Abstract
Ădam Abdullāh Al-Ilõry was a distinguished twentieth-century Nigerian and West African Islamic scholar whose writings engaged critically with religion, culture, and society. A central theme in his works is Pan-Islamism, articulated through deliberate communicative strategies and precise linguistic choices. This study examines the sociolinguistic dimensions of Al-Ilõry’s Pan-Islamic discourse in his work Al-Islām fīNaijīriyahwa Shaykh Uthman b. Fûdi, analyzing how he employs Arabic-Islamic writings as tools for religious instruction, social reform, and ideological mobilization. Adopting an analytical descriptive research method, the study addresses key questions: Who is Ădam Abdullāh Al-Ilõry? What is Pan-Islamism? And how does Al-Ilõry employ sociolinguistic and communicative techniques to construct identity, transmit ideology, and unify his audience? The findings reveal that his language is characterized by clarity, strategic repetition, Qur’ānic allusions, and culturally grounded expressions that enhance persuasion and reinforce his call for Muslim unity. The study concludes that Al-Ilõry’s writings reflect a sophisticated sociolinguistic consciousness, demonstrating how language can function as a tool of reform and mobilization. It further recommends additional research and broader scholarly engagement with the intellectual contributions of Yoruba Muslim scholars.
Keyword: Ădam Abdullāh Al-Ilõry, Communicative, Islam, Pan-Islamism, Sociolinguistics
DOI: www.doi.org/10.36349/sojolics.2025.v01i03.012
author/Shittu Mustapha Fowewe
journal/Sokoto JOLICS 1(3) | December 2025 |
