By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Lovers and followers of Sheikh AbdulWasiu Waliyulahi AtaYese, popularly known as JAQMAL, took to his Facebook page to send their congratulations after he posted a heartfelt message: “I’m so grateful to have you in my life. Your support and love mean everything to me. Jazakumullah keera.”
The post was accompanied by a touching video of his son, dressed in National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) uniform, walking into the sitting room where his father was seated. Sheikh JAQMAL, a renowned Islamic cleric from Ilorin, Kwara State, is known for his bold stance against un-Islamic behaviors, often making controversial statements on societal issues.
One such statement was made during a recent public lecture on good deeds, where he addressed the lack of responsibility among young Alfas. He criticized some Alfas who took to social media to attack popular musician K1 De Ultimate for his remarks, while ignoring the grave issue of an Alfa being involved in the murder of a female student in Ilorin. JAQMAL emphasized that the focus should be on addressing such severe crimes, rather than trivial matters online.
Sheikh JAQMAL, a mentee of the world-renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Habibullah Adam Al-Ilory, is widely respected for his efforts to propagate Islam both through social media and at Islamic events. His recent post, showing the educational achievement of his son, sparked joy among his followers, who are pleased to see that he not only has Islamic knowledge but is also a graduate of a higher institution in Nigeria.
This serves as a valuable lesson to Nigerian Muslims: it is not enough to solely focus on Islamic and Arabic education. Parents should also encourage their children to pursue western education, which will help them become well-rounded, responsible, and civil citizens, rather than fall into the trap of unlawful activities such as soothsaying or petty crimes often associated with some Alfas lacking employment.
