Shaykh Jamal ud Deen (RA)
Shaykh Jamal ud Deen Ahmad (RA)
Daniel R. Ramirez | Marta Khadija Galedary | Mohammed Toure
Obituary of Shaykh Jamal ud Deen Ahmad | Add A Comment
Hermano Mio
There many things that can be said about Shaykh Jamal ud Deen and what he meant to the Muslim Community of Los Angeles. He was not only a teacher of the Islamic Sciences, but he was also a linguist, who spoke twelve different languages (Arabic, Spanish, English, French, Persian, Urdu, Swahili just to name a few), a math teacher, and many other things. Those who knew Shaykh Jamal ud Deen can tell you what a jewel he was for our community, especially to the African-American and Latino communities.
I met Shaykh Jamal ud Deen when I first became Muslim around seven years ago. We first met at the Madinah Coffee Hut in Los Angeles. Although many in the community have known Shaykh Jamal ud Deen longer than I have been a Muslim. I feel that I have known him for a life time because of the impact he made on my life. The last four years of his life where the most beneficial to me, it was in this time period in which the Shaykh Jamal ud Deen exposed me to many different Islamic sciences, especially the most beloved science to him Al-Lugahtul Arabiyyatu (The Arabic Language). He thaught us texts suchs as the “Ajruumiyyah” and the “Tuhfatus Saniyyah bi Sharhi Al Muqadimat Al Ajruumiyyah.” Suhaib Webb once said about the Ajruumiyyah “They are even teaching the Ajruumiyyah in the Hood.” This is exactly what the Shaykh did. We are indebted to the Shaykh for exposing us and teaching us such texts. It was no coincidence that the last two years of his life were spent studying together and developing the website www.baytulislam.org a website in which the Shaykh personally selected book for his students of the Arabic language. The books section of the website is like a roadmap that the shaykh left for his students. This is one legacy that the Shaykh left.
During the month of Ramadan the time I spent with him are amongst the fondest memories of Shaykh Jamal ud Deen. We would go together to Masjid Al Malik Fahd in Culver City day after day. Every Ramadan he was would ask me what the theme of Ramadan was this year. One Ramadan in particular the theme was about the “Ulul Al-Baab (The men of understanding).” One night during Salatul Taraweeh the Imam was reciting from surah sad and surah az-zumar. We heard the “Ulul Al-Baab” mentioned five times. Shaykh was so intrigued by the ayat. So I asked the Shaykh how many times the "Ulul Al-Baab"were mentioned in the Qur'an. Shaykh Jamal ud Deen told me that he would look in his concordance of the Qur’an to find out how many times they were mentioned. The following morning the shaykh called me and told me he found out how many times the “Ulul Al-Baab” are mentioned in the Qur’an. I met him at Masjidu Abi Bakrin because he wanted to show me the concordance of the Qur’an, to my surprise the Shaykh had cut off the page in which the references to the “Ulul Al-Baab” where. I will never forget that moment.
Shaykh Jamal ud Deen I shared many things in common among them, we both were alumni of Manual Arts Senior High School, we both were raised by women from Louisiana, and we both spoke Spanish. It was this intimate relationship we shared the last years of his life that made me feel attached to Shaykh Jamal ud Deen. The last months of Shaykh Jamal ud Deen life ended like he always was, that is teaching. I remember meeting him at the HOPE internet café and we were studying a text together and there were moments in which the Shaykh would put his head down to rest due to his debilitating condition. As soon as I would ask him a question he would raise his head to answer my question. From this point the Shaykh’s health would not improve till he finally ended up in the hospital. I visited him in the hospital as I walked to his room they were bringing him in to his room. As I saw him he said to me “hermano mio” which means “my brother.” That would be the last thing he ever said to me in Spanish. His condition was improving and he was released from the hospital. I visited him at his home and the last ayah of Qur'an we discussed was from sura at tahrim "O you who have believed, protect yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is people and stones, over which are [appointed] angels, harsh and severe; they do not disobey Allah in what He commands them but do what they are commanded," and how it made a difference in understanding the arabic whilst it was being recited in order to have al-khushu fi al-salah. This would be our final meeting. I got a call from a brother telling me if I have heard about Jamal ud deen, I said "yes he’s home I visited him the other day” and he said “he’s home, the real home.” With that I knew Shaykh Jamal ud Deen had returned to Allah.
May Allah have mercy on you, may he grant you forgiveness, may he make your grave spacious, may he count you amongst the “Ulul Al-Baab,” may he enter you into the highest level of paradise.
Shaykh ul lughat al arabiyya Jamal ud Deen Ahmad.
Daniel "Don Ramiro" Ramirez - baytulislam.org
Surah Ali Imran Ayat (3:185-191)
Surah Ali Imran Ayat (3:185-195)
September 20th, 2011 - In Memory of brother Jamal Uddin
Jamal Uddin was a beloved mentor and member of the Los Angels Latino Muslim Association (LALMA) community. Brother Jamal Uddin structured a curriculum to teach Islam in the Spanish language and was our first Arabic teacher, holding classes for our members. In 1999, Brother Jamal suffered a difficult time when his wife passed away. But Brother Jamal remained strong and passionate about the importance of teaching, learning and reading. Junta Islamica organized the First Conference of Latinos and Spaniards Muslims (Congreso de las Dos Orillas) in Seville Spain in the spring of 2003. Jamal was one of the LALMA members that attended the conference. He was an excellent traveler and companion and enjoyed every single moment of the trip. Brother Jamal brought many Islamic books with Spanish translation to share with our class. He carried a high enthusiasm in learning the History of Al-Andalus.
We thank Allah for letting us to get to know brother Jamal Uddin. May Allah have Mercy on him and grant him paradise. Inna lilahi wa inna rajioon; from Allah we come from and to Allah we all return
Marta Khadija Galedary - Los Angeles Latino Muslim Association
The Ocean of Knowledge
This is for our Teacher, the one we all called Shaykh. Jamal'd-Deen Ahmad, the Beauty of the Community with a praised state. Cultured and Grass roots, Scholar from our own, From the Sub-Continent of India
to the streets of L.A., the Shaykh was well known. Urdu, Spanish, and French, just to name a few, The Shaykh was a Master Linguist, representing me and you. Minus a peer in the Arabic tongue and classical sciences of the deen, An Ocean of knowledge in the religion, whose shore could not be seen. Dignified, reserved, a true noble son of Takrur, Leader of men, symbol of erudition, disseminator of spiritual and cultural cures. 63 years on this journey just like the Best of Creation, Businessmen, Eastside's, they will all wistnessed his transformation. Emblem of our people and the struggle to reclaim our past, the life of this world come and goes, only deeds will last. O Lord of the Worlds, our Shaykh has returend to you, a death you have decreed for him and us too. Be merciful to our Teacher, surelyh he did his part, give hime peace in the grave and a swift crossing on the strait, let us carry on his legacy and continue to hold the line, to you be praised and thanks for the blessing of his kind. Toure'
Obituary - Shaykh Jamal ud Deen Ahmad
On October 22, 1947 in Lafayette, Louisiana, a loving son was born to Maisie Marie Baker and the late Warren Baker, Sr. On September 20, 2011 Allah sent for Kenneth Roy Baker to come home for eternal rest. He was preceded in death in death by his late brother, Raymond Baker. Kenneth is a graduate of Dorsey High School, Los Angeles County. Kenneth Roy Baker later tranditioned to Jamal'd-Deen Ahmad. Jamal'd-Deen Ahmad was a world renown Scholar of the Arabic language known specifically for knowing Arabic better than many Arabs while never leaving this country to study. He was a unique scholar like African Americans are unique in the way we excel despite our circumstances. He was the leader of the indigenous Imams (Spiritual leaders) in L.A., and had students around the world. He was one of the Imams at Masjid (Mosque) Abu Bakr where he taught classes on the Arabic language. Throughtout his tis tenure in L.A. he taught at many places including Masjid Jamat'l-Islam and Al-Hiba School and has touched so many lives through his joyous attitude.
During his illness, Jamal'd-Deen's love for Allah was always shared with those in hid midst. We thank Allah for the wonderful teachings of Jamal'd-Deen. Those who were close to him were truly blessed to have him in their lives. He will always linger in the hearts of those who love him forever...
Shaykh Jamal ud Deen is buried at the American Islamic Institute Islamic Mortuary and Cemetery: 1305 118th Street West, Rosamond, CA 93560. Phone: (661) 224-1111.