With the demise of Prof. KA Siddique Hassan Saheb, an era has come to an end. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Raji’oon.
Janab Siddique Hassan Saheb was one of the 21st century’s leading figures of the Indian Muslim community, who envisioned and carved a different trajectory of growth and development for the community. A man of vision and action, he disproved the pessimism surrounding the community and paved new paths of opportunity and optimism.
An extraordinary human, who forgot to feed himself in the rush to feed the starving, and forgot his own sleep during the relentless effort to provide shelter for those who had no place to lean their heads. An indefatigable human being, who led a simple life, dedicated a lifetime for the ideological, educational, economical and socio-political upliftment of an entire community.
Siddique Hassan Saheb, who started his public life as a teacher, continued that mission throughout his life. It’s just that he had the community as the classroom. As a dynamic leader and organizer, Siddique Hasan Sahib was keener in finding solutions rather than pointing out the problems. He had unmatched crisis management skills, which came handy when Madhyamam newspaper was in its nascent stage.
While he led the Jamaat-e-Islami of Kerala for a decade and a half, and served as National Vice President for a decade, he rose above all precincts and became a guiding beacon for the community at large. In fact, it was through Siddique Hassan Saheb that the socio-economic empowerment of North Indian Muslims became the agenda of Kerala Muslims.
Vision 2026 and the success of the leading NGOs like Human Welfare Foundation that he envisioned and established are living testimonies of the undaunted and relentless efforts of souls like Siddique Hasan Sb. The projects he planned and implemented were later replicated by many in recent times.
His extraordinary willpower, dexterity and valiant nature led him to achieve what seemed impossible for many.
With his demise, I have personally lost one of my guiding lights. May Allah, the Almighty reward him abundantly and place him on high pedestals of Jannah. Aameen.