Throwback Interview Series: “The Problems with us” – Sheikh Habibullah Al-Ilory
Interview with Sheikh Muhammad Habibullah Adam Abdullah El-ilory first published in the Ramadan/Shawwal 1425AH (2004) print edition of The PEACE Magazine.
In some years ago, the voice of Late Sheikhul Islam, Adam Al-Ilori, Baba Moricass, vibrated round the country. While behind the microphone, he would be, effortlessly, impart knowledge into the brains of millions of Nigerians who were his admirers and listeners. Though few hated him for his boldness, frankness and sincerity, they could not hide their appreciation for his brilliant display of sonorous rendition of the glorious Qur’an and almost spotless interpretation of the Qur’an and the Hadith as he held them spell-bound. Until his death in 1992, the vicinity of the Moricas in Agege, a suburb in Lagos, Nigeria, was always filled to the brim with Muslims from far and wide, all in an attempt to listen to his frank and bold sermons. He cared less whose horse he gored as he addressed issues as they were and for many years, he preached unity, oneness and commitment of every Muslim towards the uplift and the growth of Islam in Nigeria, Africa and eventually, the world.
Unfortunately however, many years after his demise, the Ummah is still drabbed in the cloak of immense problems which are becoming too overbearing on the development that have been hitherto achieved before now. In the light of this, we, at THE PEACE (AS-SLAAM) MAGAZINE, decided to seek the view(s) of one of Baba’s children who is presently the Mudir, (Director) of the best legacy Baba left behind; the Moricass School of Arabic and Islamic studies, Agege.
Sheikh Habibullah Adam Al-Ilori is known to many. His vivid understanding of the Islamic world and his movement across some parts of the world have created an international exposure that has endeared him to many who listen to his comparative analyses of issues as concerned Islam, Nigeria and the world. His sterling display of understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith and command of the Arabic language as he professionally deliver sermons, lectures and tafsirs make him the toast of our editorial team as we present him to you in this year’s Ramadan edition With Abdulfattah Abdussalam, he torches The Problems Facing The Ummah.
What do you think are the problems facing the Ummah?
As I perceive it, the problem is the Ummah itself. I think the Ummah does not really understand what Islam is as its religion. If you ask a Muslim what is his/her religion, he/she will tell you ‘I am a Muslim,’ but when you ask him her what it entails to be a Muslim, who is a Muslim or what Islam means, he would start gesticulating. There is a clear cut distinction between the reality of today’s Ummah and the Ummah of the yesteryears no doubt. The position of the Ummah and the status of some of the members of the Ummah negate what or where the Ummah should be and what is on ground and if Allah has not permitted you to know who or where you are, there will be difficulty in knowing where you are going. Also, ethnicity, bigotry and tribalism contribute a lot to these problems. Islam teaches one brotherhood. The Prophet of Islam says the brotherhood of Islam is thicker than blood relations. What Allah wills for us is different from what we are willing for ourselves. We are ignorantly existing, even in Islam. There are differences among mere practices. When Islam came, it abolished all patrimonies to racism. A Muslim is a Muslim first before other things and he must be firstly considered as your brother!
What are the roles of the Clerics in these problems?
The Cleries have the larger role to play in these. They are the mirrors of Islam and people, Muslims, see them as models so in all their endeavors, whether in private or in public, they should be upright. Again, since their sermons serve a great deal in re-shaping the lives of the Muslims. they must stress, flog and over-flog the issues of oneness, unity, understanding. faith and tolerance as these are the banes of Islam in Nigeria, and by extension, the world. The Clerics are, in fairness to some of them, doing their best but these problems have, in most cases, gone beyond what we think or see on the periphery. The southern and the northern Muslims, for instance, do not see themselves as one. They say the southern Muslims are not serious Muslims. The southern Muslims, however, see the northerners as extremists, bigots and too daring, always ready to fight at the slightest argument. Politics has also been noticed as a cankerworm in these problems. The fate of Islam is becoming slack by the day and the Christians keep capitalizing on these. I think the Clerics should also supplicate to Allah (swt) to wipe out poverty in Islam. Poverty is a cane that is seriously flogging Muslims today despite the immense wealth and exposure we have.
What about the NSCIA?
The Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs in Nigeria is a brain child of Jammatul Nasir-il- Islam. It has a different mode of operation. NSCIA is headed by the Sultan of Sokoto. The first Sultan was Sultan Bello. Uthman Dan Fodio did not carry the name, Sultan Bello was a scholar to the core. He had many literary works to his credit. He combined political leadership with the spiritual leadership. Sultan means authority. Anybody who possesses power or authorize is a Sultan. Later, the position became weakened because it became more of political than spiritual. Those that became the sultan after Bello were not as versed in Islamic knowledge as Bello was. The question now is: how can somebody who is Ignoramus or has limited knowledge of the Islamic religion lead and give authority? They are more of politicians who do not posses the spiritual knowledge. I do not think they have the spiritual understanding of the Qur’an and Hadith because if they do, these things would not be happening to the Ummah.
Do you think we can ever have the Amirul Mumeen?
I do not think it is possible. We have many societies and every society has its guidelines, its ways of doing things. For instance, Ansar-Ud-Deen, Nawair-Ud-Deen, NASFAT, etc: these organizations have different mannerisms and approaches to issues. Infact, recently, some groups called for unity, especially in the western region of the country while another called for unity in the southern part. I received an invitation from one group that is championing a cause. Another group also came for the same purpose but with different names, different stake holders, different everything except purpose. Again, that exposes us as Muslims. I asked them why can’t we have one group, doing the synchronization and co-ordination while other lends its support. To me, we may not really be progressing until we rise above our selfish intentions.
Are you suggesting that we learn from CAN?
The composition of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), from inception, is an insertion of all denominations. They were able to come for the sake of Jesus. Unfortunately. Muslims see unity differently. Despite the seeming oneness in our mode of worship, we are still poles apart. The Christians put behind their differences to fight a common course, to forge a front for a common goal, which we are not prepared to do.
In this age of technology, why can’t we have the commencement of Ramadan together, at least, in Nigeria?
During the time of the Prophet. sometimes, they started the fast in Mecca. He did not impose on other areas to commence fast. The Hadith says commence the fast when you sight the moon and terminate it when you sight the moon while the Quran says whoever witnesses the month should spend it in fasting! Therefore, one can use any means to sight the moon. Some of these instruments i.e., telescope, astrological stations, metrological instruments, satellites, ete are accurate in their predictions and useful in calculating the movement of the moon. It then means it would be a lot easier to sight the moon in modern times. Some people may not want to support that. They say the Prophet did not use these instruments. What we tell them in Moricas is that, during time of the Prophet, there were no Airplane, Television, vehicle, etc. Do we go to Hajj on Camels today? No! We must be ready to accept the sighting of the moon with these modern instruments in order to give us a united time to start and end the fast.
At 50, people have suggested that Moricas needs to incorporate western education and executive classes into its curriculum. Would you rather accede to these suggestions?Yes! Some courses and Programmes’ sessions have been introduced. We have incorporated executive classes in the curriculum. We agree on the executive classes for those who want to learn Arabic and know about Islamic studies. Alhamdulillahi, we are in it. We would make the learning more corporate for the adults who want to have knowledge! However, on introducing western education into the curriculum, we would not. We will not inject anything western. Our objective and goal, particularly with Baba (late Sheikh Adam) were to stem the diminishing status of Arabic and Islamic studies. Before the advent of colonial masters, Arabic was the means of communication in Yoruba and Hausa Land. When the colonialists came, they changed all these, thus homes that used to produce Imams, Alfas, etc are rather getting short of learned men. Therefore, Baba thought the only way he can sustain these homes was to command at the Moricas. Again, if you introduce western education, it will paralyze the system. We only encourage vocational training because we want everybody to b self-reliant.
Let us have a description of a day with Baba and a night with him…
Baba was always amidst his friend; interacting, solving problems, teaching, you would also see him writing, reading or listening to news. He never failed to listen to Nine O’clock News! In the night, he would continue with his activities including his Tahajjud. He was always ready for his Subhi at 5.30am and rest afterwards before the daybreaks. His intimate friends include Alhaji Dindi, the Missioner of Nawair-ud-Deen, Alhaji Abubakar, Alhaji Babatunde Jose, etc.
How would you describe his saddest day?
He gets sad if he sees anything wrong. The days Tafawa Balewa and Muritala Muhammad were killed as well as the day Buhari/Idiagbon’s regime was toppled could be described as his saddest days because he was sad. He was really touched! Particularly when Babanginda overthrew Idiagbon/Buhari because he was on the verge of settling a score between Idiagbon and Abiola before Idiagbon traveled. He was a father to all of them. More so, it was when Idiagbon travelled on Hajj that the coup took place. He was totally devastated. He reasoned that it was the highest level of treachery. He wondered why a Muslim brother would travel on Hajj only to be removed in his absence. He thought he should have been allowed to return. It was sad to him.
Why are Muslims poor?
Muslims are known to always depend on charily, to rely on others, to be given to and not to give out and there is no place in the Quran where allah (swt) praises those that receives but gives. It goes back to the basis; we do not understand Islam. Not only in moricas, we do not have the commitment. We are not committed to Allah’s cause. Our relationship with Allah is like the art of buying and selling; somebody who wants something from Allah will be coming to the mosque; praying vehemently but immediately his prayer is answered, he vanishes. Allah is far greater than we have to workshop him, because he is the Creator not because you need something from Him, which is why Muslims convert to other religions. The way out is for us to be committed to Allah.
What is your impression as regards Muslims and the world?
We are not terrorists. There could be some misleading ones amongst us though it is not only in Islam; it is across races and religions. Labeling us as terrorists is given a dog a bad name to hang it. Islam is the stumbling block to capitalism or the so-called new world order. Capitalism would survive by creating an enemy. When there was communism, Islam had no problem but now, it is the turn of Muslims and Islam is seen as a potential enemy to capitalism. The American government is fighting an unseen enemy; a war it can never win. The emphasis, however, should be made at this juncture that there are differences between the American people and American government and policies. If you go into the American society, you would find an American as a good person. Today, in America, the fastest growing religion is Islam. Going out in nudity, drinking, staging beauty pageants and gambling are not Islamic and when Muslims condemn such, it is seen is a threat to capitalism. Therefore, it is pertinent to create fear in the minds of many, so as to curb the rate Islam is growing. The fear is that, if Islam succeeds, it will lead to the crumbling of capitalism.
What is your vision for Moricas?
Since 1998 that I became the Mudir, my first mission was to raise the standard. We now have a website. Presently, Moricas has over 1000 students. The fee is, however, minimal. We are hoping to get affiliated to Bayero University soon because we have commenced our diploma courses. In the next years, Moricas shall be greater than what it is. We have an old students’ association, where old students meet but I will still advise that more of them come forward to help the school. The school needs to be improved upon in all ramifications, particularly on the Structures.
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