The Pioneer of English Dawah !
Born in the Surat district of India in 1918, Ahmed Hoosen
Deedat had no recollection of his father until 1926. His father a tailor
by profession had emigrated to South Africa shortly after the birth of
Ahmed Deedat.
With no formal education and fighting off the extreme
pangs of poverty, he went to South Africa in 1927 to be with his father.
His farewell to his mother in India in 1927 was the last time he saw her
alive for she passed away a few months later.
In a foreign land, a boy
of nine with no formal schooling and command of the English language began
preparing for the role he was to play decades later without realizing
it.
Applying himself with diligence to his studies, the little boy not
only was able to overcome the language barrier but excelled in school. His
avid passion for reading helped him gain promotions until he completed
standard 6. Lack of finance interrupted his schooling and at the early age
of about 16 he took on the first of many jobs in retailing.
The most
significant of these was in 1936 where he worked at a Muslim owned store
near a Christian seminary on the Natal South Coast. The incessant insults
of the trainee missionaries hurled against Islam during their brief visits
to the store infused a stubborn flame of desire within the young man to
counteract their false propaganda.
As fate would have it, Ahmed Deedat
discovered by pure chance a book entitled Izhar-ul-Haq, meaning The Truth
Revealed. This book recorded the techniques and enormous success of the
efforts of Muslims in india in turning the tables against Christian
missionary harassment during the British subjugation and rule of India. In
particular the idea of holding debates had a profound effect on Ahmed
Deedat.
Armed with this new found zeal, Ahmed Deedat purchased his
first Bible and began holding debates and discussions with the trainee
missionaries. When they beat a hasty retreat in the face of his incisive
counter arguments, he personally called on their teachers and even priests
in the surrounding areas.
These successes spurred Ahmed Deedat in the
direction of Da'wah. Not even his marriage, birth of children and a 3 year
sojourn to Pakistan after its independence dampened his enthusiasm or
dulled his desire to defend Islam from the deceitful distortions of the
Christian missionaries.
With missionary zeal to project the Truth and
beauty of Islam, Ahmed Deedat immersed himself into a host of activities
over the next three decades. He conducted classes on Bible studies and
gave numerous lectures. He established the As-Salaam, an institute to
train propagators of Islam. He together with his family, almost
single-handedly erected the buildings including the masjid which is still
a landmark today.
He was a founder member of the Islamic Propagation
Centre International (IPCI) and became its President, a position he stills
hold today. He has published over 20 books and distributed millions of
copies free of charge. He has delivered thousands of lectures all over the
world and successfully engaged Christian Evangelists in public debates.
Several thousand people have come into the fold of Islam as a result of
these efforts.
In a fitting tribute to this monumental achievement, he
was awarded the King Faisal International award in 1986, a prestigious
recognition of enormous value in the world of Islam.
No number of
awards and honours can truly capture the man's essence and zeal for
Islam.
May Allah (SWT) bless him for all his efforts for Islam,
Insh'Allah!
ISLAM'S RATIONAL APPEAL:
Islam is a simple, rational and
practical religion. The unity of God, the Prohethood of Muhummed and the
concept of life after death are the basic articles of its faith. There is
no hierarchy of priests, no complicated rites and rituals. Everybody may
approach the Qur'an directly and translate its dictates into
practice.
Islam stands for the middle path and the goal of producing a
moral man in the service of a just society.
"Our Lord! Give us good in
this world and good in the Hereafter." (Qur'an 2:201)
Islam is a guide
towards a better and complete life glorifying in all its phases God, the
Almighty Creator.
AN INTRODUCTION TO DR ZAKIR
He is a dynamic 'daee', and the main driving spirit, Alhamdulillah, behind the IRF's
striving for international excellence in Da'wah.
Though a medical
doctor by professional training he has turned around to make Da'wah his
primary mission in life.
Dr. Zakir Naik has delivered hundreds of
public lectures internationally, of which many are available on video
cassettes. He has also authored books on Islam and Comparative
Religion.
The IRF:
VIDEO CASSETTE LIBRARY
It has the worlds largest
collection of video cassettes on Islam and Comparative Religion. The more
than 2000 video cassettes titles available include films, interviews, T.V.
programmes, documentaries, etc. produced by internationally acclaimed
productions units, as well as lectures, debates and symposia of world
renowned Islamic orators and scholars. These video cassettes are available
for free hire in Mumbai.
In Mumbai alone the IRF video cassettes reach,
through Cable T.V. relay networks, more than 1 million homes daily for
about 3 hours. This relay penetration, by Allah's grace, in cities has
achieved great impact and popularity for the video cassettes. Similarly
the IRF has a collection of more than 5000 audio cassettes on Islam and
Comparative Religion.
IRF AUDITORIUM
It is the venue for regular
meetings, lectures, symposia, debates of religious scholars, quizzes,
Da'wah training and educational programmes as well as screening of Islamic
video cassettes. Regular weekly programmes are held every Saturday, Sunday
and Monday. On other days programmes are held as required.
As most of
the IRF programmes in the Auditorium are followed by an open question and
session answer on the topic and/or on Islam and Comparative Religion, it
is usually jam packed with eager and enthusiastic audiences.
Public
talks of IRF for larger audiences are held in the larger hired public
auditoriums/halls of Mumbai and other cities.
COMPUTER DEPARTMENT
It deals with information and
studies on Islam, Comparative Religion, Qur'aan, Hadith, Fiqh, Shariah,
Islamic Games and quiz programmes on computer diskettes, multimedia CD ROM
presentations, Internet facilities, etc. in addition to the regular office
and communication works.
AUDIO/VIDEO/READING MULTIPURPOSE ROOM
It has
facilities for viewing video cassettes, listening to audio
cassettes/compact discs and reading books of the IRF video, audio and book
libraries. It is also used as a multipurpose room for discussions, salaah,
viewing the programmes in auditorium through a close circuit T.V.
system.
PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT
It distributes and posts
more than 50 IRF publications on Islam and Comparative Religions, authored
by internationally acclaimed scholars. These are available free on
request, The holy Qur'aan with English translation too is distributed by
it all over India. It also handles other publishing and allied
activities.
ISLAMIC DIMENSIONS
It is the sales outlet for
Islamic books, audio and video cassettes and other Islamic
materials.
Books on Islam and comparative religion, other than IRF
publications are sold here at a discount.
VIDEO/CABLE/SATELLITE T.V. PRODUCTION STUDIO
It
handles the production of video films on VHS, U-Matic and Betacam formats
for distribution to Satellite T.V. channels, Cable T.V. networks, IRF
video cassette library and IRF Sales outlet. International Satellite T.V.
channels will Insha'Allah be beaming Islamic oriented programmes of the
IRF soon.
AUDIO AND VIDEO RECORDING DEPARTMENT
It handles
the multiple copying of video cassettes and audio cassettes, catering to
the huge demand in India and abroad.
IRF LADIES WING
It strives exclusively for and
amongst the ladies with activities and programmes for Islamic Da'wah and
understanding, as well as practising and promoting the message of Islam
pragmatically. It also manages the Childrens Wing in its premises.
IRF CHILDRENS WING
It caters to the specialised
needs of Muslim children . They learn and play here - with the aid of
computers, multimedia CD ROM presentations, video, audio, compact discs
etc. - without conflicting with Islamic teachings and beliefs. Many
Islamic games and childrens books too are available. These help in
inculcating proper Islamic values and habits in children.
May Allah
(SWT) bless him and all members of the IRF for their efforts for Islam,
Insh'Allah!
To know more about Deedat's literature, style and
pioneering work, when no one knew how to approach the Christians, go to
Yahoo and type Deedat and just be amazed by the enormous web-presence of
his literature !
All his books are available in word format to download
and reprint without permission or copyrights !
"And nearest among them
in love to the Believers wilt
thou find those who say:
"We are
Christians"; because amongst these are men
devoted to learning..."
(Qur'an 5:82)
"Say: O People of the Book, come to an
agreement
between us and you: that we shall worship none but
God,
and that we shall ascribe no partners unto Him,
and that none of us
shall take others for lords beside
God. And if they turn away, then
say: Bear witness
that we are they who have surrendered (unto
Him)."
(Qur'an Chapter 3 - "The Family of 'Imraan", Verse
64)
Free Internet Access from AltaVista: Get it, share it &
win!
http://freeaccess.altavista.com/pika/www/initweb.jsp
Open
your lips, speak the truth, In-spite of the
dangers
Open your lips,
speak the truth, Life may be bitter,
yet it will pass you have only a
minutes few,
open your lips, speak the truth, Prison,
lashes,
sacrifices are the presents,
open your lips, speak the
truth, Through the crimson
slaughter ground there are gardens
awaiting,
open your lips, speak the truth, Useful will be
this
madness of Muslims today there is time yet,
Back to More Contents
|