Tribute To My Father: Malamin Daji – By Hon Abdullahi Mahmud Gaya

 Innalillahi wainna illaihi rajiun!  on this date 2/4/2020  my Father Alhaji Mahmud Ismaila  left this world and returned to his creator after long protracted illness.

Indeed, all living things on earth, as mortal, must surely taste death and nobody can escape from it – being the exit point to the world beyond. People of all faiths,  believe in the non eternity of life, that is, man and other living organisms cannot live forever. That is to say that all living things are mortal and that wherever and whatever the circumstance is, a transition to the world beyond must come one day.

Unarguably, some people die well accomplished, considering their great contributions to the society. Perhaps, this is true to my dear mentor, Alhaji Mahmud Ismailia. He was a good father and  Muslim  not in name alone but in all his conduct and actions during his life time, he did not allow himself to be misled with any religious sentiment. He related with peoples in very humble manner without shown any discriminatory acts being a prince but related with peoples in very respective ways.

For one to live up to the age of 103 indeed is a blessing. From all indications, my father  lived a life of virtue and earnestly championed the cause of Muslims. He was widely known as a man of honour, a father and someone who stood for justice. He will eternally be remembered for his steadfastness and absolute faith in Allah.

 I  never wanted to be the very one saying all this on my late friend , but I feel  owe it a duty to do so to myself and to the rest of us ( his childrens) grandchildren and great great children.

Ba’ba  is not just a father is our mentor and friend who matured us to be simple in our dealing with peoples in respect of social status.  Despite my father Alhaji Mahmud son’s of  Ismaila’s son of Abdullahi Maje Karofi   was   Kano prince,  from Dabon Kano Royal dynasty who are costodiance of religious and traditional institution in post Habe Rulers dynasty but Malamin Daji as was called by peolpes remain must humble and kindhearted one will come across with. He choice to serve humanity and ensured preserving the nature instead of remain in palace  either district head.

 Our father  ended up being our hero in life, we are  thankful that he was a good enough father for us and others.  We  also grateful for every memory we shared, together. My only hope is that I can be as good person as him. On the death of a beloved one , we should consider that fates through confidence have devolved on us the task of a double living that we have to fulfills the dreams of them  in our own way.

Since i was elected as member in the House of Representative it is  became part of his weekly advice to me when visited him in Gaya Town always to remember that i will account all my deed before Allah on how I had represented my peoples and also need for me to ensure serving them to my utmost best.Malamin Daji ensure he  were grooming us to be hardworking and self disciplined. Baba is a great disciplinarian to the core whose principles and integrity are outstanding. 

Alhaji Mahmud Ismaila  had always been spending whatever he had in taking care of his families and other peoples  his priority in spending and caring for others was more noticeable in the areas of  catering orphans and promoting Islam.He encouraged anyone  to partake in and pursue what is good and avoid what is evil and harmful.  We his children and other  can only saw his red eyes when found any one of  wanting of being selfish, disrespectful to norms and religious value  and always reminding us  fear Allah always  in  discharging our personal or  officials conduct.

In fact we lost a father and friend Baba was a caring and monitoring his family and letting us to lacked anything in our life and always stand to provided us what we needs and ensure we puts our best in our studies and even given us extra lesson when we were at primary school when returned from worked. He   cemented a very strong bond between us which at times   treated us as  his friends like sons and daughters while at time we teased him like our granny  but  despite this privileges  at  sometime he treated us   in very conservative way regardless of our age.

We are  indeed indebted to you for your fatherly care, moral upbringing, sacrifices and most especially worthy principles of life you imparted on us. We could not thank you enough but I believe God will be pleased with him  the way you carried out his fatherly role  on us and reward you abundantly. good and true father that Alhaji Mahmud Ismaila  these are the qualities, he possessed during his lifetime. These are  an  exemplary life Alhaji Mahmud Ismail  lived and the legacy  left behind!  As we witness the twilight of a beautiful soul,

Want to use this piece  to show my personal gratitude to everyone who either condole with me in person, phone called or sent messages of condolence to me.  Indeed, your sympathy and condolences has strengthened me beyond words.  Your thoughtfulness, and your prayers for the departed soul of my  father has really  strengthened me  beyond words.  

I pray that God forgives and has mercy on the soul of Alhaji Mahmud Ismaila    May Allah keep him safe and sound, protect the place where he has rested and make his entrance wide; bless him for his good deeds and surround him with a garden filled with beauty. May he receive the gentle blow of a cool breeze, be washed with snowflakes, ice, sleet, water and everything pure and cleansed of sin as a white cloth is purified perfectly. I  pray Allah admits him  to Paradise and may his grave be spacious and filled with abundant light. Amin.

Mahmud Wrote in from Kano