Shaykh Ja’far Mahmud Adam (d. 2007) and His Visions and Philosophical Thoughts on Education: An Inductive Approach

Abstract

Education– no one doubts – essentially represents a strong instrument that is used in the process of executing revivalist projects, but also ensuring a development and advancement of people both at individual and societal level. That is why reformers pay great attention to knowledge which they, more than arguably, any other constituency of people, regard as the most potent weapon that facilitates the success of reform missions. The basic and common belief is that people find themselves in whatever deplorable condition and state of backwardness owing to their neglect of knowledge, which then makes them trapped in the shackles of ignorance. As a result, stressing the value of education and demonstrating this through operational initiatives by way of sensitizing, reawakening, enlightening and orienting people via various methods and approaches commensurate with the existing realities are all considered as steps toward liberating people from the grip of ignorance which has enslaved them until they rise and decisively fight it. This article highlights and appraises the educational views, thoughts and philosophy of Shaykh Ja’far Mahmud Adam (d. 2007), one of Nigeria’s most prominent Muslim reformers and most influential scholars. The article relies chiefly on the recorded speeches of the scholar in which he articulated his views during public occasions such as weekly Friday sermons, mosque lessons, public lectures or private study circles, which then circulated among larger Muslim audience. The essay finds out that Ja’far’s views on knowledge permeate both religious and Western education which he felt that society must standardize before it develops.