September 11 it is for most, but September 10, 2001 was the day for me. The day I spent 90 minutes inside the World Trade Centre in New York. The buildings came down the following day. I have credible witnesses, including our revered father, Professor Dawud Noibi, Executive Secretary, Muswen Ummah. Also there was Alhaji Tajudeen Animashaun Salami, Chief Imam, Muslim Association of Nigeria, UK. Khalifah Muyiddeen Najmuddeen was also present.
All of us had travelled from London to attend a function at the Nigeria-American Islamic Mission in New Jersey. Our host was Shaykh Nurudeen Miqdad Ali. What a beautiful function it was!
I left the trio of Prof and our two fathers behind to make my way back to New York from where I was to catch a flight back to London. I made the New Jersey to New York journey by train. My station in New York (the last station on the route) was the World Trade Centre (WTC). The journey to NY and WTC was free of incident. Little could I have foreseen what was to happen hours later!
My Engagement with the 30 MSSN Members who Smashed Records at UNILAG- Alhaji Nojeem Jimoh
I arrived NY in bliss, but could not find my host – my friend of a lifetime – Muhammed Shamsideen Akinlolu (MS) – senior brother to Rasheed Akinjide Akinlolu. I had no phone on me. By my reckoning, MS and I must have spent a minimum of 90 minutes looking for each other within the WTC. MS would probably say it was up to three hours. I woundn’t argue with it. We eventually found each other and made our way home and ultimately to JFK Airport.
I was to become one of the last set of people to see the WTC Towers standing. Allahu Akbar! It wasn’t for my piety that I was spared. Neither was it because God loved me more than the 2,977 who perished. It was just not my turn to die. My mum said I had a lot of role still to play in life – and I believe her. I hope I am playing it! It is sixteen years to the day I did not die. Which of the favours of my Lord can I deny?
Nojeem Jimoh, 11/09/2017
Alhaji Nojeem Jimoh is a commentator on religious, public affairs and Imaam of Lighthouse Mosque Ajah, Lagos.
