A Final Journey to the Holy Land: Aminu Dantata’s Dying Wish Granted as He’s Laid to Rest in Madinah

In an extraordinary culmination of a life lived in deep faith and unmatched generosity, the late Nigerian business icon and elder statesman, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, has been granted his final wish — to be buried in the holy city of Madinah, Saudi Arabia. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia officially approved the burial, allowing the nonagenarian philanthropist to rest eternally in one of Islam’s most sacred cities, fulfilling a spiritual dream he had held close to his heart during his lifetime.

Aminu Dantata, who passed away on Friday, June 28, 2025, in Abu Dhabi at the age of 93, had initially been scheduled for repatriation to Nigeria, with tentative arrangements to be buried in his home city of Kano. However, behind the scenes, close family members and associates were diligently working to honor his dying wish — to be laid to rest near the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), in the serene and sacred land of Madinah. That wish, once seen as a long shot, has now become a poignant reality.

The confirmation of the development came from his relative, Sanusi Dantata, who shared the emotional news on social media late Saturday evening. “Alhamdulillah, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has granted approval for the remains of late Alh. Aminu Dantata to be buried in the Holy land of Madinah! Arrangements are ongoing for his Janazah tomorrow, Insha Allah, in the Holy Prophet’s mosque,” he posted. His words were met with a flurry of responses from friends, admirers, and fellow believers who hailed the divine mercy in granting such a rare privilege.

Dantata’s Janazah prayer is scheduled to take place on Sunday, June 29, at Masjid an-Nabawi — The Prophet’s Mosque — the second holiest site in Islam after the Kaaba in Makkah. The mosque, steeped in history and spirituality, is revered not just for its proximity to the Prophet’s tomb but also for its divine significance in the hearts of over a billion Muslims across the globe. Being buried in Madinah is considered an immense spiritual blessing — a rare privilege not often extended, especially to non-Saudis.

Born in 1932 into the prominent Dantata family in Kano, Aminu Dantata carried forward the torch of an empire founded by his father, Alhassan Dantata, one of the wealthiest men in West Africa in his time. But Aminu was more than just a businessman. He was a philanthropist, a statesman, a bridge-builder, and a quiet force behind many of Nigeria’s most impactful humanitarian initiatives. His legacy of service, generosity, and humility cut across religious, ethnic, and national boundaries.

Throughout his decades-long life, Dantata remained deeply spiritual and committed to his faith. Those close to him often spoke of his unwavering devotion to the principles of Islam, his discipline in prayer and charity, and his quiet desire to end his earthly journey in the sacred lands where the Prophet himself had walked. For a man who had accomplished so much in the temporal world, his heart remained tethered to the eternal — and now, he journeys into that eternity from the very soil he revered.

The approval by the Saudi Arabian authorities is being hailed as a sign of deep respect for the life and legacy Dantata leaves behind. While the Saudi government typically adheres to strict rules regarding burials in Madinah, exceptions are occasionally granted for individuals of great spiritual or humanitarian significance — and Dantata, it seems, stood out not just for his wealth but for the way he used it to uplift others.

Social media erupted with tributes and prayers shortly after news of his Madinah burial broke. Prominent religious clerics, political figures, and business leaders across Africa and the Middle East expressed their admiration and offered heartfelt duas (prayers) for the repose of his soul. “Only a life of submission and sacrifice can earn a resting place so sacred,” wrote one cleric on X. “May Allah forgive him, accept him, and grant him the highest level of Jannah.”

Dantata's name had for decades been synonymous with ethical business, quiet giving, and Islamic piety. His charities supported hospitals, education for the underprivileged, and orphans across Nigeria. In a world driven by flashy displays of wealth, his was a life of dignified silence and purposeful impact. He avoided media limelight and political drama, choosing instead to work quietly behind the scenes for the betterment of his country and fellow man.

As his remains are now prepared to be taken into Masjid an-Nabawi, enveloped in the warm embrace of the Holy City, the moment feels like a poetic full circle — a faithful servant of Allah, laid to rest in the shadow of the Prophet, in the very soil where countless companions and saints have been buried. It is not just a personal victory for the Dantata family, but a spiritual triumph celebrated across the Ummah.

For many Nigerians, particularly the Muslim community, the burial also serves as a moment of introspection and renewed faith. Dantata’s life — and now his burial — has become a reminder that no matter how high one rises in status or influence, the ultimate goal remains closeness to the Divine. His story resonates as a call to live purposefully, give selflessly, and prepare mindfully for the inevitable return to the Creator.

As Sunday’s Janazah draws near, hearts are heavy with grief, but also swollen with gratitude — for a life well lived, and a final wish beautifully fulfilled. The images from Masjid an-Nabawi will no doubt etch themselves into history: the white marble floor glistening under the soft Arabian sun, a humble body shrouded in cloth, believers lining in reverence, and Aminu Dantata — now among the blessed few — resting eternally in Madinah.

In the annals of Nigerian history, Alhaji Aminu Dantata’s legacy will remain untarnished. But beyond that, his soul now rests where his heart always longed to be — in the Holy Land, near the Messenger of Allah, in peace, in prayer, in light.