|
May 8, 2014
The Islamic Shura Council has lost one of its founding board members this morning. Inna Lillahi wa Inna Ilaihi Raji'oon.
"May Allah grant Jannah to Br. Jan Muhammad Diwan and give patience to his family. We are grateful for his good and exemplary life. He devoted many years of his life to help the needy and the incarcerated. May Allah reward him for all his good works," said Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi, Chairman of the Islamic Shura Council.
Br. Jan Muhammad Diwan had been a lifetime worker for Islam and Muslims and was a father-like figure to many people of all ages. Br. Jan Muhammad served the Islamic Center of Northridge as its Imam and later as its board member. He was also a founding member of the Islamic Center of Granada Hills, an affiliate of the Islamic Center of Northridge. Br. Jan Muhammad was subsequently elected to the first Majlis of the Islamic Shura Council in 1995 as a representative of the San Fernando Muslim communities.
"If it were not for Br. Jan Muhammad, I would not know a thing about the Prison Dawah work. He was my mentor in every sense of the word." said Shakeel Syed, Executive Director of the Islamic Shura Council. Similarly, Imam Abu Ishaq Abdul Hafiz, a retired Federal Prisons Chaplain who is now the Director of the Prison Outreach Program of the Islamic Shura Council said, "Br. Jan Muhammad was a pioneer in serving the incarcerated Muslims. His compassion for the voiceless was equally respected by the incarcerated and also by the Prison authorities. He helped numerous people transform themselves by the Grace of God."
Br. Jan Muhammad Diwan's pioneering work of revising the English translation of Quran by Abdullah Yusuf Ali into simple and plain English and then adding select notes from Muhammad Asad's translation was adapted by the Shura Council's Prison Outreach Program. Br. Jan Muhammad is not with us today but his exemplary contributions live on!
Br. Jan Muhammad Diwan spent his last few days of his life with his son Aftab Muhammad Diwan in Dallas where he will be laid to rest tomorrow, Friday, May 9th. The Islamic Shura Council asks the Masajid to make an announcement tomorrow after Friday prayers and ask the community to make a special Duaa for Br. Jan Muhammad Diwan. May he be blessed with the best place in heavens and may he be forgiven for his mistakes and shortcomings.
| 
