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A Study of Contributions of Selected Muslim Scholars to the Development of Tafsirin in Northern Nigeria from 1970 – 2010

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A Study of Contributions of Selected Muslim Scholars to the Development of Tafsirin in Northern Nigeria from 1970 – 2010 A STUDY OF CONTRIBUTIONS OF SELECTED MUSLIM SCHOLARS TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF TAFSIRIN IN NORTHERN NIGERIA FROM 1970 – 2010 BY ABDULLAHI MUHAMMAD B.A., M.A., P.G.E. (U.D.U.S). (Ph.D /EDUC/5026/ 2009-10,(-A.B.U). A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA – NIGERIA. IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTORATE DEGREE IN ISLAMIC STUDIES DEPARTMENT OF ARTS AND SOCIAL SCIENCE EDUCATION (ISLAMIC STUDIES SECTION), AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA - NIGERIA FEBRUARY, 2016 i DECLARATION I write to declare that this thesis has been written by me and that it is the report of my research. It has not been presented in any previous application for the award of higher degree. The information derived from the literature has been duly acknowledged in the text and list of references provided. ___________________ ________________ Abdullahi Muhammad Date ii CERTIFICATION This dissertation titled “A study of contribution of selected Muslim scholars to the development of Tafsir in Northern Nigeria from 1970-2010” by Abdullahi Muhammad, meets the regulations for the award of degree Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic studies of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. It is therefore approved for its contribution to knowledge and literary presentation ____________________________ __________________ Prof. Abdul-Qadir Aliyu Ladan, Date Chairman, Supervisory Committee _____________________________________ __________________ Prof. Fathuddin Sayed Muhammad Koya Date Member, Supervisory Committee ____________________________ __________________ Dr. Mustapha Isah Qasim, Date Member, Supervisory Committee. ____________________________ __________________ Dr.Abdullahi Dalhatu Date Head of Department of Arts and social Science Education ____________________________ __________________ Prof. K.Bala Date Dean Postgraduate School. iii DEDICATION This work is dedicated to my late parents Malama A‟ishah, and Mal. Muhammad Abulqadir, my brother Mal.Muhammad (Dan-Malam), my sisters, my children, and entire Muslims in general. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In thename of Allah, the Beneficent the Merciful, May His peace and blessings be upon His last messenger Muhammad (SAW), members of his family, companions, the followers and all those who follow their footsteps in complete obedience to Allah and His Messenger (SAW) until the Day of Judgment. Allah says: "And whoever is grateful for his gratitude is only for himself"( al-Nahl, V.40) I wish to express my profound gratitude to my major and minor supervisors; Prof. A.A Ladan, Prof. F.S.M. Koya and Dr. Mustapha Isah Qasim for their guidance,support and encouragement throughout the period of this work.May Allah reward them abundantly. I also owe great gratitude to Dr. Abdullahi Dalhatu of (Islamic Studies Section), for his contributions. Similarly, I also appreciate the contribution of Dr. Muhammad Yahya Mujahid,(Head of Islamic Studies Unit of the Department of Arts and Social Science Education, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for his invaluable inputs. I sirmilarly wish to express my gratitude to other members of the academic staff ofthe Islamic Studies Units, such as Dr.Abubakar Sani Birnin Kudu,Dr.Abubakar Isma‟il (Shika),Malam Abdullahi Danyaro,Malam Muhammad Tambaya,and Malam Yusha‟u Sabo for their usefull advice and contributions towards the success of this work. I equally wish to express my gratitude to Prof. Y.Y. Ibrahim of the Department of Islamic Studies of Usman Danfodiyo University, Sokoto for his constructive guidance and advice in making this research a reality. I am similarly, most grateful to the family of Shaykh Abba Aji Maiduguri, for their cooperation in providing all the necessary materials for this research. Indeed, it is quite befitting to mention Muhammad Abba Aji, Abdussalam Abba Aji and Abubakar Abba Ajifor their contributions. Like wise, I must appreciate the contributions of Sheikh Ibrahim Mustapha Maiduguri, for giving me time to discuss with him at his residence in Maiduguri. I also want to register my gratitude to Shaykh Sani Yahya Jingir for his audience. I appreciate Dr. Sani Abbas of the Department of Islamic Studies, Bayero University Kano for his encouragement and advice which aided the success of this work. I wish to appreciate the effort of the entire staff of Ahmadu Bello University who assisted v in one way or the other for the success of this work. I am also most grateful to M. Mustapha, the son of Sheikh Sidi Attahir Ibrahim (Sokoto) for providing some of CD plates containing Sheikh Attahir Ibrahim‟s Tafsir. I also want to register my gratitude to the Deputy Vice Chancellor (Acadamics) Kaduna State University in person of Dr. A.K.Babajo. For his moral encouragement helped greatly in facilitating the speedy completion of this work. I would like to acknowledge the support of Dean of the faculty of Arts, Kaduna State University, in person of Prof. Ibrahim Malumfashi for his encouragement and advice. I also appreciate the advice and encouragement by my colleagues who directly or indirectly contributed towards the successful completion of this work. They are: Dr. Umar Ishaq Adam, Dr. Ahmad al-Mardhi, Dr. Umar Labdo and Dr.Amman Kursa, University of Maiduguri, Dr. Salisu Aliyu Department of Arabic Kaduna State University. I highly appreciate their contributions. These acknowledgements would be incomplete if the names of Ja‟afar Agaji Abdullahi, Malam Abdul-Qadir Isah Dutse are not mentioned. I appreciate my typist, Kamal Yunus who typed the work from the beginning to the end. May Allah reward them abundantly. I must be grateful to the entire members of my family for the moral support and encouragement throughout this research exercise. May Allah reward them in abundance.I would like to express my gratitude to the authority of the Kaduna State University, Kaduna for sponsoring the research. Finally, may Allah reward those who helped directly or indirectly towards the successful completion of this work, Amin. ` vi ABSTRACT The research is “A study of the contributions of selected Muslim scholars to the development of Tafsir in Nothern Nigeria from 1970-2010”. Among the research objectives is to evaluate the methodology and impact of some selected Mufassirun in Muslim areas.Also, to identify styles and methodolgy of reform and impact of the scholars teachings through Tafsir, its also to identify solution(s) to the stated problems of Tafsir through the study of the activitiesof the personalities understudy. The selected scholars for the study are; Shiekh Sidi Attahir Ibrahim, Sheikh Ja‟afar Mahmud Adam, and Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Abba Aj. The research discussed their methodology in Tafsȋ r, their sources, the establishment of their Tafsȋ r circles, how people view their Tafsȋ r, the area of emphasis of each, their role in reforming Ummah, their contributions towards peace between muslins and non-Muslims.The challenges encounteredd in the process of desserminating of Tafsir.The lessons to be learnt in their contributions,among others.In the process of carrying out this research, the instruments used for collecting data include; Radio cassettes, audio and video CD‟s plates, interviews with the families of the scholars as well as their students. The researchfound out their contribution in all sectors, such as religion, social, economy, education, peace and unity, among others, through their Tafsȋ r. Summary, recommendations and conclusion were also being provided at the end of the research. vii ABBREVIATIONS (SAW) Ṣ allallahu Alaihi Wasallam (SWT) Subhȃ nahu Wata'ala (AS) Alaihi al-Salam (AH) After Hijrah (CE) Christian era (RA) Raḍ iyallahu Anhu JIBWIS Jamȃ 'atu Izȃ latil Bid'a Wa'iqȃ mati al-Sunnah IET Islamic Educational Trust JNI Jamȃ 'atu Nasril Islȃ m M.A Master in Art Ph.D Doctor of Philosophy B.A Bachelor of Arts Ibid Ibedem Opcit: Opere citato HOD: Head of Department viii OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS - Tajwȋ d Proper way of reciting the Qur‟an - Taqwah Fear of God - Da‟awah Calling to Islam - Ibadȃ t Spirituals - Mufassir Interpreter of Qur‟anic text - Ta‟awil Interpretation - Tarȋ kh History - Ulamah Scholars - Wahy Inspiration from Allah - Asr Afternoon - Hikmah Wisdom - Sharȋ ‟ah Islamic Law - Shirkun Polytheism - Sihr Magic - Ṣ ubh: Morning - ahl-Alkitȃ b People of the Book mostly Jews and Christians and others - Ahȃ dȋ th: Plural of Hadith - al-Badȋ 'i: Art of figures of speech - al-Balȃ gha: Knowledge of Rhetoric - al-Bayȃ n: Shedding light upon or explanation - al-Ḍȃ lin: Those who have gone astray - al-Dhahiriyyah: The follower of Imam Dawud Zahiriyyah - al-Fȃ tiha: The first chapter in the Qur'ȃ n - al-Karȋ m: Generous - al-Kashf: Unveil - al-Kutub: Books - al-Ma'athȗ r: Qur‟anic Exegesis through Qur‟an and Hadith - al-Magḍ ȗ bi: Those earned the anger of Allah - al-Qirȃ 'ats: Various ways of Qur‟anic recitation - Al-Quwwah: Strength ix - al-Riwȃ yah: The narration - al-Siyȃ sah: Policy - Aqȋ dah: Creed - Ḍa'if: Weak - Dȃ r: House - Dȋ wan: Poetic works - Du'a: Prayers or suplication - Fassara: To interpret - Fȃ tir: Originator - Fatwah: Legal verdict - Fiqh: Law - Fiqhiyyah: Which has revelation with fiqh - Fuqaha: Scholars who specialized in Fiqh - Hadȋ th: Sayings, activities and silent approval of the Prophet (SAW) - Hajj: Pilgrimage - Hanafi: Related to Imam Abu Hanȋ fah School of law - Harfiyyah: Literalism - Hijrah: Migration - Iddah: Waiting period for divorce or widow - Ijmȃ ‟a: Consensus of Muslim Scholars - Ijtihȃ d: Exertion of ability in Shari‟ah - Imȃ m: Leader especially who leads prayers - Imȃ miyyah: A branch of Shi‟ah - Isnad:
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