Haji Ruknuddeen Sahib R.A (1865-1963)
Haji Ruknuddeen
Sahib who was bom in 1865 arrived in Trinidad in November
1897 on board the ‘S.S MOY' and was first assigned to the La
Plaisance Estate in La Romain. It soon became evident to
those who brought him that he was indeed a Muslim missionary
as his Sufi upbringing propelled him to start Maktabs where
classes were organized to read and write Arabic and Urdu. It
was only because of economic factors that he was not
repatriated.
He later married the daughter of Imam Imdad Hosein of
In 1924 he performed Hajj and in 1928 he succeeded Sayad
Abdul Aziz as Qadi (Judge). In 1932 following a meeting of
Muslims at Chaguanas Haji Ruknuddeen founded the ASJA which
became an incorporated body in 1935 with Syed Mohammed
Hosein as First President General. In 1947 he was elected
Sheik ul Islam because of his vast knowledge of Islam and
his fluency of Arabic and Urdu as well as Hindi which
enabled him together with his Sufi background to advise the
Muslim community on Islamic matters as well as to other
communities and groups who frequented his home seeking his
assistance, counseling and solutions to problems.
Together with Hafiz Nasiruddin Sahib and Haji Aziz Mohammed
(interpreter) the Qadi laid the foundation for the
development of the Muslim Community of Tunapuna which to
this day continues to be served by those who have benefited
from his vast knowledge of Islam. Throughout his life he
traveled throughout the country and was respected and
admired by all sectors of the community. One of his last
public acts was to lay the foundation stone for the
rebuilding of the Tunapuna Masjid in March of 1960 and to
formally open the Masjid on completion. He died at the age
of 98 and such was the respect shown to him that Parliament
passed a note of condolence to his family saying: "He was
something unique, he left a memory of service to all."