Divisiveness Among Muslims in Nigeria and its Implications for National Integration

Abstract

One of the factors responsible for the rapid spread of Islam throughout Nigeria, described as reminiscent of “burning grassland during Harmattan,” was the role played by different Sufi Orders, which strove tirelessly to plant the religion wherever it had not previously reached. But this initial blessing to the religion engendered a divisive syncretism, to the extent that the centre could no longer hold, and things fell apart. This paper examines divisiveness among Muslims in Nigeria and the factors responsible for divisiveness. It suggests that for national integration to be achieved in Nigeria, Muslims in the country need to re-orient themselves to the Islamic concept of unity and brotherhood.