Emergence of Twelver Shiism and ‘The Islamic Movement’ In Nigeria’s North-Central Geo-Political Zone
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22373/ijihc.v6i1.6031Keywords:
Twelver Shiism, Al-Khumaynī, El-Zakzaky, North-Central Nigeria.Abstract
The spread of Twelver Shiism across the Muslim world owes its origin to the 1979 Iranian revolution led by Āyatullāh Al-Khumaynī. Shiism pervaded the soil of Nigeria afterwards in the early 1980s through the MSSN campus activism in Northern Nigeria spearheaded by Ibrahim El-Zakzaky. The prominent protagonists who kept the Shiite flag aloft were the Lebanese traders in Kano State accompanied by the students in Northern Universities in Nigeria, who saw the success of the Iranian revolution as a harbinger of practicability of theocratic government in Nigeria. While most writers focused on Shiite development in North-Western Nigeria, the paper delved into the discourse on diffusion of Shiism across North-Central Nigeria. The research adopted a historical method to analyse the sporadic spread of Twelver Shiism to Nigeria’s North-Central under the umbrella of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria. Despite the fact that the Shiites in North-Central Nigeria upheld the Twelver doctrines, the Shiites in Okene area of Kogi State do not pay homage to El-Zakzaky. The paper concluded that the former’s indifference to the latter’s superintendence was based on political reasons.
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AbdulRasheed, AbdulRasaq. 2021. ‘The Emergence of Shiism in Ilorin.’ Unpublished BA Long Essay, University of Ilorin, Ilorin.
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Sharia law withdrawn after clashes. IOL. Last updated March 1, 2000, https://www.iol.co.za/news/africa/sharia-law-withdrawn-after-clashes-29796
Interviews
Adamu, Sabiu. The Shiite Amīr in Keffi. Interviewed by the researcher, August 19, 2022.
Ahmad, Nuruddin. The Shiite Amīr in Lafia. Interviewed by the researcher, August 19, 2022.
Al-Amīn, ᶜAbdur-Razzāq. The Amīr of Ilorin-Based Islamic Movement. Interviewed by the researcher, June 4, 2022.
Alege, Sayfullah Ahmad. Pioneer Amīr of Ilorin-based The Islamic Movement (TIM) and current head, Islamic Orphanage Foundation, Adewole, Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, September 7, 2022.
Ali, Muhibbullah. The Shiite Amīr in Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, August 30, 2022.
Bello, Ahmad. Deputy Shiite Amīr in Abuja. Interviewed by the researcher, August 18, 2022.
Berende, ᶜAbdullāh Muṣṭafā. Proprietor, Madīnatuʼl-ᶜIlm Academy and Shiite Superintendent at Idi-Ape Personal Office, Ilorin Metropolis. Interviewed by the researcher, August 21, 2021.
Ghali, Abdul-Qadir Olalekan. Chairman Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Centre, Foma Babalaje, Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, August 29, 2022.
Gimba, Hassan. Deputy Shiite Amīr in Minna. Interviewed by the researcher, August 17, 2022.
Hashim, Abubakar. A Shiite Scholar in Lafia. Interviewed by the researcher, September 27, 2022.
Īsā, ᶜAbdul-Fattāḥ. The Amīr of Muslim Youth Organisation, now Islamic Revival Organisation, Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, September 6, 2022.
Muḥammad, ᶜUmar Ṣāliḥ. Former head of the Department of Islamic Law, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, and current head of the Department of Islamic Law, Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, HOD's Office, Atere Campus, Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, September 26, 2022.
Okene, Husain. Lecturer, Kogi State College of Education-Technical, Kabba. Interviewed by the researcher, August 16, 2022.
Sarumi, ᶜAbdul-Fattāḥ. A doctoral degree candidate at Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin. Interviewed by the researcher, September 1, 2022.
Tsoho, Adamu. The Shiite Amīr in Jos. Interviewed by the researcher, August 21, 2022.
Umar, Isa. A graduate of Islamic Studies Education from the Kogi State University, Anyingba. Interviewed by the researcher, August 15, 2022.
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