INTRA-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AMONG MUSLIM UMMAH (COMMUNITY) IN TAMALE FROM THE 1960s TO 2011 BY Ayuba, Ibrahim Alidu (B.A. RELIGIOUS STUDIES) AUGUST, 2011 1 INTRA-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AMONG MUSLIM UMMAH (COMMUNITY) IN TAMALE FROM THE 1960s TO 2011 BY AYUBA, IBRAHIM ALIDU (B.A. RELIGIOUS STUDIES) A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, KWAME NKRUMAH UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY IN RELIGIOUS STUDIES FACULTY OF SOCIAL SCIENCES COLLEGE OF ART AND SOCIAL SCIENCES AUGUST, 2011 2 Declaration I hereby declare that this submission is my own work towards the Master of Philosophy in Religious Studies and that, to the best of my knowledge, it contains no material previously published by another person nor material which has been accepted for the award of another degree of the University, except where due acknowledgement has been made in the text. Name: Ayuba Ibrahim Alidu. …………………… ………………….. (PG3499209) Signature Date Certified By: Sheikh Seebaway Zakaria …………………… ………………….. Supervisor Signature Date Certified By: Rev. Jonathan Kuwornu-Adjaottor …………… .………..… Head of Department Signature Date i Abstract This study explored the Intra-Religious Conflicts among Muslim ummah (Community) in Tamale from the 1960s to 2011. It is aimed at finding out the causes of conflicts among Muslims and the effects of such conflicts on the advancement of their communities. The survey adopted a multi-faceted approach of data collection. Basically data was obtained from personal interviews with leaders of the Tijaniyyah, Ahlus-Sunnah, Ahmadiyyah and the Shiah Islamic denominations in Tamale. Structured questionnaire were also administered to a sampled size of 100 respondents across all the four Islamic denominations and the general public. Participatory observation was employed by the researcher to study at first hand the teachings and practices of the various Islamic denominations in Tamale. Content analysis was used to review the findings in relation to the Qur‟an and Sunnah. The findings revealed that Intra-Religious Conflicts are real among Muslims in Tamale and are caused by factors like: doctrinal or theological differences, intolerance, political, chieftaincy and Arab influences. The conflicts have claimed lives, properties and damaged relationships among the Muslim ummah in Tamale. The conflict situations among Muslims in the metropolis require the collective efforts of individuals, the various Islamic denominations, the government and non-governmental organizations. The overall study would not only benefit the various Islamic denominations in Tamale but the general Ghanaian Muslim ummah, the wider population, the policy makers, the governmental and the non-governmental bodies since such conflicts have national and international implications. ii Acknowledgement My debts in completing this study are many and varied to different groups of personalities that no accolades can be used to convey my profound appreciation to. I acknowledge my enormous gratitude to the Almighty Allah who gave me the protection and energy throughout this study. I owe and express my sincere appreciation to my supervisors, Rev. Dr. Nathan Iddrisu Samwini (HoD) and Sheikh Seebaway Zakaria, of the Department of Religious Studies, KNUST, under whose astute academic eyes and firm criticisms coupled with unrelenting guidance and infinite patience with my fumbling brought this work to its present state. To my supervisors I say: You have baked and modeled me well for future research and may the good Lord never stop blessing you for this. To all my lecturers of KNUST –Department of Religious Studies, especially, Rev. J.E.T Kuwornu-Adjaottor, Rev. Samuel Aseidu- Amoako, Rev. Dr. Appiah Kubi and Rev. Prof. Emmanuel Asante who together prepared me well for the challenges in a Multi-Cultural and Multi-Religious Society like Ghana I simply say thank you all. To all my friends and course mates whose enquiries of concern were a soothing balm throughout the study, I say thanks to you all. To my Resource Persons, Afa Issah Iddriss Modoo (Director of Da‟awah, Ahlus- Sunnah, Tamale), Dr. Hussein Zakariya (Director of CODEYAC and Tijaniyyahh Scholar), Sheikh Abdul Mumin Dalwu (Shiah Imam and Sarkin Zango), Ustaz Hussein S. Ja‟afar (Secretary, Imamia Mission), Sheikh Yussif Nabahani, Maulvi Fahim Ahmad Khadim (Ahmadiyyah Mission), Mallam Jibril Fari, Sheikh Ibrahim Basha and all those who provided me with very valuable material and information for this study. I am highly overwhelmed by your assistance and say May Allah bless you all! iii Dedication To my beloved parents Mallam Ayuba Yussif and Awai Katumi Amadu whose Prayers and moral support contributed immensely to the success of this work. Also to my dear wife Naaimaht Jafaru for her endless prayers and motivation iv TABLE OF CONTENTS CONTENT PAGE Declaration----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------i Abstract-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ii Acknowledgement-----------------------------------------------------------------------------iii Dedication---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------iv Table of contents--------------------------------------------------------------------------------v List of Abbreviations--------------------------------------------------------------------------ix List of Arabic, Dabgani and Hausa Words with their meanings-------------------------x CHAPTER ONE GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1.1 Background to the Study------------------------------------------------------------------1 1.2 Statement of Problem----------------------------------------------------------------------3 1.3 Objectives of the Study--------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.4 Scope of the Study--------------------------------------------------------------------------4 1.5 Methodology and Data Collection -------------------------------------------------------4 1.6 Literature Review---------------------------------------------------------------------------5 1.7 Significance of the Study ----------------------------------------------------------------11 1.8 Limitation of the study-------------------------------------------------------------------11 1.9 Organization of Work--------------------------------------------------------------------12 v CHAPTER TWO HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF DAGBAN, ISLAM AND VARIOUS ISLAMIC DENOMINATIONS IN TAMALE 2.1 Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------13 2.2 The People and Chiefs of Dagban------------------------------------------------------13 2.3 The Traditional Religious Beliefs and Functionaries of Dagban-------------------17 2.4. Islam in Dagban--------------------------------------------------------------------------21 2.5 Islam and Islamic Groups in Tamale before 1960-----------------------------------24 2.6 Tijaniyyah Muslims----------------------------------------------------------------------26 2.7 Ahlus-Sunnah Wal-Jama‟a Muslims--------------------------------------------------31 2.8 Ahmadiyyah Muslims-------------------------------------------------------------------36 2.9 Shiah Muslims or the Ahlus-Bayt Group---------------------------------------------40 2.10 Other Muslim Groups---------------------------------------------------------------- 45 2.11 Impact of Islamic Groups in Tamale-------------------------------------------------46 2.12 Conclusion-------------------------------------------------------------------------------48 CHAPTER THREE THE ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF INTRA-RELIGIOUS CONFLICTS AMONG MUSLIMS IN TAMALE 3.1 Introduction--------------------------------------------------------------------------------49 3.2 Genesis of Intra-Religious Conflicts in Tamale---------------------------------------50 3.3 Islam, Chieftaincy and Politics in Dagban---------------------------------------------53 3.4 Instances of Conflict among Muslims in Tamale-------------------------------------56 3.4.1 The 1969 Clash between Munchiri and Nawun Nyarba at Police Park---------57 3.4.2 The 1976 Incident at the Tamale Bus Stop------------------------------------------59 3.4.3 The 1977 Airport Road Incident------------------------------------------------------62 vi 3.4.4 The 1997 Attack on Tijaniyyah at Gumani-----------------------------------------64 3.4.5 The 1998 Clash at Gumbihini--------------------------------------------------------66 3.4.6 Relationship between Ahmadiyyah and Shiah Groups in Tamale---------------67 3.4.7 Other Complicated Disturbances-----------------------------------------------------68 3.4.8 Other Verbal Confrontations among Muslim Groups in Tamale-----------------72 3.4.9 Internal Confrontations among Muslim Groups in Tamale-----------------------77 3.5 Conclusion---------------------------------------------------------------------------------83 CHAPTER FOUR DISCUSSION OF ISSUES 4.1 Introduction-------------------------------------------------------------------------------85 4.2 Causes of Intra-Religious Conflicts among Muslims in Tamale-------------------85 4.2.1 Syncretism as a Cause of Conflict among Muslims in Tamale------------------86 4.2.2. The Wurd, Salatul-Fatih and Tarbiyah----------------------------------------------87 4.2.3 The Manufacture of Charms/Amulets, Exorcism of Jinni and Witchcraft------90 4.2.4 Maulidin Nabih -------------------------------------------------------------------------92
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