A Tribute to an Icon Hajia Maijidda Danjuma Garko

I can recall clearly on the 6th August 2007, you said to me, and I quote “go and perform tawaf for me” and my eyes filled with tears; as it occurred to me that you’ve lost the battle with this monster called CANCER (Colon Cancer). In the early hours of 7th August 2007 a very young doctor on duty in his late 20’s asked me, and I quote “Mustafa go down to the mosque and get two copies of the holy Qur’an so we can read it out to your mother, it will soothe her pains away” that was when it occurred to me that there was absolutely nothing left a man can do to ease your pains.

I can still hear your voice echoing in my ears, when u were telling me not to cry as u have to answer the call of the most high. I put this tribute at a time of being emotionally traumatized by the pains and grief of u being miles away forever, but with a strong spirit sauced with the belief that u have accomplished loads of divine certification. The sterling attributes of being strong, hardworking, down to earth, dedication and commendable enthusiasm that were in your common nature are worthy of calling the muslim women to emulate.

It was 9:04am on the 7th of August 2007 that I answered a call from the doctor on duty in charge of the Intensive Care Unit (ICU, King Fahad Hospital Jeddah), telling me that Maijidda has answered the divine call that we must all wait for. I do remember the last words u whispered to me “Tell Babuwa to pray for me, I need his prayers” and also some words of inspiration u put into me, this I will evermore live to appreciate and remember. As u leave u left me with the undying memories of our trip to Köln when I couldn’t withstand the temperature of 5 degrees Celsius which is far different from the one in Nigeria and you had to take off your jacket and cover me with it; And also when we went on hajj and how u pampered me like a baby at 22 while the rest of the entourage looks with a surprise and started calling me “babyn Hajia” As regards to your charismatic personality, u gave conventional life a shining example of a decent, supportive, hardworking and dedication of a wife and mother. You address people with one of the best manners rarely seen; as you oftentimes put ravishing smiles into faces with a warm sense of exchanging pleasantries. If discipline can be nicknamed on a personage I would name u “Mother of Discipline”. You all charmed us with your lively sense of humor of calling a spade by its very own name, even when the conditioning system momentarily demands otherwise. Not a single day that passes without him (Dad) asking Allah (swt) to forgive and grant you Jannah, for he has known what a great loss it is to lose a pillar in his life, as u gave him all he needed 2 excel including understanding, peace of the mind, calmness and uncanny love. Also not forgetting the neighbours, family and friends whom you’ve touched their lives positively; The ocean of tears glinted from the peoples eyes who trooped over to condole with us, squarely defines how touching and mind boggling your death strikes, as the love and admiration they have for you cant be defined. It is quite melancholic that death could snatch you away at that point in time. U are a contented wife solidly by your husband, and also the ever-caring mother of your children, A wonderful hostess, you are always willing to welcome all and sundry to your home. Alas, all that is gone with your demise! Your life you lived to the fullest, even though your days were few, I do miss you but in my heart I smile knowing you’re free from earth’s painful struggles, dangers and difficulties. I am here weeping, grieving and being inconsolable with the agony of your demise, I was browsing through my pictures I saw the pictures we had while waiting 4 d train @ pohlmanstrasse, the one on mount Arafat and also the one you, Sarah n I had on departing for Nigeria.

No amount of encomiums and tribute showered on you can compensate the degree of comfort and motivation you put into us as children, friends and family, the humble thing I can do is to pray that the Almighty shall wrap you in his loving arms and wash away all the pains and tears of leaving us and make you whole again, take you to the heavenly place called JANNATUL FIRDAUS for all your sadness to trail away. As I draw curtains to this tribute, I tend to realize that if you can come back to this world and thee filt unseen around us, it shall be us cutting around with our prayers on to you.

Lastly, may Allah grant unto your soul, the elatedness of the eternal bliss, the fortune to rejoice in the beatitude of his divine presence and give us the fortitude to bear the irredeemable loss, Amin. I Miss you loads my Hajia as you sleep in the bosom of the most High.