Jalabi Practice: a Critical Appraisal of a Socio-Religious Phenomenon in Yorubaland,

Jalabi is an extant historical phenomenon with strong socio-religious impacts in Yorubaland, south-western part of Nigeria. It is among the preparatory Dawah strategies devised by the Yoruba Ulama following the general mainstream Africa to condition the minds of the indigenous people for the acceptance of Islam. This strategy is reflected in certain socio-religious services rendered to the clients, which include, but not limited to, spiritual consultation and healing, such as petitionary Dua (prayer), divination through sand-cutting, rosary selection, charm-making, and an act of officiating at various religious functions. In view of its historicity, the framework of this research paper revolves around three stages identified to have been aligned with the evolution of Jalabi, viz. Dawah, which marked its initial stage, livelihood into which it had evolved over the course of time, and which, in turn, had predisposed it to the third stage, namely syncretism. Triangulation method will be adopted for qualitative data collection, such as interviews, personal observation, and classified manuscript collections, and will be interpretively and critically analyzed to enhance the veracity of the research findings. The orality of the Yoruba culture has greatly influenced the researcher’s decision to seek data beyond the written words in order to give this long -standing phenomenon its due of study and to help understand the many dimensions it has assumed over time, as well as its both positive and adverse effects on the socio-religious live of the Yoruba people of Nigeria.


Introduction
Jalabi in the Yoruba-Nigerian 1 context designates certain socio-religious services rendered by the Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' to their clientele, which include, but not limited to, religio-social consultation, charm-making, spiritual healing and an act of officiating at various religious functions.Mustapha Bello defines it as "a system whereby a scholar prepares charms, which are believed to possess supernatural powers for protection against evil and for bringing good fortunes to traders, enhancement of luck…etc.in return for monetary compensation." 2 Mustapha's definition is not thorough and comprehensive, as it tends to restrict its focus only on one tiny aspect of Jalabi, i.e. charm making, and therefore could not rightly put the phenomenon in its proper context.This paper sets about to inquire into the origin of the phenomenon of Jalabi, how it came about and the issues surrounding its inception.The bulk of the discussion therein is tailored towards appraising the phenomenon through its stages of development and certain socio-religious impacts it has got, not only on the Yoruba society but also on their religious belief.

Etymology
Jalabi is a domesticated Arabic word stemming from the triconsonantal Arabic root of j-l-b, which has got various meanings and connotations.According to the classic Arabic lexicographers 1 , al-jalb is synonymous with al-Jazb, meaning to draw or attract.It could also mean to drag something from one place to another if one considers its grammatical inflexion and transitivity as in jalabahu, yajlibuhu or yajlubuhu jalaban or jalban.Likewise, it is synonymous with al-Kasb, meaning to earn a living or to obtain something as in jalaba li nafsihi, or to bring about benefit, good luck or fortune as in jalaba naf'an.These meanings are particularly relevant, as they not only depict the material end of some Ulama's activities, but also the type of spiritual assistance commonly rendered to their clientele to repel evil and bring about fortune.With regard to this meaning, the general statement: jalb al-manfaah wa daf'u al-madarrah (bringing about the benefit and warding off the evil) is very well applicable.
Interchangeably, Ise Alfa (vocation of the clerics) is common in use among the Yoruba Muslims to designate the practitioner of Jalabi.This terminology needs further clarification to avoid any confusion that may arise thereafter.Ise Alfa has a generic connotation in its literal form.Anyone who is versed with the traditional Islamic education would normally be referred to as Alfa, thus his practice be described as ise Alfa.The nature of this ise Alfa is noticeably diverse, for there are Alfa who have committed themselves to teaching, while others are known as preachers.In most cases, one Alfa may combine two or more ise Alfa.At this junction, reference should be made to Sheikh Adam al-Ilori, who, in his NasÊm al-Øaba' fÊ AkhbÉr al-IslÉm wa ÑUlamÉ' BilÉd Yoruba, arranged them into four categories; a. Al-WuÑÉÐ (the preachers) both settled and itinerants.b.Al-MuÑallimËn (the teachers), who teach Qur'Én at their homes, shops, and mosques free of charge, as they possess other source of income, such as tailoring, weaving and farming, etc. c.Al-ÑUbbÉd and al-ZuhhÉd (devout worshippers and ascetics) d.The physical and spiritual healers, who are further divided into three sub-categories: conversant with the prophetic medicine, experts in traditional herbs and their use to cure ailments, and the well versed in Khatt al-Raml (sand cutting) and al-Takahhun (divination). 2 The above classification seems to narrow the scope of the phenomenon to involve only the last sub-category.This, on the one hand, is contrary to the general stand maintained by those interviewed among the ÑUlamÉ', who proudly consider Jalabi as their profession.On the other hand, it does not put the phenomenon into its proper historical context either.
Although, the acts of sand-cutting and divination prevail over the practice of Jalabi nowadays, it, nevertheless, does not embody what Jalabi is all about.
Whereas, in a more technical manner, ise Alfa distinguishes the Alfa, who practices Jalabi from those who do not, as it implies, first and foremost, the type of practices that are typical of the healers.The Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' engaged in the practice of Jalabi could be divided into the following categories: a.Those who are consulted by people for special prayer using, among others, the Quran, DalÉ'l al-KhayrÉt, 1 and other supplications carefully documented and transmitted from one generation to other.This category may best be designated as Quran-oriented ÑUlamÉ', as they do not mix this practice with other method of healing, whether traditional or prophetic.b.Those who combine the traditional method of healing with the Islamic, and perform different types of divinations, such as Khat al-Raml (sand-cutting), Jin companionship, etc. c.Those who have received special training in traditional but not Islamic healing method are referred to as onisegun (herbalist).There usually is no difference between this category and the traditional herbalists.d.The gbajue type (fraudsters), who lead their lives on deceptions and lies.This category is replete with youth and emerging Alfas, who are desperate to become wealthy overnight and do not have the mastery of the ise Alfa per se.
Of these entire categories, only those that fall in the category 'C' may be excluded from the general reference to the Jalabi practitioners.Nevertheless, it was later realized that this category is also consulted for Islamic spiritual healing even though some of them may not want Jalabi be associated with them. 2 All in all, the phenomenon of Jalabi, as previously defined, seems to have been widely practiced across Africa under different names, the most common of which is Mganga or Mwalimu, the terms used to designate a person who practices a healing job in East Africa. 3Mganga is a Swahili word derived from the root ganga, which means 'to bind up', or mend what is broken.By extension, ganga has become a generic term for healing. 4While Mganga is used for both Muslim and unlettered traditional medicine men, Mwalimu is a reserved term for a Muslim, who had studied and learned his skills, and does not treat his client without following procedures described in a written text.5

Origin of Jalabi
The origin of Jalabi has been associated with the coming of Islam into Yorubaland, but since one cannot say in precision when the infiltration of Islam actually began in this part of the world, we may not equally know with exactitude the beginning of Jalabi practice in Yorubaland.Given the fact that Jalabi, from a broader perspective, was among the strategies devised by the Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' to win over the animists to Islam, it may well be classified as part of a general mainstream DaÑwah strategy in West Africa.
This strategy began the moment the Muslim clerics emerged from quarantine, as Ryan puts it, 1 in the wake of the growth of Muslim communities in many part of West Africa.Initially, they performed variety of clerical functions for these budding communities to which they later added petitionary prayer, healing, divining, and the manufacture and sale of charms and amulets.It is to be added that the side of their activities that touched on magic and superstition constituted the major appeal of Islam in non-Muslim eyes and through this way they won respect and prestige among them. 2e earliest Jalabi-related practice was referenced by al-Bakri (1094 C.E) in his monumental work on the History of Africa.He mentioned a chiefdom of Malal, beyond the upper Senegal, that was going through an unending period of drought.Despite the efforts exerted by the priests, the situation even took a turn for the worse.Thereupon, the king appealed to his Muslim guest, who promised to help on condition that he accepted Islam.When the king agreed, the Muslim taught him some easy verses in the Quran and instructed him on fundamental religious obligations.On the following Jumuah night, after the king had purified himself, the two set out to a nearby hill.All that night the Muslim prayed and was emulated by the king.The dawn only started to break when Allah brought down abundant rain.The king then ordered the idols be broken, expelled the sorcerers and became Muslim together with his family and the nobility save the common people. 3

Jalabi as a Da'wah Strategy
The genesis of the phenomenon of Jalabi, as previously mentioned, is ascribed to the effort exerted by the itinerant scholars, who are seen as the possessors of spiritual power to solve many enigmatic problems and to offer special prayers for protection against witchcraft and help cure the people's physical and spiritual maladies.This, perhaps, accounts for the initiative of prince Oluaji, inter alia, who is said to have invited some Fulani Muslims to the town during the reign of Oba Alawusa (1739-1774). 4similar but distant incident occurred in other places in Yorubaland, where an Alfa is expected to demonstrate his supernatural ability to make the impossible possible, thereby staking his reputation on his success in performing such miracle.Sheikh Adam al-Ilori reported one such incident in a Yoruba city where the ÑUlamÉ' were forced into a fierce competition with the sorcerers to see whether they would come out of it triumphant and thus establish the genuineness of their mission.5 Almost all the Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' are thoroughly acquainted with different ways of preparing medicinal concoction, amulet, charm for whatever purpose.The effectiveness of such activity added to the people's respect and honour for them.This is not surprising given the fact that some of the indigenous Alfa then were either Babalawo (traditional herbalist) themselves before they embraced Islam, or had in the line of their ancestors who are renowned for their supernatural power, and its knowledge came to them by way of inheritance.Therefore, the acceptance of Islam, to them, does not mean a complete abandonment of their traditional legacy.In fact, it could be argued that their new religion is believed to have provided them with an additional power and strength.1 It is even asserted that many of the Yoruba traditionalists, who accepted Islam, did so, not out of absolute conviction but rather for the spiritual power inherent in Islam. 2 The Islamic teachings they were introduced to did not stress the Islamic law and theology any better than its spiritual aspects.So little did they have of the knowledge that may enable them to measure all that is un-Islamic, until the advent of Sheikh Alim Junta and the subsequent establishment of the Ilorin emirate, through which many cities in Yorubaland witnessed an unprecedented influx of the ÑUlamÉ'.
It is pertinent to add here that these scholars, with sincere and intense conviction preached Islam with the little knowledge they had and put their lives on the line to defend its cause.It is not recorded that they ever practiced Jalabi for a living or to preserve their interest, as many of them had what they could call career.On the contrary, Jalabi practice to them was more of humanitarian and preventive.
Several examples of the ÑUlamÉ's tendency to promote Islam through their mystic and spiritual power have been collected from different sources, most of which are the first-hand experiences of those interviewed on the subject.

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In Ibadan, it was reported that the animosity between the traditionalists and the ÑUlamÉ' reached its apex and the situation became so tense that the tiny Muslim community in Ibadan then were forbidden to make adhan, and anyone who attempted in defiance of the order would pay with his life.The situation was beginning to take a turn for the worse when sheikh Uthman Basunu performed some special prayers then instructed the Muadhin to resume his duty.Upon hearing the sound of Adhan, all the shrines immediately caught fire.This incident helped the Muslims gained more freedom, respect and caused many people to accept Islam. 3

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In Lagos, it was narrated that sheikh Abubakr bin Abdullah al-Sunni, a prominent preacher had an encounter with one of the leaders of idol worshippers in 1890 C.E., who threatened to put a hex on him if he does not abstain from insulting their gods.When the man wanted to cast a spell on the sheikh, the sheikh recited some verses of the Quran and blew it on the magician, who, instantaneously fell down in a swoon.Having observed this, the people hastily embraced Islam.
There are countless other isolated cases that could also add to the previously mentioned.They are the efforts made by some individual ÑUlamÉ' who singlehandedly restored the waving faith of many Muslim families that had almost deflected to Christianity or to the traditional cult in quest for salvation.The sufferings of these families are varied; while some are in dire need of a means of sustenance, some are dying to become parents.Under the guise of total salvation and the gospel of success, many ordinary Yoruba had been lured into Christianity.In a society where the majority of the people are Muslim, it is a shame on the ÑUlamÉ' to see their followers and other fellow Muslims being taken away by their counterparts.
To counter this trend, the ÑUlamÉ' deployed all power at their disposal to see to the problems of the people and go at length to do anything that could possibly help them restore confidence back in the people's mind and convince them of the mighty power of Islam to solve any problem.Consequently, there is a sudden upsurge in the ÑUlamÉ's reliance on the traditional charm and amulet alongside the 'Islamic' healing rituals, divinations and other spiritual manipulations.
The above references illustrates how the early Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' practiced Jalabi as a strategy to propagate Islam among the traditional Yoruba.It could not be considered as something unprecedented, as the practice follows the mainstream African strategy in promoting Islam.

Jalabi Practice for a Living
Jalabi has been initially practised by the ÑUlamÉ in Yorubaland for humanitarian purposes without expecting any compensation whether in cash or kind, but later evolved into a means of livelihood when there were no other practical alternatives.Three factors are identified to have contributed to this new dimension, namely educational, economic and social factors.

Educational factor
The introduction of Islam in Yorubaland was an important turning point, as it marked the dawn of a new era when the advancement of unbelief was brought to an abrupt end.This is so because the introduction of Islam to this part of the world was coupled with the emergence and later the spread of scholarship.The warmest reception, commitment and passion accorded to this new religion by the early indigenous Muslims aided the transformation of Yorubaland from where "unbelief predominates"1 to where considerable number of believers dwelled and thrived.This positive attitude travelled far afield to invite a horde of learned Muslim scholars, such as Sheikh AÍmad Qifu of Katsina origin and Sheikh ÑUthmÉn bin AbË Bakr (a.k.a Basunu) 2 of old Borgu origin, 3 and a host of others, to settle in Ibadan 4 for the purpose of propagating the knowledge of Islam.Many of these scholars had first settled in Ilorin, 5 the first centre of Islamic learning in Yorubaland, before they finally dispersed across other Yoruba cities in the south-west.
Students from every corner of Yorubaland where Islam had penetrated flocked to Ilorin or otherwise moved to Ibadan, which later became a reputable centre of learning, especially, under Sheikh HarËn bin Sultan, a disciple of Sheikh Abubakr bin al-QÉsim (alaga). 6This is how students gathered around these early scholars, and, after completion of their studies, they themselves became notable scholars in their hometowns where they established a similar system of learning.Hence, a system of madrasah, known in Yorubaland as ile kewu, eventually emerged.
The early form of madrasah was more or less a katÉtÊb-like situated in a scholar's residence (in his parlour, veranda or under the shade of a tree) with a number of pupils ranging from ten to forty or even more sitting in a semi-circle, holding their wooden slate and chanting repeatedly verses of the Quran written on their slates.This rote learning would eventually help the pupils not only to memorize the selected chapters in the Quran but also to acquire rudimentary skill of writing. 7he completion of this stage does not signify the end of Islamic learning at madrasah, but rather the end of what may be regarded as the primary level of the system, at the end of which a Walimot ceremony would come up.
Students at the secondary level of the system receive much broader knowledge; they would start by learning the TafsÊr (Quran exegesis) of the memorized chapters.Besides that, they are also introduced to subjects like Hadith, Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence), al-NaÍw and al-Øarf, (Arabic syntax and grammatical inflexion), al-BalÉghah (rhetoric) etc.At the successful completion of this stage, students would have acquired some proficiency in the Arabic language and are able to read, understand and interpret many of the works of earlier scholars and be ready to be awarded a licence empowering them to practice as teachers and imams. 8e system outlined above portrays the madrasah in its primordial form, but as time went by many reforms had been introduced into the system that considerably improved it.As a result, there emerged new forms of modern Islamic madrasah with a clear goal and unique system of learning.Prominent among which are Markaziyyah 1 and MÑahadiyyah2 systems.They all employed the tripartite IbtidÉ´iyyah-IÑidÉdiyyah-ThÉnawiyyah system but without any established standard curriculum.Certificates are awarded to successful students at the completion of each stage of learning, and the total years of study, with variation, would be eleven to twelve years.
Interestingly, in principle, the proprietors of the reformed modrasah are not hostile to western education; rather they encourage their student to pursue it to complement their religious training since the fear they used to have of the possibility of their pupils being evangelized is no longer a reality.Yet, unfortunately, there are many challenges in this new educational policy facing students previously trained at the madrasah, the major of which lies with the certificate that would qualify them for the higher learning, since the government does not recognize any certificate awarded by these madrasahs.
To respond to this challenge, some proprietors have their Madrasahs affiliated to Ahmad Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, and, as a result, modified their curriculum or initiated a new Diploma program along the ABU accredited curriculum.Any graduate of this new program would gain a direct entry into Ahamd Bello University.This step really proves effective, but many proprietors seemed not to be ready to follow suit.
Alternatively, by virtue of a keen interest that many governments of Arabic speaking countries, both in Middle East and North Africa, showed in the affairs of Nigerian Muslims, the graduates of these Madrasahs are offered scholarships to further their studies at Saudi Arabian, Egyptian, Sudan and Libyan universities, etc.
Conversely, a particular quarter among the ÑUlamÉ', known nationwide as Zumratul Mu'minÊn (a.k.a Mokondoro), have stubbornly refused to budge and resisted any reform of any kind that will change their orientation.They are always scornful of those that have had their systems reformed and labelled it unworthy type of Islamic education.They do not allow their children be sent to any madrasah except those established by their graduates.They also forsake western education, except until recently, and adopted a policy of isolation to insulate their children from being proselytized.Consequently, this attitude was to their own disadvantage.Hence, while there are many opportunities for the students graduating from the modern modrasahs, graduates of the mokondoros' are stuck in dead ends.They could neither make it to a higher institution nor affiliate their schools to either a local or an international institution.Instead their graduates prefer to start up their own madrasahs and search for students everywhere in their community.
It is never difficult to fill these newly established madrasahs with pupils, as the Muslim parents would readily enrol their kids, especially when they realize that they are always free of charge.These budding Alfas are not only expected to teach, but also to play the role of custodian for their pupils.In some cases, the Alfa would take the responsibility of feeding and clothing the pupils, who are left with them at the request of their parents.Some parents may not even bother to pay a visit to their children in a year round, leaving their fate at the hand of their teachers.While this addresses the religious needs of the community, it leaves the question on the survival of the Alfas unanswered.Whether they impose a meagre fee on the pupils (usually in modern modrasahs) or not (as it is the case in mokondoros'), whatever they eked out is barely enough to live on.
Thus, since all the effort to improve their living through their establishments had proved futile, these religious teachers are left with no option except to have recourse to Jalabi.

Economic factor
The economic factor that contributed to the rise of the Yoruba ÑUlamÉ in Jalabi practice is not unconnected with the embarrassing failure of the Nigerian government in administering fair and even distribution of the nation's wealth among all its people.However, in the context of the present study, it is an offshoot of the educational factor.When the graduates of the Madrasah system, are not equipped with any other skills that may serve as an alternative source of income and the certificate awarded to them are not recognized by the government, they would therefore devise a means for their survival.
Additionally, the time spent at Ile kewu, which is quite longer than the one spent by those who attend government schools, could not afford them the opportunity to try out other profitable vocations.Where they are intent to do so, they would definitely forsake being apprenticed to their age group.In order to survive and at the same time discharge their religious duties, they are compelled to take to teaching.Frankly speaking, this type of teaching job does not have any stake for them, as it could only provide them the opportunity to subsist on the donation, either from the community or from the parents of their pupils.
On the other hand, it is considered a taboo from the Mokondoro point of view that its graduate be employed under the government or elsewhere.They do not look out for jobs, as they have been considered, upon their graduation, as ÑUlamÉ qualified to set up their learning centers, give social and religious consultation, engage in healing practice and preside over any religious gathering.They never take any salary or collect any fees from their students; instead they spend on them having complete reliance on Allah. 1 This principle features in their popular poem which runs thus: The above poem shows how detestable is the idea of being employed by the government to any member of the Mokondoros, to the point that they have to make special supplication in that regard. 2 In an occasion where one of the members built a house, or bought a car, etc. they demonstrate the sufficiency of their kewu (Islamic education), and the fact that it is Allah that provides for them, in the following poem: Omo ko lagbe fi sose Omo ko lagbe fi sose Kewu ti ake losi ogbodota Omo ko lagbe fi sose

Translation
We do not use the kids for money ritual On the contrary, it is our kewu that defies poverty It will become apparent that Jalabi, to these Alfa, should not only be practiced for humanitarian purpose, but also as a means for their survival.

Social factor
In Yorubaland the clerical work means more than what has been mentioned so far.The ÑUlamÉ' are believed to possess super natural power and have knowledge by which they can allegedgly see into the future.They could cause the rain to fall during a drought, make the rulers win their wars, offer special prayer for protection against witchcraft, etc. 1 On this basis, people from different walks of life and diverse religious backgrounds patronize them for spiritual consultation.They come to them for issues ranging from health to a more complex and rather personal, and are entertained with prayers (wherever it is appropriate), charms, amulet, sand-cutting, and so on.From this perspective, their job looks so similar to that of bablawo.
In the practice of Jalabi, the ÑUlamÉ' do virtually everything that the babalawo does, to such an extent that one may hardly find any difference between the un-Islamic local tradition and Islam.However, to them, this is justified, as they see it as a means to not only gain the confidence and patronage of their clientele, but a way to prove to the Muslims that every problem can be managed within the fold of Islam.
If at all the the ÑUlamÉ' forsake practising Jalabi, it would create a vacuum that might be filled with babalawo and evangelists of salvation.In Yorubaland today there is hardly a Muslim who has never experienced Jalabi in one way or the other, which demonstrates its steady growing influence.It has become a popular industry offering services which people from every walk of life are willing to pay for.This suffices to endear Jalabi practice to many ÑUlamÉ', who do not have sufficient and regular income.Regrettably, due to its alluring prospect, many unprofessional and amateur young Alfas (and even sometimes non-Alfa), having stumbled on some records detailing the use of herbs with verses of the Quran, greedily forced themselves into the system. 2 While the elderly among the ÑUlamÉ' still live below poverty line, these set of people, with their unorthodox method of operation, lead a luxurious and flamboyant lifestyle.

Jalabi as Syncretism
The term syncretism, or otherwise known as eclecticism, whose equivalence in Arabic is al-TakhlÊÏ, denotes the merger, combination or the alliance of different, often seemingly opposing, religious or philosophical beliefs, thereby creating a linkage between orientations that are intrinsically disparate. 3Syncretism hinges on the assumption that the people practicing it have inappropriately and chaotically mixed what are essentially alien to each other.While the term is occasionally used to delineate the mixing of sectarian positions, like the fusion of different theology within the same religion, as is the case with Shiite and Sunni theologies, it is more often than not associated with inter-religious encounters, such as Catholicism and Voodoo in New Orleans, 4 Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism in the Mughal empire at the time of its emperor, Akbar (1506 C.E).
As far as Jalabi is concerned, there is no gainsaying the fact that it has been practiced in different ways employing different approaches, some of which are claimed to be Islamic while others are typical of Yoruba tradition.On this basis, the method employed could be classified into two categories: Jalabi with Divine method, Jalabi with a mixed method.

Divine Method
Unlike what is accustomed to by the early generation of Islam, Yoruba ÑUlamÉ applied the Divine method in a wider and diverse manner.Perhaps what gives this diverse application its basis is the flexible and open-ended nature of this category, which is grounded in both the Quran and the Sunnah.In the Quran Allah says: Indeed We send down of the Quran that which is healing and mercy for the believers… 1 In his al-LubÉb fÊ ÑUlËm al-KitÉb, al-NuÑmÉnÊ stresses that the Quran in its entirety is a cure for those who believe in it.It cures spiritual diseases (both of bad ideology and morally condemnable acts) and physical diseases if one seeks the blessing of Allah through its recitation. 2 This interpretation is agreed upon by all Quranic exegetes without any difference of opinion as to whether the shifÉ' (cure) mentioned in the above verse is used in its real sense or figuratively. 3In another verse, Allah says: And if there was any Quran by which the mountains would be removed or the earth would be broken apart or the dead would be made to speak, (it would be this Quran), but to Allah belongs the affair entirely… 4 The above verse is a conditional sentence (al-Jumlah al-SharÏiyyah) which consists of two clauses; a conditional clause specifying a hypothesis and a consequence clause indicating what follows from that condition.However, in this verse, a conditional clause is stated while the consequence clause is omitted.According to the Quran exegetes, the omission of the latter occurs for different reasons, but in the current context it emphasizes how mighty is the power inherent in the recitation of the Quran, the extent of which is left to our unending imagination.The presumed consequence clause could therefore be lakÉna hÉzÉ Qur'Én (it would be this Quran). 5e Yoruba ÑUlamÉ' find strength in this verse and the presumed consequence clause to embark on healing practices using verses of Quran in different ways that have never occurred to the early generations of Islam.They believe that if the recitation of the Quran is so powerful that it could be used to remove a mighty mountain or break the earth apart, could not it then be used against black magic or for healing from irremediable diseases? 6reover, there is a prophetic tradition narrated by Imam AÍmad on the authority of ÑAbdullah bin MasÑËd that the Prophet said while teaching them al-Tashahhud: "… then let everyone chooses the supplication that interests him and supplicates Allah with it".This Sunnah has given a complete freedom and authority to Muslims to choose whichever DuÑÉ they like to supplicate Allah with. 7While al-ma'thËrÉt (supplications from Quran and sunnah) remains the best option, 8 it is sunnatic that a Muslim chooses for himself a DuÑÉ that is good as long as it does not involve any shirk.
On this basis, healing with divine method has been practiced in different ways, some of which are truly divine while others are not but a travesty of divine.Common Jalabi practices with divine method are: the recitation of the whole Quran or certain selected suras or verses, writing of the whole Quran or some selected verses on a slate, mirror, cloth, paper or other clean objects, the recitation and writing of Allah's names (both known and unknown), and those of the Angels, and Jinns, the codification of all the above mentioned in a talismanic way known as Khatim (katimi) to complement the above methods in order to give an effective result.
Various ways of using the Quran in this category had been found in some personal collections consulted during the fieldwork in Lagos, Oyo, kwara, Osun and Ogun states.Documents in forms of manuscript in Arabic, Ajami and Yoruba formats retrieved from these personal collections are so large in quantity but not organized.Many of them are not dated neither do they bear the names of their authors, perhaps due to the oral method of its transmission from one person to another.Where a name is mentioned,, it would not be that of the author, but rather of the one from whom the nakali was obtained.This appears to be just a sign of acknowledgement.
Interestingly, there is sufficient evidence to assume that many of these manuscripts could have been written about a century ago or even earlier.The frequent mentioning of the words sultan, horse and slave in these documents1 suggests that they had been written as early as the era of Islamic emirates in this part of the world.The nearest one that comes to mind is non-other than the Sokoto and Ilorin emirates, where the title 'sultan' is used solely to address the supreme leaders of these Islamic states.The contexts in which the term sultan appeared typified the time when Sultans became indispensible, at whose mercy were all the subjects.In this kind of situation, what people would ever hope for is how to get closer to the court of the Sultan by all means, a fact which explains the proliferation of magical practices and fetishism.This assumption is supported by the many attempts to win the affection of the Sultan or to gain his favor through different kinds of supplications and talismanic applications recurred in those documents.
It is noteworthy to add here that the recurrent themes of all the manuscripts at hand, having been thoroughly scrutinized, falls mainly into three categories; wealth and prosperity (jalb al-Rizq), love (Jalb al-MaÍabbah) and protection (jalb al-×ifÐ).But this does not mean that the manuscripts deal exclusively with these three themes.Quite on the contrary, there are tens of problems addressed therein ranging from a mild issue of 'memory boosting' to a complex issue of killing one's adversary.

Traditional and Mixed Methods
Regarding the traditional and mixed methods, there are ample evidences to argue that many of them do not fall within the parameter of the SharÊÑah.There is nothing wrong in the pure traditional method, as it is equivalent to the natural method practiced and approved by the Prophet.The traditional medicine may also be referred to as folk, complementary or indigenous medicine.All these terms are often used interchangeably, but sometimes due to certain overtone that one may want to highlight one particular term would be preferred.
According to the definition of the World Health Organization, this medicine is " the sum total of the knowledge and skills and practices based on the theories, beliefs and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicable or not, used in the maintenance of health, as well as in the prevention, diagnoses, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. 2 The above definition highlights the general nature and development over generations of the traditional medicine and its diverse practices across human cultures.
In many places in the developing world, particularly in Africa, an overwhelming majority of the people still relies on traditional medicine for their health needs.The traditional medicine that is peculiar to the Africans involves, but not limited to, charm, amulets, ritualistic incantations or the use of animal (or human) part, minerals and crude plant materials, such as leaves, fruits, roots, seeds, stems, bark or other plant parts, which may be ground up to small particles or powder and subsequently steamed or steeped, or entirely burned to black substances.The common herbal preparation with animal or human organ involves grinding and mixing with other herbs, or roasting or burning to black substance, which may later be mixed with palm oil or the Yoruba traditional corn starch porridge (ogi/eko).
The general principle guiding the use of the traditional medicine in Islam is not based on the practice of one particular culture or nation, as wrongly perceived by some Yoruba Muslims, who stubbornly preach against the use of the Yoruba traditional medicine in favour of the Arabs folk's medicine.It is important to point out that the use of herbs to treat any kind of diseases is a common phenomenon among the people of different races, and that both its documentation and usage form central part of their medical scholarship.In the case of the Arabs, for example, Ibn Khaldun, in his famous Muqaddimah, observes that the pre-Islamic Arabs used herbs and plants for medical purposes, mainly based on individual experiences as handed down by the shaykhs and old women of the tribe. 1 He also mentioned one famous Arab medical expert, called al-×Érith ibn Kalada, and his sojourn in Jundishapur near Ahwaz in Iran to seek more knowledge of herbal medicine in the pre-Islamic period. 2 Apart from herbs, the traditional medicine also involves the use of charm, talisman, amulets and spells, as the people believe in supernatural forces, such as evil spirit, witchcraft and so on.Thus, they seek traditional medicine to repel evils and shield themselves against any imminent danger of supernatural origin.
Islam deplores all such rituals of seeking refuge from evil spirit and considers it as a sort of polytheism, which Allah will not pardon until one repudiates all his polytheistic acts and return to the true faith. 3 the Yorubaland today, the majority of the ÑUlamÉ' believe in these two types of healing methods and practice them on daily basis.They do not seem to see them as contravening with the principle of Islam; instead they adamantly defend them, and would be ready to fight to their last breath with anyone who criticizes them.These idolatry practices, no wonder, have defiled the pristine Islamic teachings and principles, and have created confusion in the mind of the generality of the Yoruba Muslims.People do not seem to know what constitute Islam anymore, because of the accommodating method of the ÑUlamÉ' to all the un-Islamic practices in the society.

Conclusion
It has been deliberated upon throughout the foregoing pages that Jalabi is an extant historical phenomenon with a strong connection to the coming of Islam.It was used as a mechanism to condition the mind of the Yoruba animists to accept Islam and thereafter consolidate their faith after they have embraced Islam.Its origin remains shrouded with mystery, as no specific date could be assigned to its inception.All we may say, based on the available resources, is not more than its companionship with Islam during the latter's infiltration into Yorubaland.Its impacts on the lives of the Yoruba are immeasurable, as the phenomenon has become an important fabric of their society that could neither be abolished nor possibly forsaken.Admittedly, it has been hijacked and utterly abused by certain quarters among the Ulama out of covetousness and greediness, which has eventually plunged the practice of Jalabi into syncretism, an act that is outrightly condemned in Islam as being in direct conflict with its fundamentals.Nevertheless, this does not by any means render its essence un-Islamic.It is therefore a matter of necessity to sift the practice from what has been associated with it based on strict Islamic principles.

1
The full title is DalÉ'l al-KhayrÉt Wa ShawÉriq al-AnwÉr fÊ dhikr al-ØolÉt ala al-Nabi al-MukhtÉr (rendered in English as the Waymarks of Benefits and the Brilliant Burst of Sunshine in the Remembrance of Blessings on the Chosen Prophet).It is a famous collection of prayers for the Prophet Muhammad, which was written by the Moroccan Sufi and Islamic scholar Muhammad al-Jazuli (died 1465).It is popular in many parts of the Islamic world, most especially West Africa, and is divided into sections for daily recitation.The Dala'il al-Khayrat is one of the most popular and universally acclaimed collection of SalawÉt.Among some Sunni religious orders, most notably the Shadhili-Jazuli order, its recitation is a daily practice.In others, however, its recitation is a purely voluntary daily practice.The work begins with the ninety nine names of God, and then a collection of over one hundred names of Muhammad.There are five ways to read DalÉ'l al-KhayrÉt: 1-all together in one sitting, 2-in two halves divided over two days, 3-in three third over three days, 4-in four quarters over four days, 5-in eight sections (called hizb) over one week.It is traditional to begin the recitation of DalÉ'l al-KhayrÉt with the AsmÉ' al-×usnÉ and the name of the Prophet (S.A.W).See: al-JazËlÊ, MuÍammad b.SulaymÉn, DalÉ'l al-KhayrÉt Wa ShawÉriq al-AnwÉr fÊ dhikr al-ØolÉt Ala al-Nabi al-MukhtÉr , edited by Sheikh Abdul Kerim al-Kibrisi.Trans.S. Ahmad Darwish.p. 18. www.naksibendi.org(retrieved 20 January, 2014).
wa beluwa eyin baba Kewu wa tiake ni wajuu yin Kama mosi kasi remi gigun lo Kama fi lawani serusin Ijoba Translation Pray for us o' you our teachers That our study under you Should make us prosper and elongate our lives and keep us away from being government servants.