ABSTRACT

Abstract

Though, the date of the islamisation of Yorubaland cannot be fixed with precision, the advent of Islam in the area has been long enough for it to have the kind of impact that Islam envisages on the lives of its adherents on the Muslims in the area. As a religion and a way of life, Islam is supposed to be a standard by which its adherents live as it charts a course for them to follow. The extent to which Muslims, as individuals and as a community follow this course of life is however determined, to a large extent by factors like the environment in which the Muslim(s) live, the willingness and determination of the individual Muslim to follow the Islamic principles, the leadership of the Muslims in the area among others. Conversely, however, Muslims in Yorubaland have lived side by side with people of other faiths and have also had to contend with many challenges including those of culture, secularism and modernity. There are also Muslims of other tribal and geographical extractions with different cultural backgrounds also living in Yorubaland. All of these will determine the forms, nature and quality of Islam being practised in Yorubaland. Using the historical and descriptive methods, this paper critically examines Islam as a way of life in Yorubaland with a view to identifying its impact on the lives of the people, the challenges facing its growth in the area as well the impact of the Yoruba culture on its practice. Some recommendations that will further enhance its growth and development are offered.