American Muslims Mourn 'Visionary' Hathout

CALIFORNIA - American Muslims are mourning Dr. Hassan Hathout, a renowned leader who passed away this weekend after a long life in serving the Islamic faith.

"We have lost today a luminary of Islam in North America," Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Fiqh Council of North America, told IslamOnline.net.

"He has been a voice of wisdom, clarity and compassion for Islam for over thirty years in Southern California."

Dr. Hathout, 84, died Saturday in Pasadena, California after a long period of sickness.

"It is with deep sadness we have learned of the sad demise of Dr. Hassan Hathout this afternoon," the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California said in a statement.

"May he be blessed with Jannah al Firdaws and may his family be granted with patience for their irrevocable loss."

A physician by profession, Dr. Hathout, of Egyptian origin, came to the United States in 1989 with the goal of making da`wa to the American people.

He was a co-founder of the International Organization of Medical Sciences, designed with the goal of dissemination of God-guided medical ethics.

Additionally, he was the co-founder of the Interfaith Council of Southern California

Dr. Hathout was the keynote speaker at the first Christian-Muslim celebration at the White House in 1999.

He was also an active member of the World Health Organization (WHO) committee on ethics of human reproduction, and a close affiliate to the Vatican.

In addition to being a scientist and ethicist, Dr. Hathout was a bicultural and bilingual poet, speaker, thinker, and writer.

"To me personally, Hassan was more than a brother, a friend, a teacher, a leader and a pioneer," Dr. Maher Hathout, the deceased's younger brother, told IOL.

"He was the only person I saw in my life who never hated, and relentlessly represented Islam in his own behavior as well as in his expression and writings."

Visionary

The umbrella Muslim organization, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), said Dr. Hathout has been an inspiration for many American Muslims.

"He was a visionary person and a scholar at the same time," CAIR executive director Nihad Awad told IOL.

"He inspired so many of us with his understanding of Islam and his dedication to Islamic work in general."

Muslim leaders praised contributions Dr. Hathout has made in serving Muslim issues in the US and around the world.

"He had a special charisma as a well-educated intellectual Muslim, in addition to his high level of professionalism and great experience," Dr. Kamal Hilbawi said.

"He concentrated on reshaping the future and addressing the crisis of Muslim mind.

"Many Muslim generations will continue to benefit from his great legacy."

The prominent Muslim leader has received many awards from interfaith and humanitarian communities, including the Jewish Christian Muslim Olive Branch award for his efforts in making peace and harmony between people of different faiths.

"He always preached that love should be the relationship between human beings. That simply describes his mission in life," said Dr. Omar Alfi, the deceased's school-mate and a lifetime friend.

Many American Muslims mourn the great loss of the pioneering Muslim leader.

"I am sure I will not be alone when I say I will greatly miss Dr. Hathout," said Imam Shaker El-Sayed from the Muslim American Society.

"He was one of the first Muslims to positively respond to the tragic events of 9/11 and to show the community the path forward.

"May Allah bless his soul and shower him with his great mercy."