Late Alhaji Chief Imam Arazim Idowu Alaaya, The Worldwide Missioner/ Chief Imam of the Ansarud-deen Society of Nigeria. (December 21st 1972 to 23 of April 2002).
Alhaji Arazim Alaaya was born in 1930, in Ilorin. He became member of the Ansar-Ud-deen Society of Nigeria on 18th February 1958 and enrolled in Division 1. He was between 1958 to 1964 a Arabic Teacher and later rose to the position of principal of Arabic School of the society then situated at Apongbon street in 1960. He also introduced he Walimot ceremony and the award of Certificate to successful students. The first Walimot ceremony was marked on the 31st December 1959.
He was awarded scholarship by the society to study lslamic Theology. He left for Cairo Egypt in 1963 and studied at Al-Azhar University Cairo where he graduated with B.A. in Theology and Philosophy, He returned to Nigeria in 1969 to dedicate himself to the services of Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria and Almighty Allah.
With the spirit of dedication behind his mind, he proved himself as an lslamic Scholar and a dedicated worker. As such, he was promoted to the position of National Missioner of the Society in 1972. On 25th August 1974 he received the instrument of office as National Missioner, Chief lmam and Chairman, Mission Board, Ansar-ud-deen Society of Nigeria Lagos Branch.
Between 1974 and 1980 pilgrimage, Saudi Arabian Government appointed him as a Preacher in Jeddah, Mecca, Munna and Arafat. Upon the death of late Alhaji Chief lmam/Missioner, M.K Ekemode missioner of the Society, it was the general belief that the society had lost it’s spiritual life wire as late Chief lmam had through his beautiful sermon coupled with his melodious voice had placed the name of the society in the map of Nigeria as the name Ansar-ud-deen had become very popular among muslims and christian alike, not knowing that the Society also had a hidden talent in the person of Alhaji Chief lmam Alaaya who became the National Missioner.
Ansarudeen Central Mosque, Ikire.
A Personal Encounter With Imam Alaaya (May Allah Have Mercy Upon Him).
During our secondary school days in the early eighties, Ansarudeen society of Nigeria, Lagos State branch organized holiday educational training program for Muslim students on vacation and Islamic scholars were invited to deliver lectures on different topics in Islam.
We were very fortunate to have our amiable imam, the then Chief Missioner of Ansarudeen society of Nigeria, Imam Arazim Alaaya as one of our invited lecturers for he was loved by all, old and young alike.
He delivered a lecture on the importance of mothers in the life of a child. His presentation was very simple, detailed and touching. He described all the experiences of a mother during pregnancy, delivery and breastfeeding. All the sufferings, pains and sacrifices that every mother goes through to raise a child successfully.
At the peak of his lecture, he described how mothers readily suck out mucus from the blocked nostrils of her baby so that the baby can breathe well. At this point, he broke down in tears in front of us – a class of small children. This was a very touching and memorable event for me at that early stage of life.
May Allah forgive him and have mercy upon him and grant him a lofty abode in the highest Firdaws. Amin.
Dr. Fuad-deen Olabisi Kekere-ekun
writes from Lagos, Nigeria.
Related:
Chief Imaam Mustafaa Kasumu Ekemode’s Biography, 1898–1972
Islamic University Of Madinah Honors Prof Abdul Majeed Alaro
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One comment on “Remembering The Imam Of The People : Chief Imam Alaaya”
Muhammad Alaaya
November 9, 2022 at 11:40 amJazakhum lahu khairan for this piece and reminder of who our father was as a spiritual leader.
This year marks 20 years of his departure from this earth and we are marking it with lots of prayers and islamic lectures from different Islamic Scholars at the Ilorin family House, Alaaya Compound in Kwara State on the 24th of December, 2022.
You are all cordially invited. May Allah continue to bless everyone of us and allow His deen to continue spreading.
Masha Allah