A funeral service will be held after Dhuhr prayers on Monday at Masjid Muhammad, 1519 4th Street N.W., Washington, D.C.

"To God we belong and to Him we return," said CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad. "Brother Hodari's leadership and activism were an inspiration and example to all who knew him. CAIR's board and staff offer their sincere condolences to his family and loved ones."

Abdul-Ali was born in San Diego, Calif., graduated magna cum laude from Howard University's School of Communications in 1976 and undertook graduate studied at Johns Hopkins University. He was editor in chief of the Howard University campus newspaper.

In 1976, he founded Liberation Information Distributing Co., a leading national wholesaler of books and periodicals about Africa, African-Americans and Islam. In 1981, he founded Pyramid Books in Washington, D.C., which grew to become the first chain of independent African-American owned and oriented bookstores. Since 1995 he operated Dar Es Salaam Books/Health Center in suburban Washington, D.C.

As an activist, Abdul-Ali received numerous awards for community service and was involved with a variety of non-profit organizations. He was a member of the governing body of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), director of the Universal Human Rights Network, executive director of Give Peace a Chance Coalition, and a member of NCOBRA — the National Coalition of Blacks for Reparations in America. Abdul-Ali also hosted a radio program, "The Struggle Continues!" at WPFW 89.3 FM.