By Ishola Balogun & Bashir Adefaka

Muslim scholars in Lagos gathered at the TMC Centre, Ijeshatedo, Lagos, Wednesday, to clarify what they described as massive error occasioned by grand ignorance of grandeur, the outburst of Sheikh Habeeb Adam Al-Ilory, Mudiru of Markaz, Agege, who purpotedly made a scathing comment on one of the sources of authentic prophetic traditions (Hadeeth) in Islamic World, Abu Huraira and the compiler of many of the traditions, Sahih Bukhari.

Explaining the issue, Sheikh Zhikirullah Shaffi, who is the Mufti of Council of Islamic Organisations (CIO) and Amir of The Muslim Congress (TMC), said it was great sin before Allah and Prophet Muhammad (s.a.w) to speak ill of any of companions of the Prophet among whom was Abu Huraira.

Shallowness and unscholarliness

He stated that such ill comment credited to Sheikh Habeeb Adam Al-Ilory smacks of ignorance, shallowness and unscholarliness noting that: “I have never heard this kind of comment before in my life from any known scholar of old and contemporary age, from Lagos to Ibadan, Iwo to Ilorin, across Nigeria, and even the world at large.

Shaffi who was visibly angry said real scholars are angry about this comment, adding that “we challenge him to a open debate on this issue, so that the ummah will not be misled.”

Describing the place of Abu Huraira in Islamic history, Sheikh Shaffi, said it was not possible to know Islam without the sunnah slammed whoever boasted to be out to condemn people for upholding the sunnah of the Prophet (pbuh), said, “Abu Huraira came from Al-Jaozih.  He embraced Islam seven years after Hijrah.  He was so close to the Prophet (pbuh) so much that the Prophet prayed for him and he never forgot any of of the hadith of the Prophet.

“As for Bukhari (the compiler of hadith most considered to be authentic), some people said Bukhari was a blind man.  Yes, but his mother prayed to Allah to restore his sight  and Allah answered her prayer by restoring the sight of Abu Huraira,” Sheikh Shaffi said     ..

Earlier in his welcome address, the Chief Imam of The Muslim Congress (TMC) and Deputy Chairman, Council of Ulamas in Nigeria, Sheikh Abdul-Fattah Thani, told the gathering that the gathering was not intended to abuse anybody but to make clarifications on a scathing comment made against a companion of the Prophet of Islam (peace upon him) Abu Huraira (may Allah be pleased with him).

Sheikh Thani said, “Our gathering here today, is like the sitting of faithful towards goodness.  And Allah says we should cooperate with one another in carrying out good things and in enjoining ourselves to fear Allah because Allah warns us against conspiracy but this gathering of scholars was meant to clarify the issue.

This is the reason I congratulate all of you, scholars in Islam, who are here today because Allah commands that, ‘Let there arise from among you a group of selected people who wil call unto goodness, who will forbid indecency and who will believe in Allah.’  Allah says those that do this have benefitted immensely from the favour of Allah.

Speaking to journalists after the lecture, National Missioner, Ansar-Ud-Deen Society of Nigeria, Imam Abdulrahman Ahmad, said, “The methodology of knowledge is well established in Islam.  We cannot reduce Islam to mere academic exercise because, this has very far reaching implications.

When you impune on the integrity of the most authentic source of Islam, you are calling the whole of the religion to question.  But to be fair, there could be space for critic and the science for critic that is well established.  But when you do not follow the principle of, for instance, Hadeeth criticism, which is age long science, then there is a problem. “Imam Bukhari and Abu Huraira are our forebears.  May Allah continue to be pleased with them.”

Attitude of Muslim to message of preachings

Sheikh Abdulrahman Ahmad said, “The attitude of Muslims to message preached by any preacher should be what Allah says in the Qur’an.  Allah says, whenever news comes to you, make sure you find out, ascertain and establish the truth and live by the truth.