Trends and Causes of the Recurrent Conflicts among Ulama in the Emirate
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Date
2024-10-17
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ASRF JOURNAL
Abstract
Ilorin Emirate in the last three decades has been confronted with various forms of conflicts amongst Muslim clerics, which amongst others involve name-calling, counter-arguments, and sometimes litigations. These persistent conflicts thus changed the congenial atmosphere in the Emirate, as the conflicts pose a threat to life and peaceful coexistence, which the city is predominantly known for. The study therefore surveyed trends and predominant causes of conflicts among Ulama (Mulim clerics) in Ilorin Emirate, Kwara State, Nigeria. The study adopted the cross-sectional survey research design, encompassing quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques of data collection. The target population comprised Imams, traditional leaders/ chiefs, Council of Ulama, security Operatives (Police and State Security Service), and leaders and members of Islamic organisations, socio-political groups within Ilorin Emirate, while a multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 840 research subjects. Additionally, 10 KII participants and 10 FGD groups were selected through the purposive and convenience non-probability sampling techniques. Quantitative data were collected through a pre-test (reliability index of .80) and administered questionnaire, while Focused Group Discussion (FGD) and key Informant Interview (KII) guides were used to collect relevant qualitative data for the study. Quantitative data collected were analysed using percentage, mean (M) and ranking order, while content analysis and thematic analysis were used to analyse the qualitative data. The findings of the study revealed that: conflict often occurs between Ulama in Ilorin Emirate (39.3%), the last time Ulama in Ilorin Emirate disagreed among themselves was between 6 months to one year (45.0%), while the level of conflict among Ulama in Ilorin Emirate was high in the last 10 years (51.0%). The study also found that, the predominant causes of conflicts between Ulama were political gain (75.8%), syncretism (74.0%), doctrinal differences (73.7%), lack of research on the part of Ulama (72.5%), and method of Da’awah adopted by Salafi clerics (72.0%). The study concluded that, even though high level of conflict exists among Ulama in the last 10 years in Ilorin Emirate, political gain and syncretism were the predominant causes. It was therefore recommended, among others, government should convene an Ad-Hoc ‘State Summit on Islamic Matters’ comprising of major stakeholders (i.e. leaders of Islamic groups/sects/groups) as well as state representatives with the primary mandate of developing a State Policy/Strategy on Religion and Conflict (SPSRIC).
Keywords: Causes, Conflicts, Ilorin Emirate, Trends, Ulama
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2023