Abdullahi dan Fodio

Abdullahi dan Fodio (ca. 1766–1828), Sultan of Gwandu (1819–1828), was a scholar and brother of Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817).¹ Usman, being more of a scholar than politician, delegated the practical regency of the western part of his empire to Abdullahi, who later became the Emir of Gwandu , and the eastern part to his son Muhammad Bello .² The title of sultan was passed on to Bello. 1815. Abdullahi was also a writer like his brother; he wrote a voluminous book on the Fulani Jihad , supplementing his brother's works on the same subject. After, the ascension of his nephew as Sultan, Abdullahi became partly detached from secular leadership, forgoing the post of Vizier or Waziri but he still maintained his position as emir. In a nutshell one can without contradiction say that malam Abdullahi as he was widely known was a devoted teacher, warrior, astute politician, administrator and prolific writer. Shiekh Abdullahi lived life in accordance to the dictates of his religion, this belief was introduced to him by his elder brother Shehu usman dan fudiye (fodio) early in life. Both were of same parental background, though their history is inter-twined Usman senior's Abdullahi by twelve years. As a result, their father entrusted the young Abdullahi under the care of Usman who served both as teacher and guide in matters of religion. Shiekh Abdullahi as he later grew to be named said in several of his writing that he had been under the brother's influence for nearly fifty years and hardly would any writing from the shiekh be seen by any before himself. Shiekh Abdullahi was regarded by his contemporaries as a "moving encyclopedia" because of his vast knowledge in Arabic language; Qur'anic tafsir (commentary); Hadith; Usul and the art of Qur'anic recitation (tajweed) it was reported that some of his students referred to him as Hausaland Arab. He taught so many, among whom was sultan Muhammed Bello who happened to be the second child of shehu dan fodio as Buhari was his first. Abdullahi has written extensively on administration most especially on the rights and duties of both leadership and the followership.Though, research on the number of books written by Abdullahi is still on going,however, over one hundred plus books were so far discovered. Anyone can access them in reputable bookshops across towns and cities in northern and western Nigeria; Niger Republic and Al-Azhar University in Egypt. Four volumes of the lot have so far been published with analytical commentaries from varying opinion. These are (a)Tazyinul Waraka(b)Liya'ul Siyasati(c)Liya'ul Hukkami(d)Miftahu Tafsiri. Shieykh Abdullahi bn Fudi has written extensively on almost all issues affecting his society and that served as a reference point for generations about two hundred years ago.³