PUNCH
A Zamfara State pilgrim in this year’s Hajj, Aisha Nahuche, shares her thoughts with MAIHARAJI ALTINE on how she found and returned the sum of $8,000 to the owner in Saudi Arabia
Where are you from?
I am an indigene of Nahuche village in the Bungudu Local Government Area of Zamfara State. My name is Aisha Nahuche
How old are you?
I am 58 years old.
Are you married?
Yes, I am married.
How many children do you have?
I have seven children.
What was your experience like in the Holy Land of Mecca?
It was my first time to go to the Holy Land and as such, I saw a lot of things during the Hajj. One of the things I experienced during the Hajj was that we went through tough times due to the change in the weather. The weather was too harsh. The heat was too much. Some people died as a result of the excessive heat.
Another thing I experienced was the type of food we ate while in the holy land. Their food is quite different from ours here in Nigeria. I had to force myself to eat their food because there was no alternative. I experienced a lot of things like seeing different types of people from all over the world.
You found some money in foreign currency while performing this year’s Hajj. Can you explain how much the amount was?
The money in question was in a purse and it was lost by its owner in the Holy Mosque of Mecca. I came across the money when I was going around the Holy Kaaba as part of Hajj activities. I didn’t know what was in the purse until I returned to my hotel room. Immediately I opened the purse, I saw some money in dollars and I quickly closed the purse and went direct to Sheikh Ahmed Kanoma who is a prominent Islamic scholar in Zamfara State.
Sheikh Kanoma in the company of other government delegations opened the purse and counted the money inside and discovered the sum of $8,000. I begged them to look for the owner of the money. After some days, the owner of the money who is from one of the Arabic countries was found and when he mentioned the amount in the purse and where he lost it, the money was handed over to him. He counted the money and discovered that it was intact. The man who had lost hope was surprised to see his money given back to him.
You returned the money without taking anything from it. What informed your decision to return the money?
You see, I was in the Holy land of Saudi Arabia to perform Hajj which is the five pillars of Islam. I was there to seek the blessings of Allah. So, if I had refused to return the money to the owner, do you think Allah will be pleased with me? I am also sure that Allah will surely ask me about this money in the world hereafter. This could also lead me to hellfire. So, that explains why I decided to return the money to the owner when I found it. I returned the money to avoid the wrath of Allah.
How do you feel now that your name has been mentioned in the media and the whole world is praising you?
I was not aware that this issue has been publicised and that my name had gone to the media until I returned home from the holy land. Many people have been trooping to my house to praise me for what they heard in the media. I feel highly elated.
