Its 30 years today since the transition to eternal glory of our father, teacher of teachers, first class fugaha, master of tafsir, mujahideen of unequal valor, conqueror and destroyer of pagan practices, the thunderous voice of Islam in whose dictionary the word fear does not exist, the lion of Islam in Ebiraland, a towering iroko in the global Tijaniyya Sufi order, Sheikh Ahmad Rufai Abdulkarim Okene, radiyallahu taala anhu.
If historians of the Sokoto caliphate referred to Sheik Usman bin Fodio (RTA), Abdullahi bin Fodio (RTA) and Muhammad Bello(RTA) as triumvirate of the Sokoto Caliphate, I think His Highness, late Alhaji Ibrahim Atta (RTA), the first paramount ruler of Ebiraland, late Sheik Abdulmàlik Atta (RTA) and late Sheik Ahmad Rufai (RTA) can àlso be referred to as the triumvirate of Islam in Ebiraland.
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This is not dispute the pioneering effort of another colossus in the establishment Islam in Ebiraland, Sheik Yahaya Tajuddeen (RTA) of blessed memory, the first Imam of Ebiraland and his son, Imam Abdulraheem Tajuddeen (RTA).
The Atta represented the political pillar which supported the spread of Islam, Sheik Abdulmalik used his resources and connection to boost Islam in Ebiraland and Sheik Ahmad Rufai was the intellectual pillar whose versatile Islamic knowledge and uncompromising stand gave Islam a headstart in Ebiraland.
Born of royal ancestry, Sheik Ahmad Rufai was able to instill undiluted Iman and practical Islam to Ebira people in turbulent 1940, 50s and 60s especially his jama’a whose love and loyalty to the Sheik is second to none.
I stand to be corrected but I think Sheik Ahmad Rufai ran the longest tafsir session in the history of Ebiraland, spanning over 50 years. He produced quite a number of scholars who went on to open their own islamiyya schools across Ebiraland.
He pioneered the establishment of Islamic schools and college which combined both Islamic and western education.
Àbove all this, it was Sheik Rufai who opened the door of Islamic scholarship to Ebira people via his academic sojourns in Zaria, Kano, Katsina, Kaulaha, Algeria, Morocco and Egypt among others.
The cordial relationship that is existing today between Anebira and great scholars in Zaria and Kano was established by Sheik Rufai and Sheik Abdulmalik
We pray to Allah to make aljantu Firdausihis abode. May Allah bring the soul of Sheik Rufai closer to his master, Mustafa salllahu alaihi wasalam. May Allah continue to bless his family and jama’a, amin.
