By Bonny Verwey
Sheikh Ahmed Hoosen Deedat, president of the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) and an icon of the Muslim world, died on Monday.
Deedat had been bed-ridden after suffering a severe stroke that left him paralysed nearly 10 years ago.
Born on July 1, 1918, in the Surat district of India, Deedat emigrated to South Africa in 1927 with his father.
| 'A hero of the Muslim world and a true hero of believers all around the globe' |
In a tribute to its founders, the IPCI website said on Monday that a lack of money had forced Deedat to abandon school and begin working at age 16.
After reading Izharul Haq - The Truth Revealed, a book about a debate with Christian missionaries in the then-British India, Deedat was spurred on in the direction of Dawah (Islamic missionary activity).
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The controversial and fiery Islam scholar founded the IPCI and immersed himself in conducting classes, lectures and debates around the world.
He also established an Islamic seminary at the Assalaam Educational Institute, in Braemar, on the South Coast.
His career in the field of comparative religion involved him in dialogue with Protestant leaders in the United States and the late Pope John Paul II.
Deedat was refused entry into France and Nigeria because it was feared that his views would spark civil unrest.
The Deedat family enjoys close relations with the family of Osama bin Laden, one of the richest families in Saudi Arabia.
About 200 friends and relatives gathered at Deedat's Verulam residence on Monday afternoon for his burial ceremony. Mourners spoke in hushed tones and, in accordance with Muslim burial tradition, helped pass along the coffin before it was loaded into a hearse.
The body was taken to a mosque for the funeral prayer, and then to the Verulam Muslim Cemetery where Deedat was buried.
The funeral service was filmed by Al-Jazeera, the television news station, and broadcast live to the Middle East.
On Monday, the IPCI said Deedat had "gracefully persevered under the most difficult personal conditions, but never forgot his task as a daee (Islamic worker) and an ambassador of Islam".
"He continued to inspire, educate, challenge and inform people about the universal message of Islam. We salute the courageous spirit and phenomenal work of this world-renowned personality, a hero of the Muslim world and a true hero of believers all around the globe," the organisation said.
On the new leadership of the IPCI, Deedat's son, Yousuf, said: "Just as a passing comet passes once in a century, so too does a man of this calibre. He cannot be replaced. Nobody is capable of following in his footsteps. He is a loss to South Africa. His system is already in motion, all Muslims will continue his work."
Ashwin Trikamjee, president of the South African Hindu Mahasabha, said he was saddened by the death of Deedat, who was known for being forthright.
"I am, like all the religious leaders, saddened by his loss. The Muslim community has suffered a great loss. He was a great scholar of the religion of Islam and, although he was controversial, he has made a huge contribution to the religious community of South Africa."
Anglican Bishop Ruben Philip said he regretted hearing of Deedat's death, and extended his condolences to the Muslim leader's family. He said dialogue between the Christian and Muslim communities should be continued.
Rafeek Hassen, director of the IPCI, said Deedat's passing had "left a vacuum which will not be filled for a long time".
"Deedat was a legend among both the local and international communities. He created global awareness (of Islam). He leaves behind a legacy far greater than himself," he said.
Deedat had published more than 20 books and distributed millions of copies of free literature and pamphlets across the world. Many of his publications have been translated into various languages and he was awarded the King Faisal Award in 1986 for his services to Islam.
Deedat is survived by his wife, Hawa, and three children.
- This article was originally published on page 1 of The Mercury on August 09, 2005
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