Shamima Shaikh was born in Louis Trichardt, South Africa to Salahuddin and Mariam Shaikh on September,14 1960. After completing secondary school in 1978, she began studying at University of Durban-Westville, which at the time was reserved specifically for students of Indian descent under South Africa’s apartheid laws. She studied Arabic and Psychology, graduating with her Bachelors of Arts in 1984. During her time at university, she was elected to the Executive Committee of the Islamic Society of UD-W in 1985 and later that year she was arrested for distributing pamphlets calling for a boycott of white owned businesses in Durban. The distribution of pamphlets was organized by the Muslim Students Association of South Africa and while in prison, Shamima met the President of MSA, Na’eem Jeenah who she would later marry. In 1985, she began teaching at the Taxila Primary and Secondary School in her hometown but eventually moved to Johannesburg after her marriage to Na’eem. In 1989, she started working with the Muslim community newspaper, Al-Qalam. At the same time, she became even more involved in political activity in Durban, campaigning for the democracy movement and against the apartheid regime. In 1993, Shamima organized the “Women in the Mosque” campaign, which mobilized women to attend tarawih prayers at their local mosque leading to clashes within the Muslim community. That same year, she became the first national co-ordinator of the Muslim Youth Movement Gender Desk, part of the Muslim Youth Movement. During that period, the organization became on of the most outspoken organization in the region, advocating for Muslim women’s rights. In 1994, Shamima was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent intense radiation and chemotherapy. During her battle with cancer, she became the Editor of Al-Qalam, pushing the publication to becoming a flagship of Progressive Islam in South Africa. In 1997, she performed hajj for the first time and later wrote about it in “Journey of Discovery: A South African Hajj”, which was published in 2000 after her death. She passed away on 8 January 1998 after a relapse of cancer. One of the funeral prayers was performed by a close female friend of hers who led both men and women in prayer in accordance with her wishes.