Muhammad Reza Ebrahim (59), was born in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, and grew up in Pietermaritzburg, KZN. He attended Lakehaven High School, and completed his tertiary education at the then University of Durban-Westville, now known as the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal, where he obtained a teaching degree. While still at university, he completed his in-service training at Clarehills Secondary School. Muhammad’s first job as a teacher was at Heather Secondary School, in Pietermaritzburg, where he taught for three years. He then moved on to As-Salaam Education Institute in Amanzimtoti.
Muhammad then received a scholarship to study at the University of Cape Town. He completed his Honours degree in Social Sciences, in 1990-1991. Then in 1992, he taught in Vryburg, in the North West, at Kismet Secondary School until 1993, after which, he returned to Heather Secondary in PMB, the first school at which he started teaching. There, Muhammad taught from 1994 until 2015, as acting Head of Department.
In 2016, he took a job at Esther Payne Smith, in Northdale, Pietermaritzburg, until 2017, then went on to become the Principal at Nizamia Islamic School, where he retired in 2020. He obtained his Master’s Degree at the University of Kwa-Zulu Natal.
Muhammad told the Laudium Sun that after the hard lockdown in 2020, there was a Sufi conference at the Rasooli Centre, in Raslouw, which he attended with a friend. There, his friend introduced him to Ismail Kalla, and they spoke about the state and future of Muslims and education amongst other topics. “It seems Ismail Kalla was impressed by my vision, and he then introduced me to Haroon Kalla, who also liked my work ethic. They said they would inform me if there was a space in their school for me. Indeed, within a few months, I got a call about an interview for the Principal’s post at Al-Ghazali College, and I landed the job. I took up my position as Principal in January 2021.
“I find the culture of Al-Ghazali College very open-minded and with good work ethics, so I adapted very well. My vision for the school is to try as far as possible, to get the students to be holistic human beings, to be in love with nature, to not discriminate, to be religiously tolerant, to create a society that is non-violent, and to be less materialistic. To me, spirituality is very important. ‘Don’t teach the head, teach the heart’.
Teaching is my passion and I love teaching, it is part of my DNA.
I always believe that you have to love what you are doing. If you love it, 50% of your work is done.”
Muhammad is married to Basheera and they have four children, Sibthayn, Hanayn, Sidrah and Muntaha.
The newly-appointed Principal of Al Ghazali College, Muhammad Reza Ebrahim.
