Eminent Islamic scholar and Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sofiyullahi Kamaldeen Habibulahi Al Adaby is dead. He died at his residence in Ilorin on Monday.
Sheikh Soffiyyullah was born in June 18, 1926 at Ile Ara-Agbaji, Okekere, Ilorin. He was a former Area Court judge and an erudite Islamic scholar who contributed immensely to the growth and development of Islam in Nigeria and beyond.
The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, turbaned him as the third mufti of Ilorin Emirate in December, 2013, succeeding late Sheikh Salaudeen Kidiru Apaolagi, who succeeded Sheikh Soffiyyullah’s father, Sheikh Mohammed Kamaludeen Al-Adaby, who was the first Mufti of Ilorin.
The Kwara State Governor, Dr Abdulfatah Ahmed, has commiserated with the Emir of Ilorin, Dr Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari over the death of Sheikh Habibulahi Al Adaby.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, Ahmed described the passage of the mufti as a painful and monumental loss to Muslim Ummah in particular and Nigeria at large.
Ahmed recalled that Sheikh Al Adaby was a veritable pillar of support for his administration, even as the Governor recalled how passionately the Mufti prayed for him and the state during the just concluded month of Ramadan.
The governor expressed condolences to the family of the eminent scholar, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU), the former governor and Turaki of Ilorin, Dr Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and the entire people of the state over the death of the highly respected mufti.
He urged Kwarans to use the next eight days to pray for the peaceful repose of the soul of the mufti and other scholars who departed before him.
He prayed that Allah should grant the deceased Al-janat fridaous and the family the fortitude bear the loss.
Also, the Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Barrister Razak Atunwa, has described the death of the third Mufti of Ilorin, Sheikh Sofiyullah Kamaldeen, as a shocking incidence and great loss to the nation. Atunwa stated this in a statement issued by his Media Assistant, Alhaji Abdul Rahman Sanni.
He added that the Mufti passed on when Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State in particular and Nigeria as a whole were in dire need of his wisdom, knowledge and wealth of experience in surmounting the numerous ethno-religious and political problems confronting the nation.
The Speaker who was visibly disturbed over his death described him as an epitome of piety, humility and a kind hearted scholar who spent his life serving Allah and humanity.
He also condoled with the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Zulu-Gambari, the Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union and the deceased’s immediate family over the great loss.
He prayed Allah to grant the departed Al-janat fridaous.