Painful exit of Alhaji Bashir Abu-Huraira
My first encounter with Alhaji Bashir, popularly known as Abu-Huraira, was in 2013 when I went to seek for permission to court one of his daughters – young, beautiful and intelligent Shema’u, who later became my wife. In the context of fulfilling that Islamic rite, a friend of mine who went with me, made the […]
My first encounter with Alhaji Bashir, popularly known as Abu-Huraira, was in 2013 when I went to seek for permission to court one of his daughters – young, beautiful and intelligent Shema’u, who later became my wife.
In the context of fulfilling that Islamic rite, a friend of mine who went with me, made the formal introduction and stated our mission. And during enquiries, the late Abu-Huraira recalled that he knew my late father, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim, as a good and amiable man, and therefore concluded that I must be a good person.
“The reasons I said you must be a good person is not far-fetched. After your birth, I, perhaps, was the one who advised your late father, Alhaji Ado, to name you Aminu. I also advised your father’s best friend, late Alhaji Adamu Garba, to name his son Sadiq. This was over 45 years ago, when I was conducting lessons then as a younger Islamic scholar,” he said.
He further recalled that his late junior brother, who was equally a well-known scholar, was a tutor of Islamic studies to my mother, Halima.
“Your parents are really good personalities worthy of emulation…You should feel at home because I am your father,” he rounded up, before venturing into other issues.
This was how the age-long relationship between our two families was rekindled, and in the next couple of months, I and Shema’u we became husband and wife.
In the early hours of Wednesday, 24th August, 2016, I received the sad news of the death of Abu-Huraira, an iconic legend, astute scholar and a father to many.
I got the information from my junior brother, who also got the news of the death from the social media. Like many other people from within and outside Nigeria, the news shook me.
The demise of Abu-Huraira was devastating for those living in Jos, his home base, basically because of his unrivalled philanthropic and scholarly engagements.
Sympathisers during his mourning period at his residence, along Layin Zana in Jos, which lasted for over seven days, attested to the fact that the late Abu-Huraira was a generous and very kind hearted man.
His distinguished character to that effect had to do with reconstructing dilapidated buildings for the less privileged, which he did silently to avoid riya (show-off in order to gain popularity).
Late Abu-Huraira, though a renown cleric, was also a popular estate developer who used his possessions in uplifting the living standard of destitutes through distribution of food items and other basic privileges.
The late Abu-Huraira, who died at the age of 77, was born and brought up in Jos. He was the son of the late Abdurrahman and Khadija, who were originally from the famous Dala neighbourhood in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State.
The late Abu Huraira had reportedly travelled extensively in search of Islamic knowledge and propagation. For instance, he was in Misra (Egypt) for his studies. He also stayed in Lau in the old Gongola (now Adamawa State) and parts of Taraba State.
Thereafter, he went to the old-Bida region and parts of present Niger, Abuja, Kaduna and Kebbi states, respectively, all in search of and later propagation of knowledge.
He finally settled in Jos where he made his landmark in learning, mentorship as well as business development.
Before his demise, Abu-Huraira was the chief custodian of Abba Na Shehu ward and an elder statesman. His famous Abu-Huraira Juma’at Mosque, on Bauchi road in Jos, is a rallying point of Islamic propagation.
He also served as a Peace Ambassador in many respects, through mediation and conflict management. He was a great teacher of international repute, and above all, a good father worthy of emulation.
An embodiment of peaceful co-existence, Abu Huraira was a member of many organisations that were geared towards societal re-orientation of individuals in particular and the development of the society at large. He spearheaded various activities and established a lot of schools, one of which is the popular Nurul Islam, in Jos.
He had many publications to his credit, including pamphlets that were being distributed during festive seasons, such as fasting, Maulud and Eids, in order to serve as a reminder to the Muslim faithful.
The Holy Qur’an said every soul must taste death. Inna Lillahi Wa Inna Ilaihi Rajiun.
Though late Abu Huraira left this sinful world at the time his fatherly and scholarly wisdom were needed a great deal, he had made his landmark which would remain relevant and helpful for the generation yet unborn.
Abu-Huraira was married to two wives – the late Hajiya Maryam who died some years back, and the surviving Hajiya Iyami. He left behind 13 children, including Alhaji Nuru, a senior manager with the CBN in Niger State and Hajiya Ruqayya, who is married to one of the sons of His Royal Highness, the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris. He also left behind many grand-children.
I pray Allah Subahanahu Wa Ta’ala to forgive his shortcomings, reward his deeds and do us the honour of meeting once again in Jannatul Firdausi.
Ado is the Kaduna Regional Manager of Abuja-based Daily Trust titles.