I like to commend you for finally accepting to come back to lead us in the annual, Ramadam Tafsir at the Sultan Bello Mosque, Kaduna. May Allah bless you for that.
I know you would be surprised at the large crowd of people from all walks of life that daily throng your house to pay homage to you and the large turn out at the Tafsir venue. Mallam, do not be surprised, because this is almost the first time in recent years that we would get what we want.
Now that we have really got what we have been longing for, it becomes imperative for some of us that wish you well to point out some of our expectations from you in your capacity as our spiritual leader.
Having listened to your Tafsir on the opening day, a lot of us were happy about how you kept emphasizing on the need to be patient and law abiding. You said that Muslims would get whatever they want, only if they are patient and focused. You also dwelt on the need for the Muslims to seek for knowledge. These were what your father spent well over 40 years preaching to Nigerians, and now that you have continued from where he stopped (especially on this note), I would say May Allah (SWT) bless you.
Also, just like your father spent his life preaching about peaceful coexistence within and outside the Muslim Ummah, we hope you would do same, so that places like Kaduna, Jos, and others would once again regain their lost glories in terms of peaceful coexistence.
One serious problem the Muslim Ummah faces is that of begging by able bodied men and women. They go to places like mosques, shops, markets etc. to beg. This has given the Muslim Ummah a bad name. Mallam, some of these able bodied men and women believe begging is Islamic. It is your responsibility to educate them.
The one thing that gave the late Sheikh Gumi edge over his contemporaries was his ability to put down his research findings and preaching into written form, they still remain our compass. We expect that, as our new Mallam settles down, he would wear the gauntlet and start writing books and pamphlets in the simplest forms for our consumption.
Mallam, while your father was alive, his house was like a Mecca to all and sundry; from the leaders to the led. That was because he practiced what he preached and was not afraid to say the truth. We pray that Mallam does same.
It is a common fact that your father, the late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, led a pious, simple and contented life. We would expect you to do same. Our politicians and those in position of power and authority are very trickish, they would start attempting to offer one or two gifts to you just like they have been doing to some Ulamas; please Mallam decline such gifts.
Mallam, our modern day politicians would like to come very close to you, so much so that they could exploit their closeness to you to seek for undue political advantage especially now that some politicians have positioned themselves for the proverbial 2007, Mallam, please remain yourself and do not allow them.
Before your arrival, the Ulama have been politicized, some of them belong to the PDP while others are with the ANPP. This has created a lot of acrimony and bad blood amongst the Muslim Ulama, we pray that Mallam remains a political.
It is a well known fact that government at all levels in Nigeria have abdicated from their responsibilities. Our Christian neighbours have understood this and they have now taken advantage of this to set-up universities to cater for their adherents. We expect Mallam to speak to the Ummah to stop waiting for the government to do just anything and everything for them and in this regard the wealthy amongst us should set-up hospitals, and schools across the country to cater for our people.
So many Muslim youth would like to further their studies but the IMF induced increase in school fees would not allow them. Mallam would do us a favour if he consistently harp on the need for us to start giving out scholarship to the less privileged students in our midst. Nigerian Muslims do not give out scholarship to indigent students, Mallam should talk to them on the need to start giving.
On this note, I pray that Allah (SWT) guides and protects our Mallam, and gives him the wisdom to always say the truth no matter whose ox is gored.
Ahmed Nadumbi 5, Dumbi Street, Abakwa, Kaduna.
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