* As family, colleagues attend Sound Sultan’s 3rd memorial Ramadan lecture
The gathering will unite Muslims in creative industry – Femi Adebayo
He added value to the lives of many people through his craft – Eedris AbdulKareem
Renowned Islamic scholar and Chief Missioner of Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Sheikh AbdurRahman Ahmad, has charged Muslims to make peace with their realities while accepting that whatever happens to them is in the overall plan of Allah (SWT).
He noted that the road may be bumpy, but people should keep their eyes on the destination.
Sheikh Ahmad stated this on Tuesday, March 28, 2024, at the 3rd Annual Ramadan Lecture/Iftar in memory of late Nigerian songwriter and rapper, AbdulGaniy Lanre Fasasi, popularly known as Sound Sultan.
Held at the Temple Company in Lagos, the programme was attended by the late Sound Sultan’s family, friends and colleagues in the Nigerian entertainment industry.
Those present included thespian Femi Adebayo; legendary rapper, Idris AbdulKareem; celebrity OAP VJ Adams; Tunde Folawiyo, Femi Bakare, Mariam Bakare aka (Moricoco) and newest producer, Hajia Shareefah Abiola Andu otherwise known as Arabel.
Several other Muslim talents who could not make it to the venue joined the programme virtually, Muslim News learnt.
In his lecture monitored, Sheikh Ahmad said often times, people question why some things happen to them, adding, however, that Allah is aware of the reason they are going through those phases.
“Often, we ask questions that we do not understand. When something happens that we don’t like, we ask why me? Why not you? You didn’t come here alone, someone brought you. Your Creator and Lord who brought you here is knowledgeable. He is merciful and powerful. He knows why you are going through what you are going through and He has a plan for you.
“When you are travelling along a path, you will come across smooth roads, roads that are rough, bumps, sharp corners. Keep on going, don’t look at all those. Keep your eye on your destination because the one who is taking you through this road is well aware of your condition and is merciful. Just persevere, hang on and ask Him for assistance; He will help you.
“So many people die healthy; while so many people are sick and are not dead. There is an overall wisdom in all these events. Allah took your son, and you think He is wicked. He could equally have left that son, and that son could have ruined you and ruined your reputation. Allah took your wife and you think he is wicked. But that is just the best time. Allah took your husband, and you are asking why me. Have you not seen others whose husbands have been sick for years? They have not only spent everything they had, they have done crowd funding and manu other things, until they became a liability to themselves. They are even asking Allah to please take him so they can rest.”
‘The event, an opportunity to remind the living’
The respected Islamic scholar said his attendance at the Ramadan lecture was an opportunity to remind the living, adding it’s also based on the relationship he had with the late Sound Sultan.
“I appreciate what he used to do for the deen,” the Sheikh said.
“I want to believe that part of the rewards of this will go to him too. When he was alive, he was active in organising this. He does all the invitations and coordination. So, when he died, it was dedicated to his remembrance. That is the way I think he will benefit from it.”
In his submission, Sheikh Ahmad beseeched Almighty Allah to forgive the late Sound Sultan, while also praying for his family, especially his wife, Fareedah and their children.
Sheikh Ahmad commended the Founder of the Temple Company, Mr. Idris Olorunnimbe, for sustaining the Ramadan lecture/Iftar, which was started by the late rapper, years before his demise.
“We pray Allah (SWT) to forgive AbdulGaniy who is the reason we are here. The brilliant, easygoing young man. Oh Allah, you kept him for as long as he was alive. You took him when it was best for him. Please, whatever his shortcomings are with you, forgive him. Put him in Jannah. He has left behind a family, oh Allah, please take care of them, be merciful to them. Nobody can replace any other person’s joy, but oh Allah, you are the one who gives joy, please replace AbdulGaniy with a lot of joy. Be with the wife and children, be with the family. Please, protect and provide for them.
“AbdulGaniy had been good to so many people that we are reading their testimonies after he had gone. Idris has been very, very consistent. Of course, whether or not we pray for him, Allah is aware of all that you do and will reward you. For all of us too, may Allah reward us. We certainly all have challenges, no one can help us through our challenges except Allah. We ask Allah (SWT) to help us through our challenges and give us triumph. We ask Allah to bless us and give us peace.”
In his interview with Muslim News, Olorunnimbe ran a background of the initiative, noting that Sound Sultan was actively in the picture when it was designed.
He said, “It’s the third year of the memorial lecture, but it’s the sixth or seventh edition of the lecture and iftar for Muslims in the creative industry. While Sound Sultan was still with us, we had a meeting one afternoon and decided that every year in Ramadan, we’ll host a lecture and iftar for Muslims in the creative industry.
“In 2020, we couldn’t hold the programme physically because of COVID-19. It was done virtually. Unfortunately, that was the last one in the lifetime of Sound Sultan. When Allah called him, we decided that we would continue to host the programme in his memory.
“Alhamdulilah, this is the third edition, and there will be many more to come. Our successors shall continue from wherever we stop whenever we stop.”
‘Sound Sultan was a deeply religious person’
Idris Olorunnimbe described the late Sound Sultan as a deeply religious Muslim brother whose faith was unshaken.
“Sound Sultan was an amazing human being, deeply religious. Every morning during Ramadan, he had a programme on social media known as ‘e dide e mu sari je’, where he asked people questions and gave the winners recharge cards and so on.
He was also very simple. You never know how big a star he was when you met him. He was a good example. While he was here, his faith remained unshaken. I believed he was going to survive and tell his story, but his time was up. Allah (SWT) knows best.
“We have continued where he stopped, trying to do what is of the most benefit to him. For everyone who listened to the lecture here, for everyone who said a prayer, he gets the rewards. Those rewards are much more important than any other thing.”
Event will unite Muslims in the industry, says Femi Adebayo
Nollywood actor, Femi Adebayo lauded the initiative, saying such a gathering in the blessed month of Ramadan has the potential to unite Muslims in Nigeria’s entertainment industry.
He said though he didn’t have a close relationship with Sound Sultan, he appreciated his works and knew him to be a fantastic human.
“I see this gathering as uniting Muslims in the entertainment industry. I like the initiative. This has been on before the death of Sound Sultan and is still on. It’s a good opportunity to learn how to manage lifestyle in the industry and our religion. I’m excited to be here this year, and I pray I will have the opportunity to attend more editions.
“Unfortunately, before he passed, we did not have close contact. We only saw from afar. I appreciated his work, and he appreciated mine too. I’ve heard a lot about how fantastic he was as a human. I pray Almighty Allah to forgives him and put him in Jannah.”
He urged the family to carry on with the legacies of Sound Sultan, while also appealing for support and care for his wife and children.
He added value to the lives of a lot of people through his craft – Eedris AbdulKareem
Veteran rapper, Eedris Abdulkareem of the defunct Remedies said the late singer added value to the lives of many people through his craft.
The Mr Lecturer crooner noted that he was always happy anytime the late singer was on tour with him because he would always remind him and other Muslims of salat.
“My brother, Sound Sultan, was a great person. He added value to the lives of a lot of people through his craft. He showed love to those he knew and those he didn’t know. He was also a strong Muslim who believed in his religion. He was faithful and loved by everyone. And I loved him dearly because he was the only Muslim brother I had in the industry that I could call and share my thoughts on Islam with,” he told Muslim News.
“In 1999, we went on a tour — that was our first tour. Every time we got to a state, Sound Sultan would call me and say it’s time for prayer, my brother. Anytime, I was on tour and Sound Sultan was part of the concert, I always felt happy, because I had a Muslim brother to relate with.”
The Jaga-Jaga crooner said he had beautiful memories with the late Sound Sultan.
“Well, Allah knows best. This is the third year he’s passed on. May Almighty Allah continue to give him eternal peace and rest his soul.
“As Muslims, we should always remember death. That way, you’ll be reminded that we are all living dead. You always remember the reason why you are in this world.”
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