While Islam has enjoyed dominance in Yoruba Land, it has also faced criticism from the adherents of traditional practices now called Isese, which is a misnomer. Find my explanation of Isese as a misnomer here: A Discourse On The Antiquity Of Isese and Its Historical Context by Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman.
In recent times, we have seen Isese apologists attack Islam and Muslims unintelligently because all they do is curse, tear the Qur’an, and insult. However, this is not new, as it is evident in Otura Meji and Odu Imale how Islam and Muslims were mocked with no convincing argument. This article will be based on Ustaadh Kabir Al Asfar’s 20-minute-long Facebook video, where he sought to enlighten and challenge these critics.
Any intellectual person will provide evidence to disagree with a belief system, ideology, or thought process. In the case of Isese apologists, the reverse is the case. They attack Islam without evidence. If they are not seen tearing the Qur’an, you will find them attempting to manipulate Esu or Sango to deal with the Oluwo of Iwo because he is against idolatry. The fact is that anyone who has a mouth and can speak can insult and curse, but not everyone can provide convincing evidence(s) for their beliefs. The religion of Islam is evidence-driven, and this is one area where Isese is lacking. As for insults, Allah says in Qur’an 6:108, “And do not insult those they invoke other than Allah, lest they insult Allah in enmity without knowledge.”
Talking about Islam in Yoruba Land, one should ask, “Why did our ancestors abandon idolatry for Islam?” A widespread fallacy is that Islam came to Yoruba Land through the Arabs, and Prophet Muhammad was not a Yoruba man. This is not true because Islam came to Yoruba Land through traders from Imale, which is why they say ‘Esin Imale,’ not to mean a difficult religion, but a religion from the people of Mali.
Arrogant Isese apologists assume everything, including life, faith, and technology, started in Yoruba Land, and thus no Yoruba man should embrace a faith from outside the shores of the land. To these apologists, the ideal thing for an average Yoruba man to do is to cover his head with palm oil as he worships Ogun, Obatala, or whatever. Interestingly, Yorubas are estimated to be about 50 million people, while the world population is about 8.2 billion. One may ask, “How can a population that accounts for not up to 1 percent of the world population egotistically assume life and spirituality begin and end with it?”
The Creator did not make the truth exclusive to one race, tribe, or color; rather, the acceptance of the truth should be based on reason backed up by evidence. This evidence that our ancestors found in Islam made them embrace it. Now, let us compare and contrast Islam and Isese.
In Isese, it is common to offer sacrifices to the Orishas either as a form of appeasement or solicitation. Orisha, which means ‘Ori Sha (The creator selected),’ are individuals specially selected by God or Eledumare where, in other contexts, we may refer to them as Prophets or any other term related to God-sent. These Orishas were people who ate, drank, slept, and did many things like us. Thus, they are not worthy of worship. Every act of worship should be directed towards God alone, and this is where Islam comes in. If Isese apologists agree that God, Eledumare, is the superior being, then, it is logical to conclude that He is the one deserving of all acts of worship. Why would anyone leave the Creator and worship His creation?
The pagans of Arabia and those in Yoruba Land share a similar belief that God is far away and cannot be reached. Therefore, those He placed the universe in their hands are to be worshiped and appeased. At the core of Yoruba spirituality is worldly interest, and this is evident in the fact that for every worldly need, there is a god to request from; no rain? appease Sango; bad business? appease Aje; need children? appease Osun; want to fight your enemies? approach Esu.
In the case of Islam, these Orishas or gods are not self-sufficient, and how will they help you if they cannot help themselves? Any rational-thinking person should seek and worship who created them, and that is why in Sura Al-Fatiha, we say, “It is you (God) we worship, and it is you alone we seek help from.”
Islam is a universal religion. Allah says in the Qur’an that He sent messengers to different nations in their language. Unlike Isese, Hinduism, Judaism, etc., Islam does not call to the supremacy of a particular tribe, color, or race. Islam doesn’t require you to be an Arab to be a Muslim. It does not ask you to worship Arab gods and idols to be a Muslim. You are to worship God ALONE and associate no partners with him.
This is the logic that Islam rests on. When we ask Isese apologists to bring logical evidence for their belief, they cannot, hence, they resort to insults and the burning of the Qur’an. Obviously, our ancestors who embraced Islam were more intelligent than those who stuck to idol worship.
If you want to criticize Islam, kindly debate a Muslim apologist void of insults.
– Bashir Lucas Samson Lukman (Based on Ustaadh Kabir Al-Asfar’s Arguments)
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