بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
Bismillahir Rahmanir Raheem
In the Name of Allah, the Benificent, the Merciful

 
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’oon.
To God we belong, and to God we will return.
The Islamic Educational Center of Orange County extends its deepest condolences on the passing of our dear friend and father figure, the honorable Dr. Maher Hathout (1936-2015).
The late Dr. Hathout was a historic leader of Islamic revivalism in the United States. Since his immigration to the United States several decades ago, Dr. Hathout continued to be a leading voice of Islamic unity, inclusiveness, and tolerance. He was a pioneer of activism and inter- and intra-faith dialogue and cooperation.
While violent sectarianism continues to plague the Muslim community worldwide, Dr. Maher Hathout and his late brother Dr. Hassan Hathout, inspired the Muslim community in the United States by expressing outstanding tolerance and calling for respect and cooperation among the various Muslim schools of thought.
The Imam of IECOC, Sayed Moustafa al-Qazwini, remembers Dr. Hathout’s extraordinary wisdom: “I am deeply saddened at the loss of my dear brother and friend. As long as I can remember, I never felt that Dr. Hathout ever distinguished between Sunnis and Shias in his lectures, writings, or interactions. In fact, since the 1980’s, both Dr. Maher and his brother Dr. Hassan Hathout, forged a close brotherly relationship with my father Ayatollah Sayed Mortadha al-Qazwini. They actively pursued a relationship with the various Muslim communities based on genuine respect and cooperation. We pray that the Muslim community continues the great legacy of tolerance and unity that Dr. Hathout pioneered.”
IECOC extends its thoughts and prayers to the family and friends of the late Dr. Hathout, as well as the Islamic Center of Southern California and the Muslim Public Affairs Council. We pray to the Most Merciful Lord to bestow His boundless mercy on the soul of the late Dr. Hathout, and to instill patience upon his family and friends for their loss.
Dr. Hathout’s funeral service will be held on Monday, January 5 at 2 pm at Rose Hills Cemetery in Whittier, California. IECOC encourages the community to participate in this service.