The Death of an Emir and the Lessons of Grief, By Imam Murtada Gusau

First Khutbah:

All Praise is due to Allah, we praise Him and we seek help from Him. We ask forgiveness from Him. We repent to Him. And we seek refuge in Him from our own evils and our own bad deeds.

Anyone who is guided by Allah, he is indeed guided; and anyone who has been left astray, will find no one to guide him.

And I bear witness that Muhammad SAW, is His servant, and His Messenger.

“O you who believe, fear Allah, as He should be feared, and die not except as Muslims”.

“O you who believe, be aware of Allah, and speak a straightforward Word. He will forgive your sins and repair your deeds. And whoever takes Allah and His Prophet as a guide, has already achieved a mighty victory…”

Brothers and Sisters in Islam, although our dear beloved Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero died just over a week ago, I am still in an emotional state. Today’s khutbah is the most difficult and painful one that I ever had to prepare. So I will keep it short.

“Inna lillaahi wa inna ilayhir raaji-oon” From Allah do we come and to Him is our return.

Just after Fajr on Friday June 6, Allah reclaimed one more of his beloved servants. Emir of Kano, Ado Bayero, was to his family, a devoted husband and loving father. We all knew him, not only as the Emir of Kano. He was also a much-loved father and respected leader to us all. Even though we should be prepared for death at any time, the suddenness of his departure has left us all in a state of shock. We still have to come to terms with our sense of loss. Perhaps we should remind ourselves, brothers and sisters, that the late Emir was merely on loan to us from Allah. And Allah has now taken back that loan, which was only given to us for a time, in trust. The truth is, we are all on loan from Allah, and surely, some day we will all return to our Rightful Owner.

The coming days, weeks, months and years, will be a period of trial and perseverance for the San Kano family, and for all the friends who are near and dear to them. It is our Islamic duty to stand by this family, to offer them help, support and comfort during this critical time. And, while we are still nursing our own sense of grief and distress, we must never lose hope. We must be positive. We must believe that Allah is with us, always. Surah Al-Baqara reminds us in v 153:

“O you who believe! Seek help with patient, perseverance and prayer: for Allah is with those who patiently persevere”.

As Believers in Allah, our journey through life will not be an easy one. Even the beloved prophets and messengers had to undergo severe difficulties, before they earned the good pleasure of their Lord. Again, in Surah al-Baqara, Allah promises us with absolute certainty, that we will have our share of hardship at some point in life:

“Be sure we shall test you with something of fear and hunger; some loss in goods or lives or the fruits (of your toil) but give glad tidings to those who patiently persevere. Who say when they are afflicted with calamity: inna lillahi wa inna ilayhir raji-oon “To Allah we belong and to Him is our return.* They are those on whom (descend) the blessings from Allah and Mercy and they are the ones that receive guidance”.

In Surah Inshirah, Allah tells us: “so, truly with every difficulty there comes relief, truly, with every difficulty there comes relief”.

This is the promise of Allah, and Allah never breaks His promise. The key is to remember Allah at all times, especially when life is going just fine; when we feel so happy and secure, that we may not feel the need to pray or to seek help from Allah.

There is a beautiful Hadith, narrated by Abdullah Ibn Abbas. It says:

“Remember Allah in times of ease, and He will recognize you in times of distress. What hit you could not have missed you, what missed you could not have hit you. Remember that victory comes with patience, relief comes with affliction and ease comes with hardship”.

Dear brothers and sisters in Islam, we have all remembered Allah when things were going well for us. Most surely, Allah will not forget us now that we are in distress. We must accept that despite our best intentions and despite our most meticulous planning of our affairs, Allah is still the best of planners.

Second Khubtah:

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Islam,

“Verily in the Messenger of Allah we have the finest of examples”

Prophet Muhammad (sallal-lahu alayhi wasallam) also endured much pain and hardship, especially in his youth, with extraordinary patience and perseverance. He was an orphan, cared for by milk-mother, grandfather, and uncles. During the early years of his mission, he was jeered at, taunted, threatened, reviled and persecuted by his own tribe, the Quraish of Makka. Many of his followers were killed for their acceptance of Islam. In the 63 years of our Prophet Muhammad’s life, he experienced every human hardship from loss of father, mother and grandfather to loss of dear friends, personal wealth and rejection from his tribe. Because of his unswerving devotion to Allah, he was granted success in this world, and in the hereafter. History has witnessed his achievements. Whatever personal grief, suffering or loss we might encounter in our lifetime, it would be appropriate to remember Surah Dhuha. This surah addresses Prophet Muhammad directly, but it also applies to all Muslims indirectly, in all times and all circumstances.

In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful! “By the glorious morning light and by the night when it is still; Your Lord has not forsaken you, nor is He displeased. Verily, the hereafter will be much better for you than the present. Have we not found you an orphan, and gave you shelter and care? Have we not found you wandering, and gave you guidance? Therefore, treat not the orphan with harshness, nor turn away the petitioner unheard; but the blessings of your Lord Rehearse and proclaim!”

Dear brothers and sisters, next time we encounter grief or hardship, and we feel lonely and depressed, let us remember this surah, that offered hope and reassurance to the greatest of men. It offers the same hope and reassurance to us also. At the end of every dark tunnel of despair is the reward of Allah, Most Gracious, and Most Merciful.

We are all now in a highly emotional state. But we must not allow the death of our beloved father and leader to leave us so devastated that we are paralyzed as a people. We must try to remember the good times, the good memories and the knowledge and wisdom that the late Emir shared with us. Alhaji Ado Bayero had a vision for our people, and one way of coming to terms with our loss, is that we must work to fulfil that vision. He wanted us all to work together, to bring our diverse talents and backgrounds into a single Ummah. We must now continue to work together, to help and support one another, and to pave the way for our children to build a better society for future generations, insha-Allah.

I must also tell you how deeply the later Emir was held in respect and affection, in many far-flung corners of the world. A friend told me that, last Friday in one of South Africa’s biggest Mosques, Masjid-Al-Quds in Cape Town, thousands of worshippers prayed salaatul janaazah, and made special supplications and Du’a for him. The news of his death touched many people from all corners in Africa, and from anywhere in the world. You can get some measure of a man’s life, when you see the reaction to his death.

Lastly, we are extending our condolence message to the entire late Emir’s family. And also we are specially condoling the people like His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, Chiroma of Kano and the district head of Gwale Alhaji Sanusi Ado Bayero, the Sardauna of Kano, former Kano State Governor Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, Dan Darma of Kano district Head of Kura, Prince Bello Ado Bayero.

We also condole with the former Dan Maje of Kano, former CBN Governor and the new Emir of Kano (HRH) Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The Galadima of Maitsidau, Alhaji Magaji Galadima; the Makama of Kano, Alhaji Sarki Abdullahi; Brig. Gen. Haliru Akilu (RTD); Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa; Kano State Government, under the leadership of Alhaji Rabiu Musa kwankwaso; Alhaji Aminu Alhassan Dantata; Khalifa Alhaji Isiyaka Rabiu; Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule, the Dan masani of Kano; Alhaji Magaji Dan batta; Alhaji Tanko Yakasai; Alhaji Aliko Dangote; Alhaji A.A. Rano; and the Zannah of Kano, Alhaji mai Turare.

Others I like to condole are the Madaki of Kano Alhaji Yusuf Nabani; Sarki Dawaki Mai-tuta, Alhaji Bello Abubakar; Sarki Bai of Kano, Alhaji Mukhtar Adnan; Alhaji Nasir Ado Bayero; Alhaji Aminu Ado Bayero; Colonel Lawal Ja’afaru Isah (RTD); Alhaji Abdullahi Sarki Mukhtar, former NSA; the Wambai of Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sanusi; The Galadima of Kano, Alhaji Tijjani Hashim; the whole good people of Kano State; the whole Nigerian Muslim Ummah and Nigerians in general for this irreparable lost.

We also congratulate our illustrious son (HRH) the new Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido Sanusi on his new coronation as the Emir of Kano.

May the almighty Allah give him the wisdom to ensure his tenure serves as a platform that will usher in peace and tranquility to all Nigerians.

We congratulate the new Emir of Kano. We see his ascendancy to this important leadership position as a new light and new hope for the troubled north and Nigeria. That he is Emir today is the ultimate destiny of Allah (SWT). It was Allah (SWT) who elevated SLS to the throne.

We pray that Allah (SWT) has mercy on him and gives him the strength, wisdom and the capacity to fulfill his obligations and bring dynamic change and opportunity to Nigeria from his distinguished throne. We advised him to rule with Allah’s fear.

And let the Izala, Kadiriyya, Ahmadiyya, Tijjaniyya, Shi’a, non-Muslims etc. know that Allah (SWT) nominated Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the new Emir of Kano. Therefore we must accept the will of Allah. No one can change Allah’s destiny.

Allah says in the Qur’an:

“Say {O Muhammad (SAW)}: “O Allah! Possessor of the kingdom, you give the kingdom to whom you will, and you take the kingdom, from whom you will, and you endue with honour whom you will, and you humiliate whom you will. In your hand is the good. Verily, you are able to do all things”. Al-Imran, 3:26.

“…Say (O Muhammad {SAW}): “All the bounty is in the Hand of Allah, He grants to whom He wills. And Allah is All-Sufficient for His Creature’s needs, All-Knower” Al-Imran, 3:73.

“And they Say: “Why is not this Qur’an sent down to some great men of the two towns (Makkah and Ta’if)?” * Is it they who would portion out the Mercy of your Lord? It is We who portion out between them their livelihood in this world, and we raised some of them above others in ranks, so that some may employ others in their work. But the Mercy (Paradise) of your Lord (O Muhammad SAW) is better than the (Wealth of this World) which they amass.” Az-Zukhruf, 43:32.

“See, how we prefer some of them to others (in this World), and verily, the Hereafter will be greater in degrees and greater in preferment.” Al-Isra’, 17:21

“And when there comes to them a sign (from Allah) they say: “We shall not believe until we receive the like of that which the messengers of Allah had received”. Allah knows best with whom to place His message. Humiliation and disgrace from Allah and a severe torment will overtake the Criminals (Polytheists, Sinners) for that which they used to plot.” Al-An’am: 124.

And also my people, let us distance ourselves from any evil of bad politics that can make us destabilize our great country. Let us embrace peace. Let us pray for peace and progress in Kano, the north and the entire nation. Let us forget about the evil machination of bad politicians. They will send our youth to do evil act while their wives and children are sent abroad.

Long live the new Emir of Kano! Let peace and stability be your watchwords! And may your throne be endowed with peace and harmony across all tribes, parties and religions in Nigeria and beyond, Ameen.

Let us pray to Allah, first of all, to give comfort and solace to the Late San Kano family, and to help them quickly to ease their pain, and to overcome their sorrow. O Allah, help us to give them support in this difficult time.

O Allah, shower your mercy and forgiveness on the soul of the late Emir and allow him to enter your garden (Firdaus). He was dearly loved by all of us, and we will never forget him. O Allah, grant us all the best of this world, and the best of the afterlife, and save us from the torment of hellfire.

Let us pray. May Allah give us all the strength to endure hardship with patience, and to emerge from all the trials and tribulations of this life, with our Iman renewed and our trust in Allah strengthened. Ameen!

This Khutbah (Friday Sermon) was prepared for delivery today by Imam Murtada Muhammad Gusau, the Chief Imam of Nagazi Juma’at Mosque Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria.

He can be reached via 08038289761 and murtadagusau@gmail.com