Suprovat Sydney report: Sheikh Taj El-Din Hamid Hilaly was an Imam of Lakemba Mosque in Sydney and an Australian Muslim leader. The Australian Federation of Islamic Councils (AFIC) appointed him Mufti of Australia in 1988. He referred to himself as the Grand Mufti of Australia and New Zealand.

He was born in Egypt, and arrived in Australia in 1982 on a tourist visa from Lebanon. Although the visa was temporary, it was routinely reissued until 1988 when then Minister for Immigration Chris Hurford attempted to have Hilaly deported for being against “Australian values”.The Islamic community showed strong support for Hilaly to remain in Australia, and Hilaly was eventually granted permanent residence in 1990.

In July 2005 Hilaly was honoured “Muslim Man of the Year” for 2005 at the first Australian Muslim Achievement Awards by Mission of Hope (Muslim Community Solutions for Health and Well-being).

Taj El-Din Hilaly passed away in Egypt on 5 October 2023, at the age of 82. Global Muslim lost a knowledge of the ocean by his death, may Allah grant him the highest rank in Paradise.