SARAKI,AMOSUN,SULTAN GRACES CENTENARY OF SHEIKH ADAM

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DAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS Tuesday 17 April, 2018

Facts are the lifeblood of Journalism

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SARAKI, AMOSUN, SULTAN GRACES CENTENARY OF SHEIKH ADAM

by Dauda Awwal (UK)

The greatest celebration of Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory,his birth, his life, his times, his works attested to the greatest of the founder of Arabic and Islamic Centre, Markaz ,Agege ,Lagos, Nigeria. The respected reformer died 26 years ago in London, United Kingdom.

L-R: Amosun, Senate President,Bukola Saraki, Sheikh Habbebullahi Adam Sheikh Adam Ibn Baaqee Ibn Habeebullahi Ibn Abdullahi Al-Ilory, an Icon of knowledge, founder of Markaz Arabic Centre, Agege ,Lagos, an Islamic scholar, preacher, an author. Born in Waza 1917 brought to his father’s district-Agbogunmatidi compound Omoda Ajikobi area Ilorin. Ilorin has a rich history of providing great scholars of all backgrounds attained

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intellectual prominence scattered at home and abroad. Sheikh Adam possessed all kinds of emulating character which included: Bravery, articulate outspoken, educator, a prolific writer, community leader. His school has produced leaders, Proprietors, University lecturers, translators, journalists Imams, Preachers, and Proselytisers.

The Spirit of Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory took over University of Lagos auditorium on the 15th April 2018 to celebrate the life and death of the first Black African to win the coveted Egyptian Gold Medal Award in Arabic Literature.

Centenary of Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory The event attracted an enthusiastic audience of about 3000 people-Nigerians and non-Nigerians gathered in the University of Lagos auditorium to celebrate Al-Ilory.

Dr Yusuf Kolawole Jum’ah led other great members like Professor Badmus Yusuf, Professor Issa, Professor Abubakar Shuaibu, Dr Hamzat Ishola,Sheikh Ya’qub Abdullahi (Late Sheikh Adam’s brother), Professor Muritala Aderemi, Alhaji Femi Abbas and Sheikh Habeebullahi Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory were the organizers of the colourful occasion. The programme of the event includes

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Colloquium, academic paper presentation, short Arabic drama, speeches in Arabic and English Languages.

L-R:Guest,Mudeerul-Markaz,Sultan,Dr Badmus,Amosun,Guests Among top government officials graced the celebration includes Senate President,Dr.Bukola Saraki, Governor of Ogun, Lagos and Kwara States, Ibikunle Amosun,Akinwunmi Ambode and Abdulfatah Ahmed,Kwara State Speaker,Rt.Hon.Dr.Ahmed Ali.The Sultan of Sokoto,Alhaji Abubakar Sa’ad 111,The Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari, Emir of Kano, Alhaji Sanusi Lamido, Justice Modibo Afa Belgore, The Registrar of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Professor Ishaq Oloyede, Professor Abdur-Razzaq Deremi Abubakar, Sheikh Sulayman Onikijipa were among the distinguished Nigerians attended the centenary celebration of the life and times of the Founder of Markaz, Late Sheik Adam Abdullahi ElIlory.

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L-R:Gov.Abdulfatai Ahmed,Gov.Amosun,Sen.Saraki,Sheikh Habeeb,Sultan The Sultan of Sokoto stated that ‘Muslims are not illiterate and Islamic education is not backward, he laments that the bulk of Islamic education is meant to facilitate the proper growth of the total personality of man. ‘’We cannot allow people to bring our heads down and say we are useless. We are highly educated. We need to take this challenge up and ask ourselves, ‘Why do people look at us Muslims as illiterates?

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Students of Markaz and Guests I don’t understand how someone who is very fluent in the Quran, who can recite it off-heart, can be called an illiterate because he doesn’t speak English. “Islamic education is perpetually an entity of self-discipline, which involves physical and spiritual training of man. It is the balanced growth of man through training of intellect. The bulk of Islamic education is meant to facilitate the proper growth of the total personality of man. It is a way of life’ Sultan concluded.

PROFILE OF LATE SHEIKH ADAM ABDULAHI EL-ILORY Shaykh Adam was born in 1917 at Wasa, a town in the northern part of Republic of Benin brought to Ilorin at the age of 13 to (Agbogunmatidi Compound, Omoda, Balogun Ajikobi Area) by his parents in 1929. Though, his mother was a princess of Ponde, Wasa province. He was brought up by his father-Sheikh Baaqee who was fond of taking him to eminent scholars to seek their blessing for him.

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His father was an Islamic scholar, an imam of Ponde town in Wasa province; he was a nomadic preacher which took him to places like Ponde (Republic. of Benin) Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ede, Oshogbo and other part of Yoruba Land.

Sheikh Adam grew up in Benin Republic and started learning the Quran under his father until about the age of 13 when he returned with his parents to the city of llorin. He also studied under Shaykh Umar in Lagos and later furthered his studies under Sheikh Adam Nam'aji (Kano born Islamic Scholar), he was sufficiently confident of himself and satisfied with his acquired knowledge so far.He taught him logic, philosopher, Arabic grammar and fundamental of religion.

Late Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory (1917-1992) In 1946, he travelled to Cairo and submitted himself for examination at AlAzhar University. The results of the examination proved his confidence right as he passed with credits and was awarded the University's Certificate in Arabic and Islamic Studies that year. He then travelled to Mecca to

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perform that year's Hajji where through interactions with some scholars there, he was adjudged to be a brilliant and talented young scholar.

Shaykh also travelled widely. Apart from Egypt and Saudi Arabia, other countries visited in search of Islamic materials and exposure included Sudan, Senegal and Somalia where he also attended many conferences.

Shaykh Al-llory founded Markazu't-ta limi l-Arabi al-lslami in the year 1952 at Abeokuta, Ogun State. The institution later moved to Agege, Lagos State in 1957. The school was the first organized Arabic School with distinct physical structures of classrooms, hostels, mosques clinic and block of offices for teachers in Yoruba-land. The school attracts students from within and outside Nigeria with graduates spread all over, occupying different posts while further spreading the message of Islam.

Back in Nigeria

He returned back to Nigeria in 1947, he worked briefly as a missioner under Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria to enable him settle down financially in preparation for the realization of his long term ambition. In a short while, his burning desire to reform madrasah system in Nigeria spurred him to start planning for the establishment of Markaz.

Thus, with just meagre financial resources but relentless determination, he established his dreamt madarasah called Markaz in Abeokuta, now Ogun State, on April 16, 1952. The Institution which was to become the centre of revolution in the teaching of Arabic and Islamic education in Nigeria, started with just 19 pupils and four teachers including Shaykh Adam himself. The founder’s foresight, however, would not allow Markaz to remain in Abeokuta for long. He moved the Institution to Agege in 1955.

Markaz

With the establishment of Markaz in 1952, Shaykh Adam introduced an unprecedented modernity and standardization into the learning of Arabic language and Islamic culture in West African sub-region, especially Nigeria.

No 20th century Muslim scholar, dead or alive, has had such a profound impact on West African Muslim communities, in terms of Arabic scholarship and Islamic propagation as Shaykh Adam

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In quest of further knowledge

Unsatisfied with the depth of knowledge he acquired from those local clerics whose teaching methodology he resented, Shaykh Adam, decided to proceed abroad for further studies.

Shaykh Adam’s Academic Sojourn in Cairo. He arrived in Cairo, Egypt, in the early 1940s, where he had an academic sojourn at the prestigious Al-Azhar University which is the oldest University in the world today having been established about 970 C.E by one Jawhar, a ‘Fatimid’ front liner who made education his priority in life.

In Cairo, Sheikh Adam saw with admiration how well organized madrasahs were and dreamt of establishing one on his return to Nigeria. He studied the Egyptian curricula of education and methodology of teaching both at the elementary and secondary school levels The late Shaykh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory was both an Islamic scholar of international repute and a revolutionary.

The famous Centre for Arabic and Islamic Knowledge (Markaz) in Agege, Lagos State, continues to testify to the qualities and legacy of Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory.

Uniqueness of Markaz

The uniqueness of Markaz is not to be seen in the quality of education taught to the students alone. The modern teaching methodology and reformation with which the Institution is characterized confirm that uniqueness. For instance, it was in Markaz that the use of chalk and blackboard for teaching Arabic and Islamic education was first introduced in Southwest Nigeria. Hitherto, the teaching instruments were wooden slates and local ink.

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Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory (during 40 years anniversary of Markaz) It was in Markaz of all madrasahs, that a curriculum was first introduced which classified studies into subjects while pupils were distributed into classrooms according to their levels. It was in Markaz that pupils of Arabic and Islamic education first wore uniforms and sat on chairs rather than on bare floor while writing with pencil or pen in notebooks. It was in Markaz that written examination was first conducted as a means of assessing and promoting pupils from class to class while certificates were issued to successful madrasah graduates as a measure of their level of education. It was in Markaz that such facilities as dormitories, library, printing press and clinic were first provided for students.

Establishment of Secondary School

Still burning in an ambition to build quality human beings, Shaykh Adam decided to add a secondary stage of education called Thanawiyyah in the Arab world but decided to name it At-Tawjihi meaning ‘Pre-University institute’. That was in 1964. This innovation made it possible for students of Markaz who had completed their elementary education in Arabic and Islamic studies to surge ahead and get prepared for University education. It was an idea that created ambition in most graduates of Markaz to become like Shaykh Adam in future. The idea thus propelled the ambition in most of

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those Markaz graduates to proceed to the Arab world for further studies.

Today, the result is manifest.

Markaz Arabic School, Agege, Lagos,Nigeria Antagonism

However, for doing all these and for teaching students such subjects as syntax, morphology, logic, semantics, philosophy, geography, History, Mathematics, and Literature, Shaykh Adam was confronted with implacable hostility by the local, traditional Alfas who saw the new revolution as a cultural affront. That hostility became aggravated when Shaykh Adam added a Central Jum’at Mosque different from that of Agege Township to Markaz where he was translating the Friday Arabic sermon into Yoruba language. But the courageous scholar remained undaunted.

First Graduation Ceremony With the first graduation ceremony of Markaz in 1957, however, which many people watched with admiration, Sheikh Adam won a landmark

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victory for his revolution. Following that graduation, some ambitious local Alfas swallowed their pride by shelving their envy and enrolled in Markaz as students to improve their knowledge and undergo tutelage in the modern teaching methodology.

Some of these Alfas came from various parts of Nigeria as well as neighbouring countries like Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote de Voire, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon as well as Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal. After graduation, all of them went back to their home countries to establish similar Institutions in their domains under the supervisory umbrella of Markaz.

Graduates of Markaz Today, thousands of graduates of Markaz and those of the affiliate Institutions are University graduates in various fields of discipline. Scores of them are highly placed in their professional callings.

Today, Markaz can proudly regale in the galaxy of its alumni who are holding sway in virtually all fields of human endeavour. Among these are Professors like Ishaq Olanrewaju Oloyede, a former Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin and now the Registrer of JAMB; Professor Abdur-Razak Deremi Abubakar, a former Vice Chancellor of Al-Hikmah University, Ilorin, Kwara State; The late Professor Shuaib Uthman, a former Deputy Vice Chancellor of Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto; Professor Murtada Aderemi Bidmus, a former Dean of the Faculty of Education, University of Lagos, to mention but just a few. There are many other Markaz alumni with Ph.D. degrees. There are also Medical Doctors; Lawyers; Engineers; Ambassadors; Journalists (including yours sincerely), Architects; Accountants; Bankers; Pharmacists; Surveyors; Civil Servants; Business men and women as well as Secondary School Principals and teachers; name it. They all exemplify the great Institution’s anthem which is often chanted emotionally with relish by the students and alumni of the citadel.

League of Imams in Yorubaland was highly initiated by late Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory after consultation with some Islamic scholars in the then Western Region. Among those consulted were Imam Abdullah Muhalli Baasunu, late Chief Imam of Ibadanland; Imam Jafaru, late Chief Imam of Abeokuta; Imam .

Late Shaikh Mustapha Zuglool Sunuusi is a native of Ikirun in Osun state. He was born on 18th of August 1938. He was one of the earliest students of

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Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-ilory. Sheikh Adam said a lot about the brilliancy of this special student of his. He was truly his pride. He (Sheikh Adam) once said” if I’m asked by the angel on the day of Judgement, what good have you done? I would say – proudly- ‘I taught Zuglool’ “.

Among top Scholars he produced includes Sheikh Sulayman Raji, Late Sheikh Yahya Oke agodi,Sheikh Mashood Jibreel Al-Ketuwiyy,Sheihh Siddiq Faruuq,Sheikh Abdul-Wahab Zubair Al-Ghamawiyy,Sheikh Daud Abdul Majeed Alfanla,Late Sheikh Murtala, Sheikh Late Abdullahi Salaty,Late Shazili Sambo,Sheikh Sulyman Saruji,Sheikh Basha Agbaji,Late Sheikh Yunus Ya’qub,Sheikh Habeebullahi Adm Abdullahi AL-Ilory,Sheikh Thaoban Adam Abdullahi AL-Ilory,Sheikh Abdur-Rahman Saro,Sheikh AbdurRahman Sulayman Adangba,Sheikh Muhammad Beki,Sheykh MuhammadulAwwal,Late Sheykh Muhammad Muhaliyy Musa,Late Sheikh Abdul Ganiyyi Aribi,Sheikh Abdul Waheed Aribiyy,Sheikh Abdul-Lateef Salman,Sheikh Sulayman Faruuq Onikijipa,Sheikh Ishaq Aliyyu Alfanla Oloyin,Sheikh Daud Muhammadul Awwal,Sheikh Abdul Qadiri Aliyyu Alfanla Oloyin,Sheikh Abdul Qadiri Muhammadul-Awwal,Sheikh Ishaq Abdul Hameed,Sheikh Yusuf Muhmmadl-Awwal,Sheikh Sulayman Muhammadul-Awwal,Sheikh Abdul-Mu’mini Okin,Sheikh Abdrrazzaq Shughaba,Sheikh Jamaluddeen Adam Abdullahi,Sheikh Abdullahi Adam Abdullahi,Hajiya Rahmatallahi Adam Abdullahi,Sheikh Muhammad Jum’ah Adam,Sheikh Sufyan Adam Abdullahi,Hajiya Arafah Adam Abdullahi,Hajiya Radiya Adam Abdullahi,Sheikh Imran Abdul-Majeed Eleha,Sheikh Abdu-Razzaq Attakbeeriyy,Sheikh Sulayman Aliyyu Oloyin.

Sheikh Adam spread truthfulness and uprightness throughout his life, his public lectures and sermons are available weekly on Radio Lagos. Eko FM, Tiwantiwa. He discussed educative topics in his series of lectures such as important of education, soul and death, life, marriage, law, solutions to Nigerian problem, Islam in focus, teachings of prophet Muhammad.

(PB.U.H).

Shaykh Adam was a prolific writer and a multi-talented scholar. He wrote well over hundred books, journal articles and manuscripts on Islam and other related subjects. A lot of his books have been used as source documents for a number of B.A., long essays, M.A dissertations, Doctoral Thesis and articles in recognized journals. His book, Al-lslaamu fin-

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NIayjiriyaa, is one of the most consulted references on the history of Islam in Nigeria by different scholars all over the world. Another book, MisbaaudDirasatil-Adabiyyah Fid-Diyaarin-Nayjiriyyaa is a text book for Arabic literature on Nigeria at University of llorin M.A. syllabus for Arabic.

Shaykh Adam delivered several lectures within and outside Nigeria during his life time. He led congregations at many international seminars organized by the Muslim Students' Society of Nigeria. He was regarded as the first person to present Friday Khutbah in both Arabic and Yoruba. Aside this, he conducted daily tafseer for about four hours in the morning periods of Ramadan and public lectures in the evenings.

Shaykh Adam was a renowned Islamic scholar of international recognition.

He was a distinguished Muslim scholar who contributed immensely to the promotion of Islamic Dawah and to the progress of Arabic and Islamic education. Shaykh Adam, a fearless and tireless preacher, founded the League of Imams in the South West and was its Secretary General till he died in 1992.His work while on earth still enjoys continuous relevance and referrals to date. He was the first scholar from llorin to bear Al-llory meaning true son of llorin. In recognition of his contributions to scholarship, the Egyptian government honoured him in 1989 with the country's highest honour.

His Great Contribution To know the great contribution of this colossal personality to the positive spread of Islam and development of Arabic language in the West African sub-region, Markaz has produced many scholars, leaders, professors since the establishment of Markaz till date. The late Shaykh Adam Abdullah AlIlory was both an Islamic scholar of international repute and a revolutionary.

The famous Centre for Arabic and Islamic Knowledge (Markaz) in Agege, Lagos State, continues to testify to the qualities and legacy of Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory.

Shaykh Adam’s Ascetic Lifestyle Despite Shaykh Adam’s financial constraints, and his close relationship with the Arab world, he never sought financial aid from any foreign country. Not

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only did he believe that such a quest was capable of undermining one’s social status and dignity; he also resented begging in whatever form as a means of fulfilling an ambition. Naturally, Shaykh Adam was an ascetic person who shunned avarice in all its ramifications. And due to his ascetic nature, he was highly respected by personalities like the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto; the late General Murtala Muhammed; the late Bashorun MKO Abiola, the late General Abdul Baqi Babatunde Idiagbon and even Chief Olusegun Aremu Obasanjo, a two term President of Nigeria’s fourth republic.

League of Imams and Alfas In 1963, Shaykh Adam initiated the formation of the League of Imams and Alfas of the South West of Nigeria to which he served as Secretary-General till his demise in 1992. After the establishment of that League, he turned down his nomination as President and preferred to serve as SecretaryGeneral. He was also the initiator and leader of the ten man team that translated the Qur’an from Arabic into Yoruba.

Orator and Islamic Preacher Shaykh Adam was a very powerful orator and vociferous Islamic preacher who used his Friday sermon as well as his Ramadan Tafsir (exposition of the Qur’an) to create Islamic consciousness among all Muslims in West Africa. In his sermons and open door preaching, he never spared any government of the day on issues of corruption, human rights abuse, democracy, economic mismanagement and arrogance of power.

As an author of scores of scholarly books and booklets, Shaykh Adam was internationally acknowledged as a towering Islamic scholar whose contribution to Islamic scholarship and propagation in West Africa remained unequalled in the 20th century. Some of his books were being used in some Universities in the Arab world.

A great International Islamic Scholar, educationist, administrator, teacher, a leader and a man with a great knowledge of the Quran and Arabic Language.

He had been able to achieve so much and contributed his quotes to the development and propagation of Islamic study through his uncountable lectures both nationally and internationally. A recipient of so many National and International awards amongst which are

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* Egypt National award for Art and Science 1989 * Mauritania National Award and lots more This Training Centre which is now a legacy and a citadel of knowledge is part of his achievement while on earth The Founder has written several books while on earth as part of his contribution to the Islam and the country in general, amongst which are:1-ASEEM SOBA (Early morning breeze) 2-ASLU KOBAAIL YORUBA ( The history of origin of Yoruba race ) 3-AL ISLAM FI NIGERIA ( Islam in Nigeria ) 4-AL' ISLAAMUL-YAOMA WAGADAN FI NIGERIA ( Islam, Today and Tomorrow in Nigeria ) 5-MISBAAU DIRAASAATI ( Light to Education ) 6-AL' ISLAAMU BINALI-HAQEEQATI WAL-WAKI’I ( The true stand of Islam ) 7-AL’EEDUL-'ARBAUUNA ( Forty years anniversary of Markaz) 8--MARKAZU TALEEMIL-ARABIYYI (Arabic Training Centre ) 9-MU’JAZU TA’REEKHI NIGERIA ( Short history of Nigeria ) 10-MAA LAA YU’LAMU ALAYHI ULAMAAU BILADI YORUBA (Why the Yoruba Alfas should not be blamed) 11-TAOHEED (Oneness ) 12-LAM’AT BILAORI ( The shine of the Ilorin Clergymen ) 13-SORFU LIL’INAMI ( The turning away from destruction to eternity ) 14-DAORUT-TASOWWUFATIS-SAAFIYAH (The role of clean Sufism ) 15-NISOMUT-TA’LEEMUL-ARABIYYAH WAL-ISLAMIYYAH (The curriculum of Arabic Training and Islam)

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16-HUQUUQUL-INSAANI ( The human rights ) 17-TAQREER SIMSILIL- MARKAZ ( The success of Markaz ) 18-AL-ISLAAM WAT-TAQOLEEDUL-JAAHILI ignorance)

(Islam and civilization of

19-AL-ISLAM DEENU WAD-DAOLAH ( Islam: Religion and the Government ) 20-MUNAFASAH BAYNALI-ARABIYYATI WAL-INGILIZIYYAH competition between Arabic and English Language)

(The

21-BIDAYATUS-SOLAATUL-JUM’AH FIL MARKAZ ( Beginning of Jum’atu Prayer in Markaz ) 22-TAOJEEHUD-DA’WAH ( The guidance of Dawah ) 23-TA’REEKHUD-DA’WAH BAYNAL AMSI WALYAOM of Dawah Yesterday and Today ).

( The history

His scholarly work is widespread throughout Nigeria, North Africa, Middle East and South East Asia, he was a great historian, Erudite Jurist, Linguist.

Shaykh Adam (May Almighty Allah be pleased with him) says in his bookTaojeehud-Da’wah, "Some of the orientalists mistakenly considered me...from the Wahhabi Hanbalis [due to the Shaykh's campaign for reviving the Sunnah and abandoning innovation]...and then others imagined I was a Qadiri or Tijani Sufi, the reality is that I am a Muhammadi Muslim who follows every Imam that is a Muhammadi Muslim."

"People claim that I am a sufi (practitioner of tasawwuf). I respond, "Yes, I am a sufi as long as tasawwuf refers to knowledge, action, compassion, spiritual ecstasy, orthodox belief, and Divinely inspired knowledge. I am a sufi as long as tasawwuf is but an elaboration of Ihsan (inner goodness & excellence), the third part of the true path completed by Islam (outward practice) and Iman (faith).”

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"I am a sufi as long as tasawwuf indicates the purification of the soul with mandated acts of obedience to God accompanied by voluntary acts performed seeking Divine proximity. I am a sufi as long as tasawwuf means struggling to overcome the ego and emigrating from sin, due to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (God bless and grant peace to him and his family): 'The true emigrant is the one who emigrates from sin and the true warrior is the one who battles against base desires "I am a sufi as long as tasawwuf means indifference to what is with people and yearning for that which is with God. And I am a sufi only if tasawwuf signifies the unveiling of unseen realities and inspired knowledge of God the Creator.

I am a sufi that is both Qadiri and Tijani because my father was Qadiri and I completed my religious studies at the hand of the Qadiri Master Shaykh Adam Nam'aji of Kano. However, I began my studies with two masters who were both Tijani, Shaykh Salih Muhammad al-Awwal the Preacher and Shaykh Umar al-Abaji the Imam (God have mercy upon them all)."

On the contrary, there are some people who claim that I am a salafi (strict follower of the earliest Muslims). I respond, "Yes, I am a salafi as long as salafiyya indicates taking as a model and following the earliest Muslim generations, due to the saying of Prophet Muhammad (God bless and grant peace to him and his family):'The best of generations is mine, then those who follow them, then those who follow them.'

"I am a salafi only if salafiyya signifies inviting others to adhere to the Book of God and the lifestyle of Prophet Muhammad (God bless and grant peace to him and his family) without denigrating or condemning anyone!

"I am a salafi without wielding a stick against anyone from amongst the earlier or later Muslim community.

"And I am a salafi as long as salafiyya refers to holding to the Sacred Law with practices based on what is flexible and evolving rather than that which is rigid and narrow."MY FATHER was a Qaadiriyyah Sufi,I started learningthe quran from him,I studied under the tutelage of Alfa Esin who was a Tijaniyyah.I learnt with Alfa Umar (Imam of Agbaji,ilorin) who was a

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Tijaniyyah.I finished studies with Sheikh Adam Nma’ji who was a Qadiriyyah.Alfa Salman Ake was the first to initiate me into the Qaadiriyyah, after which I took it from Alfa Nda Salaatee.I also took from Alfa Adam Nama’ji (Kano).I took it from the Gabas (East).I took from Sheu Naasiru Kabara (Kano).I also got iniated (in the Qaadiriyyah branch branch) of Shehu Uthman dan Fodio) I became Khaleefah (of Sufi Order) through Shehu Malik Shabdabu ‘in’’ Kishajamu: (which consists of :Naqshabandiyyah ,Junaydiyyah, Shaadhiliyyah,Marjaniyyah and Qadiriyyah)’’. But (my role) in teaching people Islamic Knowledge made me retrogress (in the khilaafah of the spiritual paths), the reason for this is:If one upholds the Tareeqah/Spiritual path, one caters for his Self/Soul (personal Salvation),and he won’t be able to cater for others’’.

It was reported by late Sheikh Abdulraheem Ameenullahi, Oniwasi Agbaye in one of his lectures saying that Sheikh Adam Abdullahi ‘trekked far and wide in search of a white man who was the only one in possession of Arabic dictionary in the whole of Yoruba-land that time. As it was not the era of computer, Sheikh Adam got the dictionary and copied it with his hand’.

Shaykh Adam attained his status in scholarship mostly through self-effort by reading and writing. He related the influence of some scholars who happened to be his role model. He is quoted to have said: “I love history like my father and was influenced a great deal by eminent scholars of the town.

Others that influenced me (in academic activities) include Shaykh Waziri Bida, Adam Namaji and as-Sayuti in literary works, Ibn Khaldun and alGhazali in research activities”.

The contribution of Shaykh Adam to Arabic and Islamic learning in Nigeria at large and in Yoruba-land in particular cannot be over-emphasized. He achieved wonderful success in this regard through the establishment and management of an Arabic Training Centre popularly called Markaz at Agege, Lagos. The school has offshoots in different parts of Yorubaland and West African coun-tries such as Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana and Ivory Coast. On 5th May, 2002, the Markaz marked its golden jubilee where Prof.

Shuaib Oba Abdur-Raheem, formerly Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin was honoured in recognition of his excellence in public service.

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Sheikh Adam was the first scholar in sub-saharan Africa to be recognized by President Husni Mubarak of Egypt, 1989 acting on the recommendation of al-Azhar University, with an award of the first category in erudition in sciences and arts in 1989. Another activity of Shaykh Adam Al-Iluri which is not less in importance is preaching which motivated not only Yoruba Muslims but also Muslims throughout the federation as well as nonMuslims. He used to organize Tafsir sessions in Markaz where topical issues on different aspects of Islam were discussed with thunderous ovations from the audience.

The production of literary works in Arabic on virtually all branches of Arabic and Islamic Studies has made the people of south western Nigeria to be inward-looking for erudition in Arabic learning in contrast to the erstwhile tendency to consider their northern neighbours as the sole authorities. These literary products of well over seventy-seven books published by respectable publishers around the world in addition to over eleven poems have received deserved academic attention. We shall quickly look at one of his verse works.

May Almighty Allah be pleased with him and grant him Al-Jannah. (Amen)