Sheikh Ahmed Deedat, founder of the Islamic Propagation Center International, passed away Monday after a long struggle with illness.

Deedat, who was bedridden after suffering a severe stroke in 1996, died at the age of 87.

Deedat was also the only South African recipient of the King Faisal Award for his service to Islam, which he received in 1986.

Known particularly for his work on comparative religions, Deedat was the founder of the Islamic Propagation Center International (IPCI), the largest Islamic dawah organization in the world.

He published more than 30 books, and distributed millions of copies and audiotapes free in the hope of spreading knowledge. Deedat's debates have been translated into various languages in video and DVD format. He also delivered thousands of lectures throughout the globe.

"It is on this solemn occasion of his demise that we salute the courageous spirit and phenomenal work of this world-renowned personality, a hero of the Muslim world, nay, a true hero of believers all around the globe," a statement from IPCI said.

In the 1980s, Deedat was known for his debates with the priest Jimmy Swaggart and had been refused entry to France and Nigeria on the grounds his opinions might cause civil unrest.

As head of the ICPI, he was critiqued by some as being controversial due to lectures on Christianity and Hinduism.

Babu Jadwat, an IPCI trustee, explained why Deedat was controversial, reports the South African Independent Online.

"Ahmed was the reaction to an aggression by the worldwide church against Muslims. He was successful because he was an outstanding scholar and this resonated throughout the world."

"From America to Indonesia, he is regarded as a person who made tremendous contributions and sacrifices for Islam," said Jadwat.

In his later years, Deedat could not talk or move after the stroke. He taught himself to communicate by blinking his eyes, reports Independent Online.

Deedat's son Yousuf said his father became seriously ill three weeks ago, the online news agency reports.

"My mother Hawa and I were with him when he passed away," he said.

"He suffered cardiac arrest and kidney failure, but his kidneys were working again a few days later and we thought he would be fine.

"We didn't expect this to happen so soon."

His Life

Born in 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 realising it. Applying himself with diligence of his studies, a little boy not only was able to overcome the language barrier but excellent 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 visit to the store infused a stubborn flame of desire within the young man to counteract their false propaganda.
Ahmed Deedat, by God's will, discovered a book entitled "Izharul-Haq", meaning the truth revealed. This book recorded the techniques and the enormous success of the effort of Muslims in India in turning the tables against Christian missionary harassment during the British subjugation and the rule of India. In particular the idea of holding debates had a profound effect on Ahmed Deedat.

Armed with this newfound zeal, Ahmed Deedat purchased his first Bible and began holding debate and discussions with the trainee missionaries. When they beat a hasty retreat in the face of his incessive counter arguments, he personally called on their teachers and even priests in the surrounding areas.

Deedat has published over 30 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 his monumental achievements, he was awarded the King Faisal International Award in 1989, a prestigious recognition of enormous value in the world of Islam.

Deedat is known in the Muslim world as an active Islamic scholar. He had visited almost all Muslim and Arab countries.