SHAYKH TAJUL-ADAB AND THE

ADABIYYA GROUP
MUHAMMAD JUMA ALABI (or AL-LABIB), called Taj al-Adab, b.
1885, d. 1923.
{A Celebrated Preacher and Qadiri Sufi, and Founder of the Islamic
Movement al-Zumra al-Adabiyya}

Son of the Imam Imale Abd al-Qadir (Ile Masingba, Balogun

Ajikobi Ward), he was a celebrated preacher and Qadiri Sufi, and
founder of the Islamic movement al-Zumra al-Adabiyya which
combined Sufism with educational activities. He seems to have
claimed direct inspirational access to Arabic and Islamic
knowledge (Ilm Ladunii). He undertook preaching tours all over
Yorubaland and was particularly successful in Abeokuta, where
he died in 1923.
He had begun to modernize his school in Ilorin shortly before his
death, an initiative that was continued by several of his students,
Several Islamic movements and education societies in Ilorin and
elsewhere in Yorubaland lay claim to Taj al-Adab as their source
of legitimation.
Some of his publications/writings are; DURAR AL-MURJAN (Urjuza
of 290 verses on Morphology (Sarf)), which begins with bismi lilahi thumma hamdihi abtadi *** salatuhu salamuhu li-ahmadi.
.. KITAB FI NASIHAT AL-IKHWAN KITAB AL-SHAGRAB (A
cryptic poem on Adab/Ethics directed against Ibadan scholars
who had spurned him), which begins with addid inshad al-arabi
*** al-adab al-muaddabi QASEEDAT RAIYYA (Verses on
arabic grammar/nahw), which begins with a-laa yaa murid
al-ilmi wal-fiqhi wal-hajri *** taallam uluum al-nahwi tarwaa
al-manaabira. SUBUL AL-NAJAAT (Waz (Admonition) poem)
. TASHIL AL-HISAB (Urjuzaa on arithmetic), which begins with
qaala muhammadun huwa l-labiibuu *** ibn al-imaam al-hadarii
al-adiibii.
Excerpts from the Book/Compendium:
Arabic Literature of Africa, Volume 2: The Writings of Central Sudanic Africa
(1995)...Compiled by: Prof. John O. Hunwick
(Chapter 11); Ilorin and Nupe in the 19th & 20th Centuries (pgs. 466-471).by Stefan
Reichmuth and Razaq D. Abubakre
http://pristinesufismbooks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/groups/pristinesufism www.facebook.com/pristinesufism

In the Picture: Sitting (Shaykh Tajul-Adab). Standing - from the right;

(Shaykh Kamaldeen Muhammad Tukur (youngest), Shaykh Tajul-Mumin,
Shaykh Yusuf Agbaji)

SHAYKH TAJUL-ADAB AND THE ZUMRA

AL-ADABIYYA MOVEMENT
MUHAMMAD JUMA ALABI (or AL-LABIB) , known as Alfa Taj alAdab
He was Jumah b. Abdul Quadri b, Salih born in Ilorin in 1885. His
father was a deputy to the then Imam Fulani. He started his
education from his father's compound. Thereafter, he suddenly
left his native town seeking for knowledge and did not return
until after ten years.
He was the first scholar to introduce syllabus system, prescribed
text books periodising in learning in the field of Arabic teaching
in Yoruba land.
Among his students are: Shaikh Zakariyya b. Busairi, Yahya
Qalansuwi, Muzamilu from Agbaji and Muhammad Kamaludin who
later continued the work of his teacher and upgraded the school
to a modern taste.
Tajul Adab had many prose and poetry works in Arabic. He had
composed didactic poem on sarf (morphology) and his magnumopus is known as Shagrab or Adid.
He died in 1922. He is mentioned in Lam'hatul baluri of Shaikh
Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory.
By: Ibrahim Sulaiman Al-Gamawi
In the article titled;Brief History of Selected Arabic Poets among
the 'Ulamah in Yoruba Land
http://pristinesufismbooks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/groups/pristinesufism www.facebook.com/pristinesufism

In the Picture: Sitting (Shaykh Tajul-Adab). Standing - from the right;

(Shaykh Kamaldeen Muhammad Tukur (youngest), Shaykh Tajul-Mumin,
Shaykh Yusuf Agbaji)

SHAYKH TAJUL-ADAB AND THE

ADABIYYA GROUP

In the Picture: Sitting (Shaykh Tajul-Adab). Standing - from the right;

(Shaykh Kamaldeen Muhammad Tukur (youngest), Shaykh Tajul-Mumin,
Shaykh Yusuf Agbaji)

MUHAMMAD JUMA ALABI (or AL-LABIB), called Taj al-Adab, b.

1885, d. 1923.
{A Celebrated Preacher and Qadiri Sufi, and Founder of the Islamic
Movement al-Zumra al-Adabiyya}

Son of the Imam Imale Abd al-Qadir (Ile Masingba, Balogun

Ajikobi Ward), he was a celebrated preacher and Qadiri Sufi, and
founder of the Islamic movement al-Zumra al-Adabiyya which
combined Sufism with educational activities. He seems to have
claimed direct inspirational access to Arabic and Islamic
knowledge (Ilm Ladunii). He undertook preaching tours all over
Yorubaland and was particularly successful in Abeokuta, where
he died in 1923. He had begun to modernize his school in Ilorin
shortly before his death, an initiative that was continued by
several of his students, Several Islamic movements and
education societies in Ilorin and elsewhere in Yorubaland lay
claim to Taj al-Adab as their source of legitimation.
Some of his publications/writings are; DURAR AL-MURJAN (Urjuza
of 290 verses on Morphology (Sarf)), which begins with bismi lilahi thumma hamdihi abtadi *** salatuhu salamuhu li-ahmadi.

.. KITAB FI NASIHAT AL-IKHWAN KITAB AL-SHAGRAB (A

cryptic poem on Adab/Ethics directed against Ibadan scholars
who had spurned him), which begins with addid inshad al-arabi
*** al-adab al-muaddabi QASEEDAT RAIYYA (Verses on
arabic grammar/nahw), which begins with a-laa yaa murid
al-ilmi wal-fiqhi wal-hajri *** taallam uluum al-nahwi tarwaa
al-manaabira. SUBUL AL-NAJAAT (Waz (Admonition) poem)
. TASHIL AL-HISAB (Urjuzaa on arithmetic), which begins with
qaala muhammadun huwa l-labiibuu *** ibn al-imaam al-hadarii
al-adiibii.
Excerpts from the Book/Compendium:
Arabic Literature of Africa, Volume 2: The Writings of Central Sudanic Africa
(1995)...Compiled by: Prof. John O. Hunwick
(Chapter 11); Ilorin and Nupe in the 19th & 20th Centuries (pgs. 466-471).by Stefan
Reichmuth and Razaq D. Abubakre
http://pristinesufismbooks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/groups/pristinesufism www.facebook.com/pristinesufism

SHAYKH TAJUL-ADAB AND THE ZUMRA

AL-ADABIYYA MOVEMENT

In the Picture: Sitting (Shaykh Tajul-Adab). Standing - from the right;

(Shaykh Kamaldeen Muhammad Tukur (youngest), Shaykh Tajul-Mumin,
Shaykh Yusuf Agbaji)

MUHAMMAD JUMA ALABI (or AL-LABIB) , known as Alfa Taj alAdab

He was Jumah b. Abdul Quadri b, Salih born in Ilorin in 1885. His

father was a deputy to the then Imam Fulani. He started his
education from his father's compound. Thereafter, he suddenly
left his native town seeking for knowledge and did not return
until after ten years.
He was the first scholar to introduce syllabus system, prescribed
text books periodising in learning in the field of Arabic teaching
in Yoruba land.
Among his students are: Shaikh Zakariyya b. Busairi, Yahya
Qalansuwi, Muzamilu from Agbaji and Muhammad Kamaludin who
later continued the work of his teacher and upgraded the school
to a modern taste.
Tajul Adab had many prose and poetry works in Arabic. He had
composed didactic poem on sarf (morphology) and his magnumopus is known as Shagrab or Adid.
He died in 1922. He is mentioned in Lam'hatul baluri of Shaikh
Adam Abdullah Al-Ilory.
By: Ibrahim Sulaiman Al-Gamawi
In the article titled;Brief History of Selected Arabic Poets among
the 'Ulamah in Yoruba Land
http://pristinesufismbooks.blogspot.com
www.facebook.com/groups/pristinesufism www.facebook.com/pristinesufism