Biography of late Sheik Dr. Ahmad Bamba.
Written by: Abdul Haq
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Ibrahim -BUK(Bamba), The Fall Of A Wall That Shook The Muslim World
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba was born in 1940 and raised in Alabar A.E.B or Nguwan Gonjawa, a suburb in the Kumasi metropolis, his father was Muhammad Ibrahim Bamba and his mothers were Hajia Khadijah (Mma Adizatu) and Hajia Fatima (Mma Hajia), both the daughters of Mma Gyamata, also the daughter of the renowned scholar and first chief of Gonja community in Kumasi(Ghana), the late Mallam Sani.
He had his first and early Islamic basic education at wataniyya under the tutelage of the renowned Sufi, Alhaji Baba Al-Waiz widely know as Babal-Waiz at Kantudu, however, graduated under his father’s home teaching at his great-grandfather’s mosque, all in the Afia Kobi electoral area, from there he proceeded to further his education in the field of fiqh(Islamic Jurisprudence) and started with a book called Al - Ishmawiy under the instruction of Mallam Amadu Langonto(the son of Baba Ibrahim/Ibrah and Imam of Gonja) and, later found himself under the seasoned and the first Sunni revivalist in Kumasi, Sheikh Abdul Samad Habibullah, he had many classmates, few of them were Mallam Imrana Musah, the late Ashanti regional chief Imam, the current and late Ķhåĺifs of wataniyya. Mallam Muntari, the current chief Imam of the Dagomba community. Alhaji Lawal of Baba Abbas widely know as Alhaji Nuhu Abbas. Mallam Zakari of Alhaji Nuhu Kotokoli. Ustaz Umar, the Imam of Yadiga community. Alhaji Siidi. Mallam Muhammad Danraz. Mallam Dan Azumi.etc.
It is significant to note that, his close colleague, Mallam Muntari was the one who advised and recommended Sheikh Abdul Samad’s effective teachings to him as an alternative after he complained of the long distance from Alabar to Accra Town(Oforikrom) where his teacher Mallam Amadu resides. Mallam Muntari had long been studying under Sheikh Abdul Samad’s school at cricket, exactly the place where the Manhyia District Hospital is situated.
According to Mallam Muntari of Alhaji Iddi Maishanu, Dr. Ahmad Muhammad Bamba alongside his desire for knowledge learned tailoring and design making from one Mallam Awudu, his colleague apprentice is the Chief of the Grunshi and Sissala community in Kumasi. In addition, he engaged in cattle business through the experience of Mallam Muntari whose father by profession was the sale of cattle at Kumasi Abbatoir(Mayanka).
Despite his engagement in different business, he still took his education seriously, at a point after having bagged a lot of knowledge from Sheikh Abdul Samad, some Egyptian instructors who were sponsored by their government came to Kumasi and establish a school called Markaz Al-Sharif, Sheikh Ahmad Bamba and his colleague Mallam Muntari enrolled themselves and after various pattern of studies, the instructors noticed Sheikh Ahmad Bamba was a repository of retentive memory, it was on this experience that he was offered an opportunity to advance his knowledge in Egypt However, he spent only a month after making known his desire to study the science of Hadith at the grand Islamic University of Madina where he attained his BA, MA and PhD in the science of Hadith(the prophet teachings and acts).
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba is among the great students of the renowned scholar of Islamic University of Madinah, Sheikh Hamad Bin Muhammad Al - Ansaari and left behind a great record during his tenure as a student, indeed, Dr. Ahmad Bamba was recommended as a great Muhadith by the Islamic university of Madina to Bayaro University in Kano, it was for this reason Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba settled in Kano - Nigeria as a lecturer and a scholar around the 80’s until his death.
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad was a lecturer and lectured at the Bayaro University Kano with the faculty of Islamic studies and started his mass education of the books of Hadith at the same university’s mosque but later led the initiation of his Darul Hadith mosque in Kano, Tudun Yola where he continued with his teachings as the Imam and chairman.
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba was joined in the holy matrimony with 3 wives and left behind 30 children with grandchildren, his first holy matrimony was with Hajia Rubama, a daughter of Alhaji Kassimu of Aboabo Number 1. According to Dr. Ahmad Bamba’s brothers, Alhaji Isshaku and Alhaji Salu Bamba, Alhaji Kassimu brought and entrusted Rubama into the care of Hajia Fatima (Dr. Ahmad Bamba’s mother) and upon receipt, “she responded May this girl become the wife of Ahmad Bamba” and Alhamdulillah, Allah answered her prayers.
Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba dedicated his entire life in service to God and mankind, according to Dr. Umar Sani Rjiyar Lemo, without discounting a similar effort of Sheikh Mahmoud Gumi, Dr. Ahmad Bamba was the only Muhadith with other scholarly works who completed the entire commentary of all The Six authentic books of Hadith widely known as; The Kutub al-Sittah in Arabic: ٱلْكُتُ ٱلسِّتَّة with documented records.
Sahih al-Bukhari.
Sahih Muslim.
Sunan Abu Dawood.
Sunan al-Tirmidhi.
Sunan al-Nasa'i aka. al-Mujtaba.
Sunan ibn Majah.
He had his secular education at Roman Hills in Kumasi and came out with good results, Sheikh Adam Baba, Alhaji Abdulai Ayayi, the late Gonja Chief of Kumasi were said to be his classmates.
Commenting on his personal relation by Mallam Muntari, he stated that, Sheikh Dr. Ahmad Bamba was a very humble and respectful colleague and as a result, he was loved by many including his father Alhaji Iddi Maishanu.
He is born to a large family of brothers and sisters,
His Brothers;
Mallam Adam Bamba Sufi, Sheikh Aminu Bamba, Alhaji Abdul Aziz Bamba, Mallam Saidu Bamba, Alhaji Isshak, Alhaji Salu Bamba, Alhaji Mahmoud, Alhaji Farouk, Alhaji Wasiu, Sheikh Suleman Bamba, Alhaji Adam, Alhaji Usama, Alhaji Sadiku, Abubakar, Alhaji Hashiru Hamburg.etc.
His Sisters;
Hajia Awuraba Boss, Hajia Kande, Hajia Baida, Mma Muhamadiyya, Hajia Ahmadiyya(Iya), Hajia Aunty Bamba, Hajia Zulai, Hajia Safura Bamba, Hajia Amatu Khalid, Hajia Barkisu, Hajia Abbatu.etc.
“Ahmadu Bamba, Allah yayi maka jinkai” in the words of his elder Sister, Hajia Awuraba.
Written by: Abdul Haq
Relation to the deceased: Grandfather
Method of source: Oral Tradition, personal enquiry, personal observations and records.
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