Muslim Brotherhood Mourns Demise of Mr. Youssef Nada
﴾Among the believers who have remained true to the covenant they made with Allah. Among them is he who has fulfilled his vow [up to death], and among them is he who awaits [his appointed time]. And they did not alter [terms of their commitment] by any alteration.﴿ (Al-Ahzab: 23)
The Muslim Brotherhood (MB) mourns to the Islamic nation the demise of Mr. Youssef Nada, the Egyptian businessman, one of the men of the Muslim Brotherhood movement, and the former MB Commissioner for International Affairs and Foreign Relations, who passed away today, Sunday, at the age of 93 after a life full of jihad (struggle) and giving.
Mr. Youssef Nada joined the Muslim Brotherhood in 1947. He was involved in the organized resistance activities against the British occupier in the Suez Canal area, Egypt, in 1951. He was arrested in 1954, but he was later released, after about two years without facing any charges or receiving any court sentences. Mr. Nada, may Allah Almighty have mercy on him, engaged in international trade, gained great fame, and enjoyed wide relations.
Mr. Nada, may Allah Almighty have mercy on him, played a significant global political role representing the Muslim Brotherhood, as he contributed to the establishment of group’s diplomatic relations and pursued resolving several international disputes: He was the one who arranged the relationship between the MB and the Iranian revolution; and mediated between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Yemen in their dispute, and between Saudi Arabia and Iran after the Iranian pilgrims crisis. He also sought to resolve the crisis between the Algerian government and the Islamic Salvation Front. He also provided Yemen with important documents that helped it resolve its dispute with Eritrea over the Hanish Islands. One of the most famous roles Mr. Nada played was his role in resolving the American hostage crisis in Iran, in addition to other roles in Afghanistan, Tunisia, Iraq, Turkey, Kurdistan, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The late deceased, Mr. Nada, was well known within the world of finance and business and is even viewed as an icon of Islamic economics. Prince Mohamed bin Faisal, the son of late King Faisal of Saudi Arabia, contacted him for the establishment of the Faisal Islamic Bank of Egypt, where he actually contributed to establishment of the bank. He was the owner of the bank’s second largest share after the Egyptian Ministry of Endowments; and he also served as a member of the bank’s board of directors.
Then, Mr. Nada, may Allah Almighty have mercy on him, founded the Al-Taqwa Bank Ltd. in the Bahamas, Switzerland, which was later accused by the US government of supporting terrorism. However, the Swiss Foreign Ministry in September 2009 confirmed that the UN Security Council had removed Mr. Nada’s name from the list of supporters of terrorism after failure to provide evidence against him. In April 2008, late President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt referred Mr. Nada to an exceptional military trial in absentia along with 39 others in Egypt, sentencing him in absentia to 10 years in prison, but the sentence was overturned after the 25 January Revolution, 2011.
As the Muslim Brotherhood mourns the late deceased Mr. Youssef Nada, it appeals to Allah Almighty to accept his struggle and giving, to bestow His vast mercy upon him, and to grant him the highest level of Paradise, along with the ones upon whom Allah has bestowed favor of the prophets, the steadfast affirmers of truth, the martyrs and the righteous; and excellent are those as companions.
The MB also extends its sincere condolences to Mr. Nada’s brothers and loved ones; and to his family, children, and relatives – praying to Allah Almighty to grant them patience and solace.
Dr. Salah Abdel Haq
Acting Muslim Brotherhood General Guide
(Sunday, 21 Jumada II 1446 AH / 22 December 2024 AD)