On 19th November in Ilorin, I think for the first time, we had the opportunity to speak publicly with one voice against the rate at which some preachers in Ilorin Emirate utter unguarded comments in the name of giving Islamic lectures. I was really happy to be part of the historical event.
At the gathering, scholars like Prof. Abdurrazzaq Abdulmajeed Alaro mni; Sheikh Ahmad Abdulrahman (National Missioner of Ansaru-Deen); Imām Fuad Adeyemi (Habibiyyah Mosque, Abuja); Malam Nasir Abdulkadir; Sheikh Lukman Isalekoto (representating Senator Saliu Mustapha); Hon. Justice Abdullateef Kamaldeen (Grand Kadi of Kwara State); Prof. Moshood Jimba (representing the VC, KWASU) and the VC Muhammad Kamaldeen University, Prof Rasheed Gbenga all spoke on different issues bothering on peace and the need to take decisive and disciplinary measures on erring preachers from Ilorin Emirate.
I had the opportunity of moderating a panel session consisting of some notable scholars representing some major Islamic groups in Ilorin Emirate, such as the National Missioner of Ansarul Islam, Sheikh Abdulmumin Ayara (Adabiyyah); Sheikh Nasir Salaty (Qodiriyyah/Markaz); Dr. Salihu Ahmed Sebutu (Tijaniyyah); Hon. Justice Hanafi Gere (Sharī’ah Court of Appeal); and Sheikh Ali Miqdad Ali (Salafiyyah).
The good news from this is that all the members of the panel were unanimous on the fact that anyone who utters any unguarded comment about Islam in the Emirate and cannot defend it should be made to face a panel and be disciplined if found guilty. Sheikh Ayara said there should be a law that imposes a ban on those found guilty of unguarded comments in public. Anyone who had the opportunity to witness the programme or watch the videos online would be happy with this development.
In his Goodwill Message at the gathering, the Mufti of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh (Dr.) Suleiman Faruk Onikijipa OON noted that the first solution is for us to accept that we Muslims are one even though our interpretations of some furu’ (branches) May be different. Then, our focus should not be to market ourselves. The preservation of the religion of Allāh should be our focus. In his Keynote Address, the Grand Kadi called for a more peaceful world where non-violent communication is guaranteed.
Citing the Hudaybiyah Treaty exemplified by the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم , Pro. Alaro spoke on the need for cease fire, dialogue and peace accord among Muslim groups without compromising the foundations of Islam. Imām Fuad said if the scholars are not united, they will not be able to guide the traditional rulers successfully. Malam Nasir noted that the reason many of the graduates of our Arabic schools are engaging in the dubious jalabi business or turn lectures to a means of livelihood is that the curriculums are outdated. Sheikh Abdulrahman called for community engagement; advocacy through sponsorship of bills in the state parliament; and regulation of social media to curb unguarded utterances and other vices.
Both Sheikh Ahmad Abdurahman and Sheikh Nasir Salati cited the case that occurred recently in Kano where Hisbah made a well-known and highly influential preacher to face the wrath of the law for uttering blasphemous comments in public. Sheikh Nasir said those who utter unguarded comments should be punished publicly for it to serve as a deterrent to other people who may want to perpetrate the same evil.
Even if the only thing we are able achieve for now is to stop those uttering statements that we all believe to be blasphemous and devilish, then we have achieved something great. We cannot keep quiet and continue to watch the situation to degenerate in this manner. The rate at which social media is used to spread falsehood in the name of preaching is becoming unbearable. In his message to the gathering, the Turaki of Ilorin Emirate urged the scholars to unite to prevent untrained and unrefined preachers from hijacking the da’wah space whether online or offline in a way that can lead to extremism and violence in our society.
The presence of the Chief of Staff to the State Governor, Alhaji Mahe Abdulkadir; Grand Mufti of Ilorin Emirate, Sheikh Sulaiman Faruq Onikijipa; Hon. Justice Abdullahi Idris Haroon of JNI, Hon. Justice S.O Muhammad of the Council of ‘Ulamaa and Engr Suleiman Yahya Alapansanpa, Danmasani of Ilorin added substance to the event. These are representatives of our father, Mai Martaba Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji (Dr.) Ibrahim Sulu Gambari in all regards. They are caliber of people who can ensure the proper implementation of the communique to be issued by the conference in Sha Allāh.
This great avenue was engineered by our noble elder brother, Dr. Salihu Alabi Hammed of the Department of Politics and Governance, Kwara State University, Malete and was fully sponsored by Senator Salihu Mustapha, Turaki of Ilorin Emirate. May Allāh reward them abundantly.
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