When you are to write about someone with multiple blessings, one would be in a fix on where to even start from. Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu was arguably the most multi-blessed person in Nigeria. He was a Qur’anic memoriser, a blessing which he treasured above any other thing. He was a noted industrialist, a community leader, and was blessed with a large family. Khalifa was also an Islamic scholar, elder statesman, among others.
Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu was the patriarch of the Sheikh Muhammadu Rabiu family. His father, Sheikh Muhammadu Rabiu, whom I was named after, was equally a noted Islamic scholar and memoriser of the Qur’an. Khalifa Isyaku Rabiu, who we all called Alhaji Babba, was perhaps his most famous son, but his other sons were also scholars in their own right. They are all Qur’anic scholars; the likes of the late Malam Zubairu Rabiu, the late Alhaji Bala Rabiu, Gwani Tijjani Rabiu, Malam Almustapha Rabiu, the late Malam Sabiu Rabiu and Alhaji Shehu Rabiu, all great memorisers of the Holy Qur’an.
For his religious evangelism, his service to the Tijjaniyya sect and philanthropy, Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu was conferred with the title of Khalifa in the mid-1990s.
Khalifa’s probable date of birth was 1928, but many said Khalifa was close to 95 years, given his oral account of events. Khalifa virtually spent all of those years in the service of the Holy Qur’an, its learners and the Islamic faith as a whole.
In this tribute, I am not going to delve into his business acumen, but rather one or two of his exemplifying qualities, which we can learn from as young people.
Unlike most people of his status, Khalifa’s door was always open to people, one could see him without passing much protocol, especially on Fridays after the Jumaat prayers. To members of his larger family, however, he was accessible virtually any time of the day.
One quality we could learn from him was that despite his elevated status, one could see his old friends or their relations from his days of itinerant Qur’anic studentship visiting him. He interacted with them freely, and he was happier to be in their midst than any other category of people. Khalifah was perhaps the most successful Almajiri in the world.
Also, another quality we could learn from him was never to discriminate against people based on their creed. Khalifa was generous to people and various sects without any discrimination, that was why you would see leaders of multiple sects visiting him. On some days he would crack jokes and say someone was ‘Dan Izala’ and people would always laugh, but that never stopped him from being kind to the person, even though they may not be members of his Tijjaniyya sect, which he led with vigour and magnanimity in Nigeria.
It was not for nothing that he was named Khadimul Qur’an (the servant of the Qur’an). His house was always a hub of recitation and reciters of the Holy Book. He was generous to reciters of the book as he paid them and provided shelter to hundreds of them. He was in constant service to Allah. He recently ordered for 10,000 copies of the Holy book which he said would be used for a special prayer. They have been duly delivered and kept in a room in his palatial residence. He, however, did not mention what occasion to use the books. It is now that people are saying that the Qur’an should be shared with mourners as a form of Sadaqatul Jariah.
His love for his country Nigeria and its people was second to none. Khalifah was probably the only wealthy person that would summon special prayers for Nigeria, peace and prosperity. Usually, Qur’anic reciters were gathered from the nook and cranny of the country to converge for the purpose. He had done this countless times, especially during the ugly phase of insurgency in Kano.
Perhaps the last of his wish before his death was the establishment of a private university for the study of Qur’an and Islamic jurisprudence. The multi-billion naira university, situated at Gadon Kaya in Kano, is now completed. What we are waiting now is the final accreditation from NUC and other paperwork for takeoff.
His latest bout of illness started around December 2017, and from his utterances, one might say that the amiable Sheikh had a premonition for death. Though he recovered to return home around April 2018, after he spent time in Nigeria and London Hospitals. He was his boisterous self for some weeks before he had a relapse. He was advised to return to London but insisted he was not going anywhere. He said it was time, and he should be left at home.
After several pleas and intervention from many close relations, including his equally successful son, Alhaji Abdussamad Rabiu, Khalifa agreed to be taken to London for another round of treatment. I was with him and other family members the day that he left. Although he was weak, he was indeed very alert and his voice very clear. After I greeted him, he said “Malam ya aiki?”, and I said alhamdulillah, ya jiki, he said: “To mun gode Allah”.
It was in London the cold hand of death took him away on the 8th of May, 2018.
May the gentle soul of Khalifa Sheikh Isyaku Rabiu rest in perfect peace. May Allah reward him for his selfless service to Al Qur’anil Kareem and Islam in general.
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