Ethiopia is mourning the passing of Grand Mufti Haji Umer Idris, the former president of the country’s Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.
The council announced the passing of Grand Mufti on Sunday. His death, after a brief illness, has drawn an outpouring of condolences from across the country and beyond, with many praising his decades of service in shaping the moral and spiritual fabric of Ethiopia.
“I am saddened by the death of Mufti Haji Umer Idris, who was the president of Ethiopian Islamic Affairs. We will always remember Haji Umer’s contribution during his leadership to bring different parties to unity and to make the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs legalised. I wish condolences to their families and all Muslims of Ethiopia,” Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in condolence message.
Inter-religious harmony
Over the course of his life, he held two of Ethiopia’s most significant Islamic leadership positions. Before serving as Grand Mufti of Ethiopia, Umer Idris served as president of the Ethiopian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (Majlis), the highest Islamic religious body in the country.
Known for his calm authority and compassion, he was a steadfast advocate for inter-religious harmony and mutual understanding, often emphasizing unity as the foundation of Ethiopia’s strength.
At Nur Mosque in the capital Addis Ababa, where he taught and led prayers for more than forty years, thousands gathered from Monday morning making Qur’anic recitations and offering Salat al-Janazah to bid the Muslim leader farewell.
Ethiopia’s President Taye Atske-Selassie also offered his condolences. “I am deeply saddened by the passing of Grand Mufti Haji Oumer Idris, who served as the President of the Supreme Council. The late Grand Mufti will always be remembered for his notable contributions. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the family of Haji Umer Idris and to all Ethiopians.”
The Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs described the late Mufti as “a prominent national figure and a unifying father to all,’’ emphasising the national and religious ‘‘contributions he made throughout his life.”
The Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia hailed him as “a national elder and father who treated all Ethiopians equally, regardless of faith or ethnicity,” recalling his oft-quoted counsel: “Be human; personality comes first.”
Building bridges
Dr. Sheikh Haji Ibrahim Tufa, the current president of the Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs, called scholar’s passing “an immeasurable loss,” highlighting his role in establishing Islamic banking and securing the legal recognition of Islamic institutions in Ethiopia.
The Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC), HH Abune Mathias, described the late Grand Mufti as “one of Ethiopia’s revered elders, a mentor, and a beloved figure whose wisdom and dedication left a lasting imprint on the nation,”.
He noted that the passing of Grand Mufti Umer represents not only a loss to the Muslim community but to the entire Ethiopian nation.
The Islamic scholar was a ‘‘great elder with a mature mind, a love for his country, deep respect for his people, and a devoted friendship that made him a father of the nation,” Abune Mathias added.
Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu, who is Ethiopia’s former Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined in the mourning.
“It is with profound sadness and a heavy heart that I learned of the passing of Grand Mufti Haji Umar Idris, the former president of the Ethiopian Islamic Affairs Supreme Council. His unwavering dedication to fostering unity, promoting Islamic thought, and guiding the faithful through times of challenge and hope has left an indelible mark on Ethiopia and beyond. As a beacon of wisdom and compassion, his legacy will continue to inspire generations,” he said.
A national farewell ceremony has been organised at Millennium Hall in Addis Ababa, with the attendance of senior government officials, ulama, and representatives of various faiths on Monday.
Across Ethiopia and within the diaspora, Muslims and Christians alike joined in prayer for a man who, through humility and faith, built bridges between communities and left behind a legacy of peace and unity.
Born in 1940 in eastern Ethiopia, Haji Umer Idris began his education in the traditional Qur’anic schools in Harar before pursuing advanced studies in Sudan and Saudi Arabia. His deep scholarship, humility, and lifelong devotion to teaching would later make him one of the most respected Muslim leaders in the Horn of Africa region.
