By Jamaldin Yahya
Monday the 12th of December 2011, evening descended with a heavy heart in Kibera, after news spread that Sheikh Mahmud passed away after a long illness. It was a great shock, considering that he gave his last Darsa on Friday. It quickly went down on us that our beloved Sheikh has left for his heavenly abode.
Sheikh Mahmud was well known beyond his humble home, a fact attested by those present in his burial that was conducted at the Kibera. He was well known especially by non Muslims for his radio khutba back in the 1970s, as the Naima Kubwa Kubwa na naima Ndogo Ndogo, for his tafsir (translation) of Bismillahi.
He was born in 1930, got his education in a local primary school in Nairobi, worked with the Ministry of labor and Mowlem Constructions before he left for Kisumu to study Islam and continued his education in Zanzibar.
In his various classes, Sheikh Mahmud used every opportunity to spread the faith. To him, it was a calling and he fulfilled it with a passion.
Sheikh Mahmud attracted us to Islam through his appealingly beautiful sermons, he attracted the educated as well as the villagers. His was truly a gift. He called upon us to internalize Islam and live it fully. He was the epitome of this message. He had a deep love for Islam. His passion was in the Quran, would read it, disclosing its beauty in style and emphasizing its pragmatism.
When he was doing tafsir (translation) he was at his peak, enjoying every sentence, every word and every alphabet, his commentary entranced his audience. His love for Islam was unblemished
Sheikh had qualities that are rare in today’s religious leaders.
He was humble; he related to all, regardless of age, sex or socio economical status. He could be found taking to an elderly women and thoroughly enjoying himself. He could not pass a child without calling them by name and exchanged banters. He was down to earth, pragmatic, humorous and social, never allowing formalism to stand between him and others.
He had a large capacity for patience, never allowed anger to cloud his mind, never became emotional, never took sides in the many local sectarian divisions, never allowed greed nor attraction for richness or status sway him from his calling. He suffered in silence and he withstood temptation to use his position to enrich himself or get himself close to the dignitaries who continually call upon him. And his mistrust of Government officials brings to life the saying of the Prophet (S);
Idha ra’atumul ulamaa ala abwabil muluk, wa bi’sa ulamma, wa bi’sa muluk ( when you see a scholar at the door step of those in Authority, it exposes the evil nature of a scholar and those in authority).
He was a scholar, an intellectual, educationist, philosopher, mystic, and still maintained his humbleness.
Sheikh created an Institution that was the biggest in East Africa; a madrassa of more than 30 classrooms. He started many Darsas, preached in different forums, was a mufassir, an Imam, a guide and advisor both to the old and the young. He was an institution by himself. Sheikh left to the Nubian community a big legacy which must not be allowed to wither or die, this legacy must find a befitting heir.
His clarion call as recalled by Maalim Hassan was; Kalimatullahi hiyal ulia. The word of Allah is supreme. His favorite Quran quote was;
Inna Kaumu takhadu hadha Quran mahjuran
Inna Laha la yughayiru ma bi qaum, hata yughairu ma bi anfusihim (Verily never will Allah change the condition of people until they change it themselves-with their own souls) (13:11).
Among those who send their condolence include Prime Minister, Rt. Hon Raila Odinga, Ambassador of Sudan, the Cultural Counselor of Islamic Republic of Iran, and Nominated MP- Sheikh Mohammed Dor.
The writer is resident of Kibra and former student of Sheikh Mahmud Sulaiman.
Source - http://www.thenewdawn.info/
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