Imam Sharif Ali says while there is much talk about ISIS and jihad in the world today, the life of former PNM founding member Kamalludin Mohammed’s was also a jihad.
He was speaking at yesterday’s funeral service for Mohammed at the Nur-e-Islam Mosque, El Socorro. He was the last surviving member of the country’s first Cabinet which was led by then prime minister Dr Eric Williams in 1956
Mohammed died at his nearby El Socorro home at 10.30 pm on Tuesday at the age of 88. He was ailing for several months from a urinary tract problem.
Among those who attended the service were acting Prime Minister Colm Imbert, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh, House Speaker Bridgid Annisette-George, Senate President Christine Kangaloo, former prime minister Basdeo Panday, former minister Winston Dookeran and Mohammed’s wife, Salima, and children.
Imam Ali said in Mohammed’s life “we saw a struggle for equality, a struggle for a better standard of life for the people of T&T and even beyond.” He said Mohammed “helped his family, community, the masjid. He was a man who worked tirelessly to be in service of humanity and this is jihad as well.”
He added: ”This is not jihad of the sword but this is the jihad of the pen; it is not the jihad of the bullet but it is the jihad of the tongue.” He said that jihad was carried out while serving the country as a Government minister since 1956 to 1986 and even after.
Imbert, who was asked to speak at the service as he arrived, said Mohammed “was a great man. Mohammed was awarded the country’s highest award, the Order of T&T, the Order of the Caribbean Community and an honorary doctorate in laws from the University of the West Indies.
In extending condolences to the Mohammed family, Imbert said he “was a true son of the soil and we all mourn his passing.”
Panday, who appointed Mohammed as ambassador for Caricom when he served as prime minister in the late 1990s, yesterday told reporters the former PNM minister was a very good speaker. Panday explained that he gave Mohammed the job even though he was PNM “because I think he was the best man for the job. He was Mr Caricom.”
Panday said Mohammed “has convinced me of one thing, that in politics there are no permanent enemies and there are no permanent friends.” He said he would always remember Mohammed for a comment he made in Parliament because it annoyed him. Panday said it was when Kamal described Opposition MPs as “lagoon politicians.”
Deyalsingh said Mohammed’s death was a great loss to the nation as he was “a man who served God and his country, T&T.” Deyalsingh said he would always remember Mohammed for the advice he gave him during the 2013 by election in St Joseph. He said Mohammed told him to “be humble.”
Yasin Abu Bakr also attended the service. He was greeted by many as her arrived. Many were seen in tears as they paid their final respects.