With heavy hearts, AboutIslam mourns the loss of brother Tarek Ezzat, former director of the website, who passed away peacefully on Sunday, June 25, in Birmingham at Walsall Manor Hospital, at the age of 62.
Ezzat, also the former managing editor of Discover Islam, spent decades working in the field of dawah, dedicating his time to educating new Muslims and bringing them closer to the Muslim community.
“Tareq Ezzat is by far the purest soul I’ve ever met. I knew him in 1990 at Asad ibn alfurat mosque were we both used to attend for sheikh Umar Abdul Kafi Then we went together to Hajj in 1991, then both of us got married and had our children at the same time,” Fadel Soliman wrote in a message to AboutIslam.
“So I can say that I knew him so well and when I describe him as the purest soul I’ve met, I am not exaggerating. During these 33 years I never heard him speaking negatively about any person no matter how horrible this person can be, and if a bad person was mentioned negatively in his presence he never commented or said anything.
“His biggest concern was bringing the right information about Islam in a spiritual way to the non Arabic speaking community, Muslims or non Muslims. Every time he heard a talk of mine that he liked, he would send it’s link to me and ask me to do it again but in English.
“For his pure soul I will dedicate-inshaAllah- my explanation of the Quran, is being translated at the moment. May Allah shower his soul with mercy and turn any misdeeds into good deed and multiply them in his records. I ask Allah to gather me and his family and loved ones with him in the highest gardens of paradise.”
Impact Remains
The passing of Brother Tarek has gripped many Muslims with sadness and sorrow, thus triggering flows of emotions and eulogies.
Here’s what sister Aishah Schwartz, the founder and director of the Muslimah Writers Alliance (MWA), wrote:
“In May 2023, Dr. Yasir Qadhi gave a riveting 10-minute talk on, “The Impact of Prophetic Character”, in which he shared how weighty good character will be on our scales, and that the Prophet ﷺ said, “the entirety of your deen is going to be judged by how you treat other people.”
It reminded me of our dear brother in Islam and colleague, Br. Tarek, the single best example of prophetic character I had the honor of knowing in my 20-year journey as a revert Muslimah.
“May we continuously be reminded of the impact Br. Tarek made in our lives, and the lives of those unknown to us. Even through the darkest days of his illness, he inspired us to make ourselves worthy of being used by Allah (swt) for the betterment of our ummah, and to be a source of mercy to His creation through his own actions and deeds.
“As we uplift Br. Tarek and his family in our duas, not just today, but throughout our remaining time in this dunya, let us pray for Allah’s infinite mercy and forgiveness. May we share a grand reunion with our beloved brother at the gates of Jannah Al-Firdous.”
Canadian Muslim leader Muneeb Nasir also wrote a message to mourn brother Tarek.
“I heard the sad news of the passing of my dear friend and brother, Br. Tarek Ezzat (may Allah have mercy on him). Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji`un. We belong to Allah, and to Him we return. May Allah ta’ala have mercy on him, forgive him, and enter him into Al-Firdaws Al ‘Alaa. Our most sincere condolences go out to Br. Tarek’s family,” he wrote in the message sent to AboutIslam.
“I became acquainted with Br Tarek many years ago through my association with AboutIslam and I considered him a kindred soul – someone whose interests were similar to mine. He was passionate about witnessing the message of Islam and supporting reverts who accepted Islam.
“We pray that Allah accepts his many good works and makes them of enduring benefit to him,” he added.
Dr. Wael Shehab, imam of Toronto Masjid, also shared a heartfelt message to mourn Brother Tarek.
“Surely, we belong to Allah and to Him we shall return! I’ve known Br. Tarek Ezzat for more than 20 years.. He’s a kind, faithful, helpful, and sincere friend. He has a very beautiful, loving heart. He has dedicated his life to serve people and spread the beautiful message and values of Islam!” Dr. Shehab wrote on Facebook.
“May Allah Almighty shower him with His mercies, forgive him, and grant him Jannat al-Firdaus, Ameen! My deepest condolences to his family, friends, loved ones, and AboutIslam team.”
Funeral prayer will be performed on Monday, June 26, at the Walsall Jamia Masjid Ghausia after Dhuhr prayer.
An absentee funeral prayer will also be held after Isha prayer at Nile Mosque in Dokki, Cairo.