Faith-Based Peace Making and Dispute Resolution Mechanism: The Example of the Independent Shari’ah Panels in Yorubaland

The fact that man cannot live in isolation explains why disputes are inevitable in any human society. Indeed, every human interaction is liable to disputes. It is, therefore, not strange to have dispute among friends, families, towns and countries. However, the inevitability of dispute in any society suggests also the inevitability of settling dispute by a neutral party intervening between the disputants for the purpose of settling the dispute or misunderstanding. The absence of this can lead to break down of law and order in the society. In Africa, ever before the advent of the colonialists, some traditional measures were in place to ensure peaceful co-existence and harmonious living among them. Where there were conflicts, there were processes of settling them. With the introduction of Islam to Yorubaland, Muslims shifted their attention to “ulamā” (Muslim scholars and jurists) who assumed the responsibility of making peace and settling disputes. This paper looks at the recent and more organized efforts of the Independent Shari’ah Panels in Yorubaland at settling different disputes amongst Muslims with the refusal of their state governments to yield to their request for establishing Shari’ah courts. The paper concludes that with the high patronage of the Panels and the achievements made so far, the call for Shari’ah courts where criminal cases will be adjudicated is justified and that Islam can be practiced in all circumstances not minding the disposition of the government.