The 1 500 years of the legacy of Prophet Muhammad was launched on Wednesday 9 July at the Ghousia Manzil in Rylands Estate.
The event marked the beginning of the year-long programme titled The Legacy Project 1500, under the theme “A message of mercy, environmental awareness and social justice”.
A diverse programme of events for the year is planned that will feature a rich tapestry of local and international events.
A new dawn, “Embracing Islam with purpose and peace”, reflects transformative experience of reverting to Islam.
The programme will honour the journey of discovering truth, finding inner peace and integrating into a new spiritual path with clarity, intention and tranquillity.
Cultural and artistic celebrations with an exhibition of Islamic art and calligraphy, live and audio-visual presentations portraying the essential aspects of the life and legacy of the Prophet Muhammad, honouring the timeless strength, wisdom and sacrifice of the women who nurtured the roots of Islam, a mass community exhibition on the Muslim world at a venue to be announced, showcasing models of sacred rites and a rare exhibition of the relics of Prophet Muhammad.
“The 1 500 Year Legacy Project is not merely a celebration of history,” said Dr Elias Parker, one of the convenors of the initiative, “it is an urgent call to reflect on the universal values of Islam and their relevance to contemporary global challenges.
“We want this commemoration to be a catalyst for social justice, environmental stewardships and interfaith understanding.”
The launch was attended by scholars, community leaders, activists, artists and media partners who gathered to unveil the vision, events and ambitions of this initiative.
This year marks exactly 1 500 years since the birth of Prophet Muhammad, a towering figure whose teachings continue to shape the lives of over 1,9 billion Muslims worldwide.
For Muslim minorities, especially in countries such as South Africa, this commemoration is an opportunity to reaffirm identity, celebrate contributions to society and highlight shared values of peace and justice.
Part of the celebrations is a commemorative journal with contributions from internationally-acclaimed scholars and featuring contents from an international academic conference where global scholars explore how the Prophet’s message resonated with issues of civilisation, justice and inclusivity. Youth and community programmes include national speech, essay and nasheed competitions, educational-resource development for schools and madrasahs, and a youth-empowerment retreat aimed at inspiring the next generation to live by prophetic values.
An open invitation to individuals, institutions and organisations was extended to volunteer skills and time, sponsor events and programmes, praying for the success of this historic initiative and contribute to publications and artistic projects. “This is a once-in-a-millennium milestone,” said Ml Abdul Khalique Allie, convenor of the Legacy 1 500 Commission. “We want every Muslim and our broader society to find inspiration in the universal message of the Prophet Muhammad, of mercy, justice and stewardship of the earth.
For details contact Ameena Harker on 082 955 1887 or email Ameena@legacy1500.com.
You must be logged in to post a comment.