The late President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN) and Director of Sheikh Ibn Baz Shariah College, Sheikh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullah, has been laid to rest in his hometown of Iwo, Osun State.
The revered Islamic scholar died on Monday, 28 April, 2025, after a brief illness at the age of 83.
Following Janazah prayers held at the premises of his college, he was buried amid an outpouring of grief and reverence from the Muslim community.
Residents of Iwo and Islamic faithful from across Nigeria gathered to pay their final respects to a man widely regarded as a pillar of Islamic scholarship and justice.
President Bola Tinubu and Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke led tributes, praising Sheikh Hadiyyatullah’s life of devotion to Islam and national unity.
In a statement by his spokesman Bayo Onanuga, President Tinubu described the late cleric as a “respected Islamic scholar who devoted most of his life to Islam and humanity.”
He acknowledged Hadiyyatullah’s leadership in the Shariah council and his unwavering commitment to truth and justice, recalling the Council’s firm support during the 2023 elections.
Also, former President Muhammadu Buhari described the late Muslim leader as a beacon of compassion, spiritual rectitude, and a true leader in Islam.
“I had the privilege of enjoying his friendship and advice throughout my years in office as president, and well after that. He will be remembered for calling for peace at all times,” Buhari said in a statement by his spokesman, Garba Shehu.
Governor Adeleke, in his condolence message, described Sheikh Hadiyyatullah as “a beacon of Islamic scholarship and an advocate for justice, tolerance, and unity.”
He emphasised the scholar’s legacy in promoting peaceful coexistence and constitutional Shariah practice. “We stand with the people of Iwo and the entire Nigerian Muslim ummah in mourning the loss of a distinguished leader,” Adeleke said.
The Executive Director of the Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) Professor Ishaq Akintola, hailed the deceased as “an energetic, bold and resourceful leader” deeply committed to the welfare of Nigerian Muslims.
