Muslims in Action
From Sharecropper’s Daughter to Hajjah A life dedicated to serving humanity By Ahmad Nurriddin
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rom sharecropper’s daughter to Hajjah — that is the inspired and remarkable journey of Aidah Nasheed Sabir-Jenkins. She performed the pilgrimage three times: 1980, 1994 and 2003 at ages 62, 76 and 85. This was an amazing accomplishment for a young woman, with limited education, who spent most of her career as a domestic — working in a shirt-making factory and doing housework. She also authored two books and at 94 regularly assisted with the preparation of food for iftar, the fast-breaking meal, at Washington, D.C.’s Masjid Muhammad. She published her second book of poetry at age 92. Born Ada Steen on July 29, 1918, in Union, S.C., Sabir-Jenkins died Feb. 12 while crossing the street near her home in Northwest Washington, D.C. Sabir-Jenkins was a devout, talented, and religious woman raised in the church where she often recited religious material, played the piano, and wrote and sang gospel songs with the choir. She traveled through South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., as she performed with various choirs and gospel quartets. Sabir-Jenkins joined the “social reform mission” of the Nation of Islam in Washington, D.C., at Temple No. 4, in 1957, under the leadership and teachings of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad. She used to say that she embraced Islam because, “after hearing the teachings, it was as if it fit my life and it was what I was waiting for.” Following Elijah Muhammad’s death in 1975, as a devoted student of Imam Wallace D. Mohammed, Sabir-Jenkins’ devotion to the Quran and the hadith was smooth. Sabir-Jenkins was an industrious and
enterprising woman. She was grateful that she was blessed at 90 to witness and contribute to the election of the first bi-racial president, Barack Hussein Obama. Sabir-Jenkins was known for her bold taste and style. She was featured in several Muslim fashion shows. She took great pride in the stylish looks of First Lady Michelle Obama. Her portrait hangs in the (Washington) District of Columbia Office on Aging, reflecting her tastes in clothing and accessorizing. She was vital to the establishment of KIBAR Senior Feeding Center, located at Masjid Muhammad, the nation’s only Halal Feeding Center funded by a municipal government agency — the DCOA. “Sister Aidah was one of my best seniors in Washington, D.C.,” DCOA Executive Director Dr. John Thompson said. “It was a huge blessing to meet her and to learn that she was from my home state of South Carolina. I admired sister Aidah because she always smiled and showed love to everyone who came into contact with her. In her 90s, she remained a source of inspiration to many
Despite losing her hearing, Aidah Nasheed Sabir-Jenkins rarely missed a Friday congregational prayer and during Ramadan was faithful in making taraweeh, the late night prayers. 28
seniors as she was not home bound and was actively connected in her community. I miss her tremendously, but will never forget her smile and the positive energy that always exuded from her.” Despite losing her hearing, Sabir-Jenkins rarely missed a Friday congregational prayer and during Ramadan was faithful in making Taraweeh, the late night prayers. She was a frequent attendee at the National Muslim Convention led by Imam W.D. Mohammed, and for several decades attended numerous major meetings — traveling to Chicago, New York, Philadelphia Texas, Florida, and Georgia. Comfortable with her hearing loss, SabirJenkins penned a poem titled, “Can’t Hear a Thing.” Can’t Hear a Thing I cherish your gifts of kindness and loving care, For smiles you bring. Thanks for the beauty I am seeing, But I can’t hear a thing. Knowing that it’s a trial For a better world to go As from difficulties brings ease, Makes you want to love Allah more, Allah’s will on His time. To give peace of mind, much laughter it brings, When I say I can’t hear a thing. With some of the smiles and laughter We do tell each other I love you, That we show love with truth Helps us to believe One G’d like you. I learnt your name, To call upon Allah the Creator, G’d is One. Loving Allah, who forever brings I say with joy, “I can’t hear a thing.” Sabir-Jenkins continues to epitomize the sacredness of charity and education, as her estate sale in April netted more than $1,500 for the Sister Clara Muhammad School of Masjid Muhammad.
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Donations may be sent to: Sister Aidah Sabir Estate Fund For Clara Muhammad School, c/o Masjid Muhammad, Inc., 1519 Islamic Way, NW Washington, D.C., 20001. Ahmad Nurriddin assisted Sabir-Jenkins during her last Hajj, and returned to Washington, D.C., to contribute to her “independent” living until her passing.
Islamic Horizons November/December 2013