Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State stood still yesterday as the news of the death of the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Kamalideen Habeebullahi El-Adabiyy spread through the city.

From Tunde Sanni in Ilorin, 12.18.2005

Kamalideen, the contemporary of the deceased founder of Institute of Islamic Training Center, Marcaz, Agege, Sheikh Adam Abdullahi El-Ilory who died in May 12, 1992 was a leading Islamic jurist and a revered scholar in the ancient town and beyond.

News of his death, which spread like a bush fire yesterday attracted spontaneous reaction from, people especially politicians and traditional institutions who expressed shock at the passage of the scholar.

Hundreds of sympathisers, which included the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Gambari, and the chairman of the Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, Alhaji Abdul Hammed Hammed, leading Imams from Offa and towns in Osun State trooped to the traditional home of the sage to pay their last respect.

Security personnel made of mobile policemen and men of the security of NASFAT, Ogidi Oloje branch had hectic time controlling the surge of Muslims trooping in to catch a glimpse of the Islamic icon. 

In his condolence message, Governor Bukola Saraki expressed shock at the death of Sheikh Kamalideen, which he described as a great loss to the Islamic ummah.

He said his administration has benefited from the wealth of experience of the mufti, noting that he passed on when his invaluable services for a prosperous and egalitarian society was being sought for.

The governor advised muslims to emulate the virtues of the Islamic scholar which were numerous while praying for the repose of his soul and admission in paradise.

The Emir of Ilorin also expressed shock at the passage of the Islamic scholar and expressed joy that “Baba Kamalideen died before all of us. He was such a great scholar whose services for the emancipation of mankind from darkness would be greatly missed.”

The Minister of State for Education, Hajia Halimat Alao said she was too dazed to offer comments of condolence but prayed God to give the family and the entire Ilorin community the fortitude to bear the loss of the scholar. She described described as a sterling example to Muslims who looked on him for Islamic reference.

El-Adabiyy was born in 1907 and passed through various Islamic learning processes where he learnt jurisprudence and Islamic scholarship.

Kamalideen was given the national honour of the Member of the Federal Republic {MFR} in 1963 and the Order of the Niger {OFR} in 1981. In 1992, he bagged the highest award in Egypt as he was conferred with the Nobel Prize for scholarhip contribution to the growth of Islam and in 1998, he bagged the UNILORIN honorary doctorate degree and last year, he was turbaned the Mufti of Ilorin by the Emir of Ilorin

Culled from ThisDay