Anbariya Sunni Community outdoors third leader
TAMALE: The Anbariya Sunni Community has formally outdoored Sheikh Tanko Abubakari Ishaq as its new leader, with a pledge to strengthen Islamic education, promote unity among Muslims and expand opportunities for young people.
Sheikh Ishaq made the pledge in his maiden speech at his investiture ceremony on Saturday, October 10, where he outlined his vision for the community’s educational development, social responsibility and contribution to national development.
He succeeds the late Sheikh Saeed Abubakari Zakaria, who led the community for 19 years until his death in September.
The ceremony was attended by Haruna Iddrisu, Minister of Education; Mohammed Muntaka Mubarak, Minister for the Interior; and Alhassan Suhiyini, Deputy Minister for Roads and Highways, as well as traditional authorities, Islamic scholars and other dignitaries.
Sheikh Iddrisu Abdul Hamid was named the Deputy Leader, while Sheikh Abdul Razak Umar Haruna serves as Special Advisor to the leadership.
Sheikh Ishaq described his appointment as a responsibility rather than a personal achievement, saying leadership in Islam was an ‘amanah’, or trust, for which those entrusted with authority would be held accountable.
“I therefore accept this leadership with humility, with fear of Allah and with a sincere prayer that Allah will guide me to discharge this trust faithfully,” he said.
He pledged to place the welfare of the community above personal interests and to lead with humility, justice and consultation.
One of his key priorities, he said, was education, stressing that the future of Anbariya depended on developing people rather than concentrating solely on physical infrastructure.
“The future of Anbariya will not be secured merely by the buildings we construct. It will be secured by the people we educate,” he said.
He called for the strengthening of Qur’anic and Arabic education alongside professional training in science, technology, medicine, engineering, business, law and communication.
The leader said young Muslims needed both sound religious education and the professional skills required to succeed in the modern world.
He added that the community must produce young people who were “knowledgeable without arrogance, successful without greed, religious without intolerance and patriotic without compromising their faith.”
Addressing the youth, Sheikh Ishaq urged them to acquire knowledge, develop their skills, respect their parents and teachers, and use technology responsibly.
He also cautioned them against drugs, violence and other destructive influences, warning that social media should not become a substitute for knowledge and wisdom.
He further urged young people not to allow disagreements with other Muslims to become a reason for hatred.
On unity, the new leader extended a hand of friendship to Muslim scholars, institutions, communities and organisations, calling for cooperation where possible and respectful dialogue where differences arose.
“Unity does not require us to be identical. It requires us to remain brothers and sisters despite our differences,” he said.
Sheikh Ishaq also called for greater opportunities for women and girls to acquire knowledge, develop their talents and contribute meaningfully to the community and society within Islamic principles.
He acknowledged the contributions of mothers, wives, female teachers and scholars, saying their roles in families, education and professional life were important to community development.
The leader appealed to the business community to support Anbariya’s educational institutions, provide scholarships, promote skills development and assist vulnerable families.
“Our schools need support. Our students need scholarships. Our young people need skills and opportunities. Our vulnerable families need assistance,” he said.
He urged businesses to view Anbariya not merely as a religious institution but as a partner in human development, calling for sustainable investment in education and community projects.
Sheikh Ishaq also reaffirmed the community’s commitment to peace and peaceful coexistence, saying it rejected hatred, violence and the abuse of religion to justify injustice.
“Anbariya must continue to be a voice for peace,” he said, adding that the community would encourage dialogue and coexistence with people of different faiths and backgrounds.
He pledged to work respectfully with traditional authorities, government institutions, educational authorities and security agencies whenever cooperation could promote peace, education and community development.
The new leader paid tribute to the late Sheikh Saeed Abubakari Zakaria, whose death created the circumstances for the leadership transition, and prayed for the preservation of his legacy.
He also acknowledged the contribution of Sheikh Yusuf Sualih Ajura, popularly known as Afa Ajura, whose work in Islamic preaching, scholarship and education laid the foundation for the Anbariya Sunni Community.
He said the community had a responsibility to strengthen that legacy and pass it on to future generations.
“The future of Anbariya cannot depend on one man. It must depend on all of us,” he said, calling on elders, scholars, teachers, youth, women, businesspeople and institutions to contribute to the community’s progress.
Sheikh Ishaq pledged to listen to counsel, encourage consultation, support education, promote unity and seek reconciliation whenever disagreements arose.
He urged members to correct him if he made mistakes, stressing that individual shortcomings should not become grounds for undermining the institution.
“Let us build rather than destroy. Let us unite rather than divide. Let us teach rather than condemn,” he said.
He concluded by calling for collective commitment to ensuring that Anbariya remained associated with knowledge, faith, character, peace and service to humanity.
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