Thursday, November 26, 2009
Sheikh Mohamed Rashad will be buried in Saudi Arabia, where he died. (Courtsey of Assalam Mosque) |
The head of an Ottawa mosque died suddenly while on a spiritual pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
Sheikh Mohamed Rashad, believed to be in his late 50s, collapsed Thursday morning while visiting Mecca, Islam's holiest site, where he was on pilgrimage with thousands of others.
Rashad, who was the head of the Assalam mosque in the city's east end, had made the pilgrimage many times before.
"In a way, this is the worst day of my life," said Rashad's eldest son, Abdul Hakim Moalimishak.
The family is still waiting to learn the cause of Rashad's death, but Moalimishak said he might have died from liver or stomach problems.
"My father was a fragile man to begin with," Moalimishak said. "He was a workaholic. He didn't believe in taking rests."
However, he did not have any serious medical conditions that his family was aware of.
This is the second tragedy to hit the family since the summer. In September, one of Rashad's daughters died after a fall in Ottawa. Rashad is survived by four other daughters and four sons.
Officials at the Assalam mosque said Rashad will be buried in Saudi Arabia.
At the mosque on Thursday, many people wept when they heard the news.
They described Rashad as a highly educated, selfless and very compassionate man who had publicly lobbied for the release of journalist Amanda Lindhout, who was taken hostage in Somalia in August 2008. Lindhout was released just this Wednesday.
"All his work was charity for Islam," said Sammaer Gebara. "[He] never took wages, never took money from the mosque."
Another member of the mosque, Mohamad Abdulle, said everyone was shocked by the news of Rashad's death.
"He was like our father," Abdulle said.
Ahmed Hassam, vice-president of the mosque, said the congregation would pray for Rashad on Friday. He offered his condolences to Rashad's family, friends and the entire community.
Source: CBC, Nov 26, 2009