The Nigerian Muslim community was thrown into deep mourning as Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullahi, the President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), was buried in his hometown of Iwo, Osun State, on Tuesday, April 29, 2025. The late Islamic luminary, who passed away at the age of 81, was interred following Janazah prayers held at the premises of Sheikh Ibn Baz Shariah College, where he also served as Director.
Sheikh Hadiyyatullahi’s death was announced late Monday night by Sheikh Daood Imran Molaasan, the Grand Mufti of Yorubaland. The news sent shockwaves across Nigeria’s religious landscape, with tributes pouring in from clerics, students, and the wider Muslim Ummah. Mourners described his passing as the end of an era for Islamic scholarship and leadership in the country.
Born in Iwo, a town renowned for its rich Islamic heritage, Sheikh Hadiyyatullahi was widely respected for his deep knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence and his unwavering commitment to the advancement of Shari’ah law within Nigeria’s constitutional framework. He was celebrated not just as a jurist, but also as a bridge-builder who championed interfaith dialogue and peaceful coexistence among Nigeria’s diverse religious communities.
The late Sheikh began his Islamic education under local scholars before furthering his studies abroad, a journey that equipped him with profound insight and a calm, principled leadership style. His stewardship of the SCSN spanned several years, during which he navigated the council through both turbulent and prosperous times, always prioritizing service to Islam and the nation at large.
The Secretary General of the SCSN, Nafiu Baba-Ahmed, described Sheikh Hadiyyatullahi as a pillar of nation-building whose humility, devotion, and generosity touched countless lives. “The Nigerian Muslim Ummah and the nation at large have lost a pillar in nation-building. We pray that Allah forgives him, has mercy upon him, and admits him into Jannatul Firdaus. May He also grant his family, students, and the entire ummah the strength and fortitude to bear this loss,” he stated.
At the funeral, emotions ran high as dignitaries, scholars, and ordinary Nigerians gathered to pay their last respects. Many recalled his tireless advocacy for the implementation of Shari’ah law and his efforts to foster unity among Muslims and non-Muslims alike. The Grand Mufti, Sheikh Molaasan, led prayers for the deceased, beseeching Allah to forgive Sheikh Hadiyyatullahi and grant him eternal peace.
The legacy of Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullahi will endure in the hearts of those he mentored and the institutions he strengthened. As the sun set over Iwo, the community bid farewell to a leader whose life’s work was defined by knowledge, humility, and an unyielding devotion to the service of Islam and humanity
