Dr Lami Ibrahim...
We fondly called her Anty.
Thinking about it now? Why did we call her Anty? I mean, she wasn't our aunt. She was our mother.
I grew up a few blocks away from Anty's house and spent a whole lot of my childhood there. Anty and I adopted each other, and that was how I got to have ties to Azare,Katagum, Bauchi State (where Anty was from).
Anty taught at the University Primary School, and she would walk back with us after school and share life lessons with us during those walks. Fast forward to adulthood, Anty had completed her master’s and PhD and was teaching GST at the University of Maiduguri and the life lessons continued every single time we met.
Anty loved storytelling and picking out gems from those stories to teach us things that she hoped would be beneficial for us as we traversed through this dunya.
Anty was an extremely hard-working and honest woman that was a life long learner. She put in her very best into what she did and tried as much as she could to be transparent about it. Anty was intelligent and resilient. She went through many difficult phases in her life and Alhamdulillah came out stronger and more determined. Anty loved me and was very expressive about it. Anty was in the hospital for the many admissions I have had all through my life, graduation ceremonies, getting into University day, missing exams and repeating a year day, finally graduating day, getting a job day, getting a car day, getting a scholarship day and I really really really hoped my getting married and having a kid day.
Qaddarallahu wa ma shaa'a fa'ala. Innaalillahi wa innaa ilaihi rajiun.
Aunty died 5 Fridays back and was buried in Azare. There will be no more "Yaaakaaakaaa!!! I am so proud of you. May Allah bless you and all your endeavours. " SSTH will never be home again. There will be no more long or short conversations where Anty shares gems she wants me to learn a lesson or 2 from. There will be no more self-worth, Hausa or English lessons. There will be no specially packed for Yakaka sweet snacks or souvenirs from Azare because Anty went on a holiday or for a wedding. There will be no showing Anty pictures of the places I have travelled to around the world and sharing my experiences. There will be no more "Assalamu alaikum,Anty"
Innaalillahi wa innaa ilaihi rajiun.
I miss Anty, and I really wish I was more expressive about how much she meant to me. How much I admired her honesty, strength and resilience and intelligence, and hard work ethic. I wish I called her more and listened more attentively to her stories. I wish I had sent her more gifts to show her how much she meant to me.
I unfortunately cannot take back the hands of time. I can make du'a for her, though. That gives me solace. And so I write this, at 5 AM , making du'a for my dear Anty and asking you to please do the same right now, on Fridays after asr and whenever you can.
Please make du'a that Allah forgives all of her shortcomings, widens her grave, and grants her jannatul firdaus, ameen.
Allahumaghfirlaha, warhamha, wa'fu anha.
Oh Allah, forgive her, have mercy on her,and pardon her, ameen.
Something to ponder upon
How would you want to be remembered when you leave this dunya?
Are you being the person you want to die as?
Would there be people that would remember you and want to do good because of you?
Fee Amanillah,
Fatima Yakaka (Umm Saalim)
That Gajiram girl with forever roots in Azare
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May Allah forgive and shine His Noor upon her. May he reunite you both in Jannatul Firduas, Amin Amin.