Rahmathullah Syed

In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

"Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji'un.

To Allah, we belong and to Him, we shall return.

With hearts full of submission to the will of Allah, we announce the passing of our dearest father, Professor Emeritus of Physics Rahmathullah Syed, and his return to our Creator on January 8, 2026.

Our father was a true scholar and a gentleman. He dedicated his life to understanding the workings of the world – both in the worldly and spiritual realms. He earned a master's degree in science at Sri Venkateswara University in Tirupati, India (1963) and yearned to pursue higher education at an American university. In the winter of January 1976, he witnessed his first snowfall in Washington D.C. where he completed a doctoral degree in Physics at The Catholic University of America (1983). Like Heisenberg's Uncertainty Principle which he would often say "cannot be avoided," he took a leap of faith and settled his family in the northeastern snowbelt of central Vermont. He served for thirty-two years as a beloved Professor then Chairman of the Physics Department at Norwich University in Northfield, Vermont. He was recognized for introducing innovative computer simulation in the physics labs and shepherding students through the rigorous curriculum. For those who knew and worked with him, a lasting legacy remains his respect and support of higher education throughout the lifespan – a value that is consistent with his faith in Islam.

A lifelong learner, he turned his attention in his twilight years to the meticulous, devoted and careful study of the history and principles of the Islamic faith. In thoughts and deeds, he strived to live a life of solemnity and piety, and he believed that only Allah is our ultimate Judge - the Most Compassionate and Most Just.

Together with our mother, he raised three strong girls in a culture that favors boys. With purpose and resolve, he worked hard to ensure that we had access to the best education and encouraged us to achieve our fullest potential in this land of opportunity. Until his final breaths, he made sure we all knew we were loved by him. He labored hard and sacrificed his life for his family and for that we are eternally grateful. He kept his family together; this was his utmost desire and his greatest accomplishment. In the end, he was surrounded by his family as he succumbed to cancer. With profound humility, he accepted God's will and chose to die naturally in hospice.

He was a mentor, a role model and a father-figure for many and he will be deeply missed by all in our extended family and by all in the communities who knew him. We ask Allah (SWT) to forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds, grant him Jannatul Firdaus (the highest level of Paradise), and grant his family and loved ones patience and strength during this difficult time.

The Janazah prayer will be held at Al-Hidaya Center, 322 Troy Schenectady Road, Latham NY 12110 on January 9, 2026. The Janazah prayer will follow both the Jummah (Friday) Prayer 1:30 PM and Asr Prayer at 2:10 PM. Burial will be immediately following at The Muslim Cemetery of the Capital District, 2655 Phillips Road, Castleton-on-Hudson, NY. The family is hosting a reception at 1 Alysha Lynne Court, Latham, NY from 6:30pm to 8:30pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made either to the Al-Hidaya Center, 322 Troy Schenectady Rd, Latham NY 12110 (518) 608-1255 ; https://us.mohid.co/ny/newyork/icct/masjid/online/donation or to the Lymphoma Research Foundation at https://lymphoma.org/. Personal condolences may be sent to the family at 10 Vale Street, Latham NY 12110.

"Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return." (Quran 2:156) Please join us in prayers for the departed soul. May Allah have mercy on him.