An image of the S.S.Tilawa
Faizel Patel – 23/11/2020
Today marks the seventy-eighth anniversary of the attack on the SS Tilawa, a ship transporting mostly Indian nationals including the founder of Darul Uloom Newcastle, Marhoom Ml. Cassim Mahomed Sema (ra).
The vessel was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine near the Seychelles Islands en route to Mombasa, Maputo and Durban on 23 November 1942.
Ml Sema was travelling back to South Africa after completing his Islamic studies in India.
Renowned Islamic scholar Mufti Zubair Bhayat says Ml Sema was about to board the ship, but his teachers were fearful that he might come to harm because of the attacks on ships towards the end of World War 2.
“Before he left, they exhorted him to read Durood-e-Tunjeena especially if there was a problem at sea. They told him read this durood and if there is any problem Allah will save and protect you to the power of this durood.”
Mufti Bhayat says Ml Sema was one of the survivors after the ship was torpedoed.
“He held on to a plank and for three days he floated on the ocean and at that time the only thing he could remember was the words and advice from his teachers. Profusely he was reading Durood-e-Tunjeena and he says it is only through the barakat of Durood-e-Tunjeena that Allah rescued him.”
Mufti Bhayat says Ml Sema made a vow to Allah.
“He made a vow to Allah, ya Allah if you spare my life, than I will Insha’Allah go back to my country and I will serve the deen and I will establish a darul uloom and through that I will spread the light of knowledge of Qur’an and Hadith in the youth of my country.”
Ml Sema sadly passed away at the age of 87 on 9 June 2007.
Listen to the story of Ml Cassim Sema by Mufti Zubair Bhayat
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