In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful'Strongest among men in enmity to the Believers will you find the Jews and pagans; and nearest among them in love to the Believers will you find those who say, We are Christians: because amongst these are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant-' (Surah 5:82).'What makes humility so desirable is the wonderful thing it does to us: it creates in us the capacity for the closest possible intimacy with God' ' Monica BaldwinTWO entities, call them for 'forbidden fruits', hardly merge in humans except that they produce in the latter, haughtiness, pride and self-conceit. These are money and authority. Humans who possess one without the other often feel a sense of incompleteness. Money without power, of whatever scale, is an invalid.However, when humans who possess money and authority remain humble, when money and power lose their potency to make man revolt against the Almighty, then we begin to talk of extraordinary portents, we begin to experience the uncanny, the unusual.This was brought to the fore, ironically, by the death of Dr Alex Ibru, the Publisher of The Guardian. When great men depart this sinful world, it feels as if the world has imploded; it feels as if humanity has missed its track on the path to redemption.Ibru was not only a humble person, he was equally a bridge builder between the two dominant religions of this country ' Islam and Christianity. Aside from establishing The Guardian on the grundnorms of rigid intellectualism and service to truth and transparency, the space he afforded Islam within the outfit reminds us of the characters of those Christians who are 'devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and are not arrogant'- (Surah 5:82).Thanks to the lofty vision of Ibru, The Guardian became not only a center for the convergence of critical opinions from across this country but equally a platform for a positive dialogic relationship between Islam and Christianity and, by extension, a platform for an engaging interface between Islam and the world.Thus while he was alive Ibru's activities called attention to the persona of King Negus of Abyssinia who gave Muslims asylum from the oppression of the Makkah Aristocrats. King Negus, in the words of Prophet Muhammad (May Allah's mercy and benedictions be on his soul) was a King who 'rules without injustice; his was a land of truthfulness.'Thus I have not been surprised by the quality of the elegiac expressions from the sympathisers, who have come to share the moment of grief with his family. That he has been described as very humble, that he was a man of unassuming mien rebounds to the remit of those servants of Allah who 'tread gently on earth'. Ibru belonged to the class of very few rich Nigerians who were never hostage either to their wealth or to their greed. He got power and never became hostage to power; he got riches and never became a servant to his wealth.But could he have done something else' Could Ibru have become one of them' I would say Yes and No. Yes because we have in power today individuals who have had similar but unusual luck of having wealth and power thrust unto their laps by providence. We are all living witnesses to how they have betrayed the trust reposed in them by the Almighty. The unholy wealth these individuals have amassed has become a trap from which they still hope to be redeemed.But Ibru could not but become an envy of 'honourable' men and women who now mourn him from among the political elites because he chose to remain sane while his ilk and friends decided to lose their heads. He conducted himself with the certainty of the ultimate end, which has now come to him. Brethren, he who lives under the consciousness of death would trifle with the momentary pleasures of this world.I asked Prophet Muhammad (saw) what lessons I can derive from the event of the death of Dr Ibru. My attention was then drawn to some conversation, which took place between him and a desert Arab. Khalid ibn al Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the following Hadith: 'A Bedouin came one day to the Holy Prophet and said to him: 'O, Messenger of Allah! I've come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this Life and the Hereafter.''Ask what you wish,' said Rasulullah (sallallahu 'alahi wasallam).'I'd like to be the most learned of men.''Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.''I wish to be the richest man in the world.''Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.''I'd like to be the most just man.''Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.''I want to be the best of men.''Do good to others and you will be the best of men.''I wish to be the most favoured by Allah.''Engage much in Allah's praise, and you will be most favoured by Him.''I wish to be among those who do good.''Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don't see Him, He seeth you. In this way you will be among those who do good.''I'd like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light of His majesty.''Don't wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the Light of Allah.''I'd like Allah to bestow His Mercy on me.''If you have mercy on yourself and others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.''I'd like to be the most honorable man.''If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.''I wish to be safe from Allah's wrath on the Day of Judgment.''If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment.''I'd like my supplications to be accepted.''If you avoid forbidden actions, your prayers will be responded to.''I'd like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.''If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.''What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah'''Gentle manners, modesty and patience.''What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah'''Hot temper and miserliness.''What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter'''Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.''What extinguishes hell's fire on the Day of Judgment'''Patience in adversity and misfortunes.'I pray the likes of Dr Alex Ibru appear in this time and clime once again, and quickly too. This is an era, which suffers from acute shortage of such great individuals.(guardianfridayworship@gmail.com)
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