Sheikh Al-Ilory and Awolowo's death

In juxtaposition, Sheikh Al-Ilory, in one of his public lectures, compared the reaction of prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him, when a deceased Jewish person was carried pass him in Medina, and he, peace be upon him, stood up... He used the incidence to justify his address regarding Chief Obafemi Awolowo's death, and mentioning him in his lecture. Though, he, i.e Chief Awolowo, was not a Muslim, but "he was a human being, and an erudite Nigerian", the Sheik said. He added, "Awolowo was not an ordinary Nigerian"...

The Fruits of Sheikh Adam's pedagogy

Pedagogically speaking, Sheikh Adam inculcated knowledge into thousands of Africans, Arabs, and many other Muslims worldwide. But today in Nigeria, many educational institutions were established by the grace of Allah subhanahu wata'ala, funnelled through Sheikh Adam. Only in Lagos, Nigeria, there are many institutions which further continue educating people from all works of life. Among many others, there is Markaz Salaam, in Ojokoro, Daru Da'awah, in Isolo, MULIO, in Alagbado, Safwah, in Iyana Iyesi, and Markazul Uloom, in Otubu, etc. Alhamdulillah Rabil Alameen...

Sheikh Al-Ilory and Sheikh Abubakar Gumi

Many observers inside and outside of Nigeria, view the relationship between these two astute scholars of Nigerian origin in different lenses.

Zuhd of Sheikh Al Ilory

Zuhd or Asceticism and denouncement of ornamentation of this world is often displayed by someone who may claim to be zaahid. True asceticism in Islaam is not avoidance or disdainment of what strengthens a person, quite the contrary.
Zuhd in Islaam is to leave the excessiveness in lawful things of this life and all other things that are not absolutely necessary. And this was the way of prophet Muhammad sala Allahu alayhe wasalam.
Sheikh Adam rahimahu Allahu, practiced zuhd in his life time as witnessed by his students and followers. During his meritorious lifetime, he used to wear clothe to cover his awrah and not the most expensive ones. At a point, he completely abandoned wearing Agbada or grand Buba, commonly won in West Africa. He also did not use to eat, unless in response to hunger.
In addition, once upon a time, a governor of Ogun state in Nigeria came to visit him at his residence in Surulere, Lagos. While they were engaging in talking, the governor was bitten by mosquito. He tried to scare away the mosquito or kill it; then Sheik asked, is that a mosquito? It seems so, the governor responded. Then, Sheikh said, why did the mosquito chose you and not someone else among all of us? Perhaps the mosquito is reminding you that the populace is suffering, unlike you, and you ought to adopt policies that will ease their difficulty. So, even the Sheikh's house had mosquitoes, unlike other bourgeoisie's residences or palaces.
Another similitude, one day, he went to visit Alhaji Mashood Abiola at his residence. On his way back home, his car broke down. And people had to push it to be repaired before heading home. The news of this incidence got back to Alhaji Abiola, who decided such a thing in the future. Thus, he sent him a brand new car- Peugeot. He refused to take it... Throughout the life of the Sheikh, he was mostly known with two cars: An old Audi 5000 and another old Peugeot 504 Station Wagon. Rahimahu Allah rahmatan waasiha.
Source: Sheik Adam Abdullah AlIlory, His Lineage, Personality, and Will (Al Ameery, 2004)

Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola in Sheik Al-Ilory's days

Alhaji Mashood Abiola's visits to Sheikh Adam was uncountable. Some of his visits were for Friday prayers and some for consultations, etc. Perhaps the most expensive advice of Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory to Alhaji Abiola, after exposing the hypocrisy in Nigerian politics in some of his books; was to stay away from Nigerian politics. In his book: "Al-Islaam fi Nigeria baynal yaomi wa ghadan".

Links:
http://search.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/search/results.pl?go.x=32&go.y=8&q=Video+of+Chief+Moshood+Abiola+CCN+Burial+ceremony&tab=all&edition=i&scope=all&start=1

Sheikh Al-Ilory and Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola

Spiritually, there was no personality in Nigeria and abroad closer to Alhaji M.K.O. Abiola more than Sheikh Adam.


Links:
http://www.kind.org/mko_biography.html
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/128410.stm
http://www.bookrags.com/Moshood_Kashimawo_Olawale_Abiola
http://www.david-kilgour.com/secstate/abiola.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/119333.stm
http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1110/Moshood_Abiola_Nigerian_Chief_of_the_people__
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/
http://mapolyng.com/newportal/home.php

Sheikh Adam Al-Ilory and Alhaj M.K.O. Abiola

Spiritually, there is no personality in Nigeria and abroard closer Alhaj M.K.O. Abiola more than Sheikh Adam.


Links:
http://www.usafricaonline.com/Carrington.html

http://www.bookrags.com/Moshood_Kashimawo_Olawale_Abiola

http://www.david-kilgour.com/secstate/abiola.htm

http://www.kind.org/mko_biography.html

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/africa/119333.stm

http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/1110/Moshood_Abiola_Nigerian_Chief_of_the_people__

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/a/moshood_k_o_abiola/index.html?offset=30&s=newest

Sheikh Al-Ilory and Prof. Wole Soyinka

Pedagogically, both of these two enigmatic scholars tenaciously aggrandize their Yoruba heritage, though, with dynamism that may not always enjoy total agreement in their works. Nevertheless, it is obvious that both Sheikh Adam and Professor Soyinka never display themselves in an elaborate Western attire in its totality. Perhaps, the reason is that, dressing in Western or Eastern native attire symbolizes neither scholarship nor civility. Therefore, many students of Sheikh Adam like Professor Ahmad Shehu Abdussalam, of the International Islamic University, Malaysia, among many others, display what was possibly inculcated into him by Sheikh Adam since his days in Markaz A-Taleem Al-Arobiy Al-Islaamiy, (An educational Institute founded by Sheikh Adam in 1945) Agege, Lagos, Nigeria. Likewise, this similitude is observable in Professor Soyinka himself, as well as in many students mentored by him in Nigeria and abroad.
Links:
http://www.islamfortoday.com/alazhar.htm
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/egypt/cairo-al-azhar-university.htm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN8hWGZNzpM
http://www.quran.gov.ae/content/view/45/49/lang,english
http://mwcnews.net/content/view/5531/52 http://encyclopedia.aarabiah.net
http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9068955
http://www.usp.nus.edu.sg/post/soyinka/soyinkatl.html
http://prelectur.stanford.edu/lecturers/soyinka
http://www.albany.edu/writers-inst/soyinka.html
http://www.geocities.com/themetrand/soyinka5
http://www.ualberta.ca/~afso/documents/soyinka.pdf
http://www.plentyofish1.com/review/literature/soyinka-wole-climate-of-fear.htm
http://www.geocities.com/themetrand/soyinka5

Sheikh Al-Ilory and Professor Wole Soyinka

There are many dynamic similarities between the accomplishments of these two enigmatic Yoruba world renowned scholars. But at the same time, while Sheikh Adam is highly praised and distinguished among scholars of Arabic and Islamic studies, professor Wole Soyinka is distinguished and highly praised in Western English literature.
Al-Azhar awarded Sheikh Adam with one of its best scholartic award in Arabic language and its sciences in 1989.
Nobel Prize was awarded to Professor Soyinka in 1986 to distinguish his exemplary achievement in English literature.
The didactic nature of the achievements of these men among scholars perhaps may serve students of knowledge as well as the scholars in explicating the need for better collaboration between scholars of these two annals (Islamic and Western) of knowledge.
The video you may want to watch for historical perspectives between Eastern and Western scholarship is in the link:http://www.islambox.tv/watch/purposetv.ashx
Please register, sign in and watch at least the first 30 minutes of the documentry.

Who was Sheikh Adam A. Al-Ilory?

According to Sheikh Mashood Ramadan Jibreel, Sheikh Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory's (1917-1992) lineage and full name is Adam son of Abdul Baqi son of Habeebullah son of Abdullah Al-Oyowy (reference to old Oyo Empire) Al-Ilory (reference to Ilorin) Annayjeery (reference to Nigeria). His grandfather migrated to Ilorin from Oyo Ile and accompanied by Atiba (one of the chiefs of the king) because he was from the royal family, the Alaafin, the ruler of Oyo...

http://www.islamonline.net/arabic/famous/2004/08/article01.SHTML