AlHadj Akib Adebowale Quasim a native of Ijebu-Imosan in Ogun State, Nigeria was born in Kano while his late father was there on a mission to serve the Ansar–Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
Saudi Arabia
Hadj Akib began studying Arabic and Islam at a very early age and attended the prestigious Ummul-Qura University in Makkah-Al-Mukkaram, Saudi Arabia. While in Saudi-Arabia, he simultaneously served the Ondo State Pilgrims Board in Nigeria for four consecutive years.
He soon got hired as a translator for American guests of the Muslim World League (Rabitah – Mecca Based) and for the Directorate of the two Holy Mosques in Masjid Haram, Mecca the following year.
Hadj Akib graduated with a Bachelors’ degree in Education & Linguistics from the University of Mecca.
United States of America
A series of educational and professional successes followed and in December of 1998, that led Hadj Akib to the United States of America where he earned a second Bachelors’ degree in Computer Information Science.
Armed with a great passion for promoting Islam, he has continued to serve as an Arabic and Islamic coach and his missions have earned him a place as an outstanding voice of knowledge and wisdom within the Nigerian, African and the Arab communities.
Hadj Akib’s reach transcends race and ethnic groups therefore, his solid record has built and extended his strong ties within the Arab community in the United States as well as in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is this passion to propagate Islam that has led him to establish Awwal Bayt International, Inc.
Awwal Bayt International, Inc. was founded to eradicate the horror stories associated with the Pilgrimage. With the help of a wise and experienced leadership with an incomparable knowledge of the terrain, Awwal Bayt International, Inc. brings comfort and peace of mind to muslims as they complete the Hajj and Umrah.
As a student of Ummul-Qura University, Mecca, I was opportuned to serve Nigerian Pilgrims and witnessed the suffering most people undergo while on pilgrimage in the holy land.
While I was living in Mecca as a student of Ummul-Qura University, Mecca, I was opportuned to serve Nigerian Pilgrims and witnessed the suffering most people undergo while on pilgrimage in the holy land. Honestly, I felt so bad that my muslim brothers and sisters performing Hajj were subjected to these conditions because of the “I don’t care” attitudes and the inexperience of the Hajj leadership from Nigeria.
I was deeply troubled!
The horror stories were as follows:
- Pilgrims are subjected to unreliable flights and it is not unusual for many to stay at the Jeddah Airport for up to a week before flight placements.
- Pilgrims are sandwiched together in very tight and uncomfortable accommodation at a very far distance from the two holy mosques making the Hajj rites very difficult to complete with ease.
Such services are unacceptable particularly because the pilgrims usually pay Hajj fees comparable to those paid by pilgrims from countries such as Indonesia, Iran and Malaysia.
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