Ali Muhammad Baghdadi
Ali Muhammad Baghdadi of Woodridge, IL, 84, born October 1936, in Jerusalem, Palestine, passed away on February 18, 2021.
As a child survivor of the 1947- 49 Palestine War his plight helped to shape his path. Ali was recognized as a honorable man in the Muslim community. His reputation and math excellence earned him a position as a Math teacher at an ALL girl Muslim school. Later Ali was awarded a student visa allowing him the opportunity to come to the United States to further his education. Education was the catalyst that Ali felt brought him from poverty to security.
While attending the University of Illinois at Chicago Circle, Ali met his loving wife of 56 years, Darlene, nee Tribke.
Working as a waiter at the Edgewater Beach Hotel, Ali was influenced by the people of power and prestige from around the world who stayed there.
His career began at Western Electric. He then worked as a project manager at Montgomery Wards for many years. These jobs were his salary but not his passion.
Ali was very passionate about journalism. As an Arab – American activist, Nation of Islam newspapers Muhammad Speaks and The Final Call gave Ali a weekly column where he wrote articles that were read all around the world. His friendship with Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad and teaching Arabic to adults made him well respected. He travelled worldwide with Minister Farrakhan as well as other Nation of Islam leaders as an advisor and translator.
In retirement Ali started his own newspaper, The Arab Journal, which ran for a few years. Most recently Ali appeared on Munir Muhammad’s Chicago cable tv shows discussing current events. In his later years Facebook was another platform Ali loved to use to express his ideas.
The title Mar-tor in the Muslim religion has been awarded to Ali due to COVID-19 ending his nearly life long journey to educate and defend the Palestinian cause.
Some of Ali’s oldest friends remember how Ali valued family, “Family man”. He would usually have one of his children accompany him to Arab functions. Ali enjoyed cooking for guests. Ali’s kids were meant to be seen and heard. As a guest playing games with the kids and Ali was a common occurrence. Family life included watering the plants that Darlene and he grew in their garden.
He is survived by his children, Nadia (Ronald) Vaughan, Tarik (Ghada) Baghdadi, Reema (David) Oliver, Alia (fiancé Jonathon) Edwards, and Jamal Baghdadi. He is preceded in death by his daughter Maysoun and son Muhammed. Cherished grandfather of Zackary, Rachael, and Jereme Vaughan, Ali and Adam Baghdadi, Daniel, Autumn, and Randal Oliver, Amber and Jared Casas, Hannah, and great-grandson Caleb Vaughan; Brother of Fatima and Hajar.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the United Holy Land Fund.
Funeral Home:
Hallowell & James, 301-75th St., Downers Grove, IL
Visitation:
Sunday, February 21, 2021 3pm-9pm
Monday, February 22, 2021 10am-11am
Service:
Monday, February 22, 2021 11am
Interment:
Clarendon Hills Cemetery, Darien, IL
I love you Baba!!!
I am Zahira Kamal from Jerusalem, my father Ahmad Badawi Kamal was a teacher of mathmatics and religion he teaches your father, at El Omarieh school, we as a family know him very well as a very entelegent person, I am realy sorry for not being in contact for all that time.
Yesterday I was going through our home library and I found some of his letters that was send to my father in early sixties and he was telling my father about his marriage with Darlen and the first baby Nadia, and his work. My father passed away on 1971.
I hope that he tells you about Jerusalem, and our family.
Zahira Kamal
Thank you for your message it is priceless! I hope to get to Jerusalem after the pandemic of Covid-19. Meeting you would be very special! In the mean time if you are able to send copies of the letters it would help fill the GREAt whole in my mothers heart! Mail To: Nadia Baghdadi-Vaughan
431 South Harvard Avenue
Villa Park, IL. 60181
United States of America
Please accept our condolences. Daniel and I are truly sorry for your loss.
May he rest in peace.
“And surely to Allah we belong and surely to Allah we shall return”
May Allah be forever please with our Great Brother Ali Muhammad Baghdadi. Ameen.
Please accept our condolences, from Kamal’s Family in Jerusalem and I am realy sorry for your loss.
May his soul rest in peace.
Zahira Kamal
On behalf of my sisters and brothers
May Allah be pleased with our great brother Ali Baghdadi Rest in Paradise
As Salaam Alaikum,
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un – Verily we belong to Allah and verily to Him do we return.
As a child growing up in the 1960’s and 1970’s, one of my first exposures to the current events taking place in the Muslim world, in general, and the Middle East, in particular, was through the weekly Muhammad Speaks column, the “Middle East Report”, authored by Brother Ali Baghdadi. His reporting and editorial perspective greatly shaped and influenced my geopolitical worldview. I also later followed his articles in The Final Call Newspaper.
May Allah be pleased with His servant, our late brother and friend, Ali M. Baghdadi.