Edhi leaves behind a legacy of philanthropy
Humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi passed away at 88 on Friday night in Karachi, Pakistan. He was receiving treatment from Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation after being diagnosed with renal failure in 2013.
His loss was mourned over by thousands of people who attended his state funeral in Karachi yesterday.
Edhi’s last wish had been to donate his eyes, which was honored by donating his corneas to two blind people after his death. The transplant was successful, as reported by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant.
Glowing tributes are pouring in from all over the world for a man who gave hope to the world, lived humbly and never felt the need for accolades.
#Edhi is one of #Pakistan's-and the world's-greatest heroes. And that is no exaggeration. We need more Edhis in this world. #RIP
— Michael Kugelman (@MichaelKugelman) July 8, 2016
Prayers of millions being offered tonight for a remarkable humanitarian and extraordinary man. RIP Abdul Sattar #Edhi, your example lives on
— Mishal Husain (@MishalHusainBBC) July 8, 2016#BilquisEdhi and #AbdulSattarEdhi are the legal parents of over 16,000 children https://t.co/Ko8ytY3zs7 #Edhi pic.twitter.com/FQ4yqitTR4
— Shaista Aziz (@shaistaAziz) July 9, 2016A formidable man who dedicated his life to helping others... may he rest in peace #Edhi https://t.co/T3iJx1TOjp
— Riz Lateef (@RizLateef) July 9, 2016
From God we come, to God we return. And #Edhi Sahab will have, undoubtedly, the warmest and deserving of embraces.
— Wajahat Ali (@WajahatAli) July 8, 2016
Qatar is expressing sorrow and paying tributes to the legend.
"The Richest Poor Man" died. May ALLAH rest The Edhi's soul in peace, Ameen!! A greatest human being pic.twitter.com/jtzhU6qsK9
— kashifwaqar (@waqarkashif3) July 8, 2016
Undoubtedly the BEST Pakistani ever lived. Surely we belong to Allah and to Him shall we return. #RIPEdhiSb #Edhi #EdhiSahab
— Samina Khan (@Khan_Samina06) July 8, 2016
An enthusiastic Edhi in his twenties set out to help humanity when he arrived in Pakistan in 1947. British journalist Peter Oborne states, “Until meeting the Pakistani social worker Abdul Sattar Edhi, I had never met a saint.”
He recounts the early days when Edhi went in search of a van to use as an ambulance.
"He would hurtle round the province of Sindh in his poor man's ambulance, collecting dead bodies, taking them to the police station, waiting for the death certificate and, if the bodies were not claimed, burying them himself."
His aid has been a balm to the ailing streets of Pakistan, with 1,500 ambulances at the disposal of the public whenever illness or tragedy struck. Edhi Foundation, created and run by him and his wife Bilquis, provided homes, shelter, care and help to the needy, the destitute and the ailing. He worked tirelessly while leading an ascetic life himself with bare minimum essentials for survival.
He kept his unwavering commitment to serving humanity despite riots and chaos. In his own words:
"There's so much craftiness and cunning and lying in the world. I feel happy that God made me different from the others. I helped the most oppressed."
Edhi’s legacy will continue in the form of free care and services provided by Edhi Foundation. But his protective presence will be sorely missed.
“My school is the welfare of humanity”, Abdul Sattar Edhi.
Feature photo by Telegraph
He has sold his ego and desires to buy services to the people in distress, which is almost impossible for a human being to do, what he did.
No one else deserve Noble than him, for his extra- ordinary and unparalleled services to the humanity.
I bow my head to this pure soul ...... R.I.P. May Allah Rest His Soul in Peace ............
He was my favourite Pakistani. Miss you Edhi sb.
People of Abdul Sattar Edhi's nature and qualities are born once in a millennium.
HE LEFT HIS EYES DONATED TO 2 INDIVIDUALS .... WHAT ELSE CAN BE THE DEFINITION OF AN ANGEL .... THE WORLD IS SAD ON THE DEMISE OF A GREAT HUMAN BEING :(
Our Hero, angel and legend Ehdi will alive until his mission continue. Humanity will mourn for decades.
May his soul rest in peace. The world has lost a great humanitarian. Edhi sb will be sorely missed.
I quote Sattar Edhi sb ''NO RELIGION IS HIGHER THAN HUMANITY"
From nothing, he became something. In the end at the time of his passing away, his welfare organization had the world's largest ambulance service operating around 1500 ambulances. The one quality within him that is rare to find in the world these days, was his honest, dedicated devotion to the welfare of the poor, the needy, the ones in pain -- without religious, social, cultural, ethnic or linguistic barriers -- that spells out to the aim of just helping humanity. The "honesty factor" that was so striking and prominent in his work, caused people to trust him and donate openly to his organization knowing very well that the donation in cash or kind would be used properly without doubt. He and his family lived a life on a bare minimum.
Ironically, a person who had done so much for mankind, was never nominated for the Nobel prize.
Hopefully, his wife and his son will continue the noble work Abdul Sattar Edhi began in the same spirit of the man who is with us no more but his views and efforts still continue to live on.
It is not an easy job to work for the welfare of the people in a society where corruption and nepotism has wrecked havoc and people are neglected of basic amenities such as education, healthcare and ironically successive governments have failed miserably to make a difference on such a scale and achieve what this skinny humble man had achieved with limited resources. Salute to Him!
It requires a lion's heart to spearhead such a mission, believe in it and to make it a reality.
May his mission continues with more devotion and fervor through his successors.
Just googled .. A great man indeed . Rest in Peace ..
This also highlights the sad aspect that government does not provide basic services and the people have to depend on the likes of Edhi
R.I.P. - May Allah Rest His Soul in Peace! He was a real asset of Pakistan. Words cannot describe the humbleness and commitment to humanity of this individual nor words can describe the sadness and sorrow of his demise. You will forever remain in our hearts and will be missed.