User:Fitila/Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmud Adam

Sheikh Ja'afar Mahmud Adam (February 12, 1960 - April 13, 2007), he was one of the greatest Islamic scholars and Imams of guidance ever witnessed by the teeming Muslim population living in Nigeria in particular and West Africa in general, in the early years of the 15th century of the Hijrah. The great Sheikh led a life full of hard work and sacrifice for the sake of his religion, which is typified by his zeal for the realization of a good Muslim society that cherishes the true teachings of Islam as taught by our noble Prophet Muhammad (sallallahu 'alaihi wa alihi wa sallam) and understood by the early pious Muslim generations. The Sheikh passed his short life through disseminating the teachings of Islam by giving lessons, lectures, participating in seminars, issuing fatwas and other talks on various topics at different occasions. That was in addition to his great efforts in caring for students enrolled into Islamic and other disciplines. Similarly, Sheikh Ja’afar was fervent and fearless when it comes to issues affecting the poor and weak in society, and had always called upon leaders to be just and be concerned with the socio-economic conditions of their subjects. He was bold and provided the much needed internal critique of Muslim society - telling truth to power, the business class, the Ulama and lay followers alike. In addition to the spiritual awakening of millions of Muslims, especially in Hausa speaking Northern Nigeria, he had time and again preached against indolence among Muslims, particularly the youth; consistently calling upon the youth to seek both spiritual and worldly knowledge, and to be economically productive. He had often called upon Muslims to pay regular visits to prisons and hospitals, to show practical care and concern for the plight of the incarcerated and the sick.

Early Childhood and Education
Sheikh Ja’afar Mahmud Adam was born on February 12, 1960 in the ancient city of Daura in present day Katsina State. He started learning his Qur’anic education from Malam Haruna, the husband of his elder sister. From there he was taken to Fagge town in Kano in 1978, where he began the memorization of the Holy Qur’an under the guidance of Malam Abdullahi. His thirst for knowledge took him further to an Arabic Institution which was under the Egyptian Cultural Centre, situated at Bello Dandago Road, Kano in 1981. He was, within the same period, attending an Adult Education School, situated at Shahuci. He usually attended the Arabic Institution at noon and the Adult Education School in the evening. In 1984, he was admitted into the Government Teachers’ College, Gwale, Kano. He graduated in 1988 and in 1989, he secured admission into the prestigious Islamic University in Madinah, Saudi Arabia, where he studied for three years and graduated in 1993. Some of the famous scholars that taught Sheikh Ja’afar include Sheikh Abdul Rafi’i, Dr. Mahmud Abdul Haliq and Dr. Khald As-Sabat. When he returned from Saudi Arabia, he got admitted in the Bayero University, Kano. He however could not finish the programme due to some reasons. But nevertheless, he had his second degree from the International University of Africa in Sudan.

Teaching and Da'awah Activities
Upon his return from Madinah, Sheikh Ja’afar set up the Usman Bin Affan Centre which became autonomous in 1995. There, Shaikh Ja'afar taught various subjects like Tafsirul Qur’an (Qur’anic commentary) every Friday between Maghrib and Isha prayers, Nahwu on Saturdays between 8:00am and 9:30am, Sirah on Sundays at the famous Almuntada Mosque in Dorayi where he also leads Jumuah prayers, and Tafsir at the Beirut Mosque, and various other subjects at various schools and institutions across the country. He also conducted Tafsir annually in Maiduguri during Ramadhan. He was also the head of the Usman Bin Affan Islamic Trust. At various times, he represented Nigeria internationally in Qur’anic recitation competitions where he emerged victorious and did the nation proud. He is a member of the "Ulama Consultative Forum" in Zamfara and Bauchi states. He also presented various Islamic programmes on radio and television stations like Radio Kaduna, Bauchi Radio Corporation, CTV Kano, DITV Kaduna, NTA Borno, OITV Damaturu, and NTA Yola, among others. Sheikh Ja’afar lived and died in Kano, but perhaps he was better known in Maiduguri, which was like a second home for him. For over a decade, Sheikh Ja’afar consistently delivered an illuminating interpretation of the Glorious Qur’an at the Muhammad Indimi Mosque in Maiduguri. Over the years, the number of Muslims trooping to listen to his annual Ramadan Tafsir had increased from strength to strength. He propagated the eternal message of Islam by calm appeal to reason, on the basis of Qur’anic textual evidences and the hadith of the holy Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.

Sheikh Ja'afar's Sudden Death
On Friday, 13th April 2007, at around 5:30am, Shaikh Ja'afar fell to the bullets of suspected hired assassins while leading the Fajr (Morning) prayer at the Dorayi Juma’at Mosque. The assassins, numbering about five, shot Shaikh Ja'afar at close range tearing his chest and abdomen, as reported in the media. Soon after the incident he was immediately rushed to the Malam Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital (AKTH) where he died before he could receive medical attention. It was also reported that the gunmen had earlier stopped at his former mosque at Gadon Kaya before they finally caught up with him at the Dorayi mosque where he was murdered.