of IQRA’ International Educational Foundation. IQRA’ completed its comprehensive program of Islamic Studies and initiated many new projects while under his guidance. At the time of his death, he was chair of the IQRA International Educational Foundation, and in 2006 received the IQRA’ International Lifetime Achievements Award. He also served as president of the Association of Muslim Social Scientists (1979-82). He also wrote poetry in Urdu.
Shafi A Balbale (1942-92) Like many MSA workers of that generation, Balbale served as Internal Secretary of the organization for many years, assuming, perhaps, the most time consuming and most under-recognized position in the organization. He went on to become vice-president of the MSA.
Nishat Shafi Balbale Nishat Shafi Balbale (1940-2005), who—along with her husband, the late Shafi Balbale—was among the pioneers who helped develop the MSA, related the work she and other women did for the MSA in a 1993 interview with the “Islamic Horizons”. She said, “I felt as if I was very fortunate, blessed by Allah (subhanahu wa Ta‘ala), that I was a part of something extraordinary, working with so many people from all over the world.” Nishat Balbale assisted in documenting executive committee meetings. She also helped with recordkeeping, correspondence and hosting these meetings. After attending her first convention in 1967, she worked alongside organizers at the following conventions. She recalled being able to recognize participants’ names when working on registration, finding out who was new and welcoming them to the convention. Of course, the attendance list was much smaller then. In 1968, Nishat Balbale and other women helped plant the sapling that would later become the bazaar, a staple at every convention and conference. In the beginning, she and other women gathered together items in a sort of makeshift garage sale. She is survived by her children, Mukhlis, Mus’ab, Sumayya, and Muneeb. She also leaves behind a daughter-in-law; son-in-law; grandchild; and brother-in-law, Sami Balbale; and his wife, Sanober.
Aminah Assilmi Not every American knows that the Eid stamp they have been using since Sept. 2001 owes part of its existence to Aminah Assilmi (19452010). At the time of her death, she was working to make Eid a national holiday and trying to establish a Center for Muslim Women’s Studies to instruct converts about Islam and its core beliefs and practices. Assmili fondly assigned her journey to Islam to a computer glitch, where a devout Southern Baptist and radical feminist and broadcast journalist was mistakenly assigned to a class Islamic Horizons September/October 2013
that had a roomful of Arabs. Upset over the possibility of being in such environment; not only she continued, but one day requested one student for a copy of the Quran and another book on Islam. She announced her conversion on May 21, 1977. This was the beginning of the many challenges and tribulations she would face, among them the court’s awarding custody of her two children to her husband, who divorced her after she renounced Christianity. But she triumphed in all her tests. When he turned 21, her son called her and said that he wanted to become a Muslim. 16 years after the divorce, her ex-husband also accepted Islam. Wearing hijab cost her her job. She battled cancer, and even experienced homelessness. During her career she founded and served as president of the International Union of Muslim Women (www.IUMW.org), traveled nationwide to lecture on Islam, and was chosen as one of the top 500 most influential contemporary Muslims in the world. She is survived by her daughter Amber, sons Whitney and Mohammad, and several grandchildren. Dr. Abdul Rahim Eltilib (d. 1997), who was associated with Yale, UCLA, Columbia, the University of Michigan, served as MSA vice-president during 1980-82. During his term, he worked to build bridges between the African-American and immigrant Muslim communities. Eltilib, a graduate of George Washington University, was a faculty member of the Department of Islamic Law at Om Durman University, Sudan. Hassan Hathout (1932-87) was a Muslim doctor and professor of medicine who lived in Britain, the Middle East and the United States. He served on the ISNA Majlis ash-Shura. He was a scholar, author and an inspiring speaker. Ali Mohammed G. Surti (1932 -87) served on the first Majlis ashShura. He was ISNA west coast representative during 1982-87 and was instrumental in communicating and promoting ISNA policies and programs on the West Coast. A pioneer and community leader, he helped establish the Islamic Center of Los Angeles, 1970-75, and the Jamat-al-Masjid-ul-lslam, Inglewood, Calif., 1975-87. A tireless worker and community organizer, he raised funds for the establishment of masjids (at a time when none existed), Islamic schools, Muslim graveyards, Muslim youth camps, the sponsoring of Imams and organizing and managing countless fundraisers. By profession he was a CPA, a businessman and also a partner in a local accounting firm. Adil Marzouk (1950-97) worked for ISNA, NAIT and MSA for some 20 years. He was blessed with a deep understanding of the Islamic law and excelled in its interpretation. A wellspring of love, care and dedication, he was especially popular among children. An ever-filled jar of candies always awaited takers at his office at the ISNA headquarters. He was survived by his wife Constance (Huda) and daughter Marium.
■
47