The 36-year-old book, History of Yorubaland authored by Sheikh Mustapha Sanusi Zoglool has been translated into English language, aiming towards nation-building, improving reading culture among Muslims, curbing illiteracy and promoting academic excellence.

Originally written in Arabic with the title: Azhar Ar-Ruba Fi Akhbari Biladi Yoruba, the translation to English language is undertaken by the United Kingdom-based Zuglool International Ltd. The book comprises the origin of Yoruba, Yoruba customs and Yoruba deities before Islam among others.

At the fourth edition of the Zuglool yearly lecture and hijrah celebration, the book was launched in honour of the late founder of Daru Da’wah wal-Irshad Institute of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Isolo, Lagos State.

In attendance at the unveiling were the Oluwo of Iwo, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi; Chief Imam of Lagos State, Sheikh Sulaiman Abou Nolla , an alumnus of Daru Dawah (ably represented); a former Vice Chancellor of Fountain University, Professor Amidu Sanni; Dean, Student Affairs, Kwara State University, Prof. Moshood Mahmud Jimba; Prof. Luqman Zakariyyah of the University of Abuja, among others.

Speaking at the event, the chairman on the occasion, Oluwo of Iwo Kingdom, HRM, Oba Abdulrasheed Akanbi, extolled the virtues of the foremost Muslim scholar, urging the modern-day Muslim intellectuals to emulate him.

According to him, “Islam is the foundation. The first man Allah created (Prophet Adam) was a Muslim. He was never an idol worshipper. Our origin as Yorubas is linked to him (Prophet Adam). Idol-worshipping is alien to us. A time will come in Yorubaland when idolatry practices will no longer be fashionable.

“A lot of Yoruba monarchs are now disassociating themselves from idolatry practices. Islam which is the religion of monotheism and belief in Allah is the only acceptable religion to our Creator. I therefore urge our people to stop popularising idolatry practices.”

The CEO of Zuglool International UK Limited, Muntaqa Zuglool, said the initiative is part of an effort to keep the legacy of Sheikh Mustapha Zuglool alive.

“We want to keep the legacy of our father alive by starting a project in his name to ensure all his books written in Arabic are translated to English for the benefit of a wider audience.

“We have completed the first one which is Azhar Ar-Ruba Fi Akhbari Biladi Yoruba and work is ongoing on the second book. In the next four years by Allah’s grace, Zuglool International will have completed the translation of all the books written by Sheikh Zuglool to the English language and it will be on bookshelves in the market.

“The glory of the work goes to a committee of Sheikh Zuglool’s students. I had the vision, but the likes of Prof. Mashood Baderin, University of London; Prof. Luqman Zakariyyah; Prof. Yusuf in Malaysia, and so many doctors did most of the work. They took it upon themselves; did day and night to ensure the vision translated to reality.”

He said it had become imperative for Muslims to go back to history with what is going on in the world today, noting that Muslim scholars spent a lot of energy documenting history to address many of the contemporary issues.

“Sheikh Zuglool spent a lot of energy and academic excellence while writing the history of Yorubaland, its launch was graced by people from all over the world.

“Going back to our history books will proffer solutions and shed light on what is happening in the world today, as this will ensure that history is not rewritten.

“The likes of Sheikh Zuglool, Sheikh Adam al-Illory and others, have written a lot of fantastic books about history, so we must get it out there for a wider audience.”

He added that the proceeds from the books will go into a scholarship scheme to sponsor the less privileged and as Sadaqah Jawriyah for the late Sheikh Zuglool .

“The book translation project will go a long way to give back to society. Last year, we sponsored 155 students across the country. We did more in the last Ramadan because so many people saw it as a good initiative and they supported us. So, we are able to sponsor about 250 students.”

According to him, the project took about 19 months. He added, “With this experience, we are picking another of his books ‘Almarhatu Baynal Hijaab Wa Sufuur’. Baba spoke about the girl-child and women in that book. We want the project out before Ramadan 2024, in shaa Allah. It’s a continuous project. And it’s not about money; we just want to reach a wider audience.”

He lamented the declining reading culture across societies with the advent and phenomenal advancement of digital technology.

Guest Speaker, Dean, Student Affairs, Kwara State University, Prof. Mas’ud Mahmood Jimba said the English translation of the book was timely, considering the controversies surrounding the history of Yorubaland in contemporary times.

He commended the contributions of Sheikh Zuglool to Arabic and Islamic education in Yorubaland and Nigeria as a whole.

“He wrote extensively about Yorubaland: its scholars, culture and wars fought by the tribe. He also wrote on how Islam came to Yorubaland, and of course, Ilorin not being part of Yorubaland. That area is especially very controversial, but Sheikh Zuglool was able to navigate it.

“The book is very timely, especially for us Ilorins. It lays bare the way the Yorubas, European writers and the Ilorin indigenes view Ilorin. These are the three contradictory schools in the history of Ilorin. When you juxtapose them, you have a better understanding of the ancient city,” he said.

Professor of Islamic Jurisprudence at the University of Abuja, Luqman Zakariyyah, commended the late Zuglool for the quality and originality of his thoughts and authorship.

Zakariyyah said he also went through the mentorship of the late sage at Daru-d-Dawah where he graduated in 1990.

“We learnt a lot from him. So, we have to rally around to support his legacies. That’s the reason we are here today to launch the abridged translation of his book.

“For his teaching, authorship and preaching, I believe Sheikh excelled among his peers. If you see him delivering lectures, you’ll be amazed. You see the quality and originality. Someone might have said something, but he would say that same thing in another way.

“The originality of thoughts also manifested in his book. Even though Sheikh Ibn Al-Masami has written a book on (Azhar Ruba) and the late Sheikh Zuglool didn’t even see it, he wrote with a similar title with distinctive features. I linked this quality to our predecessor Imam Bukhariy. When he wrote his book Sahih Bukhariy, many scholars had written on hadith but few could compete with him because of his originality.”

Zakariyyah said Sheikh Zuglool has established the history of Islam in Yorubaland, noting Yoruba Muslims are not inferior in the country.

“I think Sheikh has established the origin of Ilorin and the origin of Muslims in Nigeria, especially in Yorubaland. We learnt from the book that Islam and Muslims are not inferior in this country. Muslims were original habitants before adherents of other religions came. So, Muslims can say we are the majority in Yorubaland. I believe its translation to English will better enlighten people as to the origin of Muslims in Yorubaland.”