In this series, we look briefly at the life and achievements of the Ulama and Mashaaikh of PE/Uitenhage. The profiling is in no particular order.
Name: Shamiel Panday
Born: 1964 in Korsten, Port Elizabeth
Sheikh did his schooling at Gelvandale Primary and his secondary education at St Thomas High. His initial Islamic education was done under late Sheikh Jamiel Jardien rahimahullah in Musjid Taqwa. Sheikh studied in Madinah 1981-84 and completed Sha'batu Ta'leemul Arabieya and Thanawieyah. Sheikh was about to enter the College of Shariah when his father passed away in 1984. He was forced to give up his studies as he was the eldest son.
On his return to SA Sheikh served on the executive of Eastern Cape Islamic Congress as a co-opted member and was also a member of the Religious Affairs Council. In 1988 the ECIC Baitul Maal fund was merged with SANZAF and Sheikh ran the office for 3 years. Thereafter he pursued a career in building contract management whilst remaining a member of the Religious Affairs Council. In 1994 Sheikh Jamiel encouraged Sheikh to enrol at Al Azhar University in Cairo for an Imaamat course which he successfully completed. One year after the death of Sheikh Jamiel he hesitantly accepted the Imaamat of Masjidut Taqwa in Gelvandale. He has served as Imaam from then (1995) till now. In 2003 Sheikh was approached to assist SANZAF with fundraising and he runs the Eastern Cape branch. Sheikh is passionate about Palestine and has made 3 trips there (2000, 2005 and 2006) and is a member of the Al Quds Foundation. He is a member of the United Ulama Council of SA and regularly gives Juma Khutbas around SA. His mentor is Dr Faa Abdur Raheem of Madinah and he has an attachment to Sheikh Yusuf Al Qardawi and Sheikh Amr Khalid. Sheikh has made 10 Hajj and numerous Umrahs
SHEIKH SHAMIEL
