‘Of Kano and Beyond Kano’: The intellectual influence of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara in Katsina since the Twentieth Century

Abstract

The vibrant Islamic intellectual atmosphere of Kano had, over the years, produced erudite Muslim scholars who beautified the historical pages of Hausaland, northern Nigeria and West Africa as a whole. The 20th century was specifically full of scholarly activity, responsible for the emergence, growth and profound influence of numerous Muslim luminaries in northern Nigeria. One of such   important luminaries was Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Kabara in Kano. Although Sheikh Kabara’s fame was established in Kano, his intellectual influences covered a large section of the West African region. It was against this backdrop that this paper examines the scholarly and spiritual influences of Sheikh Nasiru Kabara, which extended beyond Kano, his immediate environment, and into some areas neighbouring Kano, especially Katsina. On the other hand, despite the Islamic intellectual heritage and prowess of Katsina, Sheikh Nasiru Kabara was able to make a difference within Katsina by gathering a large following among its Muslim population and mentored others, leading to a revival of the nascent Qadiriyya brotherhood in the area. To make a difference in such vibrant intellectual areas requires a lot of scholarly erudition, spiritual charisma and religious intellectual might – all of which characterised Sheikh Nasiru Kabara.