Welcome to our website, in this page, we are going to provide you with the brief biography of Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Kabara.

Who is Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Kabara?

Sheikh Nasiru Muhammad Al-Mukhtar Kabara was born in 1912 in Guringawa, Kumbotso Local Government Area of Kano State, Nigeria.

His lineage traces back to the town of Kabara in Timbuktu, present-day Mali.

His great-grandfather, Mallam Umar (Omar), migrated from Kabara in Timbuktu to Kano, Nigeria.

Mallam Umar first settled in Adakawa, Dala Local Government, before moving to what is now known as Unguwar Kabara in the city of Kano — the neighborhood which took its name from him.

In 1787, when Mallam Umar arrived in Kabara, Kano, he turned his home into a learning center, which later evolved into a great institution of Islamic scholarship and worship known today as Darul-Qadiriyya, one of the oldest centers of learning in Kano.

Sheikh Nasiru Muhammad Kabara grew up as a passionate and diligent student.

He began his studies with Qur’anic recitation under Mallam Muhammadu Gajere of Unguwar Lagwanawa, within the old city of Kano, where he completed the memorization of the Qur’an at the age of nine.

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After that, he proceeded to study classical Islamic texts in various religious disciplines, starting with Bad’ul Amali and Murshid, both foundational books on Islamic creed (Tauhid).

He then advanced to jurisprudence (Fiqh), beginning with Ahlari, Iziyya, and Risala, as is customary in the Maliki school of thought.

His dedication and brilliance earned him special recognition from his uncle and teacher, Mallam Ibrahim Natsugunne, who supported him immensely. Sheikh Nasiru’s exceptional understanding even made him a reference among his peers, explaining to them the meanings of the Qur’an.

By the 1920s, he had become deeply involved in Kano’s major centers of learning — institutions equivalent to modern preparatory colleges. Among these were:

1. The house of the Deputy Chief Imam at Unguwar Daneji.

2. The residence of Mallam Ibrahim, the Chief Judge of Kano, at Yakasai.

3. The home of Alhaji Mustafa Kurawa, Judge of Bichi, at Unguwar Kurawa.

4. The house of Mallam Abdulkarim (popularly known as Mallam Sambo) at Unguwar Ciromawa.

5. The home of Mallam Inuwa, the Chief Imam of Zawiyya, at Unguwar Mayanka.

Sheikh Nasiru stood out through humility and respect for his teachers, always seeking deeper understanding — a quality that made his teachers warmly welcome him anytime he needed guidance.

His Entrance into the Qadiriyya Order

It is by the will of Allah, the Owner of all affairs, that Sheikh Nasiru Kabara became the key instrument in spreading and elevating the Qadiriyya Sufi Order across Africa.

In 1937, during a massive initiation wave into Qadiriyya in Kano, Sheikh Nasiru, then just 17 years old, joined the order.

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His uncle, Mallam Ibrahim Natsugunne, wanted him to be part of it, and despite his young age, Sheikh Sa’ad granted him the Wazifa (daily devotional practice), which was normally not given to youths.

That same year, when the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero, was preparing for pilgrimage (Hajj), Sheikh Nasiru sent a letter through Wali Sulaiman to Sheikh Abu al-Hassan as-Samman, the Qadiriyya Khalifa of the time and descendant of the founder of the Sammaniyya branch.

In the letter, Sheikh Nasiru humbly requested permission to become the representative (Muqaddam) of the order in Kano.

Sheikh Abu al-Hassan was amazed by such a bold and rare request from a young scholar, and he immediately responded by sending Sheikh Nasiru a jubba (robe), a cap, and a written certificate officially appointing him as a Muqaddam of the Qadiriyya Sammaniyya.

In 1949, Sheikh Nasiru performed the pilgrimage himself and met with renowned scholars and Qadiriyya leaders such as Sheikh Hashim and Sheikh Muhammad from Mauritania.

On his way back, he stopped in Sudan, where he met Sayyid Sheikh Muhammad al-Fatih, son of Sheikh Karibullah — head of the Sammaniyya Order in Sudan — from whom he received a second authorization as Muqaddam of the Sammaniyya-Qaribiyya branch.

Earlier, Sheikh Nasiru had already received his original Ijazah (spiritual authorization) in the Qadiriyya Kuntiyya and Ahl al-Dar branches from Mallam Ibrahim Natsugunne (1867–1941).

Between 1935 and 1955, Sheikh Nasiru visited major Qadiriyya centers in Khartoum (Sudan), Timbuktu (Mali), and Baghdad (Iraq) — the cradle of Qadiriyya. His visit to Baghdad in 1953 marked a turning point in his life, leading to the establishment of his own Qadiriyya mosque and headquarters in Kano.

By 1958, all Qadiriyya centers in Nigeria and beyond had come under his leadership.

His Contributions to the religion of Islam.

Sheikh Nasiru Kabara devoted his life to the propagation of Islam and the Qadiriyya Order. His efforts in teaching, preaching, and writing remain unmatched.

He was the first scholar to organize the Mawlud (celebration of the birth) of the founder of Qadiriyya, Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, in Kano in 1949.

He also popularized the Zikr Bandiri (drum chant) across Nigerian regions.

He travelled throughout Nigeria, establishing Qadiriyya mosques and appointing representatives across the nation.

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His Positions and Achievements.

Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Kabara secured the Head of the Qadiriyya Sammaniyya Order (1937 – 1996)

Member of the Emir of Kano’s Advisory Council (1949)

Islamic Legal Adviser to the Northern Nigerian Sharia Court (1954)

Qur’anic commentator at the Kano Emir’s Palace (1954–1996)

Head of Shahuci School of Law and Library (1958)

Founder of Ma’ahaduddeen Islamic Primary School, Gwale (1958)

Adviser to Emir Alhaji (Dr.) Ado Bayero (1963)

Member, Kaduna Council of Ulama (1963)

His Writings and Students.

Sheikh Nasiru authored over 300 books, including his renowned Tafsir al-Qur’an titled Ihsanul Mannani.
Among his notable students were Sheikh Yusuf Makwarari, Sheikh Ibrahim Mai Garaje, Sheikh Abubakar Ramadan (Tudun Nufawa), Sheikh Ali Kumashi, Sheikh Muhammad Atamma Fagge, Sheikh Abubakar Gumi, and Sheikh Idris Kuliya (Chief Imam of Kano).

Allah blessed him with many children, all of whom became scholars.

His sons includes the following:

Sheikh Ibrahim Mu’azzam, Khalifa Karibullahi, Sheikh Musal Qasiyuni, Sheikh Alkali Mustafa (Sarkin Zikiri), Sheikh Aliyulkhauwas, Sheikh AbdulGaffar (Fatiya), Sheikh Abduljabbar (Sarkin Gida), Sheikh Jabirul Ansari, Sheikh Askiya, Sheikh Bazullahi, Major Yahaya, Sheikh Abu-Rumana, Sheikh Dr. Abdussalam Lasmar, and Sheikh Ya’azza.

Sheikh Nasiru Muhammad Kabara’s blessed life left a legacy that continues to flourish through his institutions and descendants. His noble soul returned to Allah on 21st Jumada al-Awwal, 1417 AH, corresponding to October 4, 1996.

This is the brief biography of Sheikh Muhammad Nasiru Kabara.

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