Challenges of Knowledge Integration in Muslim Yorubaland (Southwest of Nigeria) Mirroring Muhammad Iqbal’s Philosophy of Education

Abstract

The basic belief of Islam is that there is nothing worthy of servitude except Allah swt. This provides the One True God definite historical identity, not just a mere abstract idea. To adore Allah swt, one must follow the divine instructions, and to follow the divine instructions one must necessarily possess the knowledge. This paper analyzes challenges in knowledge integration in the Muslim Yorubaland in the mirror of Iqbal’s Philosophy of education. In light of this, with strong conviction, the authors assert that Iqbal has made significant contributions and offered valuable insights into addressing the issue of education. Educational integration is the process of merging closely together two opposing themes to find a common ground. Unlike Muslim nations, Muslim Yorubas do not have their religious education totally integrated into the educational stream. One of those issues faced by those who do not profess Western education along with religious education is not being employable in the same society as others. This paper approaches the title through an individual mirror who has experienced the non-employability, through the lens of Iqbal’s Philosophy of Education. The paper uses qualitative methods through available resources, such as books, journals, magazines, articles, and internet sources. The paper is directed at basic challenges, through occasional analysis. The objective is to approach the challenges objectively and conclude that several challenges facing Yoruba Muslims vis-à-vis knowledge integration could be easily solved through unity of action and purpose which is glaringly lacking amongst them, as mirrored in Iqbal’s Philosophy of Education.