Sheikh Ahmad Deedat Dies at 87
Deedat was considered by many as more a scholar of the Bible than the Qur'an.
CAIRO, August 8, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) Famed Muslim preacher and debater Sheikh Ahmed Deedat died Monday, August 8, at 87, leaving behind a legacy of propagating Islam and defending it against missionaries.
Founder of the Islamic Propagation Center International (IPCI) in Durban, South Africa, Deedat distributed more than twenty million copies of his books and audio tapes free of charge for the purpose of da`wah.
In South Africa where he lived, hundreds of people have entered Islam Including a large number of missionaries.
He delivered lectures all over the world and successfully engaged Christian Evangelists in public debates.
One of his most famous debates was Was Christ Crucified? when he impressively debated Bishop Josh McDowell in Durban in 1981.
Famous books by Deedat included "The Choice - Between Islam and Christianity; "Is the Bible Gods Word?"; "Al Quran the Miracle of Miracles" ; "What the Bible says about Muhammad (PBUH)?"; and "Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction?"
Deedat, who was born in 1918 in the Indian district of Surat, has been bedridden since 1996 when he suffered a serious stroke.
Excellent Debater
In 1986, Sheikh Deedat was awarded the King Faisal International Prize for Service of Islam.
Sheikh Deedat did not have much formal schooling, but he was self-taught through experience and had a penchant for reading, debating, discussion, and a profound sense of commitment to a mission and goal, according to his Web site.
He was driven and goal oriented. He was focused and never let up until the job was done. He was sharp, perceptive, forthright, fiery, and daring in his challenge of those whom he debated particularly against those who equal his missionary zeal and sense of audacity, the Web site added.
"Formal schooling did not destroy his creative prowess, his tenacity, ambition, drive, and sheer daring to swim upstream."
Sheikh Deedat was considered by many as more a scholar of the Bible than the Qur'an and was more familiar and adroit with its teachings.
He had an insight and perspective of the Bible which made many Christians he came into contact with rethink and re-examine their faith, particularly those aspects of the Bible and the Qur'an that deal with the divine mission and life of Prophet Jesus, the Web site says.
In 1986, the King Faisal Foundation awarded the King Faisal International Prize for Service of Islam to Deedat. He shared the prize with prominent French Muslim intellectual and philosopher Roger Garaudy.
When he suffered a stroke, he lost his speech, his most potent gift that he used so effectively in his debates to propagate Islam.
He delivered his last lecture in Sydney, Australia, in 1996 just before his chronic illness. The lecture was considered to be one of his most passionate talks.
Muslims Mourn Late Sheikh Deedat
http://www.islamonline.net/English/News/2005-08/08/article03.shtml
Deedat was a self-educated caller to Islam.
By Fatima Asmal, IOL Correspondent
DURBAN, South Africa, August 8, 2005 (IslamOnline.net) - Hundreds of people are expected to attend the funeral of South African caller to Islam Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, who passed away in the early hours Monday, August 8.
Sheikh Deedat, 87, passed away at his home in Trevennen Road, Verulam in the province of KwaZulu Natal at 7 a.m.
His son Yusuf told IOL that the cause of his death was heart failure.
The family was not in a state of shock, said Yusuf. As Muslims we believe that every soul shall taste death.
He added that the last moments of his fathers life were peaceful, and coincided with the commencement of a recitation of "Surah Yaseen" on an Islamic radio station.
Channel Islam had just introduced and begun to play Surah Yaseen when the throes of death began, he explained. My father just looked at us and then passed away.
Funeral
Sheikh Deedat will be buried in the Verulam cemetery after Salaatul-Maghrib (Maghreb prayers) Monday.
Hundreds of people from around the country are expected to participate in his funeral prayer, and his family says that people from across the world, such as India, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have been calling to convey their condolences.
His death comes as a shock to us, Maulana Ahmed Kathrada, of the Jamiatul Ulama (Scholars' Group), a local theological body, told IOL.
He added that Sheikh Deedat had served not only South Africans, but the Muslim Ummah at large, for many years.
We pray that Allah Grants him a lofty position in Jannah (Paradise), and that He Grants his family patience, especially his wife who has endured so much during the last few years.
Dedicated Wife
He was bed-ridden for almost a decade.
Mrs Hawa Deedat, who had spent the last nine years nursing her husband and administering his daily injections, was present at her husbands side at the time of his death, and she is well, said
