SECTION 'A' THEOLOGY
- Examine the concept of Qadr and what Muslims understand from it.
- Carefully explain the nature of belief in the last Day by reflecting chapter 98: verses 6-8 of the Quran.
- Examine the concept of Kufr in Islam and discuss its types and differences.
- Explain the meaning of hypocrisy, types and their differences.
SECTION 'B': RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS
- Examine the concept of Sufism and their contributions to the spread of Islam in West Africa.
- Give an account of the life and contributions of Muhammad bn Abdulwahab.
- Give an account of the life and contributions of Shehu Usmanu bin Fodiyo.
- Examine Islamic Evidence on tolerance in religion.
1. The concept of Qadr
- Qadr (Divine Decree/Predestination) means Allah has foreknowledge of, and has decreed, all that happens in the universe — good and bad — before it occurs
- It is one of the six articles of faith (Iman) in Islam
- Muslims understand that Allah's knowledge is eternal and complete; nothing happens outside His will and wisdom
- However, Islam teaches that humans still possess free will (Ikhtiyar) and are responsible for their actions/choices
- Qadr does not mean fatalism; Muslims are encouraged to strive, plan, and work while trusting the outcome to Allah (Tawakkul)
- Belief in Qadr brings comfort in hardship and humility in success, since both good and bad are seen as tests from Allah
2. Belief in the Last Day (reflecting Q98:6-8)
- Belief in the Last Day (Yawm al-Qiyamah) is a fundamental article of Islamic faith
- Surah 98 (Al-Bayyinah), verses 6-8, contrasts the fate of disbelievers and believers on that Day
- Verse 6: Disbelievers among the People of the Book and polytheists who reject faith will be in the Fire of Hell, abiding therein — described as the worst of creatures
- Verses 7-8: Those who believe and do righteous deeds are the best of creatures; their reward with Allah is Gardens of Eternity (Jannah), with rivers flowing beneath, to abide forever — Allah is pleased with them and they with Him
- This teaches that final judgment is based on faith and righteous deeds, and reinforces accountability
- Encourages moral discipline, since actions in this life have eternal consequences
3. The concept of Kufr, its types and differences
- Kufr means disbelief, rejection, or denial of Islamic faith/truth after it has been made clear; one who commits Kufr is called a Kafir
Types:
- Kufr al-Inkar (denial): Total rejection of Allah's existence and message
- Kufr al-Juhud (rejection despite inner conviction): Denying truth outwardly while inwardly acknowledging it
- Kufr al-Nifaq (hypocrisy): Outwardly professing Islam while inwardly disbelieving
- Kufr al-Shirk (associating partners with Allah): Worshipping or ascribing divinity to other than Allah
- Kufr al-Ni'mah (ingratitude): Denying or being ungrateful for Allah's blessings without leaving the faith
Differences: Shirk, Inkar, and Juhud constitute major disbelief that takes one outside Islam entirely, while Kufr al-Ni'mah is lesser, relating to sinfulness/ingratitude; Nifaq is especially dangerous as concealed disbelief behind a Muslim identity.
4. Meaning of hypocrisy, types and differences
- Hypocrisy (Nifaq) means outwardly professing Islam and faith while inwardly harboring disbelief or insincerity; a hypocrite is called a Munafiq
Types:
- Nifaq al-I'tiqadi (Major/belief-based): Complete inner disbelief masked by outward practice — takes one out of Islam, condemned severely (e.g., Surah Al-Munafiqun)
- Nifaq al-Amali (Minor/practical): A believer displaying hypocritical traits (lying, breaking promises, betraying trust) without disbelieving inwardly — a serious sin, but does not remove one from Islam
Differences: Major hypocrisy involves genuine hidden disbelief (making the person a non-Muslim in reality), while minor hypocrisy involves a true believer with hypocritical character traits.
5. Sufism and its contributions to the spread of Islam in West Africa
- Sufism (Tasawwuf) is the mystical/spiritual dimension of Islam, emphasizing purification of the heart, closeness to Allah, asceticism, and spiritual discipline through dhikr and following a Sheikh
- Organized into brotherhoods/orders (Tariqas), notably Qadiriyyah and Tijaniyyah in West Africa
Contributions:
- Sufi scholars traveled widely, peacefully preaching and establishing communities
- Emphasis on personal piety attracted converts among local populations
- Established Islamic learning centers that trained scholars and preachers
- Adapted Islamic teaching to local contexts, easing acceptance
- Sufi leaders (e.g., Uthman dan Fodio, a Qadiriyyah adherent) led reform/jihad movements that expanded Islam
- Promoted brotherhood and unity among diverse ethnic groups
- Produced influential Islamic literature and poetry
6. Life and contributions of Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab
- Born 1703 in Uyaynah, Najd (present-day Saudi Arabia); died 1792
- Trained in Islamic jurisprudence (Hanbali school) and theology in Mecca, Medina, and Basra
- Founder of the Wahhabi movement, calling for return to "pure" monotheism (Tawhid)
Contributions:
- Condemned practices he considered Shirk, such as grave/shrine visitation for intercession and saint veneration
- Called for strict adherence to Quran and Sunnah, rejecting religious innovations (Bid'ah)
- Formed an alliance with Muhammad ibn Saud (1744), giving political backing to his reform and founding the First Saudi State
- Wrote influential works, notably "Kitab al-Tawhid"
- His movement shaped modern Saudi Arabian religious/political identity and influenced Islamic reform elsewhere, including West Africa
7. Life and contributions of Shehu Usman dan Fodio
- Born 1754 in Maratta, Gobir (present-day northern Nigeria); died 1817
- A Fulani Islamic scholar, reformer, and leader of the Qadiriyyah Sufi order
Contributions:
- Led the Sokoto Jihad (1804) against Hausa rulers accused of un-Islamic practices and oppression
- Established the Sokoto Caliphate, one of the most influential Islamic states in West African history
- Promoted Islamic education, especially for women (notably through his daughter, Nana Asma'u)
- Wrote extensively (over 100 works) on Islamic law, theology, mysticism, and governance
- Reformed justice administration based on Sharia
- Strengthened and spread the Qadiriyyah Sufi order across the region
- Appointed his brother Abdullahi and son Muhammad Bello to help administer the caliphate
8. Islamic evidence on tolerance in religion
- "There is no compulsion in religion" (Quran 2:256) — affirms freedom of belief
- Muslims instructed to invite others with wisdom and good preaching, not coercion (Quran 16:125)
- Surah 109 (Al-Kafirun): "To you be your religion, and to me be mine" — mutual respect for differing beliefs
- Quran 5:48 acknowledges religious diversity as part of Allah's plan and test for humanity
- Prophet Muhammad's Constitution of Medina guaranteed religious freedom to Jews and other communities
- Quran 60:8 commands justice and kindness to non-Muslims who do not fight against Muslims
- Historical examples show Muslim rulers protecting non-Muslim subjects' (dhimmis) rights to practice their faith
- These teachings collectively establish tolerance and coexistence as core Islamic values