Fath-Baised Institutions and Human Development in Nigeria: The Kano State Hisbah Board in Focus

Abstract

The concern over moral decadence in the midst of the social context in Kano state, emphasizes the need for Hisbah institution. The function of Hisbah institution is to command people to good deeds and forbid them from evil deeds in the society. The institution is responsible for proper implementation of the Shariah, as well as the sociatal reorientation about the Hisbah operations and the negative impact of social vices to human development. The essence is to promote public morality in the state, which leads to developing human potentialities in many dimentions. Therefore, the objective of this paper is to examine the role of Hisbah in the areas of public morality and human development in Kano state. The paper argues that despite many constraints, which include conflict between Shari‟ah on one hand and secular constitution, laws and jurisdiction on the other, the institution records tremendous achievements in the areas of public morality, which have positive impact on the management of human development from the Islamic perspective. Hisbah plays a significant role in the abolition of prostitution, selling and consumption of alcohol and other intoxicants, which used to be prevalent in many parts of the state, and constitute major challenges to human development. These and other social vices constitute the source of moral decadence among youths thus, destroy their physical and spiritual potentialities, and render them unproductive. The study uses reports from published books, journals, as well as documentary and other statistical records from the Kano State Hisbah Board.

Key words: Hisbah; Shari‟ah; Human Developmen; Public Morality; Social Justice

DOI: 10.22583/ijwas.2016.08.01.08