Muslim Community mourns as two Islamic Scholars Pass on

Muslims in Nigeria have been mourning following the demise of two prominent Islamic scholars in the early hours of today, May, 26, 2020.

Muslim News findings revealed that the two scholars are Sheikh Liadi Orunsolu and Sheikh Sidiq Faruq Onikijipa.

Sheikh Liadi Orunsolu, the Chief Imam of Egbaland, died at his residence located in Abeokuta, Southwest Nigeria.

According to inside sources, the late Imam had been sick due to his aged status before the commencement of the month of Ramadan. They added that this might have impacted on him leading to his death.

Until his death, Sheikh Orunsolu was the President-general, League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State, Muslim News learnt.

The remains of the late Chief Imam would be buried according to Islamic rites by 4:00pm today.

Sheikh Onikijipa

In a similar development, a popular Ilorin-born scholar, Sheikh Sidiq Faruq Onikijipa has reportedly returned to Allah in the early hours of today.

The late scholar, popularly known as Abu Ridoh, was the elder brother of Sheikh Farouk Onikijipa, a prominent Lagos-based cleric.

Muslim News gathered that the late Abu Ridoh at the time of his death was in his late 60s.

According to a family source, he departed this world in his Lagos residence, and would be buried according to Islamic rites today.

TMC reacts, calls for Salatul Ghayb for the late Chief Imam

The Muslim Congress (TMC), Ogun state chapter has commiserated with the Ogun State Muslim Community over the demise of the Chief Imam of Egbaland, saying that the late scholar had contributed immensely to Islamic propagation in Nigeria.

The faith-based organization disclosed this in a statement signed by the Waali (Chairman) of the Ogun State TMC, Dr Ibrahim Ogunkoya, FCA, earlier today, May, 26, 2020.

According to him, “Shiekh Orunsolu has contributed immensely to the propagation of Islam, not only in Ogun State, but Nigeria as a whole. He provided the support and quality leadership for many of the da’wah activities of The Muslim Congress in the state.

“Sheikh Orunsolu is the number one Muslim personality in Ogun State as the President-general of the League of Imams and Alfas in Ogun State as well as a patron to many Islamic organisations”.

Dr Ogunkoya also cautioned against mass gathering at the burial of the late Chief Imam scheduled to take place by 4:00pm today. He advised that Muslims can observe Salatul Ghayb (praying on dead Muslim in absentia) to honour the late scholar in order not to defy the order of the government.

“The TMC understands that Muslims in their thousands and perhaps millions will want to honour him when he will be buried by 4:00pm today 26th May, 2020; we however ask all well wishers to stay at home and observe Solatul Ghayb for our revered father.

“It is acceptable in Islam to pray and observe Janazah on a dead Muslim even when the corpse is not physically present. As Muslims, we must obey the constituted authorities as sanctioned by Allah and Prophet Muhammad Ibn Abdullahi. We must honour Shiekh Liadi Orunsolu and at the same time try not to defy the lockdown, curfew and border closure presently in force in Ogun State.

“As we mourn, we must not allow the situation to create another catastrophe by encouraging thousands of people to gather at the interment which will make it difficult to obey the social distancing that might put the lives of people at risk.

“It is therefore incubent on all Muslims and well wishers to stay at home and pay their last respect to Sheikh Liadi Orunsolu,” the statement reads.

The University don noted that the best way to celebrate Sheikh Orunsolu is to continue to promote the good deeds he was known for during his lifetime, while praying that Allah admits him into Al-Janah Firdaus.