RE: ELEGY FOR YOUSUF DEEDAT

Since the visit of Yousuf Deedat to Kano in 2007, we had kept close and constant communication, especially after I informed him of the plan to establish a “Shaikh Ahmad Deedat International Islamic Centre” in Kano, initiated by the young people who have imbibed the teachings of his father – principally Sadiq Danpullo, Muhammad Yahaya, Rabi Gwamna (who even wrote a book on the late older preacher), Aliyu Rabi’u, Nasir Dawud, Mahmud Habib, AbdulKadir Baba and many others.

In his last letter to me, Yousuf had intimated me of two things – first, he was thinking of transferring all late Shaikh Deedat’s legacy items (including personal effects, manuscripts, publications, etc) to Kano to be displayed at the proposed centre (instead of sending them somewhere in the Arab World where wealthy associates were ready and keen to house them); second, that he would contact all his father’s wealthy Middle East-based associates to come to Kano and help finance the complex to be named after the late Shaikh.

On the first, Yousuf had already sent in advance late Shaikh Deedat’s glasses, old passport, cap and other sundry items (now on display at Kano’s History and Culture Bureau, Gidan Dan Hausa); on the second, we didn’t reach that aspect before he was tragically murdered three weeks ago. May Allah forgive the father, the son, this columnist, my editors, all readers and those who sent the responses below:

ABBATI DANKANTI GUMEL ([email protected]): Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un! We are from Allah, and to Him shall we return. Thanks for another interesting feature on late Deedat’s family. It is on record that late Ahmad Deedat, father of Yousuf, was denied entry into Nigeria by the enemies of Islam and Nigerian Muslims. This we shall never forgive.

Secondly, the issue of renaming Lodge Road to Shaikh Ahmad Deedat by former Governor Ibrahim Shekarau was a step in the right direction. However, that epoch-making event seems lost. The Islamic homogeneity of Kano people should be the reason to uplift the name of late Ahmad Deedat who will forever be remembered by the Ummah for his dedication to Islam. He has shown Muslims through empirical evidence followed by forensic research on the divine revelation of the Qur’an that Islam is true and from the Lord of Abraham, the One and Only ALLAH!

GARBA ISA ([email protected]): The murder of Yousuf, son of late Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, came as a rude shock to all people of conscience. This writer has always suspected that even the late senior Deedat may have been a victim of poisoning or similar (passive murder), and now his heir has been fallen by a cruel assassin’s bullet (active murder).

Given the largely peaceful nature of their Da’awah (call to Islam), both the senior and junior Deedats deserved no violent deaths. But that is the way of antagonistic opponents bereft of intellectual arguments; resort to violence. Sadly, the largely Islamophobic so-called mainstream Western media are likely to treat Yousuf Ahmed Deedat’s death as a non-event, as they did in the case of his father’s death some 15 years ago.

But to all people of intellect, comparative religious discourse and interfaith peaceful dialogue, the loss of such intellectual giants is earth-shaking. Their works for Islam and humanity will not be in vain before God the Most High, and then before us, humans, the beneficiaries spread across the globe. May Allah admit both Deedats into Jannatul Firdaus.

MUHAMMAD YAHAYA ([email protected]): I wish to write to express my heartfelt sadness and convey my condolences to you over the inhuman and gruesome murder of our beloved brother Yousuf Ahmad Deedat. May Allah forgive him and make our death a shahada also. May his soul rest in Jannatul Firdaus, and may Allah reward you for your effort in educating us and protecting our norms and ideals.

ABUBAKR SIDDEEQ MUHAMMAD (www.abubakrsiddeeq.com/2020/01/shaheed-yousuf-deedat.html for the full tribute): “He who is killed while defending his property is a shaheed, he who is killed while defending his family is a shaheed, he who is killed while defending his deen is a shaheed, he who is killed while defending is blood (person) is a shaheed,” (said Prophet Muhammad, upon whom be peace, narrated by Abu Dawud, Nasaa’i and Tirmidhi)

To Allah belongs what He took, and to Him belongs what He gave. Everything is (recorded) with Him for an appointed term. We shall be patient and seek Allah’s reward for the affliction of losing Shaheed Yousuf Deedat.

Why do I use the shaheedi epitaph with respect to Yousuf? First; it was inconceivable that a Muslim of Yousuf Deedat’s background could not be uttering Laa ilaaha Illallaah from the moment the bullet hit him until he lost consciousness. Every Muslim knows this, let alone the son of Sheikh Ahmad Deedat; whenever danger approaches, we say Laa ilaaha illallaah because “He whose last words are Laa ilaaha illallaah will enter al-Jannah.” Second; when a minimum of two righteous, knowledgeable, and truthful Muslims praise a dead person with good things, based on their acquaintance with him, this guarantees Jannah for him.  Third; Yousuf Deedat died on a Friday; ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Amr reported that Allah’s Messenger, sallallaahu alaihi wa sallam said: “Any Muslim who dies on the day or night of Jumu’ah (Friday) is protected by Allah from the tribulation of the grave.”

To Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, Yousuf was a dedicated son, a quasi-body guard, a Special Assistant and a Media Consultant. Hardly would you see Yousuf in any of Sheikh Deedat’s videos but he was there; to every place, to every country Deedat went, Yousuf was with him and at his complete disposal. He was not too proud to serve his father in whatever capacity. He was part of the cameramen covering Deedat’s debates and public lectures. His dutifulness and adoration to his parents continued until the end; he was there as part of the team that nursed his bedridden father for a number of years to the time that he passed away.