Muhammed, chief imam of national mosque, dies at 68

Musa Muhammed, the chief imam of the Abuja national mosque, has died at the age of 68.

Ishaq Oloyede, secretary-general of the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), announced the passing on of Muhammed in a statement in Ibadan, capital of Oyo state, on Saturday.

The statement said Muhammed died during a brief illness at the national hospital, Abuja.

It added that there would be prayers for him at the national mosque, Abuja, by 10 am on Sunday.

“On behalf of the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saád Abubakar III, Oloyede condoled with the Muslim community on the death of Musa Muhammed,” the statement read.

In its condolence message, the Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria (MMPN), described Muhammed as someone blessed with knowledge.

Abdur-Rahman Balogun, chairman of NMPN, said the Muslim community had lost a great scholar whose wealth of knowledge was a blessing to the Muslim community.

“This is really sad, coming less than two months to the holy month of Ramadan where the Imam personally conducted Tafsir sessions for Muslim men and women, including weekly sermons,” Balogun said in a statement.

Muhammed was born on April 11, 1947 and hailed from Jos north in Plateau state.

He is survived by four wives and 14 children.