Laa kaazibu (What is said is not false)

Abstract

This manuscript is titled "Laa kaazibu", which is an Arabic expression that means "there is no falsehood in what is being said". The name was taken from the title of the verse as it occurs at the end of each line. The verse is known by this name to many people in Bida town and beyond. Sheikh Aboki, our source for this verse in Nupe Ajami helped us trace the origin of the manuscript. He said, "Its popularity can be credited to Alhaji Abdulkadiri, a professional reciter whose name was then changed to 'Baba Laa Kaazibu'. According to Baba, he had been chanting the verse at religious occasions since 1360 A.H./1941 C.E." As such, the precise date the verse was written is not recorded, and the original author’s details are not provided. However, Baba’s heirs claim that it was their grandfather who composed it. Similar to other Islamic eulogies, "Laa Kaazibu" begins with Basmalah and greetings to Prophet Muḥammad Peace be upon him. It reads "Bismillahir-Raḥmānir-Raḥīm! Ṣallallāhu ’Alā Man lā Nabiyya Ba’dahu!" Then the first stanza begins with the short version of Basmalah, i.e. Bismillahi and then the poem in Nupe Ajami. There are sixty-five (65) stanzas, full of praises and commendations to Prophet Muḥammad, Peace be upon him. Written exclusively in Nupe Ajami, the scribe used the Mashriqi writing style instead of the Maghribi, but retains the diacritics exclusively for Nupe Ajami. The last part of the verse is a prayer for the Noble Prophet, popularly known as the Ṣalāt Ibrāhimiyyah and the last words were Al-Ḥamdu Lillāh!