Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar

By Abdullahi Muhammad

Renowned US-based Islamic scholar Dr. Yasir Qadhi paid a visit to Dr. Muhammad Sanusi II, the Emir of Kano, at his royal palace. Accompanying Dr. Qadhi was the esteemed Shaykh Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar.

During the visit, Dr Qadhi, who has delivered a sermon and lectures across Nigeria in the last few days, presented one of his scholarly works to the Emir as a gesture of intellectual camaraderie. 

Dr Qadhi acknowledges that Emir Sanusi II was widely respected as both a traditional leader and an academic. Sanusi holds multiple degrees in economics and Islamic law, reflecting his dedication to scholarship and his role as a revered political figure.

The meeting highlighted the shared commitment of all parties to fostering intellectual and spiritual growth within the Muslim community. 

Dr. Qadhi expressed his admiration for the Emir’s leadership and intellectual pursuits, while the Emir extended his gratitude for the thoughtful visit and gift.

By Isma’il Hashim Abubakar 

Dr. Bashir Aliyu Umar was the second teacher whose tafsir I did not miss not only this year’s Ramadan but also many years ago. I had the privilege of attending the tafsir personally several times, which was conducted at Al-Furqān Mosque at GRA, Kano before I left Nigeria five years ago. Dr. Bashir’s erudition and dexterity in addressing contemporary issues that were paraded to him while using sophisticated jurisprudential techniques are enough credentials to attract listeners and students like me.

Additionally, I personally cherished the tafsir session because whenever I heard Malam Sa’idu Harun, the recitation assistant (mai jan baki), it reminded me of Shaykh Ja’far’s tafsir which always proved unique with the recitation of Malam Sa’idu. Dr Bashir’s tafsir would appeal to intellectuals and listeners with a background in Western education. 

Dr Bashir explained verses which mention scientific and universal phenomena excellently and more lucidly. Atheists would find the correct answers to many of their questions and clear up many misconceptions through the exegetical exercises undertaken by Dr Bashir. Drawing on a view of the late Shaykh Isa Waziri on a similar issue, Dr. Bashir, in one of his tafsir sessions, argued that Nigerians are likely robbed of divine bounties similar to what befell the inhabitants of Saba’. 

Dr Bashir is an extraordinarily easygoing and calm person, so much so that at times, he allowed his recitation assistant to decide which question he would respond to either due to its substance or when there was no time and the recitation assistant was eager to fill the venue with his sonorous voice. 

I was surprised, however, when during the closing session of this year’s tafsir on the 28th day of Ramadan, Dr Bashir refused to answer a question about the legal status of bleaching in Islam, which, according to the questioner, has been said to be lawful by some scholars. Dr Bashir’s refusal to respond to the question elicited the interest of the audience to unanimously thundered “Allahu Akbar”, which left a suggestion that the answer to the question was well known to everyone and it might have just been posed to trigger needless, belated controversy. Unlike many scholars, Dr Bashir does not bother to ask new converts if they were forced or they willingly chose and decided to embrace Islam. 

One of the unique episodes with which Dr Bashir’s final tafsir has been characterised for some years is the courtesy visit of his nonagenarian father to bless the occasion and, at times, make sobering reflections on some of the clerical trajectories of his scholar-son. To my knowledge, only Dr Bashir is continuously lucky to have his aged and royal figure father appear during his tafsir and publicly endorse his son’s venture.

Isma’il writes from Rabat and is reachable via ismailiiit18@gmail.com.

By Uzair Adam Imam

The Vice-Chancellor of Bayero University, Kano (BUK), Prof. Sagir Adamu Abbas, has commended the new book lesson started by the quintessential West African Islamic scholar, Dr Sani Umar R/Lemo at the university’s new Friday Mosque in the new campus on Wednesday, February 9, 2022.

Prof. Abbas made this remark during the first lesson of the book “Alfawa’id” By Ibnul Qayyim Aljauziyya, which will be taking place on Wednesdays, saying that the plan had been in the pipeline over the years.

He stated that the intent was to shape the thought of the youth through the provision of knowledge for peaceful coexistence.

He said, “Going by the general belief that youth are the hope of the future for any given society, we don’t have a future if our youth go astray. It is also part of our plan to provide an Islamic Centre that will be providing members of the public with a fatwa concerning the issue of a time.”

The VC added that “[In our effort to achieve] all this, I had to contact our great teacher, Prof. Sani Zahraddeen, who was a former Vice-Chancellor of this university, for advice.”

However, Prof. Abbas also promised that efforts to provide a similar lesson at the Old Campus of the University are on top gear.

Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, the chief Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque, is tipped to commence a new book lesson.

Commenting, Sheikh Umar Sani Rijiyar Lemo commended the effort of the Vice-Chancellor, saying the university is blessed with such a leader.

Head of Information and Media Studies Department, Dr Nura Ibrahim, who is also the secretary of the Mosque Committee, has urged people to cooperate.

By Hussaina Sufyan Ahmed

The Imam of Al-Furqan Mosque of Nassarawa G.R.A, Kano, Sheikh Dr Bashir Aliyu Umar, said that during a lecture at the Faculty of Arts and Environmental Sciences, Bayero University, Kano, today, January 19, 2022. 

Dr Bashir lectured on “Islamic perspective on the drivers and ways to mitigate global environmental change”. He further explained the basis of maintaining environmental cleanliness as Muslims, citing Quranic verses and hadith. 

He said: “Islam asserts itself as a universal religion – through reaching people, geographical spheres and historical applicability.”

The former chairman of Kano State Council of Ulama, Sheikh Ibrahim Khalil, was among other scholars who attended the event. He also contributed to the seminar.

He added, “The upholding of environmental protection and maintenance of one’s environment leads to healthy wellbeing and sanity. On the other hand, a lack of environmental protection and maintenance leads to sickness, irrational thinking and poor focus by the people around such environment.”

The lecture was part of the Talking Environment Seminar Series organised by the Faculty periodically.