THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF UNION OF AFRICAN SCHOLARS IN A PRIVATE INTERVIEW WITH THE AFRICAN MINARET STATION.

THE GENERAL SECRETARY OF UNION OF AFRICAN SCHOLARS IN A PRIVATE INTERVIEW WITH THE AFRICAN MINARET STATION.

“ORGANIZATION FOR ISLAMIC MISSION AND INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF AFRICA, KHARTOUM AS SHINNING EPITOME FOR THE SPREAD OF ISLAM IN AFRICAN CONTINENT”.

Umar Abdul-Sayyid

11 – 05 – 2016

Preface

It will be difficult for me to miss the opportunity of gathering of scholars and Islamic missioners on the African continent at Khartoum, to discuss issues of prospects and challenges of Islamic mission in Africa in three consecutive days, with noble invitation from Jama’at Ansar as-Sunnat al-Muhammadiyyah. I met with Dr. Sa’id Baba Sila, the General Secretary of Union of African Scholars and showed him my interest in conducting a media interview with him, and which he quickly welcomed, most especially when he discovered that the interview was in   favour of African Minaret Station. He gave us his precious time and we sat together to discuss the conception, foundation, missions of Union of African Scholars and the most seemingly challenges beside other issues that are related to Islamic mission in the continent.

Dr. Sa’id Baba Sila is of Mali in birth, growing and citizenship. He memorized the noble Qur’an from tender age in the city of Tubi, which is150 kilometre from the capital Bamako. He received secondary education in the Institute for Secondary Education affiliated to Islamic University of Madinah after which he attended college of Qur’an and Islamic Studies in the Islamic University of Madinah. He bagged both Master and Doctoral Degrees in the Department of Tafsir and Science of the Qur’an in the same university.

Interview conducted in Khartoum by:

Umar Abdus-Sayyid

UNION OF AFRICAN SCHOLARS: CONCEPTION, FOUNDATION AND MOST IMPORTANT MISSIONS.

The thought of establishing the union was borne out of the necessity to form a forum that will embrace African scholars, most especially, scholars from the nations of Southern Desert; and that will coordinate their efforts. The thought of establishing is far back to the time when Muslim missioners of Africa who studied in Islamic universities from various nations were returning to their regions and countries in Africa. These sets of missioners for a long period of time were disconnected from their colleagues and rarely did they meet together except in the conferences held within the continent or outsides. Furthermore, the thought of establishment was borne out of the necessity to unite their struggles within the continent for there is strength in unity. Te first 3 man preliminary committee was occupied by Dr. Muhammad Ahmad Luh, Dr. Muhammad Thani Umar and my humble self. After that, the second preliminary committee was constituted and it involved scholars and missioners from 12 African countries. Agreement was reached on the establishment and subsequently the pioneer conference was held in 1432AH/2011C.E in Bamako. The conference was honoured by delegates from 32 nations in the world and Organization of Islamic Collaboration.

What are the most Important Missions of the Union?

We have a dream of creating an academic authority geared towards bringing renaissance for the Muslim Ummah in Africa. Our other most important mission is strengthening the effort of ‘Ulamau and stressing their roles in the societies. Also to coordinate the missional struggles in general; to regulate the exercise of Islamic verdicts in general affairs, and to create a body tasked with communicating to nations and local organizations on issues affecting the Ummah in Africa. Until this moment, we have issued 13 statements about Islamic issues in the continent which attracted large audience and to Allah we give thanks.

Choosing Mali as Permanent site for the Union: Doest it has Specific Symbol?

The conference settled that the permanent site of the union should be located in Bamako, the capital of Mali and we signed agreement of the site with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International collaboration in order to give the union look of international organization. May Allah reward the government who donated to us land of 2000 plots to establish the union’s permanent site. We also reached an agreement that branch centres should be opened in the four regions of the continent namely: West, Middle, South and Eastern Africa. As for the Northern region (Algeria, Egypt, Sudan, Morocco, Libya, Mauritania and Tunisia), we discovered that Islam constitutes the dominating symbol; strong Islamic and missional organizations thrive there and it prides itself with roles of the aforementioned organizations in serving Islam and its issues.

Until this moment, what is the number of registered member scholars in the Union?

We faced strong difficulty in reaching the spread population of scholars in the continent. Till this day, the number of our members is put at 297 spread among male and female scholars and they come from 42 nations.

What are the most apparent achievements to the Union?

In the pioneer conference, we laid down five plans to actualize the dream of making the union an academic authority aimed at triggering renaissance for the Muslim Ummah in Africa. We held academic conferences in Africa, like the one in Tanzania that was themed: “Islamic Mission and Missioners: Missioners on the Track of the Prophets”. The conference was under the auspice of the Vice President of the Republic. Another conference was held in Rwanda themed: “Islamic Finances and its Prospects in Africa.” Another academic conference held in Bamako themed: “Peaceful Co-existence in Africa”. Currently, we are preparing for another conference that will discuss the Islamic Education: Role in Peaceful Co-existence in Africa. It shall be held in Cameroun.

What is the reason behind choosing Islamic Education and its role in peaceful co-existence in the continent as theme for your upcoming conference?

Influenced by the wave of snow ball terrorism and extremism in the globe, we observed that there is a conspiracy directed at the Muslims, and this conspiracy targets the Islamic methodologies. Infact they intend to attribute terrorism to everything that has to do with Islam. We propose during the course of this conference by the will and power of Allah to clarify that this perception is contrary to the reality, and that Islam is exonerated from terrorism, extremism and fundamentalism. Islam does not have link with the aforementioned trends.

What are the most obvious challenges that face you in the Union?

Even the Africa reality itself is regarded as a challenge. The union cannot be isolated from problems, political inconsistencies, civil wars, ignorance, poverty and diseases that are all taking place in Africa. Beside the weak communication and coordination of African scholars at large, monetary sponsor is another challenge because the union is an independent body which is not affiliated to any African nation or others. We only collaborate with sister organizations and we are currently making effort at searching for philanthropist bodies to support us in building the union’s permanent site.

How do you look to the past, present and future of Islamic mission in Africa? What are the most obvious challenges?

Despite the challenges, there are great positives in the current Islamic mission. Islam develops on a daily basis and to Allah we give gratitude. Some people want to smuggle foreign ideology into it. Evangelization is regarded as the biggest challenge that faces the continent’s society followed by the imposed conspiracy which aims at defaming Islam with Shiism, extremism fundamentalism, civil wars etc. Some of these challenges received media exaggeration which of course are not in conformity with what is on ground.

What is the current population rate of Muslims in the continent? And what is that of other faiths?

Until this moment, no official statistic for the population of Muslims in the continent though this may be attributed to the panic of some bodies (responsible for that task). Generally, Africa as the continent of Islam, is the most populous continent, though this is asserted via speculation, but the future is certainly reserved for Islam. Furthermore, Africa owns the future going by what it possesses in resources, human and capital resources and it is also regarded as young continent compared to other continents in the globe. Christianity is the second most dominating faith in Africa given its link to colonization and evangelistic forces, followed by pagan religions which have only one identity in every society.

To whom do we direct blame for the presumed weak spread of Islam in the Continent?

Firstly, such allegation is a result of our lackadaisical attitude as citizens of the continents though insufficient resources and little manpower might be responsible for this. What the Christians are lavishing is not comparable to what Muslims spend for the spread of Islam. If we find out the richest men in the world, we will discover that Muslims are well placed and paradoxically we will also discover that Muslims are the most impoverished. This only testifies to the fact that the responsibility of spreading the message of Islam has been forsaken. In spite of this, we give gratitude to Allah that there were noble and cheering efforts beside foreign efforts. The spread of Islam in the continent could also be attributed to the efforts of individual and traders who were portrayed with honesty and trust. At this juncture, we tender our much appreciation to the government of Sudan for taking up the task of Islamic mission in Africa via the efforts of various bodies. One of the glittering examples of such bodies is Organization of Islamic Mission. Its president is Abdur-Rahman Muhammad al-Hassan. We are also grateful to all member countries and those who are at the helms of affairs of this group. We feel the effects of their efforts in the continent, most especially in areas of field work, surveillance, spread of information, philanthropic and educational works. The African Minaret Station is regarded as first class achievement of the media department of the Organization of Islamic Mission in term of following the status of Islam and issues of the continent. We congratulate you on adding windows for various languages other than Arabic, and we are hopeful that will expand to cover other languages of the continent. And we are very grateful to you for these efforts. The Organization for Islamic Missions circled round the continent and reached places where people of the continent often run from, may Allah reward them; crown their effort with success and accept it. I believe that if other Da’wah foundations follow their suit, the status of Islam will surpass in multitude what we are having today. We also consider International University of Africa as one of the glittering epitome.

You mentioned in the paper you presented in the conference that the concept, plans, missions and methodologies of evangelization has changed, what did you mean?

What I mean is that things are currently working in a very fast manner which calls for urgent study, research, surveillance and working in conformity to the missions, methods and tactics. One of our most needed is establishing a strong centre to monitor the movement of evangelization in Africa; the centre should be tasked with manpower and be the main reference for all and sundry in evangelistic related issues in Africa and updating informations in a continuous manner.

Do you believe that Arabic Language can stand as obstacle to the spread of Islam in Africa?

Arabic language cannot stand as obstacle, rather it spreads with the spread of Islam. Today, Islam is spreading with local languages and tongues beside its gaining from English, Spain and French languages. English language is considered the official language of all nations, but Arabic language is the first language going by the number of its speaking African tribes.

Does your union thought of establishing Institutes for Rehabilitation of Imams and Missioners in Africa?

We focus in the union on the dream of becoming religious authority for the Muslims. Currently we are heading to coordinate the educational foundations and mobilize students of knowledge in and outside Africa. We are making attempt at signing memorandum with various media houses, most especially media houses who base in Africa and broadcast with various languages of the continent. We have signed an agreement with most of African stations. In West Africa, we have signed an agreement with stations that broadcast with four languages.

Epilogue

We can only tender our appreciation to the citizens and government of Sudan for showing interest on issues of the continent and Islamic mission. And we are grateful to Jama’at Ansar as-Sunnat al-Muhammadiyyah for its efforts and holding this conference as we are also appreciative of the African Minaret Station for this interview. May Allah reward you all.