Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib (may Allah enlighten his grave with His Noor), is well known generally throughout South Africa and particularly in Durban. He was born in a village called Damman in India on 13 Rabi-ul-Awwal 1320 AH (1900 AC) at 10:00am on a Thursday and hails from Arab descent. He was about 6 months old when his honorable father passed away. His paternal grandfather, Hajee Ismail, took over custody of him. At the age of 5 years, he had completed the reading of the complete Qur`an. He also obtained his primary Islamic education from his paternal aunt.

Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib`s paternal grandfather was always very conscious of the Maulana`s further higher education. A very close friend of Maulana`s father was Maulana Ahmad Mukhtaar Siddiqui (RAH). When he returned from his Hajj, he enquired about Maulana Khatib`s progress. He insisted that the Maulana be sent with him to pursue higher Islamic education, as a fulfillment of the promise he had made to the Maulana`s father. The Maulana`s mother eventually agreed and sent him for higher education with Maulana Mukhtar Sahib and Maulana Abd Al Aleem Siddiqui (RAH).

At Meerat, the Maulana was admitted at Madrasah Imdaad-ul-Islam in Sadr Bazaar as a student of Hifz-ul-Qur`an under the then able leadership of Hafiz Hafeezullah (RAH). Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib Sahib completed the Hifz of the Qur`an in two-and-a-half years. He then went to Madrasah Qawmiyyah in Khair Nagar for his initial studies in Arabic and Persian where he spent a whole year. During this period, he was in the custody of Maulana Ahmad Mukhtaar Sahib (RAH). Thereafter, he was finally sent to Lucknow where he was officially admitted as a resident student at Madrasah Islamiyyah Firangee. There he spent seven long years studying for the Alim Faazil Course. It was here that he had begun reading Naaths both in Urdu and Persian in the presence of large gatherings. He was fortunate to serve and be in the company of a great spiritualist Hazrat Allamah Maulana Abdul Baari Sahib (RAH). It was in this noble company that Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib Sahib was given the gift of reading the Qur`an, Mathnawi of Maulana Rumi (RAW), Deewane-Haafiz and other Nazms of social and political nature in public gatherings. Maulana Khatib also served as Imam in various Masaajid throughout the world. He served as Imam in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Jaami` Masjid (Bombay) as well as in Lorenzo Marks, Maputo.

Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib spent 10 years in Lorenzo Marks, Mozambique from 1934 to 1944. The Lockhat family in Durban was in search of an imam for the Ahmedia Masjid in Mayville, Durban. In 1944, Mr Ahmed Timol found himself in Lorenzo Marks and was an audience to Maulana Khatib`s lectures. He immediately contacted the Lockhat family and indicated that he had found the right imam for the Ahmadiyyah Masjid in Mayville.

He established the first Hifz School in Lorenzo Marks, making numerous Huffaath such as the likes of Hafiz Mohamed Bhika. In 1944 Maulana Khatib moved to Durban, South Africa and became the Imam of the Ahmadiyyah Masjid in Mayville on appointment by the Lockhat family.

Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib was brought to South Africa by the Lockhat family. He arrived in Durban, South Africa, in 1944. He was officially appointed as an Imam at the Ahmadiyyah Masjid in Mayville, Durban. There, he had also started imparting Islamic education to many students. Almost everyone knows the Maulana by name, but very few really know his capabilities as an Alim. Maulana Khatib`s favours are still being counted amongst Muslims, specifically in the larger Durban area. Those who had completed their Hifz under his able guidance are still leading the Taraweeh Salaah during the month of Ramadaan in various Masaajid.

He established the first Darul Uloom in Durban. Maulana Khatib used to lead the Taraweeh prayers and was invited in 1952 to perform Taraweeh in Pretoria, which he did until 1957.

He was Imam of Ahmadiyyah Masjid in Durban for 10 years. He was thereafter appointed as the inspector of all the Madaaries in the Durban area. In 1958 he was appointed as Imam of the Jumuah Masjid in Grey Street, Durban, which he served from 1958 to 1975. In 1974 he moved to Marino Heights, Durban, where he spent the remaining 5 years in attendance at the Soofie Alpine Road Masjid in Durban.

In 1956, he started publishing his monthly magazine and the annual Islamic calendar under the name of AL-HAADIL AMEEN. He served as the Imam of the Jami` Masjid in Grey Street, Durban, for many, many years. This was greatly beneficial to the Muslim community there. He breathed his last on 8 January 1979 in his birthplace village of Damman and was also buried there. Alas! What a great loss to the Muslim community.

Maulana Khatib on one occasion whilst he was serving as imam in Colombo, he spent 11 nights in the Masjid seeking answers as to which direction he should take in life. He received glad tidings to go to the bottom of Africa to spread Islam and its teachings. It was always his wish and desire that when Allah (SWT) calls him that he should be buried in his home town Damman, India, which he left at an early age. Allah (SWT) granted him his wish and on Monday 8^th Safar 1399 (8^th January 1979) and as the Muathin called the Athaan for Thur, he passed away and left this world leaving behind his wife Habiba Khatib and 9 children namely:-

1. Hafiz Abul Hasan Khatib

2. Saajida Haffejee

3. Hafiz Saeed Khatib

4. Hajee Abu Tahir Khatib

5. Hajee Abu Nur Khatib

6. Amina Khatib

7. Fatima Khatib

8. Hafiz Mohamed Anees Khatib

9. Ayesha Khatib

Maulana Abu Bakr Khatib left a long standing legacy by teaching Qur`an to his students who carried on his legacy by teaching the Quran to others as well. Amongst his students are the likes of:

1. Hafiz Jabaar

2. Hafiz Dawood Limalia

3. Hafiz Moosa

4. Hafiz Ahmed Saeed

5. Hafiz Soofie Paruk

6. Hafiz Kagee

7. Hafiz Abdul Hasan Khatib

8. Hafiz Hanief Khan

9. Hafiz Abdurahman

10. Hafiz Imam

11. Hafiz Tootla

12. Hafiz Makda

13. Hafiz Suleiman

14. Hafiz Yusuf Haffejee

15. Hafiz Mohammed Moolla

16. Hafiz Abdullah Miagee

and many, many others.