An elderly teacher whose students continue his mission of spreading light.
In a quiet corner of a small community mosque stood a modest wooden classroom. There were no whiteboards, no air conditioners, and no loudspeakers just an elderly man with a warm smile and a voice that carried the melody of the Qur’an.
For over four decades, Ustadh Musa taught hundreds of children how to read, memorize, and love the Book of Allah. His classes were simple, but his sincerity turned that humble hut into a place of light.
A LIFE BUILT AROUND THE QUR’AN
Ustadh Musa began teaching in the 1970s with little more than an old Mushaf and deep devotion. He often told his students,
“If you teach one child to recite the Qur’an, the angels record every letter that leaves their tongue even after you’re gone.”
Most of his students came from low-income homes. Some arrived barefoot, clutching wooden slates; others could not afford notebooks. Still, he never turned anyone away. He believed knowledge, especially the Qur’an, was a trust not a business.
Over time, his little class became a refuge for children seeking both knowledge and discipline. His lessons were never limited to tajweed or memorization; they carried values honesty, humility, patience, and gratitude.
COMMITMENT WITHOUT CONDITION
Despite his age, Ustadh Musa rarely missed a day of teaching. Rain or shine, he would walk to the mosque, carrying his Qur’an close to his chest. His beard turned white, his voice grew softer, but his passion for teaching remained firm.
Former students recall how he would begin every class by reminding them,
“Let’s read, and remember Who we are reading for.”
He taught without expectation of reward or recognition. His greatest joy came when a former student visited to say, “Ustadh, I’m now teaching others what you taught me.”
HIS FINAL DAYS
When illness finally confined him to bed, his students took turns visiting. They gathered around his small room and recited the same surahs he had once taught them. The sound of Al-Fatiha and Yaseen filled the air like a soft farewell.
With a faint smile, he whispered,
“Never stop teaching. If one of you teaches another, my reward continues.”
Those were among his last words before he returned to his Lord.
A LEGACY THAT LIVES ON
Years after his passing, the fruits of his labour continue to blossom. Many of his students are now Qur’an teachers, imams, and Islamic school owners — from Lagos to Kano, and even abroad. Some teach in classrooms; others teach online. Yet all of them carry a piece of his voice, his patience, and his light.
Whenever they begin a class, they remember him:
“My teacher used to say…”
And through every verse recited, his legacy endures.
“The best among you are those who learn the Qur’an and teach it.”
Prophet Muhammad ﷺ (Sahih al-Bukhari)
THE LESSON
True success is not in wealth or fame but in the deeds that outlive us.
Every word of Qur’an you teach, every heart you guide, becomes sadaqah jariyah a continuous charity that never fades.
Ustadh Musa may have left this world quietly, but the light he kindled still shines in countless hearts. His story reminds us that teaching the Qur’an is not just an act of service it is a legacy of eternal reward.
