Contested Authority and Intra-Muslim Sectarian Dynamics Between Izala and Tijaniyya in North West Nigeria

This dissertation investigates the contested religious authority and sectarian dynamics between the Jama'atu Izalatil Bid'ah Wa'ikamatis Sunnah (Izala) and the Tijaniyya Sufi order in North West Nigeria, examining the theological, social, political, and institutional dimensions of their ongoing competition and accommodation. The Izala-Tijaniyya contest represents the most significant intra-Muslim structural rivalry in Nigerian Islamic history, yet it has not been subjected to a comprehensive contemporary socio-theological analysis that accounts for its evolution in the digital age and post-Buhari political era. The study employs a multi-method qualitative research design combining discourse analysis of sermons, publications, and digital content produced by both movements, extended fieldwork in mosques, Islamic centres, and community spaces in Kano, Sokoto, and Zamfara, and interviews with 50 leaders and members from both groups. Data are analysed using religious authority theory, social movement analysis, and sectarian dynamics frameworks. Original contributions include a dynamic model of Nigerian intra-Muslim sectarian competition, the first systematic analysis of the digital sectarian conflict between Izala and Tijaniyya, and a theoretical account of how political patronage networks shape religious authority contestation in northern Nigeria. Findings reveal a shift from overt doctrinal polemics towards institutional and digital competition for membership, resources, and political influence. The dissertation recommends dialogue facilitation between movements and further empirical research on sectarian violence prevention. Keywords: Izala, Tijaniyya, sectarian dynamics, intra-Muslim rivalry, North West Nigeria.