OUR BROTHER, THE GREAT DEMISE

The fresh breath of the day suddenly turned choking with the most saddening news of the day, the death of a gem, a genius of our time, a great future reformer, ABDULAZEEZ ISIYAKU (ishaq). 

The young boy, is one of the greatest miracle I’ve seen in life as the Almighty bestowed upon him, a magnetic brain.
We first met while he was still very young during the Al-Hikmat days. He was brought to the hostel with his brother, Yunus while they were in Basic 1 and 3 respectively. The Duo could barely speak or construct simple English sentences. They both flaunt the Hausa dialect and my memory could still perfectly remember that the younger Abdulazeez, whenever he wants to call on his brother, would shout ‘Yaya’, which means brother.
In few months time, exactly about a term, the miracle made our mouth wide opened. The young boys especially the younger became so improved that he could now communicate in English language confidently with his colleagues and even those of us in the senior classes. It was really amazing though surprising too.

The growth never stopped there, it became rather very rapid and wowing.
As at the time Abdulazeez got to Basic 3, he became the guru of his class and no one could dare challenge his high intellectual capacity. Even when he stammers, he speaks better than even many of his senior colleagues.
He started to top his class and his name was always resounding at the end of the year ceremony of the school.
I was going through one of the school’s magazine recently where the boy was in his final class in the primary school. His name was on all subjects mostly as the first position or at worst second position.
I have always been proud of him and I’ll intentionally give him mathematical calculations that his seniors in the secondary school bring to me for solving. He never disappointed me.
I wasn’t surprised when he represented the school in the Science Olympiad and he emerged as the first position. At this juncture, I’ll love to give credit to a teacher in the primary section, Uncle Sodiq, who trained the team. Abdulazeez would be pouring out biology and chemistry from his head even as a primary student.
Apart from his academic excellence and high intellectual capacity, he’s very caring and humane. He’s everyone’s favourite. He’s very compassionate, kind and loving.
Whenever his dad brings them some chops, usually from Tasty Fried Chicken, they’ll take only a half of it and give the remaining to the seniors to share amongst others. He was ‘too’ fund of giving charity to the extent that one of the hostel handlers had to threaten him with lashes if he gives from his property (just to ensure that he doesn’t ‘over give’). This is how lovely he is!
One day, both of us were on a walk with Ustadh Mansur Ishaq Odunlami and we passed through the popular Oju Irin (Rail way) in Agege which is always filled with the poor Al – Majiri (as they’re popularly called ). While passing through them, the Ustadh asked him what he has in plan for those people and his reply never left my memory. He said ” I am promising myself before my creator that if I grow to be rich, no matter how little, I’ll ensure that I move as much as possible amongst these people from their situation”. But he never lived to achieve that.
I know surely, that the Merciful will reward him for his good intentions.
Abdulazeez was also a Quran lover. He would hasten to the mosque for the daily Qur’an class even before everyone. He was amongst the early birds to the mosque for Qiyaamu layl as early as 4am.
In recent times when we discussed, the gem was surviving on his personal efforts. He does some businesses and was seriously committed and dedicated to make the best.
The life of the young boy is filled with lot of lessons. He talks as though he’s an adult with jewels coming from his mouth.
The last time we chatted, he was educating about having satisfaction in life.
From amongst the lessons I’ve learnt from his life are :
1. Never look down on yourself, You can be better than everyone who were better you
2. Be as generous as you can. The best investment is in what you do to others.
3. Keep the right Network of people. They will give you the best of gifts after you death; Du’aa
4. Always think big. Never think less than success.
5. Start putting efforts into attaining a high level in life as early as possible by seeking knowledge, putting the knowledge into actions.
6. Death can grab anyone anywhere at anytime. So give yourself brain!.

Unfortunately, he was taken in a painful way,( a car crash while he was driving in Zaria, Kaduna state), at a time we least expected. We hope that Allah count him amongst the Martyrs who will be admitted into paradise on the last day.
We pray that Allah unite us in Jannah.

اللهم اغفر له و ارحمه وعافيه واعف عنه ووسع مدخله وثقل ميزانه ونقه من الذنوب والخطايا كما ينقى الثوب الأبيض من الدنس واحشرها في زمرة الذين أنعمت عليههم من النبيين والصديقين والشهداء والصالحين وحسن أولئك رفيقا

Sirajudeen Hamzah
21 | 12 | 2020