By Abbas Yushau Yusuf
Today the 11th of September Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, the famous Late Islamic cleric in Nigeria clock 28 years after his departure to the great beyond on the 11th of September 1992.
Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi was an Islamic Scholar who was famous internationally and has contributed to the course of Islam in Nigeria and the world.
The late Shiekh will be remembered for his doggedness in ensuring that Islam is practised according to the teachings of the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad Sallallahu Alayhi Wassalam.
Sheikh Gumi has to his credits several Books authored which Include the exegesis of the Glorious Quran titled Raddul Azhan Fi Maanil Quranul Kareem and Aqidatussahihah bimawafaqatishshariah.
He is the first African to Translate the meaning of the Glorious Quran into the popular Hausa language which was sponsored during the time of late King Fahd Ibn Abdul Aziz, The King of Saudi Arabia.
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In 1987 Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi and another International Islamic Scholar Sheikh Ahmad Deedat was also given an award for their services to Islam tagged King Faisal Award for services to Islam.
As at then, Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi was given a cash prize of 97 thousand dollars and when he came back to Nigeria he gathered his relatives whom he has never helped and handed them over the money as a charity.
From Independence, in 1960 till he died on September 11the 1992, Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi has related well with Nigerian leaders both Muslims and Christians.
He agrees and disagreed with some of them on issues that have to do with the Federal Republic of Nigeria on their modus operandi on governance.
Among Nigerian leaders, late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi was very closed to was the Late Premier of Northern Nigeria Sir Ahmadu Bello.
As related in his famous autobiography Where I Stand written by Professor Ismaila Abubakar Tsiga of Bayero University Kano, Professor Ismaila Abubakar Tsiga described how Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi was able to convince the Northern Nigerian colonial government of how a certain Imam in Maru was conducting Friday congregational prayers without performing ablution for the Imam to reverse his decision.
Malam Argued that religion of Islam stipulated few conditions in which a Muslim is allowed to perform dry ablution.
By then Malam Aminu Kano of blessed memory and Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi were tutors of the Northern regional government in Maru now Zamfara State.
Some of the Head of States Malam Abubakar Mahmud Gumi had a disagreement with were Major General Johnson Thomas Umanakwe Aguiyi Ironsi and Major General Muhammadu Buhari on some of their policies.
In the Book Where I stand, Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi narrated how he refused to go on a tour to Arabian countries as demanded by Late Aguiyi Ironsi to explain to them the motive behind the January fifteen 1966 coup that led to the killing of Sardaunan Sokoto Sir Ahmadu Bello and other prominent southwestern leaders of Nigeria by dissident soldiers.
Another scenario was when the Military government of President Muhammad Buhari was jailing second republic politicians for more than 100 years, Sheikh Gumi told him its wrong.
Malam narrated that the saddest moment in his life was the January 1966 coup in which Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Sir Chief Samuel Ladoke Akintola was killed by a gang of dominant Igbo military officers.
Malam Said the Northern Region Minister of Education Late Alhaji Isa Kaita phoned him that smoke was billowing from the Premiers House, Sheikh Gumi came out from his residence and went straight to Sardauna’s residence and learnt that the House was bombarded with shells and military bullets.
By the time he was walking on the streets of Kaduna all the roads were deserted, when he entered Sardauna’s residence he found that the Premier of Northern Region is no more, he was killed by Nzeogwu and co.
Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi met the bereaved families and many people were crying and the arrangement was being made to take the premiers corpse to Hubbare in Sokoto where late Sheikh Danfodio was buried.
Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi said no, a martyr is supposed to be buried where he was killed, Sheikh Gumi arranged the Funeral prayer for Sir Ahmadu Bello and asked people to arrange rows behind him, and he led the Prayers for late Sir Ahmadu Bello.
Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi died on Friday the 11th of September 1992 in a London Hospital, He was flown back to Nigeria t same day in a Presidential Jet on the Instruction of President Ibrahim Babangida.
Those that attend his funeral on that fateful Friday were the then Sitting President General Ibrahim Babangida, Governor of Kano Architect Kabiru Ibrahim Gaya, Yahaya Abdulkareem of Sokoto and Late Governor Muhammad Dabo Lere of Kaduna State among Important dignitaries.
Some southern Magazines did not take it well with Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi, TELL magazine described Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi as the Ayatollah of Nigeria.
In its cover story after the demise of Sheikh Gumi, TELL magazine tagged sheikh Gumi “THE EXIT OF AYATOLLAH” referring him, to Ayatollah of Iran.
They also described former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida as Late Sheikh Abubakar Gumi’s closest friends.
The books authored by Late Sheikh Gumi are still being taught in many institutions across the world.
Dr Ahmad Abubakar Gumi the Kaduna based Islamic Scholar and a medical Doctor is also one of the children of Late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gumi.
May Almighty Allah continue to rest his soul
