Islam In Eruku Land: Series 1, #1

By Abdul Azeez Badrudeen, Chief Imam of Eruku Land

"Islam in Eruku Land" by Abdul Azeez Badrudeen, Chief Imam of Eruku Land, is a three-part exploration. The book includes an introductory section covering 14 pages, a main body with nine chapters exploring Eruku's history, coexistence of religions, and detailed examination of Islam in Erukuland. Chapters address challenges, debunk misconceptions, and discuss relationships between Muslims and non-Muslims, Imams in Erukuland, and notable personalities. Footnotes reference various sources, and the book concludes with a 6-page section containing a bibliography and index. The concise and well-structured narrative caters to both indigenes and knowledge enthusiasts, offering insights into Eruku's cultural and religious landscape.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abdul Azeez Badrudeen
• Release date: Jan 27, 2024
• ISBN: 9798224343904

Abdul Azeez Badrudeen, Chief Imam of Eruku Land

Abdul Azeez Badrudeen, Chief Imam of Eruku Land.

Book preview

ISLAM IN ERUKULAND.

Copyright © 2023. Abdul-Azeez Badrudeen.

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Publisher Abdul-Azeez Badrudeen Esq., Oke Idi Osan Compound, Eruku, Kwara State. E-mail address: [e-mail] 08055832908 / 09068459408 / 09084970570.

ISBN:978-978-781-669-1

Printed in Nigeria by: Habmar Koladex Printing Press 13, Agbaji Road, Irewolede Estate, Ilorin.

08062312709

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Table of Contents —————————————————— iii

Dedication————————————————————-iv

Preface——————————————————————v

Acknowledgement—————————————————-ix

Foreword—————————————————————xii

Chapter 1: Introduction————————————————1

Chapter 2: Synoptic guide to Erukuland—————————-3

Chapter 3: Religion before Islam in Erukuland———————9

Chapter 4: Islam in Erukuland—————————————17

Chapter 5: Interactions of Muslims and non-Muslims———-84

Chapter 6: Chief Imams (Aimat) of Erukuland——————100

Chapter 7: Some Personalities of Eruku Muslim Community-110

Chapter 8: Chieftaincy Titles of Eruku Muslim Community—116

Chapter 9: The Current state of Islam in Erukuland————-121

Bibliography———————————————————-125

Index——————————————————————-127

DEDICATION

THIS BOOK IS DEDICATED to Allah (SubhaanahuwaTa'ala) my creator and sustainer;

To the holy Prophet Muhammad (SollaLlahu Alayhi Wasalam);

To Alhaji Abubakr Muhammadu-Raji Badrudeen and Mrs. Nana Hawaau Badrudeen, my beloved parents;

To Alhaji (Imam) Muhammadu-Raji Badrudeen, my precious leader, mentor and grandfather;

To All my wonderful teachers; and, To the entire Muslim Ummah.

PREFACE

In the name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. All praises, adulations and appreciations are due to almighty Allah (S. W. T); the Lord of the worlds. He is the one who has given me the opportunity to write this book. May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon the Noble Prophet Muhammad (S. A. W), the last Messenger to guide mankind to Islam (the path of honour and salvation).

I have been longing to write something about Islam in Erukuland since my student (Taalib) days at Madrasatu Darul Uloom, Lijabhatil Ulamaiwal Aimah, Isale Koto, Ilorin, Kwara state around 1998. However, opportunity did not come until when an assignment was given to me by Dr. Shuaib Ndarabi Ologele (now Professor of Arabic at Al-Hikmah University Ilorin) on Islam and Imams in my community which was to be written in Arabic language. Consequently, I wrote on 'Islam and Imams in Erukuland' (Al-Islam Fi Bilaadi Eruku and Al-Aimat Fi Bilaadi Eruku). Although, there were little or no resources, yet, I was only able to complete this assignment through the historical and interview method given by the Muslim elders in Erukuland. However since that period, I have been nursing an ambition to publish a book on Islam in Erukuland in English language.

This ambition was further nourished when I became the chief Imam of Eruku, Ekiti Local Government Area of Kwara State, Nigeria.

Due to my position as the Chief of Imam of Erukuland; many people do interview me on Islam in Erukuland. Many interviewees requested for a book on the subject matter in order to serve as a source material.I had to constantly inform them of insufficient material on it. This was due to the fact that, our forebears were not lettered in the western education; yet, they were very intelligent and articulate to retain some of the surrounding details about Islam in Erukuland in that period.

It is worthy of note that, this book is an extensive discuss on Islam, its history and propagation in Erukuland and having a book of this kind is very essential. According to popular Arabic adage, 'Maaquti baqarra, wamaahufiza farra'- "that which is written down is permanent and what is memorized is temporary". This therefore led to the birth of this book which is believed will serve as a well written historical document and a fresh vista to Islam in Erukuland and the world in general.

The research methodology used in the writing of this book is a combination of Primary and Secondary sources of information. The Holy Books: Qur'an and Sunnah, and the Holy Bible are the Primary sources while other materials such as textbooks and journals, the internets and other texts (originally written in Arabic language but were translated into English language by the author based on his understanding of both Arabic and English languages), are secondary source of information.

The verbal historical accounts and interviews of the elders of Eruku Muslim Community also constituted to the source of information for this book.

(AS THE CASE MAY BE) or 'alayhimsalam' (abbreviated as A. S). This trend will be followed in this book.

Lastly, I am pleased with Allah (Subha anahuwaTa'aala) as my creator and sustainer; Islam as my religion and Muhammad (SollaLlahu Alayhi Wasalam) as my beloved Prophet and Messenger of Allah. May Allah accept this humble effort of mine as an act of Ibaadah. May I continue to be steadfast as a Muslim and remain so till my last breath while performing the best of all good deeds, Aamin.

FOREWORD

THERE IS SO MUCH TO say about the book Islam in Erukuland (2023). This book charts a new course to history and serves as a fresh vista to Islam in Erukuland. The response of older generations on prior the propagation of Islam in the town, the coming of Islam, as well as the present state of Islam in Erukuland forms the basis of discourse in the varying chapters of the book. Young lads, future scholars, researchers, academicians and every proud male and female of Eruku soil can now have access to information as regards Islam and other notable events in their community. The information contained in the book is desperately yearned for.

The book speaks about the virtues and beauty of Islam from an early stage of life. It encapsulates different chapters such as the Synoptic guide to Erukuland, the religion before Islam in Erukuland, Islam in Erukuland, Islam and other religions in Erukuland, the Chief Imam (Aimat) of Erukuland, some personalities of Eruku Muslim Community, Chieftaincy titles of Eruku Muslim community and the Current state of Islam in Erukuland.

Mallam Abdul-Azeez Badrudeen is an Islamic cleric, he hails from Erukuland and he has directed people into the folds of Islam by being a very modest cleric, his resilience and enthusiasm in human welfare is profounder and this evidently led to the birth of this book.

MALLAM ABDUL-AZEEZ'S book is a story that is set in 2023, with the intention of contributing his quota to development of Islam in Erukuland. His grandfather AlhajiRaji Badrudeen being one of the principal members and Chief Imam of the most popular Mosque in Erukuland; has his service to humanity, and this service has left an indelible mark in the sands of time. The author's grandfather and the author himself also strive very hard to keep these legacies with the hope that Islam in Eruku will continuously soar high to the international stage. He hopes to be invited at various platforms so that he can further spread the message of Islam, a calling he will be glad to fulfill.

Islam in Erukuland is consequential and timely in an era where people from all forms of religious circle seek for truth in their different beliefs and to know if what they are holding is the fact after all. Therefore, the book will help to nourish the heart of an inquisitive mind, and these minds can further gain knowledge about other religions and stand on the conviction that Islam is truthfully the right religion.

From the first chapter, which is the Synoptic guide to Erukuland is the author's intelligence detailing the culture and antecedents prior to the introduction of Islam at Erukuland, the birth of Islam in Erukuland, Islam and other religions in Erukuland, and other interesting chapters are all masterpieces which gives the reader an overview of the events that led to the embrace of Islam finally in Erukuland.

Islam in Erukuland being the first well documented Islamic book defines a starting point for other Islamic novels, the author also expects critics but every critic should bear in mind that the sole aim of this book is to inspire believers (Muslims) and nonbelievers into understanding Islam and to further serve as a guide to everyone whose Iman is in the embryonic stage into having proper perspective of the religion.

This foreword written by Dr. Kazeem Bidemi Okesina. Dr Okesina is a Physiologist and a Data Analyst who got his PhD in 2018 from the University of Ilorin, his belief in the submission to the will of Allah remains his guiding principle, he holds the six attributes of faith dearly, and his strong conviction in book writing is at a higher pedestal. He is of the affirmation that book writing is the best way to preserve information and his contributions to the book speaks of the kind of personality he is. A scholar of repute, a contributor to dawah, a very hardworking fellow who is a testimony to his student home and abroad is well celebrated. The author places him in high esteem and finds him worthy to write the foreword to this book. He is a currently a lecturer at the Department of Medical Physiology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

The successful completion of this book is traceable to the encouragement and support which I have received from individuals; some who are late and others living. Your support, help, encouragement and advice I received during the research, documentation, writing and compilation of this work is highly remarkable.

First to be acknowledged is Allah (S.W.T), my creator, who has endowed me with knowledge and wisdom.Also, to Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W) whom Allah (S.W.T) sent to guide humanity on how live a worthy and successful life both in this life and hereafter.

I also thank and appreciate my parents, AlhajiAbubakrRaji Badrudeen and Mrs. Hawaau Badrudeen for grooming me firmly and thoroughly to Islam. May Allah grant them JannatulFirdaws.

I will also like to acknowledge my grandfather, AlhajiRaji Badrudeen (the second chief Imam of Erukuland) who nurtured me and gave me sound Islamic morals. May Almighty Allah reward himabundantly.

To my darling wife, Zulaykha Anifowoshe who deserves an accolade for all her years of encouragement, resilience and patience, I say thank you and I pray that may Almighty Allah continue to make you a source of inspiration to other Muslim women and make Jannah your final abode.

My profound gratitude also goes to my lovely children (Maryam, Zaynab, Nana Hawaau, Shaykh Abdullah and Mardiyyah Abdul Azeez, Abubakr, Muhammad Raji Badrudeen) who assisted in the typing and proof reading of the manuscript of this work; may Almighty Allah reward you with His blessings; Jazakumullahkhyran my darlings.

I am also indebted to my wonderful uncles Col. Tai Bolaji

(USA)and Mallam Sulayman AremuRaji