Ilorin, the capital of Kwara State, Nigeria, has played a significant role in the history of the spread and growth of Islam in Yoruba land in general and in Igbomina land in particular. Little wonder why renowned authors of history have described the city as “an Islamic light house, a local Mecca to which Yoruba Muslims turned for study and guidance”. This ancient Islamic sanctuary has also been described by historical experts as “the springboard from where Islamic missionary activities began to be launched into the heart of Yorubaland”. Igbominaland is a notable dialectical area among the Yoruba in Nigeria. Available works on Islam in Igbominaland did not specifically discuss the roles of Ilorin Scholars in the growth and development of Islam in Igbominaland. Also missing is none documentation of how Ilorin Scholars based in Lagos impacted on the Igbomina people in Lagos. Apart from digging deep into the roles played by highly revered Ilorin Muslim scholars in the growth and development of Islam in Igbominaland, the missing links are to be discussed in this paper. To achieve this objective, historical and phenomenological research methods were adopted, coupled with interviews and references to the works of some past authors. It concluded by re-establishing the truth in the belief that Ilorin Muslims, by and large, cannot go without mention in discussing the spread and development of Islam to and in Igbomina land as Igbomina people are known to have been impacted upon by Ilorin at home and outside their places of origin…
Source: World Journal of Islamic History and Civilization
Click here to read more.