₦airaland Forum

Culture is the shared beliefs, values, customs, behaviors, and artifacts that characterize a particular group of people. It's what shapes their worldview, influences their actions, and defines their identity.

There are several cultures in Nigeria but i will like to focus on the Yorubas in Nigeria. However, one or more cultures of the other tribes may trickle in at times!

The Yorùbá estimated to be about 28 million people according to the 2006 census unquestionably constitute one of the major Nigerian
ethnic nationalities among whom Islam receives wide acceptance. (FRN Official Gazette Abuja, 2nd February,2009, No 2, Vol. 96.)

They live in the country's southwest states of Ekiti, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo as well as the north central states of Kogi and Kwara. Outside Nigeria, the Yorùbá are found in Benin and Togo Republics. All these areas formed what was known as Yoruba country before the European is partition of Africa and consequently, its rule European. Beyond these areas, pockets of Yorùbá population are found across the Atlantic as far as the Caribbean and South America, particularly Cuba and Brazil. (J.A. Atanda 2009)

Islam, as a religion, has specific teachings and guidelines that may conflict with certain cultural practices. In the context of the Yoruba culture, there are several traditional practices that Islam frown upon. Here are some notable examples:

1. Idolatry and Ancestor Worship:
Many Yoruba traditions involve the worship of deities (Orishas) and ancestors. Islam strictly prohibits idolatry, emphasizing the worship of one Allah alone without partners in His Lordship, Worship, names and attributes.

In the Qur’an and the hadiths of the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) it is forbidden to worship idols, and it is enjoined to worship Allah only.

Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): “So avoid the uncleanliness [rijs] of idols and avoid false statement”
[al-Hajj 22:30]

And Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning: “And [We sent] Abraham, when he said to his people, Worship Allah and fear Him. That is best for you, if you should know.

You only worship, besides Allah, idols, and you produce a falsehood. Indeed, those you worship besides Allah do not possess for you [the power of] provision. So seek from Allah provision and worship Him and be grateful to Him. To Him you will be returned”
[al-‘Ankaboot 29:16-17]

2. Ritual Sacrifices:
Traditional Yoruba religion often includes animal sacrifices as part of rituals to appease deities or ancestors. Islam allows animal sacrifice only during specific religious observances (like Eid al-Adha) and under strict guidelines. Say (O Muhammad SAW): "Verily, my Salat (prayer), my sacrifice, my living, and my dying are for Allah, the Lord of the 'Alamin (mankind, jinns and all that exists). (Qur'an 6:162)

3. Divination and Fortune telling Practices:
The Yoruba culture has various divination practices, such as Ifá, which are used to seek guidance or predict the future. Islam discourages practices that involve seeking knowledge of the unseen, as this is believed to be exclusive to Allah.
A brother once left the lady he was about to marry immediately she requested for his mother's name for divination! Muslims should embrace Istikhara and Istisharah!

Fortune-tellers cooperate with the jinn; they are liars who cooperate with the shayaateen (devils), who do not help them except after they have changed their religion, and whoever changes his religion [leaves Islam] is to be executed. The ruling concerning those who go to them and believe them is that they are guilty of kufr; if they do not believe them, their prayers will still not be accepted from them for forty days.

The evidence (daleel) for the former is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 135; Abu Dawood, 3904

4. Polygamy:
While Islam permits polygamy under certain conditions, the cultural context in which it is practiced can vary. Some Yoruba customs may involve practices that Islam views as unjust or exploitative. A man can marry up to four wives and not more than that at any given time. And there must be equity as must as possible with regards to expenditure, accommodation, food, clothing and kind treatment.
Islam forbids marrying a widow to her brother-in-law without her permission! The Dowry is for the bride. The husband can also give whatever he can afford to the bride's family without involving shirk or haram items like Alcohol or particularly numbered items 42 yams!

5. Certain Festivals and Celebrations:
Some Yoruba festivals may involve rituals or practices that are incompatible with Islamic teachings, such as those that honor deities or involve communal feasting in a manner that contradicts Islamic principles. This include Egungun festivals, Oro day, Eyo day, Osun Osogbo, Ewa Ibeji (cooking beans to venerate twins deity yearly), 7,8, 40 days or yearly Fidau prayers for the dead, frying Akara on behalf of the dead, etc.

6. Dress and Modesty Norms:
Traditional Yoruba attire may not always align with Islamic standards of modesty, particularly for women. Islam emphasizes specific guidelines for dress that promote modesty. The males should dress in such a way that the laps are not exposed and the garments do no pass the ankles!
The females are to cover up in free flowing Hijab down!

7. Greetings - Prostration and Kneeling:
The traditional way of greeting elders in Yorubaland is either to prostrate for the male or the kneel for the female.
Islam forbids all forms of bowing, kneeling and prostration to anyone except Allah. However difficult this could be, one would need to make his relatives understand the injunctions of Allah and follow suit.

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa said: when Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal came from Syria, he prostrated to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, who said, “What is this, O Mu‘aadh?” He said, I went to Syria and saw them prostrating to their archbishops and patriarchs, and I wanted to do that for you. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said, “Do not do that. If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no woman can fulfil her duty towards Allah until she fulfils her duty towards her husband.”
Narrated by Ibn Maajah (1853); classed as hasan by al-Albaani

8. Syncretism: Syncretism is the combination of different forms of belief or practice. People are said to be syncretic when they combine the tenets as well as partake in the worship of more than one religion concurrently. The concept therefore amounts to mixture of two or more religions. The only religion acceptable to Allah is Islam!

Allah, may He be Exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning): {Indeed, the religion in the sight of Allah is Islam.} [Al `Imran 3:19]

Here He, may He be Glorified and Exalted, tells us that there is no religion that is acceptable to Him except Islam, which means submitting, surrendering and humbling oneself before Allah, may He be Exalted, worshipping Him alone, and believing in Him and in His Messengers, and what they brought from Allah. For each Messenger Allah prescribed a system of law and a method, until He sent the last of them, Muhammad (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) He sent him to all people, so after him, Allah will not accept any religion from anyone except Islam, which is the religion that he (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) brought.

{And whoever desires other than Islam as religion - never will it be accepted from him, and he, in the Hereafter, will be among the losers.} [Al `Imran 3:85]

Syncretism involves setting up partners/rivals against Allah and is a means of one entering Hell!
“Then do not set up rivals unto Allah (in worship) while you know (that He Alone has the right to be worshipped)” [al-Baqarah 2:22]

“And they set up rivals to Allah, to mislead (men) from His path! Say: ‘Enjoy (your brief life)! But certainly, your destination is the (Hell) Fire!’” [Ibrahim 14:30]

In the hadith, it is narrated that the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) said: “Whoever dies claiming that Allah has a rival, will enter Hell.” Narrated by al-Bukhari, 4497; Muslim, 92.

It's important to note that many Yoruba Muslims navigate these cultural practices by finding a balance between their religious beliefs and cultural heritage. The interaction between Islam and Yoruba culture is complex, and many Yoruba Muslims adapt their cultural practices to align with Islamic teachings while still honoring their heritage.

Rashduct4luv:
3. Divination and Fortune telling Practices:
The Yoruba culture has various divination practices, such as Ifá, which are used to seek guidance or predict the future. Islam discourages practices that involve seeking knowledge of the unseen, as this is believed to be exclusive to Allah.
A brother once left the lady he was about to marry immediately she requested for his mother's name for divination! Muslims should embrace Istikhara and Istisharah!

Fortune-tellers cooperate with the jinn; they are liars who cooperate with the shayaateen (devils), who do not help them except after they have changed their religion, and whoever changes his religion [leaves Islam] is to be executed. The ruling concerning those who go to them and believe them is that they are guilty of kufr; if they do not believe them, their prayers will still not be accepted from them for forty days.

The evidence (daleel) for the former is the hadeeth of Abu Hurayrah, according to which the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said: Whoever goes to a fortune-teller and believes what he says, has disbelieved in what was revealed to Muhammad.
(Narrated by al-Tirmidhi, 135; Abu Dawood, 3904wink

4. Polygamy:
While Islam permits polygamy under certain conditions, the cultural context in which it is practiced can vary. Some Yoruba customs may involve practices that Islam views as unjust or exploitative. A man can marry up to four wives and not more than that at any given time. And there must be equity as must as possible with regards to expenditure, accommodation, food, clothing and kind treatment.
Islam forbids marrying a widow to her brother-in-law without her permission! The Dowry is for the bride. The husband can also give whatever he can afford to the bride's family without involving shirk or haram items like Alcohol or particularly numbered items 42 yams!

7. Greetings - Prostration and Kneeling:
The traditional way of greeting elders in Yorubaland is either to prostrate for the male or the kneel for the female.
Islam forbids all forms of bowing, kneeling and prostration to anyone except Allah. However difficult this could be, one would need to make his relatives understand the injunctions of Allah and follow suit.

It was narrated that ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Awfa said: when Mu‘aadh ibn Jabal came from Syria, he prostrated to the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him, who said, “What is this, O Mu‘aadh?” He said, I went to Syria and saw them prostrating to their archbishops and patriarchs, and I wanted to do that for you. The Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him ) said, “Do not do that. If I were to command anyone to prostrate to anyone other than Allah, I would have commanded women to prostrate to their husbands. By the One in Whose hand is the soul of Muhammad, no woman can fulfil her duty towards Allah until she fulfils her duty towards her husband.”
Narrated by Ibn Maajah (1853); classed as hasan by al-Albaani

doffman:
👍 Culture can be embrace as long there is/are known any evidences from Quran or Hadith that disallow them .

Kukutente23:
Do you prostrate to greet your parents Alfa

doffman:
This ignorant fool seriously needs my attention but I will not give him 😀😀.

How can I have a conversation with a fool that said this below :

“Neither Jesus nor Abraham nor any prophet were Christians. Christian means Like Christ. What is your problem with that? Did Jesus die for Abraham or any prophet before him? You don't know nothing”

Said by : 🎤

1nigeriamyfoot:
This is Yorubaland and not Allah's land

We don't give a damn about whatever Allah frown at


Allah hate sacrifices using animal but derives pleasure in human blood all in the name of jihad

Nonsense

Kukutente23:
Lol
But you're replying me
I know a gave you a bloody nose which is why you copied and kept that statement I made which I stand by. You have not shown what leverage the statement gave you other than an excuse to hide from answering questions about your religion.

Mightymanna:
People roam like goats and have no guidance will descend on this thread and insult Islam out of Jealousy. Islam is perfect religion that guides us along the straight path to our maker.