Quranic Evidences and Historical Phenomena in Selected Works of Shaykh Adam Abdullah al-Ilory (1917–1992): An Analytical Study

The Qur’an is not limited to expounding legal rulings, but also holds historical knowledge of the earlier nations that provide valuable insights into the development of human civilization. Over the centuries, scholars, especially the Islamic historiographers, have depended on the qur’anic evidences for the historical insights that aid their understanding of past events and their significances. Shaykh Adam Abdullah al-Ilory (1917-1992), being a prominent Islamic scholar and historian in the Yoruba and beyond, relied extensively on the Qur’an to enrich his historical research and get a more comprehensive understanding of human history. It is, therefore, the interest of this study to analyse and evaluate the concept of Quranic evidences and their relevance in the context of historical study in the work of Shaykh Adam. Two of his books were selected for this purpose, which were: (I) Aṣlu Qabāil Yūrubā wa al-Qabāil al-Mujāwarah fī Naijaria, (II) Nasīmu al-Sabā fi Ahabār al-Isalām wa ‘Ulamā’ Bilādi Yūrubā. The paper adopted a descriptive analytical and inductive approach by collecting and analysing the Quranic evidences in the texts. Findings revealed that the Qur’an is not a conventional historical book; rather, it presented historically grounded narratives with enduring ethical, spiritual, and social significance. The study concluded that using the Quranic evidences properly required a deep knowledge of the Arabic language, occasion of revelation (asbāb nuzūl), classical tafsīr, and historical context.