Who Is Dr. AbdulSalam Yasin?
Who Is Dr. AbdulSalam Yasin?
One of cousins was once upset about the remarks made by someone on an upright citizen I know. My answer to him was: Mr. X does not need you to defend him. When you encounter negative people like that tell them that Mr. X made it in this world. He does not need you. You need him so benefit from him or stay lost. And I am going to say something like that to my hero Dr. AbdulSalam Yasin.
I met this dignified man in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia soon after I performed Hajj. Some of my family members live there. When I first met Dr. AbdulSalam he was a Professor of English at King Saud University, well respected in his profession and a pillar of Iman and culture for all the generations in Riyadh. I met him because one of my family members wanted me to find a teaching job in Riyadh and Dr. AbdulSalam was my link to that job. His recommendation was so powerful it landed me the job immediately. I declined to live and work in Saudi Arabia. But what that shows is the level of respect and the dignity which he commanded from his colleagues and his employer. His advice was well sought. That is why he was in so many different committees serving inside and outside the university. Let me tell my fellow Somali Landers that I saw in Dr. AbdulSalam Yasin, a decent, faithful man. A respected father and family man who has worked hard to bring up upright citizens in a foreign land. His wife is a silent veteran who has taken a lot to stand with her husband in regaining respect for his country and people. She is a quiet, patient, pious women who is confident and happy with the achievements of her husband. Not many Somali wives can say that for their husbands.
Dr. AbdulSalam does not call himself a Doctor for nothing. He has a PhD in Linguistics (rare achievement for Somalis) which he received more 30 years ago. He has 40 years of excellent service under his belt. He commands a huge library of religious and humanity books that only a well educated academic can collect. My nephew spoke to him once for an hour and he was awed by his knowledge. Unfortunately, he is born to the sad Somali culture where knowledge is least acknowledge or respected. When I saw Dr. AbdulSalam, I did not have to seek anyone’s opinion to judge his character. He is my role model and the bench mark for my endeavours.
I was so happy to have noted that he took over the University of Burao. His rare quality points to the fact that he left a high paying job to run the University of Burao. His home library was ten times bigger than the library of that university. The people of Somaliland and its education sector need Dr, AbdulSalaam. He does not need them. He made it big on his own and he did not even need to be an SNM fighter to make his mark in history. His character does not need defending. There are many shady characters in question. Not him.
To Dr. AbdulSalam I say. Do not be discouraged by this and please do not respond to them. Get on with the business of the university and keep working. That is what we need. From the daunting work at the University of Burao, I don’t think you can afford a minute to waste.
Rhoda A. Rageh