I was born in a shanty little town located in Galgaduud known as Xeraale, as I grew up I attended macalin dugsi like every child does in Somalia and I became a xafiduul Quràn by the ripe age of ten. In my quest for more knowledge I left the dusty xeero of Sufism in Xeraale and embarked on a journey towards Dhusamareeb where I heard a well-learned man resided and was teaching the people. When I arrived in the city of farts, I started my search for this Imaam and asked many of the common folk where he resided, none of them knew and were unaware of such an Imaam. As I was about to give up, I encountered one of the only non-suufis in the city, his name was Talibul Ilm, Grandpakhalif bin al-Kismaawi, a tall and valiant man who heard from the people that I was in search of the elusive Imaam. I asked Grandpa, from wherest thou can I find this Imaam? He told me to go 6km East until I reach the stone of Jabaraat, "You will find him making istighfaar, verily the Imaam does not like to stay with the people of Jahiliyya"
Hence from there I went East with only my camel and two canteens, trekking the harsh Galgaduud desert, with the wind harshly blowing accross my cheeks. I kept riding until I noticed armed men on the long, treacherous terrain with 2 teknikos and a bushel of khat. When I reached them, khamiis and cimaamad in tow they raised their rifles and aimed it down my throat. One of them had a shaved beard, an a mijiin hanging out of his mouth, I could smell the perspiration leaking from his torn up camouflage fatigue. They ordered me off my camel and told me to stand up.
Fearing for the worst, I grudgingly agreed and raised my hands in there as they searched me.
"War Al shabaab ma tahay nacala kugu yeel", One man exclaimed with his yellow stained teeth maligned by a bronze tooth.I quickly denied the allegation as he starred into my eyes as if waiting to claim my soul. They went towards my camel and searched it,but all they found was Kitaabu-Tawxiid and few notebooks and pens. I was hoping they were not Sufi militia, and turns out they weren't, they were simply eager "mooryaan" from Gelinsoor, trying to make a quick buck. The second man, who seemed alot more sober approached me and painfully struck my side with the butt of his rusty AK-47. "War been ha sheegin! Khamiistas wa dhaqan Baakistaan, Xassan Taahir Aweys ma la shaqaysta"? I grimaced with pain and denied ever interacting with the famous "traitor" from Dhuusamareeb. I then quickly removed my last 1000 shillings that I hid in the upholstrey of my pants and gave it to them, after which they quickly let me go on my way.
As I continued my journey by camel, dawn quickly came and after praying Salaatul Fajr I finally saw the promised stone that Akhii Grandpa directed me too, but I saw no sign of the esteemed Imaam or even life whatsoever. I was completely distraught and spoke to myself as I so often do, when suddenly out of nowhere the stone of Jabaraat was dashed aside and a secret hidden door was unveiled right before my very eyes. But what happened moments after that was even more delightful, before I could even reach the handle I heard footsteps arising from what appeared to be a staircase, and behold! I heard a voice saying, "Whose that! Wallahi I will kill you even if I had to use my bare hands you mushriks!" I quickly realized that the Imam was in hiding and that he believed I was a suufi looking to murder him!"
I quickly responded to the Imaam and told him that I am not suufi but a Taalibul cilm seeking to drink from his fountain of great knowledge. Imam HutuKing suddenly opened the hatchet and embraced me with an embrace that I will never forget. He opened the hatchet for me and I quickly went inside his hiding abode. When I went inside I was surprised by how well furnished his bunker was, decorated with a frame and photo of Janaan Jeneraal Caydiid (AUN) and Markaawi style furniture. The Imaam was a tall man, physically well built, as if his chest was filled with eemaan. His beard was jetblack and long and his thowbe was simple yet eloquent design. His catar smelled extravagent and the nuur emitting from his face was unparallelled. The Imaam opened his musxaaf started to read Ayaatul-Kuursi and thanked Allah for bringing him a helper from the muwaxadiin.
To be continued....
