# Ahmed Deedat

> South African writer and orator (1918–2005)

**Wikidata**: [Q332566](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q332566)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ahmed_Deedat)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ahmed-deedat

## Summary
Ahmed Deedat was a South African writer, orator, and debater renowned for his public discussions on Islam and Christianity. Born in 1918 in British India, he migrated to South Africa and became a prominent figure in Islamic apologetics, founding the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI). His debates and writings, such as *The Choice: Islam and Christianity*, earned him international recognition, including the King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam in 1986.

## Biography
- **Born**: July 1, 1918, in Surat, British India  
- **Nationality**: South African (formerly Indian and Dominion of India)  
- **Known for**: Interfaith debates and advocacy for Islam  
- **Employer(s)**: Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI)  
- **Field(s)**: Islamic apologetics, comparative religion  

## Contributions
- **Debates**: Engaged in public debates with Christian evangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart and Josh McDowell, focusing on theological differences between Islam and Christianity.  
- **Notable Work**: Authored *The Choice: Islam and Christianity* (1987), critiquing Christian doctrines and promoting Islamic perspectives.  
- **Founding**: Established the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) in 1957 to disseminate Islamic literature and media.  
- **Awards**: Received the King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam (1986) for his global efforts in Islamic outreach.  

## FAQs
- **Where was Ahmed Deedat born?**  
  Deedat was born in Surat, British India, on July 1, 1918.  
- **What was Ahmed Deedat’s nationality?**  
  He held South African citizenship but was also associated with India and the Dominion of India due to his birthplace and migration history.  
- **What is Ahmed Deedat best known for?**  
  He is best known for his public debates on Islam and Christianity and his role as a leading figure in Islamic apologetics.  
- **What awards did Ahmed Deedat receive?**  
  He was awarded the King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam in 1986.  
- **What organizations was Ahmed Deedat affiliated with?**  
  He founded and led the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) from 1957 until his death.  

## Why They Matter
Ahmed Deedat’s debates and writings significantly influenced Islamic outreach efforts in the 20th century, shaping interfaith discourse and challenging Christian evangelism in South Africa and globally. His work laid the groundwork for modern Islamic apologetics, emphasizing comparative religious analysis. Without his contributions, the landscape of Islamic-Christian dialogue and the strategies of Islamic propagation organizations would be markedly different.

## Notable For
- **King Faisal International Prize in Service to Islam (1986)**  
- **Founder of the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI)**  
- **Debates with prominent Christian evangelists**  
- **Author of *The Choice: Islam and Christianity***  

## Body
### Early Life and Migration  
Ahmed Deedat was born on July 1, 1918, in Surat, British India, to a Gujarati Muslim family. In 1927, his family migrated to South Africa, where he spent most of his life.  

### Career and Activism  
Deedat began his career as a teacher but shifted focus to Islamic advocacy in the 1940s. In 1957, he founded the Islamic Propagation Centre International (IPCI) in Durban, South Africa, which became a hub for producing Islamic literature, audio recordings, and debate materials.  

### Debates and Public Engagement  
Deedat gained international recognition for his public debates, notably against Christian evangelists such as Jimmy Swaggart and Josh McDowell. These debates, often centered on the crucifixion of Jesus and the authenticity of biblical texts, were widely circulated in audio and video formats.  

### Notable Works  
- **The Choice: Islam and Christianity** (1987): A critical analysis of Christian doctrines, arguing for the superiority of Islamic teachings.  
- **Crucifixion or Cruci-Fiction?** (1985): A lecture challenging the historicity of Jesus’s crucifixion, distributed globally through IPCI.  

### Legacy and Influence  
Deedat’s efforts contributed to the growth of Islamic awareness in South Africa and among English-speaking Muslim communities worldwide. His debates and writings remain reference points in Islamic apologetics, despite criticisms of his confrontational style.  

### Death and Posthumous Recognition  
Deedat died on August 8, 2005, in South Africa. His legacy is commemorated through the IPCI and his published works, which continue to circulate in Islamic communities. The King Faisal Prize underscored his global impact on Islamic outreach.  

### Related Entities  
- **British Raj**: Context of his birthplace in colonial India.  
- **South Africa**: Primary location of his activism and founding of IPCI.  
- **King Faisal International Prize**: Recognition of his contributions to Islamic service.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. [Source](https://kingfaisalprize.org/mr-ahmad-husein-deedat/)
4. International Standard Name Identifier
5. Virtual International Authority File
6. CiNii Research
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. CONOR.SI
9. Quora
10. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File