By Latheef Farook –
Latheef Farook
Two weeks ago when our dear friend Hameed Abdul Karim came home in the night to tell me that he had decided to go on the Hajj pilgrimage together with his wife, I was pleased that he has planned to get closer to the Almighty Creator Allah.
However seldom neither Hameed nor I realized that Allah was waiting to take Hamid to Him from the most sacred soil for Muslims in this planet. Hamid died of heart failure on his way from Azeezia to Mina on 26 Saturday 2015 and was buried in Makka on the following day-Sunday- after noon prayers.
In that way Hameed is lucky as this is the death that every sincere Muslim long for. It was a shock to his family, friends and the community all of whom find it difficult to recover from the abrupt loss of one of the finest human beings hell bent on helping others.
Hameed, a colorful person with a great sense of humor, was known for turning even the most serious atmosphere during discussions into a humorous one.
He spent his life helping others since his early days. It was this tendency made him a founder of Centre for Islamic Studies and his deep involvement in the Al Amal International School-to name a few.
He served as the joint secretary of Sri Lanka committee for Solidarity with Palestinian People. There he was very passionate in defending the rights of Palestinians and highlighting the atrocities of Zionist Jews towards Palestinians and the Arabs in the region as well.
He was known for his in depth knowledge on Palestinian-Israeli conflict. As a well read person he contributed a great deal with his writing in promoting the true spirit of Islam and creating understanding between people of different faiths. As part of this program Hameed, known for his unassuming and simple lifestyle, used do discuss Islam and Christianity with theologians and others of different faiths.
Despite all his scholarly background Hamid, born into a well known business family, remained a businessman till his last day. Once when I asked him how come a Memon like him from a business oriented community was so much involved in scholarly activities ,his response in his own sarcastic manner was that” if you ask a Memon whether he likes to go to heaven or hell ,his immediate response would be “wherever I can make some money”.
Hameed has been a journalist with a cause and conviction-a generation which is fast fading under the commercialized and criminalized global political- economic environment. He fearlessly used his pen to fight for justice. This earned him the respect of all alike. Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s Muslim community which, by and large, does not understand the power of the media failed to make better use of him.
May Allah forgive his sins , accept his deeds and grant him Jannathul Firdouse.
Amarasiri / September 28, 2015
Latheef Farook
RE: My Thoughts On My Dear Friend Hameed Abdul Karim
“Hameed has been a journalist with a cause and conviction-a generation which is fast fading under the commercialized and criminalized global political- economic environment. He fearlessly used his pen to fight for justice. This earned him the respect of all alike. Unfortunately Sri Lanka’s Muslim community which, by and large, does not understand the power of the media failed to make better use of him.”
“May Allah forgive his sins , accept his deeds and grant him Jannathul Firdouse.”
According to Islamic tradition, upon hearing a death, “Inna liillahi wa innaillaihi rajioon,(We belong to Allah and we return to Him)” Heartfelt sympathies to his family. May Allah have mercy on his soul and grant him paradise.
Well stated, who wanted to live by the activist example of Prophet Mohamed, and make an impact in society. Until this write up, I was under the impression, he was an Academic. He was a businessman, just like Prophet Mohamed.
Thank you Latheef Farook for your write up and this information.
So, what is the take home lesson home from the late Mr. Hameed Abdul Karim for Muslims and non-Muslims alike?
Being a businessman, is no excuse to not to be a scholar, journalist, social activist, inventor, explorer, scientist, engineer or even a politician.
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HussainFahmy / September 28, 2015
Saddened by the passing away of a man who stood firmly by the pen to change the hearts and minds of people towards the truth. Muslims are peaceful people who submits to the will of Allah and are encouraged to contemplate death and be ready for it with good deeds. Ibn ‘ Umar ra, reports, “I came to the Prophet, peace be upon him, and I was the tenth of the first ten people (who embraced Islam). A man from among the Ansaar got up and said, “O Messenger of Allah, who is the most sagacious and the most prudent among the people?” He replied: “Those who are most aware of death and prepare themselves for it. They are the wisest of people and will have honour in this world and a generous reward in the Hereafter’.” Prophet Muhammed pbuh [At-Tabarani]
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Sylvia Haik / September 28, 2015
Sadly for every one of Hameed there are hundreds in the Middle-east and the newly formed Caliphates like IS that is giving Muslims a bad name. I am no fan of the US but every time a Muslim holds up a banner saying “Death to America” or Israel or whatever, he is inciting racial hatred, which should be anathema to a peace loving religion like Islam.
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Amarasiri / September 29, 2015
Sylvia Haik
“Sadly for every one of Hameed there are hundreds in the Middle-east and the newly formed Caliphates like IS that is giving Muslims a bad name”
The Muslims with low IQ are being brainwashed and hijacked by the Iblis, Devil, Satan, Lucifer, MaRa following Wahhabis and their clones, Salafis, Horners, ISIS, Boko Haram etc.
In Saudi Arabia After 200 years of Wahhabism, there are only 8% who follow the Iblis, Wahhabis.
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Sylvia Haik / September 30, 2015
Amarasiri. They are all not of low IQ. In the ranks of ISIS in Iraq are doctors and surgeons etc. These people are formerly from Saddam Hussein’s Army of 400,000 that the US forces foolishly demobbed without an inkling of what they would do. I am surprised it took them this long to form ISIS. Those US idiots did the same thing in Afghanistan, supplying arms to Al Mujahiroun rebels fighting the Soviets. After the Soviets left they quickly evolved to become The Taliban preaching ultra Islam and has been terrorising the country since.
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Amarasiri / October 2, 2015
Sylvia Haik
“They are all not of low IQ. In the ranks of ISIS in Iraq are doctors and surgeons etc. These people are formerly from Saddam Hussein’s Army of 400,000 that the US forces foolishly demobbed without an inkling of what they would do. I am surprised it took them this long to form ISIS. “
True, not all are low IQ. However, to be a Wahhabi and follow their ideology one needs to be Low IQ , or IF you are High IQ became the Leader of the Low IQ Sheep.
Shepard, high IQ and and the Sheep, low IQ.
[Edited out]
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soma / October 1, 2015
“if you ask a Memon whether he likes to go to heaven or hell ,his immediate response would be “wherever I can make some money”.
May Allah reward him generously in the hereafter.
Soma
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