Mannir Musa
Patience-sabr-in Islam is more than simply waiting. It is perseverance with purpose: continuing to do what is right even when circumstances are difficult.It means exercising restraint when anger might be easier, showing gratitude in the face of hardship,and holding on to hope when the path ahead appears uncertain.
Admittedly, this is easier said than done. In a world that constantly urges us to pursue bigger and shinier things, it is easy to forget that happiness is not always found in accumulation. Often, it lies in gratitude-in recognising and appreciating what truly matters.
Many of us spend time dwelling on disappointments and near-missed opportunities. We replay them in our minds and wonder what might have been. Yet, when viewed against the broader canvas of life, we are reminded that such concerns may not be as significant as they seem.
Two days ago, I lost my mentor, Professor Kabiru Isah Ɗandago, a towering figure in the Accounting profession, and a teacher whose influence shaped countless lives, including mine. Earlier today, I also spoke with a cousin who is battling serious terminal health issues.
Moments like these have a way of resetting our priorities. They remind us of what truly matters.
More than a decade ago, when I was struggling to find employment, I once complained to Professor Ɗandago about how difficult things felt. He listened patiently and then offered a simple but powerful piece of advice:“Mannir,be patient”. Those words have stayed with me ever since.
Professor Ɗandago was more than a scholar; he was a father figure and mentor to many of us. I still remember the day he gifted a few of us – then first-year students – with ATS forms. It may have seemed like a small gesture, but to young students trying to find their path, it meant everything.
His kindness and encouragement left an imprint that will endure long after his passing.
Years ago, I also wrote about a man in Kaduna who washes traditional caps – a humble mai wanki hula. Despite having very little materially, he is among the most content people I know. He prays in congregation five times a day, is happily married with three children, and lives a life marked by quiet dignity. Whenever I visit Kaduna, I enjoy sitting in his small shop and talking with him. There is no rush, no pretence – just simple conversations about life. And each time I leave, I am reminded of a powerful truth: contentment is not found in having everything, it is found in appreciating what we already have.
Perhaps that is where patience and gratitude meet – forming a quiet strength, a peaceful heart, and a life focused on what truly matters.
May Allah grant Professor Dandago mercy and eternal rest. Amin.
Mannir Musa is a former student of the Late Professor Kabiru Isah Ɗandago and writes from Lagos.
