The Role of Ladies’ Mawlūd Jamāts in Preserving the Sharaf al-Anam Mawlūd, An Islamic Tradition in Cape Town: A Maqāsidi-based Thematic Analysis

Abstract

This qualitative study explores the role of ladies’ Mawlūd Jamāʿāt1 in Cape
Town in preserving the tradition of Mawlūd al-Nabī, focusing on the Sharaf
al-Anām Mawlūd. Using Braun and Clarke’s (2006) reflexive thematic
analysis and Auda’s maqāṣid al-sharīʿah framework (2008, 2021), 17
interviews were analyzed, yielding four main themes and 13 subthemes. The
research applies Auda’s multidimensional maqāṣid methodology, including
purpose identification, reflection on primary sources (Qurʾān and ḥadīth),
framework development, and literature review. It highlights the legacy of
Ḥājjah Maryam Bassīr Drāmat, interconnected practices of Mawlūd Jamāʿāt,
and the holistic benefits of Mawlūd events, emphasizing their role in fostering
devotion, community bonds, and social well-being. The findings underscore
the holistic benefits of Mawlūd events in fostering devotion, strengthening
community bonds, and enhancing social and spiritual well-being.