Grief, prayers as Ilorin lays Chief Imam Sheikh Saliu to rest

Ilorin was enveloped in deep sorrow on Tuesday as thousands of mourners gathered at the forecourt of the Emir of Ilorin’s palace for the final burial rites of the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu.

From the early hours of the day, streams of Muslim faithful, Islamic scholars, traditional rulers and political leaders converged in a solemn procession to pay their last respects to the revered cleric, whose influence spanned generations within and beyond the Ilorin Emirate.

The janazah prayer, which commenced at exactly 10:00 a.m., was led by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulhameed. In his admonition, he prayed for the Ilorin Emirate, the government and the people, urging them to draw lessons from the late cleric’s life of service, devotion and spirituality.

The palace forecourt was filled beyond capacity, with security operatives struggling to control the massive crowd. Due to safety concerns, the janazah prayer was conducted with the body of the deceased remaining inside the ambulance that conveyed it to the venue.

To ease movement, another gate of the palace was opened as the body was later taken out en route to Egbejila, where the late Chief Imam’s Arabic school and residence are located, for interment.

Many residents likened the turnout to the atmosphere usually witnessed during Eid prayers or Ilorin Emirate durbar, as mourners and sympathisers climbed structures within the palace premises just to catch a glimpse of the departed scholar.

Daily Trust gathered that Sheikh Saliu was one of the closest confidants of the Emir of Ilorin. A palace source disclosed that the Emir was deeply moved by the news of the cleric’s death.

“The Emir wept and could only take his breakfast past noon on Monday when the news was broken to him. The deceased was very close to the Emir,” the source said.

The funeral attracted numerous eminent personalities cutting across political, religious and social divides. They included representatives of the Kwara State governor led by the Senior Special Adviser and Counsellor to the Governor, Saadu Salaudeen; former Senate President, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki; Senator representing Kwara Central, Saliu Mustapha; and former PDP National Secretary, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.

Others in attendance were former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Professor Ali Ahmad; former Director of the Rural Electrification Agency, Engineer Bolakale Kawu; and Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Prof Lateef Oladimeji.

Prominent Islamic scholars and traditional rulers from within and outside Kwara State also attended the burial. Among them were the Grand Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Faruq Onikijipa; Chief Judge of the Kwara State Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen; Justice Idris Haroon (retd); the Balogun Alanamu of Ilorin; Dr Usman Abubakar Jos; Chief Imam of Offa, Sheikh Muyideen Salman Hussein Al-Imam; the Ajanasi Agba of Ilorin, Sheikh Mujtabah Yusuf Bature; Chief Imam of Ogbomoso, Dr Yunus Taliat Olushina Ayilara II; and an Imam of the National Mosque, Abuja, Sheikh Salman Solagberu, among many others.

After the funeral prayer at the palace, the body was conveyed in an ambulance to Egbejila, where over 1,000 people gathered to witness the final interment. At the graveside, Islamic clerics and scholars offered prayers, committing his soul to Allah and praying for forgiveness and Al-Jannah Firdaus.

Outside his residence, grief was palpable as mourners wept openly, mourning the loss of a spiritual father, teacher and moral guide whose impact resonated across generations.

Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Saliu, whose death was confirmed on Monday, died at the age of 75. He is remembered for his humility, deep knowledge of Islam and unwavering commitment to peace, unity and religious guidance within Kwara State and beyond.