Islam in West Africa

TOPIC: SPREAD OF ISLAM TO WEST AFRICA
SUB-TOPIC: IMPACT OF ISLAM ON THE ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL LIFE IN WEST AFRICA
Introduction
West African Empires: some of the West African Empires on which Islam made a political impact were; Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Toklor, Takrur, Kanem Borno, Massina, Kangaba, Kano, and Katsina.
Some of the Caravan routes through which Muslims traders come to West Africa were;

  1. Tripoli-Murzuk-Bilma-Njim-Kano.
  2. Tripoli-Ghadames-Ghat-Aghades-Katsina-Kano.
  3. Tunis-Wargala-Gadames-Ghat-Aghades-Katsina-Kano.
  4. Ceuta-Fez-Marrakesh-Sijilmasa-Tuat-Takedda-Gao.
  5. Ceuta-Fez-Marrakesh-Sijilmasa-Tuat-Timbuktu.
    The development of trade in the big West African cities (Economically)
    Caravan trade routes route played vital role to the changes of West African Economic, such Sadaqah, Zakat and prohibition of Riba. This because Muslim preachers followed such routes and propagates Islamic teachings.
    Articles of trade in the trade centres
    West Africa
    Gold, kolanut, ivory and slaves.
    North Africa
    Salt, Beads, camels, cloth, metal ware, and horses.
  6. Major West African cities became centres of trade as a result of trans-Sahara trade routes.
  7. Timbuktu was a centre of trade that had links with trade routes that started from different points and met there.
  8. Kaukau was also connected with international trade points through the famous caravan routes started from North Africa and other West African centres.
  9. Kano was connected to trade centres which started from Tunis and Tripoli.
  10. Borno was also connected with three major trade routes starting from Cairo, Tunis, and Tripoli. There were also minor route from Kano to Katsina.
    Emergence of such trade cities as Islamic cities centres of learning (Educationally)
  11. With coming of Islam to West Africa through traders, the cities of commerce in West Africa turned into learning centres.
  12. Scholars followed trade routes in order to visit centres of learning to acquire educations.
  13. Some of the famous mosque in the centres were turned into renowned universities such as Sankore mosque in Timbuktu.
  14. Books were written and copied for sale to other areas.
  15. A class of professionals emerged such as judges and scribes who were employed by either rulers or traders.
    Impact of Islam on the life of the West African Empires (Socially)
  16. Before coming of Islam, the social life of West Africa was governed by traditional beliefs.
  17. Some of the traditional beliefs and practices were;
    a. Traditional religion conditioned the social behaviour of West African people.
    b. Social relations between people were governed by tribal or related to a clan.
    c. Africans were superstitious people.
    d. Marriage were contracted according to tribal norms and usage.
    e. Men were superior to women.
    f. Drunkenness was common among some communities.
    Impact of Islam on the African Society
  18. It introduce the concept of proper covering of the whole body among people (decent dress).
  19. Islam categorized food into Halal and Haram.
  20. Public and private celebrations were overhauled.
  21. African customs and habits were also overhauled.
  22. African languages were enriched by Islam.
  23. The world view of Africans was changed by Islam through Islamic civilisation and ideas that came along with Islam to West Africa.
    Impact of Islam on intellectual activities in West Africa (Historically)
  24. West African people no language or written communication.
  25. History of the area was passed through oral transmission from generation to generation.
  26. When Islam came, it introduced literacy in Arabic language to the people of the Africa.
  27. They, therefore learnt how to read and write.
  28. Scholars amongst them who were historically minded started write down the history of West Africa.
  29. Therefore, the writing of history of West Africa started with the coming of Islam to the West Africa.
    The significance of the above impacts; the significance of these role/impacts includes the following;
  30. Spread of Islam through peaceful means with ease.
  31. Spread of Islamic learning and civilization in West Africa.
  32. Spread of principles and ideas of Islam that made Muslims responsible human beings.
  33. Providing an opportunity of exchanging of articles of trade.
  34. Creation of diplomatic relationships between North Africa and West Africa.
    Lessons from the impact of Islam in West Africa
  35. Introduction of literacy among the people of West Africa.
  36. Emergence of centres of learning in cities of West Africa.
  37. Providing government of West African empires with manpower in the civil service.
  38. Simplification of interpreters and introducing the idea of interpretation, and record to town businesses.

Problem of Takhlit (Mixing other beliefs and practices with Islam)
The principles of Tauhid
Tauhid means the science of the unity of Allah.
It seeks to establish monotheism on the principle that;
a. Allah is one and there is no other deity of worship with Him (Allah).
b. Allah’s attributes are unique to Him alone.
c. Allah’s names are unique to Him.
d. Only Allah deserves man’s adoration (act of worship) and obedience.
Distinction between Tauhid and Shirk
i. Tauhid means the science of the unity of Allah, while shirk means polytheism which denotes associating other objects with Allah in man’s worship to Him.
ii. The distinction between Tauhid and Shirk are;
a. Tauhid means the science of the unity of Allah, while shirk means polytheism which denotes associating other objects with Allah.
b. Tauhid gives man direct access to Allah while shirk intermediaries between man and Allah.
c. Tauhid is a rational way of making man independent, while shirk enslaves man to objects either created by Allah or carved by man himself.
Takhlit as a great sin
i. Takhlit mean practicing Islam side by side with un-Islamic belief and practices.
ii. Takhlit is a sin because;
a. Allah has condemned anyone who associates something with Him.
b. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ has classified Takhlit as shirk.
c. Therefore a Muslim who practices Islam side by side with un-Islamic beliefs and practice has committed a grave sin.
Example of Takhlit
i. Divination (attempt of foretell future or the unseen, it is a sin because only Allah knows the future and what is hidden.
ii. Cult-worship (which means the worship of an idea or religion evolved by man himself, it is a grave sin because it set partner in worship with Allah.
iii. Hero worship (worship of a human being, dead or alive by someone, this is a great sin because it sets a partner with Allah.
Avoidance of syncretism
It can be avoided and wiped out if;

  1. Muslims should maintain the principles of Tauhid and the unity of Allah in their relationship with Allah.
  2. Da’awah workers in Muslim community should preach against syncretism.
  3. Muslims will learnt to rely on Allah for all their needs, so that Takhlit will be wipe out.
    By Nasir Umar

Tarikh


TOPIC: TA’ARIKH (Historical development of Islam)
Sub-topic: Arab before Islam, life of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his qualities, and brief biography of four rightly guided caliphs.
Introduction
During Jahiliyyah period, Arab could be divided into in to two groups; the dwellers of town and cities who engage in trade and cultivation. The nomad Arabs who wandered from one place to another in the Arabian desert in search of pasture and water for their animals such as horses, camel, and sheep.
Definition of Jahiliyya period
Jahiliyya literary means ignorance. Technically means absence of religious guidance as a result of which corruption dominates the life of a given people. Arab before Islam is also known as the period of ignorance, barbarism, infanticide, alcoholism, gambling, enslaves etc.
Characteristics of the jahiliyyah period (Arabs’ way of life)
The way of life of Arabs before coming of the prophet Muhammad ﷺ are: 1. the good practices 2. The bad practices.
Bad practice of the jahiliyya period
Polytheism: Jahiliyya Arabs worshiped idols, stones, and heroes.
Inhuman treatment of women: women were maltreated in the following areas:
a. They were denied inheritance by stepsons.
b. Female daughters were buried alive.
c. They were made subservient to men.
Social corruption: Jahiliyya Arabs indulge in alcoholism, adultery, and gambling.
Warfare: Jahiliyyah Arabs were enjoyed willful destruction through wars.
Tribalism: Jahiliyya Arabs were great tribalists. They consider their tribe first before anything.
Good practices of Jahiliyya Arabs
Courage: They were courageous people. They protected the image of their tribe on the battlefield.
Hospitality: They were hospitable people. They helped the needy and strangers.
Fulfilment of promise: Arabs honored their promises. They gave protection to individuals when a tribal member pledge his oath.
Intellectual attainment: They produced exceptionally and highly qualitative poets and orators.
Reforms carried out by Islam
Polytheism: They were changed from polytheists to monotheists.
Inhuman treatment of women: Islam stopped inhuman treatment of women by:
a. Prohibition of burying female daughters alive.
b. Inheritance of stepmothers.
c. Islam raised the status of women by making it compulsory for them to get inheritance and dowry.
d. Given them similar rights to those of men in marrying union.
Social corruption: Islam prohibited all forms social corruption. These Arabs’ indulgence in alcoholism, adultery, and gambling were by the Islamic prohibition which made them unlawful.
Warfare: Islam forbade stopped all forms of tribal wars, plundering (destroying all goods) and willful attack on tribes and destruction of crops.
Tribalism: Islam brought unity to Arabs. Prophet Muhammad ﷺ forbade tribalism by saying ‘’there is no superiority of an Arab over a non-Arab and there is no superiority of a non-Arab over an Arab. You are all from Adam and Adam was created from clay.’’
Al’adl (justice): Islam replace injustice with justice and prohibited cheating and maltreatment of orphans.
Neo-Jahiliyya practices in the present society
Despite the success of Islam in reforming the Jahiliyya practices, some of its elements could be seen in the present Muslims society. They include:
i. Corruption of our belief in Allah.
ii. Denial of rights to womenfolk.
iii. Wide spread of economic injustice in offices, markets, and on the street.
iv. Widespread social insecurity at home, on the street, and on the high way. Armed robbery, ritual murder and raping are being perpetrated (responsible for a crime) by even some Muslims.
v. Widespread social vices such as prostitution by both sexes, and open consumption of alcohol.

Political administration of Islam in Madina


POLITICAL ADMINISTRATION OF THE PROPHET MUHAMMAD PEACE BE UPON HIM
PREAMBLE
When the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him migrated to Madina, he assumed the leadership of the new Muslim Ummah which comprised Muslims and non-Muslim. In setting up the political system of Islam, the Prophet was guided by the requirements of Islam revealed to him by Allah. He there-fore set up a state;

  1. Where the law of Allah was supreme.
  2. Where consultation was done on issues that the Qur’an was not categorical.
  3. Where Muslim and non-Muslim members had equal right for protection from the state.
  4. Where within the circle of Muslim members of the state, Islamic brotherhood was binding force since all of them believed in common course-to establish the religion of Allah on the earth and to protect it.
  5. Where leaders realised that the responsibility placed on them was a trust from Allah whom they shall eventually be accountable to.
    Fair play as the Basis of Islamic political system
    Fair play here means giving individuals and groups their due right without discrimination. It is also means of distribution of resources of the state members in equitable way.
  6. The system is non-discriminatory. Individuals and groups are not discriminated against either on the basis of religion, race, colour, or geographical variation, that is why the Madina state had non-Muslim and non, Arabs-Muslims among the citizens.
  7. Discrimination was also not done in the appointment of public offices.
  8. Equitable distribution of resources.
  9. Consultations. In the business of government citizens where adequately involved.
  10. Sense of justice. The government was run on the basis of justice to all and sundry including the non-Muslims. The government made sure that people had security for their lives, and properties.
  11. Fair dealing. In normal social and economic relation the Islamic state made sure that people dealt fairly among themselves and that they supported what was right no matter who was involve.
  12. It was because of the above reasons the Islamic political system succeeded.