Shaykh Sulaiman bin Abdurahmaan

1777-1859

Shaykh Sulaiman at Bainskloof

“Learn your lineages so that you can maintain ties of kinship. For keeping ties of kinship brings love among the relatives, increases wealth, and extends one’s lifespan.” Sunan al-Tirmidhi, 1979

This website preserves the history, lineage, and family memory of Sayyid Shaykh Sulaiman bin Abdurahmaan, who is buried at Bainskloof Pass near Wellington, South Africa. It brings together oral history, family scrolls, archival material, and DNA research so that descendants and visitors can understand who he was and how his legacy continued through the generations.

Paternal Surname

Recorded variants: Slamang, Slemman, Slemang, and Sadan

Although Sulaiman is Arabic in origin, the name appears to have changed as the family became established in the Cape Malay community. When fixed surnames were introduced, descendants in two of Shaykh Sulaiman’s family lines adopted Slamang, with Slemman and Slemang appearing as alternative spellings.

These uncommon surnames have provided an important clue in tracing the family. Together with supporting records and other evidence, they have helped reconnect relatives who shared a surname but did not previously know how they were related. If your paternal surname is Slamang, Slemman, or Slemang, you may be descended from Shaykh Sulaiman through one of his three sons.

The connection between the names is still recognisable today. When one descendant introduced himself by his full name in Indonesia, a local person heard Slamang and responded, “Oh, you mean Sulaiman!”

Historical records preserve several spellings, probably because scribes wrote the name as they heard it. This helps explain the variations found across documents and family branches.

His Sons and Their Surnames

Abdullah Slemman: His descendants adopted the surname Slamang.
Sadan Sulaiman: His descendants adopted the surname Sadan.
Mahmoud Sulaiman: His descendants adopted Slamang and the other recorded variants listed above.

Start Here

Learn the main story in Biography & Journey
Read the summary of the evidence in Lineage Evidence
Explore the three branches in Family Lines
View the dates in Historical Timeline
See archival references in Archival Records

Why This Site Exists

For many years, descendants across different family branches preserved the memory of Shaykh Sulaiman through oral tradition, inherited documents, and family research. Over time, those strands began to confirm one another. This site exists to gather that material into one place so that the history can be remembered with clarity and respect.

At a Glance

Origins and Journey

Shaykh Sulaiman came from the Hijaz and is remembered as a scholar and religious leader whose journey eventually brought him to the Cape. Family tradition preserves that he was banished from Makkah in the early 1800s and that he later settled in South Africa, where his descendants continued across Worcester, Claremont, and Wynberg.

He has also been featured in Shafiq Morton’s respected book Circle of the Saints, a recent publication that highlights the enduring significance of the Cape saints and kramats.

Sayyid Lineage

Family memory, Arabic scrolls, archival records, and DNA research all contribute to the case that Shaykh Sulaiman was a Sayyid, a descendant of Sayyida Fatima (RA), the daughter of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him).

Three Main Family Lines

The three main lines documented on this site descend through his sons:

Imam Sadan - Worcester line
Imam Abdulla - Claremont line
Imam Magmoed - Wynberg line

Key Places

Bainskloof Kramat: Bainskloof Pass, Wellington, 7655
Coordinates: -33.5797222, 19.135
Google Maps: View location

Family Tree

Patrilineal Family Tree (password required; ask a family member to demo the tree)

Family line guide This guide helps descendants identify which son they descend from.