Shehu Usman dan Fodio (1754 - 1817) Islamic reformer

Mairo

Maryama
:salam2:

Shaihu Usman dan Fodio (also referred to as Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio or Shehu Usman dan Fodio), 1754 - 1817, was a writer and Islamic reformer. He was a tremendous scholar and upholder of the Quran and Sunnah of the prophet, salla aleyhi was salaam. Many do not know about him and have never heard his story, so I wanted to share some of it with you. He is an excellent role model, and I have a personal debt of gratitude to him. I was fortunate enough to live in the land where he struggled to reform the practice of Islam, and I benefited greatly because of it.

An Interview on Uthman dan Fodio
***THE MUSLIM VOICE, SPECIAL***
An Interview with Dr. Abdullah Hakim Quick on his PhD on Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio.

by Shireen Ahmed.

"Uthman Ibn Fodio is probably the most influential Islamic scholar in the history of Islam in west Africa...", stated Sheikh Abdullah Hakim Quick who has recently acquired a PhD in - Aspects of Islamic Social Intellectual History in 18th century Hausaland: Uthman Ibn Fodio. This is the end of a nine year educational journey, which began with a Masters and gradually moved on to a PhD degree from the History Department of the University of Toronto, St. George Campus. "The whole experience for me has really been more than just a degree. I don't look at it like a PhD from the University of Toronto, although that is an achievement, but that is a minor thing for me. Whether I got the degree or not, it wouldn't really matter compared to what I got by going into the writings of the Sheikh (Uthman ibn Fodio)."

But what is it about this scholar that makes him worthy of study? Who is he and what exactly is significant about him? Questions such as these can be answered once an individual takes a moment to look into the life of this 18 century scholar, who is known as Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio in Arabic or Dan Fodio in Foulani (a West African) language. When asked why he had chosen this particular aspect of study, Abdullah Hakim answered that not only was Uthman Ibn Fodio most likely the most influential Islamic scholar in the history of Islam in west Africa (therefore influencing the people in Hausaland), but his teachings also spread throughout west Africa and even connected to Sudan itself. Even today, people continue to read his books. Abdullah Hakim also wanted to make the Sheikh's life and achievements in regard to Islam known, so that muslims could see how Islam grew in other parts of the world besides Southern Asia or the Middle East. As a background to his thesis paper, he examined the presence of Islam and the presence of scholarship coming into west Africa in general and into Hausaland. Hausa speaking people made up the largest proportion in west Africa, and they were a very influential group of people living in Hausaland, who were known for their merchant activities.

During this time period, it was a great time of revival when great changes were coming about in the intellectual thought within the muslim world. Places such as Timbuktu, now in the Mali Republic of Africa were considered to be great centres of Islamic learning, especially from the 12th century up into the 17th and 18th centuries. There are reports that when the Sahaba went across northern Africa, some of them went down into the desert into desert regions like Mali, Niger, southern Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Lake Chad area. This would account for the number of groups well-versed in Islam stemming from those areas. Abdullah Hakim further stated that the Timbuktu system of learning followed the Maliki school of thought. A major concept they used was the mulazama system. "The mulazama system is something which I think we really need to revive today, it was practiced all over muslim world. It is where the student, instead of studying in a classroom setting where in the western sense a teacher comes in and students are sitting in their chairs...you actually live with the teacher, so you become part of the clerical community & you may even marry into his family. He gets to know you and you stay in the company of a scholar working and living with that person until you master certain texts." Each scholar has their own specialty of a particular branch of knowledge (eg. Qur'an or Daw'ah) so that by the time one has reached their seventh or eighth sheikh, they are pretty well-rounded in each of the subjects. This is the classical way of islamic knowledge. Abdullah Hakim emphasized that when living with the sheikh you pick up his qualities and character as well, so that you are not just learning a set of theoretical rules. Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio studied within this system, which was also something Abdullah Hakim examined in his thesis.

Uthman ibn Fodio was one of the Foulani people, who were nomadic people who most likely originated from Senegal. They moved throughout west Africa, taking their cows to different pastures and using them for trading purposes sometimes. The Foulani people lived in a symbiotic relationship with the Hausa people, who were farmers and blacksmiths. Thus, the two groups traded their wares to survive. In the 18th century, the Foulanis developed a clerical group and this clerical group had a nomadic base while focusing on scholarship. The islamic body they formed, torodbe scholars (a Foulani word) continued to move throughout west Africa, and some of their scholars even went on to become leaders of the great jihad movements of the 18th century.

This was the actual movement that Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio gained his knowledge, through the mulazama method. The society at this time was not doing very well. A series of corrupt kings had developed, and Islamic ideals were indistinguishable from local superstitions and practices. There was also a great deal of overburdening people with taxes, government corruption, dynastic rules, oppression, tribalism, and heavy oppression of women.

Now picture Uthman dan Fodio entering into this picture. He was around old 20 years old when he began to teach the people, and he did daw'a for 30 years. Allah gave him the ability to express himself well at an early age, and he would move through different areas of Hausaland teaching in a number of different areas. He focused on giving the masses of the people basic islamic education, and he was well-versed in classical Arabic, Hausa, Foulani language, and Tuwadic language, which made him more capable of speaking to masses of people in their own language.

He espoused many different new islamic concepts to the people, which he taught them. He focused on basic islamic education: learning fiqh, learning tawheed, also understanding the life of the Prophet (pbuh) and the basic rudiments for a sound Islamic education, following the Maliki school of thought. Then he worked on the scholars of the time themselves, striving against extremism within them (i.e. taking extreme positions on tawheed, which dealt with heavy philosophy that people were not emphasizing - eg. "where is Allah?" & anyone who couldn't answer was declared a kafir by this group) Uthman ibn Fodio wrote a book showing them how their extremism was wrong.

He also taught that all madhabs (schools of law), were correct so that people should respect them and the people within each school. He also tried to rectify the position of Islamic scholarship with sufism. Actually, he was also considered to be a leading part of the Qadarwi Sufi order. Yet, at the same time he made it clear that anybody who went into tasawaf should only go into it for knowledge of the heart. Any whirling around, musical playing, or extremism that was not withing Shari'a he was against. His followers practiced a sober, individual type of Sufism that was more into heavy reflection. Anyone wishing to study sufism more in depth was told to know their fiqh first, so that they would recognize any sufi practices that crossed the Shari'a border.

Another area Sheikh ibn Fodio was strongly vocal in was women's education. During his time, there were either two extremes: women were either walking around in nothing but a waist-cloth, or on the other extreme they were locked into their houses against their will. They were all generally ignorant of Islam. What the sheikh did was he brought the women out of their houses, and put them in one area and the men in another area and began to regularly lecture them. However, the extremists of the time strongly disapproved. "They said 'fitna, you are mixing men and women!'", Abdullah Hakim explains, and even went on to a modern example: "The Muslim Students' Association (MSA) brings a question to me every year, 'Brother Abdulla, can we have brothers and sisters in the same room?' Every year. Every time there is new leadership in MSA they are asking the same question." The Sheikh answered these extremists by saying that they were not educating the women before, they were simply using them like a dish..eating out of it and then throwing it away, having no further use for it. He went on to say that he had brought these women out of their houses and was educating them, and they were covering themselves up. Men and women were always kept in separate areas, and because we were talking about people with high morals coming together to learn and practice Islam - there was no fitna there. He even used examples from the early days of men and women in the Prophet's mosque. The way men dressed was also addressed by the Sheikh, as he encouraged them to wear turbans and long, loose clothing. Thus, all his followers were readily distinguishable.

Another aspect that he educated the men about was taharah. Surprisingly enough, this Sheikh went into intimate details on various subjects like this one. Apparently at the time, the men had a harmful practice for their method of purification which the Sheikh stopped. Another personal issue he addressed was the relationship within a marital relationship, and how to strengthen the bond between these two people. He took it to the point where he actually spoke to people about the sexual relationship between a man and his wife, which one would usually not expect from someone talking about fiqh. But these were realistic things that he was doing for society. As stated in Abdullah Hakim's thesis, it is clear that Uthman dan Fodio was not only the jihad leader, but that he also affected the social-intellectual situation in Hausaland, as he radically changed the society. Sheikh dan Fodio has written a book called Yahya al-Sunnah which talks about bringing the sunnah to life again by going into points like these.

Female circumcision was another major social issue the Sheikh delved into. This practice was in the Sudan, Somalia and was going across to his country and he stopped people from doing it. He brought the hadith of the Prophet showing that only a little bit was allowed to be removed from the tip of the clitoris, but was by no means necessary as it wasn't really part of Islam. His argument against it, once again went into graphic details of how if men allowed this to happen then a woman would not be able to achieve her climax in a physical relationship, which would then cause their relationship to deteriorate. To have a more fulfilling relationship, they should allow her to retain what Allah gave her. This obviously was a heavy argument for the Sheikh to be making, especially in the 18th century!

"Uthman ibn Fodio went into common events people faced, for instance how to set up masjids, sunnah ways of eating food, describing the benefits of cleaning up your plate, eating with your right hand, washing your hands..all these different social benefits." He went through the sunnah and explained why they would benefit and the reasons behind these practices. Uthman ibn Fodio also spent a great deal of time concentrating on cleaning of the heart. So a number of his texts deal with rea, showing off, jealousy, arrogance, anger, and other general diseases of the heart which are so rampant today in the muslim world. "Basically, I was concluding that he was more than just a scholar, that he was a social reformer in his time and he's still relevant up until now." stated Abdullah Hakim.

Gradually, the number of Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio's follows grew, until he was at a point where whenever he travelled he took 1000 of his scholars with him. The kings became nervous because of the number of people he drew away from them. The Sheikh demanded that the laws be changed to become more islamic. Later he was attacked by order of the kings, and his group made hijrah, then made jihad and won despite their smaller numbers - thus establishing a khalifah. When the battle was won he stepped down from his Amir position, and went to a small village to teach until he died. This shows that the Sheikh wasn't into power, because he had just won the battle that would have given him ultimate control and yet he chose to step down.

His relevance up to today makes it conceivable for us to consider the types of lessons from him. "The issues he handled were actually very crucial to our own existence today." Abdullah Hakim pointed out. He went further to mention that many of his khutbahs that he gave at the Jami Mosque between 1985-1990, and many of the positions that he came to on various issues, were actually based on what he had discovered through reading the writings of the sheikh. "That is why the whole experience for me, has been more than an academic one. It has changed me as a person." He has even visited Nigeria and visited the sheikh's grave, and also visited his family. Even the fact that Sheikh Uthman don Fodio had special classes for women and children after Asr prayers, so that women would have a forum where she could ask for help from the Sheikh, inspired Abdullah Hakim "..that was one of the things that helped me even to develop this office here, ISSRA. There has to be a place where women can come and youth so they can express themselves. So that was one of the inspirations for me for some of the things we are doing here."

As students, we can all learn from Sheikh ibn Fodio's experiences. There are several points to note, for instance the importance of a sound islamic education (i.e. knowing the meaning of the Qur'an, basic fiqh, a broad-based education), avoiding extremism and having balance, believing in authentic traditions, and putting much less emphasize in culture and superstition - especially in unislamic concepts. Abdullah Hakim also advised that muslim sisters read the recently published book written by Jean Boyd called Nana Asma'u, about one of the Sheikh's daughters.

Abdullah Hakim's actual thesis paper will not be available for another two years. But if anyone is interested in reading it, he plans to make copies available. Some of Sheikh Uthman ibn Fodio's works are also available in English, 37 of which Br. Abdulla Hakim has copies in his possession. Marvin Hiskitt, Murray Last, Ibrahim Soliman and Mohammad Sharif may also have transalted some of his works and may act as a starting point for anyone looking up don Fodio's work.

Message-Id: [email protected]
Date: Thu, 22 Jun 1995 10:08:24 -0400
From: Faraz Fareed Rabbani [email protected]
Subject: msa: Uthman dan Fodio -- Abdullah Hakim Quick (fwd)

http://www.africa.upenn.edu/Articles_Gen/Uthm_Fodio.html
 

Mairo

Maryama
Nana Asma'u

And also his daughter was very active in the reform, some of her inspirational story can be learned here:

Nana Asma'u Tradtion: An Intellectual Movement and a Symbol of Women Rights in Islam During the 19th Century DanFodio’s Islamic Reform.

By

Muhammad Jameel Yusha’u
Department of Mass Communications

Bayero University, Kano

mjyushau*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!*!

INTRODUCTION
Scholarship essentially pertains to the intellectual and moral nurturing of individual human beings, as well as positive transformation and development of society. The learned, the alim, is first of all the pattern of conduct to be emulated by the people. He is the ‘master’ who nurtures the individual to excellence, and for a society of social change, he serves as a focus, a pivot. The primary concern of the scholar in the Islamic intellectual tradition is to improve the intellectual and moral state of the individual, and safeguard the well-being of the community. The scholar in this tradition, and especially in the West African setting emerges with a distinct and unique personality. As we are already familiar with towering scholars such as Abd al-Karim al-Maghili, Ahmad Baba al-Timbukti, Mukhtar al-Kunti, Usman DanFodio (Suleiman; 1997:VII) and Nana Asma’u.

Nana Asma’u is a product of the 19th century Sokoto Jihad. She is a woman scholar, poet, community leader, political commentator, and socio-cultural engineer whose mountain of knowledge cannot be equaled to her contemporaries. She was active in politics, education and social reform, she was a prolific author, popular teacher and reknowed scholar and intellectual (Mack & Boyd; 2000:1).

These qualities possessed by Nana Asma’u made her a distinguishable figure and a model for those who have the zeal for learning, and at the same time she is an answer to those who view women as exploited, oppressed and relegated to the rudiments of home management and service to the children especially under Islam.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF NANA ASMA’U

Nana Asma’u Fodio, a twin, was born in about 1793 in Degel, a small settlement lying 25 miles north west of Sokoto, which was only an unimportant harmlet in the year of her birth (Boyd’s 1989:1). Asma’u’s twin brother was named Hassan, but instead of the name Hussaina, the Shehu chose “Asma’u” for his daughter, a name that recalls the extraordinary seventh-century Asma bint Abubakar daughter of one of the early Muslims (Abubakar). The historical Asma became famous for unhesitatingly aiding her father and the Prophet Muhammad when they were being hunted by their enemies by taking food to them while they were hiding (Mack & Boyd; 2000:7).

A classical Islamic education shaped Asma’u’s view of the world. This was not simply rote memorization of the Qur’an, although this approach is one by which children first assimilate the word of God, but it involved a rigorous programme of study beyond the initial phase. Tutored by her family, Asma’u studied Islamic philosophical text on prayer, mysticism, legal matters, fiqh (which regulates religious conducts), and tawhid (dogma) (Ibid).

Furthermore, women were familiar with both the battlefield and scholarly endeavours in which men were engaged. As was true in the seventh century for Aisha (RA), the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, so too the nineteenth century women of Sokoto were eye witnesses to battles during the Jihad. Principal among these was Nana Asma’u, the Shehu’s daughter. Asma’u’s scholarship was well respected because it actively supported the major tenets of the Jihad. The promotion of Islam, and the end of oppression of Muslims. She taught both men and women, was fluent in four languages, composed didactic and philosophical works in whatever language suited her intended audience. Asma’u was egalitarian in training non-Muslim refuges as she was comfortable communicating with revered Muslim scholars far across West Africa (Mack & Boyd; 1997:2). As listed in an outline chorology of her life by Boyd & Mack (1997:17-20) her life can be summarised as follows.

The history of Nana Asma’u is still a subject of research. To summarize everything, the following is the account of her life from the time she was born in 1793. Asma’u was brought up by Shehu’s wives Aisha and Hauwa, Muhammed Bello’s mother after the death of her mother in 1795. Asma’u married Usman Gidado in 1807, and moved to live in Sokoto, the town built by Muhammad Bello in 1809 and gave birth to her first son Abdulqadir in 1810.

She translated Tabban Hakika (be sure of God’s truth) a poem written by Shehu in 1811 which was a plain guide to rights and responsibilities under Islamic Law. In 1820 Asma’u gave birth to her second son and wrote her book “The Way of the Pious”, a book about morality and working for the community. Between 1824 to 1829 Nana Asma’u and her husband Gidado hosted commander Huqh clapperton; She wrote ‘Give Us Victory’, “Elegy for Abdullahi”, wrote the Qur’an and received her first grandchild Halilu from her son Abdulqadir and at the same time gave birth to her third son Usman.

By 1832 Asma’u was established as “Uwar gari” and gave birth to her fourth son Abdullahi Bayero”. From 1834 to 1839, she wrote “A warning”, “forgive me” gave birth to her fifth son Muhammad Laima, “Elegy for Bello”, “Elegy for my sister Fadima” and translated the Qur’an and wrote Elegy for Buhari. Between 1840 to 1854 Asma’u authored the “Story of Shehu”, “Remembrance of Prophet”, “The path of Truth”, “Elegy for Gidado” her husband after his death in 1874. She translated the Qur’an into Arabic and several other works such as “Islam, Sokoto and Wurno”, “Destroy Mayaki” “ Elegy for Na’Inna” and “Remembrance of the Shehu”.

“Elegy for Aisha I & II”, “Elegy for Mustapha”. “The Battle of Gawakuke”, “A warning”, “Elegy for Zahratu”, “Prayer Rain”, “Elegy for Hauwa’u”, “Reasons for seeking God”, were written between 1855 to 1861. Nana Asma’u died in 1863 after writing “Elegy for my niece Fadima” and “Dan Yalli”.

THE CONCEPT OF HUMAN RIGHTS IN ISLAM

Before discussing the issue of Women Rights in Islam, there is the need to give a brief account on the principles of human rights in Islam, a concept that is viewed by many as a western creation. Whereas, the concept of human rights in Islam predates the 1948 universal declaration of human rights. A closer look at philosophy of the Sokoto Jihad portray nothing but the institutionalization of human rights which in essence was the foundation laid by Prophet Muhammad (SAW) during his twenty three years of preaching.

According to Al_Qardawi (1994); Human rights in their entirety have never been a byproduct of modern life nor an innovation of the West. Islam has the precedence in calling of human rights, their protection and the conception of the individual, society, and the state as the guardians of human rights in the sense that human rights are essentially religious duties. Whoever, performs these duties is rewarded and whoever neglects them gets punished (cited in Al-Hageel 2001:117).

Islam provided legislation on human rights fourteen centuries ago, and provided all assurances for protecting those human rights for the whole scheme of life. The provisions and principles guaranteeing the rights of humans were explicitly and thoroughly stipulated in the Holy Qur’an and the honourable Sunnah fourteen hundred years prior to their declaration by any secular system. (Al-Hageel; 2001:118).

The messenger of divine guidance, Prophet Muhammad (may peace and blessing be upon Him) made his declaration for human rights in his last pilgrimage saying “O people! All of us belong to one father and one God, one father and one religion, you are all the sons of one father, Adam, and Adam was created from dust; you will all be buried under the earth soil. No Arab is superior to a non-Arab, nor is a non-Arab superior to an Arab, except by having a greater degree of God consciousness”. This Prophet’s declaration of human rights was made before the American and the French made their declarations of human rights… In this way Islam has succeeded in eradicating all forms and means of divisiveness, class and race discrimination on the basis of parental lineage. Allah Almighty says:

“O Mankind! We have created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has at-Taqwa (i.e. one of the muttaqqeen (pious one}) verily Allah is all-knowing, all aware” (Ibid)

Human rights in Islamic Sharee’ah can be summed up as follows:- (cited in al-Hageel; 2001:126-128).

Human dignity, as has been provided for in the Holy Qur’an “And indeed we have honoured the children of Adam” (Al-Isra’ – 17:70).

The equal treatment of all people in determining their fundamental rights with no discrimination on the basis of race, origin, colour, gender, parental, lineage, or financial position. The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) says “An Arab has no superiority over non-Arab except by having a higher degree of piety or righteousness”. He also says “Women are co-equal to men”.

The call to unity of one whole community of mankind are those who do the utmost good for the welfare and interest of family of Muslims. The Prophet says: “All men and women are the creatures of Allah; they all are one family of nations that believe in his oneness. The most favoured by Allah are the most charitable to his creatures”.

The call (Da’awah) to cooperating in good deeds, and the doing of all kinds of benevolent deeds for all mankind irrespective of their nationality and religion. Allah, Almighty says, “O mankind we have created you from a male and a female, made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another. Verily, the most honourable of you with Allah is that (believer) who has Attaqwa (i.e. one of the muttaqeen {pious ones}). Also Allah in this regard says, “Allah does not forbid you to deal justly and kindly with those who fought not against you on account of religion and did not drive you out of your homes. Verily, Allah loves those who deal in equity” (Hujurat 49:13 & Almumtahinah 60:8).

Man’s right to freedom of creed and the prohibition of religious compulsion. Allah says “There is no compulsion in religion. Verily right path has become distinct from the wrong path. Whoever, disbelieves in Taghut and believes in Allah, then he has grasped the most trustworthy handhold that will never break. And Allah is all-hearer, All-knower”. And “And had your lord willed, those on earth would have believed, all of them together, so will you (O Muhammad) then compel mankind until they become believers”. (Al-Baqarah 2:256 & Yunus 10:99).

Prohibiting the assault on other’s wealth and blood. The Prophet says, “The Muslims life, wealth and honour are forbidden to all other Muslims”. (Prophets farewell address).

The right to the sanctity of one’s home and the protection on one’s own freedom. Allah says, “O you who believe! Enter not houses other than your own, until you have asked permission and greeted those in them, that is better for you, in order that you may remember” (An-Nor 24:27).

Solidarity among all members of a community concerning their right to a life of dignity and freedom from poverty is achieved through alms-giving (Zakat) from wealthy to those in need. Allah says, “And those in whose wealth there is a known right, for the begger who asks, and for the unlucky who has lost his property and wealth (and his means of living has been straitened)” (AlMa’arij 70:24-25).

The right of learning and education as a duty required from each person to eradicate ignorance. The Prophet (may peace and blessings be upon him) says, “seeking knowledge is an obligatory duty on all Muslims” (Narrated by Ibn Majah).

The right to inflict punishment upon those who decline to learn or educate themselves. This right, covered by Islamic sharee’ah provisions, has not been grasped by other systems of human rights in non-Islamic states. In this respect, the Prophet (May peace and blessing be upon Him) says, “O ye nations of Islam thou shall learn from neighbours and thou shall educate your neighbours should you decline to do so, I shall promptly punish you.

The right to impose quarantine on cases of infections diseases. This right was established in Islam fourteen centuries ago. Islam secured this right before it was included in the human rights system of all countries. This measure of excessive care about general health in an Islamic state was paralleled with strong emphasis on the right of learning and education to combat poverty and ignorance. This is in compliance with the teachings of the Prophet (May peace and blessings be upon him), “If you heard about plague spreading in a certain area, do not go there and if it occurs where you are do not leave the place to escape therefrom”. (Narrated by Ahmad)

ISLAM AND WOMEN RIGHTS

To understand what Nana Asma’u symbolizes and the rights accorded to women by Islam within whose context Nana Asma’u was able to establish an intellectual kingdom there is the need to understand the rights given to women by Islam.

One who studies the history of the ancient nations prior to Islam will find that the woman in such societies was not recognized as having any rights whatsoever, she could be bought and sold like livestock and property. She had no inheritance rights and she was owned rather than an owner. However, most of those who prevented them from disposing of the little they might have in their possession. The husband was viewed as possessing the right to dispose of his wife’s property without her consent, and there were differences of opinion among men in some countries as to whether a woman is a human being with a soul and an eternal spirit like those of the man, whether she should be instructed in religion, whether it was valid for her to engage in acts of worship, or whether se could enter paradise in the after life or not. One of the Byzantine council is reported to have decreed that the woman is an unclean animal devoid of a spirit of rights, but that she is obliged to serve and that her mouth should be muzzled to prevent her from laughing or speaking because she is “the snare of satan”. The greatest of the secular legal codes known to have existed among the ancient nations prior to Islam allowed a father to sell his daughter, and even to burry her alive. There were also those among them who believed that a man who killed a woman was not liable for punishment or even the payment of blood wit (At-Hageel; 2001:188).

Every instruction given to Muslims in the Qur’an refers to both male and female believers alike. They have been given the same religious duties and will be judged according exactly the same criteria (Maqsood; 2003:174).

According to Al-Hageel (2001); the enlightened principles brought by Islam in connection with women’s position and rights may be summarized as follows: -

The teachings of Islam recognize the woman as equal to the man in humanity; as Allah Almighty says “O mankind! Reverence your guardian lord, who created you from a single person, created, of like nature, his mate and from them twain scattered (like seeds) countless men and women” (Al-Nisa 4:1).

Islam recognizes the woman as qualified to pursue piety and worship to enter paradise if she does good and receive punishment if she does wrong, exactly as man, Allah Almighty states, “whoever, works righteous, man or woman, and has faith, verily, to him will we give a new life, a life that is good and pure and we will bestow on such their reward according to the best of their actions”. (Al-Nahl 16:97).

The Holy Qur’an tells us that in terms of reward on the day of resurrection, women have equal standing before Allah with men:

“For Muslim men and women

For believing men and women

For devout men and women

For true men and women

For men and women who are patient and constant

For men and women who give in charity

For men and women who fast (and deny themselves)

For men and women who guard their chastity

For men and women who engage much in Allah’s praise

For them has Allah prepared forgiveness and a great reward” (Al-Ahzab 33:35)

These then are ten qualities which the Qur’an describes both women and men share equally, and the reward which they share together namely, “forgiveness and a great reward”.

Islam waged war on the tendency in many cultures to view the birth of a female as bad omen and a cause for grief. Condemning this pernicious custom, Allah Almighty says, “When news is brought to one of them of (the birth of) a female (child) his face darkens and he is filled with inward grief! With shame does he hide himself from his people because of the bad news he has had! Shall he retain it on (sufferance and) contempt or burry it in the dust? Ah! What an evil (choice) they decide on” (Al-Nahl 16:58-59).

Islam forbade the practice of burying female infants alive and rebuked those who engaged in it, warning them of severe punishment from Allah on the Day of Resurrection, “When the female (infant), buried alive, is questioned for what crime she was killed” (Al-Takhir 81:8-9).

Islam urged people to honour the female, be she mother, daughter, or wife in all spheres of life.

The teachings of Islam gave the woman, the right to inherit whether she was a daughter, a sister, a mother, or a wife.

The teachings of Islam systematized marriage rights, giving both the man and the woman certain rights, while it reserved for the man the role of leader in the family within his sphere of jurisdiction, it similarly reserved for the woman a leadership within her sphere of jurisdiction. However, this leadership is not based on tyranny, or the desire to dominate over others; rather it is only organizational in nature. If a dispute arises among the members of the family, appeal is primarily made to a man, however, there is nothing to prevent the wife from taking part in solving the dispute.

The teachings of Islam regulated the matter of divorce in such a way as to prevent the man from acting in an arbitrary or tyrannical way; it set a limit, for example, on the number of times a man could utter the statement, “I divorce you” to maximum of three, where as among the Arabs of pre-Islamic times, there was no such limit. In addition, Islam set a specific time frame during which a legitimate divorce must take place, thus assuring the soundness of the decision to divorce if it becomes an unavoidable necessity.

The teachings of Islam introduced regulations into the practice of polygamy, setting the maximum number of wives to a man may be married to four, on condition that he is able to provide all of them with equal support. It must be noted of course, that the pre-Islamic nations, including the Arabs, used to allow polygamy without setting any limit on the number of wives a man could have.


Even some western scholars have acknowledged the right Islam accorded to a woman. Evenlyn Koon in his book ‘The search for God” states that:

When Islam came, it restored the woman’s freedom, causing her to become a partner to the man, with the same rights as he enjoys and the same responsibilities. The man has no basis for claiming superiority over the woman, except in so far as he possesses greater physical strength or practical resources. When he acts in the role of leader toward(s) her, he does so in the capacity of a guardian, enfolding her in his powerful arms, defending her with his life, and supporting her with what his hands have earned; beyond this, however, the two of them are equals both in good times and in bad. This truth is what God expresses in the words, ‘And woman shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable, but men have a degree (of advantage) over them” (Al-Baqrah 2:228) (Ibid)



According to Roger Carodet:

According to the Qur’an, the woman has the right to dispose of what she owns, which is a right that most western laws did not grant her, and those of France in particular, until 19th century. With regard to inheritance, it is true that the female inherits half the share inherited by the male; however, this is compensated for by the fact that all financial obligations, especially the burden entailed in the family’s assistance of others, fall on the male’s shoulders, while the woman is exempted from all such responsibilities. The Qur’an also gives the woman the right to ask for divorce, a right which the woman did not obtain in the west until thirteen centuries later. (Ibid)

NANA ASMA’U TRADITON AS AN INTELLECTUAL MOVEMENT

The view of Islam as a purgatory for women underlies most works written on Muslim women. They are commonly depicted as isolated from men, passive actors in the so-called public domain, confined to their kin groups, and so on. Such views have limited the discussion of women to the … topics of veils, honour and shame, patriarchy, kinship and polygamy. [Though this does not under estimate the value of such topics, but the position of woman in Islam is an all encompassing phenemenon] (Abdalati 1997; Alhibri 1982, Izzedin 1953 cited in Arebi 1991:99-100).

How do we know whether a person is included or discriminated in a given community? For indeed there is the need for a criteria in which we can use to evaluate the contributions made by Nana Asma’u that later translates into a movement.

According to Bullock (2002:68-69); the three main criteria for a person to be fully included in a community are:

Being an equal partner (have equal access to power) in dialogue and decisions that shape the community (e.g., political, social, economic and spiritual decisions);

Being a respected partner in dialogue and decision-making, and;

Having a private life free of extra-ordinary difficulties (e.g. illiteracy, poverty and domestic violence) that hamper his or her ability to be involved in community.

For a person to fit into any of the criteria mentioned by Bullock, he must possess extraordinary qualities capable of incorporating the people, moving them as partners in progress and standing firmly in defense of their interest and general well-being. Therefore, Asma’u’s responsibilities went beyond those involved with teaching. She was a highly educated scholar, upon whom the best scholar in the community could depend, an efficient manager, and a consummate mediator. One of her first state duties, at the age of twenty seven, was to facilitate the organization of the Shehu’s works after his death. This was a task so important that the ‘Ulama in Sokoto today draw a parallel between it and the compilation of the Qur’an after the Prophet Muhammad’s death (Pbuh). Such a task required her quadri- lingual skills and intimate knowledge, which were extensive, since he had been writing since the time he was twelve. Furthermore, this project would have required an extraordinary memory to allow her to catalogue innumerable pages of unbound texts that had suffered decades of use and transportation from one encampment to another during the Jihad years. Only someone who was of unquestionable trust, and whose ability was revered would be equal to the job (Boyd & Mack; 1997:8).

Using Bullocks first criteria of inclusion, we can see that Asma’u was the woman chose by Bello to lead the caliphate women in the paths of ordoxy, to turn them if necessary from the slippery slopes leading to what she herself called ‘The Satan named bori”. (Boyd; 1989:44). Asma’u was identified as Sarkin Mata duka (Chief of all women) by captive women, as an uwar-gari figure by the general populace as a mother of the faithful’ by her peer group; and as a Shaikha (scholar) whose writings transcended gender by the intelligentsia. She functioned as one of Bello’s aides to integrate women into a society whose ideology was rooted in Islam. A woman was able to earn herself a living by spinning an occupation over which woman had a monopoly to the extent that they organized the marketing of spun thread either through direct purchase or through commission agents. There was also a market fun by women for women near Gidado’s house which, in a much attenuated form, existed until the 1970s (Ibid).

Bullock’s second criteria of inclusion was being “a respected partner in dialogue and decision making”. This can be seen when Nana Asma’u involves her concern in the same year as the ‘miracle’ at Alkalawa; Asma’u talked to the Shehu when men were getting their share-out of official appointments. Asma’u asked him, “what about us, the women?” and he replied “you will be over all the women. The women of the caliphate belong to the women and the men belong to the men” (Cited in Boyd & Mack: 1997:12).

However, Asma’u was by far the most prolific writer and influential woman to have emerged in the western Sudan during the nineteenth century; what is more, her influence carried over into the world of men. So kind …. her charity was a thousand fold. But she carried it to the places where decisions were made. She was not a surrogate man; she led no troops on the battlefield like Queen Amina, was in charge of nor tax collectors like the Inna, in her role as the Sarki’s aide, and headed no religious cult like the Inna, In her role as the head of bori, she made stringent and apt observations in her political verse as a wearer of the Shehu’s mantle, but remained decorously within the confines of her home. (Boyd; 1989:99).

The third and final criteria provided by Bulluck was having a free private life devoid of extraordinary difficulties (e.g. illiteracy, poverty and domestic violence) that hamper his or her ability to be involved in community. According to Boyd (1989:45):

Quite separate from the legal cases were the problems associated with the rivalries present in polygamous households. Gidado himself had five sons by Asma’u and 21 sons plus 21 daughters by other wives and concubines. There were jealousies and stresses in such situations. Each wife tried to secure the affection of her husband and promote the interests of her own children, activities which stirred competitive feelings in her co-wives. The use of kwarce (charms) to overcome rivals was only one way of upsetting the peace; back biting gossip was another. These were condemned by Asma’u who taught her students to be patient. She instructed them to distance themselves from prohibited sins such as lying, avarice, hatred and envy, and she advocated as an alternative to Kwarce resource to Qur’an.

Asma’u’s main work was in the education of women in order to equip them to bring up the next generation of children within the desired ideological framework (Ibid).

The greatest of Asma’u’s contribution which signifies her political and intellectual sophistication, is the ‘Yan taru movement. A movement which is the backbone of her teaching philosophy and the soul of her reform strategy, hence the genesis of the Nana Asma’utradition.

Asma’u established a cadre of literate, itinerant women teachers (Jajis) who disseminated her instructive poetic works among the masses. Trained by Asma’u, these women were extension teachers using Asma’u’s works as lesson plans and mnemonic divices through which they instructed secluded women in the privacy of their homes… Nana Asma’u’s training of Jajis and the ‘Yan taru was community work whose primary tool was the spoken word (Mack & Boyd; 2000:76).

Asma’u relied on each Jaji to act as a mentor and to bring groups of women to her. To each she gave a large malfa hat made of fine silky grasses. Usually worn by men, the hats have a distinctive balloon shape because they are intended to be worn over turbans. A Malfa was also (and remains) one of the marks of the office used by the Inna of Gobir, the chief of women devotees of bori. Asma’u deliberately took up the symbol, and by giving each Jaji a Malfa, she at once devalued its uniqueness and transformed what it stood for From being symbolic of bori, it turned into an emblem of Islam (Ibid:89).

When a Jaji left Asma’u to return to her home village, she walked in the midst of her group of women students, her distinguishing headgear lending utmost respectability to the group. She probably carried a copy of Asma’u’s latest work (ibid:79). The women came to seek for knowledge from Asma’u because those who wished to pursue their studies had to seek out to the recognized masters, wherever they might be found and enroll themselves as their pupils (Johnston; 1967:27).

But why have the Muslim women came across in orientalists literature as isolated strangers and as individuals alienated from their society, while on the other hand, they are used as a vehicle for constructing an image of the whole culture. (Arebi, 1991:100) and feminists who believe that women are disadvantaged because of their sex; and that this disadvantage should be overthrown (Heywood; 1998:238) could still not be accepted in Muslim communities?



According to Arebi (1991:104):

My contention is that Muslim women have been unable to adopt the western model of feminism for three reasons:

The first reason has to do with the insistence of the liberation movement on wages as a liberating force.. women realize that work, as it relates to them, is a created need deliberately built into economic system so as to “push” them to it, causing them to work out of deprivation, not to achieve any self-realization… The second reason why Muslim women do not relate to the western model is the insistence of western movements that family and kinship ties are a hindrance to women’s liberation. The third reason is connected with west’s identification of “the problem” of Muslim women as a religious problem.

Islam aims at the perfection of human personality irrespective of gender, class, race or ethnic affiliation. This is achieved through knowledge. Three things constitute human perfection; will, knowledge and work. Nana Asma’u had the will, she possessed the knowledge and worked for the common good of all. According to Ibn Badis “Man’s life from its beginning to its end, is based on these three elements: will, knowledge and work. These three are in their turn dependent on another three: work is dependent on the body, knowledge on the mind, and will on the behaviour. Sound knowledge and strong will are the products of wise behaviour, useful work and robust body. Therefore, mankind must care for and look after these three; the mind, behaviour and body. The mind should be fed on knowledge, the behaviour of the Holy Prophet should be approximated, and strength should be given to the body by balancing diet, avoiding injury and working”. (El-Tayeb; 1989:271).

The main achievement of Nana Asma’u and the entire Jihad movement is on scholarship. This notable achievement of the Sokoto Jihad movement in the field of Islamic scholarship informed the perception of the historian of the Sokoto caliphate such as Smith (1979), who describes the movement and by extension the caliphate, as an intellectual movement. (Usman: 2003:21).

SUGGESTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

The entire Jihad movement and the principal actors still remain unsung heroes especially in our schools. If you ask a primary school pupil in Madabo, who is Mungo Park or Lord Lugard? He will quickly tell you the answer in order to show you that he is a good student of Social Studies. But ask him who is Nana Asama’u? He will ask you “wacece Nana Asma’u”?

For this reasons, the following recommendations are hereby made:

Incorporating in our primary and secondary school curriculum the history of the Jihad movement.

The revival of ajami script, because all the works during the Jihad movement were written either in Arabic or the Ajami script. This is because the system sustained itself effectively throughout the Muslim Northern Nigeria right through to the Islamic and intellectual Jihad reforms of Shehu Usman Danfodio (Adamu 2004:21).

Introducing a modified version of the ‘Yan taru movement using the modern Islamiyya schools, so that more women scholars could be produced. This could be achieved by establishing Women Islamic Education Centers at least in every ward using government and community collaboration.

Commissioning Research Projects on the history of Islamic Reform and the principal actors of the reform movements in our universities and other research institutes.

Launching a strong campaign on the promotion of reading culture in the entire community, so that people could develop reading habit and put to use the literature provided on the Jihad Movement.

Organizing seminars, symposia and conferences on the role of Muslim woman in education.

Re-designing our educational curriculum to suit local and indigenous needs.

Providing grants and scholarship in support of women so as to produce enough women Islamic scholars that will cater for the needs of the community.

Utilizing the current revolution of information and communication technologies by creating Internet newsgroups that center on the issues of Muslim women.

Individual commitment by exploring all frontiers of knowledge as exemplified by Nana Asma’u.

CONCLUSION

The Muslim woman is given every opportunity in Islam. She is a mother, a guardian and an eye for the community. Those who claim that Islam discriminates against women are either ignorant of the Islamic provisions regarding women, or they are set to achieve certain objectives.

Finally, the advice given by Al-Mahmoud (2001:34) is very useful:

Sister in Islam, by following the Right path and by your good behaviour, you will provide society with a good and a respectable generation, which knows its obligations towards Allah and society. Sister, you are the only one capable of making your home a school, in which your children will learn everything that is good and beautiful. You should strive to bring up a generation based on moral values and ethics. Do not hand your kids to a non-Muslim nursemaid or send them to a non-Islamic school. If you do so, you will contribute, intentionally or unintentionally, in guiding them to a religion and faith other than theirs. Sister, do not be responsible for your children’s deviation and misguidance, because Allah (SWT) accepts no other religion except Islam.

_______


REFERENCES

Adamu, A.U. (2004): Sunset at Dawn, Darkness at Noon: Reconstructing the Mechanisms of Literacy in Indigenous Communities; 7th Professorial Inaugural Lecture, Bayero University, Kano.

Al-Hageel, S.A. (2001): Human Rights in Islam and their Applications in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; First edition, King Fahd National Library, Riyadh, Saudi-Arabia.

Arebi, S (1991): “Gender Anthropology in the Middle East: The Politics of Muslim Women’s. Misrepresentation. The American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences. Volume 8 Number 1

Al-Mamoud, I. S. (2001): Winning the Heart of Your Husband: Deluxe Printers, London.

Boyd, J. (1989): The Caliph’s Sister, Nana Asma’u 1793-1865 Teacher, Poet and Islamic Leader: Frank Cass, Britain.

Bullock, K (2002): “Toward the Full Inclusion of Muslim Women in the Umma: An Activist’s Perspective” American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences, Volume 19 Number 4.

Boyd J and Mack, B.B. (1997): Collected Works of Nana Asma’u, Daughter of Usman ‘dan-Fodio (1793-1864) Michigan State University Press, U.S.A.

El-Tayeb, S.E. (1989): “The Ulama and Islamic Renaissance in Algeria” American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences Volume 6 Number 2.

Heywood, A (1998): Political Ideologies: An Introduction; worth publishers, New York, U.S.A.

Johnston, H.A.S (1967): The Fulani Empire of Sokoto Oxford University Press, London

Mack, B.B. and Boyd, J. (2000): One Woman’s Jihad; Nana Asma’u Scholar and Scribe, Indiana University Press, U.S.A.

Maqsood, R.W. (2003): Teach Yourself Islam: Bookprint Limited, London.

Suleiman, I. (1997): “Scholars of the Sokoto Caliphate” New Nigerian Newspaper, April 21, SS VIII.

Usman, M.T. (2003): “Literary Legacy of the Sokoto Caliphate: Commentary on some selected poems from Northern Nigeria” FAIS Journal of Humanities, Volume 2 Number 4, Bayero University, Kano.


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Being a Paper Presented at the Conference on Sokoto Jihad Organized by the Centre for Hausa Cultural Studies Kano, at the Murtala Muhammad Library, 7-8 June 2004.


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http://www.gamji.com/article3000/NEWS3642.htm
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Salaam,


This is a good post. I believe there was an earlier posting about him. We have been given such great role models.
 

Mairo

Maryama
:salam2:

Yes, before I made this post I did a search for him to see if something had already been posted, and found the following beneficial threads as well:

http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=12867&highlight=fodio
http://www.turntoislam.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5234&highlight=fodio

But I did not find any biography posted about him and his daughter, so wanted to add those background stories as well. If this has already been done, perhaps the moderators can merge the threads.

:wasalam:
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Salaam,

Sister I just wanted to post how much I enjoy the thought and work you put into your discussions. It almost makes me a little jealous. You writing skills are delicious.
 

Mairo

Maryama
Thank you! Hearing that means a lot to me. You are a true gem. Love you ALWAYS for the sake of Allah. May he have Mercy on us all.

To be honest I am often fearful of writing because words are so powerful. Words can sometimes take on a life of their own, and it can be easy to be misunderstood. I try as much as possible to stick to repeating Qur'an and Sunnah, and put my trust in Allah, because that way you can never go wrong. Ultimately, when I do write it is because I feel an obligation to defend and uphold Islam, and I sincerely hope there may be some benefit to my contribution. I do find the courage to speak out even if it means I will incur wrath from some. And I know that ultimately Allah knows best.

Also, I want you to know that I appreciate that you have taken on the role of "aapa" (I am guessing that means mom?) here. As you may or may not know, I lost my mother many years ago, and there is nothing like the unconditional love and support you get from a mom. :)


And PS: I never read the book you recommended in the other thread, but I do have Frantz Fanon's "The Wretched of the Earth" that was given to me as a gift when I first returned from Africa. His writings illustrate oppression in a way that is very tangible, especially for those who are not familiar with how oppression can maim a person. Like you, I recommend his books highly.
 

Aapa

Mirajmom
Salaam,

Aapa is an older sister..so baby call on me anytime you want to..

As for words..they are poweful. Hence, the Quran. I love psycholingustics. I can not recall the exact title of Noam Chomsky's book on grammar and rules, but it is a good read.
Imam Ghazalli thoughts on language are a deep reading and if you have time, do it.
 
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