ln compliance with the Canadian Privacy Legislation sorne supporting forms may have been removed from this dissertation. While these forms may be included . in the document page count, their removal does not represent any loss of content from the dissertation. The Tijaniyya Order in Tamale, Ghana: Its Foundation, Organization and Role. By Mohammad S aani Ibrahim A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Master of Arts Institute of Islamic Studies McGill University, Montreal August, 2002 © Mohammad Saani Ibrahim 2002 National Library Bibliothèque nationale 1+1 of Canada du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisisitons et Bibliographie Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Ottawa ON K1A ON4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 0-612-88651-4 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 0-612-88651-4 The author has granted a non­ L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in microform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic formats. la forme de microfiche/film, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou aturement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. Canada Abstract of Thesis Author: Mohammad Saani Ibrahim Title: The Tijaniyya Order in Tamale, Ghana: Its Foundation, Organization and Role. Institute of Islamic Studies, McGill University. Department: -' . Degree: M.A. The thesis explores the historical background, activities and organization of the Tijaniyya ~üfi order in the Tamale District of Ghana. After a survey of the history of Islam's penetration of sub-Saharan Africa, and the role of ~üfi orders in this process generally, the thesis looks at the founder of the Tijaniyya, ~mad al- Tij an! (d. 1815 A.D.), his beliefs and the spread of these beliefs in the Dagbon area and, ultimately, the Tamale District. This is followed by an overview of the order's salient doctrines, and especially those teachings that are more or less unique to the Tamale region and that have awakened the ire of local Wahhabiyya members (Munchires). A look at the Tijaniyya local organizations and institutions cornes next, wb.ich forms a backdrop to the discussion of the cross-section of the conflicts that have ensued between the order and its opponents in the Wahhabiyya movement. It will be seen that the Tijaniyya has had a considerable impact on the social fabric of the region, especially in terms of its ability to maintain the integrity of this fabric and its efforts at promoting non-violence between religious groups in the area. Our analysis concludes with a look at the series of reconciliation efforts made to find a lasting solution to the conflicts. Résumé Auteur: Mohammad Saani Ibrahim Titre: L'Ordre Tijaniyya~a Tamale, Ghana: Sa Fondation, son Organisation et Son Role. Département: Institut d'Études Islamiques: Université McGill Diplôme: Maîtrise Cette t4ese traite du contexte historique, des activités et de l'organisation de l'ordre soufi Tijaniyya du district de Tamale du Ghana. Dans cette t4ese, une étude générale de l'histoire de la progression de la foi islamique en Afrique de l'Ouest sera suivie d'une enquête sur le fondateur de l'ordre Tijanniya, Ahmad al-Tijani(d. 1815 ap J. -C.), ainsi que sur ses croyances et la diffusion de son credo dans la région du Dagbon et finalment au district de Tamale. Ceci sera développé par une vue d'ensemble des doctrines saillantes de l'ordre, dans laquelle les enseignements qui sont plutôt uniques va la région de Tamale et ceux qui ont provoqué la co!ere de la population Wahhabiyya (les Munchires) seront mis en évidence. Un aperçu des organisations et institutions de la région suivra, ce qui suscitera une discussion des conflits variés entre les membres de l'ordre et leurs adversaires dans le mouvement Wahhabiyya. Il sera démontré que l'ordre Tijaniyya a une influence importante sur la société dans lac région, surtout puisqu'il est capable de soutenir la stabilité des structures régionales, et d'encourager des rapports non-violents entre les groupes religieux de la zone. La conclusion de cette analyse porte sur les nombreuses tentatives de réconcilliation qui ont été entreprises pour résoudre définitivement les conflits. 11 Acknowledgements Where do 1 begin and where do 1 end? Space does not allow me to incIude the names of many who were instrumental in my successfully completing this study, but certain names stand out. Particularly deserving of my profound gratitude is my indefatigable and inspiring supervisor, Professor A. Uner Turgay, direct or of the Institute ofIslamic Studies. To him 1 give my warmest thanks for his constant encouragement and support throughout the hustle and bustle of writing this thesis. To Professors E. Ormsby and B. Kuspinar of the Institute go my thanks for offering me vital suggestions and cIues as to sources for my research. 1 must also thank Mr. Steve Millier for his patience and zeal in editing the thesis. My gratitude also go to Ann Yaxley, Dawn Richardson and Usha Vieira of the office of the Institute, for their perfect blend of sincere affection and calm efficiency in aIl my interactions and dealings with them. The staff members of the Islamic Studies Library especially Salwa Ferahian and Wayne St. Thomas, have my thanks for being ever ready to make needed books available to me. To my father al-I:I'iijj Ibrahim ijasan Turzon, who has always encouraged me and constantly prays for my success, 1 also offer my deepest thanks. 1 do thank Dr. Abdulai Sulemana of Comic Relief Organization in London, Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, the CUITent secretary general for the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and and al-ijajj Mu4ammad Amin Gomdah, President of the Islamic Center of Quebec mosque for their role in making my stay at McGill possible. 1 would like also to thank aIl my colleagues especially Zakyi and Khalil of the Institute, Amin Alhassan and Saani Habib of Concordia University for their encouragement and friendship. My siblings ijajj Alhassan and Master 'Abd Ra4man 1 offer my thanks for their support. My utmost thanks and appreciation go to my wife Kulsoom and my two daughters Saratu and Khadijah, who have given me aIl their understanding and provided a congenial atmosphere in which to pursue my research and writing. Finally, let me dedicate this thesis to my deceased, loving mother Saratu Osman, May her soul rest in perfect peace. 111 Table of Contents Abstract i Resume ii Acknowledgements iii Table of Contents iv INTRODUCTION 1 CHAPTER ONE: 1. ISLAM IN TAMALE 1. Northern Ghana Prior to the Coming of Islam 5 2. The Corning ofIslam to Sub-Saharan Africa 7 3. Tamale, the Case Study Area 15 - - II. THE FOUNDER OF THE TIJANIYY A ORDER: ABU AL-' ABBAS AI-:I~1~ IBN MlJ1:IAMMAD IBN AL-TIJANI 1. His Life 16 2. His initiation into ~lifism 18 3. His encounter with Prominent ~lifis 19 4. His Late Life 4.1. Pilgrimage to Mecca 20 4.2. At Medina 25 4.3. In Cairo 25 4.4. Death of Shaykh Tijani 27 Notes 29 CHAPTER TWO: - - 1. THE TIJANIYY A ORDER (NA WUN-NYERIBA), INDAGBON 32 II. The Doctrines and Practices of the Tijaniyya 36 III. Local Practices and Controversial Doctrines 38 IV. The Tarbiya in Tijaniyya 43 V. Litanies 51 Notes 56 CHAPTER THREE: 1. THE ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE TIJANIYY A IN DAGBON SETTING 58 II. Discipleship (MurId) 59 III. Deputy of the Shaykh (Muqqadam) 64 1. Al-ijajj Abdulai-Baba Gomdah-Y endi 66 2. Shaykh Alhassan Na~ir al-Dln 67 3. Al-ijajj 'Umar Karachi 67 4. Al-ijajj Ablibakr Zeng 68 IV S. Shaykh al-ijajj Tahir Zogbeli 68 6. Shaykh Hamzah Muntaka 69 IV. THE SHAYKH 1. Shaykh IbrahIm Niass of Kaolack, Senegal: His Genealogy and Birth 70 2. His Ascent to the Post of Shaykh 72 3. The Convents (zawaya) 79 Notes 82 CHAPTER FOUR: 1. THE RELIGIOUS, SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ROLE OF THE TIJANIYY A IN GHANA AND ITS STRUGGLE WITH THE W AHHABIYYA ORDER 1. Wedding Ceremony 84 2. Naming Ceremony 86 3. Funeral Rites 88 II. The Pkenomenon of Spiritual Healing (Tibby) 90 III. Wahhabiyya Doctrines 94 IV. Afa Ajura and Wahhabiyya Institutions in Tamale 96 V. Open Confrontations and Clashes 101 VI. Efforts at Reconciliation 107 CONCLUSION 111 Notes 119 Appendix 121 Bibliography 129 v INTRODUCTION. In a paper delivered by Professor J. O. Hunwiek to a seminar at the University of Ghana in 1976 entitled " The Is1amie theme in Ghanaian history ," 1 he aeknowledged that the topie of Islam in Ghanaian history cries out for researeh. To quote his aetual words: A very real reason, and one less embarrassing to myself, is that very little has yet been attempted in this field. The entire bibliography of this subjeet, so far as I have been able to discover, runs to less than thirty items, of these only one is a full-Iength book, five are unpublished theses and of the remainder most are journal articles - sorne of only a page or two.2 From the -above, one can envisage the enormity of the challenges that someone writing on Islam in Ghana in general, and the north of the country in particular, is bound to face, especially since the northern region has been neglected by scholars.