The Chief Imam of the Epe Central Mosque in Lagos State, Alhaji AbdulRahaman Sadalah Abiola Aileru, is worried that Epe, which is widely acclaimed as a strong Muslim town, has no standard Islamic College. The Vice-Chairman of the League of Imams and Alfas (Epe Division) recalls his efforts so far in this interview with TUNDE BUSARI. Excerpts:
ISLAMIC religion and Epe are synonymous in Yorubaland to the extent that Epe is nicknamed town of Al-quran. Can you expatiate on this connection?
Epe and Islam, as you rightly observed, are interwoven by the mercy of the Almighty Allah which made it so. The history of the two is the God’s doing because it is beyond of power of man.
Did Islam meet Epe or vice versa?
The history is that when the late King Kosoko left Lagos and arrived in Epe, he came with many people to resettle here. Among the people that followed him to Epe were some Islamic scholars, the alfas, who were very close with Kosoko in Lagos before the situation called for his relocation to Epe. Those Alfas were here with him practising Islam. But when it was time for Kosoko to return to Lagos, he left Epe but some of those Alfas stayed back. What Islam is all about is propagation; spreading the religion to the non-Muslims. That was what those Alfas were doing here and they were enjoying it because that was their calling.
Can you recall the name of those Alfas?
Those Alfas were Audu, Awesu, Aileru. They were not only Alfas but Imams. They were of the Northern Nigeria extraction from Sokoto and Katsina. Aileru is my forefather. Audu was the first Imam and held the first Tafsir. He did Tafsir during the holy month of Ramadan in Epe at Oke Balogun. He used a local interpreter to reach his congregation because he was not versed in Yoruba language. After he had passed away, Awesu succeeded him and Aileru also succeeded Awesu.
In other words, the three families of the late Imams rotate the position among themselves. Is it correct?
Yes. As I said earlier, I am a descendant of Aileru. The arrangement subsists till date without any rancor. There is no issue or controversy about it.
Where was the first central mosque in Epe located?
The first central mosque in Epe was sited at Oke-Balogun. It is the first mosque in the whole of Epe Division. Where we are having this interview now is called Badosale. This is the mosque where we have our Tafsir during every month of Ramadan. This mosque was renovated in 1920. Going by what you see in this beautiful mosque, can you believe the mosque was renovated in that year? We are talking of close to hundred years. We are talking of 97 years precisely. How this mosque stands should tell you that our grandfathers had foresight to have come up with a strong structure that still meets the standard of today 97 years after.
When did you emerge as the Chief Imam. How did it happen?
I became the Chief Imam in 2009. The turbaning ceremony held on May 9, 2009. I had earlier served as Eketa after which I was elevated to Naib to the late Chief Imam, Sheik Muhammad Taofeek Olorunosebi. That is the tradition. Naib naturally steps in after the demise of Chief Imam.
Can we then say your immediate past position prepared you well?
Chief Imam is not an ordinary title. It is a revered position for the head of all Muslims in a community. I give glory to the almighty Allah for seeing me to the post because it is not automatic to rise to this position. It is only God that can spare one’s life to reach there. What I am saying is that it is not every Naib that lives to become Chief Imam at the end of the day.
You must have also been prepared by other factors like adequate education. Am I right?
Yes, you are absolutely correct. We have to emphasise it using this medium, that Islamic position is not meant for the illiterate. You may be a professor in your field, if you don’t have Islamic education, you are an illiterate as far as I am concerned. The use of the word, illiterate’ should not be restricted to or monopolised by the western education products. What I am driving at is that a chief imam must have the adequate knowledge to hold the post. He is in the position of teaching and guidance and leading. So, without adequate education, he cannot meet these standards.
Then how educated are you?
I thank God that I tried my best to receive quality Islamic education from great scholars. I pray to the almighty Allah to repose the souls of my Alfaas who have departed. I attended Ibadan Al-Marqas. My father is the late Chief Imam of Arisekola Mosque in Ibadan. He was also Chief Imam of Ansar-Ar-Ud-Deen Mosque, Ekotedo, Ibadan. I attended the Arabic School of the late Sheik Liadi Ajisafe Akilapa also in Ibadan. Also, I attended Arashi Memorial Arabic Secondary School, Oke-Oluokun, Ilupeju, Ibadan after which I moved to Al Marqas at Agege in 1991. These are the Islamic schools I attended the impact of which is in me till date.
You appear to me as a young Imam leading a big central mosque. How correct or is my observation?
You observed right. In the history of this town, I am the youngest chief Imam. I was turbaned in my early 40s.
Then how has the experience been leading your grandfathers and mothers in prayer?
The experience is complex. Where should I even start to share the experience with you? But something I think I should not forget to say is that the position is like the head of an elephant which a minor cannot carry. Chief Imam is not a title for a kid. I know what I am talking about. But I can tell you that I receive the mercy of almighty Allah consistently.
There are other towns in Yorubaland like Ilorin and Iwo also associated with Islam. Is Epe not threatened by the popularity of these towns?
How can we feel threatened? We are not threatened at all because we are recognised for the same purpose which is propagation of Islam.
Are you saying Islam is still what it used to be in Epe?
That is the truth. We still retain our name here as a leading town of Islam. Go and do your investigation in every family and see what I mean. God has blessed this town to produce eminent citizens who have held higher positions in the country. Al-quran has really been our tool to seek the face of God for our people to get to good places in the society. Unfortunately, these people are not giving back to Islam. It is sad. I am not happy that you are even reminding me this failure of our people. Is it not ridiculous that we don’t have a standard Islamic college in this town to complement the name of Epe? Yet these people are comfortable saying with pride that their hometown is home of Al-quran?
What effort have you made to make these people realise your wish?
I have made some efforts but it seems they have made up their mind. But I shall not relent as my position requires. I must continue calling on them to come and set up at least a standard Islamic school here. We already have our sons who attended great Islamic schools wandering about because they have no job to do with their certificates.This should not be but that is the reality here. I cannot count the number of times I said it in the mosques that the mosque needs a big power generator. These people are rich and comfortable enough to donate it to the mosques but they prefer blocking the road for parties and other frivolous things. I shall continue to call on them.
and then