Nigerian graduates of the Islamic University of Madinah and other Nigerian scholars have been paying glowing tributes to Sheikh Abdalla Zarban Al-Ghamidi, a famous Muslim scholar, who died on Friday.
Al-Ghamidi was a former financial director at the Islamic University of Madinah, former Chief Imam of the famous Masjidul Quba (Quba Mosque), and head of the Nigerian Dawra (tour), an educational and recruitment initiative by the Madinah varsity.
Many prominent Nigerian Salafis were products of the Dawra.
The late Al-Ghamidi, sources said, visited Nigeria severally, not just for the annual Dawra, but including one in which he came, as an emissary of the late Sheikh Abdulazeez bn Baaz, to reconcile the Izala movement at the earliest days of its split.
Dateline Nigeria also learnt that in 2020, the late Zarban Al-Ghamidi called Dr. Abubakar Sani Birnin Kudu on phone and donated virtually all the books in his library to the Nigerian scholar, which the Emir of Dutse helped in bringing into the country.
Paying tribute to the late Saudi scholar, Dr Tukur Adam Al-Manar, the Chief Imam of Al-Manar Mosque Kaduna and a lecturer at the Kaduna State University (KASU), described the late Al-Ghamidi as a “fan, father, teacher, and advisor” of Nigerians who studied at the Islamic University of Madinah.
“He was easy-going, helpful and steadfast in teaching and propagating the true tradition of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), with wisdom, determination and good judgment.
“Sheikh Zarban came all the way to Jos where he picked five of us to study at the Islamic University in Madinah in 1990. He told me in advance that I have been admitted into the institution but asked me to tell no one.
“I extend my sincere condolences to all the Nigerian students studying at the Islamic University of Madinah over the loss of this “father, teacher, disciplinarian and advice-giver, who wished people nothing but the best.
“I pray to Almighty Allah to have mercy on His servant Zarban and forgive him his shortcomings. Oh Allah, reunite us all with Zarban in Aljannah Firdaus. Allahumma Amin.”
Another graduate of the Islamic University of Madinah, Dr. Jameel Muhammad Sadis, said “We have lost a father and a well-wisher. May Almighty Allah forgive Sheikh Muhammad Bin Abdallah Zarban Al-Ghamid. May Allah cover him in His mercy and reward him with Aljannah Firdausi.”
In his own tribute, Ibrahim Jalo Jalingo, who also studied at the Islamic University of Madinah, prayed to Almighty Allah to forgive late Al-Ghamidi, describing his death as a loss to the eniter Muslim world.
“I also extend my condolences to his family, students and lecturers as well as all workers of the Islamic University of Madinah, the Saudi government, Nigerians who have studied or still studying in Madina, among others.
Sheikh Muhammad Auwal Maishago, who succeeded late Ash-Sheikh Albaniy Zaria, also paid tribute to the late Islamic scholar.
“Ash-Sheikh Zarban was one of those who taught Ash-Sheikh Albaniy Zaria, not as a student of the university, but a student who took himself to Saudi Arabia to acquire knowledge. The last time they met he teased Ash-Sheikh Albaniy asking are you Albaniy of Computer or Albaniy of Hadith? And Albaniy said he was of both. Sheikh Zarbān then prayed for him.
