Sheikh Ahmad Deedat .. A polemist of unique style

Debates and lectures spread at the global level and millions of people were affected by

Sheikh Ahmad Deedat .. A polemist of unique style

With the approach of his third anniversary, [He passed away in August 2005] the great preacher and the courageous polemist, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat, is still present in the minds and hearts of millions of Muslims. He was the man whose fame extended in the horizons after he had dedicated himself to be an ambassador of Islam around the world. His only goal was to spread guidance and the global message of Islam and to clarify its real image which the West has been trying to distort. For that purpose, he established the Center of the World Islamic Call in the city of Durban in South Africa, and opened branches in twelve other cities to train eligible preachers for calling to Islam and confronting its opponents.

Deedat made huge shakes in the West with his famous debates which were broadcasted to the whole world in the mid-eighties. The debates were characterized by the easiness, convenience, arguing with the opponents in the best manner, not ridiculing others, and building bridges of dialogue, cultural, and knowledge exchange that were far from fanaticism and extremism.

He left behind about 24 books available to everyone, with no copyrights or distribution rights and the number of his lectures and recorded debates reached 125. His books and writings distributed millions of copies and were translated into many world languages such as Russian, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, French, Amharic, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Zulu, Afrikaans, Dutch, Norwegian, and many other languages.

Some people have thought that he died some years ago because he was afflicted by complete paralysis in his entire body —except his brain— and stayed in bed since 1996. However, he continued his call to Islam through the messages which were flowing to him everyday from all over the world which reached, on average, 500 messages per day, whether by phone, fax, or over the Internet and mail.

Deedat was calling Muslims to learn the languages of others, especially the preachers because learning the language is the most successful means to establish an effective dialogue with others. One of the things that were bothering him was describing the extremists with fundamentalists. He confirmed that fundamentalism is used wrongly to describe people as bad or evil, but the truth was it meant to abide by the fundamentals of religion. Hence, every believer is supposed to be a fundamentalist and anyone who believes that Allah is one and has no partner is a fundamentalist.

* Poor growing up and Immigration:

Sheikh Ahmad Deedat was born in the first of July 1918 in the province of Surat, India, and grew up in a poor family. When he reached the age of nine, his family emigrated from their small town in 1927 to South Africa to escape hunger and search for a better life. He received little religious education: He did not complete his study and left school in the second grade intermediate because of his need to work to support his family. Despite those conditions, he taught himself and gained large experience; and reading, arguing, and debating helped him to achieve his goal.

In South Africa, he began his new work in a grocery store owned by one of the Jews in the city of Durban opposite to a church. So, he was selling flowers, sugar, salt, and rice. In the store, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat was picking up some newspaper sheets in which he used to wrap customers' purchases to read and gain knowledge.

One day a person came to call him to Christianity; that made him read about Christianity to know it better. He noticed that the children of Muslim immigrants go to that church, and he was talking to them when they go in or go out from the Church. He noticed that the children began to ask him some questions about Islam, but he could not answer them, then he knew that those questions were doubts which the priests used to instill in the minds of the children to make them doubt their religion.

* The book of Izhhar Al Haq:

The challenge intensified before Sheikh Ahmad lest it may affect his mates, so he started to search for the books that would provide him with knowledge, culture, and necessary responses to ward off the danger until he found the book of (Izhhar Al Haq) of Rahmatullah Al Hindy which was an English-written book about Islam. So, he studied it and took the proofs and responses to refute the claims of the Christians and their attacks against Islam.

The book changed his course of life, and he began a journey of research and reading in all religions to recognize the difference between Islam and other Scriptures, and to refute the allegations of Christianity with an open mind and true knowledge, not out of passion and fanaticism.

Deedat kept on obtaining knowledge and focused on the books that refuted the allegations of the opponents of Islam and showed the absurdity of their claims. He began to teach Muslim children some questions to ask the priests to show their incapability, then the matter increased and he started to debate them himself.

* His famous debates:

Deedat became famous, especially after he had established the Center of the World Islamic Call in Durban, and opened branches in twelve other cities in South Africa to train eligible preachers to call for Islam and confront its opponents. He distributed more than 20 million copies of his books and audio tapes free to serve the Islamic Call. Hundreds of his countrymen embraced Islam, including a large number of missionaries by the favor of his efforts in the area of calling to Allah. Sheikh Deedat delivered lectures all over the world and succeeded in facing evangelical Christians in public debates.

His fame moved outside South Africa and outside the African continent then he made his first famous debate in 1977 in (the Royal Albert Hall) in London and was followed by his debate with the American millionaire "Jimmy Swegart", which was recorded on video tapes and distributed around the world. Then came his famous debate "Was the Christ crucified?" in which he debated successfully Bishop Jose McDowell in Durban in 1981. In 1988, he debated the Arab bishop "Anis Church" in Birmingham Hall in London. Then, he called the Pope of the Vatican for a debate, but the latter refused in spite of their drawl of setting dialogues with the other, democracy, and the freedom of opinion.

Sheikh Deedat had an insight and knowledge of the Bible which led many Christians to rethink and revise their beliefs, especially when they compare between the Bible and the Qur'an in regard of the essence of the message and the life of Jesus (peace be upon him). Sheikh Deedat delivered his last lectures in Sydney, Australia in 1996, which was the most effective speech, short period before inflicted by his incurable disease.

His travels to many Arab and Islamic countries helped greatly in clarifying the great danger which the missionary Christian movement represented. Deedat exposed with great experience and deep knowledge all their methods and arts in deceiving the common, especially poor Muslims to divert them from their religion.

* 6 endowments for the Islamic Call:

To ensure the continuation of his approach in Da`wah (call to Allah) through debates, Deedat established 6 endowments in Durban, including the Center of the World Islamic Call, which is now following the footsteps of Deedat in calling to Allah. 2-years courses of 8 courses are being held periodically to teach the callers and scholars from all over the world how to call to Allah.

He established also professional institutes to train the newly converted for new professions, such as carpentry and electricity to earn their living. The officials of Deedat institutions wish to receive aid to develop their institutions.

* Scientific and religious heritage:

Sheikh Deedat left many literatures, books, and publications that refuted the allegations of the opponents of Islam which exceeded more than 24 books. Of the most important books which he wrote were: "The choice between Islam and Christianity," "Is the Bible the Word of God?", "The Koran is the miracle of miracles," "What does the Bible say about Muhammad?", "The Question of the crucifixion of Christ between the Truth and Lies," "Christ in Islam," "The Arabs and Israel Conflict or harmony?", along with other books that were printed and distributed in millions besides the debates which were printed. He used to say: "If I have the resources, I would have spread the Islamic booklets all over the world, especially the books of the Glorious Qur`an in English."

His books —as mentioned— distributed millions of copies and were translated into many languages, including Russian, Urdu, Arabic, Bengali, French, Amharic, Chinese, Japanese, Indonesian, Zulu, Afrikaans, Dutch, Norwegian and other languages.

* King Faisal International Prize:

For his great efforts in Da`wah, Deedat won in 1986 King Faisal International Prize for his service to the Islamic call equally with the French Muslim philosopher and thinker, Roger Garaudy. Deedat (may Allah bestow mercy on his soul) was very humble and simple in his life and clothes, and was not tempted by money or the decorations of this world. Therefore, when he won King Faisal Prize, he spent it on printing his book (the chosen) and distributed copies of it all over the world. He was a great example for a Muslim, a scholar, and a caller for Islam and a unique style of preachers of Islam who were busy with Islam and its concerns.

* References:

1 - Ahmed Deedat the most famous preacher the world lost - Farid Ibrahim - Al Gomhouriyyah Journal - Egypt - August 12, 2005.

2 - Islamic figures - Ahmed Deedat - Fouad Hasan Al Hajj - Ar-Raya newspaper, December 25, 1999.

3 - Ahmed Deedat .. Comrades on the path of the call - Shaaban Abdel-Rahman - IslamOnline - November 24, 2002.

4 - Ahmed Deedat .. A call until the last breath - Yusry Shaheen - IslamWeb- 11/08/2005.