Imam Shahibo (Shuaib) Ibn Abdul Sataar

Imam of the Jameah Mosque from 1872 - 1899 replacing Imam Abdol Wahab. Chief Malay Priest (Imam) of Cape Town. Appointed as Chairman of the Cape malay cemetery commitee replacing Imam Gamja.

Below an Extract from the an Article by J.A Loos that includes info from the Standard and Mail Newspaper June 1874 reporting on the departure to Mecca of Cape Muslims.

"Imam Shahibo of the Jamia Mosque, was described as “the high priest of Cape Town, a man highly respected, not only by his own people but as a citizen of the highest probity. “Indeed it is to the men of such stamp as the Imaum that we are indebted for the good order acknowledged by everyone which exists in the large Malay population of this city, and we most sincerely hope that in his travels he will gain such experience and knowledge as will enable him to still lead his followers in the road of progress as good citizens" The Imam was accompanied by his son Mataliep and several members of his congregation, including his assistant Hadje Achmat, “who is also well known and very highly respected,” and Harry Noordien “an under-priest and a man of great intelligence, of good standing and much beloved.” Imam Shahibo’s pre-eminence was confirmed when he and his party visited the Governor prior to their departure to thank him for his interest in their affairs, and to wish him farewell. His Excellency expressed his pleasure at their visit and provided them with a letter of introduction “which is very likely to be of much use in obtaining assistance for the party during the pilgrimage.” A large crowd gathered at the Alfred Docks to bid the pilgrims farewell. According to one imaginative reporter, their colourful attire rivalled the most gorgeous flower-beds. They travelled to the Red Sea via Aden and Bombay, where the Imam had “the high honour of an interview (with) Sir Philip Wodehouse, the Governor of Bombay.” The journey across the desert to Mecca was difficult and wearisome, but they returned home to an ecstatic welcome after an absence of thirteen months. “The Imaum Saibo returns full of satisfaction at the result of his pilgrimage, and many of the intricate questions connected with the Mahommedan faith, and which led to many bitter law suits in the Supreme Court, have been set at rest by the head priests of Mohammedanism.” The Imam, who had successfully passed an examination conducted by the Muftis and Imams of Mecca, had been authorised to convey their instructions with regard to “the discipline of the religion of the Prophet in this land” to local priests. The meeting at the Jamia Mosque was attended by almost all the Hadjis in Cape Town, who listened with great attention while Imam Shahibo reviewed previous doctrinal disputes and explained “the authoritative decisions of the highest dignitaries of Mecca thereon.” These rulings were also discussed at a second meeting attended by large numbers of ordinary Muslims, and were generally accepted as satisfactory.