This is one of our stories in the People Spotlight Series (PSS) of distinguished personalities across the globe that are shaping the development of their community, passion or profession. Previously, we have written about noteworthy personalities including Dr. Tausif Malik, an Indian-American edtech investor and manager. Here, we write about Dr. Sharafdeen Raji, a prominent Islamic scholar in Nigeria who has contributed significantly to the growth of Islamic faith in Southwest Nigeria, particularly within the Yoruba-speaking communities. Our article has been reviewed by people close to the Sheikh for accuracy and authenticity.
This editorial was first published in 2024 under the headline โFrom Mockery to Merry: How Nigerian Islamic Scholar Dr Sharafdeen Raji won coveted Qatari Award.
Duplicated below, you will read the news on the 2024 award in Qatar, followed by his scholarship journey and impact based on research and interviews conducted for this purpose.
In December 2024, two distinguished Nigerian Islamic scholars, Sheikh Dr Sharafdeen Raji and Professor Mashood Mahmood Jimba, were honoured as winners of the esteemed Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding.
The award was presented during the 10th edition of the ceremony, held on Tuesday, 10 December, at the Marsa Malaz Kempinski Hotel in Doha, Qatar. The event celebrated winners from various countries who have contributed to advancing translation and cross-cultural understanding.
Meet Dr Sharafdeen Raji โthe Nigerian scholar and preacherย
Dr. Sharafdeen Gbadebo Raji (An-Naijiri) is an international Sunni scholar, jurist, and polyglot with significant influence in both Northern and Southern Nigeria, and a growing influence across ECOWAS member states through his physical lecture series and dawah projects on radio, television and on the internet.
Born in Jos to parents from Ogbomoso, Oyo State, Dr. Sharafdeen Raji began his early education in Nigeria, and later pursued further studies in the Republic of Benin, a neighbouring country to the West of Nigeria.
Education and scholarship
In 1987, he earned a scholarship to study at the African Islamic Centre in Sudan, where his academic excellence earned him national recognition as the best student in Sudan. This academic feat earned him another sponsorship to further his studies at the Islamic University of Madinah, Saudi Arabia.
Upon the completion of his programme, the scholar graduated with distinctions, finishing as the third highest ranking graduating student in his class. Again, his hard work and dedication to studies were rewarded with an opportunity to pursue a Master’s degree in Islamic jurisprudence (1994-1999), followed by a PhD in the same field (2000-2004). His doctoral thesis and other works on Islamic law have been widely published.
Books written by Dr Sharafdeen Raji
A prolific author, Dr Sharafdeen Raji has written over 50 books and contributed to numerous Arabic-to-Yoruba translation projects. Also, he is regularly consulted by the Saudiyya government on complex religious issues and remains an active scholar and preacher in Ogbomoso, where he leads the Al-Madeenah Centre.
Techparley spoke with Abu Muadh, a beloved student of the scholar, on some of his published books in the market, and a list of 18 books was shared to include;
1. Al Usulu Adthalaatha (yoruba)
2. Idajo Idan ati Agbegba (Yoruba)
3. Adisokan Ahlus Sunnah (Yoruba)
4. Kitaabut TAOHEED (Yoruba)
5. Idajo sise yenwo ุงูุฅุญุชุณุงุจ (Arabic)
6. Kaifiyati Solaat (yoruba)
7. Humdatul Haakam (yoruba)
8. Bulugul Muraam (yoruba)
9. Idajo Ijoko ุงูุฅุชุฑุงุญุฉ (arabic)
10. Idajo ki Maamu duro ni waju Imam ุงูู
ูุนุฏ (arabic)
11. Sise Solaatul Jamaaha ju eekan lo ninu Masjid kan ุงูุฅุฑุดุงุฏ (arabic)
12. Awon idajo to romo Jumah ุฑุณุงุฆู (arabic)
13. Awon Adua to je aabo fun Musulumi (Yoruba)
14. Idajo Adua Alagbeka ู
ูุญุฉ (arabic)
15. Oro nipa Solaatul Janazah (Yoruba & English)
16. Bugyatun-Najaat
17. Idajo ikunle โ ุฅูุถุงุญ ุงูุจููุฉ
18. Al-Ibhaaj ุงูุฅุจูุงุฌ
Notable achievements of Dr Sharafdeen Raji
The Ogbomoso-based scholar has received numerous prestigious awards in recognition of his contributions to Islamic scholarship, Dawah engagements and shariโa guidance. Some of these awards include but not limited to;
- Scholarship to the African Islamic Centre, Sudan (1987)
- Master’s Degree Scholarship, Madinah University (1994-1999)
- Al-Madinah Award for Best Student (2004)
- Award of Excellence and Recognition by The International Council for Honouring the Two Holy Mosques (2022)
- Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding (2024)
The Sheikh Hamad Award
The Sheikh Hamad Award for Translation and International Understanding is a Qatari literary prize established in 2015 to honour exceptional translations and promote intercultural dialogue.
Named after Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Qatarโs former Emir, the award seeks to โstrengthen bonds of friendship and cooperation among nations.โ
It recognizes outstanding translations from and into Arabic. The just concluded 2024 hosting featured entries from 35 countries, including 17 Arab nations.
Languages in the competition included French and English as primary categories, while others, such as Yoruba, Hungarian, and Tatar, were classified as secondary languages.
According to the awarding body, the 2024 ceremony, themed โFrom Arabic to Mankind,โ highlighted the decade-long journey of the award through a documentary presentation.
Why I translate Islamic books
Speaking days after his award by the Qatari Institution, the Nigerian scholar reminisced how he used to be a subject of ridicule amongst his peers who didnโt see the rationale for investing into the translation of Arabic texts into Yoruba, a language spoken by approximately 47 million people, including 2 million second-language speakers living in several West African countries and the diaspora.
“I was given the latest award not solely for the translation of Bulugul Muraam. The award was based on the many books I have translated over the years. For the award, I had presented 14 books to the body,โ he clarified speaking in Yoruba.
โTo start with, I donโt translate books to get an award. Just like the rest of the books Iโve written in Arabic, I didnโt write them to be awarded. The ultimate goal is my quest to see how our people can better understand the Deen,โ the award winning scholar added. โIโve been translating Islamic books written in Arabic to the Yoruba language since 1988 when I was in Sudan.
โI remember my mates used to make jest of me. They would say I was translating books to Yoruba when the custodians of the language (Yorubas) no longer read in Yoruba but English. Coupled with the fact that at that time back home, I was living in the northern part of the country, they didnโt see why I should be so invested.
โIn their judgement, such efforts wonโt be appreciated by the community it was intended to serve. However, I didnโt allow the mockery get to me or stop me. Just recently, I was searching through my home, and I saw a part of the manuscripts I had written by hand while translating some books. I exclaimed, Allahu Akbar, because, indeed, history can never be erased.
From handwriting to typing, and publishing
In Sudan, Dr Sharafdeen Raji had committed to translating numerous Islamic texts written in Arabic to Yoruba by hand. And, undeterred by the uncertainty of ever getting it to press, the young scholar simply wrote and archived them. But, soon, the story changed.
โIn 1990, by Allahโs permission, I moved to Saudi Arabia, where I started typing my translated books on the computer. I didnโt know if they would ever see the light of day or how, I only had the intention of helping Muslims understand the Deen better,โ he stated.
Detailing how the story changed to becoming a published author, he recounted how an opportunity to contribute to a translation project was instrumental to changing the course of his journey as an Islamic writer.
โTowards the completion of my Masterโs programme, an official from the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia came to my flat for a request. He had brought a book that had just been updated and required that I translate only the updates, as the book had already been translated to different languages, including Yoruba. He must have been referred to me by someone.
โAfter assessing the text, I told him that I would rather re-translate the whole book and not just the new updates. At that time, it wasnโt one of the books I had translated before. It was the book that was given to all Hajj pilgrims at the time, titled: Dalilul Hajj Wal Ma Athir Wal Dhikr, a small book like that.โ
Caught up between the opportunity to simply contribute with the translation of the additional inputs to the book or get to work on a complete translation that will greatly improve the quality within the shortest time possible.
โFor some times, people had been complaining that the existing translation of the book was not so good. People had clamoured for it to be revisited. So, I told the official to give me permission to re-translate the entire book. He said it wouldnโt be possible as he was only given four days to effect the changes. I told him four days is quite enough and that at the expiration of those four days, I would have translated, typed, and finished everything because I had been doing this for a long time.โ
โThe official then called his superiors, and they gave their consent that I go ahead. At the end of the four days, I had already typed and translated the book. The man was surprised. He requested if I had other books that I had translated. I responded by asking how many he wanted. He was surprised and requested for eight. I printed them for him on the spot.โ
The ministry, according to the Shiekh, played a major role in the realisation of his quest to contribute to making quality Islamic knowledge accessible to Yoruba-speaking communities.
โAfter a year, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs wrote to me, acknowledging seeing the books I had translated. The ministry then requested that I set up a panel to review each of those books, and thereafter grant them permission to publish them. I accepted the offer, noting that as long as they would be made available to pilgrims, and they responded affirmative.
โThat was how, year in, year out, they would print some of my books for distribution for pilgrims and even send me other books to be translated into Yoruba language,โ he explained.
Contributions to rural Islamic development
Dr Sharafdeen Raji has made significant contributions to Islamic education and rural development in Ogbomoso and beyond. Aside being the founder and director of Al-Madeenah Centre, he has facilitated the establishment of numerous mosques, promoted religious scholarship, and delivered lectures across Nigeria, and beyond.
โOgbomosho as a fountain of knowledge
In Ogbomoso alone, Dr Sharafdeen Raji has raised new generations of Muslims who are going into the future to balance their pursuit for a good life and a gracious afterlife. โDoctor’s lectures have been an eye opener, and a source of guidance for many people as I am a living example,โ noted Umm Maryam, a respondent who prefers to simply identify with her kunya โa title calling that is popular amongst Muslims usually derived from the name of the personโs eldest child.
She recounted her earliest days as an undergraduate of the university, and how lectures of the scholar would go on to greatly shape her understanding of the religion.
โI was merely a Muslim with little or no understanding of Islam until I gained admission into Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, in Ogbomoso, the town of residence of Dr Sharafdeen Raji (May Allah preserve him).
โThrough his lectures, I gained a profound understanding of my religion. I became a different person. The beauty of understanding the religion is bliss,โ she added. โI learnt the basics, particularly Islamโs fundamental principles. I can recall quite well that it was through his lectures that I learnt about Tawheed which is the belief in the oneness of Allah, and the exegesis of worshipping him alone without associating anything with him.โ
Fluent in Arabic, Yoruba, Hausa, and English, the Islamic preacher is one of the few scholars that bridge cultural and linguistic divides while mentoring the next generation of Islamic scholars.
Like Umm Maryam, Umar Aderibigbe, an Applied Computer and IT Specialist based in Norway, first encountered the Shiekh as an undergraduate after honouring an invite to attend one of his halaqah(s) โa religious gathering of Muslims to study Islam and the Quran.
โI first encountered Dr. Sharaf during my undergraduate days when a friend invited me to one of his Halqahs. Listening to his lecture was a remarkable experience,โ the LAUTECH graduate acknowledged. โHis delivery was both profound and relatable, especially for speaking in Yoruba, my native dialect, which made the message resonate deeply.
โDr. Sharaf is vast in the fields of Fiqh and Islamic jurisprudence, and his lectures were my first significant exposure to the Sunnah. His teachings have undoubtedly helped many, especially those who havenโt had the opportunity to attend formal madaris, to better understand the religion.โ
The experience is not different for others including Ridwan Adelaja, a Media Aide to the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo. โMy earliest memory is in 2011 after attending his Thursday study circle at the Transformer Masjid in Stadium upon an invite by my guardian, Engr Taofeek Bello,โ he said.
โI consider our generation lucky for having the scholar. May Allah preserve him and us upon goodness. I remember how sad I used to feel whenever holiday draws near. In fact, I would prefer to stay back in school or resume early. Sitting in the congregation to listen to doctor helped me identify and separate pure Islam from the many adulterated practices and conventions that the religion has been reduced to by the so called local clerics back home in Ogun State.โ
โDawah methodology of Dr Sharafdeen Raji
On his unwavering commitment to upholding the authentic teachings of Islam, Aladodo Abdus-Salam, an entrepreneur, influencer, and growth specialist, describes the scholar as a preacher with zero compromise in creed. The entrepreneur also thinks the scholar has become a household name on the internet, with his lectures (in whole or in fragments) reaching a wide audience on a daily basis.
โIf you take a careful assessment of the circle of Islamic scholars in Yorubaland, particularly on social media, Dr. Sharofโs lecture tops the list of the most shared and reposted lectures,” he said.
โIt is not so because people find some of his statement humourous, it is because he hits home his point at all times, baring the truth without minding whose ox is gored,โ he added.
โDelivering the undiluted message of Islam is very important, and this must be done without ifs or buts. One of the things weโve come to find out lately with advent of social media is that people tend to listen to straightforward individuals. Dr.โs lectures and subjects of Islamic public discussion resonates clearly with the common folks.โ
But how well has his teachings addressed seeming conflicts between the religion and the traditional beliefs and practices? Abu Summayah, a Software Developer, argues that contrary to the belief that the scholar’s teachings condemn traditional leanings, he noted that it only provides context for how Muslims can operate without falling into errors as it is often the case in any society embracing Islam.
โI think Doctor’s lectures bridge the gap between Yoruba cultural identity and Islamic teachings, such that it demonstrates how being a devout Muslim does not necessitate a rejection of oneโs roots but a refinement of practices to align with Islamic values,โ he stated.
โAnd, his approach has not only deepened the understanding of Islam among Yoruba Muslims but also fostered a sense of pride in their ability to practice their faith authentically within their cultural context, separating religion and culture.โ
โThe compassionate jurist and counselor
Beyond his Dawah engagements, little is often mentioned about his Shariโa guidance as an Islamic jurist of repute. From helping with marriage counselling to dispute resolution, Dr Sharafdeen Raji has contributed significantly to the progress of Muslims from various backgrounds.
โI have personally had to contact the Shiekh for a serious case that could have turned out into a major crisis between a father and a child,โ Ridwan stated.
โDoctor did not only offer advise, he was instrumental to how the matter was reasonably resolved, and was always available to guide in the events that followed. You can only imagine how Allah has used him positively to right the affairs of many,โ he added.
For Umar, aside gaining immense knowledge and understanding of the Sunnah through his teachings, he noted that the scholar passed as a father figure.
โDuring my undergraduate years, a period fraught with challenges and distractions, Dr. Sharaf acted as a spiritual guide and father figure. His lectures provided clarity and direction, helping me and many others navigate life with a deeper sense of purpose and adherence to Islamic principles.โ
โAl-Madeenah Centre
In Ogbomoso, Al-Madeenah Centre, the Islamic hub founded by the scholar have continued to produced some of the most refined youths who have become vanguards for the religion.
With Lautech sharing the same community, the centre has become a study destination from many who only initially sought to obtain a degree from the leading citadel of learning.
Soon, when they compete their respective degrees in English, some go on to have its equivalent in Arabic language โthanks to enrolling for various levels of Islamic and Arabic education at the Al-Madeenah Centre.
Umar, again, shares his experience. โAfter listening to Dr. Sharaf several times, I was inspired to join the Al-Madeenah Centre to benefit from his knowledge and unique methodology,โ he said.
However, he noted that the distance from his hostel to the centre was a challenge. He revealed that some of his colleagues tried to persuade the scholar to open a branch closer to the school campus. But, the response of the scholar ignited a different drive and motivation.
โHe reminded us that we had travelled long distances to pursue education at LAUTECH in Ogbomoso, so claiming the centre within the same community was too far was not a valid excuse. There and then, I was inspired to prioritize the centre despite the distance, and it became a source of great spiritual enrichment.โ
Commentary
- But for Sunni scholars such as the Ogbomoso-based preacher, teacher and author; pristine Islam, as understood and practiced by companions of the Prophet (แนฃallฤ llฤhu สฟalayhฤซ wa-สพฤlihฤซ wa-sallam), may have remained an illusion in Southwest Nigeria.
- Hence, it is impressive that his impact alongside scholars of his kind can now be felt with the growing level of understanding amongst the people who are benefiting from his numerous study circles hosted in villages, towns, and major cities across Southwest Nigeria.
- One can only pray that the progress achieved by Sunni scholars in Yoruba communities continues to grow, and that their impact extends to other places where many carrying a Muslim name are still caught in the web of shirk-bred local cultures and traditions.
_______________________________________________
