In Memoriam | Yaadanno
A Tribute to Hajj Muhammad Said Jilo
In Ramadan of 2024, our ummah lost a giant. Known affectionately by those who loved him as ‘Hajiyo’, Haji Muhammad Said Jilo passed away from a heart attack on the 23rd night of Ramadan, steps away from Masjid al-Haram in Makkah. To Allah do we belong, and to Him do we return.
In many ways, Haji Muhammad died as he lived—loving Allah, emulating the example of the Prophet (peace be upon him), and in deep service to Allah’s creation. He particularly did the latter with unwavering commitment, ploughing through the poverty and political oppression of his people with bold determination and tremendous compassion.
Haji Muhammad’s work first began with a sincere du’a fifty years ago at the foot of the Ka’aba, where he asked Allah to support him in uplifting his people. Travelling as a da’ee across Oromia some years later, he also had the foresight to gather folks in each community he met with to discuss ways for their increased socioeconomic growth and spiritual empowerment. Remarkably, Haji Muhammad would often offer a modest monetary contribution; a starting point of capital that would be the turning point for many communities.
Most known for his steadfast support of the poor and vulnerable, the pillars that informed Haji Muhammad’s work were four: providing adequate food and shelter, building social infrastructure and enterprise, investing in sustainable entrepreneurship, and financially uplifting both students of knowledge and scholars of the deen.
His calls for zakat and sadaqah were relentless. In the last five decades, Haji Muhammad sheltered hundreds of people, and fed many thousands more. He secured dignified housing for orphans and people with disabilities, sought support for single mothers and the elderly, and keenly met the needs of those who were especially poor.
A strong leader in the da’wah movement, Haji Muhammad also built 35 mosques, supported hundreds of students of knowledge, and provided for dozens of scholars and their families across Ethiopia. He ensured women’s spaces in sacred places, established social enterprises for the Grand Hasaasa Mosque, and facilitated access to foundational Islamic texts that were otherwise hard to come by.
Today, Haji Muhammad’s efforts have expanded from the epicentre of his hometown, Hasaasa, to the far edges of Ethiopia, rendering his work national in scale, but global in impact. Drawing heavily on principles from the Qur’an and Sunnah for meaningful change and activism, Haji Muhammad resembled more the likes of Dhul Qarnayn than the common man, leading a life of community building and leadership that was nothing short of exemplary.
Entire communities continue to grieve the loss of our beloved Hajiyo. But in the Islamic tradition, loss of life is never a loss of legacy—as we mourn his death, we also turn our attention to the immense fruits of his labour, deeply inspired to carry the torch forward. And we call upon you to join us in doing so.
May Allah honour his legacy, and accept his contributions as a sadaqah jariyah. Ameen, ya Rabb, ameen.