Yusef Lateef Truly A Gentle Giant

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Originally published in The Courant

Yusef_LateefJazz legend Yusef Lateef, who passed away this week, truly lived up to his title of the “Gentle Giant.” He was tall and yet soft-spoken.

Although a grand musician and a composer — having received a Grammy and named an American Jazz Master — he was unassuming. He had no special pose or signature rap, other than a soft smile when he met you.

On top of that and most of all for me, he was a pillar for the Muslim-American community. Rather than with long speeches, he showed by his loving demeanor that Islam stood for brotherhood.

A few years ago, I recall that at an Annual Convention of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA, to which he belonged, we happened to talk about our families. Out of the blue, Brother Yusef remarked, “I miss you, for the sake of God.” And then tears began to roll. Not sure whose came first. Mine or the Gentle Giant’s?yu

About the author

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Sohail Husain

Dr. Sohail Husain serves as President of the Association of Ahmadi Muslim Scientists USA. He has also served in various leadership positions within the Ahmadiyya Muslim Youth Assoication and the local community. At his day job, he serves as an Associate Professor of Pediatric Gastroenterology at the University of Pittsburgh. His research focuses on investigating the molecular basis of pancreatitis, which is a painful, inflammatory disease of the pancreas. Dr. Husain considers the practice of writing as both a crucial professional engagement, as well as a powerful means of personal expression.

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Avatar photo By Sohail Husain