Dr. Yusef Abdul Lateef passed away on December 23, 2013 at the age of 93. Inna lil-lahay wa in- na elaihay rajayoon. To Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. He was born in Tennessee on October 9, 1920. He was blessed to take bai'at in 1948 after reading the books of the Promised Messiah (as) and Hazrat Musleh Maood (ra).

He is listed among the early African American Ahmadis. He would often say that it had become incumbent on him to do the bai'at and if he had not done so he would be counted as having turned away from God and would have become one of those who had turned their faces away from the truth.

He was an emeritus professor at the University of Massachusetts in Amherst, MA from which he was awarded a Ph.D. in Education in 1975. His doctoral dissertation was entitled "An Overview of Western and Islamic Education." In 2007 he was named University of Massachusetts' "Artist of the Year."

After earning a doctorate degree in education he taught in different universities as a professor and wrote several books including his autobiography. Because of his fame, the news of his death spread all over the world and many well-regarded US newspapers immediately published this news.

Dr. Yusef Lateef was a Grammy Award-winning composer, performer, recording artist, author, visual artist, educator and philosopher who influenced the international musical scene for more than six decades. In recognition of his many contributions to the world of music, he also gained the title of American Jazz Master in the year 2010 by the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to his noteworthy, successful career, he remained a staunch Ahmadi Muslim until his last breath. After his demise, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul Masih V (may Allah strengthen him with His Mighty Help) memorialized Dr. Yusef Lateef in his Friday sermon dated January 3, 2014 in the following words:

"Being an Ahmadi Muslim, he never compromised his faith. He has written a great deal about music but never played at locations where alcohol was served. He was blessed with the opportunity to perform Hajj and Umra. He would always make outstanding financial sacrifices and local secretary Maal [finance] says that it was his habit to pay his obligatory Chanda whenever any income check arrived.

He used to say, 'Even today I have the same level of faith that I had when I had done the bai'at and that the way of Ahmadiyyat is the way of truth and it is that same path which was the path of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (sa). I am convinced that no one taking this path can come to destruction and I am convinced that by walking on this path I and my family will achieve salvation and it is my faith that Ahmadiyyat conveys the teaching that will help develop and foster brotherhood among all humanity.'

He had been blessed to visit Qadian and Rabwah also. Last year he had come to the Jalsa in London. He had tremendous love for Khilafat. He had met Hazrat Khalifatul Masih III (ra) and Hazrat Khalifatul Masih IV (ra) and myself as well even though he was ill when he came to the Jalsa last year and was in a wheelchair.

He was highly virtuous and strictly observed salat and attended Friday prayer with regularity. He loved everyone and treated all with affection, love and kindness. He was a sincere human being. He would deal with his non-Ahmadi friends also with love and kindness.

He was blessed to serve the Jama'at in a variety of offices for a long period of time. He loved to convey the message of Islam and always carried Jama'at literature with him and conveyed the message to his friends, relatives and neighbors and while travelling by plane distribute to others. He published various books of the Jama'at including Philosophy of the Teachings of Islam and other books related to the training of children, at his own expense for the blind.

He was also a Moosi. He is survived by his wife Ayesha Lateef and one son Yusef Lateef. May Allah bless all of them with patience and steadfastness and enable them to carry out the righteous deeds that Yusef Lateef personified."