The news of the death of Prof. Alih S. Aiyub reached us as soon as he passed away on May 18, 2024 during the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Silsilah.
What a sad news! I visited him some weeks ago in his house knowing that he was on dialysis informing him of the plans of Silsilah and the wish that he could get well and continue the mission in Silsilah.
Since the beginning of Silsilah in 1984 he used to visit our center in the town of Zamboanga with other young Muslim young leaders.
Our friend Alih Aiyub was born in 1967 and has lived his life in full and passion. A real model of a Muslim leader committed to promote dialogue and peace.
He is a graduate of Mass Communication at Western Mindanao State University. He finished his master’s degree in Social Work at the same university. Earned his diploma in Development Law and Social Justice at the Institute of Social Studies in Netherland.
He also finished his Islamic Studies at Al-Azhar Learning Institute Zamboanga City. He has completed his Academic requirements for Masters of Arts in Community Development and currently finishing his thesis at the University of the Philippines – Diliman, Diliman Quezon City. He attended trainings and seminars for Human Rights Advocacy here and abroad. He was also an active resource speaker and to mention few of the many activities he has participated like the Seminar Workshop on Peace Building held in Bangkok, Thailand. A discussant on the theme “Leadership for Human Rights and Social Justice” during the International Leadership Training in Netherland and a regular speaker of the Silsilah Summer Course. He was an Associate Member of the Asian Right Commission Hongkong-Based. A Member of International Movement for Just Word, Malaysia-Based. A faculty member of the College of Social Work and Community Development at Western Mindanao State University. The Executive Director of SALAM Peace Movement. The Secretary General of the National Ulama Conference of the Philippines. Former Director of the Silsilah Dialogue Institute. A member of the Interfaith Council of Leaders and a member of the Board of trustee of Silsilah.
My personal motto and guide in life is: ” we have a life in this world and we have to spend it in the best way,” which is also how Prof. Alih S. Aiyub view life as a Muslim leader.
This is what somebody told me in my young age adding: ” What do you do with your life?”. Our good friend Alih can be considered one person who lived a full life and he is a model of dialogue and peace in this society full of contradictions, fear and violence, but there is space for hope and our friend Alih is a sign of hope that we need to imitate.
Fr. Sebastiano D’Ambra, PIME
Founder, Silsilah Dialogue Movement