Dr.

Abd Al-Rahman bin Hamood Al-Sumait, 1947 – 15

August 2013. was an Islamic scholar, medical practitioner,
and humanitarian from Kuwait. He was known for
his philanthropic works in more than 29 African countries.
Born and raised in Kuwait, Al-Sumait was a doctor
specializing in internal medicine and gastroenalgy before
becoming involved in charity work. He graduated from
the University of Baghdad with a BS in Medicine and
Surgery, and a diploma in Tropical Diseases from the
University of Liverpool in 1974. He completed his
postgraduate from McGill University in Canada,
specializing in internal medicine and digestive systems.
Al-Sumait practiced medicine at Montreal Public Hospital
from 1974 to 1978. Abdul Rahman Al Sumait was the
founder of the Africa Muslims Agency (new name, Direct
Aid), and worked as its secretary-general from 1987 until
he died in 2013. He was also the founder of the Kuwait
Relief Agency and worked as its CEO from 1987 to 2013
and coordinator of Health Attaché for the Kuwait Embassy
in Kenya. Following is a list of charity and welfare
institutions founded by Al-Sumait:

 Founding member of the Montreal branch of the

Muslim Students Society, 1974-1976.
 Founding member, Malawi Muslims Committee –
Kuwait 1980
 Founding member of, the Kuwaiti Relief
Committee
 Founding member, International Islamic Charity
Authority – Kuwait
 Founding member, International Islamic Council
for Call and Relief – Kuwait
 Member of Charity Rescue Society – Kuwait
 General Secretary of the African Muslims
Committee, 1981 – 1999
 Chairman of Direct Aid, 1999 – 2008 Member of
the Kuwaiti Red Crescent Society – Kuwait
In 1981, Al-Sumait founded the Africa Muslim Agency,
later renamed as a "Direct Aid" society. The society
provides extensive humanitarian assistance to
impoverished people throughout Africa. It has built 124
hospitals and dispensaries, 840 schools, 204 Islamic
centers, 214 women's training centers, and 2,200
mosques. The society has also established two colleges
in Kenya and Zanzibar and offered 200 scholarships to
Muslim African students to pursue higher studies in
medicine, engineering, and technology.
Direct Aid has offices in 29 African countries In addition to
that, it was considered a General Consultant in the
Economical and Social Board of the United Nations in
1998. AL-Sumait was imprisoned twice in his life. The first
was in Baghdad in 1970 and the second time in 1990
when he was arrested by Iraqi intelligence forces during
the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. He was shipped to Baghdad
and subjected to severe torture. Later in his life when
looking back at this terrible ordeal he stated:
"I had no doubt whatsoever that I would not die except at
the moment Allah had ordained for me."

Al-Sumait struggled through the last few months of his life,

traveling from Kuwait to numerous places, including
Germany, in search of medical treatment for his ever-
worsening medical state.
On 15 August 2013, it was announced that Al-Sumait died
from complications of a heart condition.