Reading is a passion I have had and one of my most proud fortes. To me, it has gone beyond being a mere hobby, really and truly I see it as a profession – at a point, of course; not because I am a journalist.
It brings me relief, joy, a sense of fulfilment and above all perspectives of others. It has helped me build analytical posturing on a number of issues and of course, the part about vocabulary building.
I dealt with two books in February 2019 – “Nurul Anwar,” in part a historical text and an academic work and then “Islam in Africa throughout History” – both by African writers.
The first was a special book from afar, for me. It was authored by a childhood friend whose secular academic strides are enviable. The second also stirred some pride, it was written by an Ethiopian who served Islam extensively in Saudi Arabia.
My review summary for Nurul Anwar (The Light of the Lights) is as follows: “A good material in tracking the before, during and after years of incontestably the greatest man to walk the face of the earth – Mohammed, May Allah exalt his mention.
“Plus a good peek into how Islam gained root in sub-Saharan Africa. A must read, with all its challenges.”
“Islam In Africa Throughout History,” by Sheikh Muhammad Aman Al-Jami was a masterpiece that expounded on three phases of the entry of Islam into Africa across three different epochs.
The first, details how in the early years of prophethood, Makkans fled to Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea) and the days of expansion of territory under third caliph Uthman Bin Affan.
The second era combined the impact of Muslim traders and Sufi ideology. The traders shared as much as they knew of their faith especially with East Africans in areas as Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Lack of knowledge was main impediment as identified by the author.
The Sufi brand of Islam swept through three main blocs of Africa at the time, West, East and North Africa. Sheikh Al-Jami gives detailed explanation of why and how the Sufi ideology is and will continue to be detrimental to “true” Islam.
The final phase is of “rectification,” which basically is the need to “undo” as much damage of faith that had been sown by the traders and by Sufi methodology. Erudite varsities in Saudi Arabia – Madina, Riyadh, are leading the charge.
He identifies how the Muslim students that get to study in Saudi especially are crucial to the rectification of Islam in their localities. He mentions how their benefit of true knowledge and understanding of local realities makes them key change makers.
The two books interface on three main areas:
1 – Tracing how Islam arrived in Africa, incidentally they converge and diverge on some routes.
2 – They both recognize the impact of African scholars in advancing Islamic call, Uthman Dan Fodio (Nigeria) makes the list in both cases.
Nurul Anwar credits Muhammad Bello of Nigeria and Sheikh Al-Kenami of Libya whiles History of Islam Throughout Africa credits Sheikh Muhammad (native of Mali) and Sheikh Tahir of Algeria with instrumentality of spreading the religion.
3 – Finally, An-Najashi – the king of Abyssinia – gets a big treat in both books with the e-book going a step further with his position as a believer at the time despite not being qualified as a companion.
T’was a good month by every stretch of the work. Tough keeping up but exciting scrapping through. On to the next, Kintu (pronounced Chintu) by Ugandan author Jennifer Nasunbuga Makumbi and 1984 by George Orwell.
Let’s keep reading, shall we?
It brings me relief, joy, a sense of fulfilment and above all perspectives of others. It has helped me build analytical posturing on a number of issues and of course, the part about vocabulary building.
I dealt with two books in February 2019 – “Nurul Anwar,” in part a historical text and an academic work and then “Islam in Africa throughout History” – both by African writers.
The first was a special book from afar, for me. It was authored by a childhood friend whose secular academic strides are enviable. The second also stirred some pride, it was written by an Ethiopian who served Islam extensively in Saudi Arabia.
My review summary for Nurul Anwar (The Light of the Lights) is as follows: “A good material in tracking the before, during and after years of incontestably the greatest man to walk the face of the earth – Mohammed, May Allah exalt his mention.
“Plus a good peek into how Islam gained root in sub-Saharan Africa. A must read, with all its challenges.”
“Islam In Africa Throughout History,” by Sheikh Muhammad Aman Al-Jami was a masterpiece that expounded on three phases of the entry of Islam into Africa across three different epochs.
The first, details how in the early years of prophethood, Makkans fled to Abyssinia (present-day Ethiopia, Eritrea) and the days of expansion of territory under third caliph Uthman Bin Affan.
The second era combined the impact of Muslim traders and Sufi ideology. The traders shared as much as they knew of their faith especially with East Africans in areas as Ethiopia, Somalia and Sudan. Lack of knowledge was main impediment as identified by the author.
The Sufi brand of Islam swept through three main blocs of Africa at the time, West, East and North Africa. Sheikh Al-Jami gives detailed explanation of why and how the Sufi ideology is and will continue to be detrimental to “true” Islam.
The final phase is of “rectification,” which basically is the need to “undo” as much damage of faith that had been sown by the traders and by Sufi methodology. Erudite varsities in Saudi Arabia – Madina, Riyadh, are leading the charge.
He identifies how the Muslim students that get to study in Saudi especially are crucial to the rectification of Islam in their localities. He mentions how their benefit of true knowledge and understanding of local realities makes them key change makers.
The two books interface on three main areas:
1 – Tracing how Islam arrived in Africa, incidentally they converge and diverge on some routes.
2 – They both recognize the impact of African scholars in advancing Islamic call, Uthman Dan Fodio (Nigeria) makes the list in both cases.
Nurul Anwar credits Muhammad Bello of Nigeria and Sheikh Al-Kenami of Libya whiles History of Islam Throughout Africa credits Sheikh Muhammad (native of Mali) and Sheikh Tahir of Algeria with instrumentality of spreading the religion.
3 – Finally, An-Najashi – the king of Abyssinia – gets a big treat in both books with the e-book going a step further with his position as a believer at the time despite not being qualified as a companion.
T’was a good month by every stretch of the work. Tough keeping up but exciting scrapping through. On to the next, Kintu (pronounced Chintu) by Ugandan author Jennifer Nasunbuga Makumbi and 1984 by George Orwell.
Let’s keep reading, shall we?
No comments:
Post a Comment