An assessment of the activities of selected Ḥalqatu ’s-Salafiyyah in Ilorin Metropolis

Abstract

Ḥalqah (p. Ḥalaqāt) is a unique avenue for imparting knowledge in Islam. It has been explored over times to get Muslims educated about  their religion. It was institutionalised by the Prophet himself in the early days of Islam. The existence of ḥalqah in recent times has  been synonymous with Salafism through which many Muslims have inclined to it (Salafism). However, different issues have come up due  to availability of ḥalqah in Ilorin, with both effects. This paper therefore examined the activities of ḥalaqātu’s-Salafiyyah in Ilorin,  identified their major impacts and challenges. Historical method was adopted for the research. It was discovered that ḥalqah  metamorphosed from Dacwah activities of the Salafiyyah scholars in Ilorin. It was also discovered that activities of ḥalqah in the city were  not limited to traditional teaching of Islam, but also included organisation of seminars and conferences among others. The impacts of ḥalqah in the city extended beyond religious entrenchment, but also covered socio-political, economic and intellectual spheres. The  ḥalqah session in the city is also faced with internal wrangling and external challenges with negative effects on Salafism as a whole, ditto  to ḥalqah. The paper therefore concluded that ḥalaqātu’s-Salafiyyah has the potentials to properly institutionalise Salafism in Ilorin if the   Salafiyyah advocates put their house in order.