Centenary: Varsity, Islamic Institute Celebrate Sheikh Kamalu-Deen’s Educational Legacies

Scholars have hailed the educational legacy of the late founder of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Muhammad Kamalu-Deen Al-Adabbiy.

LEADERSHIP reports that the late sage pioneered the integration of Islamic and Western education in Ilorin, Kwara State.

Through his organisation, many primary and secondary schools were established within and outside Kwara State, culminating in the establishment of Muhammad Kamalu-Deen University, Ogidi, Ilorin.

The scholars, who spoke at a media briefing to usher in a week-long series of activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Az-Zumratul Adabiyatul Kamaliyyah School of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Okekere, Ilorin, said that Nigeria and the world are in dire need of leaders like Sheikh Al-Adabbiy.

The school was founded by the late Sheikh Kamalu-deen in 1942.

Addressing journalists at the hall of the Az-Zumratul Adabiyatul Kamaliyyah School of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Okekere, Ilorin, the spokesperson of the school and  Muhammad Kamalu-deen University, Ogidi, Ilorin, Prof. Kamil Kamaldeen, said the late sheikh was “non-discriminatory” in all his policies, a virtue he said was lacking in most leaders today.

“We are here to celebrate the legacies of the late Sheikh Muhammad Kamalu-deen Al-Adabbiy, not to tell his history, at a time when the world continues to need what he stood for. We are in a world today that we are looking for leaders who will serve without putting themselves first, no matter where we come from”, he said

Kamaldeen was flanked by the vice chancellor of the Muhammad Kamalu-deen University, Prof. AbdulRasheed  Jimoh, general overseer of Az-Zumratul school, Sheikh Mustapha Kamalu-deen Al- Adabby, grand Khadi of Kwara state Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice AbduLateef Kamaldeen, national missioner of Ansarul Islam Society of Nigeria, Sheikh Abdulmumini Ayara, retired grand khadi of Kwara state Sharia Court of Appeal, Justice Idris Haroon and a former Islamic scholar, Sheikh Sharafadeen Ajara.

Others included the president of the Az-Zumratul Alumni Association, Ustaz Abdullahi Oni-Tolotolo, and the school’s principal.

They noted that the late Sheikh Kamalu-deen had, through his preaching, established educational structures and embodied selfless leadership qualities, and had produced worthy ambassadors across all disciplines, urging leaders at all levels to invest heavily in education.

“No society loses from investing in education; it can only gain. No society loses when you build skills; you can only gain”, they added.

The scholars also charged leaders to take a cue from the late Sheikh Kamalu-deen, whom they said was always willing to collaborate with scholars and leaders of like mind in a bid to bring advancement and progress to his community, citing his link with Al- Azhhar University, Cairo, as beneficial in the advancement of higher Islamic studies in Ilorin.