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"A Man of God. A Man of Love" |
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"A Man of God. A Man of Love"
(Excerpted and revised from http://www.hassanhathout.com/index.html) Hassan Hathout, MD, PhD, FRCOG, FRCSE, FACS, was a multi-cultural physician, ethicist, and poet. He grew up in surroundings where love of God and country, and call of duty, were pivotal. With much talent, learning, discipline, and meditation, he was able to combine a highly successful career in academic medicine, ethics, and theology.
Dr. Hassan Hathout was born in Cairo in 1924, the son of a school teacher. He received extensive postgraduate training in Britain at the University of Edinburgh, Scotland, where he earned the triple degrees of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Fellow of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, and Doctorate of Philosophy in the field of Reproductive Genetics. In addition to being a medical school professor and chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology, he was an active member of the WHO committee on ethics of human reproduction, and a close affiliate to the Vatican. At the same time, he was co-founder of the International Organization of Medical Sciences, designed with the primary goal of dissemination of God-guided medical ethics. Over the years, this organization has proven to be a valuable source of information for religious and secular communities on rapidly advancing, ethically controversial fields such as abortion, alternative medicine, genetic engineering, transplantation, and stem-cell research.
For Dr. Hassan, the concept of religion could be summarized in one word: LOVE. He was the keynote speaker at the first Christian-Muslim celebration at the White House in 1999. Additionally, he was the co-founder of the Interfaith Council of Southern California, and an invited speaker at many religious and interfaith gatherings locally and nationwide, including the Wilshire Temple, the Crystal Cathedral, and the United Methodist Church of Pasadena. He was the recipient of many awards from interfaith and humanitarian communities including the Jewish-Christian-Muslim Olive Branch award for his efforts in making peace and harmony between people of different faiths, and the Initiatives of Change Life Changer award. He is author of numerous medical, ethical, and religious manuscripts, chapters, and books including: The Spirit of the Red Cross in the Teachings of Islam, The Humane Physician, Islamic Perspectives on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Reading the Muslim Mind, Thus Shall I Stand before God, and Audible Silence.
In addition to being a scientist and ethicist, he was a bicultural and bilingual poet, speaker, thinker, and writer. Among his most beautiful poems are: The Migration, In the Hands of the Prophet, and Jesus, the Son of Man. He was married to Salonas, a retired pathologist, for more than fifty-seven years. His daughter, Eba, is a professor of pediatrics at Loma Linda University Medical School in California. He was grandfather to Sarrah and Hassaan Shahawy.
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"Forgiveness" |
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"Forgiveness" By Hassan Hathout
(From Audible Silence - Thoughts and Remembrances of a Muslim Elder)
Sometimes, in my wild and curious imagination, I see myself resurrected after my death and brought to judgment in the court of the Almighty. A full account of my deeds during my earthly life will be spread before me, omitting no detail.
It will show plenty of sins, errors, and irregularities (after all, the human being is not a perfect being). I will be very embarrassed and worried. I will be asked, "Do you confess to all this you have committed in your life?" "Yes, I do," I will say. Then I will be asked, "What do you want then?" "Forgiveness!" I would say. "Let us review your bank account then and see if you have sufficient deposit to pay for your debts." I would then hope to have enough to pay for my debts. What you can do to be forgiven is for you yourself to be a forgiver.
And so your best insurance for your inevitable future life is to lead a life of forgiveness. Whether with your spouse, your family, your friends, your enemies, or those who transgressed against you, forgiveness should be your ultimate response so that forgiveness will be your ultimate reward. |
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Reflections |
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"Omar Reda, the son of our late friend, Hisham Reda, wrote to me once about Hassan Hathout. He said, "Through his words and spirit, Dr. Hassan always demonstrated love in Islam for the betterment of humanity."
Dr. Omar Alfi
"Geddo was the light of our lives, a grandfather full of undying love, faith, wisdom, strength, and patience. We learned from him the very best ideals and principles and it is with a deep sense of loss that we adapt to a world without him. But we are grateful that he prepared us well and we know that his love and faith have not died with him, but will continue to live through us and through the countless people he touched so deeply. He has left us with a great responsibility and we ask God for the strength to live up to it."
Sarrah and Hassaan Shahawy
"Dr. Hassan made so many wonderful contributions to the world he lived in and holds a special place in our hearts at New Horizon Schools. I had the privilege of working closely with him while developing the initial outlines of the Islamic Studies curriculum at NHS about 15 years ago...Dr. Hassan also played an important role in the establishment of our school's khateeb training program for the eighth graders. We are so very grateful for the blessing that God gave us to be able to grow in our knowledge of Islam and in our love for Him through our connection with Dr. Hathout. We have been truly blessed."
Amira Al-Sarraf
"I became aware of my life with Hassan as part of it, this is a huge reality. Now is my test, at my age, when the ability of adjustment is less, I have to adjust to a life void of him ! I thank Allah for making him my older brother, so no years of my age up until now, were missed without him being part of me. I ask the Almighty to reward him as he rewarded us, to take him under His wings of compassion and mercy, and to open to him His joyous place in Eternity."
Dr. Maher Hathout
"Few people come into our world who have such a dramatic effect on our life. Dr. Hathout was one of those few. His compassion for humanity was striking and his capacity for love extraordinary. He marked his journey through his life with honor and grace. He certainly graced our life and our community in ways that will continue on."
Ehsan and Abdelhamid Youness
"A Muslim, and probably also a non-Muslim, may have been thinking when reading about the history of early Islam how a Companion of the Prophet (p.b.u.h), a "Sahabi" really was, according to the ideal image of his/her character and behavior which was reported historically. Seeing and living with Dr. Hassan Hathout in our time has made that image of the "Sahabi" clearer and thinkable. After all the passing centuries, there is a Muslim who in his entire life: as a physician, as a family man, with his colleagues and friends, Muslims and non-Muslims, and through all his contacts, has represented the ideal behavior. He was really a contemporary human practice of the Quran in his words and actions. May Allah reward him for his live presentation of His message through his entire life."Dr. Fathi Osman
Few men in history had the ability to awaken a people to their destiny. Even fewer were able to bring the same people to the Lord with humility, kindness and love. Dr. Hassan Hathout did both. His ideas sparked the flame of mercy and compassion in the hearts of many people. To Muslims he is the Ambassador of Love - to America his contribution through the Muslim community renders him a founding father of not only Muslim American Intellectual Thought but also a catalyst for the nation to remember her soul as well as her strength. Hassan Hathout is our teacher, our brother and our companion on a road seldom lead by an immigrant to this great nation. We miss him, but we - collectively in one voice - rejoice in our mission to carry his legacy for the next 200 years of our nation's future. Our dear teacher set the bar very high - now we are called to follow his lead for justice with mercy and love. He read the Muslim Mind - now its time to speak to the world from the Muslim Heart.
Ahmed Younis
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Message from the Board |
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The board of the Islamic Center of Southern California shares with the Muslim community in America and the Muslim world in their sorrow for the loss of Dr. Hassan Hathout. Dr. Hathout was a physician, a poet, an intellectual and a scholar who had a positive influence on Islam in America.
Islam was an integral part of Dr. Hathout's life. Early in his professional career when he practiced medicine, he was one of the pioneers who shed light on the concept of medical ethics in Islam. Then he retired from a profession that he loved and excelled in, to come to the United States and dedicate the last years of his life to serving Islam. He was instrumental in fortifying the American Muslim identity that shaped the ideology of the ICSC and its daughter organizations. His constant talk about love as a true Islamic value was essential in correcting the many misconceptions about Islam.
As we mourn the loss of Dr. Hathout, we also celebrate his life and his legacy. We are grateful to God for his gift to Islam in America and ask him to guide us to make the best use of the wealth of Dr. Hathout's intellectual heritage. |
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Memorial Service |
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Memorial Service Held at the Islamic Center of Southern California
On Monday, April 27, after Dr. Hassan Hathout's burial at Rose Hills Cemetery, the Muslim community came together at the Islamic Center of Southern California that evening to remember a dear friend, mentor, teacher, and spiritual leader.
Dr. Hassan Hathout's nephew, Dr. Gasser Hathout, thanked everyone for coming and for all their good thoughts. He introduced friends, colleagues, and family who spoke of their fond memories of Dr. Hassan. Some of their thoughts are recorded below.
Dr. Gasser Hathout: "My uncle was an undying idealist...He was a tremendous poet...His poetry was eloquent because he lived life eloquently. His art flowed from his being."
Rabbi Leonard Beerman: "I cannot think of Hassan without thinking of him as someone who worked for peace, pursued peace. That is what brought us together - so many in the interfaith community and I in particular. I cannot think of him without thinking of him as a man of dignity, a man of grace. I cannot think of him without knowing that the world needs more dignity, more grace, more healing, more compassion, more men and women who have the courage to care for one another as he did, who chose to go on believing that we are all meant for a great common tenderness - the very tenderness he expressed in all of his connections with us. How can we best honor him? Is it not that we must be among those who struggle to build a climate of healing and compassion and tenderness in the world? We must have the courage as he had to care for one another more deeply. For what is unloving and uncaring is the disease that stalks the world today, infecting the human spirit. We should honor Hassan by our insistence on being men and women of healing."
Dafer Dakhil: "We need to use this memorial gathering to celebrate the life and legacy of a great man of God, a man of love, our elder, our teacher, our guide...He was a dynamic leader who was always giving. He never said no. Many of the programs we did at the Omar Ibn Khattab Foundation became memorable events because of his compassion, presence, his authority, and his love. We built many occasions around Dr. Hassan...Out of all the calamities of his life came greater taqwa, greater faith in God...He was the ambassador of Islam to America and now he is our ambassador in Heaven.. His works will continue to serve generation after generation."
Reverend George Regas: "Hassan was the first Muslim with whom I have had a deep, close friendship; the first Muslim with whom I shared life deeply, honestly, and truthfully. And I loved Hassan. For 84 years, Hassan walked across this beautiful, tortured earth with healing hands and a healing heart, and left this world richer in so many ways. He blessed it in so many ways that will last forever. All of us who knew Hassan knew that he had committed his life to love. And violence, war, barbarism, prejudice, discrimination, and exclusion contradicted all that Hassan was at the core of his life. Hassan would say, "Anyone who turns his or her back on the horror of nuclear war has lost his or her soul." Hassan burned deeply into my mind and soul and being, that the primary claim on my ministry should be the total abolition of nuclear weapons...Hassan has left us with such a great legacy. He's gone home to be with those who pray always for peace. He's gone home to Heaven. Lucky Heaven! Lucky Heaven!"
Muazzamil Siddiqui: "I express my immense thanks that Allah (SWAT) gave us the opportunity to witness a great life - the life of Dr. Hassan Hathout. He taught us, motivated us, and inspired us...His consistent message was the message of love."
Magdy Gergis: "Dr. Hassan's relationship was not only with the American Muslim but also the Egyptian Christians and Arab Christians...At most of our gatherings, Dr. Hassan was invited to speak. One time he quoted the Gospel. He said, "God is Love. And those that abide in love abide in God and He in them." And then he told me, "You know what? If you want to draw closer to God, love the people of God. If you want to know God and draw closer to Him, love the people of God." So to honor Dr. Hassan's interfaith work, I propose not another interfaith dialogue but an interfaith project that will gather the Christians and Muslims together to enhance the love between them..."
Dr. Eba Hathout: "My father and I had a very close relationship. Growing up, I went with him everywhere. He was my professor in medical school...I came to admire his insurmountable strength of character, magnanimity, tolerance, and ability to love life as a poet, knowing the pain of too much tenderness. He would wake with a winged heart and retire to bed with a smile and song of praise upon his lips. The divine serenity he exuded was amazingly effective and infective. Those who were fortunate enough to know him as a scholar amongst his parchments, as a student amongst his pupils, and as a doctor amongst his patients were quick to realize that Hassan Hathout is what character and being a gentleman are all about. Those that knew him were frequently amazed that he wore that mantle of loving authority with a soul filled with humility and such quiet dignity."
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Links |
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Dr. Hassan Hathout, A Man of God by Dr. Omar Alfi
Sexual Ethics
Hasan Hathout: Love and Relationship
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