Tribute to Dr. Rasheed Buwaeb By: Kamoru Sodiq kamorusodiq92@gmail.com

 

It has been more than a week since we lost a gem. Tuesday, July 2, 2024 will forever remain a black day in the hearts and minds of lovers, children, friends, students, mentees, admirers, beneficiaries and well-wishers of Dr. Rasheed Abdul-Jabaar Salman Al-Buwaeb. History should record it in its negative book because one of our beautiful ones passed to the world beyond.

Haji Buwaeb as he is fondly called by many was born to the great "Elemo Compound" in Iwo, Osun State, Nigeria. He started out as a young Islamic scholar and cut his educational (Arabic) teeth from His Eminence, Late Sheikh Abdul-Baaqi (A.B) Muhammad in Iwo. The late Sheikh A.B Muhammad is one of the foremost and respected Islamic figures in Yorubaland. Haji Buwaeb is a graduate of the prestigious Islahudeen Arabic School, Oye-Ode, Iwo and came out as one of the toppers.

Due to his proficiency and gifted qualities at a tender age, he was named "Buwaeb" (which we might translate to mean door of knowledge) by Sheikh Abdul-Baaqi (A.B) Muhammad, popularly called Oluko-Agba. Having distinguished himself among his peers, he proceeded to the satellite campus of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud University, Mauritania to bag his Bachelor of Law (LL.B) in Islamic law (Sharia) with Distinction.

In his unrelenting thirst for knowledge, Haji Buwaeb enrolled at the University of Ilorin (Better by far) where he obtained his postgraduate degrees i.e.Masters (MSC) and PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) with Distinction from the Department of Arabic Studies, Faculty of Art.

The Prophet said the best among you are those who are beneficial to others. This is exactly the definition of Haji Buwaeb. His impacts and contributions to Da'wah are outstanding. He was never freaked with material things. He only competes in knowledge and never in worldly rank or primordial acquisitions. He is very patient and calm. His approach to issues is both welcoming and shrewd. He is darling to people's hearts.

For anyone who knows Haji Buwaeb very well, he always appears neat, tidy and sharp with his adorable flowing beards properly combed and shampooed. Sheikh is humble, ebullient, urbane, calm, quintessential, ascetic and above all, a good friend to everyone, male or female, old or young. His soft spoken bellies his mature disposition. He finds comfort in positively touching lives. He was primed to lead an exemplary life which he led successfully and seamlessly.

As one of the students of Haji Buwaeb, permit me to share three instances with you to illustrate the unparalleled personality of Dr. Rasheed Buwaeb as a mentor, teacher and good-hearted soul. I singled out these three things out of numerous good acts he exudes.

The first instance is that when we were in Modrasah, we used to have a break time to unwind and thereafter return to class. But some of us are very cocky and we will not return to class. What we usually do is to leave the Modrasah premises and start playing football elsewhere. Dr Rasheed Buwaeb as the Principal (Mudeer) then would start looking around for us and anywhere he caught us, he would "arrest" us and pursue us back to the Modrasah. As we were going back, so many thoughts would run through our heads but at the end of the day, he would neither beat nor punish us. He would only warn us. What a kind heart!

The second instance is that anytime we are writing promotional exams in the Modrasah, the rule is whoever is owing the Modrasah (school) fee will be disallowed to write exams. In such a situation, the only person you can think of and will be willing to beg on your behalf is Dr. Rasheed Buwaeb. He would talk to you as a father and follow the concerned student to the exam hall to plead. He was doing this despite the fact that he was the Principal (Mudeer). Yah Allah! Sheikh is generous to a fault. 

The third legendary act I will like to share about our teacher and mentor is about his special passion for teaching and impacting students. What he does is that every "Thursday" in a week, he specifically dedicated it to teaching of knowledge of Faraaid (science of inheritance in Islam). This opportunity is open to all students of knowledge from anywhere within or outside Iwo town. He would always hold the class no matter what in his residence for free. This is a great contribution to knowledge and teaching.

Now, our Sheikh is gone. Death is a way of the living. Our own time too is ticking. We will all leave this ephemeral world unannounced. Death is real. Life is short. Nothing lasts forever. O Allah! Please, accept the return of our Sheikh and admit him into al-janat, grant him Nuur (light) in his grave and be pleased with his beautiful soul. Aamin.

Rest on Dr. Rasheed Abdul-Jabaar Salman Elemo Al-Buwaeb till we meet to part no more.