Reporter’s Diary: An Encounter with the Irresistible ‘Digital Imam’ By Lawan Bukar Maigana
A day after the trending Abuja Imam, Sheikh Nura Khalid, received his sack letter, some of his ardent supporters and online media organizations issued a counter-narrative, saying he had been reinstated to continue with his routine scholarship in Apo Mosque.
My journalistic instinct told me that this could just be mere speculation because there was no reinstatement letter issued. I told myself that a sack letter was issued to him and it went viral. Why is there no reinstatement letter if his reinstatement is true?
As a journalist, I developed a special interest in finding out the authenticity of his recall. I tabled the issue during our editorial meeting and told my colleagues that I carefully listened to interviews the Imam granted, but the Imam did not categorically mention that he was appointed to lead a Friday prayer, nor did he say that he was reinstated.
At the editorial meeting, we discussed the need to find out whether he will truly lead the jumma’at congressional prayer and if he was reinstated or not.
After our meeting, I went to the Facebook search bar and searched his name, and found his contact. It was a lucky search because I found him live. I felt happy, reviewed the information on his page, and found a phone number belonging to his social media aide.
I quickly saved the number and subsequently called and was answered. I summarily introduced myself to his social media aide who asked to remain anonymous and told him why I called him. His media aide did not answer all the questions I asked him.
I didn’t relent. I went to the same comment section and asked again: can someone tell me where his next Tafseer is taking place in Abuja so I could go there? Some people replied to my comment. They helped me, and someone offered to help me reach out to the Imam.
I quickly prepared myself, changed, and went straight to my editor to seek permission to go and see the most sought after cleric in the country.
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The journey to Supreme Court Quarters in Karu where the Mosque is, was smooth and swift. I wasn’t lucky enough to catch up with the women’s lecture. I entered the mosque and saw a few people sitting and greeted them and went into the mosque.
The man I spoke to didn’t come on time. I thought he wouldn’t come and resorted to asking the people I greeted while I entered the premises of the mosque. They told me that he is at home with the Sheikh. I felt happy because my assignment would not fail.
I was taken to the Imam’s house. I stopped by the door of the parlor and said: “Assalamu’alaikum.” They answered and asked me to come in. I went in and sat on a carpet and quickly identified the Imam and greeted him.
I told him my name and he just started speaking in Kanuri, telling me that my name is unique and it must be from Borno. I nodded in affirmation and told him the purpose of my coming.
He told me that he won’t speak to any media again until after Ramadan and he referred me to his previous Tafsir telling me that I may get what I want from it. I tenaciously pleaded with him but he told me that he won’t compromise his decision.
I went on to tell him that I was surprised by his ability to speak Kanuri because he never lived in Borno and Kanuris are negligible in Abuja. He smiled and told me that he could speak Arabic, English, Kanuri, his language – Hausa – and Yoruba fluently. The Sheikh is a polyglot.
I found him to be as real as the revered Islamic scholars of the days of yore were. He was warm, kind, humble and respectful. After finishing our conversation, I told him that I would be glad if I could have a picture with him. He said: “why not?” We took the pictures and he finally advised me to be a good ambassador of Islam anywhere I find myself.
I came to the office, sat and went straight to his page, and listened to his previous Tafsir. I got my answers in his Tafsir. I wrote the report and sent it to my editor. He vetted it and got it published.
It was a fulfilling day in the office.
