Siddique Hassan: Philanthropist and founder of Al-Shifa hospital no more.
Professor K A Siddique Hassan, a down to earth man, who laid the foundation of Al Shifa hospital in Abul Fazal Enclave years ago and had planned to open hospitals across India, died in his hometown Kodungallur in Kerala on Tuesday morning after prolonged illness, according to reliable sources.
He was 76 years old.
Born in Thrissur district of Kerala in 1945, Professor Siddique did his Afdaul Ulama and post-graduate degree from Islamiya College Shantapuram and worked as a professor in many colleges, including University College of Thiruvananthapuram.
He was keeping unwell for years as his rare and not diagnosed stomach ailment and he kept on losing weight, said a source, who knew the soft-spoken Professor Siddique very well. As a senior post bearer at Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH), Professor Siddique was always busy working on projects to empower the Ummah, said the source.
As a former Vice President of JIH (1995-2005) and founder member of Human Welfare Foundation (HWF), NGO, established in 2006, his contribution to uplift the Ummah by opening media houses and hospitals and infrastructural projects is immense, said his fans.
He held the position of chairman Alternative Investment and Credit Ltd. (AICL) and sub-editor of Malayalam weekly magazine Prabhodanam of Kerala. As the main architect of Vision 2016, Professor Siddique started infrastructural initiative to empower the Ummah. Also, he initiated the first interest free NBFC, AICL and media ventures Madhyamam and MediaOne.
The projects initiated under his vision for the uplift and holistic development of the downtrodden and marginalised communities in North India is highly appreciated and replicated across the country, said HWF in a post parked on its social media handle a few minutes ago. Vision 2016 of JIH had many projects like establishing hospitals, colleges, universities and interest free credit societies. Some of them are already established like Al-Shifa Hospital.
He served as Ameer-e-Halqa, Kerala, and as National Vice President. He was a pioneer of many socio-cultural and economic initiatives, said the HWF.
Lean and thin, Professor Siddique started losing weight and it was then that he left JIH headquarters in Dawat Nagar in 2012, Abul Fazal Enclave, for his hometown in Kerala, said sources, adding that though he saw several doctors his ailment was rare to be diagnosed until his demise.
Over years, he continued to lose weight and a time came when he was just of 40 kilograms, said the source, adding that he even went to the USA for treatment but to no avail, however, he never stopped his philanthropic activities and kept on guiding the HWF to establish more infrastructural projects to uplift the Ummah.
He was bed-ridden for since 2012 due to his rare and not diagnosed ailment, said senior journalist AU Asif. He was a visionary and a man of humour also and was very popular among non-Muslims, he said.
He was suffering from loss of appetite and depression, said another source.
“He was one of the rare intellectual of the Muslim community. He had a vision to make strategies and plans for empowering the Ummah. I found very few people who were so humble, dedicated, visionary and simple like him,” said All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat president Naved Hamid.
Professor Siddique is survived by wife VK Zubaida, sons Faslurrahman, Sharafuddeen and Anisurrahman and daughter Sabira.
Expressing condolences on the demise of Professor Siddique, JIH president Syed Sadatullah Husaini said: “We have not only lost a great Islamic leader, but also lost a man who in many respects was a role model for the youth of the Muslim world.”
“Through the HWF, a series of brotherhood and cooperation was established between the North and South India, which has now become a powerful movement. We will not forget that HWF was his brainchild. He knew the art of achieving the impossible. He inspired the leading and talented people and the numerous anonymous youth of the movement who spread in different parts of the country.
“The way he spotted talent and mobilised them was undoubtedly a unique ability to recognise individuals and his uncanny art of winning their hearts would help them achieve the impossible. He played a key role in creating many people who have made significant contributions to the Islamic cause and ensuring their services to it.
“Professor Siddique’s name is at the top of the list of elders of the movement from whom I have learned dynamism, steadfastness, perseverance, management, and good manners. He was ill for many years and removed from an active role in public life due to his illness. But even so, his existence was a source of encouragement to many like us. Now they have become a part of history, but the story of his life will continue to inspire future generations,” he said.
