Bintu Mariama Nabie-Conteh, who passed away on December 17 2009 at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, was laid to rest last Sunday, December 27 at the Oak Lawn Cemetery, on Route 130, South Brunswick, New Jersey, after what one Somerset resident described as “a phenomenal turnout” at the Anderson Funeral Home in New Brunswick.” The people who stayed outside the funeral home far outnumbered those lucky to be inside. The service was slated to start at 10: am. By 7:00 am cars started pulling up the funeral home parking lot and the adjacent parking lots. Many of those who arrived a little after 9:30 am had to park four blocks away and walk to the funeral home. By 10:00 am all the seats were filled, despite the special sitting arrangement to accommodate more people.
“I’ve lived in New Brunswick for over twenty years, and attended many funerals, but I’ve never seen such a huge turnout at a funeral,” says a female sympathizer, who was disappointed for not being lucky to be inside to pay her last respect to a lady she described as “an angel, a very nice, warm, and wonderful person.” That description seems to capture the general impression of the majority of those who gathered in New Brunswick on a bright wintry Sunday morning for Bintu’s funeral.
Friends and relatives had converged on Robert Wood Johnson on Wednesday December 16 as the sad news spread like a California wild fire that Bintu Nabie was in a very critical state. Sierra Leoneans in the New Brunswick/ Somerset area rushed to the hospital, hoping and praying that Bintu will recover. Some even spent the night in the hospital, waiting anxiously and praying fervently for a miracle. Alhaji Abdullah Savage, Chief Imam of Jamatul Haq, of which Bintu Nabe was a registered member, was on hand to offer his prayers. Family, Friends and other well wishers in New York, Maryland, Philadelphia and Sierra Leone were constantly on the phone for an update on Bintu’s condition. On Thursday, December 17 2009, a day after she was taken by Helicopter to the hospital, and two days after celebrating her 47th birthday, Bintu answered to the call of Allah.
“Allah wished it, and there is nothing we can do to stop it.” That in a nutshell was the message delivered by the religious leaders of the two Jammats in Somerset – Jamatul Haq and Dawatul Islamia – that came together as one to give a dear sister, mother, grandmother, aunt, and friend a fitting farewell. The Muslim community here has never been so united, according to one community leader, who was very happy with the unity, and sense of community demonstrated in the wake of Bintu’s passing away – from the Koranic Reading on Saturday at the Pine Grove Fire House, to the Funeral Service, and the Reception at the Ukrainian Hall on Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey.
“We’re deeply saddened by Bintu’s death, but we’re happy that she has succeeded in bringing us together in the name of Islam,” says Alhaj Aliru Bakar of Dawatul Islamia, during his opening remarks at the Anderson funeral home, in the presence of a dazzling array of religious dignitaries from both Dawatul Islamia and Jamatul Haq. Among those present were: Alhaji Ibrahim Conteh, Alhaji Abdullah Savage, Sheik Abbas Savage, Sheik Abdul Razak, Sheik Balla, and Alpha Sanusi Tejan. Alhaji Lansana Jabbie, Alhaji Tunkara, Sheik Mohamed Barrie - representing jamaats from Pennsylvania, Washington DC and Boston, respectively, were present for the funeral service. After Quranic recitations by both Sheik Bala and Alpha Sanusi Tejan, Alhaj Aliru Bakar asked that Allah have mercy on Bintu for whatever mistakes or sins she may have committed. “The passing away of Bintu should serve as a lesson for us all; it should serve as a sobering reminder of our own mortality,” he pointed out to all those present to pay their respect, driving home the point that death is inevitable. Our salvation, Alpha Bakar noted, “Lies in our fear of Allah.”
Mr. Alimamy Sillah, a cousin of the late Bintu, who is working for Amnesty International, gave a very moving tribute. He started by thanking Allah, the most gracious and the most merciful, for Bintu’s life. “Bintu loved life, and loved all,” he said. Among other things he said “Bintu was a selfless and loving wife, but never allowed her self to be a shadow; she was not perfect, but she was fair. While the family mourns the sudden departure, we hold dear all the wonderful moments shared together. Your warmth and laughter will always be cherished. We love you, but God loves you best.”Mr. Sillah then asked Alhaji Conteh, a nephew of the late Bintu Nabie, to pray for the departed one on behalf of the entire family.
The Chief Imam of Dawatul Islamia, Alhaji Ibrahim S. Conteh, delivered the sermon. He started by expressing his heartfelt sympathy and conveying a message of condolence to the bereaved family on behalf of Dawatul Islamia and the entire Sierra Leonean Community. He then asked Sheik Abdul Razak, a Ghanian, who is also one of the Imams of Dawatul Islamia, to deliver a short sermon. The erudite Islamic scholar, then went on to drive home the message that “we are created not to be here forever; there is no cure for death.” The soft-spoken Imam said “we should be concerned not about death itself, but what comes after death.” Continuing he said “today is Bintu’s turn. Tomorrow can be any one of us.” To this end he asked that we get ourselves prepared. “Don’t be fooled by this world, for it is temporary. Don’t be deceived by money and all the earthly desires, for everything will decay. Your family will follow you to the grave, but your money will not. It’s only your good deeds that will enter with you into the grave.”
That short but poignant message about the inevitability of death and the fact that death is no respecter of persons was buttressed by Alhaji Ibrahim Conteh when he narrated the story about a man who had three friends. He explained how the man had a serious legal problem for which he needed the help of his three friends. The first friend made it abundantly clear that he will not accompany his friend to court; he will rather stay home. The second offered to accompany his friend but will not go beyond the doorsteps of the court. The third friend said “I’ll be with you right inside the court. At the end of the short story, the Imam posed the question: “Who are the three friends?
Alhaji Ibrahim Conteh explained that the first friend represents all the material wealth we acquire on earth; the money, good clothes, houses and more. The second friend represents the family, friends and acquaintances. And the third friend represents the good deeds on earth. “When we die, all the material things we acquire on earth will be the first to desert us. The family friends and associates will follow us to the graveyard. But none will volunteer to enter the grave. The only thing that will enter the grave with us is our good deeds.” The Imam appealed to all to endeavor to follow the righteous path. “Our salvation lies in our good deeds.” He ended by praying for the departed one and all those who had gone to the world beyond. He prayed for all those who came from far and near to mourn with the family and to pay their last respect.
Alhaji Kabineh Tunkara from Washington DC gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the family. After a short prayer for the dead (Zanaza) outside the funeral home, conducted by Alhaji Abdullah Savage of Jamatul Haq, the late Bintu Nabe was laid to rest at the Oak Lawn Cemetery on Route 130 South, South Brunswick, New Jersey. This was immediately followed by a reception at the Ukrainian Hall on Davidson Avenue, Somerset, New Jersey. Mr. Aziz Mohamed Nabe gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the bereaved family after prayers and words of comfort to the family by Sheik Bala and Alhaji Abdullah Savage.
The late Bintu Mariama Nabie-Conteh leaves behind to mourn many friends and a large extended family that includes the Nabie, Nabe, Kabba, Sesay, Tonkara, Conteh, Daramy, Sillah, Cyllah, Turay, Jabbie, Barrie, Bah, and Bangura families at home and abroad.
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