Cape Town, South Africa – Muhsin Hendricks, a groundbreaking Islamic scholar and LGBTQ+ rights advocate, passed away on February 15, 2025, at the age of 57. He died from gunshot wounds sustained during an attack in Bethelsdorp, South Africa.

Born in June 1967 in Cape Town, Hendricks was widely recognized as the world’s first openly gay imam, having publicly come out in 1996. He held a Bachelor’s degree in Classical Arabic and Islamic Sciences from the University of Islamic Studies in Karachi, Pakistan.

Hendricks was a pioneering voice for LGBTQ+ Muslims, challenging deeply rooted stigmas within religious spaces. Through his ministry, he provided a mosque, community meeting places and two human rights organizations dedicated to supporting LGBTQ+ Muslims torn between their faith and sexual identity. His efforts helped foster dialogue and healing in conservative Muslim communities worldwide.

In 1991, Hendricks married a woman and had children with her before they divorced in 1996, the same year he came out. Following his coming out, he spent three months living in a barn, where he fasted for 80 days and reflected on his spiritual path through istikhaara (Islamic prayer for guidance). At the time, he was actively teaching in mosques and a local madrasa but was dismissed from his position due to his sexual orientation.

While his father offered support, his mother initially struggled to accept his identity. Their relationship eventually healed after she spent ten days with Hendricks and his partner, leading to a strong bond that lasted until her death.

In 2006, Hendricks married a Hindu man, a union that further underscored his commitment to love, inclusion and interfaith understanding.

Muhsin Hendricks leaves behind a legacy of courage, compassion and unwavering faith. His life’s work continues to inspire LGBTQ+ Muslims and advocates around the world to live authentically and speak boldly in the face of adversity.