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Washington, D.C. | www.mpac.org ([link removed]) | September 12, 2025 —The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) is profoundly saddened by the sudden passing of Umar Hakim-Dey, a visionary leader, compassionate community organizer, and our dear friend. His legacy of service, faith, and bridge-building will continue to inspire us all.

Raised in Compton, Umar’s life journey reflected resilience, faith, and dedication to service. After embracing Islam in 1998, he became a guiding light in Los Angeles and beyond, working at the intersection of faith, social enterprise, and civic engagement. His leadership touched diverse institutions, including interfaith networks, grassroots coalitions, and national organizations; always with humility, kindness, and a deep belief in justice and human dignity. He often reflected on the Qur’anic verse from Surah ar Ra’d (13:11), “Allah will not change the condition of a people until they change what is in their hearts”. He described this verse as a turning point in his life, shaping his belief that true empowerment begins in the heart and becomes the foundation for lasting change.

Umar had been with MPAC for the past five years, beginning with the launch of the African American Muslim Insight Council in 2020. At a time when the pandemic and national protests were deeply impacting the African American Muslim community, Umar guided this initiative with wisdom and compassion. He created a space to meet urgent needs, amplify voices too often unheard, and chart a path forward through civic engagement, dialogue, and healing. Through workshops on civic participation and self-empowerment, a concept he championed throughout his career, Umar taught that true change begins when people recognize their own worth, their own agency, and their own power to build better communities.

Beyond his work with MPAC, Umar’s reach extended across Los Angeles and beyond. As founder of the INKERIJ Foundation, he blended social enterprise with service, building programs that uplifted those on society’s margins. He recently collaborated with faith leaders to pass a Human Security Resolution in the Los Angeles City Council, affirming the city’s commitment to fundamental freedoms. He developed the Next Steps Fellowship for men returning home from incarceration, helping them rebuild their lives through leadership training, conflict resolution, and mentorship. He stood alongside residents of Skid Row during the COVID-19 crisis, transforming emergency response efforts into opportunities for dignity and employment. In South Los Angeles, he organized workshops on entrepreneurship, voter education, trauma healing, and youth development, empowering communities to take ownership of their futures.

Umar also led Humanitarian Day, a project he often described as one of his most heartfelt endeavors. Bringing communities together to provide health services, food, and support for the unhoused, he taught that such work must come from a place of sincerity, “sharing from the heart” in pursuit of God’s blessings. During the pandemic, when public gatherings were restricted, Umar helped reimagine Humanitarian Day, ensuring that its spirit of service could continue during Ramadan and that compassion and generosity reached the most vulnerable, even in the most difficult of times. For Umar, giving was not about recognition, but about embodying faith through wholehearted service.

Umar was a bridge-builder in the truest sense. As chair of LA Voice, a multi-faith network, and through projects like Project 2192, he fostered understanding between communities and trained organizers to confront Islamophobia and systemic injustice. His leadership was rooted not only in strategy but in deep faith, humility, and an unshakable belief that mercy and justice go hand in hand.

To those who worked with him, Umar was more than a colleague; he was a mentor, a brother, and a source of inspiration. His presence reminded us that faith is not only practiced in prayer, but also lived through action: uplifting others, creating pathways for empowerment, and building unity where division exists.

We pray that God grants him the highest place in Paradise and blesses his family with patience, peace, and comfort in this time of grief. Umar’s legacy lives on through the countless lives he touched, the communities he uplifted, and the vision of justice and dignity he left behind. As we mourn, we also commit to carrying forward his greatest teaching: that self-empowerment is the first step toward transforming the world around us.

Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un – To God we belong, and to Him we return.

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