Na’ Allah Muhammad Zagga
The life and time of the late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmud Gummi, the Kaduna based Islamic cleric former Grand Khadi of the defunct Northern Nigeria is worthy of celebration. I have had the opportunity of interviewing this humble Islamic scholar whenever he visited Sokoto to meet the late Baraden Sokoto and later Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Ibrahim Dasuki. His humility and wisdom were impressive and awesome.
Now back to the topic. Why was Gummi unique? Here is why he was so. This was a man that had every formidable connections his influence could command; he had every available opportunity to amass wealth and buy property across the country, but he shunned money and worldly things. His main preoccupation was service to Islam and humanity.
In 1987, Gummi won the King Faisal Award for Service to Islam which had $97,000 dollars attached as prize money. Many Nigerians would have expected Gummi to start building a mansion to replace his modest house in Kaduna. Others would have expected him to buy shares in the banks or buy new cars because it was the first time he got such huge amounts of money as a prize for service to Islam.
Contrary to the thinking of many Nigerians, Gummi didn’t use the money for his own comfort. Instead, he gathered all his extended family members and handed the money to them to share amongst themselves, leaving nothing for himself. How many people in his position would have done what he did given the level of avarice in our society? In fact, even when well to do individuals brought money to him as donations or zakkat, Gummi would share the money to his students or followers, leaving nothing for himself.
In our world of today where competition for wealth accumulation infects even religious leaders who ride in flashy cars and designer clothes, to say Gummi was unique is an understatement. In his tribute to Gummi after his death on September 11, 1992, former Shagari’s Minister of Commerce Bello Maitama Yusuf said “ko kayi karatun Malam baka yi halin Malam ba(meaning even if you are as knowledgeable as Gummi, you can’t claim his virtues or character.) That was one of the sincerest tributes I have ever heard on Gummi. Bello Maitama is an Islamic scholar in his own right, but he was sincere enough to admit Gummi’s rare or uncommon virtue.
Today, we have scholars that wear more flashy clothes in a day than Gummi ever wore in his entire life. This is no exaggeration; it’s the truth about Gummi. Malam would rather enrich others than amass wealth for himself. His selflessness and disdain for material things is remarkable. In fact, calling Gummi unique cannot do justice to his shining virtues. His life was exemplary. He had access to powerful leaders, but he had never used the opportunity for personal benefits. He used the opportunity to offer advice instead. May his gentle soul continue to rest in peace. Amin.
