1780
Robben Island
A Qur’an from memory
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Tuan Guru, a prince of Tidore, was imprisoned on Robben Island from 1780 to 1793. During his imprisonment he wrote copies of the Qur’an from memory. His story continues across the water, at the Auwal Masjid.
Writing on the island
In 1781, Tuan Guru completed Ma’rifat al-Islam wa’l-Iman. With the Qur’an copies, it is the record of his years on the island.
From Robben Island to Dorp Street
Tuan Guru’s imprisonment ended in 1793. The Auwal Masjid dates to 1794, and he became its first imam. His handwritten Qur’an is kept at the mosque. Confirm access with the mosque before travelling specifically to see it.
Two places, one life
Robben Island and Dorp Street are two parts of one life: thirteen years of imprisonment, then his years as first imam of the first mosque in South Africa.
From the page to the place
Plan a visit
Robben Island
Ferry from the Waterfront
Robben Island connects several periods of imprisonment in the Cape’s history. Tuan Guru’s confinement and his writing of the Qur’an belong to an earlier chapter than the imprisonment of Nelson Mandela, but both make the crossing more than a harbour excursion. Reading a little before you travel helps you connect the island’s places with the lives shaped there.
Visiting detailsConfirm access and opening times before setting out.