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A history of ‘Yan haƙiƙa, a revisionist Islamic group in northern Nigeria

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2022

Kabiru Haruna Isa
Kabiru Haruna Isa*
Affiliation:
Bayero University Kano, Kano, Nigeria
*
Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

‘Yan haƙiƙa are a Sufi group that has come to prominence in the second decade of the twenty-first century in northern Nigeria, with a significant following in Kano. Although members of the group perceive themselves to be bona fide followers of the path of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (Senegalese Islamic scholar and founder of Tijaniyya-Ibrahimiyya), they are considered by Sunni Muslims (both Salafis and Sufis) as a heretical faction. The basic ideology of this group is that Niasse Allah ne (Niasse is God); they also apotheosize their members. Their ideology stems from the concepts of Wahadat al-Wujud (oneness of being and unity of existence) and Tarbiyya (spiritual training), which is a method used by Sufi shaykhs to guide their disciples on the mystical journey to direct experiences of the Divine Essence – a method popularized by Tijaniyya-Ibrahimiyya. Initially, the group operated clandestinely, but in recent years its members have attracted public attention through Mawlid Baaye (celebrating the birthday of Niasse). During the celebration, they shower praises on Niasse and rank him above the Prophet Muhammad. Their comments generate violent reactions from Salafi and Sufi communities. While Salafis consider the creed of ‘Yan haƙiƙa as typical Sufi heresy, the Sufis not only disown them but also question their ‘Muslimness’. The emergence of ‘Yan haƙiƙa has changed the contours and composition of Tijaniyya in Kano because its defining ideology of deifying Niasse and its members contradict the teaching and doctrine of the mainstream Tijaniyya. This article unpacks the place of ‘Yan haƙiƙa in the highly contested and tense religious geography of Kano, exploring how its emergence complicates the category of ‘Muslim’ within mainstream Sunni Islam.

Résumé

Résumé

‘Yan haƙiƙa sont un groupe soufi qui a gagné en notoriété dans la deuxième décennie du 21e siècle dans le nord du Nigeria, et qui compte de nombreux adeptes à Kano. Bien que les membres de ce groupe se perçoivent eux-mêmes comme de véritables adeptes de la voie de Cheikh Ibrahim Niasse (islamologue sénégalais et fondateur de la Tijaniyya-Ibrahimiyya), les musulmans sunnites (salafistes et soufis) considèrent qu’ils forment une faction hérétique. Ce groupe a pour idéologie de base que Niasse Allah ne (Niasse est Dieu), et il apothéose ses membres. Son idéologie découle des concepts de wahadat al-wujud (unicité de l’être et unité d’existence) et de tarbiyya (éducation spirituelle), qui est une méthode utilisée par les cheikhs soufis pour guider leurs disciples sur la voie mystique vers l’expérience directe de l’essence divine, une méthode popularisée par la Tijaniyya-Ibrahimiyya. Ce groupe opérait initialement de manière clandestine, mais ces dernières années ses membres ont attiré l’attention du public par le mawlid baaye (qui célèbre l’anniversaire de Niasse). Au cours de cette fête, ils couvrent Niasse de louanges et le classent au-dessus du prophète Mahomet. Leurs commentaires génèrent de violentes réactions de la part des communautés salafistes et soufies. Alors que les salafistes considèrent la croyance des ‘Yan haƙiƙa comme une hérésie soufie typique, les soufis les renient mais aussi remettent en cause leur « musulmanité ». L’émergence des ‘Yan haƙiƙa a changé les contours et la composition de la Tijaniyya à Kano car l’idéologie de déification de Niasse et de ses membres qui la définit contredit l’enseignement et la doctrine de la Tijaniyya traditionnelle. Cet article met à jour la place de la ‘Yan haƙiƙa dans la géographie religieuse tendue et hautement contestée de Kano, en explorant comment son émergence complique la catégorie « musulman » dans l’islam sunnite traditionnel.

Type
Islam and Muslim cultures in Nigeria
Information
Africa , Volume 92 , Issue 5 , November 2022 , pp. 780 - 797
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2022. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of the International African Institute

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