Sheikh Ja’afar Adam: Eight years on

The Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW)
It is now eight years since the brutal killing of Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam, the Kano based erudite Islamic scholar of international repute. He fell to assassin’s bullets in the early hours of Friday April 13, 2007 while leading the early morning (subhi) prayers at the DorayiJuma’at mosque in Kano.
Though every soul must taste death, the demise of such a fearless scholar was felt (and shall continue to be felt by many) for several reasons. Those of us who listened to his Tafseer for 13 good years would continue to remember him for the impact he made on our lives. He was remarkable in several respects. He was intelligent, friendly, good mannered, humane, forthright, gentle, understanding, amiable, and humble, a consummate scholar, a cautious optimist, a believer and a fearless vanguard of Islam and the masses.
 Even in death, Sheikh Adam remains a wonderful companion. His works played on various broadcast media are wonderful means of immortalising him. He was trustworthy, just as he played credible opposition to all government policies (at all levels) which contravened Islamic teachings. His sincerity, frankness and fearlessness in telling the truth to the powers-that-be made him far above his contemporaries. Sheikh Adam was a detribalised scholar; he never reduced himself to ethnic or tribal sentiments. He also committed his entire life to the propagation of Islam within and outside Nigeria.
Sheikh Adam was indeed the personification of humanity, honesty, and sincerity of purpose. His life, brief as it turned out to be, benefitted many Muslims both within and outside Nigeria. He taught many Islamic books, which include the Riyadus-salihin, in Kano and other parts of the country. He also conducted Ramadan Tafseer (Qur’an commentary) at the famous Indimi Islamic mosque on DamboaRoad in Maiduguri for 13 years. The famous Indimi Mosque was always filled to the brim as early as 2:00pm, that is two hours prior to the start of the Tafseer. People closed their places of business from far and near to attend his preaching, which was full of wisdom. I vividly recall how we rushed from the University of Maiduguri to be part of the wisdom. His Tafseer was aired in many television and radio stations in the country which included; Radio Kaduna, NTA Maiduguri, BRTV Maiduguri, Bauchi Radio Corporation, CTV Kano, OITV Damaturu, and NTA Yola among others.
Late Sheikh Ja’afar had delivered Islamic lectures on diverse topics in Maiduguri for more than a decade in institutions like the University of Maiduguri, School of Nursing, University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and Ramat Polytechnic among others. He also conducted Tafseer for women at the famous Indimi Mosque.
Sheikh Ja’afar’s tremendous contribution to scholarship was felt even by prison inmates. It was the late sheikh who introduced the visitation of prison yards by the ummah during the holy month of Ramadan in Maiduguri. He led the Muslim ummah to deliver lectures and donated clothes andfoodstuff to the inmates and advised them to be law abiding and change for better after their term and consider their sojourn as a matter so decreed. The visits to prisons, especially during Ramadan, have since become annual events. Inmates in the maximum security prison and new prison all in Maiduguri are certainly among those who greatly missed Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam.
Listening to Sheikh Adam, this writer often asked himself whether the sheikh had obtained a higher academic qualification in political science or international relation. This was because of how he (Sheikh Ja’afar) analysed both national and international issues in an articulate manner as they unfolded.
Born on February 12, 1960, in the ancient city of Daura, Katsina State, Sheikh Ja’afar started his education at home from his teacher,MalamHaruna. He was taken to Fagge in Kano in 1978 for memorisation of the Holy Qur’an. He was also at the Egyptian Cultural Centre situated on Bello DandogoRoad, Kano in 1981. He was also at Government Teachers’ College, Gwale between 1984 and 1988. Later he secured admission into the prestigious Islamic University in Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for his first degree which he graduated with flying colours in 1993. He was also at Sudan’s International University of Africa for his second degree.
Sheikh Adam at many times represented Nigeria in international Qur’anic recitation competitions where he made Nigeria proud by emerging victorious. During his lifetime he was often (but of course wrongly) described as controversial or confrontational. On the contrary, Sheikh Ja’afar was one of the most peaceful scholars Nigeria ever had. Sheikh was one scholar who valued all types of education and always urged the ummah, especially youths, to further their education,Western education inclusive. Sheikh Adam told nothing but the truth to whoever was involved. It is the saying of the Holy Prophet SAW that “Tell the truth even if it be unpleasant.” And Sheikh Adam, like any other Muslim, who held the Holy Prophet (PBUH) in high esteem wouldn’t and didn’t hesitate in this regard.
Even as I write this piece eight years after the sad event, I never fail to wonder why anyone or group of people for whatever reason should assassinate such a scholar and a gentleman of tremendous goodwill and immeasurable contribution to Islam and humanity; someone who committed the whole of the Holy Qur’an to memory and dedicated his life to the propagation of Islam (peace).
The loss of Sheikh Mahmud Adam is sad. He left (or rather he was made to leave) when we needed him most-at a time of moral degeneration even among leaders, when some clamour for total ascondment from Western education. Those who assassinated Sheikh Adam should know that they might have killed the man but not the light he represented and they will never get away with it Insha Allah if not now (that is by bringing them to book by the constituted authorities concerned), certainly they will be brought to justice on the day of judgment when position, order from the above, status and wealth will be of no avail. Alhamdulillah, the Sheikh died a martyr.
 Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam remains in our memories today, tomorrow and forever. May Allah SWT broaden his entrance into the choicest place in Paradise.Ameen. And may He give us the fortitude to continue to bear this great loss.

Ali Alhaji Ibrahim, a Political Analyst, lives at LawanBukar Junction, Lamisula Ward.  [email protected]