Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim
It is with profound sorrow and total submission to the will of Almighty Allah that we received the news of the passing of the late Chief Imam of Ilorin, Shaykh Muhammad Bashir Imam Salih, OON; a towering Islamic scholar, exemplary spiritual leader, and an outstanding servant of Islam and humanity.
The late Chief Imam was a man of rare qualitative attributes and immense scholarly attainments; an iconic scholar with an unblemished integrity, sagacity, courage and steadfastness.
He devoted the greater part of his life to the pursuit of knowledge, nurtured under the tutelage of the great sage, Shaykh Muhammad Kamaldeen Habeebullah Al-Adabiy (RahimahuLlah).
His life was wholly committed to the propagation of Islam, the promotion of moral rectitude, peaceful coexistence, and the advancement of humanity.
Through his teachings, guidance, and personal conduct, he left indelible footprints in the sands of time; especially his unique sonorous and special melodious voice and intonation in the recitation of the glorious Qur’an. His reign as the Grand Chief Imam of Ilorin Emirate and its environ and the Chairman of the State Council of Ulama’ spanned over four decades.
His departure at this critical time is not only shocking but also painful. However, death is inevitable and it’s a debt owed and must be paid by all mortal as enshrined in the Glorious Qur’an thus:
كل نفس ذآئقة الموونبلوكم بالشروالخير فننة وإلينا نرجعون
Every soul shall taste death. And We will test you with evil and with good as trial; and to Us you shall all return.
We deeply condole His Royal Highness, the Emir of Ilorin, on the loss of a trusted confidant, loyal ally, and dependable adviser on religious and moral affairs. The Emirate has indeed lost a pillar of wisdom whose counsel was always rooted in knowledge, sincerity, and fear of Allah.
We also extend heartfelt condolences to His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Kwara State; Mallam AbdulRazaq AbdulRahman, and sincerely appreciate his swift medical intervention and concern during the critical period preceding the demise of the revered cleric and the remakable befitting funiral arangemen’s. This gesture reflects compassion, good leadership, and respect for the religious institutions and their leaders.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the immediate family of the deceased, the Ilorin Emirate, the Muslim Ummah, and indeed the entire nation at this moment of grief. We pray that Almighty Allah forgives his shortcomings, accepts his immense contributions as acts of ‘ibadah, grants him Al-Jannatul Firdaus, and raises him among the ranks of the righteous, the scholars, and the martyrs.
May Allah also grant his family, the Emir of Ilorin, the people of Ilorin Emirate, the Muslim Ummah, and the nation at large the fortitude to bear this irreparable loss.
Inna liLlahi wa inna Ilayhi Raji‘un.
Hon. Justice Idris Abdullahi Haroon, OFR, FHNR (rtd.)
Coordinator, Council of Muslim Organisations (CMO)
