Farewell to a Giant of the ALF Community

On Tuesday evening the 26th of August 2025, a beloved member of our community, Haji Ismet Koyu peacefully and quietly passed into eternity among his loved ones.

A youthful wise man, able to connect and provide comfort to all those whom he would speak with. Known for his contagious laugh and positive, active demeanor he would sit in the top right corner of our beautiful lecture room, tesbih in his hand and ready to add input into the lectures if he deemed it necessary or beneficial.

He would walk to the mosque, same tesbih in his hand, at quite a tremendous pace for his age. He would welcome the young, the new and the old, all the same with his beautiful smile and ocean of wisdom. He would joke, give beautiful life advice and quite simply be a joy to be around. He was a generous man, helping out whoever he could. He loved nature and beautiful green sceneries, heading often to Trafalgar, to Shark Lake up in Perth, and back home to his beloved village Buyukkale and his town Tire in Turkey.

As they say, "they dont make them like they used to", this was a man whom you could say that about and it wouldnt be a gram of exaggeration. His beloved Quran, Hadith Books and his Risale-i Nur would never leave his hands, an avid reader and critical thinker within the Risale-i Nur Framework. He was also active online, keeping up to date with the world and its people.

He truly was a joy, a beacon of hope, a cornerstone of our community. A father to many, a shoulder and a confidant. He was a founding core piece of our ALF community and to many Australian Immigrants who needed a father away from their father back home.

ALF and its community completed their final duty to him, and laid him to rest amongst 500 people on a weekday. People took off work, to come and say their final goodbyes to him, but only in physicality, because he will truly always remain in our memories and in our hearts as our Beloved Ismet Abi. His lessons will continue in how we live, how we should serve our community, how we should uphold ourselves and our families and stand for knowledge, justice and humanity.

You may be laid to rest, in a grave with a window opened to Jannah, but you will always be with us in our hearts, our memories, and in your corner at the lecture hall, holding your tesbih with that bright, warm, healthy smile on your face.

What a man you were, what a man you inspired us to become, we applaud you and are witnesses to your belief, your great work and your beautiful character. We pray that you are made a neighbour to Rasoolullah SAW and Sahabe-i Kiraam, your Ustad Said Nursi and all those luminous, extraordinary people you belong aside.

We appreciate you, and we look forward to meeting with you in the everlasting world and hearing what you have learnt while waiting for us to join you.

Thank You Ismet Abi.

ALF