Shaykh Uthman Dan Fodio

[al-Shami]

SHAYKH UTHMAN DAN FODIO

According to Amirul Mu`mineen Shaykh Muhammad Bello ibn Uthman`s
book, Infaq al- Maysur fi Tarikh Bilad at- Takur, it was foretold by
the friend of Allah ,the righteous Fulani woman ,Umm Hani,
that "There will appear in this region of the Sudan(literally meaning
the Land of the Blacks)a friend form amongst the friends of Allah who
will renew the Deen, revive The Sunnah, and establish the
Religion ,only the fortunate shall follow him and his mention will
spread to distant lands . Both the elite and the common folk will be
guided by him and those affiliated with him will be known as the al-
Jama`ah".

Over 200 years ago in the Central West Africa a twenty –year-old
scholar who descended from a clan of pious and learned Fulani began
calling his people to the pure worship of Allah and strict adherence
to the Sunnah of our master Muhammad (Allah bless him and grant him
peace). His name was Uthman ans well known as "dan Fodio"which
literally meant"son of the scholar", as his father was already a well
known and established scholar in Hausaland. For the next thirty years
Shakyh Uthman, along with his family, relatives ,fellow scholars and
students, committed themselves to da'wah (calling to islam) and
teaching tours throughout Hausaland :calling people toestablish Islam
in their hearts and homes; adhere to the Qur'an ,Sunnah and Ijma(or
consensus) of the Sunni scholars;forsake innovation;show compassion
towards all Muslims; and to end all forms of political and economic
oppression. When the rulers became fearful and envious of Shaykh
Uthman `s large and loyal following of believers, they began
persecuting the Muslims severely. This led to their being blessed by
Allah to perform hijra(emigration) and ultimately to their successful
jihad(military struggle) against the Hausa kings. Their blessed jihad
established a true Islamic Caliphate in 1807 CE that became one of
the most righteous, just and equitable societies this world has ever
known. The Caliphate established by Shaykh Uthman still exist today;
our leader is the noble Sultan and Shaykh al-Hajj Abu Bakr(may Allah
protect and assist him) who resides in the righteous town of Mai
Wurno,Sudan. His amirs govern Islamic communities in different parts
of the world.

[al-Shami]

Here is an excerpt the Shehu, Uthman Dan Fodio's Tariq`l Jannah
(Path of Paradise)! Another excellent and rare work from this great
african Muslim scholar and warrior! To read more of these rare
works...please join us at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaifulHaqq

Was-Salaam Khalil Muhsin Moderator


"I say and success is from Allah, my brothers first it is obligatory
upon you to seek knowledge. This is due to the fact that all things
are dependent upon knowledge. Realize that knowledge (al-`ilm) and
worship (al-`ibaada) are two essential fundamentals. It is due to
knowledge and worship that the heavenly books were revealed and the
Messengers were sent. Therefore, it is incumbent upon the servant to
possess some share of each of these two important matters. However,
sound worship (al`ibaada) can never occur except by means of
knowledge (al-`ilm).
It is for this reason that it is necessary to give
beneficial knowledge (al-`ilm an-naafi`) preference over worship.
After this you must know that anyone who seeks knowledge in order to
turn the faces of people towards him, then his trade has become
unprofitable. Therefore, purify your hearts from hatred (ghillin),
envy (hasad), pride (kibr), showing-off (riya'), conceit (`ujub), and
love for this world (hubb 'd-dunya); this is in order that you can
truly gain beneficial knowledge.

What l O brothers - Verily the knowledge which is obligatory upon
every Muslim to seek after are three: [1] the science of divine unity
(`ilm at tawheed); [2] the science of the law (`ilm 's-shari`a); and
[3] the science of secrets (`ilm 's-sirr). What we mean by
the science of secrets are those sciences which relate to the heart
and its spiritual endeavors. We will, if Allah desires, clarify what
is obligatory to know from each of these sciences.

The obligations which are incumbent upon you from the science
of tawheed is to know as much as is necessary to help you understand
the foundations of the deen (usuul 'd-deen). However, the knowledge
of the branches of tawheed and its minute details are not obligatory
upon you to know.

The obligations which are required for you to perform are thus
incumbent upon you to know. This is in order that you may accomplish
them properly. These obligations include purification (tahaara),
fasting (sawm), and prayer (salaat). As for as pilgrimage (hajj),
zakaat, and struggle (jihaad) are concerned - these sciences are only
incumbent upon you to know at the time they become obligatory for you
to perform. Again, this is in order to accomplish them properly.
However, when they are not obligatory upon you to perform, then
knowing them is also not obligatory.

The knowledges which are obligatory upon you to know from the science
of secrets are those knowledges which are obligatory (wajab) upon the
heart and those which are forbidden (nuhiya) for it - in order to
acquire esteem for Allah, sincerity, sound intention, and the
soundness of action. In general, it is this knowledge which will be
discussed in this abridged book.

This is the delineation of what is incumbent upon the servant to
acquire from knowledge. There are many who can aquire all that is
obligatory upon them from knowledge in a short time, while others
continuously waver in that for more than seventy years. So realize
that the whole matter of seeking knowledge is in the hands of Allah
`izza wa jalla.

[talib al-habib]

salams

have heard a lot but not read a lot about Shaykh Dan Fodio. Where can I get some info about him?

jazakallah, was salam

PS: has someone been watching too much of a popular movie trilogy? Shaykh Uthman Dan Frodio??

:D

[al-Shami]

sallam

This website has lots of translations of some of his writting's and books which I have not seen anywhere else on the web.

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SaifulHaqq

they seem to be linked to

http://www.sankore.org/

and

www.rawdah.org

wsallam

[muhammadnur]

salams

have heard a lot but not read a lot about Shaykh Dan Fodio. Where can I get some info about him?

jazakallah, was salam

PS: has someone been watching too much of a popular movie trilogy? Shaykh Uthman Dan Frodio??

:D


:salaam:

here's a translation of one of his more popular works.

http://muhammadnur.com/ihya.html

Muhammad-Nur

[Omar HH]

Arabs called him Uthman ibn Fudi lol.

[isramiraj]

Asslamalaikum,

I am looking for arabic books of Uthman bin Fodio and his daughter, Nana Asam who I believe also wrote a few books in arabic. Does anyone know were I can get a copy of them? I e-mailed the sankore institute a few times but have yet to get a response.

Jazak-allah for any contacts or assistance

[Muhammad Shareef]

Asslamalaikum,

I am looking for arabic books of Uthman bin Fodio and his daughter, Nana Asam who I believe also wrote a few books in arabic. Does anyone know were I can get a copy of them? I e-mailed the sankore institute a few times but have yet to get a response.

Jazak-allah for any contacts or assistance

His daughter's name was Asmau and her honorific title was Nana (mother). She only composed three books in Arabic and the bulk of her work was in Fulfulde` or Hausa. For some of her works contact bmack@ku.edu for Arabic works of the Shehu visit www.siiasi.org

[mrghazi411]

not sure about arabic books, but here is a great book about nana asma'u One Woman's Jihad

[Muhammad Shareef]

Actually, now one of the best contemporary books about Shehu Uthman Danfodio, may Allah engulf him in His mercy, is The African Caliphate by Malam Ibrahim Sulayman. I just completed it and it is amazingly composed.