Extolling the virtues of compassion

In fact, helping the needy underlines the importance of Zakat in Islam. It is intended to reduce the burden of economic inequality in the society or community. Unfortunately, some of our rich men invest more in worldly material things than in bringing comfort to those in distress. Northern Nigeria has the highest unenviable record of […]

In fact, helping the needy underlines the importance of Zakat in Islam. It is intended to reduce the burden of economic inequality in the society or community. Unfortunately, some of our rich men invest more in worldly material things than in bringing comfort to those in distress. Northern Nigeria has the highest unenviable record of poverty.
The situation is so bad that the ordinary people easily succumb to common, but preventable diseases because they lack the means to pay for basic medical treatments. The people are heavily dependent on government, but the government resources are being stretched beyond limits because of heavy demand of a large population. Worse still, feeding is also a challenge for the ordinary northerners. Jigawa State is one of the areas which have a very disturbing record of poverty. In fact, poverty is a major factor that tempts people into crimes. Although Jigawa State was established since 1991, the State is still battling with the challenges of poverty, which is hard to tackle overnight anywhere. While the government is making its own efforts to tackle poverty, our well-to-do citizens also have a responsibility to give a helping hand. You don’t have to possess all the wealth in the world to show compassion.
If you have to wait for that moment, then you can’t be involved in philanthropic activities. Compassion is embedded in the nature of individuals. There are people who love to help others even with their limited wherewithal. A shining example of this category of philanthropists is Alhaji Ubali Hashim Garin Gabas from Jigawa State. This graduate of pharmacy from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria in the 70s, developed the spirit of philanthropy right from his student days. While at the university, his colleagues jokingly called him a “local man” because he was always in the company of the ordinary people such as the roadside tea sellers. He had a direct experience of what it meant to be poor. From those student days, he had made up his mind to show compassion towards the ordinary people, regardless of the resources available to him. The famous friend of humanity, Mother Teresa, said that “not everyone can do great things, but we can do small things with great love.” Therefore, we don’t have to possess billions before we can extend the hands of fellowship to poor people.
Pharmacist Ubali Hashim encapsulates the essence of Mother Teresa’s philosophy of doing small kindness with great love. When he started working after finishing university, UbalI Hashim had put into practice his life vow to help others with the little within his means. It may surprise many people that a salary earner could sacrifice part of his pay to help the ordinary people. But pharmacist Ubali was doing just that while he was working. And like a mustard seed, his compassion for the people kept growing. When he was appointed the Commissioner of Agriculture by the former Governor Saminu Turaki administration, the ordinary people celebrated his appointment. While serving as Agric Commissioner, he ensured that the ordinary people had access to fertilizers at affordable or fair prices. There are many things remarkable about pharmacist Ubali Hashim and one of them is his lifetime commitment to a goal he started right from his university days.
Ten years after leaving public office, his commitment to philanthropy remains unflagging. And despite the love he enjoys from the people, he has never given a thought to the idea of seeking public office. His kind of philanthropy amazes people because he doesn’t seek any reward in return. This is a case of unconditional philanthropy. Although he received job offers from Pakistan and Indonesia because of his outstanding academic record, he declined the offers because he didn’t want any job abroad that would detach him from the people. He has been helping the ordinary people in the payment of medical bills and provision of food and clothing to them. His compassion is such that he doesn’t know how to say no to the ordinary people.
In fact, as part of his commitment to the welfare of the people, pharmacist Ubale Hashim has sponsored ten women abroad to go and read gynecology. He is concerned about the shortage of female doctors in Jigawa State. Indeed, there are people who have deeper pockets than him, but the truth is that philanthropy has nothing to do with the size of your pocket. Instead, it has more to do with how soft your heart is. No society celebrates the selfishness and parsimoniousness of its rich men. That is why we have a duty to celebrate outstanding philanthropists like pharmacist UbaliHashim who are cheerful givers. He is a man worthy of emulation because he has demonstrated that you can extend compassion within your means.
Gumel contributed from No. 19, Maiduguri Road, Kaduna. E-mail: [email protected]