Moonira Abdool Hay

Programmes: Cooking Up A Storm, Urdu ki Mehfil (Urdu Gathering), Food Fair

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

Some ten years ago, as a lecturer at MCF (Muslim Charitable Foundation), I met Br Riaz Jamal, who was also a lecturer at MCF. Br Jamal introduced me to the then Radio Al-Ansaar station manager, Br Abie Dawjee, who requested that I present the food programme - ‘Cooking Up A Storm’, and Urdu programme – ‘Urdu ki Mehfil’. I later introduced a ladies’ naath programme as part of the Urdu programme.

2) What is your life like off air?

I teach Urdu at a Department of Education school and madressah in the afternoon. I also tutor matric Urdu, and lecture at MCF on Saturdays.

3) You have compiled a book called ‘The Winning Hostess’. Tell us more about this.

I have always loved cooking. I won lots of cooking competitions and upon encouragement from my family, friends, and Radio Al-Ansaar listeners I decided to compile a book of my winning recipes. ‘The Winning Hostess’ was first published in 2000, and has since been through a few cover revisions.

4) What are some of the memories that stand out for you as a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

The phone calls from individuals who have benefited from my recipes and Urdu programme. I also introduced many young Nasheed artists to radio, and alhamdulillah (praise be to Allah), some of them now have CDs to their name. To name a few of the artists featured on my Naath programme: Safeena Shaik, Zaibooneesa, Yasmeen Adam, Areef Subrathie, Naeem Sheik Hameed, Shuayb Mehmood, and Hafiz Muhammad Rashid Kazi.

5) Some of your Urdu lines have really stuck in the minds of our Radio Al-Ansaar listeners. Could you share some of these?

Aap Radio Al-Ansaar sun rahe hain. 103fm stereo se nashar kiya ja raha hain. Chobees khantei subah sei shaam tak aur shaam sei subah tak, aur hafte ke saath din.
(You are listening to Radio Al-Ansaar, broadcast on 103fm 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.)

Agar zindagi nei moka dee tu isi jaga insha’ Allah phir mulakath hogi. Tu us waqt ke liye khush raho, abaad raho, aur sada muskurathei raho aur Moonira Abdool Hay ki taraf sei khuda hafez aur shabba khair.
(If life gives us another opportunity, we’ll meet again right here. Until then, remain happy, prosperous and keep smiling. From me, Moonira Abdool Hay, may you be in god’s protection. Good night.)

6) Any parting words for our readers?

Alhamdulillah, it is indeed a great pleasure to be a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar. I ask Allah ta`ala to grant me the strength and enthusiasm to continue serving the Ummah (Muslim community) in this manner. I wish to thank my husband Yusuf and daughter Ayesha, as well as the Management and listeners of Radio Al-Ansaar for their continued support over the years. Keep listening to the ‘Food Fair’ programme, and happy cooking!

Saber Ahmed Jazbhay

Programme: Legal Eagle

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

Well, way back in time, two days before Radio Al-Ansaar’s very first Ramadaan broadcast in 1995, a good friend and former station manager Br AB Dawjee called me for a meeting in which he informed me, not requested, but informed me that I will be doing the Legal Eagle programme two days later. So for the past fourteen years, my place has been set for Friday nights.

2) What do you do when not on radio?

Read, read, read, and research! (laughs) Serious – that’s all I live for!
Otherwise I am a practicing lawyer, part-time lecturer, and am also involved in several community projects.

3) Your most memorable radio experience?

I think your first show will always leave a lasting memory. My first show which I co-hosted with Fathima Khan, was in a tiny room, about 2 by 2 metres in size. We were cramped up, and conducted interviews, and a purely novel programme, unlike the sophistication we enjoy now. I call that tiny space in which I broadcasted for the very first time, my first love!

4) Five things that you won’t do without?

- Reading (I confess, I’m a readaholic!)
- Researching (Every moment alive, I use to gain knowledge)
- The internet
- My family around me
- The love for helping the community around me

5) If you could run the country for a day, what would you do?

(Before the question can even be completed, he proclaims) I would fire all the ministers! They will be replaced with such individuals that are committed to the revolution and those that genuinely want to serve humanity and end corruption. We’re tired of the lavish lifestyles our current members of parliament enjoy. There are bigger issues that need to be handled.

Nadia Ally Mahomed

Programme: Fresh Vibes

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

Well, I’ve been involved with the station for 11 years now; started off helping in the programming department, and eventually Br AB Dawjee suggested I host a greetings programme every Sunday. From there I noticed that the younger children were more enthusiastic to call in and share with me their thoughts and feelings, so I took that opportunity and kicked off the ‘Fresh Vibes’ greetings programme for the little ones.

2) You've been hosting the same kiddies programme all these years; how have you managed to maintain its popularity?

At the end of the day the show is not about me, it's those several kids that call in with their interesting stories and responses that make the show so special. They are my inspiration and they are the ones that make the show successful.

3) What is your life like off air?

It's quite a full life - I'm a grade 6 educator in English, Arts & Culture and isiZulu, as well as a proud mother to four-year-old twins, and a grateful wife to a wonderful husband.

4) You're known to be an enormous source of encouragement to young girls. What would your advice be to those interested in pursuing a career?

Whatever you decide to do in your life - keep it real, keep it natural, be yourself. For only if you are true to yourself, will you be able to achieve YOUR best, and YOUR full potential.

Ebi Mamode

Programme: Sanayeh Muhammad (pbuh) (Praises of Prophet Muhammad)

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

Here, I must say shukran (thank you) to Bhai Hoosen Sheik for giving me my break on radio. Sadly, when Marhoom Moulana Mohamed Feisal Khan fell ill, ‘Sanayeh Muhammad (pbuh)’ was short of a presenter. I stepped in and the rest is history.

2) What is your life like off air?

I manage a factory manufacturing men’s upmarket shoes. My hobbies include watching sport and listening to Urdu poetry.

3) As a presenter of a predominantly Urdu programme, how have you developed such an adept understanding and passion for the language?

My friendship with Janaab Safee Siddiqi Saheb, a legend in his own right, helped me in my fluency of the Urdu language. They say: ‘Karboozeh koh dhek kur, karbooza rung pakar tha hai!’ (Literally, if you look at the sweet melon, its colour will rub on to you.)

4) Major highlights of your radio career?

Hosting internationally acclaimed reciters like Imran Sheik, Rashid Azam, and Sarwaat Hussein Naqsha Bandi on radio, also not forgetting the cream of SA’s top reciters. Our live broadcasts from the Soofie Darbars have also proved to be very popular amongst listeners.

5) Closing words?

I must thank my wife Tahera and my two sons Sameer and Shuaib for their understanding when I have to leave them and officiate on programmes. Here again I must say a big THANK YOU to Radio Al-Ansaar for catapulting me in the public eye.

Munira Mahomed

Programme: Little Ansaars (Helpers)

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

All thanks goes to Hafiz Husayn Wadi. He was told by Al-Ansaar to scout for potential presenters who could conduct a kiddies programme using a different approach. I’d been teaching with him at Al-Falaah College at the time. Since I always played an active role at the school, I decided to give it a go, along with a co-presenter, Aziyara Ebrahim, who later left the show due to unfortunate circumstances. It was during the 2006 Ramadaan broadcast that Little Ansaars aired for the first time!

2) Your most memorable radio experience?

There are so many, gosh, but one that definitely gives me something to laugh about every time I think about it is recently, when I brought my brother, an educator, on to the show for an interview.

He had come up with a song about the show, and on the spur of the moment he made up a tune and sang the song live on air – without preparation!

It was really fun, and the callers all enjoyed it! However, something else that added a unique dimension to the show was our very own Health Desk with Tauheed Khan. He’s already made a name for himself with his signature sign-off: “Staaaaaaay Healthy!”

3) What is your life like off air?

It’s hectic! I’m an educator of fifty Grade 1 learners at a government school; so trust me, I don’t have much time for anything else! I also come home to my very supportive husband and two wonderful kids - my 15-year-old son who just has two paras (chapters of the Qur’an) to go to become a hafiz insha’ Allah (god-willing) and a 12-year-old daughter.

4) If you could host a small group of people for supper – dead or alive – who would you invite?

- My late grandparents (just because they would be so thrilled)
- An aunt from Jo’burg (aside from my parents, she’s really been a pillar of strength)
- A child that I’d taught a while back. He had some problems, and I would love to know how he’s doing.

Ahmed Chothia

Programmes: Jumu`ah Roundup, Hadith In Focus

1) How did you become a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

It was Sr Asiya Amod’s and Br Riaz Jamal’s encouragement that led me to the world of radio. The recording technicians and other presenters played a pivotal role in assisting me when I started out as a continuity announcer during our signature campaign for a permanent licence.

2) What are some of the memories that stand out for you as a presenter on Radio Al-Ansaar?

During the Radio Al-Ansaar Signature Campaign (for the radio station to be granted a permanent broadcasting licence) a visually-impaired elderly woman visited the Al-Ansaar offices and studio. She said the radio station filled a gap in her life and that it was a companion to her. Imagine Ramadaan without Radio Al Ansaar!

Also, we’ve had various listeners who do not subscribe to our beliefs call in to say they find the programmes on Radio Al-Ansaar very informative.

3) What is your life like off air?

I represent an Asian company; importing and supplying food snacks. I am also passionate about photography, and am currently working on a photographic record of all the masajid (mosques) in KwaZulu-Natal, and was amazed to discover that there are almost 200 masajid in Durban area. I enjoy Qur’anic recitations and prefer the Egyptian method.

4) What is it about photography that captures you?

Photography is the collection of light on film. It has heightened me to the beauty of the human eye, and that has exposed me to a vista of seeing nature in its moods. The human eye sees what it wants to see as opposed to photography, which simply records objects as they are.

5) Tell us more about the Jumu`ah Roundup programme.

It provides a platform for the womenfolk who do not get to perform their Jumu`ah salaah in the masjid to benefit from a summary of the topics covered by the khatib (lecturer) in the masjid. While listening to this, aspects of deen (religion) are being reinforced. It gives you a better perspective on topical matters, which you can then encompass as part of revising your deen.

I would like to thank the various `Ulama’ (Muslim theologians) who are always very accommodating and willing to share with us the pertinent aspects of particular subject matters. I am humbled by the fact that I am able to interact with learned `Ulama’ and dignitaries through Radio Al-Ansaar and the Jumu`ah Roundup programme.

6) What are some of your favourite reads?

Du`a – The Weapon of the Believer by Abu Ammaar Yasir Qadhi; `Ulum Al-Qur’an – An Introduction to the Sciences of the Qur’an by Ahmad Von Denffer; and the writings of Karen Armstrong and Islamic History.

7) What would your advice be to the youth?

Wisdom comprises knowledge and experience. Knowledge encompasses everything. Acquire Islamic knowledge together with secular. That way we will be able to face challenges and develop as an Ummah. Cherish the legacy of our Islamic heritage and way of life, and hold fast to it for there is nothing that can equal or surpass it. It is truly a perfect way of living as humans on earth.

Balance your life. Too much of a good thing is a bad thing. What is the legacy that we will leave for future generations? How will history view us!

Youth should go to the basic element of reading, learning and researching. The element of reading and understanding; of acquiring knowledge – this will lead one to possess judgemental wisdom. The onus is on every individual to acquire knowledge to create a better connection with the Superior Being and be of service to humanity.