Initially, I had refused to succumb to the wish of different people – more than Twenty Five brothers and sisters from different works of life – who have been pressuring me since last week to write on the raging controversy around the choice of Mufti of Ilorin simply because, I thought, it’s little or none of my business.
But when the appeal came from a cerbral brother, Mohammed Dauda Adano , I decided to express my views in limited words, as a sign of respect for this noble servant of Allah. I have not met him; but like thousands of other brothers and sisters who look up to Allah through my works and mentorship, he deserves a response. Here’s his message to me:
“Asalamu Alaykum Ya Sheikh,
I have anxiously been waiting to read what is your position on the newly installed or appointed Mufti of Ilorin.
I’m Okene of Kogi State by birth but to me the appointment is more Islamic and Ilorin has been special place for me due to the fact that the first Chief imam of Ebira central in okene came from Ilorin, we have Alkali from Ilorin and my own spiritual leader and Alfa was trained in Ilorin.
Allah’s knows that I so much respect your pen by picking books authored by your name at sight whenever I visit Lagos. As you transferred same Dawah works to social media…I joined to continue learning under tips.
Pls, what is your position on Medinatul-Ilorin Mufti position given to sheikh Suleiman whom I came across some of his controversial preaching itching on Aqeedah.
Wallahul Musta’an”
……………………………………………………………..
The position of a Mufti is a position of knowledge, trust and piety. The one charged with the trust of giving verdict should be prepared to account for his view, if it failed to conform with guidance and rectitude. Fatwa becomes a religious principle to be imbibed or practised by the community.
The vastness of a Mufti’s knowledge is not enough to guide his community, his sense of piety and wide exposure, mental adventurism and civilized horizon are also important. When the righteous sage, Abdullahi Ibn Mubarak was asked: متى يفتي الرجل؟ (What qualifies a man to give a religious verdict – Fatwa?) He answered thus: إذا كان عالما بالآثر وبصيرا بالراي (If he’s knowledgeable in juridical texts – The Qur’an and Sunnah; and he’s widely exposed”.
Thus, it goes beyond only conservative scholarship or wide exposure (ثقافة الفكر). It’s a combination of the two. The exposure of a Mufti (ثقافة المفتي) should be as wide and deep (ثقافة عامة) as the vastness of his knowledge of Islamic jurisprudence. Piety is however the most crucial implement in this regard.
Piety, it was, that came into practical effect when our mother, Aisha, mother of the believers – may Allah be pleased with her – directed a man who needed a verdict concerning the rubbing of feet khuf in ablution, to Ali Bn Abi Taalib, saying: (فإنه اعلم مني بهذا) “He’s more knowledgeable than I am on this issue”, probably because the latter had traveled more often with the Messenger of Allah than mother Aisha. This, despite the fact that Aisha was the beloved wife of the Prophet.
Piety is not in sentimental utterances, verbal onslaughts, vocal diarrhea, blasphemous speeches and whimsical opinions, not guided by the Book of Allah and the Prophetic traditions. A Mufti holds the key to people’s paradise or hell. Therefore, the position of a Mufti is a position of Godly consciousness that every verdict shall be accounted for in the day of judgement.
Fatwa can be dynamic. What holds as a religious verdict in a Muslim community may not be relevant in another. That’s what informed the prerequisite competence of a Mufti. Knowledge and the fear of Allah are the dominant virtues. Where these are absent, the Deen of the masses is endangered!
Shaykh Sulayman Faruk Onikijipa is the new Mufti of Ilorin. May Allah preserve him and guide his steps to what pleases Him. Some people are opposed to his enthronement, not because of his sufi orientation. After all, Shaykh Saalih Al-Husaini is known globally as the official Mufti of Nigeria; and he’s an eminent Shaykh of Tijaniya order; and so far, no reasonable person is opposed to him, for he’s a righteous scholar.
People are also not opposed to Shaykh Sulayman’s appointment on account of his epistemic constituency, which is Markaz Ta’limil A’rabiy; for after all, it’s a citadel of knowledge. But many people seem to be uncomfortable with his rise to this position of honour because of his numerous blasphemous utterances…
May Allah rectify his affairs and mine too…
Anyway, Markaz, Agege, has presented and also supported the best of its products for the job. The citadel honorably stands for an idea; and the best person who epitomizes the noble idea of its chosen brand has been flaunted to the world as the Mufti. Concidentally, Shaykh Faruk perfectly represents the Ilorin ideals and heritage and the palace has thus finally stamped his numerous utterances. What’s my own problem with that and why are you worried?
However, the so called people of Sunnah who are mummering against the Ilorin Emirate’s choice of Mufti shouldn’t forget their often chorused doctrine of “Don’t question the leader”. Now that the Amir of Ilorin, His Royal Eminence, the Emir Alhaji Ibrahim Zul Qarnain has spoken, let’s not question his decision, that’s the A’qeedah of the people of Sunnah.
Sheeeehuuuuuuuuuu!
Don’t mind the critics. Even if his Eminence, the Emir of Ilorin, had appointed any of the known scholars of Sunnah in the Emirate as the Grand Mufti, they would have mummured. I believe strongly that a lot of things will change about the new Mufti, now that he’s in charge. Let’s pray for him to succeed.
But I also advise that Shaykh Faruk Onikijipa Al-Miskeen bilLahi should retract all his terrible utterances of the past, re-commit himself to purity of faith, expand his scope of knowledge and constantly renew his intentions. He’ll also do better with a Fatwa committee in place, comprising scholars and experts of different fields of Islamic Science.
Ilorin is a town of Islamic scholarship and heritage, the world watches…
Abu Mazeedatilkhayr Bn Sa’eed is an Author, Publisher, Reseacher & CEO of De-Minaret International, Abuja, Nigeria.
