The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) has expressed deep sorrow over the passing of the President of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria (SCSN), Shaykh Abdur Rasheed Hadiyyatullah, who died on Monday, April 28, 2025, in Iwo, Osun State, at the age of 83.
In a condolence message issued on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, the Executive Director of MURIC, Professor Ishaq Akintola, described the late Islamic scholar as an “energetic, bold, and resourceful leader” who left an indelible mark on the struggle for the rights and welfare of Muslims in Nigeria.
“Shaykh Hadiyyatullah was a prominent and highly respected scholar, widely known for his deep knowledge of Islam and his global exposure,” the statement read. “His passion for justice, equity, and the freedom of Nigerian Muslims was unmatched.”
According to MURIC, the late Shaykh began his academic journey at the Arabic Institute of Nigeria, Elekuro, Ibadan (Ma’had al-‘Arabi), before proceeding to the University of Madinah, where he studied Shari‘ah. He later obtained a master’s degree from the University of Ibadan.
MURIC further noted that the scholar served as Chairman of the Osun State Pilgrims Board, Director of the Sheikh Ibn Baz Shariah College of Nigeria, and was the pioneer Chairman of the Concerned Yoruba Muslim Scholars of Nigeria.
The organization lamented that his death comes less than four years after the passing of Dr. Ibrahim Datti Ahmad, former SCSN president, in December 2021.
“This is a huge loss to the Muslim Ummah in Nigeria,” Professor Akintola stated. “We commiserate with the leadership and members of the Supreme Council for Shariah in Nigeria. May Allah forgive him and grant him al-Jannah Firdaus. May He also give his family and associates the strength to bear this great loss.”
MURIC described Shaykh Hadiyyatullah’s legacy as one that will continue to inspire future generations of Islamic scholars and activists in Nigeria.
