It has been a widely spread tale amongst the non-Muslims and some Muslims in the South-Western part of Nigeria that the Hausas will not allow a Yoruba man lead them in any of the five daily prayers. This, as it is usually said, is because the Hausas believe the Yorubas are not Muslim enough while some would say the Hausas consider the Yoruba Muslims to be ‘Munafiki’, from ‘Munaafiq’ which means hypocrite.
While it has been claimed that this misconception has been refuted, clear evidences emerged when Muslim writer and Lecturer, Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman posted on his Facebook page that he led a group of Muslims in Salat-ul-Maghrib in Kano contrary to the popular misconception.
Commenting on the post, Facebook users shared their experiences that negate the misconception so widely spread.
Fuad-deen Olabisi Kekere-ekun sheds more light;
Hamzat Mahmud Oluwatosin, a Yoruba Muslim says;
Yahya Faruq Abugu, an Igbo Muslim also leads Hausas in Salah;
Islam on Equality
In the religion of Islam, every man is equal before Allah. No man is better than another except by piety and good actions as Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said in his last sermon;
“All mankind is from Adam and Eve, an Arab has no superiority over a non-Arab nor a non-Arab has any superiority over an Arab; also a white has no superiority over black nor a black has any superiority over white except bypiety (taqwa) and good action. Learn that every Muslim is a brother to every Muslim and that the Muslims constitute one brotherhood.”
Racism or tribal superiority is alien to Islam. Bilal Ibn Rabah, a former slave was one of the most trusted and loyal companions of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and he was the first Muslim to call the Adhan (call to prayer).
While it is true that some, due to a lack of Islamic understanding, may not want people of other tribes to lead them in Salah, this does not represent a large group of people from any race or tribe.
KnowIslam Project
English 
