CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
Background of the Study
Education is the process of acquiring skill knowledge, value and other capability for the development of individual to himself and his community (Fafunwa 2004). Education which could be formal or informal has normative implication in an aspect of religion and therefore could be learnt from the beliefs of an existing community or society. Religion, a core of culture constitutes awareness of the existence of Supreme Being or of super-natural power, or all natural destiny.
Islam is a religion meaning; peace, obedience and total submission to the will of God and His law (Oloyede, 2012). Studies dated its existence back to the age of Adam with its message passed over generations through prophets; Abraham, David, Moses, Jesus and Muhammad.(PBUH). Cultural and judicial aspect. Islam is not a mere religion, but a comprehensive way of life raging from socio-political economic, to cultural and judicial aspect. Islam stands out among other religions in displaying its worth in term of reference and thoughts (Badarudeen,2017).Oloyede asserted that there is no escape from religion and there is no doubt about its relevance. That means one must pass through it at one stage or the other in life, at birth, marriage or at death. He supported that it plays a vital role in the lives of Muslim believers, the society which abhors them and who so ever come in contact with them in notable way. To this fact, Abdulganiyu (2015)explain that education in Islam permeates other institutions in the society and its contribution to the Nigeria pluralism has attained modern age in its classification namely; Ibtiddahiy, Idaddiyyah,Themaniyyah and Jaamiah.
In Islam, Education according to Oniye (2009) is regarded as a process that involves the complete person, including the rational, spiritual and social dimension in the comprehensive and integrated approach. Education in this context is directed toward personality growth through training men; spiritual, intellect and physical. This is such that faith is infused in to the whole of his personality in the theory and practice of Islam. The knowledge of Islam through various scholars of varieties of teachers at different stages of time impact its culture to whom so ever is being in contact with in the dimension of human being.
From the Islamic perspective, the highest and the most useful model of perfection is the only prophet Muhammad (S.A.W).and the goal of Islamic Education is that people should be able to live as he lived. These emphasize the rudimentary on which Islam is built upon; Qur’an and Hadiths embellishing the five article and pillar of the religion perfected for those who are known as Muslims.
Nigeria has a large Muslim population in West Africa who are predominantly Sunnis and minority is Shia in, Kano, Kaduna, Sokoto and Katsina(Adekilekun,2012 ). Oloyede (2012) acceded that the Muslim population is estimated to be about 50.4% of her total population. Ilorin, a north central state of Nigeria is a major city with a real history for producing great Muslim scholars of virtues. It is known to many indigene of the north according to Oniye (2009) as Garin Alimi (Alimis Town). And to the Yoruba speaking people of the south as Ilorin Afonja (Afonjas Town).
As a matter of fact, the appellations have their significance noted in the historical development of the town mainly on Islamic education. The community through scholars of religious virtues as a group immensely contributed to the vast development of Islam through teaching, preaching, and practice at various point of note. It is reported in Ahmad(2012) that various sojourn and activities of early scholars paved the way for Muslim organization and the fear for Christian indoctrination of their wards (Adekilekun,2012) in the sought for western education.
Historically, the emancipation of Muslim organization in Ilorin could be antecedence of various Muslim scholar in the likes of Shakh Soliu ibn Janta (Sheikh AIim ), Sheikh Solagberu, Sheikh Omoinya, Sheikh Mukhtar lsalekoto who constitute group of Ulamaas that settled at a particular place known as Okesuna where Kwara State Polytechnic is presently located(Ahmed,2011; Qniye,2009). Abdulganiyu (2012) classified these groups of scholar according to their specific roles; preaching, Sufism, and teaching of Islamic education. Studies indicate presence of students under the tutelage of Sheikh Sholagberu before the advent of sheikh AIim. Abdulganiyu avers that Sheikh AIim over thrown of Afonja, marked the beginning of Muslim folds into Muslim organizations in Ilorin.
The adoption of Islamic culture consequentially was a general note in the comparison with other part of the world where Islam reigns. Though each environment is symbolic to its culture Ilorin is not with such exception. Predominantly, adoption of local Islamic centers (Makaranta alo), prayer leader (IMAM), the use of wooden tablet (walah), Teacher (Mallam) followed by roles of propagating Islam such as building of mosques and organization of preaching. In the modern day notable effort of Sheikh Kamaldeen Al-adaby Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-alory, Sheikh Yahya Agody etc as pointed out in Oniye (2009) illustrated the proliferation of Muslim organizations in Ilorin.
