PROF. YUSUF O. ALI, SAN: PAY BACK TIME

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori 

11th April 2025

The best thing is to place things where they deserve to be and to give honour whomever it is due. A typical example of this is the Emir of Ilorin, Mai Martaba, HRH Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Sulugambari CFR honouring Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN with the title Kuliya of Ilorin Emirate. Prof had gotten numerous awards and honours in the past but this particular one is exceptionally unique because of its source and the royal flavour. 

According to Abubakar Imam, the traditional title "Kuliya" means "The Pinnacle of the Law" that is synonymous to "Bamofin" (Encyclopedia of Law) in Yorubaland. I heard from a reliable source that Malam has never been this excited. By Allāh, he deserves to be. Malam has paid his dues. He has been exceptional in his professional, spiritual and humanitarian efforts. This is pay back time for the great legal luminary and philanthropist of our time. May Allāh continue to bless him.

I have known the name "Yusuf Ali" since childhood because of the close relationship between Prof. Yusuf Olaolu Ali, SAN and my father since their MSSN days. Up till today, it is hard to find an event organized by our family that he will not attend and participate actively. Even if he does not attend, there will be a genuine excuse for his absence and he will do the needful as encouraged by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. This is how Malam has been to all his friends and associates. He is humble, kind and highly thorough.

Malam is not only lovely, he equally has a lovely family. The legacies of our mother, Hajia Fawziyah Ali will always be in our memories. My younger brother and I attended the same primary school (Ajoke Model Nursery and Primary School) with their children - Ni'mah, Bārakah, Surūrah and Yusuf and they are lovely too. We used to stay in Hajia's shop at Taiwo behind Owoniboys building after closing time. She used to feed us whenever Alhaji was a bit late to pick us. The news of her death about 20 years ago came with great shock to everyone. It was a great test for Malam and everyone around the beautiful family. My Mum cannot forget her. She is always praying for her whenever we remember her. May Allāh forgive and have mercy on her. 

There are many things to say about the 1st Kuliya of Ilorin Emirate but I do not intend to make this article to be too long. 

One of the lessons we can learn from this great personality is the need to prioritize Islām in everything we do. No matter how highly placed you are in society, always note that your first identity and constituency is Islām. This is how Malam Yusuf Ali SAN is and his friends from the old MSSN are. You will always find them in the forefront of promoting Islām. The added advantage he has over his friends is the blessing of wealth that he spends in the course of Allāh. Whenever he comes to my mind, I reflect on the Hadith where some companions رضي الله عنهم said regarding their fellow companions who were blessed with wealth. They said:

ذَهَبَ أَهْلُ الدُّثُورِ بِالْأُجُورِ، يُصَلُّونَ كَمَا نُصَلِّي، وَيَصُومُونَ كَمَا نَصُومُ، وَيَتَصَدَّقُونَ بِفُضُولِ أَمْوَالِهِمْ، 

O Messenger of Allah, the wealthy have taken all the rewards. They pray as we pray, fast as we fast, and give charity from their surplus wealth. [Sahih Muslim - 1006

There is no Islamic organization that has not benefitted from him in one way or the other. I could remember when we were preparing for the public presentation of Polygyny with Mercy in Abuja in 2023. I visited Prof. Ali Ahmad in the company of Talba Ebira, Alhaji Hamza Usman. The first point he raised was why I chose Abuja for the event and I replied that I just felt the need to change the environment to spread the initiative. The learned former Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly said, in Ilorin, there is so much pressure on Malam Yusuf Ali, SAN and Alhaji Adebayo Adelodun, SAN. This is just the truth. Though there are richer people in Ilorin, Malam Yusuf Ali and Alhaji Adelodun are the constant places to go to for help, not only on Islamic matters but for community related projects. They help people for the sake Allāh without looking for any political benefit. 

In the aspect of charity and endowments, Prof has surpassed many of his peers. Only Allāh knows the number of Waqf projects he had executed, especially in memory of his beloved wife, Hajia Fawziyah Ali. He has funds set aside to assist the sick, orphans and indigents in society. Only Allāh knows how many students have benefitted from this project over the years. When we were in Law School in 2009, Malam gave us N50, 000 each. This was about 1/4 of the total amount we paid for school fees then. I don't know how much he gives presently but I am sure it is his tradition for Law School students from different parts of Nigeria. He sponsors Islamic programmes on Radio, Television in Ramadan and beyond. He is arguably the highest financier of the activities of the Muslim Media Watch Group (MMWG) in Nigeria.

The lesson from this is for us to try as much as possible to live an impactful life. The best of people are those who benefit others. Malam Yusuf cannot count the number of people he has helped without expecting them to pay back. Whatever you do of goodness, keep doing it. Allāh sees you and would reward it handsomely. Allāh says:

وَقُلِ اعْمَلُوْا فَسَيَرَى اللّٰهُ عَمَلَكُمْ وَرَسُوْلُهٗ وَا لْمُؤْمِنُوْنَ ۗ وَسَتُرَدُّوْنَ اِلٰى عٰلِمِ الْغَيْبِ وَا لشَّهَا دَةِ فَيُنَبِّئُكُمْ بِمَا كُنْتُمْ تَعْمَلُوْنَ 

"And say, Do [as you will], for Allah will see your deeds, and [so, will] His Messenger and the believers. And you will be returned to the Knower of the unseen and the witnessed, and He will inform you of what you used to do."

(QS. At-Tawba: Verse 105)

The traditional title conferred on Malam by Ilorin Emirate today is well deserved. We need to let good people know that they are good while they are still alive so that other people can emulate them. My prayer is for Allāh to accord him greater honour in the hereafter. Indeed, Allāh does not waste the efforts of good doers. 

© Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori