In Memoriam: A Tribute To Sheikh Bashir Solihu, Chief Imam Of Ilorin (1951-2026)- Jani Ibrahim
Inna Lillahi wa Inna ilayhi raji’un
In the quietude of Monday’s dawn, the Islamic community in Ilorin, Kwara State, and indeed the entire Nigerian Muslim Ummah, was enveloped in profound grief as news filtered through that Sheikh Bashir Solihu, the venerable Chief Imam of Ilorin and Chairman of the Kwara Council of Ulama, had answered the final call of his Creator. At the age of 75, a luminary whose light had guided countless souls for over four decades had been extinguished from our earthly realm, leaving behind a legacy that will illuminate the path of righteousness for generations yet unborn.
To speak of Sheikh Bashir Solihu is to speak of a life wholly consecrated to the service of Allah and the betterment of humanity. His journey was not one of sudden elevation but rather a testament to the Islamic principle that true leadership is earned through knowledge, piety, and unwavering dedication. When he was appointed as the 12th Chief Imam of the historic Ilorin Emirate in 1983, he did not merely assume a title; he embraced a sacred trust that he would carry with distinction for more than forty years.
Those who knew Sheikh Solihu intimately will attest that his greatest asset was not the position he held, but the profound Islamic scholarship that undergirded every sermon, every counsel, and every decision. His understanding of Islamic jurisprudence was not merely academic—it was living, breathing wisdom that he dispensed with a rare combination of firmness and compassion. In an age where religious discourse often becomes polarized and contentious, Sheikh Solihu stood as a beacon of balanced teaching, never compromising on Islamic principles while always extending the hand of understanding and dialogue.
His humility was legendary. Despite being one of Kwara State’s most influential religious leaders, he carried himself with the simplicity of a servant rather than the bearing of a master. This humility was not weakness but strength—the strength of a man so secure in his faith and purpose that he had no need for earthly pretensions. Whether addressing a gathering of dignitaries or counselling a troubled soul in private, Sheikh Solihu brought the same earnest attention, the same genuine concern, the same profound sense of responsibility to Allah and to humanity.
What distinguished Sheikh Bashir Solihu most profoundly was his tireless promotion of peace and communal harmony. Indeed, in 2012, he deservedly bagged the National honour in the category of the Order of the Niger, OON.
He understood, with a wisdom born of deep spiritual insight, that true Islam is a religion of peace, and he dedicated his life to translating this understanding into practical action. His was not the hollow peace of mere coexistence, but the vibrant harmony of mutual respect, tolerance, and genuine love for one’s neighbours, regardless of their faith or background.
The Ilorin Emirate flourished under his spiritual guidance. Through his wise counsel, he fostered an environment where unity was not merely an aspiration but a lived reality. He was a bridge-builder in the truest sense—spanning the divides that too often separate communities, reaching across religious and ethnic boundaries with a message of common humanity and shared values. His advocacy for religious tolerance extended beyond the Muslim community to embrace the wider society, demonstrating through word and deed that faith should unite rather than divide.
For over four decades, Sheikh Solihu nurtured generations of faithful through sound Islamic teachings. His students—and we are all his students in one way or another—absorbed not just the letter of Islamic law but its spirit. He taught that knowledge without character is empty, that worship without service to humanity is incomplete, and that faith without compassion is merely ritual. These lessons were not delivered from a position of superiority but shared with the gentle wisdom of a spiritual father who genuinely desired the best for his children.
The contributions of Sheikh Bashir Solihu to the spiritual and social development of Ilorin and surrounding communities cannot be overstated. Mosques were built, schools were established, orphans were cared for, and countless families found guidance and support through his interventions and those of the institutions he led. Yet perhaps his greatest contribution was intangible—it was the atmosphere of spiritual seriousness tempered with mercy, of moral uprightness balanced with understanding, that he created wherever his influence reached.
As we mourn the passing of this extraordinary servant of Allah, we must also celebrate the life he lived—a life of dedicated service, profound wisdom, and unwavering commitment to spiritual upliftment. Sheikh Bashir Solihu did not merely preach Islam; he embodied its noblest principles. He did not simply occupy the position of Chief Imam; he honoured it with every breath, every decision, every moment of his remarkable tenure.
I commiserate with His Excellency, Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the entire Muslim community. To the Emir of Ilorin, we extend our deepest condolences, knowing that you have lost not just a religious leader but a trusted counsellor and friend. To the Ilorin Emirate Council, we share in your grief, understanding that an irreplaceable pillar of your community has been removed. To the bereaved family, we pray that you find comfort in knowing that your loved one’s good deeds continue to speak on his behalf, and that the prayers of thousands whom he touched will accompany him on his journey to the hereafter. To the Kwara Council of Ulama, we acknowledge the immense void left by the passing of your chairman, and we pray for wisdom and unity as you continue the work he so ably led. And to the entire Muslim Ummah, we remember that while we have lost a great leader, Allah has surely gained a faithful servant.
We pray with sincere hearts that Almighty Allah, in His infinite mercy and grace, grants Sheikh Bashir Solihu Al-Jannah Firdaus, the highest paradise. We beseech the Most Merciful to overlook his shortcomings, for none among us is perfect, and to accept his countless good deeds as acts of sincere worship. We ask Allah to illuminate his grave, to ease his reckoning, and to grant him the companionship of the prophets, the truthful, the martyrs, and the righteous—what excellent company indeed.
May Allah grant patience and strength to all who mourn his passing. May his legacy of scholarship, service, and spiritual dedication continue to inspire us. And may we, in honouring his memory, recommit ourselves to the values he championed—faith, peace, tolerance, unity, and unwavering moral uprightness.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un — Surely to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.
Ameen-Alhaji Jani Ibrahim, who is the President of NACCIMA, and Chairman of OPSN, writes from Abuja
