By Peter Omopo
Thousands of Muslim faithful, Islamic scholars, traditional rulers, and community leaders on Tuesday gathered at the forecourt of the Emir of Ilorin’s palace to bid farewell to the Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara State Council of Ulamah, Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu.
The funeral prayer for the revered cleric was led by the Imam Imale of Ilorin, Sheikh Abdullahi Abdulhameed, amid an overwhelming turnout that filled the palace grounds to capacity. Security operatives were deployed to manage the crowd as mourners struggled for space to pay their last respects.
Prominent dignitaries and religious leaders who attended the burial rites described the late Chief Imam as an outstanding Islamic scholar whose influence extended beyond the Ilorin Emirate, noting his lifelong commitment to spiritual guidance, scholarship, and community development.
Sheikh Muhammad Bashir Soliu died on Monday at the age of 75, bringing to an end more than four decades of distinguished religious leadership.
Born in Ilorin, Kwara State, the late cleric devoted his life to Islamic teaching, mentorship, and spiritual service. His journey through decades of scholarship and leadership earned him recognition as one of the most influential religious figures in the state.
He was appointed the 12th Chief Imam of the Ilorin Emirate in 1983, a position he held for over 40 years, during which he provided religious leadership marked by wisdom, discipline, and devotion.
Throughout his tenure, Sheikh Soliu was widely respected for his deep knowledge of Islamic teachings and his consistent advocacy for peace, unity, and religious tolerance among Muslims and the wider society.
Mourners described his passing as a significant loss to the Ilorin Emirate, the Islamic community, and the nation at large, praying for the repose of his soul and the continuation of his legacy of faith, learning, and harmony.
