A Tribute To Hajiya Binta Ladi Musawa Musawa
My Darling Mom,
AS I try to pen down some sort of tribute for you, I can only think of beginning by telling you how much I miss you, how much I love you and just how much I am so grateful to you.
You and Dad have always been the most important part of my entire life, and you will remain in my heart for all of eternity. Now that you are no longer with us, I know that my life just isn’t ever going to be the same without you. You were everything to me and did so much for me. You have been my guardian angel and there will never be a day that I will not think about you and pray for you. Upon your passing, my heart shattered into a million pieces. I am in pain. The sort of pain that has taken a grip of me and seems determined to suffocate me.
This is by far the most devastatingly heart-ripping and life-altering incident I’ve ever experienced. And if I didn’t know when Dad passed that I would experience even more pain than at his loss, I now know. And I am aware that the heartbreak of losing you may never leave me. While I hope that time is a great healer, I don’t think I will get over this agony. My greatest fear has always been how I would be able to navigate life without you. But as much as I love you, I know that Allah loves you more. The concept of Tawakkul, the Islamic concept of the reliance on God and trusting in God’s plan will have to be my comfort and healing. I will remain prayerful, faithful, grateful and comforted knowing how much you positively affected my life, our family and the lives of so many others.
Mom not only were you, my mother, you were my greatest role model, my hero, my inspiration, and my rock. Even though every day I communicated to you how grateful and lucky I was to have had you as a mother, I feel as if you didn’t know how much I appreciated everything you represented in my life.
As I sit here writing what will be the hardest article I have ever written, I want to tell you Mom just how much your dedication has been appreciated by your family. I would want the world to know how much of a good mother you have been and I would want the strong bond between you and your children to serve as an inspiration to all. I’m writing these words with the hope that it would be worthy of you.
Mom, I had come to learn that in the real world, where domination, bigotry, oppression, dishonesty, and corruption intertwine with all aspects of our lives, there are no easy, uncomplicated sources of inspiration. But there are lessons. I have always looked to you for those lessons about how to struggle against immorality and dishonesty. In your example and lessons, I have been able to find both inspiration and warning, inseparably tied.
Anyone who knew you Mom, (Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa (nee Yusuf Gurshe Rafindadi), will be aware of what a difficult task it is for me to attempt to find the words to describe you. A role model to all who knew and loveed you, you lived life with great humility. Your selflessness and kindness to others knew no bounds. You were a fantastic person who had been blessed with a kind nature, and an unassuming ability to make all those around you feel special and loved.
To have the blessing of being able to have called Hajia Ladi, ‘Mom’ is, perhaps, the greatest fortune of my life. I will continuously learn and grow from the pure example set by you. The energy you pumped into the love and caring you displayed to all those around you and beyond is boundless. You will always be a source of inspiration to so many you met by your unselfishness, dedication and Faith in Allah. You unceasingly encouraged your children, family, friends, neighbors and associates to work hard at life but always to put Allah first. Your faith cradled you and your loved ones even during the times when life threw curve-balls. The courage you always showed in the face of adversity and your inner strength were truly what great people are made of. She were a true blessing.
My greatest hope for you Mom, is that you were able to see yourself the way the World saw you; which is as a blessing, an incredibly special and amazing person. A woman who was indeed a pure soul with a pure heart, a remarkable role model and a woman with great faith.
To me, Hajia Ladi Binta Musawa, you were a shining gem; a gift, an angel. You had incredibly strong values. In my eyes, if ever there was a portrait of a Godly mother, it was you. I am convinced that anything that is pure and good in me, Allah has planted it in me directly from you Mom.
You were big on teaching. On a daily basis, you taught me to live my life, make my decisions and conduct myself as if I am teaching my children and the next generation. One of your favorite quotes to me is one of Ghandi’s. “Hannatu, always be the change you want to see in the world…” you would say. This quote consistently reverberates in my head and sticks with me wherever I go. It is exactly how you lived your life.
Some of the greatest values I try to uphold; defending my honor religiously, keeping integrity, trying to do right, caring for the downtrodden, were instilled in me by you Mom. Your lessons and example influence every good part of my life and positive thought process.
Mom you taught me the difference between rght and wrong and urged me to constantly try to make good choices. You taught me to be faithful to myself, to my family, to my culture, to my nation, to my calling, to people around me, to my identity, to my bloodline, to my Father’s name and especially to Allah. You encouraged me to be more focused and strive and finish things that I start. You always urged me to try as best as I can to keep my word and learn to accept and take correction. And you always worry and counsel me about tempering the fiery temper I inherited from Dad.
Mom you taught me that the things I should treasure should never be made with human hands. You taught me that it is through giving that I will be filled and fulfilled. You taught me that originality feeds the soul and energizes the mind. You taught me to exercise greater patience and always try to endure. You taught me the difference between right and wrong. You taught me not to use my power to hurt others. You taught me to always strive to give more than I receive. This is an example that you lived with daily. Throughout your life you has always been known to help people, even at your own expense. It is the way you lived. You simply loved being there for others and making their lives easier. It is the times that you help people that one can see the greatest joy in your eyes.
Mom you were my rock, my anchor, my strong, beautiful, vibrant angel; my heart and my precious gift from Allah. I am beyond proud of you and everything you were. You have always been all I have ever needed in my life. I thank The Almighty with everything that I have for the grace and gift he has given me in the form of parents.
Summing up your life, Mom, those who knew you will always reiterate and come back to one thought. Never will you meet a woman who more faithfully lived his values. Your kind was rare. You were a teacher of all things. Your method was simple. You taught by example. Your character is the foundation of the conscience of many of those who encountered you, who worked with you and who were part of your life. Your teachings are endless. You were strong in body, in spirit, and in commitment. You fulfilled every obligation you ever undertook. Your word was your bond, and everyone knew it. You were loyal. You are a loss that nothing can replace.
Your faithfulness to the people you interacted with during your lifetime could be seen in the way you steadfastly maintained ties with anyone you ever knew. You had a quiet dignity, respecting yourself the way you respected others. Although you are no more, today, however, we have the privilege of celebrating someone who epitomizes leadership; someone whose life reflects a heart of service and commitment to faith, family, friends, and certainly those who strive to follow your example.
Mom, I will never miss an opportunity to speak of what a great mother you were and how you never missed an opportunity to speak about how your greatest pride and joy were your children and grandchildren. You were always supportive to every one of us in our personal, professional, and educational lives. And you always made yourself available to us. You struggled to make sure you gave us the very best education.
Mom, the love you draped in this world will grow and live on, and that is the greatest measure of any human being. You had a heart of gold, and it is incredibly empowering and inspirational to see just how infinite your reach has been.
Sometime a very long time ago, I learnt that the truest way to gage the character of any person is through how much love they can give; how selflessly they share whatever they can to help others; how consistently they lift those around them with a kind word, through humor, a compliment, or with humility. By this very benchmark, Mom, you were immeasurable.
In everything I do Mom, I have felt your hand on my shoulder, especially when things got tough to deal with. I have heard your words of encouragement, I have heard your advice, and I even heard your reprimand. I promise to abide by everything you taught me as if you were right there watching and guiding me. And while I know that I have my memories of you, I also know that your spirit will live on in my heart. They often say that “Love leaves a memory no one can steal, but death leaves a memory no one can heal.” It is a loving memory for me when I think about your life and all you did for me and my siblings. The good memories will remain with us forever, knowing the ability imparted by you into our lives.
I adore you Mom very much and the most sincere way I know of expressing my love is never to compromise the ethics you strived so hard to instil in me, to learn from the mistakes you confided in me and to never ignore the privilege you have given me. To forget any of this would be the greatest disrespect to you. In this sense, I will continue to carry you with me and use you as a yard stick for honour and integrity.
Mom, your life, your influence, your legacy, your struggles, your energy will always be inextricably linked to mine and I now take comfort in that. I take comfort in knowing that you are no longer in pain and that your struggle with your health that we watched you go through is no longer something you have to endure.
I feel so blessed to have you as my mother and I’m thankful for the wonderful life you have given me.The legacy you left is what makes me what I am today and keeps me progressing in life. I’ll do my best to carry on in your footsteps dear Mom.
Momma, everything I have written in this tribute mirrors the hearts and minds of each one of your six children and eighteen grandchildren. I know that I speak for them as much as I speak for myself.
Mom, you are in my heart, and I will always love and miss you. You brought so much joy to our family, more than you’ll ever know. I salute you; I honor you for an infinite number of reasons, I celebrate you, and I thank you for so much more than I can express with these words. My gratitude to you is endless…
Thank you for teaching me the importance of humility, philanthropy, and the remarkable power of emotional and financial generosity!
Thank you for making fulfilled with my heritage of being a Nigerian!
Thank you for showing me what it means to be a good woman, an extraordinary citizen, and an outstanding mother!
Thank you for loving me so much!
Thank you for being you!
Thank you for making me proud to be the daughter of Hajiya Binta Ladi Musa Musawa!
Mom you will long remain an inspiration to those who will serve their community, their country, and we are blessed to have shared the gift of your life with us all. I am so proud of you.
You will not soon be forgotten. Your reward will be great in Heaven. We pray for you and for those who knew you.
My final words for you Mom is a prayer… To all who loved you; your staff, assistants, neighbors, colleagues, admirers, community, friends and family: especially Hadiza (Hadi), Ahmed (Babangida), Rabi, Sa’adatu (Ummy), and Zainab (Zee) and all your grandchildren…
“May the Almighty reward you and help you to apply patient endurance and appreciation. Indeed our spirit, possessions and families are magnificent gifts, which God has loaned us for a period and he takes them away after the termination of that period. Gratitude becomes necessary when He gives, and patience is mandatory when He takes.
…Hajiya Ladi Musa Musawa, your boss, neighbor, friend, colleague, sister, mother and daughter was from among that great gift which God allowed you to enjoy in a way that was fortunate and gratifying. Although you loved her, her place is with her maker now. As she has gone home, it is your duty to show patience in her death and gratitude for her life.
…May the Almighty augment your recompense, be kind in your misfortune, forgive the deceased, encourage you with endurance and give you peace. I pray you have the fortitude to bear her loss.”
As I witness a painful twilight and the death of my mother, I pray that God forgives and has mercy on the soul of Hajiya Ladi Musa Musawa and makes honorable her reception. May Allah keep her safe and sound, protect the place where she has rested and make her entrance wide; bless her for her good deeds and surround her with a garden filled with beauty. May she receive the gentle blow of a cool breeze, be washed with snowflakes, ice, sleet, water and everything pure and cleansed of sin as a white cloth is purified perfectly. I pray Allah admits her to Paradise and may her grave be spacious and filled with light: Amen.
I love you with all my heart to the moon and back Mom.
Forever,
Hanney
- Hannatu Musawa is Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy.