Al-Qalam 
As a young man, Marhoom Ebrahim Issack joined the Mujahideen in Afghanistan to fight against the invading Soviet forces –and in his latter years, he dedicated himself to Dawah work, writes an Al-Qalam Reporter.
A well known Durban Da’ee, Marhoom Ebrahim Issack, who once fought fearlessly alongside the Afghan Mujahideen during theSoviet-Afghan War of the eighties, has passed on aged 61.
Marhoom Ebrahim – who was also respectfully known as “Ebrahim Afghani” – passed away peacefully at his Westcliff, Chatsworth, home this week. A large crowd attended his janaza.
In his 20’s, Marhoom Ebrahim worked at the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) in Queen Street, Durban, directly under internationally renowned Da’ee, Sheikh Ahmad Deedat.
During his time at the IPCI, he approached Sheikh Deedat to facilitate his travel to Pakistan where he wished to pursue Islamic Studies at an uloom – and Sheikh Deedat obliged.
While at the Uloom, he learnt that the Soviet Army had launched relentless attacks on “anti-Communist” Muslims in Afghanistan, killing many.
Mahomed Khan, the Liaison Officer of IPCI told Al-Qalam that Marhoom Ebrahim passionately followed the battle raging between the Russian forces and the Afghan guerilla groups who came to be known as the Mujahideen.
Khan said: “While in Pakistan, Marhoom Ebrahim could no longer bear to see his fellow Muslims in Afghanistan suffer under Soviet aggression and Occupation.
It was at that juncture that he made up his mind to join the guerrilla fighters in the mountains of Afghanistan. He fought alongside them for three years, and on more than one occasion, he almost became a Shaheed.”
Eventually he returned to South Africa and joined his family in the fruit business, and in his spare time, he became a committed Da’ee, especially in his Chatsworth neighbourhood.
“Everyone in Westcliff Chatsworth knew him as the ‘Uncle’ who would have his yard full of people – especially on Sundays – to whom he would give the message of Islam. He would always feed them and on occasions give them money for their transport costs from his own pocket. He also never missed an opportunity to take groups of people on tours of the historic Grey Street Mosque – he was a true soldier of Islam,” Khan added.
For the last 17 years, he worked at the Nightingale Pharmacy in Chatsworth.
“About three years ago, we decided to open the IPCI Chatsworth Dawah Office mainly due to Marhoom Ebrahim Issacks’s Dawah activities in the area that resulted in many local people taking Shahadah. The office served as a space for Reverts to learn more about Islam, attend Revert classes and it also served as a Dawah outlet to draw people towards Islam.
“It s is our fervent Dua that Allah SWT grant him the best part of HIS Jannah and grant his family the Sabr to bear this loss,” Khan added.
Marhoom Ebrahim leaves behind his wife, Sister Shaheedah Issack (who played a major role in his Dawah work, his daughter, Sister Halimah and a son, AbdurRahman and two grandsons.
