Onikijipa: As Ilorin welcomes youngest mufti in history

Today, Friday, December 16, 2021, the city of Ilorin will be the centre of attraction as the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, crowns Sheikh Suleiman Farouq Onikijipa, popularly known as Al-Miskeen Bilahi, as the 4th Grand Mufti of Ilorin. The highly anticipated event will welcome the crème de la crème from the religious […]

Today, Friday, December 16, 2021, the city of Ilorin will be the centre of attraction as the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, crowns Sheikh Suleiman Farouq Onikijipa, popularly known as Al-Miskeen Bilahi, as the 4th Grand Mufti of Ilorin.

The highly anticipated event will welcome the crème de la crème from the religious and traditional institutions across the country and will showcase the rich religious and cultural heritage of Ilorin Emirate.

The ceremony, which will be held at the revered palace of the Emir, is coming several months after Onikijipa was appointed to occupy the seat which became vacant after the death of the third occupant, Shaykh Sofiyulahi Kamaldeen Al-Adabiyy, in 2014.

As the 4th Mufti of Ilorin, Al-Miskeen will be stepping into the shoes of revered Islamic scholars in Ilorin who have also occupied the position in the past.

From the 1st Grand Mufti and celebrated founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Shaykh Kamaluddeen Al-Adabiyy, who died on Sunday, December 18, 2005, to his successor, Shaykh Khidir Salaudeen Apaokagi Al-Adabiyy in (1917-2013), Sheikh Al-Miskeen’s coronation today will be coming after seven years that Sofiyulahi, who coincidently was the eldest of the children of the first holder of the title (who held the title for less than a year) passed on.

Although muftis have come and gone, the appointment of Al-Miskeen Bilahi has expectedly generated diverse reactions from a wide spectrum of the populace in the state about the propriety or otherwise of his choice for obvious reasons.

 

Among the narratives that dominated the appointment was that this will be the first time in history that a Mufti who is not based in Ilorin will be appointed to the position. Also, Sheikh Onikijipa will be coming into the picture as the youngest ever at over 61 years of age.

Although the position of a mufti is not determined by age but scholarship, the new occupant of the seat has quite a handful of supporters and critics on both sides of the divide which has consistently put him in the spotlight. But in terms of knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence, he is described as a star. He also brings a whole lot of wealth, fame, personality and what some of his followers will refer to “swag” into the new position.  

In his capacity as the Mufti of Ilorin, Onikijipa assumes the position of overall head of Islamic jurists in Ilorin and Chief Interpreter of Islamic law and jurisprudence for the Emirate. He will also be one of those who enjoy the closet consultation with the Emir on Islamic matters.

While speaking on the issue, Imam Abubakar, National Publicity Secretary of Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) said the title was most deserving despite all the reactions.

“Shaykh Onikijipa has come a long way. The title was not just thrown at him. He was prepared, probably unanticipatedly, for the position going by his intimidating credentials and career trajectories which have seen him playing leading roles at home and in diaspora in the last three decades.

“There is no doubt that the position of Grand Mufti of Ilorin is one of the most coveted in the Emirate. This is not only due to the high calibre of its previous holders who were highly respected elder statesmen before bagging the title, but also because it was the first title fashioned out by the present and 11th Emir of Ilorin.

“The title’s prestigious nature also stems from the fact that the holder is regarded as the Chief Interpreter of Islamic jurisprudence for the Emirate.

“The new Grand Mufti has, no doubt, secured a place for himself in the history of Ilorin. It is no longer possible to write the history of honourary title holders of the Emirate without giving him and his career due consideration. He is the youngest holder of the title. He is also the first alumnus of Markaz to bag an honourary traditional title of Ilorin Emirate and has become the only holder of the title who propagates from outside the Emirate,” he added.

In his words, another fan and Chairman of Sahel Media Group, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, described him as “a world-renowned Islamic scholar and a leading light of the Islamic movement.” He further noted that “the Sufi movement in Nigeria and abroad is elated on his emergence.”

Speaking recently after his appointment, the Mufti described it as a dream come true. “The position is one with the highest prestige in the line of Da’wah – be it in our beloved homeland (Ilorin) or any other Islamic state. And as my calling has always been in line with Da’wah, to anticipate and aspire to reach such a prestigious height, is a dream becoming reality.”

He further said in his efforts to unite Muslims, “I will welcome all suggestions in any form from our people. However, as popular demand has it, the first project we have in plan is to deliver the Dharul Iftah (Advisory Council) for our people where numerous programmes would be coordinated in shaa Allah.

On his plan to unite Muslims in Kwara, Southwest and other parts of Nigeria, Sheikh Onikijipa said delegations from each state would be selected and involved in the institution of IFTAH.

“All relevant information regarding contemporary topics and settled laws of Islam would then be disseminated via such medium. By this, we plan to bring together all our brothers and sisters under one umbrella as Islam calls for oneness,” he told The Muslim News recently.

Profile

Born on the 25th of February 1962 to the Onikijipa family by Alhaja Aminat Faruq, daughter of Sheikh Sa’adullahi, Sheikh Sulaiman started his search for knowledge under the tutelage of his father.

In 1969, he was enrolled as a pupil of Alore Primary School, Oke-Apomu, Ilorin, from where he received his First School Leaving Certificate in 1974. Upon completion of his primary education studies, Onikijipa became a pupil of an Advanced Quranic school at Ataragba Compound, Agbaji, Ilorin (1974-1979).

He was later enrolled at the Darul-l-Ulum Arabic and Islamic Institute, Isale-Koto, Ilorin from 1979-1983. He subsequently proceeded to the renowned Arabic and Islamic Training Centre (Markaz), Agege, established by his mentor, Shaykh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory, in 1983. He completed his Senior Secondary education at the institution in 1986.

Onikijipa, in further pursuit of knowledge, enrolled himself at the Institute of Religious and Behavioural Education, Lagos, in 1998 and graduated with a Diploma in Islamic Religious Studies in 2000. He was subsequently awarded Higher Diploma in 2002 in the same institution.

His next port of call was Pebble University, Australia for his Bachelor of Arts, Master of Arts and Doctorate degrees all in Islamic Studies in 2007, 2010 and 2020, respectively.

Shaykh Onikijipa is a courageous preacher who has been lending his voice to the progress of Ilorin Emirate and Islam through his annual tafsir on the African Independent Television (AIT) during the month of Ramadan in the last few years and many other avenues.

One of the most generous preachers of Islam, Onikijipa is a philanthropist who gives charity in abundance and a well-travelled personality who has traversed nearly every continent of the universe in pursuit of scholarship.

He has participated in close to 20 international conferences on Islam and human development held in Nigeria, Turkey, the United Kingdom, Ghana, Libya, Senegal, Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia where he presented papers on topical issues.

Prior to his appointment, Onikijipa has received several honours and awards in appreciation of his generosity and contributions. He is a Fellow, the Academy of Corporate Management and Strategic Planning and the International Association of Community Education.

He is also a Member and Representative of the World Federation of Sufi Order and appointed by His Royal Highness, the King of Morocco, as a Member of the African Islamic Scholars Group.

He is a winner of awards of excellence from NASFAT and the Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran. He also holds the International Merit Award of the All African Students Union. He is also a recipient of an honorary doctorate degree in Science and Human Service bestowed on him by the Columbus International University, Norton, England and a holder of the Global Peace Ambassador of Access to Human Rights International (AHRI).

The new mufti is the proprietor of Al-Amani Li-Tahliimil Arabiy-Wal-Islamiy School, Lagos, which has produced many promising scholars and a prominent member and leader of the Tijjaniyya Brotherhood to which he was initiated by Shaykh Abubakar Al-Miskin of Pakata, from whom he inherited the alias with which he is popularly known.

Married to Alhaja Rahmatullah Kehinde Faruq Onikijipa, a prominent Lagos-based business tycoon, the couple is blessed with children.