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Canadian Muslims Mourn Loss of Pioneer Leader Wahida Valiante

AboutIslam & News Agencies
30 November, 2021

Canadian Muslims mourned the loss of Wahida Chishti Valiante, a visionary Muslim leader who passed away in Toronto, Canada, on Friday, November 26.

Affectionately referred as “Auntie Wahida,” she was an inspiration to many younger Muslims.

“So sad to report that community visionary and trailblazer Wahida Valiante returned to our lord,” Faisal Kutty, a CanAmerican lawyer, professor, writer and public speaker, wrote on Facebook.

“She was a friend, teacher and mentor to many of us. I had many opportunities to work with her and she always put the interest of the community first. She was always supportive and encouraging of any initiative that bettered society.”

📚 Read Also: Scarborough Muslims Mourn Youth Mentor

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Born in Azad Kashmir and raised in the UK, Wahida was a pioneering Muslim leader, writer, presenter, social worker, and social justice and human rights advocate who has lived in Canada since 1961, Taha Ghayyur wrote in a tribute on Iqra.ca.

She was among Toronto’s earliest and most vocal Muslim leaders on anti-racism, anti-Islamophobia, interfaith dialogue, civic engagement, and mental health issues.

Accomplishments

Her many incredible accomplishments include:

  • Founding member of Canadian Islamic Congress (CIC), which she served as a President and Vice President for 13 years.
  • Founding National Chair of the Islamic History Month Canada in 2007-2011.
  • Four-time recognition among the “500 Most Influential Muslims in the World” by Islamic Studies scholars at Georgetown University in Washington, DC.
  • Recognition among “100 Extraordinary Muslim Women Past and Present” by Women Islamic Initiative in Spirituality and Equality (WISE Muslim Women).
  • One of the earliest female leaders of a national Muslim organization in Canada.
  • One of the only visible Muslim female voices on Canadian Muslim issues post-9/11.
  • Pioneering contributions to both academic and applied aspects of social work in the Canadian Muslim community.

Canadian Muslims have mourned many figures recently.

Earlier this year, Muslims in Scarborough mourned the death of Saleh Hafejee, a community leader and mentor to thousands of youth.

In March 2021, the caretaker of a Toronto mosque who spent the last four decades of his life serving the mosque and the Muslim community passed away after contacting covid-19.