Hadiza was born into the loving family of Shuaibu Lili and Hajiya Saratu Mamman. She came into the world after her mum had lost a couple of pregnancies and a baby. She was a peaceful child that always had a smile on her face. As she was growing up, she was diagnosed as a sickler. She attended Mary Travis Nursery and Primary School where she graduated in 2003. She was never found wanting in any crime or misconduct. She was a calm, loving and sweet girl that made an impact on anyone she came across. She never quarreled or got angry. She was the best sister we ever had. She had to put up with the tantrums and tolerated her younger ones. She never showed weakness or anger towards them.
Your nickname Antete we corrupted to “Jantete” due to your fair complexion. You always frowned when we called you by that name but not for long. She went through her days in school with a lot of patience and frequent crises as is characteristic of people carrying the genetic disease.
As she grew older, she went to Excel College Kano for her secondary education. But had to be withdrawn due to her ill health. She continued with her secondary school at the NDA Staff School until her SS2 when she became seriously ill with bronchitis. A sudden bout of crises complicated matters which resulted in the demise of Hadiza on 10/6/2009.
The last holiday you came to Kano with your sisters Sadiya and Bebilo and we watched the film “Hassan” which centered on death and torments of the grave. We were petrified and all four of us slept on Mammy’s bed out of fear. We were punctual at prayer times reminding each other immediately the adhan is called.
We started scaring each other anytime there is a power outage by crying out “Kulli nafsin zaikatul maut” in Hassan’s tone and we would all cluster holding each other screaming. Mammy had to put a stop to it as Sadiya and Bebilo became too scared to sleep at night. Oh! Antete I never knew that death will hit us in so early in life. For that reason Antete I recite Suratul Mulk invoking Allah’s mercy for you and for us.
Our holidays in Kano were most memorable especially with our routine after Subhi lessons with my Mum (Mammy); reciting daily adkar, duas, Siraa and Hadith in the mornings with all of us surrounding Mammy eagerly learning the new dua for the day. Hauwa’u, you and I took turns to write out the dua on the yellow “post it’ which we stuck on to Mammy’s bedroom fridge. This was meant to help us memorise it before the next subhi session. You were always going to the side of the fridge to refreshen your memory.
I particularly remember when we were told about the angles sharing out blessings and “rizk” between the subhi prayer and sunrise and how we tried so hard to keep awake. At intervals, Mammy would call out one or two names and if one was slow to respond we chorused “absent” to which arguments ensured. No one wanted the angels to record them as absent during the sharing of the bounty.
Hadiza can be defined as the best one can meet; she was a nice, friendly, sweet person. She never showed her anger. She was always quiet. She was religious and never plays with her prayers and dua. She also liked enjoying herself. She loved going for picnics, having fun, watching movies and being around friends and family.
During Yaya Lubabatu’s wedding, we had lots of fun wearing make-up for each other. We laughed and enjoyed sharing souvenirs. We also enjoyed seeing our cousins that we had not seen for a long time. Having to spend those moments with you and all of them was a blessing.
During Bilkisu’s wedding in April, I arrived in Kaduna to find you lying on the settee in Umma’s sitting room and you were sleeping but you woke up because you started coughing heavily. That was when I rushed towards you and hugged you. Later we went to our aunt Mammy’n Kaduna’s house at Nagwamatse Road with Zainaba the henna lady who came from Damaturu for the wedding. There she was decorating our hands and feet with henna but you were not keen for it but we forced you to do it on your nails as you lay in bed. The coughing started again and we wanted you to be lively because you were dull and depressed. Umma (Yaya Babba) was pulling your legs jokingly saying “Do sister do” whenever you coughed and we all joined her in saying “sorry o sister do”. We sang for you and you smiled and deep in me I was very happy because I hadn’t seen you smiled since I arrived.
On the 29th of June, I sighted Kawu my Uncle from our hostel gate standing with Sister Maryam Lemu our Hostel Administrator who had visible lines of worry on her face.
A thousand thoughts ran riot in my mind. I said a silent prayer as I approached him. I ran and hugged him and my heart was also beating, many questions were running through my mind. Why is he here? What happened? Who died? Who is ill? But I didn’t know what was happening. I asked him what happened. He just said ‘nothing, we are just going to Kaduna that’s all. But that was so strange.
When we left the school premises I asked Kawu why he is picking me from school and he said nothing. I asked about my mum, dad, grand mum and everyone but Hadiza. We were on Nnamdi Azikiwe express way in front of Shiroro hotel when he advised me that ‘Allah is the one that gives and he is also the one that takes’.
He also added that, “if Allah wishes to give you anything and then takes it away, you should be grateful that He gave you and pray that it is for the good”. Then he said, ‘It is Antete (Hadiza) that died?! Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi rajiun (from Allah we come and to Him we shall return). The heavy thing I felt on my chest on the 9th of June at night came to my chest again but this time it was heavier and it took my breath away. He brought my seat down and told me to lie down and breathe in and out.
When we arrived we went to Unguwar Sarki where I met my grand mother and Anty Saratu (her mom) I hugged them and I burst into uncontrollable tears. We all sobbed for a while and then Umma told me to stop crying, the best thing to do is to pray for her. She is gone and none can replace her, but pray for her.
This experience had taught me how brief life can be. We should therefore make the best of it by being conscious of the rights of Allah (SWT) on us then the rights of our parents and humanity.
May Allah (SWT) in His infinite mercy grant Hadiza eternal rest and reward her with Aljannat firdaus.
Nana Aisha is an SS 3 Student of New Horizons College Minna .
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