In this brief interview, a Zamfara State pilgrim in this year’s Hajj, Aisha Nahuche, reveals why she returned the $8,000 probably lost by another pilgrim.
How did you come about the money?
The money 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 directly 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 one of 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 hell fire. 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.
I hate taking anything that does not belong to me. I hate haram
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.
If you were not in Mecca, the holy land, would you have returned the money to the owner?
Why not? I did not become a God-fearing person as a result of my going to hajj. I am telling you that this has been my personal life. I hate taking anything that does not belong to me. I hate haram (something that is forbidden) because I know that God has warned us several times in the holy Quran that we should desist from eating haram. So, that was why when I came across that money while performing the hajj, I tried to find the owner and give him his money.
How did your husband feel about your action?
My husband was very happy when the news came to him that I found some money in Mecca and returned it to the owner. He was happy with me.
Did some people mock you for returning such a huge amount of money to the owner?
Nobody mocked me because I returned the money to the owner. I told you earlier that people had been trooping to my house since I returned from hajj to hail me and commend me for this action. People from far places have been coming to my house just to see me. But I am telling you that nobody has mocked me or blamed me for my action.
