The Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, alongside the Baba Adinni of Lagos Central Mosque and Chairman of the Executive Council of the Juma’atul Muslim Council of Lagos, Alhaji Sikiru Alabi-MacFoy, have expressed their condolences over the death of Sheikh Muhyideen Ajani Bello, a prominent Islamic preacher and former Kano State Branch Missioner of the Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria.
Sheikh Bello passed away on Friday and was laid to rest in his hometown, Ibadan, Oyo State’s capital.
In his tribute, the Sultan described Sheikh Bello as a preacher of exemplary character and conscience.
He noted that the cleric’s demise came as a shock, particularly at a time when his unique style of Islamic preaching is crucial for fostering moral reconstruction and spiritual guidance in the nation.
He said: “We have no option than to accept demise of the great Islamic preacher and scholar as a natural call by Allah. The death of Shaikh Bello is a loss to the Muslim Ummah of Nigeria especially the Muslim Ummah of South West Nigeria and Oyo State Muslim community.
“May Allah forgive his shortcomings, accept his good deeds as acts of worship and repose his soul in Al-Jannah Firdaus, Ameen.”
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Alhaji Macfoy said the Islamic scholar left behind legacies of dedicated services and exemplary leadership.
According to him, the late Sheikh Bello contributed immensely not only in the advancement of Islam, but also in the promotion of tolerance, peace and harmonious coexistence between Muslim Ummah and adherents of other religions in Nigeria.
He described him as a vanguard in the advocacy of moral rectitudeness in our society.
Alhaji Macfoy said: “My close interaction with this pious Scholar was over 40 years ago in Kano, when I was praying in the Ansar-Ud-Deen Mosque, which he was in charge of in the ancient city of Kano. I said without equivocation that he was indeed a very friendly, compassionate, accommodating, and supportive brother. There in Kano, everyone, of all religions and ethnic groups, revered and loved him.
“The ideal values our he propagated and portrayed should be enough lessons to all of us. We should be admonished by his exceptional characters. He practised what he preached as prescribed by the Holy Quran. For all of us, death is inevitable. Our major worry should we be how we’ll be remembered?
“I extend my condolences to his family and loved ones, the Ansar-Ud-Deen families home and abroad, and the entire Nigerian Muslim Ummah. We grieve. As we mourn this Islamic colossus and Icon, may Allah Allah (SWT) give us all the fortitude and patience to bear this heart-rending loss.”