Overview of Ahmad Deedat
Ahmad Deedat was a prominent Muslim scholar and thinker well-recognized within the Islamic world for his engaging public lectures and interfaith discussions, often referred to as dialogue between religions. Renowned for his enthusiastic and skillful debates, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat was also a respected researcher in comparative religion. In addition to his debate prowess, he authored over twenty books, gaining significant attention for his dialogues with numerous evangelical figures.
Early Life of Ahmad Deedat
Born in Surat, India in 1918 into a very impoverished family, Ahmad Deedat’s father migrated to South Africa to work as a tailor. Ahmad followed his father to South Africa in 1927. Despite being a bright and promising student, he was unable to complete his formal education due to financial hardships, leaving school at the age of sixteen to help support his family.
Ahmad Deedat’s Involvement in Dawah
Although Sheikh Ahmad Deedat could not finish his formal education, he pursued self-education vigorously in South Africa, becoming proficient in English. In 1936, he began working in a furniture store owned by Muslims, located near a religious school of another faith. During his employment, he faced racial discrimination, which motivated him to seriously consider engaging in interfaith debates after experiencing an unjust verbal assault from a student of the nearby school. He soon realized that many Muslims suffered from a profound misunderstanding of Islam. This realization led him to seek out suitable literature for study, ultimately discovering a book titled “The Truth Revealed” by Kairanvi, alongside purchasing a Bible for reference.
Rise of Ahmad Deedat as an Islamic Lecturer
Sheikh Ahmad Deedat meticulously learned the art of proper debating and dedicated three years to teaching. His first public lecture, titled “The Messenger of Islam Muhammad (peace be upon him),” was delivered in 1942 at a cinema in Durban. This lecture marked a significant milestone in his rise to prominence. He devoted his life to the promotion of Islam, including the study and memorization of the Quran and the Bible.
Achievements of Ahmad Deedat
Ahmad Deedat excelled in writing numerous books and manuscripts while also producing several pamphlets and free publications for tourists and visitors. He actively participated in various television programs, recorded lectures, and public discussions on Islam. His engagements included numerous debates around the world with religious leaders and Christians regarding Islam, as well as an invitation extended to the late Pope John Paul II for dialogue. After their discussion, Pope John Paul II embraced Islam. Furthermore, Deedat founded and led a center for Islamic propagation in Durban, South Africa, and established the Peace Center to train dawah workers. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Islam, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia awarded Sheikh Ahmad Deedat a prize in 1986.
Death of Ahmad Deedat
Sheikh Ahmad Deedat suffered a stroke that resulted in paralysis from the neck down and a loss of speech. Nonetheless, he continued to engage in discussions with religious figures using a letter board. Later, he faced kidney failure and passed away in his home in South Africa on August 8, 2005.