By Ibrahim Kegbegbe
Islam, a religion built on peace, knowledge, and discipline, has suffered numerous misrepresentations over the years—often at the hands of those who claim to be its scholars. In the South West and parts of the North Central region, like Kwara State, Nigeria, a disturbing trend has emerged: self-proclaimed Alfas, who should be guiding the Muslim ummah, have turned social media into a battlefield of insults, curses, and public ridicule. Instead of using their platforms for enlightenment, they engage in bitter feuds, with younger clerics openly disrespecting their elders while veterans respond in kind. This disgraceful display has left many Nigerian Muslims deeply ashamed.
Let one thing be clear: these individuals are not staining Islam—Islam remains untarnished by their ignorance. Instead, they are exposing themselves as extremists, fanatics, and religious nuisances. Their actions do not harm the purity of Islam; rather, they reveal their own lack of wisdom, self-restraint, and true Islamic understanding.
Social Media: A Platform for Guidance or a Stage for Shame?
In the past, the role of an Alfa was to educate, mediate, and provide moral leadership. Today, however, many South West Alfas have abandoned this sacred duty, choosing instead to engage in public quarrels that reduce their titles to mere labels.
Facebook, TikTok, and YouTube are now flooded with videos of Alfas trading insults, accusing one another of fraud, and even cursing each other’s families—all in a desperate bid for religious dominance. These so-called clerics, who should embody patience and wisdom, have become loud, boastful, and petty, using Islam as a cover for their personal vendettas. Even more disturbing is that their followers, rather than reprimanding them, cheer them on like spectators at a wrestling match.
Young Alfas vs. Veteran Alfas: A Battle Without Honor
The rise of social media clerics has brought with it an unprecedented level of disrespect. Instead of learning from their elders, many young Alfas now openly challenge and insult them, questioning their knowledge and ridiculing their teachings. In a bid to stay relevant, some veteran Alfas—rather than upholding their dignity—have stooped to the same level, exchanging harsh words like market traders fighting over customers.
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) emphasized the importance of respecting elders and seeking knowledge with humility. Yet, these so-called scholars have discarded this fundamental principle, engaging in public disgrace that makes non-Muslims question the moral integrity of Islamic leadership in Nigeria.
The Real Damage: Self-Destruction, Not Islam’s Destruction
Let it be reiterated: these Alfas are not damaging Islam—they are damaging themselves. Islam will remain a beacon of knowledge and morality, unaffected by their reckless words and shameful actions. However, the damage they are inflicting upon their personal reputations and the legacy of Yoruba Islamic scholarship is immense.
For generations, the Yoruba Muslim community has produced scholars renowned for their wisdom, eloquence, and commitment to intellectual discourse. The likes of Sheikh Adam Abdullahi Al-Ilory and Sheikh Kamaldeen Al-Adabiy built legacies rooted in respect and scholarship. Today’s social media Alfas, however, are turning that legacy into a laughingstock. Their crude behaviour does not reflect the rich history of Islamic scholarship in South West Nigeria; rather, it exposes their own pettiness, hunger for social media attention and lack of discipline.
A Call to the Silent Majority: Speak Up!
The real tragedy is not just that these Alfas are embarrassing themselves—it is that many Nigerian Muslims remain silent, shaking their heads in private but refusing to publicly condemn this disgrace. The silence of the learned only amplifies the voices of the ignorant. If respected scholars, elders, and Muslim leaders in South West Nigeria do not intervene to restore sanity, this undignified behaviour will continue unchecked. Worse still, it will give Islam’s enemies more ammunition to paint Nigerian Muslims as extremists and unserious individuals.
We must remind these so-called clerics that they were not called to Islam for entertainment. The privilege of knowledge is not a license for online brawls. They must either return to the path of righteousness or risk being remembered not as religious scholars but as jesters who disgraced themselves in the name of Islam.
A Choice Between Dignity and Disgrace
To the Alfas engaged in these online battles: you are not harming Islam—you are harming yourselves. Your behaviour does not reflect the religion you claim to represent; it reflects your personal flaws, lack of self-control, and desperation for relevance.
You have a choice. You can return to the noble path of knowledge, guidance, and moral leadership. Or you can continue down this road of self-destruction, where history will remember you not as scholars but as entertainers who traded dignity for digital likes.
The choice is yours.
