Tribute to a great Muslim Icon: What I do Remember about late Alhaji Badamasiyyu (Badams) as a little girl from Okene Islamiyya Central Mosque

As little kids, during Maulud celebrations in the 1970s at Okene in Kogi State, we used to march around all the nooks and crannies of Okene, visiting dignitaries like the late Ohinoyi, Alhaji Sani Omolori (at his palace), late Shaykh Ahmad Rufai (at Idoji), the late Attah's family,  late Chief Imam Musa Galadimah my Uncle (at Iruvuchegba) and now late Alhaji Badamasiyyu populary called (Badams) because of his popularity and very delicious bread (Badams Special Bread) in that order on the 1st day of Maulud activities. His compound too is at Iruvuchegba close to the Chief Imam's compound. 

Alhaji Badamasiyyu used to receive the Maulud children with special joy, especially children from Okene Islamiyya Central Mosque, not because all his kids attend the school, but due to his special love for our beloved Nabbiy SAW. 

I could still recall that one of his little son that we call "Champion" then (I can't recall his real name now) used to be our flag bearer for the boys line. We call him "champion" because of his very unique display of dance steps when holding our Islamiyya flag. Indeed, Champion was very young then, about 5-6 years old or so.

 Champion and another elder boy represent the boys, while for girls, the daughter of the late Ohinoyi, Alhaji Sani Omolori who was also champion's age mate represent the girls 'line. I still remember her name as Aisha Ipeku. These two young kids then we're gifted with unique display of dance steps. 

My late sister Huzzaimat along with Ipeku represent the girls and we never got tired of watching the four of them display the flags as they dance.

Thus, any time we visit Alhaji Badamasiyyu's compound, it was  usually an exhilarating experience, because "Champion" will display his dance talent to the admiration of all, especially his Father, who normally stand upstairs to have a perfect view of our activities with joy written all over his face.

Of course, our Islamiyya always receive very special treatment and generous financial gift at the end, especially those of us who usually recite items. We look forward to visiting Alhaji Badamas because we are never disappointed...as after item recitation, each one us receives money, at least a Naira coin each,  fresh from the bank (clean and very shiny).

My special reason for this little brief on this iconic Islamic Father is occasioned by the fact that as a little orphan girl, I saw him as a very great giant and unique role model who displayed an examplary life style that was quite different from the typical Ebira men.

Of course my beloved Uncle (late Chief Imam Musa Galadimah) belong to that league who gave  all to educate his children and his late junior brother's orphans, hence my position today.

 In the same mesure, Alhaji Badamasiyyu never spared his resources in propagating the course of Islam. 

This can be verified by his sincere commitment in ensuring that all his offsprings received the best education (both Islamic and Western education) respectively without any discriminations between his Sons and his daughters. 

I had the privilege of attending the same school ( Islamiyya and Western) with his kids, especially Professor Juwairiyya Badamasiyyu, (professor of Islamic and Shari'ah Law, Bayero University, Kano). 

Alhaji Badamas' love for Islam has been clearly reflected in the life of Prof. Juwairiyya whom I admire so much for her great and unparalleled devotion to Islam, demonstrated in the way and manner she and her beloved husband trained their kids in Islam as al-Hafeez-ul-Qur'an. Allahu Akbar Kabiran..!!! May Allah SWT continue to shower HIS best Mercy and Grace over them, ameen.🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼👍👍👍

 Almighty Allah has clearly shown that Alhaji Badamas' love for Islam was not in vein...it was an effort in the right direction as well as a testimony and example worthy of emulation by all and sundry, especially our Ebira Muslim men.

That Ebira land has lost a great gem and a great lover of  our beloved Rasul SAW and Islam  is a serious loss that can't be quantified. 

Unfortunately, I never had a close contact with this great gem, aside from my childhood glimpses of him during Maulud celebrations'  visits to his compound and the little stories I heard from equally great admirers of this unique man ( Alhaji Badamas). Though he married one of my cousin sister (late Hajiya Hassana AbdulRaheem Badamasiyyu).

Need I tell you how his special bread tasted...!!! No bread in modern times can be compared. Everything of his was done with the fear of our Uncreated Creator. 

While I do not have much fo say about Alhaji Badams, all I do know is that  the Qur'an in suratul Al-Rahman is true  ..it says...."is there any reward for goodness other than goodness"? 

This verse is a clear manifestation of the life and time of Alhaji Badamasiyyu. Indeed, Allah SWT in HIS best Mercy and Grace has shown him a glimpse of what is to come as his rewards as  he embarks on this  great eternal journey, which most people still deny.

For the children of this Islamic Icon....."which favour of Allah SWT will you all deny..!!?? 

You are all very blessed to have such a great lover of our beloved Rasul SAW as a Father. 

It's my fervent prayers that Allah SWT will grant you all the strength to  continue to uphold his great Islamic flag higher than where he left it...! Ameen🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

Alhaji Badamasiyyu....the lover of our beloved Rasul SAW,  you came, you have conquered the ephemeral world and you are back to your Creator on an impeccable slate.... though I'm not qualified to score your performance in the propagation of Islam..!! But this is my honest assessment of your life seen from a small girl's eyes..!

 May Allah SWT for whose course you devoted all your resources in all ramifications give you the best heroic welcome to HIS Omniscient and Glorious presence, forgive all your shortcomings, save you from the trials and torments of the grave, expand your grave, illuminate it with HIS Noor and make it more luxurious than your worldly residence. Above all, may Allah SWT provide you a neighborhood most beautiful and next to our beloved Nabbiy SAW in Jannatul Firdausi, ameen...🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

Indeed, your departure is great loss to the Muslim Ummah generally and the Ebira land in particular. 

May Allah SWT unite us together at the bossom of our beloved Nabbiy SAW to part no more. Ameen.👏👏👏👏👏

 A tribute from your distant admirer as a little orphan girl then, but who never had the opportunity to meet you.😭😭😭😭😭

(Hussainatu Abdullahi, Professor of Development Economics and Gender Studies from Islamic Perspective, Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto state, Nigeria).😭😭😭