THE death of the provost of the Imam Malik College of Shariah and Legal Studies, Jegede, Ibadan, Oyo State, Dr Fahmi Bin Zouhair ElHalabi, has been described as a monumental loss to students of knowledge and the entire Muslim Ummah.
This was contained in the tributes of clerics, former associates, staff and students of the college after an absentee funeral prayer (Salat al-Gha’ib) for the deceased at the college premises in Ibadan.
The Director, Good People Charity Foundation, Nigeria, Dr Ahmad Olayiwola, who led the prayer, said Dr Bin Zouhair ElHalabi had prepared for the hereafter with the institution of Sadaqh Jariyah (charity whose reward continues after a person dies).
According to Dr Ahmad Olayiwola, the deceased imparted knowledge to students, gave scholarships to orphans, facilitated several mosque, borehole, well and classroom projects, gave alms continuously, cared for widows and carried out other rewarding deeds in his lifetime.
“Dr Bin Zouhair ElHalabi’s lifestyle taught us to prepare for death with good deeds at all times so that we could enjoy eternal bliss. We beseech Allah to be pleased with his return, and uphold the college,” Olayiwola said.
The Proprietor, Mahadun Najahil Islami, Ibadan, Sheikh Abdulwaheed Abdulhameed, who was a teacher in the college for 10 years under Dr Bin Zouhair ElHalabi, described the deceased as a good boss, mentor and a strong pillar for students and teachers.
Sheikh Abdulhameed said the departed, as a selfless being, sacrificed a lot for the college, for which he was deployed in Nigeria by the Haramain Foundation, Saudi Arabia.
The Chief Imam of Lead City University, Ibadan, Dr Abdurahman Olalekan Muhammadul-Awwal, said the late philanthropist was a progressive administrator who was passionate about human advancement.
A former Deputy Provost, Imam Malik College of Shariah and Legal Studies, Ibadan and Proprietor, Arabian Schools, Omi-Adio, Ibadan, Dr Muhammad-Lawal Musa Alongbija, said Sheikh Bin Zouhair ElHalabi was a benefactor to many. He prayed Allah to reward him for the legacies he bequeathed to humanity.
“Dr Bin Zouhair ElHalabi was a reasonable valuer of intelligence whom I emulate in official administration. He was a rare Arab with positive socialisation,” Dr Alongbija said,
Ustaz Masud Olawale Busoiry, who lectured for 17 years at Imam Malik College of Shariah and Legal Studies, Ibadan, said Dr Bin Zouhair exemplified the ideal in word and action.
He called the deceased a builder of men who was known for his contributions to the betterment of many in different aspects of life.
Bin Zouhair ElHalabi (1967-2024) was a Palestinian Arab born in Lebanon. He was the provost of the Imam Malik College of Shariah and Legal Studies, Jegede, Ibadan, from 2003 until his death Thursday last week in Turkey during a brief illness.
He was instrumental in the construction of over 1,000 mosques, drilling of boreholes and wells in various communities, building of offices, classrooms for Islamic institutes, free iftar during Ramadan, empowerment of widow and awards of scholarships to indigent students and orphans, among other legacy projects across Nigeria.
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