NewStats: 3,263,530 , 8,180,453 topics. Date: Friday, 06 June 2025 at 11:28 AM 2t5b5w

Despite how much Nigerian muslims carry Islam on their head. Despite how it has to be infused in everything and how the north will only accept and islamic school. DESPITE RANKING HIGH in violent jihadism...northern nigerian or muslim Nigeria is no where to be seen in the list of top islamic scholars. I asked ChatGPT to produce a list of the top 50. I don't believe a Nigerian name will appear if I say top 200, but I can ask if anyone needs confirmation.


So I want to ask, why is it that despite carry cow and islam and their head with this vigor and aggression, Nigeria ranks low in cattle production, and ranks lower in islamic scholarship? I was even thinking that those who are rejecting western education are dominating islamically. Nope.


🕌 Contemporary Popular Islamic Scholars
🟢 Sunni Scholars
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb – Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Egypt

Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani – Leading Islamic jurist from Pakistan

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah – Mauritanian scholar of Islamic law and peacebuilding

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (d. 2022) – Influential Sunni scholar and theologian

Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al ash-Sheikh – Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan – Member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars

Sheikh Saad Al-Shathri – Saudi scholar, royal advisor

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi – Syrian scholar and Sufi master

Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz – Yemeni scholar, spiritual guide, founder of Dar al-Mustafa

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf – American scholar, co-founder of Zaytuna College

Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter) – British scholar and author

Sheikh Tariq Ramadan – Swiss academic and Islamic thinker

Mufti Menk (Ismail ibn Musa Menk) – Zimbabwean preacher, popular on social media

Nouman Ali Khan – American speaker, founder of Bayyinah Institute

Sheikh Yasir Qadhi – American scholar, Dean at The Islamic Seminary of America

Omar Suleiman – American imam, founder of Yaqeen Institute

Bilal Philips – Canadian scholar and founder of Islamic Online University

Imam Suhaib Webb – American scholar, speaker, and educator

Maulana Tariq Jamil – Pakistani preacher and scholar of Tablighi Jamaat

Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera – British Hanafi scholar

Sheikh Zahir Mahmood – UK-based preacher and speaker

Dr. Ali Gomaa – Former Grand Mufti of Egypt

Shaykh Hasan Ali – UK-based scholar and teacher

Sheikh Imran Hosein – Trinidadian Islamic eschatologist and political commentator

Dr. Yasir Nadeem Al Wajidi – Indian-American scholar and teacher

🔴 Shia Scholars
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani – Grand Ayatollah based in Najaf, Iraq

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Supreme Leader of Iran

Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah (d. 2010) – Lebanese scholar

Ayatollah Sayyed Kamal al-Haydari – Iraqi scholar known for reformist views

Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (d. 1980) – Prominent Shia philosopher and jurist

⚪ Sufi/Spiritual Leaders
Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani (d. 2014) – Naqshbandi Sufi master

Sheikh Hisham Kabbani – American Sufi scholar and spiritual leader

Al-Habib Ali al-Jifri – Yemeni Sufi scholar and preacher

Sheikh Mahmud Effendi (d. 2022) – Turkish Naqshbandi leader

Sheikh Mehmet Adil – Successor of Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani

🟡 Academics & Thinkers
Seyyed Hossein Nasr – Iranian-American philosopher and professor

Dr. Sherman Jackson – African-American scholar of Islamic law and theology

Dr. Ingrid Mattson – Canadian-American scholar, former ISNA president

Dr. Amina Wadud – American scholar of gender and Qur'anic studies

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl – American jurist and professor at UCLA

Dr. Jonathan A. C. Brown – Professor at Georgetown, scholar of Hadith

🌍 Other Notables
Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller – American scholar and translator of Islamic texts

Sheikh Muhammad Hassan – Egyptian scholar and TV preacher

Shaykh Salman al-Ouda – Prominent Saudi reformist scholar (imprisoned)

Sheikh Abu Eesa Niamatullah – British scholar and speaker

Shaykh Riad Ouarzazi – Moroccan-Canadian da’ee and motivational speaker

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani – Canadian scholar and founder of SeekersGuidance

Dr. Omar Farooq Abdullah – American convert and Islamic scholar

Shaykh Wasim Kempson – UK-based da’ee and Islamic teacher

Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh – British-Pakistani spiritual teacher

Thank God. We for no hear word.

Ofodirinwa:
Despite how much Nigerian muslims carry Islam on their head. Despite how it has to be infused in everything and how the north will only accept and islamic school. DESPITE RANKING HIGH in violent jihadism...northern nigerian or muslim Nigeria is no where to be seen in the list of top islamic scholars. I asked ChatGPT to produce a list of the top 50. I don't believe a Nigerian name will appear if I say top 200, but I can ask if anyone needs confirmation.


So I want to ask, why is it that despite carry cow and islam and their head with this vigor and aggression, Nigeria ranks low in cattle production, and ranks lower in islamic scholarship? I was even thinking that those who are rejecting western education are dominating islamically. Nope.


🕌 Contemporary Popular Islamic Scholars
🟢 Sunni Scholars
Sheikh Ahmad Al-Tayyeb – Grand Imam of Al-Azhar, Egypt

Sheikh Muhammad Taqi Usmani – Leading Islamic jurist from Pakistan

Sheikh Abdullah bin Bayyah – Mauritanian scholar of Islamic law and peacebuilding

Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi (d. 2022) – Influential Sunni scholar and theologian

Sheikh Abdul-Aziz Al ash-Sheikh – Grand Mufti of Saudi Arabia

Sheikh Saleh al-Fawzan – Member of the Saudi Council of Senior Scholars

Sheikh Saad Al-Shathri – Saudi scholar, royal advisor

Sheikh Muhammad Al-Yaqoubi – Syrian scholar and Sufi master

Sheikh Habib Umar bin Hafiz – Yemeni scholar, spiritual guide, founder of Dar al-Mustafa

Sheikh Hamza Yusuf – American scholar, co-founder of Zaytuna College

Sheikh Abdal Hakim Murad (Timothy Winter) – British scholar and author

Sheikh Tariq Ramadan – Swiss academic and Islamic thinker

Mufti Menk (Ismail ibn Musa Menk) – Zimbabwean preacher, popular on social media

Nouman Ali Khan – American speaker, founder of Bayyinah Institute

Sheikh Yasir Qadhi – American scholar, Dean at The Islamic Seminary of America

Omar Suleiman – American imam, founder of Yaqeen Institute

Bilal Philips – Canadian scholar and founder of Islamic Online University

Imam Suhaib Webb – American scholar, speaker, and educator

Maulana Tariq Jamil – Pakistani preacher and scholar of Tablighi Jamaat

Mufti Abdur Rahman ibn Yusuf Mangera – British Hanafi scholar

Sheikh Zahir Mahmood – UK-based preacher and speaker

Dr. Ali Gomaa – Former Grand Mufti of Egypt

Shaykh Hasan Ali – UK-based scholar and teacher

Sheikh Imran Hosein – Trinidadian Islamic eschatologist and political commentator

Dr. Yasir Nadeem Al Wajidi – Indian-American scholar and teacher

🔴 Shia Scholars
Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani – Grand Ayatollah based in Najaf, Iraq

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei – Supreme Leader of Iran

Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Hussein Fadlallah (d. 2010) – Lebanese scholar

Ayatollah Sayyed Kamal al-Haydari – Iraqi scholar known for reformist views

Ayatollah Sayyed Muhammad Baqir al-Sadr (d. 1980) – Prominent Shia philosopher and jurist

⚪ Sufi/Spiritual Leaders
Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani (d. 2014) – Naqshbandi Sufi master

Sheikh Hisham Kabbani – American Sufi scholar and spiritual leader

Al-Habib Ali al-Jifri – Yemeni Sufi scholar and preacher

Sheikh Mahmud Effendi (d. 2022) – Turkish Naqshbandi leader

Sheikh Mehmet Adil – Successor of Sheikh Nazim al-Haqqani

🟡 Academics & Thinkers
Seyyed Hossein Nasr – Iranian-American philosopher and professor

Dr. Sherman Jackson – African-American scholar of Islamic law and theology

Dr. Ingrid Mattson – Canadian-American scholar, former ISNA president

Dr. Amina Wadud – American scholar of gender and Qur'anic studies

Dr. Khaled Abou El Fadl – American jurist and professor at UCLA

Dr. Jonathan A. C. Brown – Professor at Georgetown, scholar of Hadith

🌍 Other Notables
Shaykh Nuh Ha Mim Keller – American scholar and translator of Islamic texts

Sheikh Muhammad Hassan – Egyptian scholar and TV preacher

Shaykh Salman al-Ouda – Prominent Saudi reformist scholar (imprisoned)

Sheikh Abu Eesa Niamatullah – British scholar and speaker

Shaykh Riad Ouarzazi – Moroccan-Canadian da’ee and motivational speaker

Shaykh Faraz Rabbani – Canadian scholar and founder of SeekersGuidance

Dr. Omar Farooq Abdullah – American convert and Islamic scholar

Shaykh Wasim Kempson – UK-based da’ee and Islamic teacher

Shaykh Ahmad Dabbagh – British-Pakistani spiritual teacher

Na Forbes do the ranking?
How was the ranking done?

Too many Majnoon for nairaland o!

Your assertion contains several sweeping generalizations and overlooks important historical, social, and structural factors. Let me address the key issues logically and with clarity:

1. On Islamic Scholarship in Nigeria:
While it's true that Nigerian scholars may not dominate global lists curated by Western-centric or Arab-centric sources, this does not equate to a lack of Islamic scholarship in Nigeria. Northern Nigeria has produced many respected scholars, such as Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, who led a major Islamic reform and educational movement, and more recently, scholars like Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini and Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, who are widely recognized in West Africa and beyond. The lack of representation on ChatGPT’s or any AI-generated list may reflect data limitations, linguistic biases, or uneven global recognition—not a lack of scholarly substance.

2. On the Role of Islam in the North:
The influence of Islam in northern Nigeria is not a function of aggression but of historical and cultural integration. Islam has been part of the region for over a millennium, with deep roots in education, governance, and social life. The preference for Islamic schools reflects communal values and identity rather than a rejection of knowledge.

3. On Western Education and Development:
The idea that rejecting Western education correlates with underdevelopment overlooks colonial legacies, systemic inequality, and the failure of successive governments to bridge educational gaps. It also ignores the nuanced reality that many northern Muslims do pursue formal education while also valuing religious instruction.

4. On Cattle Production:
Nigeria’s rank in cattle production is influenced by numerous factors—such as infrastructure, investment, disease control, and climate change. The stereotype that northerners “carry cows on their heads” is a gross simplification and unhelpful. The Fulani and other pastoral communities contribute significantly to Nigeria’s livestock economy, but face systemic neglect, security challenges, and environmental threats that hamper productivity.

5. On Tone and Respect:
The tone of your statement leans heavily on sarcasm and derision, which undermines constructive dialogue. Critique should not descend into mockery or demeaning cultural expressions. If the goal is progress, then discourse must be rooted in mutual respect and a willingness to understand the context of others.

CreativeOrbit:
Your assertion contains several sweeping generalizations and overlooks important historical, social, and structural factors. Let me address the key issues logically and with clarity:

1. On Islamic Scholarship in Nigeria:
While it's true that Nigerian scholars may not dominate global lists curated by Western-centric or Arab-centric sources, this does not equate to a lack of Islamic scholarship in Nigeria. Northern Nigeria has produced many respected scholars, such as Sheikh Usman dan Fodio, who led a major Islamic reform and educational movement, and more recently, scholars like Sheikh Ibrahim Saleh Al-Hussaini and Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, who are widely recognized in West Africa and beyond. The lack of representation on ChatGPT’s or any AI-generated list may reflect data limitations, linguistic biases, or uneven global recognition—not a lack of scholarly substance.

2. On the Role of Islam in the North:
The influence of Islam in northern Nigeria is not a function of aggression but of historical and cultural integration. Islam has been part of the region for over a millennium, with deep roots in education, governance, and social life. The preference for Islamic schools reflects communal values and identity rather than a rejection of knowledge.

3. On Western Education and Development:
The idea that rejecting Western education correlates with underdevelopment overlooks colonial legacies, systemic inequality, and the failure of successive governments to bridge educational gaps. It also ignores the nuanced reality that many northern Muslims do pursue formal education while also valuing religious instruction.

4. On Cattle Production:
Nigeria’s rank in cattle production is influenced by numerous factors—such as infrastructure, investment, disease control, and climate change. The stereotype that northerners “carry cows on their heads” is a gross simplification and unhelpful. The Fulani and other pastoral communities contribute significantly to Nigeria’s livestock economy, but face systemic neglect, security challenges, and environmental threats that hamper productivity.

5. On Tone and Respect:
The tone of your statement leans heavily on sarcasm and derision, which undermines constructive dialogue. Critique should not descend into mockery or demeaning cultural expressions. If the goal is progress, then discourse must be rooted in mutual respect and a willingness to understand the context of others.

Islamic Scholarship
There are 0 major works of islamic thought from Northern Nigeria. This is despite the massive population AND even greater effort put into islamic education in the north. There is visible leadership by southern Nigerian religious leaders in christianity. They were known the world over, their churches are spreading everywhere, they publish major religious works. They are known internationally in gospel music, etc. Any endevour of the christian world and christian thought, southern Nigerians are there. And they governments in southern Nigeria don't put the effort into christianity that the north puts into Islam.

If you look at all of the places the north is behind in, people will say it's because their main focus is Islam. But even in that main focus, they're nobody. Is Gumi recognized in west africa and beyond? Because in the news this week they threw him out of Saudi Arabia like a common criminal.

Western Education And Development
You don't think Islam is also a part of colonialism? Anything tied to colonialism that is blocking the North from excelling in Western education, should also block them from Islamic education. I think it's strange that african muslims tend to think Islam is their actual native culture and way of life. It is foreign and it was forced on you and is still being forced. The excuse doesn't stand.

Cattle Production
Between 2016 and 2020, 3,641 Nigerians were killed per year by cattle herdsmen. To find out that Nigeria loses 3,000+ human lives every year because of cows, but Nigeria is also failing in cow production, has a low cattle count, has unhealthy low protein cows after all this bloodshed is pathetic. Fulani are, without question, the lowest in cattle production of all herdsmen world wide. Go look at Kenyan nomad cows, Dinka nomad cows, south african nomad cows, and go look at our cows. In 2023 Nigeria IMPORTED 151,636 kilograms of beef.




With the energy the Hausa put into Islam, they are nobody among muslims, and the energy Fulani put into cows they are nobody among herdsmen or cattle rearers. They are infact failures in both regards. They not considered good muslims nor are they considered good herdsmen. In the South, people are focused on scholarship, christianity, business, and even entertainment. Southern Nigerians are excelling world wide in scholarship, Christianity, Business and Entertainment. They are competing with everyone in the world.

Ofodirinwa:


Islamic Scholarship
There are 0 major works of islamic thought from Northern Nigeria. This is despite the massive population AND even greater effort put into islamic education in the north. There is visible leadership by southern Nigerian religious leaders in christianity. They were known the world over, their churches are spreading everywhere, they publish major religious works. They are known internationally in gospel music, etc. Any endevour of the christian world and christian thought, southern Nigerians are there. And they governments in southern Nigeria don't put the effort into christianity that the north puts into Islam.

If you look at all of the places the north is behind in, people will say it's because their main focus is Islam. But even in that main focus, they're nobody. Is Gumi recognized in west africa and beyond? Because in the news this week they threw him out of Saudi Arabia like a common criminal.

Western Education And Development
You don't think Islam is also a part of colonialism? Anything tied to colonialism that is blocking the North from excelling in Western education, should also block them from Islamic education. I think it's strange that african muslims tend to think Islam is their actual native culture and way of life. It is foreign and it was forced on you and is still being forced. The excuse doesn't stand.

Cattle Production
Between 2016 and 2020, 3,641 Nigerians were killed per year by cattle herdsmen. To find out that Nigeria loses 3,000+ human lives every year because of cows, but Nigeria is also failing in cow production, has a low cattle count, has unhealthy low protein cows after all this bloodshed is pathetic. Fulani are, without question, the lowest in cattle production of all herdsmen world wide. Go look at Kenyan nomad cows, Dinka nomad cows, south african nomad cows, and go look at our cows. In 2023 Nigeria IMPORTED 151,636 kilograms of beef.




With the energy the Hausa put into Islam, they are nobody among muslims, and the energy Fulani put into cows they are nobody among herdsmen or cattle rearers. They are infact failures in both regards. They not considered good muslims nor are they considered good herdsmen. In the South, people are focused on scholarship, christianity, business, and even entertainment. Southern Nigerians are excelling world wide in scholarship, Christianity, Business and Entertainment. They are competing with everyone in the world.

Thank you for sharing your thoughts. However, I must respectfully disagree with several of your assertions, and I believe a more balanced and evidence-based perspective is warranted.

1. On Islamic Scholarship in Northern Nigeria
It is incorrect to assert that there are "zero major works" of Islamic thought from Northern Nigeria. Historically, Northern Nigeria has produced prominent Islamic scholars whose contributions shaped intellectual life across West Africa. The Sokoto Caliphate, for instance, was founded by Usman dan Fodio, a revered scholar and reformer whose works are still studied throughout the Muslim world. His progeny, including Abdullahi dan Fodio and Sultan Bello, authored volumes on theology, jurisprudence, governance, and education—many of which remain influential today.

Contemporary scholars such as Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi, Sheikh Ahmad Gumi (regardless of recent controversies), and others are widely recognized in Islamic circles across West Africa. To dismiss these contributions due to political or media narratives is to ignore the deeper intellectual tradition they represent.

2. On Religious Visibility and Success
Visibility in Western media or international religious networks should not be equated with depth of religious thought or success in spiritual leadership. Christian denominations in Southern Nigeria have leveraged media, commerce, and global networks—particularly Pentecostal movements—with remarkable marketing skill. This differs fundamentally from the more conservative and localized structure of Islamic education in the North, which values classical scholarship and tends to eschew commercialized religion. The fact that Southern Christian leaders are visible does not inherently mean the North has “failed” in its religious practice.

3. On Islam and Colonialism
Your claim that Islam is a colonial imposition is historically inaccurate. Islam arrived in West Africa centuries before European colonialism, through trans-Saharan trade and indigenous conversions. In fact, Islam functioned as a counterbalance to European colonial influence. While Western education was indeed a colonial export, Islamic education had existed for hundreds of years prior, with Arabic literacy, jurisprudence, and theology flourishing in Hausa and Kanuri states. Conflating Islam with colonialism misrepresents history and undermines African agency.

4. On Cattle Production and the Fulani
It is deeply unfair and misleading to single out Fulani herders as failures in cattle production. The issues surrounding cattle rearing in Nigeria are systemic—ranging from climate change and desertification to insecurity, outdated infrastructure, and lack of government . Cattle rearing across the Sahel is under pressure, not due to ethnic failure, but due to structural neglect. Moreover, conflict between herders and farmers is complex and should not be reduced to simplistic ethnic blame. The Fulani are one of the largest pastoralist groups in Africa, and their contributions to food security, albeit challenged, remain significant.

5. On Generalizing Success and Failure
Your broad generalizations, contrasting Southern “success” with Northern “failure,” are reductive and divisive. Each region in Nigeria faces unique historical, economic, and sociopolitical challenges. While Southern Nigerians have achieved remarkable global success in many fields, this should not be used to disparage Northerners. Progress is not a zero-sum game. Constructive dialogue and mutual respect are far more productive than sweeping condemnation.

Conclusion
The Nigerian project requires unity, understanding, and context-sensitive engagement. Regional differences should be explored with empathy and a commitment to truth—not with the intent to belittle or delegitimize others. I invite us to reframe our discourse to focus on collaboration and development for all Nigerians, regardless of region, faith, or ethnicity.