Zaria-based Islamic scholar Sheikh Muhammad Awwal Adam Albani has identified the acquisition of western formal education as "a necessity for all Muslims". Sheikh Albani claimed the Muslim world requires technological development in order to face current challenges.
"My belief is that Muslims must engage in the acquisition of western education known as 'Boko'. If we can have youths that have mastered the jurisprudence of Islam, who are as well vast in western education, it is likely that in the future we would have leaders that would imbibe the fear of Allah in everything they do.
"It is this belief that made me to now go back to school to pursue my M.Sc. in Electrical and Electronic Engineering. I am doing this because I know that Islam needs this education that I am pursuing. For me, this is why Boko is compulsory on all Muslims.
"We have good example in the present leadership of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where combination of Boko and Islamic education led to the emergence of good leaders. We now have a unique situation in ABU where the university is being driven by people who have the combination of Islamic and western education, and we are witnessing a significant change in the administration and development of the university. This is what Nigeria needs; leaders with fear of Allah," Sheikh Albani says.
