By Lawal Ibraheem Olaniyi
“Water is life!” You’ve probably heard this statement countless times, but have you ever paused to reflect on its meaning? Water is not just essential to our survival—it’s the very essence of life itself. Even the Holy Qur’an underscores its importance:
“And We made from water every living thing. Will they not then believe?”
(The Holy Qur’an, Ch. 21, Vs. 31)
Now think: what’s Jalsa without water? You may take a minute to ponder. This rhetoric challenged the team Jalsa Connect to find out how truly important water is at Jalsa. Jalsa connect takes you into a virtual experience of the water supply department – the unsung heroes of Jalsa.
Our quest took us on a long walk—from the Jalsa market through the Jalsa clinic and finally to the Jamia mosque – where the water team’s marquee was situated. There, beside the towering water reservoir, we found Alhaji Musibau Alegi, the Nazim Water Supply, surrounded by his team of water experts. He greeted us warmly, his eyes lighting up as they caught sight of our Jalsa Connect tags. With a welcoming smile, he invited us to sit and began to share the story of his remarkable team.
“The work of the water supply team begins months before Jalsa,” Alhaji Musibau explained. “We ensure that every plumbing line is fitted perfectly, with no leaks anywhere. But the real action kicks off on Thursday when the Jalsa begins. That’s when our 40-man team works tirelessly, often through the night—even as late as 3 a.m.”
Their dedication is impressive. Despite the laborious hours and countless challenges they face, they continue to press on, motivated solely by the hope of earning the pleasure of the Most Gracious. What makes their story even more inspiring is that even though these individuals come from diverse places, yet they are united by their commitment to serve Allah.
Alhaji Musibau himself is a seasoned expert, with a career spanning two decades and experience working under three or four different Nazimeen. He recounts his years of service under the leadership of past Nazimeen Water, including Alhaji Popoola from Abeokuta, Alhaji Sunmonu and others.
The abundant supply of water at Jalsa testifies not only to his wisdom and leadership qualities, but also his humble resolve.
As we listened to his words, it became clear that the water supply team isn’t just delivering water; they’re sustaining the life of Jalsa. Without their diligent sacrifices, the sweet experiences of Jalsa would be almost impossible, reminding us that, truly, “Water is life.”
