A Lifetime of Faith, Service and Community
Imam Abdul Moutie Saban’s life has been deeply intertwined with Jameah Masjid for more than six decades. He has been physically present and actively involved at the Masjid since 1962 and has served as its Imam for over 40 years, making him the longest-standing member and Imam of Jameah Masjid.
His journey of service is rooted in a remarkable family legacy. He is the son of the late Imam Abubakr Saban, a pioneering community leader whose work had a lasting impact on Muslims throughout the Western Cape.
Imam Abubakr Saban played an instrumental role in advocating for and facilitating access to Halaal food for Muslim patients in hospitals and Muslim inmates in prisons. He was a founder of the Hospital Welfare and Burial Muslim Society and was also instrumental in establishing the Crescent Observers.
During the difficult years of apartheid, his service extended far beyond the walls of the Masjid. He worked tirelessly to address the social needs of the community, contributing to initiatives that included welfare support, care for orphans and assistance for the elderly. This tradition of serving people with dignity and compassion became a legacy that his son would continue.
A Life Dedicated to Jameah Masjid
Imam Abdul Moutie Saban has devoted the greater part of his life to Jameah Masjid and the community it serves.
Over more than four decades as Imam, his role has extended well beyond leading the daily prayers and Jumu’ah. He has provided spiritual guidance, counsel, education and support to generations of families.
In his earlier years as Imam, he joined the Muslim Judicial Council (MJC), where he was involved in community service and ran its Social Welfare Department, further extending his commitment to assisting those most vulnerable in society.
Feeding the Community
One of the enduring hallmarks of Imam Abdul Moutie Saban’s service has been the Masjid’s feeding scheme.
The initiative has been running for as long as he has served as Imam and continues to provide assistance to those in need. It ref
lects a principle that has defined his leadership: that a Masjid must not only be a place of worship, but also a source of compassion, dignity and practical support for its community.
47 Years of Marriage Education
Education and the strengthening of families have always been central to Imam Abdul Moutie Saban’s work.
His Online Marriage Classes are currently in their 47th year, an extraordinary period of continuous teaching and service.
Through these classes, he has guided generations of couples and families on marriage, responsibility, communication, Islamic values and the foundations required to build strong Muslim homes.
Voice of the Cape
Imam Abdul Moutie Saban has also maintained a longstanding connection with Voice of the Cape (VOC), with Jameah Masjid being a Founding Trustee of the station.
He created the VOC radio programme “Happy Families in Happy Homes,” which is now in its 31st year.
Through the programme, he has taken the lessons and principles taught within the Masjid into homes across the community, addressing marriage, family life, relationships, faith and the everyday challenges faced by Muslim families.
A Father, Teacher and Imam
Beyond his public service, Imam Abdul Moutie Saban is the father of five children and a man whose greatest contribution cannot be measured simply by titles or years of service.
It can be seen in the generations of people he has taught, the marriages he has helped strengthen, the families he has counselled, the people who have been fed and supported, and the community that has looked to him for spiritual guidance for more than four decades.
His life represents a continuation of the legacy established by his father, Imam Abubakr Saban — a legacy built upon faith, service, education and compassion.
From father to son, this has become a story that spans generations: a family committed to serving Islam and the broader community during changing and often challenging times.
Today, Imam Abdul Moutie Saban continues to serve Jameah Masjid and its community, carrying forward a legacy that began long before him while helping prepare the next generation to continue it.
More than 60 years at Jameah Masjid.
Over 40 years as Imam.
47 years of marriage education.
31 years of Happy Families in Happy Homes.
A lifetime devoted to faith, family and community.