Izala Society Explained

Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'a Wa Iqamatus Sunnah
Native Name:Ƙungiyar Izala
Abbreviation:JIBWIS
Predecessor:Sheikh Isma'ila Idris
Merged:Hadaddiyar Kungiyar JIBWIS Jos Nigeria
Successor:Sani Yahaya Jingir
Founder:Sheikh Isma'ila Idris
Purpose:Promoting Islamic fundamentalism
Headquarters:Jos, Nigeria
Location:Has 36 state headquarters including the Federal Capital Territory (Abuja)
Region:West Africa
Owners:-->
Leader Title:National Chairman
Leader Name:Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir and Sheikh Sheikh Abdullahi Bala Lau[1]
Leader Title2:Deputy National Chairman
Leader Title3:Second Deputy National Chairman
Key People:Sheikh Kabir Gombe[2]
Affiliations:Salafism

Izala Society or Jama'atu Izalatil Bid’ah Wa Iqamatus Sunnah (Society for the Removal of Bid'ah and Re-establishment of the Sunnah), also known as JIBWIS, is a Salafi organization originally established in Northern Nigeria to fight what it sees as the Bid'ah and Shirk practiced by the Sufi orders. It is one of the largest Sunni societies in Nigeria, Chad, Ghana, Niger, and Cameroon.

Organization

JIBWIS was established in 1978 in Jos, Nigeria by Sheikh Isma'ila Idris (1937-2000)[3] in reaction to the Sufi orders,[4] specifically the Qadiriyya and Tijjaniyya who practice Sufism. Today JIBWIS is one of the largest Salafi societies not only in Northern Nigeria, but also in the South and even in the neighbouring countries (Chad, Niger, and Cameroon). It is very active in Dawah (propagation of the faith) and especially in education. The Izala has many institutions all over the country and is influential at the local, state, and federal levels.

The group has been called a Salafi organisation "that embraces a legalist and scripture centred upon understanding of Islam".[5] David Commins has described it as the fruit of missionary work by the Saudi Arabian funded and led by the World Muslim League.[6] [7] "Essential texts" for members of the JIBWIS are "Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's treatise of God's unity and commentaries by his grandsons". Ibn Abd al-Wahhab was the founder of the Wahhabi mission, the official Islamic interpretation of Saudi Arabia. He saw Sufism as rife with Shirk.[8] The Izala Society has been considered the most nonviolent and educated Islamist group, among there activities include public preaching, Qur'anic recitation competition, lectures, seminar, workshop and other public insights.[9]

Prominent members

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: Nigeria: Sheikh Bala Lau Now Izala National Chair. 16 December 2011. 4 February 2024 . allafrica.com. Ibrahim . Yusha'u A.
  2. News: Izala Secretary Threatens Legal Action Against Ex-Kano. 4 February 2024 . dailytrust.com. 10 September 2021.
  3. Web site: Ben Amara . Ramzi . Sharia Debates in Africa . c. 2007. 22 May 2014.
  4. Book: Paden, John N.. Faith and Politics in Nigeria. 2008. US Institute of Peace Press. 28.
  5. Book: Hill, Jonathan N. C.. SUFISM IN NORTHERN NIGERIA: FORCE FOR COUNTER-RADICALIZATION?. May 2010. Strategic Studies Institute. 18.
  6. Book: Commins, David . The Wahhabi Mission and Saudi Arabia . I.B.Tauris . 2009 . 153. The League also sent missionaries to West Africa, where it funded schools, distributed religious literature and gave scholarships to attend Saudi religious universities. These efforts bore fruit in Nigeria's Muslim northern region with the creation of a movement (the Izala Society) dedicated to wiping out ritual innovations. Essential texts for members of the Izala Society are Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab's treatise of God's unity and commentaries by his grandsons..
  7. [:File:Emblem of Saudi Arabia.svg|emblem of Saudi Arabia]
  8. Book: Commins, David . The Wahhabi Mission and Saudi Arabia . I.B.Tauris . 2009 . 153. Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab ... argued that the criterion for one's standing as either a Muslim or an unbeliever was correct worship as an expression of belief in one God. ... any act or statement that indicates devotion to a being other than God is to associate another creature with God's power, and that is tantamount to idolatry (shirk). Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab included in the category of such acts popular religious practices that made holy men into intercessors with God. That was the core of the controversy between him and his adversaries ... .
  9. News: Sulaiman. Musa Abdullahi. BenAmaraDiss. The Izala Movement in Nigeria.
  10. Web site: Takaitaccen Tarihin Dr Muhammad Sani Umar Dr. Muhammad Sani Umar Rijiyar Lemo . 2024-08-05 . drmsanirijiyarlemo.net . en.
  11. News: Nigeria: Sheikh Bala Lau Now Izala National Chair. 4 February 2024 . allafrica.com. Yusha'u A. Ibrahim.