In Yorubaland, we mainly believe there are Islaam, Christianity and Traditional Religion. And that’s why you’ll be hearing names like Musa, Moses or Ifayemi among others. Each of this religions has their leadership who emerged through election, selection, charismatic influence or self-imposition. These leadership are always seen or regarded as the mirror or mouthpiece of each religion depending on circumstances. In Islaam, you must be vast in the knowledge of the Holy Qur’an, Hadith of the noble Prophet and some other books before you can be regarded as a Muslim Scholar.
It is noteworthy that there is a difference between a Scholar and a Cleric; and the main difference is that not all Islamic Scholars hold spiritual positions. In any country, town or community where Sharia is their law, they always follow the Islamic laws, rules, regulations and guidelines while electing or selecting political or religious leaders, while handing down fatwah in conducting the affairs of such leaders.
However, following the colonialism experience in this part of the world, our affairs here is being conducted by the Constitution that’s always subject to judicial interpretations. This has made it difficult to have a unified means of electing Islamic leaders in Nigeria. In most cases, each region injected to their cultural diffusion in the affairs of religion. The most difficult aspect of this is how to identify who is qualified to be regarded as Islamic Scholar. What are the Criteria and under whose supervision?
It would be recalled during the Muhammadu Buhari’s administration, when the CAMA Law was passed and signed, its implementation became impossible because of our own peculiar ways of running our religious affairs. It’s none of Government business! The only time we involved the government was when there was a fighting over who leads a worship centres, most especially churches and mosques, and that’s when we go before My Lord to tell us who is right or wrong according to the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. In such cases, we usually jettisoned Sharia Law or Fatwah. After all, this is not an Islamic State/Country.
Let’s take a trip to Obaagun town in Ifelodun local government area of Osun State. My band (DE MEANINGFUL ORGANIZATION) was invited to entertain the dignitaries at the burial program of a journalist friend sometimes mid last year. The fidau prayer being handled by our “fathers in Islaam” was scheduled for between 10am and 12pm immediately after which the reception would follow. I was around early enough considering the relationship and due to the fact that it was a week day, (not weekend) as many guests may want to return to their base. But the program was dragged beyond scheduled time. We’re on this when it was time for solaat, so I went straight to a nearby mosque, where I observed solaatul Zhuur and Asri consecutively. In Islaam, it’s permissible for travellers/guests from another town to do so. In fact, instead of 4 rakat each, the affected persons are to observe two while the remaining two becomes a bonus. I made use of the opportunity and returned to the stage.
Don’t forget, the prayer was expected to end by 12 noon but it was already 2pm. So, I directed the sound engineer to start setting the tone and level of drums and percussion, so we can start the show. I was careful in my directive that he should use the monitor for the testing, in order not to disturb the men of God, even though it was after 2pm already. As my lead drummer tried his hand on the talking drum, the supposed Muslim Scholar who was assigned to say the opening prayer but started greeting and recognition of his co-Clerics became furious and made a categorical statement that “A o je ki e mo pe Obaagun le wa yii” meaning we’ll show you that you’re in Obaagun town (where there are powerful forces). His statement prompted me to request for my microphone and send a warning through Acapella. I forgot to tell you that the musical instruments we’re to use was different from the public address system being used by our Aafaa. As Allah would judge us, a car loss control and ran over the generator being used to power their engine. And that’s the end of the show of shame, following which we started our own Fuji Repete (smile).
Now, the recent brouhaha generated by the GANUSI utterance from the Indisputable King of Fuji Music, Alhaji Wasiu Ayinde Anifowose K1 De-Ultimate, has called to questions about the way we conduct our affairs as Muslims in Nigeria. In the first instance, Islamic Scholars have never agreed on the acceptability of music in our life let alone professional musicians. But we have a number of Muslim Scholars who are musicians or have musicians as sons, daughters, son In-laws, daughter in-laws or clients.
The second instance is having a 3-day, 7-day or 41-day fidau prayer or what have you. While a section believe it’s not part of Islaam, others say it is not a sin against Allah. K1 De-Ultimate band was on stage at the the wedding reception of Sheikh Suleiman Farouq Onikijipa’s child. In fact, when the mother of the Fuji Maestro returned to her Creator, he managed to sing for the Mufti Diyar of Ilorin Emirate/Afonja (smile).
Now back to the GANUSI issue, there are questions to ask, including; who were the uninvited shameless Muslim Scholars/Clerics who truly ganu si Ile Omo Ojusagbola in Ijebu-Ode? Did they see the video? What was their reactions?
Meanwhile, the Mufti of Ilorin attempted to put an end to the controversies generated by the statement regarded as highly insulting, when Sheikh Onikijipa asked Olori Omooba Akike Ijebu to say sorry, but because our leader “believed he had not done anything wrong, he refused to toe the path, “…because he doesn’t want to cause problem for himself”. After all, he didn’t invite those who came to ganu. Though, some people argue that there was no need for invitation before one could pay condolence visit to a Bereaved person. What a reasonable thought! However, some other people also countered the argument asking what’s the relationship between the insulted Aafaa and Arabambi Olowoyalumo. This argument and counteragent could have been resolved if the affected Muslim Scholars/Clerics can be bold enough to come out and clear the air.
At this juncture, there are some lessons to learn from the controversial statement made by our own leader and boss;
1). If you’re not invited, then don’t go
2) You can’t claim to be important to someone not until he proves that to the world
3) It’s good to know the impact of the 5-letter word, SORRY in giving peace a chance to reign supreme.
4) It’s high time our fathers in Islaam set up a committee, board or agency that would be regulating the activities of Islamic Scholars in Nigeria, in order to sanitize the system.
As if the Ijebu-Ode experience was not enough, some self-acclaimed Aafaa, which some commentors referred to as Alufa, on Monday morning visited Weere Olorin at his Abete to “pray” for him. Idaamu Adugbo as he’s also called by his admirers told them he wouldn’t have welcomed them if not for the sake of Muhamed. One could not even know if he was referring to the legendary boxer, Muhamed Ali, or former President Muhammadu Buhari.
To make the matter worse, one of the uninvited guests had something ringing like Motorola phone in his pocket, which he claimed was an Osanyin. Those who are conversant with the practice would understand if he was really having Osanyin in his stomach as claimed or it was part of the nineteen stuff as the street guys would call it. Whichever way, how on earth would someone with Osanyin in his stomach claim to be an Aafaa? Though, some people have said they are Alufa. This is lending credence to the fact that there is an urgent need for sanity in our religious affair.
As it is good to give kudos to Sheikh Onikijipa for the maturity exhibited in handling the matter, there is also the need for him and other Muslim Scholars/Clerics to call for a national conference on sanitizing the system. If the trend continues, it may become more embarrassing in the nearest future.
Lateef Agboola is a journalist, Musician, Poet, Scriptwriter, Communication Consultant and Social Affairs Commentator/Human Righs Crusader based in Osogbo, Osun State, Southwest Nigeria
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