The So-called International Hausa Day And The Prohibition Of Tribalism In Islam!,By Imam Murtadha Gusau

In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful

All perfect praise be to Allah the Lord of the Worlds. May His peace and blessings be upon our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) and upon all his family and companions.

Dear brothers and sisters! The so-called International Hausa Day is held on August 26th, celebrating the language spoken by over 30 million people in Nigeria and Niger. Hausa is also the lingua franca in parts of West Africa. While the observance isn’t official, it gained popularity among academics, the diaspora, and social media users. It was initiated in 2015 by Abdulbaki Aliyu Jari, who works for the BBC Hausa service, and now TRT staff member, alongside his social media associates. He wished to promote the use of the Hausa language online and increase awareness of the history and achievements of the Hausa language.

The day was established to bring Hausa speakers together to reflect on the development of the language and address challenges it faces in the 21st Century.

In the past two years, International Hausa Day has been celebrated in more than 20 countries, including France and Saudi Arabia.

Read Also: Transfer: 7 Strikers Identified As Potential Replacement For Alexander Isak

The advocates of the celebration hope that the Hausa language will one day be recognised as an official language of the United Nations, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

This year, the grand celebration will be held in Daura, Katsina State, regarded as the cradle of Hausa civilisation. The event will feature cultural displays, intellectual discussions, and peacebuilding dialogues, drawing participants from across West Africa and beyond.

Abdulbaqi Aliyu Jari, the coordinator of the World Hausa Day, told Daily Trust that according to recent research, Hausa is currently ranked the 11th most widely spoken language in the world and is projected to become the fifth by 2050.

Respected brothers and sisters! Jubair Ibn Mut’im reported that: The Messenger of Allah (Peace be upon him) said:

“He is not one of us who calls to tribalism. He is not one of us who fights or struggle for the sake of tribalism. He is not one of us who dies following the way of tribalism.” [Sunan Abi Dawud; Graded Sahih li ghairihi (authentic due to external evidence) according to Shaikh Shu’aib Al-Arna’ut]

Fellow Nigerians! No doubt, the Qur’an prohibits tribalism by emphasising equality and emphasising piety as the sole measure of nobility over lineage or tribe. Key verses include Qur’an, 49:13, which states humanity was made into nations and tribes “so that you may know one another,” but that “the noblest of you in the sight of Allah is the most Allah-fearing of you.” Other verses, such as Qur’an, 5:8 and Qur’an, 4:135, call for justice and impartiality, even against one’s own people or relatives, highlighting that tribal bias is a deviation from these divine commands.

Read Also: Benue Assembly Suspends Ex-speaker Dajoh Over Alia Impeachment Plot

Qur’an, 49:13 in Suratul Hujurat: This verse directly addresses the formation of nations and tribes, establishing their purpose as a means for mutual understanding, not for establishing superiority. The verse explicitly states that the measure of nobility before Allah is piety (Allah-fearingness), not tribal affiliation.

Allah the Most High says:

“Let not the hatred of others towards you prevent you from being just, be just, that is closer to piety.” [Qur’an, 5:8]

This verse commands believers to be just, even in the face of animosity from others, implying that tribal enmities should not lead to deviation from justice.

Allah the Almighty says:

“O you who believe, be persistently standing firm in justice, as witnesses before Allah, even if it be against yourselves or your parents and relatives.” [Qur’an, 4:135]

This verse is a strong directive to maintain justice and impartiality, requiring individuals to set aside personal or familial connections when bearing witness.

The combination of these Qur’anic verses indicates that actions or feelings rooted in tribal partisanship called Asabiyyah are contrary to Islamic principles and teachings. Such actions can manifest as prejudice, discrimination, and discord, leading to a rejection of the unity and social harmony that Islam promotes.

Respected brothers and sisters! Yes, Islam prohibits tribalism, or Asabiyyah, which is a pre-Islamic concept of blind loyalty to one’s tribe, as it promotes prejudice, discrimination, and injustice, contradicting the Qur’anic emphasis on the equality of all people under Allah. The Qur’an teaches that true honour comes from piety, not lineage, and the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) explicitly disavowed anyone who calls to, struggle for, fights for, or dies for tribalism, stating such a person dies in a state of ignorance (Jahiliyyah).

The Qur’an states that humanity was created from a single pair of male and female and made into nations and tribes to know each other, not for superiority, and that the most honoured among them is the most righteous. The emphasis is on the brotherhood of all Muslims, the Ummah.

True superiority in Islam is based solely on piety (Taqwah) and Allah-consciousness, not on racial, national, tribal, regional or ethnic background.

Tribalism is explicitly linked to the Jahiliyyah, the pre-Islamic era of ignorance, which Islam sought to fight, destroy, condemn and overcome.

The Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him) explicitly stated:

“He is not one of us who calls to tribalism. He is not one of us who fights for the sake of tribalism. He is not one of us who dies following the way of tribalism.”

Anyone killed while fighting and struggle under the banner of tribalism is considered to have died in a state of ignorance (Jahiliyyah).

Asabiyyah is the term used for this form of tribalism and describes prejudice and bias towards one’s own group, leading to “blind following” and the dismissal of justice for the sake of tribal interests.

While a normal love for one’s people is permissible, it becomes forbidden when it comes at the expense of justice or leads to bigotry and discrimination.

Wassalamu alaikum wa rahmatullah wa bara ka tuh

All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Prayers, peace and mercy are upon our beloved master, Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Peace be upon him), his family and Companions.

Murtadha Muhammad Gusau is the Chief Imam of Nagazi-Uvete Jumu’ah and the late Alhaji Abdur-Rahman Okene’s Mosques, Okene, Kogi State, Nigeria. He can be reached via: gusauimam@gmail.com or +2348038289761.