The Efforts of Contemporary Muslim Scholars in the Propagation of Islam in Sierra Leone

Abstract

Sierra Leonean Muslims started experiencing a change in the methods of Islamic propagation in the early 1970s, when Muslims considered to be scholars and Sheiks diverted the propagation from cultural religion to religious culture. The study therefore investigate major activities and constraints of modern Muslim scholars in Islamic propagation in Sierra Leone. Questionnaire was designed and about 200 copies were printed and distributed to individuals (both scholars and non-scholars), who are known to be active in Islamic activities and in Muslim organisations in the country. 100 of the questionnaire were distributed within the 14-provincial head-quarter towns and the rest for the 2 districts in the capital city, Western Area Rural and Urban. Likewise, information from various relevant authentic sources were collected and analyzed to assess the efforts exerted. In propagating Islam (IP), about 90% were males and the remaining 10% were females. But 77% of the female population were youth within the age bracket 30-40 years. All of the females belong to a Jama’t and/or other Islamic propagation union/organization.For the portion of time allocated for Islamic propagation or learning, 48.4% are making it a primary profession by allocating full time to Islamic propagation. 48.4% are allocating either half or some of their time to the propagation. However, 3.2% are so busy with other things that they cannot manage their time for any of the means of Islamic propagation. About 88.3% of the respondents either strongly agreed or agreed that there are too much un-Islamic activates which obstruct the spread of Islam. Also, 81.2% were either strongly agreed or agreed that disunity among Muslims is a constraint to IP. For tribal sentiment affecting the spread of Islam in Sierra Leone, 75% are either strongly agreed or agreed that tribalism is an obstacle to Da’wah in Sierra Leone and 63% either strongly agreed or agreed that there are not enough Islamic scholars for Da’wah in Sierra Leone. The findings asserted that there is a difference in the methodology of Islamic propagation in Sierra Leone between traditional and contemporary scholars which has led to instances of contradiction and confusion among Muslims. About 38% recommended that the greatest need for Islamic propagation is to train more Arabic and Islamic teachers to join the propagation trail, 14% considered the unity of all Islamic organizations under one union as the most paramount while 9.3% considered both allocating monthly allowance for Imams and scholars and appointing a supreme Islamic leader qualify and capable of being a Mufti are the priorities to the solutions suggested. Keywords: Islamic propagation, Sierra Leone, Muslim, scholars, Organizations/Jama’t DECLARATIONS AND STATEMENTS I hereby declare that this thesis research is prepared and written by me and the results were from the investigations of the research, except where otherwise stated. I also declare that it has not been previously or currently submitted for the attainment of any other degree at International Open University (IOU) and any other university.