Life, preaching, death – Daily Trust

From Abdullahi Izma Yamadi, Ibrahim Musa Giginyu, Katsina & Dalhatu Liman, Abuja

The homicide of Katsina-based Islamic cleric, Sheikh Yahaya Ibrahim Masussuka, has stirred feelings and sparked conversations across the life and occasions of a well-liked preacher seen by way of completely different lenses.

To his military of followers, he embodied peace, dignity and tolerance for spiritual variations. To his critics, he was a controversial scholar whose spiritual ideology and preaching had been questionable.

Masussuka was shot useless alongside his affiliate, Adamu Abubakar, on Monday night in entrance of his home at Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, in an assault claimed by the extremist group, Ansaru.

Amnesty International has known as on the Nigerian authorities to conduct a radical investigation into the killing and make sure that these accountable are delivered to justice.

The 47-year-old cleric subscribed to and preached Quranic teachings, however, to larger extent, disregarded Hadith, the sayings and practices of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) – a stance that positioned him at variance along with his critics.

He alleged that a number of Hadiths being attributed to the Prophet weren’t from him, saying they had been concocted by some folks out of mischief.

Masussuka reportedly started preaching on the tender age of 13 and rose to prominence with the arrival of social media, by way of which he established himself as some of the vocal clerics among the many Qur’aniyun Islamic sect.

Through his energetic social media platforms, his preaching gained extra recognition, more and more attracting consideration from different sects with completely different ideologies. Masussuka’s elevated visibility drew controversies round his ideology.

One main controversy surrounding Masussuka’s teachings and beliefs revolved round his rejection of sure Hadith traditions as authorities and types of spiritual observe.

According to different sects, his doctrine that solely the Qur’an serves because the gateway to spiritual observe goes opposite to a bigger perception that each the Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Prophet are central sources of Islamic steering. Disagreements over his ideology grew to become extra pronounced and his teachings had been challenged on a number of events.

Though disagreement on the interpretation and authority of Hadith has lengthy existed amongst Muslim students, Masussuka’s distinctive stance on the matter positioned him at odds with students who thought-about his teachings inconsistent with established Islamic traditions.

Amid rising scrutiny of his preaching, the Katsina State Government, on November 18, 2025, introduced that Masussuka can be required to defend his teachings earlier than a committee of Islamic students established based mostly on the a number of calls.

The assembly, nonetheless, didn’t see the sunshine of day resulting from undisclosed circumstances, as he continued to problem different sects that go in opposition to his ideologies.

Sources near the late cleric revealed that his doctrine attracted a number of death threats, however he didn’t take them severely as he restrained his followers from reacting.

His killing has left many questions amid renewed concern over the security of clerics throughout the northern area.

Masussuka’s homicide was not the primary within the North. Over the years, outstanding Islamic clerics like late Sheikh Umaru Dan Me Shiyya, Sheikh Jafar Mahmud Adam and Sheikh Auwal Albani Zaria had been all victims of cold-blooded homicide.

A day after his killing, Boko Haram breakaway group, Ansaru, took duty for the assault in a viral audio clip.

A safety analyst, Dr Audu Bulama Bukarti, additionally linked the cleric’s killing to Ansaru, noting that the launched audio had been confirmed to be from the Ansaru group. But Masussuka’s household has rejected the declare and questioned the authenticity of the audio.

Childhood

The late cleric was born in Yauyau village within the present-day Batsari Local Government Area to a household of pastoralists. His dad and mom relocated to Masussuka in Ningi Local Government Area of Bauchi State when he was a toddler.

He began his Qur’anic schooling in Masussuka village earlier than he left for different cities and villages and returned to Katsina seeking Islamic data.

He attended the Arabic Teachers College in Katsina, however dropped out and went to Malam Zakariya Qur’anic School in Sabuwar Unguwa space of the state.

Malam Ismail Zakariya, the son of his late trainer (Malam Zakariya) and proprietor of the varsity, instructed Weekend Trust that the cleric stayed on the faculty for about seven years earlier than he relocated to Dutsin-Ma city.

According to Ismail, Masussuka, moreover his persistent pursuit of Islamic data, was extremely entrepreneurial, dealing in conventional medicines (native herbs) to maintain himself and his household.

He recalled the late cleric was arrested on the peak of Boko Haram in 2000, on the suspicion that he had hyperlinks with some terror teams. He was later absolved of the allegation and launched unconditionally.

“My father, Malam Zakariya, engaged the security agency then and secured his release. The allegation prevented Masussuka from securing a house in Katsina City and he decided to leave Katsina for Dutsin-Ma,” Ismail stated.

Ismail acknowledged that those that disagreed with Masussuka’s preaching achieve this for egocentric causes.

He stated, “Everyone is aware of the Qur’an is one scripture that can’t be altered, however what issues is the interpretation relying on how one views it and the character of the viewers.

“Hadith is the one level of competition between the Qur’aniyyun sect and the Muslims from the opposite sects and even those that imagine in Hadith have admitted that some are prescribed as weak and others as real and authenticated.

“To me, the approach Masussuka adopted in explaining and interpreting those portions during preachings earned him more enemies than followers, but beyond that, there is nothing different from what other Muslim scholars preached,” he stated.

Sheikh Yahaya Bani Adam, who hosted Masussuka in Dutsin-Ma city and taught him, narrated how the late cleric began his preaching as a younger scholar who devoted his youth to buying Islamic data and preaching peace, unity and spiritual tolerance.

“From the time he came to Dutsin-Ma town up to the time he was assassinated, he remained my student. He respected me as a teacher and a father,” Adam stated.

According to him, many students who opposed Masussuka’s preaching did so “out of hatred for the truth.”

According to him, “he may be wrong in his approach to presentation or interpretation as a human being, but I can tell you for free that Masussuka never compromised, saying things as they are and that could be the reason he earned more enemies. This, notwithstanding, we celebrate the truth he preached,” Adam added.

Adam, who stated he has spent over 40 years as a Qur’anic faculty trainer, described Masussuka as a bridge builder between not solely Islamic sects but in addition different religions, citing his relationship with Christian communities in Dutsin-Ma and throughout the nation.

“I do know Masussuka as a superb planner and somebody who likes to execute his plans in line with specs. He was additionally a person of knowledge. He established two faculties in Dutsin-Ma. One purely focuses on educating the Islamic faith, whereas the opposite focuses on each formal and non-formal schooling.

“What keeps coming to my mind is Masussuka’s persistent pursuit of education and his willingness to impart the same to younger generations. This means his legacy is everlasting and worthy of emulation,” he stated.

‘Last moment with my husband’

The spouse of the late cleric, Hajiya Fatima, recalled that Masussuka had reminded her of the oneness of Allah earlier than he stepped out on the fateful day, including that shortly afterwards, she heard gunshots.

She stated, “On that fateful day, my husband went out for his routine and returned late in the evening around 6:00 pm. A few minutes later, he went out for the evening prayer (Magrib) and returned around 7:00pm. We stayed together for some minutes as he spoke to me about life and death, fear of Allah and the Judgement Day.”

Fatima, who fought again tears all through the interview with Weekend Trust, defined that her husband was ambushed and killed after he left for his studio the place he often preached.

“He spoke to me about the oneness of Allah before he left home. Shortly after he left, I heard about four gunshots. Then I received the news that he had been killed. I pray that Allah forgives his shortcomings and grants him Aljannah Firdausi,” she added.

Fatima appealed to the state authorities and all different related authorities to fish out and prosecute Masussuka’s killers.

“My husband’s life has been terminated and he’s gone ceaselessly. Those who assassinated him will certainly meet the wrath of the Almighty Allah, who’s the last word Judge,’ she lamented.

Muhammadu Sabi’u, Masussuka’s deputy, described his killing as inhumane, however urged all followers to stay calm, assuring that authorities are doing their finest to carry the perpetrators to justice.

Sabi’u stated he spent over 25 years underneath the slain cleric, saying Masussuka died preaching peace and uniting Muslims and non-Muslims in service to humanity.

“I imagine the slain sheikh is a pious one that lived a life worthy of emulation by all. One factor I’ll always remember is that for about 25 years I spent underneath Masussuka, we by no means argued for as soon as. He personally facilitated my memorisation of the Holy Qur’an.

“Sheikh has left a mark that will remain indelible in the minds of the people of Dutsin-Ma due to his contributions to the development of the community, ranging from his support for education to empowering the underprivileged people,” he stated.

Malam Bello Danwaire, who was the slain cleric’s finest pal, stated they’d been collectively since childhood, including that he facilitated Masussuka’s relocation from Bauchi State to Katsina and eventually to Dutsin-Ma city.

“We were together a few minutes to his assassination at a condolence visit where he personally preached the oneness of Allah. He also visited a sick friend on Sunday before the heartbreaking news of his killing. I have never been devastated like this, but we’re not weakened by his death,” Danwaire stated.

According to him, “those who complained about the sheikh’s preaching did so out of envy, not because they have reasons for doing so.”

Katsina gov, ADC mourn

Meanwhile, the Katsina State Governor, Dikko Umaru Radda, has condemned the killing, describing it as tragic and assuring residents that safety businesses would work to carry these accountable to justice.

In a condolence message issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Ibrahim Kaula Mohammed, the governor described Masussuka as a voice for peaceable coexistence and interfaith concord.

Radda stated the cleric was identified for his Qur’an-centred teachings and opposition to violent extremism and radicalisation.

“Those behind this heinous act must be brought to justice. I urge the relevant security agencies to conduct a thorough investigation and ensure that the perpetrators face the full weight of the law,” the governor stated.

He urged residents to stay calm, cooperate with safety businesses and supply credible data that would help the investigation. He additionally warned in opposition to actions able to escalating tensions or undermining public peace.

The governor prayed for Allah to forgive the deceased, grant him Aljannatul Firdaus and provides his household, associates and the Muslim neighborhood the energy to bear the loss.

In an analogous vein, the African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate within the state, Senator Babba Kaita, condoled with Masussuka’s household.

In an announcement signed by his spokesperson, Abubakar Ahmed, Kaita lamented that “the murder of Sheikh Masussuka in the open has further exposed the ever-weakening fight against insecurity by the state government in particular and by the APC-led administration in general.”

He famous that the federal government is doing little in assembly the essential constitutional necessities of defending the lives and property of the citizenry.

Burial

Thousands of mourners yesterday thronged Katsina metropolis to pay their final respects to the slain cleric. The mourners included relations, mates, associates, outstanding Islamic students, authorities officers, conventional rulers, enterprise associates and followers who travelled from completely different elements of Nigeria and neighbouring international locations to attend his funeral.

The funeral prayer was held on the Katsina Central Mosque within the Kofar Soro space, close to the Emir’s Palace.

Weekend Trust gathered that the funeral attracted followers and associates from inside and out of doors Nigeria, together with Niger Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Ghana and Burkina Faso.

Shortly after the funeral prayer, his stays had been taken to the Abattoir Cemetery in Katsina metropolis for burial.

The roughly four-kilometre journey from the Central Mosque to the cemetery was overwhelmed by mourners, with massive crowds filling the roads.

Speaking to Weekend Trust after the burial, some mourners described his death as devastating, saying his affect prolonged past Katsina State and Nigeria.

A mourner from Kano, Musa Ameer, stated, “We are devastated. It is difficult to believe that Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka is no longer with us. We came here hoping to see him, but instead, we have come to bury him. This is a painful day for all of us. May Allah forgive him and grant him Aljannatul Firdaus,” he stated.

Another mourner, Bashir Al-Muntawi, who travelled from Chad to attend the funeral, stated the deceased’s death had left him heartbroken.

“I cannot explain the pain in my heart. We have lost someone who meant so much to us. His family has lost a husband and father, while his followers have lost someone they looked up to. Nothing can replace him, but we pray that Allah gives his family the strength to bear this irreparable loss,” he stated.

Similarly, Yusuf Usman from Maska stated the big turnout on the funeral demonstrated the variety of lives the late cleric had touched throughout his lifetime.

Planned peace gathering holds as we speak

Late Masussuka was planning a maiden version of a peace gathering, however was killed barely days earlier than the gathering scheduled for October 31.

Before his death, late Masussuka had been visiting spiritual leaders, particularly the Christians, and had obtained a number of honours from numerous Christian teams in his bid to advocate for spiritual tolerance, particularly within the North.

One of his associates, Iman Rasheed, instructed Weekend Trust that the occasion can be held on Saturday (as we speak) as deliberate.

In one of many movies the place Masussuka spoke concerning the peace gathering, he stated the occasion was aimed toward reviving peaceable coexistence that used to exist between spiritual teams.

“Islam within the Qur’an teaches us that Christianity is a faith of compassion and Islam is a faith of mercy. Therefore, compassion and mercy are related and have to be upheld. It is unlucky and shameful to us to see how far now we have drifted from the educating of the Qur’an to the extent that different nations had been threatening us based mostly on our spiritual intolerance.

“That is why I felt it is a duty upon me to revive the peace we once enjoyed by hosting a peace gathering as a way to tell the younger ones that there is a need to live in peace with each other. That way, the government will be able to execute all the good things we need instead of concentrating on settling religious differences,” he stated.

He additionally revealed that the gathering was his initiative and can be executed with out the help of the federal government, teams or international donors.

Comments on Masussuka from the social media

A social analyst, Gimba Kakanda, wrote: I’m simply studying concerning the assassination of Sheikh Yahaya Masussuka, some of the refreshing and intellectually stimulating Muslim clerics Nigeria has seen lately. His death has left a vacuum I don’t see being crammed anytime quickly. He was terribly completely different and brave, an uncompromising advocate of non secular tolerance and a society through which folks of various beliefs may coexist peacefully. He was additionally unafraid to ask probing questions on religion and problem imposed dogmas. I’m, to say the least, devastated and frightened by what this says about this harmful place we name our area. May Allah forgive his shortcomings, grant him everlasting relaxation and luxury his family members.

Another analyst merely generally known as Aminu, stated: The lifetime of Sheikh Masussuka is an unfulfilled life, marred with confusion, worry and histrionism.

Anyone that adopted him diligently should have seen his sudden transformation, from somebody criticising something that’s not within the Qur’an, to a cherry picker, whose sole intention wasn’t to sentence what’s not within the Qur’an, however reasonably to insult the Izala sect.

His death proves nothing however our horrible safety scenario. If a scholar like Masussuka might be taken down with such ease, what then turns into of an extraordinary man?

Abdulrazak Ibrahim wrote on his Facebook web page and it was reposted by a journalist and writer of Daily Nigerian, Jaafar Jaafar. Part of his assertion was: He was not with out humour. When folks mocked him, he may mock them again with equal vigour, utilizing acquainted Hausa expressions and metaphors that made his audiences snort and assume.

Yet he was cautious along with his phrases, difficult his opponents whereas navigating the authorized pitfalls that might be used to silence him.

For many, he created an area the place tough philosophical questions on faith might be explored with out surrendering to worry. An area the place one may ask, “Why do we believe this?” with out instantly being accused of abandoning religion. That, to me, is a part of his enduring legacy.

Some might marvel why I concern myself with these questions. It is feasible to disregard them and go about one’s enterprise. But as somebody who works in improvement, I’ve lengthy believed that the concepts governing a society form what that society is ready to develop into.

Development has many causes: management, establishments, funding, schooling and historical past all matter. But a society that daunts questioning, punishes curiosity and teaches its younger folks to worry completely different concepts additionally holds itself again intellectually. It weakens the very habits of inquiry, openness and self-criticism wanted to confront its issues and picture a greater future.

This is one cause I’ve continued to talk. The area Masussuka helped open issues past theology. It issues to our progress as a folks, in Northern Nigeria and throughout Africa.

To our younger folks, I say this with a grieving coronary heart: you can not win an argument by ending a life.

If you imagine somebody is flawed, problem the thought. Bring your proof. Read, pay attention, debate and persuade.