Abstract: Belief constitutes a fundamental aspect
of human religious life and serves as a means through which individuals seek
spiritual fulfilment and worldly and eschatological benefits. Among the major
religious belief systems are Traditional Religion, Christianity, and Islam.
Within Yoruba Traditional Religion, beliefs surrounding the birth of twins
(Ibeji) have historically attracted considerable cultural and spiritual
significance. The problem addressed by this study is the persistence of the
twin myth among the Yoruba, particularly the belief that twins possess
supernatural powers capable of bringing either prosperity and joy or calamity,
depending on how they are treated or appeased. Despite the prevalence of this
belief, there is limited academic documentation examining the Yoruba twin myth
from an Islamic theological perspective. Therefore, this study aims to examine
the twin myth as a component of Yoruba spiritual belief and assess its veracity
from the perspective of Islamic theology. The study employed historical and
philosophical methods of research, using relevant Islamic theological sources
and available literature on Yoruba traditional beliefs to critically examine
the origin, development, and theological implications of the myth. The study
finds that the historical prevalence of the twin myth was largely influenced by
the rarity of twin births and the comparatively high mortality rate among
twins, which encouraged the development of supernatural explanations
surrounding their birth and survival. However, the advent of monotheistic
religions, particularly Islam, alongside advances in medical and scientific
knowledge, provides alternative explanations for twin births and mortality.
Scientifically, twins are products of multiple pregnancy, while their
historically high mortality was associated with factors such as premature birth
and inadequate medical facilities rather than supernatural forces. From an
Islamic theological perspective, Allah alone is the Creator, Sustainer, and
Self-Sufficient Being, and therefore no created being, including twin children,
can possess divine or supernatural powers independent of Him. The study
concludes that attributing divine or supernatural powers to twins contradicts
the Islamic doctrine of Tawḥīd (the Oneness of Allah) and may constitute shirk when such
powers are attributed to them independently of Allah. Belief in the absolute
unity and sovereignty of Allah remains the cornerstone of Islamic faith and the
foundation for attaining eternal bliss, which constitutes the ultimate goal of
human existence.
Keyword: Islam, Theology, Tradition, Belief, Twin
DOI: 10.36349/atij.2026.v02i01.018
author/Ali Miqdad Ali (Ph.D) & Abdulrauf Gbadebo Omotosho
journal/Al-Takamul IJ 2(1) | July 2026 |
