Islamic Reform In Ghana: The Roles Of Selected Islamic Scholars And Movements

ABSTRACT This thesis, Islamic Reform in Ghana: The roles of selected Islamic scholars and movements, explored the concept of Islamic reform in Ghana through the analysis of the religious roles of Shaykh Abubakar Musah Baribari, Shaykh Nuhu Jihad and Shaykh Dr. Amin Bonsu that aimed at curbing the challenges facing the Muslim Ummah. Specifically, the study examined the measures put in place by these selected Ulamāh (Islamic scholars) to help combat the underlining factors influencing the degeneration of the Ummah in order to meet the demands of time without compromising the fundamental values of Islam. In order to achieve the set objectives of the thesis, the study adopted multi-faceted approaches to data collection through in-depth personal interviews with the selected Ulamāh and other Muslim individuals. Participant observation was also employed in studying some of the religious activities of the selected Ulamāh. The descriptive, analytical and interpreting methods were applied in describing, analyzing and interpreting the data collected. The research also adopted the phenomenological, theological and historical approaches together with the theory of the millennial theology of reform as the methodologies and the theoretical framework for the study respectively. These approaches helped in investigating the teachings, practices, theological views on certain practices and the biographies of the selected Ulamāh. At the end of the work, the findings revealed that, the concept of Islamic reform is not limited to only theological issues but instead all religious activities that help in the development of Islam and Muslims without compromising the core teachings of Islam. It was also revealed that reforms, in most cases, were characterized by violence such as the 1804 Sokoto Jihad in Nigeria. However, in the Ghanaian context the reforms were peaceful in nature though there were some confrontations and verbal polemics in some exceptional cases. Another finding is that, part of the Ulamāhs’ religious activities in combating the contemporary challenges of the Muslim Ummah include counselling, scholarly engagements and also the promotion and establishment of institutions such as ArabicEnglish schools, library and counselling center. The research, among other things, recommends that, the Ulamāh should carry out their reforms through intellectual means and not by imposition. They should derive their impetus from early peaceful reformers such as Alhaj Umar of Kete-Krachi. Also, the Ulamāh should pay more attention to the progress of Islam and not their respective leaning. They should identify themselves as Muslims and not by their respective doctrinal affiliation. Finally, the Ulamāh should accommodate divergent views in their reform process. They should not consider their views as authoritative and the only truth, but rather be democratic.