https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/431 Sun, 20 Sep 2026 10:00:57 GMT 2026-09-20T10:00:57Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32979 Islam and ubungoma : case studies of Muslim sangomas in South Africa Langa, Vincent Thulani This thesis explores the intersection of traditional African spirituality and Islam in South Africa through the lens of Muslim sangomas. The study focuses on Ubungoma, a form of divination and healing deeply rooted in the traditional beliefs of South Africa's indigenous peoples. Even though Ubungoma is generally not associated with Islam, it has also been adopted by many Muslims in South Africa, who struggle to reconcile their Islamic faith with their traditional African upbringing. The thesis employs case studies to examine the experiences of Muslim sangomas who face challenges in integrating Ubungoma into their Islamic beliefs and practices. Through interviews and ethnographic observation, the thesis explores how these individuals negotiate the tensions between their Islamic identity and the traditional African beliefs associated with Ubungoma. The study examines the relationship between Islam and culture, specifically in the social and cultural context in which these individuals practice Ubungoma and how their Muslim identity influences their practice. The thesis will thus offer further insights into the complex interplay between religion, culture, and identity in post-apartheid South Africa. Thu, 18 Oct 2018 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32979 2018-10-18T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32571 Entering the silence : meditation and the hidden path of Theo Sophia, a treatise on the soundless sound extracted from the teachings of the Order of Christian Mystics and the Voice of the silence Schreuder, Dirk Jan This dissertation aims to show that the eternal spiritual verities to be found within Asian philosophy such as karma, reincarnation and engaging an inner path of meditation to attain Unity with ‘God’ – freedom from repeated reincarnation – is comparable with, and to be found within broad-based Judeo-Christian1 mystical tradition as espoused by The Order of Christian Mystics (1908 - 1949). Its spiritual teachings aimed to show its pupils and disciples how to come into touch with an Inner Divine Power – the Mystic Christ or the Soundless Sound2 – and how this ‘Sound Current’ redeems and transforms the aspirant, leading to God-realisation. It draws on Theosophical teachings to show the universality with Asian philosophy, revealing a system of personal regeneration or spiritual alchemy, by transmuting the base creative energy – understood as kundalini shakti in Asian philosophy – through Divine aspiration and inner contemplative and meditative practices. Mon, 01 Sep 2025 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32571 2025-09-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32124 The sources of IBN ʿAbidin’s Radd al-Muhtar: a descriptive and numerical study Haspatel, Zaid Text in English with summaries in Arabic Mon, 01 Jan 2024 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/32124 2024-01-01T00:00:00Z https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31734 Safeguarding human rights against discriminatory religious profiling with the context of religious terrorism Serb, Dan-Gheorghe The main question of this theoretical and phenomenological qualitative research study conducted in Ireland was: What can be done to strengthen the safeguarding of religious liberties while still allowing effective measures against terrorism? The line of reasoning employed in answering this question began with the assertion that religious terrorism has raised major concerns regarding the role of religion in today’s society and therefore reinforced the idea that violence is innate to religion. It was shown, however, that the premise that violence is inherent to religion has been scholastically challenged and a new alternative has been developed, namely, that religion is often used as a front for political, economic and territorial disputes. It was further revealed that ideological religious fundamentalism (or religionism), whereby ‘truth’ is conceptualised in absolutist ways, often leads to extremism and radicalism, which can manifest through violent acts (often referred to as religious terrorism). Consequently, national and international security are high on the political agendas of most world nations and, as a response to the threat terrorism poses, counterterrorism measures have been developed and implemented. Many of these measures make use of profiling practices in order to identify and monitor prospective perpetrators. There are various forms of profiling with racial and ethnic profiling being best known; religious profiling is also prevalent, especially in regard to people from Muslim backgrounds, and it is often practiced under the guise of ethnic and/or racial profiling. The study has further shown that profiling, including religious profiling, is a practice which often infringes on the human rights of individuals and groups of individuals. A strategy therefore needs to be implemented to safeguard the protection of human rights and liberties (including religious liberty). This is even more imperative as the danger exists for religious discrimination to become covertly systemic. The strategy developed for the safeguarding of religious liberties rests on three pillars: (1) awareness and advocacy, (2) lobbying, and (3) networking, and its foundational premise is that there is an imperative need to create space for religious profiling awareness and to promote the inclusion of the term and concept ‘religious profiling’ in legal documentation and treaties. Thu, 12 Oct 2023 00:00:00 GMT https://ir.unisa.ac.za/handle/10500/31734 2023-10-12T00:00:00Z