What we’ll miss about foremost Ilorin cleric – Family
… he was honest, fearless – Abdullahi Adangba
By Ahmed Ajikobi
For every creature, there is always that wish he or she may have unattended to before his/her death. It was the same situation for renowned Islamic scholar and philanthropist, Sheikh Qudus Abdullahi Al-Korowy, who despite his landmark achievements had some unfulfilled dreams before he passed on last week.
Speaking with our reporter on Saturday at the Koro Compound, Ilorin, a representative of the family, Alhaji Isiaka Abdullahi Koro, said the cleric was planning to hold a mass wedding for sons and daughters of Koro in the state capital.
Speaking further, he said, the late Al-Korowy also had the intention of sponsoring three of his students to Egypt and another three to Niger Republic to further their Arabic studies.
“Aside the two aforesaid unfulfilled wishes, Al-Korowy before his death planned to graduate 150 students few days to Ramadan, which he could not fulfil,” he disclosed.
On the last wish and last moments of the scholar, Koro said, he warned every member of the family to unite as one.
“He urged us to always say the truth, no matter the situation adding that we should not fight ourselves and that we should build on his legacy.
“Baba also said his students should not be desperate to amass wealth by going against the teachings of the Quran as anyone who follows the righteous path shall never lack.”
Speaking on what the family will miss most about the scholar, Alhaji Koro said, “We’ll miss his care, funding of education of the young ones, his teachings on how to live peacefully with people, among many other things.
“Permit me to tell you that Baba trained me and also sent me abroad to further my study. In addition, he single-handedly financed my hajj trip and I also went on lesser hajj (umrah) 25 times through his support.
“Also, several members of the family and even his students benefitted immensely from his kind gesture. He trained many students and financed their education up to doctorate degree.
“Now that he is no more, our fear is that, how can we cope with all the responsibilities he left behind?
“Baba helped several family members to become landlords and even those that are not his relatives. I can count about 20 people who now have homes of their own courtesy of him,” he divulged.
He added that the cleric’s sincerity made the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari to endorse him as one of the most honest Islamic scholars around.
Also, speaking with our reporter on the telephone, a friend of the deceased, Gen (Rtd) Abdullahi Adangba described Al-Korowy’s death as shocking adding that they spoke at length recently.
“We do speak intermittently and the other time that I told him may Allah spare our lives, he said only God knows who will die first. Unknown to me, death was already knocking at his door,” Adangba lamented.
He however described the scholar as a honest and fearless friend who led a life in line with the teachings of the Holy Quran.
Meanwhile, the fidau for the deceased will come up 10am on Wednesday with the Chief Imam of Ilorin, Alh. Mohammed Bashir Solihu expected to lead other Muslim clerics at the event.
Born in 1927, the late Al-Korowy started his Arabic education at Koro Compound at Sheikh Sulaiman Aminullahi before proceeding to Oke Apomu area where he learnt how to write Arabic words.
In 1975, he established his Arabic school and has graduated 39 sets. The scholar built one of his Arabic schools at Koro compound and another Arabic secondary school at Gaa-Osibi, Ilorin West Local Government Area of the state.
Several students of his Arabic school have graduated from universities in Egypt, Malaysia among other countries.
The deceased is survived by four wives and 15 children.
