Abstract:
The growth and spread of Islam in West Africa and particularly in Nigeria have always
been attributed to the activities of Ṣūfī orders. Between the mid and last quarter of twentieth century
Sufism was subjected to a bulk of criticism. It seems that the tidal waves of the said criticism and
proliferation of Muslim associations have allowed the study of Ṣūfī orders to be felt. Thus, this study
is an attempt directed towards bringing into the fore the genuineness or otherwise of the contributions
of Ṣūfī orders on the overall development of Muslims of Saki. One hundred (100) samples were
selected through random sampling technique; structured questionnaire was designed to elicit
information from the respondents. Data collected were analyzed using simple percentage statistical
tool. The study revealed that Sufism is described as the core and beauty of Islam by its practitioners
while to some it has been regarded as bogus, flippant, vile and irksome defilement in the parapet and
structure of Islam and therefore, vitriolic criticism of its rites and practices. The study also
discovered that Ṣūfī orders contributed to the lives of the people educationally, politically and socially
but a very little of religious reawakening. The study recommended that Muslims must not only be
sincere in restricting themselves to the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) in all religious affairs but also
refrain from all temptations that are either unlawful or innovative in the remembrance and showing
reverence to Allah, the Almighty.
