Shamima Shaikh’s life was a beacon of courage, resilience, and unwavering commitment to justice. Born on September 14, 1960, in the heart of Louis Trichardt, now part of South Africa’s Limpopo Province, Shaikh emerged as one of the most prominent Muslim women’s rights activists of her time. Her journey, marked by relentless activism and a deep sense of purpose, continues to inspire generations of women and activists globally.
Early Life and Education of Shamima Shaikh
Shamima was the second of six children born to Salahuddin and Mariam Shaikh. Her early years were spent in Louis Trichardt, where she first experienced the challenges of life under apartheid. The family later moved to Pietersburg, just over 100 km south, where she continued her education. After completing her schooling in 1978, Shaikh pursued higher education at the University of Durban-Westville, a university reserved for Indian students under apartheid’s oppressive racial laws.
Her time at university was pivotal in shaping her political and social consciousness. The late 1970s and early 1980s were politically charged years, with the struggle against apartheid gaining momentum. It was during this time that Shaikh became involved with the Azanian People’s Organisation (AZAPO), dedicating herself to the fight against racial injustice. In 1984, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in Arabic and Psychology.
Activism and Personal Life
In 1985, Shaikh’s activism took a more pronounced turn when she was elected to the executive committee of the Islamic Society of the University of Durban-Westville. Her activism led to her arrest on September 4, 1985, for distributing pamphlets advocating for a consumer boycott of white-owned businesses. This act of defiance, organized by the Muslim Students Association of South Africa (MSA), brought her into contact with Na’eem Jeenah, the MSA president, who would later become her husband.
Shamima Shaikh’s marriage to Na’eem Jeenah in December 1987 was more than a union of two individuals; it was a partnership rooted in shared values of justice, equality, and activism. The couple moved to Johannesburg, where they continued their work in various social and political movements. They were blessed with two children, Minhaj, born in 1988, and Shir’a, born in 1990.
Advocacy for Muslim Women’s Rights
Shamima Shaikh’s work as an activist for Muslim women’s rights began to gain significant traction in the late 1980s. In 1989, she joined the Muslim community newspaper, al-Qalam, where she worked alongside her husband. Her involvement with the Muslim Youth Movement of South Africa (MYM) deepened during this period, and she quickly became a leading voice in the organization.
In 1993, Shamima Shaikh was elected as the Transvaal Regional Chairperson of the MYM, becoming only the second woman to hold such a position. Her most notable contribution to the cause of Muslim women’s rights was her “women in the mosque” campaign, launched during Ramadan in 1993.
Shamima Shaikh and her fellow activists began mobilizing women to attend tarawih prayers at the 23rd Street Mosque in Johannesburg. This campaign, which challenged the exclusion of women from mosques, brought Shaikh into the public eye and established her as a formidable advocate for gender equality within the Muslim community.
Shaikh’s leadership in the MYM Gender Desk, where she served as the national coordinator, was instrumental in advancing the discourse on Muslim women’s rights in South Africa. She spearheaded several key campaigns, including the “Campaign for a Just Muslim Personal Law” and the “Equal Access to Mosques” campaign.
Under her guidance, the MYM Gender Desk became the most outspoken organization on issues of gender and Islam in South Africa, laying the foundation for the broader Islamic feminist movement in the country.
Legacy and Impact
Shamima Shaikh’s influence extended beyond her activism. In 1994, she played a crucial role in the Muslim Forum on Elections, a coalition of Muslim organizations that encouraged the community to participate in South Africa’s first democratic elections.
Shamima Shaikh also co-founded the Muslim Community Broadcasting Trust, which launched Johannesburg’s first Muslim community radio station. Her efforts in these areas demonstrated her commitment to ensuring that the Muslim community played an active role in the new democratic South Africa.
However, 1994 also brought significant personal challenges for Shaikh. She was diagnosed with breast cancer, a battle that would define the last years of her life. Despite her illness, Shaikh continued her activism with remarkable tenacity. She underwent a lumpectomy and radiation therapy but chose not to undergo further chemotherapy after the cancer spread to her skeleton. Instead, she dedicated her remaining time to her work, refusing to let her illness define her.
In April 1997, Shamima Shaikh fulfilled one of her lifelong dreams by performing the hajj, the Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca. This spiritual journey was a profound experience for her and her husband, and they documented it in a manuscript titled Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj, published posthumously in 2000.
Shaikh’s final public engagement was on December 22, 1997, when she delivered a powerful paper titled “Women & Islam – The Gender Struggle in South Africa: The Ideological Struggle” at the Islamic Tarbiyyah Programme of the MYM. Just 17 days later, on January 8, 1998, during the sacred month of Ramadan, Shamima Shaikh passed away at her home in Mayfair, Johannesburg.
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