Emo (r.a.- left) with Raymond
Mohamed Ezammudeen, affectionately known as Emo, of 79 Village, passed away on December 10, 2025. He was a prominent member of our extensive “78 Family,” a lineage whose roots stretch back to the 1860s and 1870s. Emo was a living repository of ancestral knowledge, preserving and sharing the invaluable history of our forebears and of the Skeldon community.
Emo’s face would light up with unmistakable energy whenever he spoke of his lineage. His great-grandfather, Subratti, and Subratti’s brother, Sahadat, were among the founders of the 78 Masjid. These learned men served as early Imams in the 1860s and played a vital leadership role in nurturing the Skeldon Muslim community following their arrival in the colony.
He would often urge me, “Look them up… Kabil Khan—he was tall and built. Research the 78 Masjid. There were two brothers, Sahadat and Subratti, involved.” Long before I met Emo, this same history of the 78 Masjid had been shared with me by my cousin, Dr. Kamal Edriss Dookie, reinforcing its authenticity and importance.
Mohammed Ibrahim (r.a.) & Zainab Khan (r.a.)
It was Jameel Busgith who first connected me to Emo, advising that meeting his cousin would be key to unlocking our family history. Emo and Jameel were first cousins; their grandfathers, Mohammad Ibrahim and Abdul Karim, were brothers and fellow Imams.
Emo descended from a remarkable line of pioneering entrepreneurs, Imams, and community activists whose collective efforts led to the establishment of the 78 Masjid in the 1860s. He was the son of Nura Deen and Najmun Nara Deen, and he is survived by his siblings: Aharon, Bebin, Idris, Naimoon, Asif, Kemo, Jamalo, Rahfeea, Nazareen, Razika, and Saviah.
A true entrepreneur, Janab Mohamed Ezammudeen lived a life marked by independence, dignity, and self-reliance. He was the proprietor of Deen’s Jewellery (No. 78 Corriverton), Deen’s Sawmill Ltd (Crabwood Creek), and Deen’s Shopping Centre (No. 79 Corriverton). He shared his life with his devoted wife, Raheema, and was a loving father to Shaliza Deen-Sattar and Dwayne Ezammudeen.
The family tree reveals deep and interwoven roots. Emo’s great-grandfather, Subratti, migrated from India alongside his brother Sahadat. Together with figures such as Mr Shahabuddin, Mr Ishmael, Wagid Ali, and Kadam (mother of Sankar and Dookie), they were early activists and founding members of the first Skeldon Muslim Society. Emo’s grandfather, Imam Ibrahim, married Zainab Khan, the sister of Sakina Khan (Mrs Sankar) and Shehzaadi Khan (Mrs Abdool Rahaman). Their brothers, Kabil Khan and Noor Khan, further anchor the shared ancestry that binds the Sankar, Rahaman, Deen, and Kabil Khan families as blood relatives.
Mohammed Ibrahim (r.a.)
Emo was astute, straightforward, and deeply loving. An avid reader, he was passionate about preserving and passing on his ancestors’ stories. He spent cherished time with his grandson, who was blessed to receive such nurturing, tradition, and history firsthand. Watching them together, one could see that Emo taught not merely through words, but by example.
Firmly rooted in tradition, Emo would gently remind me not to greet him with “good morning” or “good afternoon.” Instead, he would smile and say, “Say ‘AsSalaam Alaikum.’” For him, the sunnah was not a formality, but a way of life.
We are immensely proud of Mohamed Ezammudeen and will forever cherish his legacy of faith, knowledge, entrepreneurship, and community service.
May Allah (SWT) grant him Jannah and raise him among the righteous. Ameen.
