CONFUSION REGARDING MOLVI GOGA
Brother Ismail Meer from Durban writes:
I write with utmost respect and adab, and with a sincere concern for the protection of the community and, in particular, the safety and dignity of our children.
As you are likely still aware, an Aalim in our Durban community, Mr Muhammad Ameen Goga has confessed, in writing, on video, and directly to numerous Ulama, that he sexually molested multiple young boys while engaging in imaamat, ta‘leem, and jamaat-related activity.
In recent months, I have received, more than once, a letter being circulated in the community and repeatedly brandished by Mr Goga. It is now appearing in conversations across Durban, and when certain people are questioned about why he is still being given a platform, this very letter is being relied upon as “guidance” to justify silence and continued accommodation.
The letter bears the date 3 May 2025 (4 Zil Qa’dh 1446), is addressed to “Muhammad Ameen Goga,” and is signed “A.S. Desai” under “Mujlisul Ulama of S.A.” Mr Goga is presenting it as a basis to claim that he has effectively been given licence to continue with imaamat, ta‘leem, and jamaat-related involvement, and that those who challenge him are engaged in “gheebat” and “buhtaan” and should be met with silence.
By way of brief background: Following multiple different meetings convened by senior Ulama in Durban (over the course of several years), substantial materials were presented and reviewed, including confessions and further corroboration. I understand shortly before the purported date of this letter, Mr Goga was once again asked by some senior Ulama to honour previous commitments he made not to engage in imaamat, ta‘leem, and jamaat-related activity. Thereafter, Mr Goga refused to participate in any further engagement and instead informed the senior Ulama involved that he would not communicate further while simultaneously circulating the attached letter as a weapon to deflect scrutiny and to keep moving from place to place.
Other senior Ulama have also begun referencing the matter publicly in general terms. For example, Mufti A.K. Hoosen recently mentioned, in a broader talk dealing with other contemporary harms, that Mr Goga (not by name, but by clear context) has been banned from imaamat and jamaat work. Against that backdrop, the circulation of this letter (without context) has become a serious instrument of confusion.
Hazrat, what makes this so alarming is the stark contrast between the way this letter is being used and the principled stance for which your respected self and The Majlis are known. The Majlis was among the first to bring this menace to the forefront and to warn the community with clarity and courage including several clear warnings (for example, in the article titled “Misdemeanours by People of ‘Trust’” posted on 1 January 2025) that the issue is not the acceptance of “taubah” in the abstract, but the grave risks of permitting a person accused of such conduct to occupy positions of religious leadership and access to minors. Since then, by Allah’s grace, many Ulama and institutions have spoken up, and the community has begun to understand the gravity of the danger. Yet Mr Goga now appears to be exploiting the good name of your respected self and The Majlis to reverse that hard-won clarity by transforming what is being framed as “naseehah” into a practical tool to keep doors open to him, despite his own admissions. In fact, Mr Goga and those sympathetic to him are now holding it out as nothing less than a retraction, suggesting that your respected self and The Majlis have withdrawn, reversed, or neutralised the clear warnings and firm guidance previously published about his conduct and his unfitness for positions of imaamat, ta‘leem, or jamaat work.
With respect, this has created acute fitnah, confusion among ordinary musallis, pressure on trustees and committees, and a chilling effect on those who raise legitimate safeguarding concerns, especially when the letter is waved as an “answer” to scrutiny, without any disclosure of the question that was asked, the facts that were put before you, or the context in which any guidance may have been offered.
For these reasons, and purely to protect your honoured name from misunderstanding or misuse, I humbly seek your direction on a few points so that the community can act with clarity and adl, without speculation, and without anyone incorrectly invoking The Majlis as cover:
- Firstly, whether this letter dated 3 May 2025 is in fact issued by your respected self / The Majlis, as it is presently being circulated.
- Secondly, if it is authentic, whether it is being presented in its proper context, particularly given that the question posed to you has not been disclosed, and the community is being asked to accept the “answer” as a blanket licence for ongoing public religious leadership.
- Thirdly, whether it can be confirmed, so that fitnah may be extinguished, that nothing in this letter (if authentic) was ever intended to be a retraction of the prior Majlis guidance, nor to be construed as permission for a confessed molester to resume or continue roles that place him in religious authority or in proximity to minors.
Hazrat, I say this carefully and with respect: If the attached letter is not authentic, or if it is being selectively presented or misconstrued, then its continued circulation in your blessed name risks emboldening misrepresentation, undermining communal trust, and placing children at renewed risk. Even a short clarification, in whatever manner you deem appropriate, would Insha Allah close the door to this misuse and restore the community’s focus to what The Majlis has consistently emphasised, including safeguarding, accountability, and the public’s legitimate fear.
I attach the letter presently being circulated, and for ease of reference, state the URL to the Majlis article posted 1 January 2025 (“Misdemeanours by People of ‘Trust’”) https://themajlis.co.za/articles/misdemeanours-by-people-of-trust/, which many in the community understand as expressing the enduring principles that must govern this matter.
May Allah Ta‘ala preserve you, accept your khidmah, and continue to use you as a means of guidance and protection for the Ummah. I ask Allah Ta‘ala to grant aafiyah to all, and to protect every child from harm, الظاهر والباطن.
وَالسَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَةُ اللهِ وَبَرَكَاتُهُ
(End of Ismail Meer’s letter)
OUR LETTER DATED 3 MAY 2025
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM
4 Zil Qa’dh 1446
3 May 2025
Muhammad Ameen Goga
Respected Brother,
Your e-mail refers.
A sincere Taubah effaces all sins. Taubah restores the correct relationship with Allah Ta’ala. However, sins of which people are aware have effects even after Taubah. While people speak about the previous sins of a man, they forget about their own sins. That is why they commit so much gheebat and buhtaan.
You should react with silence. Do not respond to those who dig up your past sins. The best response is always silence. Silence and Istighfaar should be your method. Then Allah Ta’ala will clear your name, Insha-Allah.
It is my fervent dua that Allah Ta’ala keeps you and the family with aafiyat.
Was-salaam
A.S.Desai
Mujlisul Ulama of S.A.
(End of our letter)
OUR RESPONSE TO ISMAIL MEER’S LETTER
ASSALAMU ALAIKUM
21 Sha’baan 1447
10 February 2026
Ismail Meer
Respected Brother,
Our letter dated 3 May 2025 states nothing other than what the Qur’aan Majeed says:
“Say to My servants who have oppressed their souls (with sin):
‘Do not despair of the Mercy of Allah, for verily He forgives all sins.”
Beyond this, our letter states nothing else. Our letter does not justify any of Goga’s activities, whether his indulgence in imaamate, ta’leem of children etc. In fact, in view of his demeanours having becoming public, he should not engage in teaching nor in imaamate notwithstanding the fact that Allah Ta’ala accepts a sincere Taubah.
The Taubah and taking up posts of Amaanat such as imaamate and teaching are two separate issues. Our letter pertains to only Tauaba, and not to any other issue, hence it is wrong and not permissible to use our letter to justify imaamate and ta’leem of children. Our letter was a private one intended only for the consolation of Goga to assure him that a sincere Taubah is always accepted by Allah Ta’ala. He has repent and reform. Our letter is not for seeking public capital.
It is stupid to accept our letter as a “blanket licence for ongoing public religious leadership”. There is no basis for this in our simple letter.
It is palpably false to allege that our letter pertaining to the Taubah issue is a retraction of any kind. If there was a need for retraction we would have done so and our retraction would have been publicly and boldly issued.
Was-salaam
21 Sha’baan 1447 – 10 February 2026