Sheikh Muhammad A. Aji: Exit of an excellent Islamic scholar

To anybody that grew up in the city of Maiduguri in the last forty years or so, Sayyinna Abba Aji (as he was popularly referred to, particularly by his Kanuri students), epitomised a lot of good things: a great Islamic scholar, a humble teacher, a father figure, an arbiter, a religious moderator, a man of […]

To anybody that grew up in the city of Maiduguri in the last forty years or so, Sayyinna Abba Aji (as he was popularly referred to, particularly by his Kanuri students), epitomised a lot of good things: a great Islamic scholar, a humble teacher, a father figure, an arbiter, a religious moderator, a man of utmost simplicity, and above all, a great Muffasseer (Arabic word for commentator) of the Holy Qur’an.

Sheikh Abba Aji was one of the sons of Borno and indeed Nigeria that lived a life of service to Allah (SWT) and humanity as a whole. His annual Ramadan tafseer (i.e. Qur’anic commentary) both at the Government House and at his residence in Maiduguri will be missed by all. However, the legacies of fear of Allah (SWT), moral uprightness, truth and kindness to humanity that the late sheikh preached and lived by will remain in our living memories forever.

The late Islamic scholar brought a lot of positive changes both in the ordinary and religious lives of the citizens of Borno in particular and indeed Northern Nigeria in general, including the Hausa and Kanuri-speaking parts of the neighbouring countries of Niger, Cameroon and Chad republics.

Sheikh Abba Aji was one of the earliest Islamic scholars in Borno that started the tafseer of the Holy Qur’an in the simplified version of the Kanuri dialect that is currently being spoken in Maiduguri and its environs in contrast to the earlier Kanembu scripts, which were difficult to understand and therefore required translation into modern-day simplified dialect of Kanuri through the turjuman (Arabic word for translation).

The late sheikh’s preaching was commonly centred around family life, matrimonial harmony in Islam, importance of self-reliance and economic self-independence, seeking of both Islamic and western education, personal cleanliness and hygiene, obedience to parents and constituted authorities, and most importantly, sincerity in worship and purity of intention in all our dealings with our creator and fellow human beings, which are all paramount to our peaceful coexistence despite our cultural and religious diversities as a society and as a nation.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) once said in one of his authentic hadiths that, “the scholars are heirs to the prophets.” He (SAW) further elaborated the above hadith by adding that “the scholars inherit them not in property or monetary terms, but in the acquisition and dissemination of the knowledge of unity of Allah (SWT)”. Indeed, the late Sayyinna Abba Aji had greatly exemplified the above prophetic hadith all his life in spreading the light of guidance to the whole of humanity. He had enjoined what is good and forbidden what is wrong for the last fifty years of his life as directed by Allah (SWT) in the Holy Qur’an.

Sheikh Muhammad Abba Aji returned to the mercy of his Lord in the afternoon of Monday, 7th December, 2009 (20th Dhul Hijja, 1430AH), exactly a week after he took ill. His funeral prayer is said to have been attended by over two million Muslim faithful, including some great Islamic scholars of international repute at the grand holy mosque in Makka al-Mukarrama; the birthplace of Islam and where the first call to the unity of Allah (SWT) was proclaimed by the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) about 1400 years ago. The greatest service we can do to the late Sayyinna Abba Aji is to continue to pray for him and to try to live our lives according to the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the hadith of the holy prophet (SAW) as always preached by the late sheikh.

May Almighty Allah (SWT) have mercy on his soul and grant Sayyinna aljannat firdaus. And may He (SWT) also grant his family, his students and the good people of Borno and indeed Nigeria the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss (Ameen).

Dr Goni is of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, [email protected].