Contributions of Sufi orders on the overall development of Muslims of Saki, Saki west local government area of Oyo state, Nigeria

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.