Indeed such claims of national authority on Islam in Nigeria have
created a semblance of disorganization, disunity and lack of defined
structure among Muslims. It is generally believed that the inactivity of
the NSCIA and its seeming timidity in the defence of Islam and Nigerian
Muslims largely account for the springs of the confusing claims.
Nevertheless, one cannot totally ignore the role of individual selfish
and sectional sentiments in some of the claims. The most prominent of
the claims is the legitimate claim of the JNI the President- General of
which is the same Sultan of Sokoto and President-General of the NSCIA.
Not a few Muslims have expressed some concerns about the confusion being
created by such counter-claims moreso when such fluid situations are
being exploited by non Muslim government officials to pick and choose
who to consult or made to represent Muslims in Nigeria at one point or
the other.
The Personalised
Personalised Muslim organisations are the category of Muslim organisations that are highly influenced owned and dominated by their respective founders or their heirs. The various organisations whose existence depends substantially on the influence and charisma of their founders and/or their biological khalifah(s) belong to this category. Many of the “deen†organisations belong to this category as the founders remain the de facto heads who are only joined by others in achieving their noble goals. As certain individuals are critical even to the destiny of nations, individualised Muslim organisations receive their strength from the towering influence of their founders. Such organisations are personal property of the founder and are akin to "husband and wife churches" which are now common in Nigeria. The main characteristic of such individualised Societies or bodies is that leadership succession is by blood relationship with the founder. In the last ten years, particularly in Southern Nigeria, such organisations are no longer limited to religious sages and scholars but are now extended to founders of numerous privatized Islamic 'Foundations'. It should be noted that the establishment, structure and operations of such 'Islamic' Foundations are at complete variance with Islamic Law of Waqf, which prohibits its being inherited or personalized.
The Professional/Specialised
This category belongs to organisations based on the professional affiliations of themembers. There are Islamic organisations established by groups of bankers, lawyers, medical doctors, journalists, etc. The qualification for membership is hinged on the professional qualification of the members as they come into being in order to promote and protect the religious interest of their members primarily. Examples are AMP, MULAN, IMAN and League of Imams & Alfas in Yoruba land. Three exceptionally active players in this group 8 are two human rights' groups- Muslim Rights Concerns (MURIC) and Network for Justice based in Kaduna- as well as Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC).
The Ideological
This category of Islamic organisations is based on ideological peculiarities. Theseorganisationsemphasize certain aspects of their interpretation of certain Islamic practice or doctrine with exceptional seriousness. The sufi-based groups belong to this category, just as the Izaala (JamaatuIzalatilbid'ahwaiqamatis Sunnah) and the Islamic Movement of Nigeria. The approaches may be different, but the ideological organisations seek ideological re-orientation and re-awakening along or against a particular mode of practice in Islam. Most of the intractable intra religious conflicts among Nigerian Muslims emanate from this group.
The Independent/Non-aligned
This category is made up of associations built by collectives for the general promotion of Islam. Though they may be initiated by individuals, they are allowed to operate independently and without the domineering influence of any particular individual or family. Ansar-ud-deen, Nawair-ud-deen, Muslim Youth League of Nigeria, Islamic Welfare Foundation etc belong to this group Educational Role.
Roles of Muslim Organizationsin the Development of Islamic Education
Oloyede argued that Religion constitutes the core of beingness for everyone it is “a personal awareness or conviction of the existence of a supreme being or of supernatural powers or influences controlling one's own, humanity's, or all nature's destiny.†He supported that a country like Nigeria whose Muslim population is estimated to be about 50.4%6 of her total population, is natural to find a huge number of Islamic organizations. The scholar stated with emphasis why Islamic organisations have become firmly rooted in our society so much that the history of Islam in Nigeria cannot be told without them.
Reasons would vary about why individuals “belong†to particular religious groups rather than others, the fundamental issue is that all Islamic organizations were formed with a view to propagating Islam, helping the deprived, gaining religious knowledge and insight and thus making believers become better Muslims. From the simple individual Da’wah efforts and mosque affiliations of the pre-amalgamation years to the modern and organised “Alasalatu groups and charismatic Muslim organizations especially in the Southwest zone of Nigeria, Islamic organizations have fully evolved. Many of them are thriving though almost all of them may be wastefully facing the same direction. The greatest challenge of all Muslims organizations today is to seek for intellectual mobility in the social ladder Muslims organizations. The main reasoning for Muslim organizations is to establish are preferably transmitting and propagating the virtues of Islam as a formidable unit have contributed substantially to the development of its secular types of education since 18th century. Studies have indicated that Muslim organizations derived it educational responsibility according to the injunction of Almighty Allah.
This was 1st noted when the holy prophet Mohammad (SAW) through angel Jibril was asked to read in the name of Allah Q96:V1. Secondly Islam epitomize education as the most important weapon to be used for becomes a complete worshipper and adherent of Islamic injunction. The Quran is emphasizing on the acquisition of knowledge and enjoins the study of various discipline. Allah the most higher says “Allah will raise those who believe, from among you and those to whom knowledge is given to (high) ranks†(Quran 58:11).
