The Painful Death Of Our Teacher, Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari Gusau!
By Imam Murtadha Gusau
Saturday, October 24, 2026
In the Name of Allah, the Most Compassionate, the Most Merciful
All praise is due to Allah, and may blessings and peace be upon the Messenger of Allah, his family, and all his Companions.
Inna lillahi wa inna ilaihi raji’un: To Allah we belong and to Him we shall return!
Allahummah ajirna fi musibati na, wa akhlif lana khairan minha!!
Inna lillahi ma akhaza, wa lahu ma a’ta, wa kullu shai’in indahu bi ajalin musamma, faltasbir waltahtasib!!!
Dear brothers and sisters! The passing of our great teacher, Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari Gusau is not merely the loss of a man; it is the dimming of a beacon, the closing of a treasury of sacred knowledge, and a profound fracture in the hearts of his students and the Ummah. When a scholar dies, a whole world die with them, yet their legacy remains an unquenchable light.
The horizon of Gusau feels empty today. The earth itself seems to walk with a heavier burden, mourning a man who spent his life lifting the burdens of others through the light of the Qur’an and the Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).
The death of a teacher is a unique heartbreak. It is a psychological and emotional displacement; the sudden absence of a spiritual compass. Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari was a fortress of certainty in an age of doubt. His voice did not just transmit information; it mended broken spirits, awakened dormant consciences, and anchored souls to the Divine.
The pain we feel is real, but it is also a testament to the value of what he planted within us. A tree is known by its fruit, and a scholar is known by the hearts he transformed. He has finished his race and returned to his Lord. The ink of his teachings is now dry, but the pages must now live through us.
Respected brothers and sisters! Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari Gusau was a respected Islamic scholar, teacher, and Imam based in Gusau, Zamfara State, Nigeria, known for his contributions to Islamic education, Shari’ah, and Islamic jurisprudence (Fiqh).
He was an eminent elder statesman, religious leader, and scholar who taught Islamic knowledge, mentored students, and guided the Muslim Ummah in Zamfara State.
He passed away yesterday Friday, October 23, 2026, after an illness, with funeral prayers held at his residence in Birnin Ruwa area, Gusau, which I attended.
Condolences were offered by public figures, community leaders and Islamic bodies, recognising his lifelong service to Islamic scholarship and propagation.
He was widely respected as a dedicated Islamic teacher, mentor, mufti, counselor, and scholar specialising in Fiqh, Islamic jurisprudence, serving the Gusau Emirate and the broader Muslim Ummah in Zamfara State. Condolences have poured in from community members, Islamic scholars, and political figures.
Dear servants of Allah! Our hearts bleed, and our eyes weep for the departure of our beloved father and teacher, Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari Gusau. The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) warned us:
“Verily, Allah does not take away knowledge by snatching it from the hearts of the people, but He takes away knowledge by taking away the lives of the religious scholars.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari]
With the passing of the Sheikh, a door of direct guidance has shut. But listen closely: the death of the teacher must not mean the death of the teaching!
● He taught us Patience
Let us bear this decree with beautiful patience, the Sabrun Jamil.
● He taught us Sincerity
Let us purify our intentions and act upon what he taught.
● He taught us Devotion
Let us stand in the night and beg Allah to grant him the highest stations of Al-Firdaus.
Ya Allah! Forgive our Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari. Expand his grave, illuminate his resting place, and gather us with him under the banner of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him)!
This is an activational wake-up call to every student who sat at his feet, every soul that was moved by his lectures, and everyone who witnessed his beautiful character.
Do not let his voice fall silent.
The greatest honour you can give to Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari is to become a living extension of his Sadaqah Jariyah, the ceaseless charity.
● Revive his lessons
Teach what he taught you, even if it is a single verse or a single etiquette.
● Emulate his character
If he was patient, be patient. If he was generous with his time, give your time to the Ummah.
● Protect his legacy
Document his knowledge, share his reminders, and keep his name alive on the tongues of the Muslim believers.
He has laid the foundation. The bricks are now in your hands. Do not let the fortress crumble.
Imagine the scene: an empty chair, a closed book of Hadith, and a prayer mat that still remembers the weight of a man prostrating in the dead of night. Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari spent his days rushing toward the service of Allah’s religion, and now, his soul has rushed back to its Creator.
Think of the moments you sat in his presence—the warmth of his smile, the gravity of his reminders, the way his heart broke when mentioning the struggles of the Ummah. The pain of his departure is a sharp reminder that this world is temporary. It is a bridge, not a destination.
He has crossed the bridge. He has met the hardships of life with faith, and now he rests. As you weep for his absence, let your tears transform into a quiet, burning resolve to live a life worthy of being called his student.
● Make it a daily habit to pray for his forgiveness and elevation in Jannah.
● Share his knowledge, forward his audio recordings, quotes, or notes to others.
● Support his family, check on his loved ones and offer your strength, presence, and support.
● Take one specific piece of advice he gave you personally and implement it permanently in your life today.
May Allah Almighty wrap Sheikh Abubakar Aliyu Fari Gusau in His infinite mercy, forgive his shortcomings, accept his monumental efforts for Islam, and grant you and his entire Ummah the strength to carry his light forward.
Allahummaghfir lahu warhamhu, wa ‘afihi wa‘fu ‘anhu, wa akrim nuzulahu, wa wassi‘ mudkhalahu, waghsilhu bil-ma’i wath-thalji wal-barad, wa naqqihi minal-khataya kama naqqaitath-thawbal-abyada minad-danas, wa abdilhu daran khairan min darihi, wa ahlan khairan min ahlihi, wa adkhilhul-jannah, wa a‘izhu min ‘azabil-qabr wa min ‘azabin-nar, amin Ya Hayyu Ya Qayyum.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds. May the peace, blessings and salutations of Allah be upon our noble Messenger, Muhammad, and upon his family, his Companions and his true followers.
Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761 or +2348024192217.