NONE OF THE FOUNDING FATHERS OF ILORIN IS A SHI'A

By

Ibn Abdillah As-sudaisiy Al-Iloori

It is highly sad and pathetic that the leaders among the companions of the Prophet رضوان الله عليهم are being maligned by the new Sh'ia defector and his blind followers and the traditional scholars in Ilorin are quiet as if they are not aware. The major duty of our traditional institution is to protect the Deen (Islām). This is what they inherited from Alfa Agba Sheikh Alim.

It seems the man is bigger than the whole community.

Subhanallah!

Where are those who stood for Ilorin the other day insulting cursing, and threatening Dr. Sharaf? Where are those harassing the boys dragging them around like goats? What do they have to say about the ongoing issue? Where is their defence for the  companions? The defence of the Sohaabah is part of the Deen. The aim of those who speak ill of the companions is to cut the chain between the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and the Ummah. 

This is not a time to be silent. Otherwise, your silence will be construed as approval of the evil being perpetrated. 

Particularly, the Emirate is implored to please take a decisive step to stop the menace. What is apparent is that there was no Shi'a among those who founded Ilorin and non of our scholars had Shi'a ideology until recently when the hatred of Ahlus Sunnah has driven the Principal to the last edge.

May Allāh protect us. May He not hold us for the evils being committed by the transgressors amongst us.

أَيَا أُمَّةَ الْإِسْلَامِ فِي أَرْضِ يَورُبَا

عَلَيْكُمْ بِحِفْظِ الدِّينِ فِي كُلِّ لَحْظَةِ

O Muslims in Yorubaland

Guard your religion consistently at every moment

لَقَدْ قَامَ فِينَا غَافِلٌ وَمُنَافِقُ

يَقُولُ عَلَى صَحْبِ النّبِي سُوءَ قَوْلَةِ

Indeed, among us has risen a heedless hypocrite, speaking evil words against the Companions of the Prophet.

وَيَرْمِي بِأَهْلِ الْحَقِّ فِي كُلِّ جَلْسَةٍ

وَيَلْهُو بِدِينِ اللَّهِ بَلْ بِالشَّرِيعَةِ

He falsely accuses the people of truth in every gathering, And toys with the religion of Allah — and indeed with the Sharīʿah as a whole.

وَأَتْبَاعُهُ الجُهَّالُ حَقَّ جَهَالَةٍ

وَهُمْ يَدَّعُونَ الْعِلْمَ مِنْ دُونِ حِكْمَةِ

And his ignorant followers are the true definition of ignorance,

Yet they claim to have knowledge without possessing any iota of wisdom.

وَمَنْ سَبَّ أَصْحَابَ النَّبِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ

بِحُبِّ عَلِيٍّ لَيْسَ مِنْ أَهْلِ سُنَّةِ

Whoever abuses the Companions of Prophet Muḥammad, claiming it is out of love for ʿAlī — is not from the People of the Sunnah.

يُضَلِّلُ فِي الْأَوْطَانِ وَالْمُدنُ نَهْجُهُ

وَيُنْكِرُ آلَ الْبَيْتِ مِنْ دُونِ خَشْيَةِ

He spreads misguidance throughout the lands and cities in ways unique to him, and denies the family of the Prophet without any fear of Allah.

أَيَا عُلَمَاءَ الْحَقِّ فِي أَرْضِ يَورُبَا

أَفِيقُوا وَرَدُّوا الْكَذبَ دَفْعًا لِمِلَّةِ

O scholars of truth in Yoruba Land,

Awaken, and repel the lies to protect the religion of Allah.

أَلَا أَيْنَ أَهْلُ الْعِلْمِ وَالْفِقْهِ وَالهُدَى

وَأَيْنَ كَمَالُ الدِّيـنِ حُـجَّــةُ أُمَّتِي؟

Where are the people of knowledge, jurisprudence, and guidance?

Where is Shaykh Kamaldeen Al-Adaby— the proof of this Ummah? (Meaning where are his likes among scholars in yoruba land today to dispel the falsehood being spread by people of desires against the companions of the Prophet.)

يُبَيِّنُ قَوْلَ اللَّهِ بِالْعِلْمِ وَالتُّقَى

يُبَجِّلُ أَصْـحَابَ النَّبِيِّ بِحُجَّةِ

They explain the words of Allah with knowledge and piety, And they honour the Companions of the Prophet with sound proof.

كَذَاكَ الْإِلَورِي صَاحِبُ الْحَقِّ والنُّهَى

يُفَضِّلُ آلَ الْبَيْتِ فِي كُلِّ خُطْبَةِ

So also is Shaykh Adam Al-Ilory, a man of truth and sound judgment, Who exalts the family of the Prophet(including his wives) in every sermon.

أَلَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي أَيْنَ يُوسُفُ أَبْهَجِي

وَأَيْنَ رِجَالُ الْفَضْلِ فِي كُلِّ بَلْدَةِ؟

Oh, how I wish I knew where Yūsuf al-Abhajī  is today, And where are the men of virtue in every town?

(Meaning these great men are dead and those who took over from them.are dangerously silent on the heresies being spread against the companions and the promotion of Shia ideology in Yorubaland)

فَوَاللَّهِ لَنْ أَنْسَى مُؤَسِّسَ مُرْتَضَى

لِمَعْهَدٍ وَبَاقِي فِي إِوَوْ ذَا الْمُرُوؤَةِ

By Allah, I will never forget(the efforts of)  the founder of Mahdul Arobiyy (in Ibadan), Shaykh Murtaḍā, and Shaykh Adul Bāqī (Oluko Agba)of Iwo — a man of noble character.

وَأَذْكُرُ شَيْخِي أَحْمَدَ الْفَضْلِ وَالْحِجَا

بِـهِ صِرْتُ تِـبْرًا فِي عُيُونِ البَرِيَّةِ

I also remember (the efforts of) my shaykh Aḥmad Alaye, a man of virtue and wisdom,

Through him, I became like pure gold in the eyes of people.

أَبَارِغِدُومَا الْعِلْمِ أَلَايَا أَأُسْرَتِي

وَمَا هُمْ بِشِيعِيِّـينَ مِنْ دُونِ رَيْبَةِ

So also is Shaykh Abubakr Agbarigdoma, a man of knowledge — and also a member of my family, Shaykh Alāyā, Without the slightest doubt none of them are Shīʿah.

عَلَيْكَ سَلَامٌ يَا أَبَا بَكْرٍ سَيِّدِي

كَذَا عُمَرَ الْفَارُوقِ فَخْرَ الْأَئِمَّةِ

Peace be upon you my master Abū Bakr, 

And upon ʿUmar al-Fārūq, pride of  leaders.

عَلَيْكَ أَيَا عُثْمَانُ صَلَوَاتُ رَبِّنَا

كَذَاكَ عَلِيٌّ ضِرْغَمٌ عِنْدَ غَزْوَةِ

Peace and blessings of Allah be upon ʿUthmān — And upon ʿAlī, the lion in the midst of battle.

لَقَدْ فَازَ آلُ الْبَيْتِ إِذْ فِي صَلَاتِنَا

عَلَى الْمُصْطَفَى الْهَادِي صَلَاةٌ لِأُسْرَةِ

Indeed, the family of the Prophet have triumphed, for in the blessings we regularly send upon  al-Muṣṭafā (the Prophet) we include his household.

عَلَى سَائِرِ الْأَصْحَابِ وَالتَّابِعِينَ فِي

ثُبُوتِ الْهُدَى غُفْرٌ دَوَامًا بِرَحْمَةِ

And (blessings) upon all the Companions and Followers, Firm upon guidance, granted forgiveness forever by Allah’s mercy.

عَلَيْكَ سَلَامُ اللَّهِ يَا خَيْرَ مُرْسَلٍ

وَيَا "ثَانِيَ الِاثْنَيْنِ" فِي الْغَارِ قُدْوَتِي

Peace be upon you, O best of Messengers,

And upon “the second of the two in the cave” — my role model.

Poem composed by: Engr Muhyideen Taofeeq Alaaya (Abu Muhsin Al-Adabiyy)

Translated by: Ahmad Adetola-Kazeem (Abu Muhsin) Ahmad Adetola-Kazeem