Suyuti Aziz Ahmad Sahib (1944-2018)
On 19 November 2018, at the age of 74, Suyuti Aziz Ahmad Sahib passed away. He was suffering from a severe heart illness and was sent to Rabwah for treatment where he underwent a major surgery. However, a few days after the surgery, he passed away.
اِنَّا لِلّٰہِ وَ اِنَّا اِلَيْهِ رَاجِعُوْنَ
“Surely, to Allah we belong, and to Him shall we return.”
Suyuti Aziz Sahib was born on 17 August 1944 in Bone, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. He studied in Jamia Ahmadiyya Rabwah between 1966 and 1971, and in April 1972, he was appointed as the central missionary of Indonesia.
After studying in Jamia, between 1972 and 1979, he served the Jamaat as a missionary in South Sumatra, Lampung, Jambi and Bengkulu. Then, from 1979 to 1981, he served as a teacher for the muallimeen. In 1981 he was appointed as a missionary in Purwokerto, a town in Java, Indonesia. Between 1982 and 1992, he served as the Principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia. From 1992 to 2016, he served as head of tabligh, and thereafter, from 2016 until his demise, he served again as Principal of Jamia Ahmadiyya Indonesia.
Regarding how his family accepted Ahmadiyyat, he once gave an interview to MTA in which he stated: “The main reason my family and I accepted Ahmadiyyat and did Bai‘at was due to my grandfather who instructed us to follow the Imam Mahdi who was to appear in the latter days. In 1959, my family and I moved to Lampung.
“In 1963, a missionary named Maulana Zaini Dehlan Sahib came to preach in Lampung, who told us that the Imam Mahdi had appeared. Upon this I asked him what proof he had of his advent to which he gave us a book to read proving the truthfulness of the Messiah of the latter days.
“When I read the book, it was made apparent to me that the Imam Mahdi had indeed come. Thus, on 13 February 1963, at the age of 19, I, along with 40 other members of my family, did Bai‘at through Maulana Zaini Dehlan Sahib.”
Once, in 1963, Maulana Abu Bakr Ayub Sahib, who was serving as a missionary of Southern Sumatra, visited the new converts in Lampung. After his visit, he reported to the Raees-ut-Tabligh that he had met with a few new converts in Lampung who could be sent to Rabwah for studies. Thus, the names were recommended for admission in Jamia Ahmadiyya, Rabwah. Among the three was Suyuti Aziz Sahib’s name.
During his stay in Jamia, Suyuti Aziz Sahib was fortunate enough to meet with many of the Companionsra of the Promised Messiahas and would always seek opportunities to meet with them.
The first time Suyuti Aziz Sahib met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh was when he was elected as the Khalifa. Suyuti Sahib met him and embraced him, upon which Huzoorrh showed him great love and affection and stated that those who had come from distant countries were all his children.
When Suyuti Sahib was returning to Indonesia, he met with Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IIIrh. Huzoorrh embraced Suyuti Sahib and said to him, “Never be unfaithful to your Creator. This is my advice to you.”
His daughter, Mardiya Sahiba, said: “My father had fully devoted his life. He spent his life serving the Jamaat to the extent that we travelled very little for sightseeing or entertainment. We always considered this to be the lifestyle of a life devotee.”
His son, Saadat Ahmad Sahib, said: “He emphasised a lot about offering prayers. During our childhood, he would instruct us to offer prayers in congregation at the mosque.”
His daughter, Atiyyatul-Aleem states: “My father would never miss Tahajud prayer and would offer his obligatory prayer in congregation at the mosque. Apart from when he was ill, I never saw him offering his obligatory prayers at home.”
Hashim Sahib, who is a missionary, states: “I had the honour of being taught the subject of Ilm-ul-Kalam in Jamia from Suyuti Aziz Sahib. It was his habit that during the lecture, he would ask students questions. Once, he asked us ‘What is the greatest proof for the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas?’ We all quoted various verses from the Holy Quran and presented references of Ahadith. Listening to our answers, he told us that he himself was the biggest proof for its truthfulness, meaning that every Ahmadi should consider themselves the greatest proof for the truthfulness of the Promised Messiahas. He then said, ‘Everyone should raise themselves to a standard whereby everyone is a sign of the Promised Messiah’sas truthfulness.’”
This was the style of teachings and in essence the noble character he possessed. May Allah grant him a lofty place in paradise.
In his Friday Sermon, on 30 November 2018, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih Vaa said:
“May Allah elevate his spiritual status. May He grant him a high rank in Jannatul-Firdaus (the highest rank of Paradise). May all his loved ones be granted peace and comfort. May His progeny follow his pious footsteps.” Amin.
