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nother bright, shining light of wisdom went out in Indonesia, as Islamic psychology expert Zakiyah Daradjat slipped away at Syarif Hidayatullah Hospital in Ciputat, Tangerang, on Tuesday morning.

She passed away at the age of 83, following complications attributed to illnesses developed in the last few weeks.

A true altruist who always put other people before herself, Zakiyah opened her arms to everyone who needed advice at her psychology clinic on Jl. Fatmawati, South Jakarta. Every afternoon for five days a weeks, she spent hours talking to her patients — mostly teenagers or parents who had problems with their kids.

She never put up the rates for her services and always welcomed patients, regardless of their social status, ethnicity or religion. She always left it to her patients to pay her an amount that would not burden them. She had even shared stories of receiving fruit in place of payment.

In an age where selflessness and an honest heart are becoming increasingly rare, it was truly an honor for all Indonesians to have a person such as Zakiyah among them — and her passing is a great loss.

Zakiyah was born in Kota Merapak village in Bukit Tinggi, West Sumatra, on Nov. 6, 1929. She was raised in a highly religious society, with her father serving in the Muslim mass organization Muhammadiyah and her mother in the Indonesian Islamic Union Party (PSII).

Upon finishing high school in 1951, Zakiyah left her hometown for Yogyakarta to pursue an education degree at the State Islamic University (PTAIN). In 1956, she left for Cairo, Egypt, to pursue a Master’s degree in education at the Ain Shams University, where she was accepted without having to undertake entrance test. A doctoral degree in psychology at the same institute then followed.

Zakiyah returned to Indonesia in 1964 and was accepted as an employee at the Religion Ministry, where she served for most of her life.

She had also served at the Supreme Advisory Council (DPA) from 1983 to 1988 and at the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) from 1992 to 1997.

In the 1990s, she was appointed by then-chairman of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI), Hasan Basri, as one of the body’s top leaders. Her appointment made history and surprised the nation as she was the first woman to hold such a high position at the MUI.

Zakiyah also penned many books and engaged in numerous radio talks on the topic of child psychology and education — including on her own religious lecture radio show every dawn on the state-owned radio station RRI.

The professor of education at the State Islamic University (UIN) Syarif Hidayatullah, said Zakiyah was known for her calm, composed manner, her reluctance to raise her voice and the smile upon her face even when she was angry.

Condolences flooded social media the moment the news of her death broke.

“UIN has truly lost another one of its greatest lecturers in [the passing of] Prof. Zakiyah,” wrote UIN rector and prominent Muslim scholar Komaruddin Hidayat on his Twitter account @komar_hidayat. “[She is] a pioneer of Islamic psychology study in Indonesia.”

Local news outlets reported that rain fell for five minutes amid an otherwise sunny day when Zakiyah’s family conducted prayers in her memory. The Minangkabau, Zakiyah’s ethnicity, believe a natural phenomenon such as this signifies the death of a respected community leader.