The usual saying that the intricacies of existence are embedded in the history and biographies attached to people and personalities is an acknowledged reality in the world of literary inundation and development.

Thus, we took a journey into the lifetime of a scholar of repute, once christened as “The Pinnacle of Faith”, Sheikh Daud Alfanla AbdulMajeed Eleha, the proprietor of Markaz Nurul Islam, Isale Oja, Agege, Lagos.

Sheikh Daud Alfanla’s history is well known to those who have had the opportunity to have interactions with him up till this moment.

Sheikh Daud eulogised popularly as “Al- Gbedewy” in reference to his town of birth, Gbede town, in Oyo State, is a native of Ilorin, Kwara State. His genealogy can be traced to the popular Ibadi-ori compound, Pakata, Ilorin Kwara State. Sheikh Daud was christened  with the nickname “Alfanla” at birth, and his father Sheikh Abdul-Majeed Muhammad Thani Adejumo Eleha, predicted that the child will go on to attest to his nickname in the future.

The young Sheikh Daud Alfanla began his academic journey under the tutelage of Sheikh Musa Jirjis Akalambi at Shamsudeen College of Arabic and Islamic Studies, Ilorin. He was able to garner knowledge in both Arabic and Western knowledge over the years whilst he was a student in the college.

The young Alfanla then proceeded to enrol at Markaz Ta’limil Arrobiy Al islamiy, under the auspices of the great Arabic historian, and Islamic Scholar of repute, sheikh Adam Abdullah Al Iloriy after his graduation from Shamsudeen college in 1971.

As we all know, there are no rosy stories without some form of blemishes, the young Alfanla was forced to abandon his studies at Markaz in the year 1972, due to circumstances beyond his control, and some financial constraints.

Due to his zest for knowledge and his determination to furthering his studies, the young Alfanla took up various menial jobs, in a bid to make ends meet and increase his financial fortune to be able to return to Markaz.

He also used the opportunity to teach children in his Isale-Oja abode in the evenings, Arabic and Islamic Studies, when he returns from his job. He continued on this trajectory for about three years between 1972 to 1974 until he was able to return to Markaz to further his studies with the aid of Sheikh Hassan Abdullah, who he met at the Muslim Welfare Association, at Agege.

Sheikh Daud Alfanla’s meeting with Sheikh Hassan became a turning point in his academic sojourn, as he was able to return to his studies and further his teaching of Arabic and Islamic studies, which led to the establishment of Markaz Nurul Islam lita’limil Arrobiy Al Islamiy.