By AbdurRaheem Sa’ad Dembo
The late Sheikh Yusuf Imam Kolo died exactly 21 years ago as a pious man of God, family rallypoint and a community leader.He was a man that believed so much in the unity of family and certainly, that should be the traits and qualities of an average Muslim who is expected to be pious and humble.
The late Cheif Imam of AnsaruDeen mosque,Taiwo Road,Ilorin was not just only what I have described above but also beyond that in terms of goodness and magnanimity.He was a Sheikh Al-Islam and greatly generous.
The news of his demise was received in Kano as an undergraduate in Bayero University Kano then.Uztaz Hamid Ibrahim Ndadi was the one that came to our hostel and broke the news to us.silence ravaged our room as we began to pray for his reposed soul and talked about his consistency in uniting the family.Base on my age I can’t be able to say much about late Sheikh Kolo.
Recently I was in Ilorin at our Assembly (Majalisa) and his matter came up.Honestly, Sheikh lived a life worthy of emulation.
In the year 2000 or there about when I was preparing to write JAMB, the state library was my usual place to study during the day.There was no day I will treck from our family house without passing through Gbodofu family compound for convenience.Why I say for convenience is that one can actually take another route.There was a day I was passing behind his family house, I saw Sheikh giving out money to aged people within his family house; I saw that myself.There are other narration from some of his family members about his kindheartedness.
I am not a naysayer I look out for good about people not their weaknesses, this is my life and way.I like Muslim scholars who are upright, because my father was one.Besides, Quran admonished us not to dig into people’s affairs.So if you are a muslim and all you know how to do is to be poke nosing about people please eschew it, because it is a wasteful and dangerous enterprise.At least,If you are not afraid of anything; you should fear the day when you will be questioned for all you have done on earth
Sheikh Kolo was an embodiment of humility, when it comes relating with people and seeking knowledge.It is only a satanic trait,if you think you know everything.Knowledge has no boundary;it is expected we seek for knowledge all the time.
More importantly, Sheikh Kolo was known for his spiritual integrity.At an event in our family house Sheikh explained to us the importance of Suratu- Nasir.If you want me to tell you,I will not tell you in this piece; because our understanding differs from one person to another.
According to Uztaz Hamid Ibrahim Ndadi,he said one of the great qualities of Sheikh Yusuf Imam Kolo was that he loved reaching out to those in difficulty.It does not matter whether he knows you or not.In other words, Sheikh does not want to see anyone in a sad situation be it a family member or outsider.He opined that his Imamship in AnsaruDeen was unique in Ilorin.
May Allah grant Sheikh Yusuf Imam Kolo,my parents and all other departed souls aljannah firdaus
