Sheik Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory

Adam al-Ilory was born in the province ofJugu, the headquarter of Barba tribe in the city of Wasa, northern region of the republic of Benin, to a Beninese mother and a Nigerian father of Yoruba ethnicity. His father, Abdul Baqi, was a scholar in Qur'anic exegesis whose nomadic preacher work took him to cities like Ibadan, Abeokuta, Ede, Oshogbo and Wasa in the present Republic of Benin where Adam al-Ilory was born in 1917. Back In Ilorin, in the state of Kwara in Nigeria, Sheikh Adam al-Ilory finished his Qur'anic humanities and studied all the Islamic sciences of the religion. He was then initiated to Sufism in the Qadiriyya way, and took the wird from his teacher Sheikh Adam Namaji el-Kanawy alfindiki he used to attend the Wazifa at the Sheikh Adam's Zawiya as revealed by Sheikh Muhammad Habeebullahi Adam Al-ilory. He also created the Markaz Teaching Center in 1952, which today offers not only classical Arabic teaching but also technical and vocational training.

Sheikh Adam left works whose depth, richness and originality remain a major contribution of the Yoruba people to the heritage of Islam. His writings, sometimes prosodic, deal with themes of reflection such as death, the relationship of local customs with Maliki jurisprudence, the biography of Abdul-Quadir Al-Jilani, morality, mysticism, human rights, the history of Yoruba people, methods of government and Arabic grammar. Some of his works include:

• Aseem Soba (Morning Breeze)
• Markaz Talimil Arabiy (Markhaz Center for Arabic Language Learning)
• Ali Heedu Al'Arbahuna (Markhaz Center, 40 years old, 1985)
• Aslu Koba il Yoruba (History of the Yoruba People)
• El Islam Fi Naijiriyya (Islam in Nigeria)
• Lamhada fi Barul al Ulama al-Ilory (Overview of the Scientists of the City of Ilorin)
• Attarulilemi Watasowuf (Role of Science and Sufism in Islam)
• Dahoru Tasowuwasofiyat (Purpose of Sufism)
• Niusomtahalim Arabiy Wahlislamiy (Guide to Learning Islam and the Arabic Language)
• Ukukuli Hinsanni (Human Rights)
• Al Islamdinu Wadaholat (Islam and Government)
• Al Islam Watakolid Jahili (Islam and the black race)

With the establishment of Markaz in 1952, Shaykh Adam introduced an unprecedented modernity and standardization into the learning of Arabic language and Islamic culture in West African sub-region, especially Nigeria.

The education provided at Al-llory's centre used modern teaching methods. For instance, it was in Markaz that the use of chalk and blackboard for teaching Arabic and Islamic education was first introduced in Southwest Nigeria. Hitherto, the teaching instruments were wooden slates and local ink. It was in Markaz that a curriculum was first introduced which classified studies into subjects while pupils were distributed into classrooms according to their levels. It was in Markaz that pupils of Arabic and Islamic education first wore uniforms and sat on chairs rather than on a bare floor, while writing with pencil or pen in notebooks. It was in Markaz that written examination was first conducted as a means of assessing and promoting pupils from class to class while certificates were issued to successful madrasah graduates as a measure of their level of education. It was in Markaz that such facilities as dormitories, library, printing press and clinic were first provided for students.[2]

With the first graduation ceremony of Markaz in 1957, Sheikh Adam won a landmark victory for his methods. Following that graduation, some ambitious local Alfas enrolled in Markaz as students to improve their knowledge and undergo tutelage in the modern teaching methodology.[3]

Some of these Alfas came from various parts of Nigeria as well as neighbouring countries like: Benin Republic, Togo, Ghana, Cote de Voire, Guinea, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Liberia and Senegal. After graduation, all of them went back to their home countries to establish similar Institutions in their domains under the supervisory umbrella of Markaz.