Grand Chief Imam of Oyoland Urges Rabitah 1964 to Regulate ‘Yorubaland’ Islamic Titles

Grand Chief Imam of Oyoland Urges Rabitah 1964 to Regulate ‘Yorubaland’ Islamic Titles

The Grand Chief Imam of Oyoland, Fodhilatu Shaykh Bilaal Husayn Akinola Akeugberu, has called on the League of Imams and Alfas in Yorubaland (Rabitah 1964) to establish a unified position on the conferment of Islamic titles and honours bearing the name “Yorubaland.”

Akeugberu made the call in a letter dated Monday, October 5, 2026, addressed to the Chairman and National Executive Council of Rabitah 1964 through the league’s Secretary-General.

In the letter, titled “The Need for Caution Regarding Titles and Honours Conferred in the Name of Yorubaland,” the Grand Chief Imam expressed concern over what he described as the increasing practice by societies, organisations and groups to confer titles associated with Yorubaland without reference to a recognised central Islamic authority.

He said while such conferments might be well-intentioned, their increasing and uncoordinated nature could diminish the significance of established Islamic titles and make it difficult to distinguish genuine scholarship and service from honours that may be too easily conferred.

According to him, a title that carries the name of the entire Yorubaland has implications beyond the organisation or society that awards it and should therefore be treated as a matter of collective interest.

The Grand Chief Imam said the proliferation of such titles without adequate coordination, verification or consultation with recognised Islamic leadership could weaken the meaning attached to them and affect the integrity of Islamic scholarship and service in the region.

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He urged Rabitah 1964 to consider developing clear principles governing the conferment of titles and honours bearing “Yorubaland”, while leaving the details of the proposed mechanism and the body or process that should administer it to the league’s deliberation.

Akeugberu anchored his appeal on several verses of the Qur’an, including Surah An-Nisa, verse 83, which he said underscores the importance of referring matters of collective consequence to those vested with authority and knowledge.

He quoted the verse:

وَإِذَا جَاءَهُمْ أَمْرٌ مِّنَ الْأَمْنِ أَوِ الْخَوْفِ أَذَاعُوا بِهِ وَلَوْ رَدُّوهُ إِلَى الرَّسُولِ وَإِلَىٰ أُولِي الْأَمْرِ مِنْهُمْ لَعَلِمَهُ الَّذِينَ يَسْتَنبِطُونَهُ مِنْهُمْ وَلَوْلَا فَضْلُ اللَّهِ عَلَيْكُمْ وَرَحْمَتُهُ لَاتَّبَعْتُمُ الشَّيْطَانَ إِلَّا قَلِيلًا

He also cited Surah An-Nahl, verse 116:

وَلَا تَقُولُوا۟ لِمَا تَصِفُ أَلْسِنَتُكُمُ ٱلْكَذِبَ هَـٰذَا حَلَـٰلٌ وَهَـٰذَا حَرَامٌ لِّتَفْتَرُوا۟ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ ۚ إِنَّ ٱلَّذِينَ يَفْتَرُونَ عَلَى ٱللَّهِ ٱلْكَذِبَ لَا يُفْلِحُونَ

The letter further quoted Surah Al-Isra, verse 36:

وَلَا تَقْفُ مَا لَيْسَ لَكَ بِهِ عِلْمٌ ۚ إِنَّ السَّمْعَ وَالْبَصَرَ وَالْفُؤَادَ كُلُّ أُولَـٰئِكَ كَانَ عَنْهُ مَسْئُولًا

Akeugberu said the verses collectively provide a basis for caution, knowledge, consultation and responsibility when dealing with matters affecting the wider Muslim community.

He maintained that the conferment of titles bearing the name of an entire people, region or Islamic tradition should not be left entirely to individual organisations acting independently.

The Grand Chief Imam therefore urged Rabitah 1964, which he described as the recognised league of Imams and Alfas across Yorubaland, to deliberate on the issue in accordance with the league’s founding statutes and the Islamic principle of Shura, or consultation.

He said a collective framework would help preserve the dignity of Islamic leadership and ensure that titles associated with Yorubaland retain their significance.

Akeugberu also cautioned against making the conferment of honours dependent on sectarian, ideological or jurisprudential differences.

In his concluding remarks, he said deserving Muslim men and women should be recognised without allowing sectarian preferences, ideological affiliations or jurisprudential inclinations to determine who qualifies for such honours.

He expressed confidence that Rabitah 1964 would approach the matter with the seriousness required and develop a position that would protect the sanctity of Islamic titles while promoting unity among Muslims across Yorubaland.

The Grand Chief Imam concluded the letter by praying for continued divine guidance for the national leadership of Rabitah 1964 and success in its service to the Muslim community in Yorubaland.

Grand Chief Imam of Oyoland Urges Rabitah 1964 to Regulate ‘Yorubaland’ Islamic Titles