 April 2025

3 minute read

“I’m ready to serve my community at large,” are the words of Mohamed Ismail Moosa, affectionately known as Moose Bismillah. An individual who is making a difference at grassroots level through his quiet acts of service, leadership, and dedication, making an impact, inspiring others, and creating a culture of active citizenship.

A regular farm boy born and brought up in the small town of Ventersdorp, Moose developed a love for the outdoors. At the age of 15, during the apartheid era when provincial borders were still very much in place, he was selected to represent Transvaal Cricket. Mixing freely for the first time with kids from different backgrounds and races, Moose’s eyes were opened to the number of underprivileged children amongst certain communities that were marginalised in those days. This came as his turning point, and with his “leadership being acknowledged by some seniors,” Moose went on to become an activist against apartheid, even getting arrested in the 1976 Soweto uprisings.

With decades of humanitarian service, from serving on masjid communities, traffic control at major programs, and leading disaster response efforts, to supporting substance use recovery through the Jamiat NBA Wellness Centre, and even carrying out home visits during COVID, Moose has made an indelible mark in Lenasia and beyond. He serves in key roles such as Deputy Chairperson of the Lenasia CPF, Chair of Sector 1, and is the driving force behind the Lenasia Charity Colour Run and local sports initiatives.

So, what keeps Moose motivated? He says that he’s “always reachable to anybody” and because he’s on the ground, he sees the need out there. “My heart is soft…I can’t see anybody in any difficulty,” he stated, citing the example of recently working alongside his brother to help a Maulana who commented that they were doing their “Aakhirah work.”

As for the politics and challenges one faces when doing community work, Moose says that the only way to face them head on is to leave the negativity aside. “The youth really need to step up a gear,” he says, advocating for the younger generation to become actively involved in serving their communities through their local masaajid and organizations within their areas. “Do the best you can,” says Moose, and you will feel the satisfaction and start to see the barakah enter your life once you start doing “Allah’s work.”

Listen to the full interview here.