The Quiet Giants: Reflecting on the Legacies of Our 2025 Community Heroes

As we close the chapter on 2025, the "Real Lives" section of IQRA.ca serves as more than just a record of those we have lost. 

It has become a gallery of virtue—a collective portrait of what it means to live a life of consequence.

In our fast-paced, often ego-driven world, we frequently mistake "celebrity" for "heroism." 

But the lives we profiled this year suggest a different definition. 

A community hero is not necessarily the person with the largest platform, but the one with the deepest roots. 

They are the "quiet giants" who move beyond their own needs to serve the collective good, driven by a sincerity that requires no applause.

The Anatomy of a Hero

What makes a community hero? 

Based on the lives of the elders and leaders we bid farewell to this year, several common threads emerge.

First is sincerity (ikhlas). 

Many of those we honoured, like Khaja Mohammad Ghousuddin or Irfan Alli, were the backbone of our institutions for decades. 

They weren't looking for titles; they were looking for ways to be helpful. 

Whether it was editing magazines, running tax clinics or ensuring the masjid’s audio system worked for Friday prayers, their heroism was found in the consistency of their service. 

They understood that no task is "small" when it is done for the sake of the Divine.

Second is the vision of the long-horizon. 

These were individuals who did not just live for the moment; they built for a future they knew they might not see. 

We saw this in the "institution builders" like Dr. Yaqub Mirza, Dr. Rahmeth Shah Khan​ and Dr. El-Tantawy Attia, who laid the financial and organizational foundations for Muslim life in Canada. 

It was also poignantly modeled by Professor Hind Al-Abadleh, who, even in her final days, ensured her legacy would continue through a bequest to the Olive Tree Foundation. 

They practiced the art of Sadaqah Jariyah—perpetual charity—understanding that a life’s work should be a bridge for the next generation.

Champions of Justice and Knowledge

The heroes of 2025 were also characterized by their moral courage. 

Leaders like Alia Hogben and Rafia Haniff-Cleofas spent their lives advocating for those whose voices are often sidelined. 

They challenged us to be better, to be more inclusive, and to ensure that our communities reflected the Prophetic mandate of justice and equity. 

They reminded us that a community is only as strong as the care it provides to its most vulnerable members.

Finally, there was the legacy of the intellect. 

Scholars and educators like Professor Abdulaziz Sachedina and Dr. Forough Jahanbakhsh spent their lives translating complex truths into guidance for our modern context. 

They were bridges between the classical tradition and the contemporary world, teaching us that faith and reason are not rivals, but partners in the search for truth.

An Invitation to Inspire

It is important to acknowledge that the names mentioned in our "Real Lives" section this year do not represent an exhaustive list. 

Our community is blessed with countless individuals—mothers, fathers, teachers, and volunteers—who passed away in 2025 having made significant, often invisible, contributions.

This selection is intended to be a spark for our own reflection. 

When we read about Pyarali Nanji’s transformation from a refugee to a world-class philanthropist, or Nadir Mohamed’s mentorship of young innovators, we should ask ourselves: What will be the "Real Life" profile written about us?

The Qur’an provides a beautiful promise for those who live with such purpose: "But the Lord of Mercy will give love to those who believe and do righteous deeds." (Qur'an 19:96).

This "love" is the enduring respect and affection left behind in the hearts of the community. 

It is the legacy of a life well-lived.

As we move into a new year, let us carry the lessons of these quiet giants with us. 

Let us build institutions that last, advocate for justice without fear, and serve with a sincerity that seeks no reward other than the pleasure of our Creator. 

The torch has been passed; it is now up to us to keep the flame alive.