Ibrahim Basha Iddris also called Mallam Basha or Sheikh Bayaan, is a Ghanaian Islamic preacher, and one of the campaigners of the Sunni Islamic movement in Ghana. He founded Nuriyya Islamic Institute in Tamale in 1969 and is the leader of Masjidul Bayaan in Tamale. He is widely considered to have been the initiator in transforming the traditional madrasas into Anglo-Arabic schooling and the pioneer of the creation of Ghana Islamic Education Unit.

Biography

Early life

Ibrahim was born in Kumasi but took his initial studies in Takoradi at Khairiyya Islamic School. He was taught by Hajj Shuab, a renowned Dagomba Islamic scholar. Ibrahim was given the nod to teach his colleagues as an advanced student. Later, he moved to Kumasi to study under Sheikh Ahmad Nurideen.

Coming to Tamale and Time at Anbariyya Islamic Institute

Shiekh Basha occasionally visited his uncle

Yusuf Soalih Ajura Yusuf Soalih also called Afa Ajura (1890-2004), was a Ghanaian Islamic scholar, a preacher, political activist, and the founder and leader of a sect in Ghana. Afa Ajura was a proponent of Sunni Islam shunning pre-Islamic pagan practices, and whom ...

also known as Afa Ajura in Tamale. However, in the 1950s, he stayed permanently with Afa Ajura in Tamale and started teaching at the Anbariyya Islamic Institute. Notable amongst his students was Sheikh

Saeed Abubakr Zakaria Saeed Abubakr Zakaria is a Ghanaian Islamic scholar and leader of the Anbariya Islamic Institute in Tamale, Ghana. He is the spiritual leader of Anbariya Sunni Community in Ghana. He succeeded Afa Ajura, who died on December 22, 2004. Zakaria s ...

who is currently the leader of the Anbariyya Islamic Institute. Basha later left to form his own school.

Formation of Nuriyya Islamic Institute

In the 1960s, Basha left Anbariyya Islamic Institute. Gow, Olonisakin, & Dijxhoorn (2013) cited the lessening of Afa Ajura's Wahhabi doctrine, difference in interpretation as well as the infusion of secular education as the main cause. Subsequently, he established Madrasat Nuriyya in 1969 now Nuriyya Islamic Institute. Nuriyya Islamic Institute became one of the first Islamic schools to be transformed from teaching only Arabic to Anglo-Arabic.

Controversies

Ibrahim has been alleged as being a Tijaniyyah and a

Shi'a Shīʿa Islam or Shīʿīsm is the second-largest Islamic schools and branches, branch of Islam. It holds that the Prophets and messengers in Islam, Islamic prophet Muhammad in Islam, Muhammad designated Ali, ʿAlī ibn Abī Ṭālib as his S ...

. However, he denied those charges. In his own account; he asserted that although he was taught by a scholar who happens to have practiced Tijaniyyah, he never succumbed to its practice that strayed from traditional

Sunni Sunni Islam () is the largest branch of Islam, followed by 85–90% of the world's Muslims. Its name comes from the word '' Sunnah'', referring to the tradition of Muhammad. The differences between Sunni and Shia Muslims arose from a disagr ...

. Furthermore, on the issue of being a

, he claimed that he was a friend to Shi'as but never practiced their movement. Ibrahim is also alleged to be rival to the

Anbariya Sunni Community Anbariya Sunni Community is an independent Islamic religious and cultural organization. It was founded by Yusuf Soalih Ajura and has its headquarters in Tamale, Ghana. It is headed by Saeed Abubakr Zakaria Saeed Abubakr Zakaria is a Ghanaian ...

as he has been severally accused of speaking against them in his sermons.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Basha, Ibrahim 1920s births Living people Ghanaian imams Ghanaian Muslims Ghanaian theologians Dagomba people Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam