Friday, 16 September 2011 THE SCHOLARLY PILLAR OF THE SOKOTO CALIPHATE AND HIS SCHOLARLY WORK THE SCHOLARLY PILLAR OF THE SOKOTO CALIPHATE AND HIS SCHOLARLY WORK A. Bukhari Sokoto SHEIKH ABDULLAHI BIN FODIYO A prolific scholar of the Sokoto caliphate. He served as a prime Minister to Sheikh Usman Bin Fodiyo his elder brother or as personal assistant, he directed most of the affairs of the state at the beginning of the Jihad. There are different versions on where and when Sheikh was born. According to a book “Great lives” Sheikh Abdullahi was born in a town called Marnona near Wurno in 1766 A.D. while S.U. Balogun has this to say: There is no indication of where and when Abdullahi was born in his work entitled Ida’un Nusukh, which can be termed his autobiography. M. Hiskett, relying on the opinion of Alkalin Gwandu Ahmad suggest that he was born at Maganimi. He also gives 1180 A.H. 1760 A.D. at the date of Abdullahi’s birth. Another view by Umar Bello asserts that he was born at Degel. Even though Umar Bello in his work does not quote the source of his information, his seems more reliable than the former. Certain information extracted from Rawdul –Jinan of Gidado B. Laima and Kan’zul Awlad of Muhammadu Sambo gives support to the assertion. It was believe that, Sheikh Usmanu was twelve years ahead of him. He began his early education from his father Mohammadu Fodiye, his elder brother Sheikh Usman Fodiyo, Muhammadu Almagili, Muhammadu Sambo and Sheikh Jibril Ibn Umar of Agades to mention just a few. It was reported that Sheikh Abdullahi committed the only Qur’an at the age of 13 years, been fortuned to have been brought up in the family well blessed with knowledge and environment with men of learning and scholars, these stimulate him immensely to develop habit of learning, he devoted himself to it, until he became a famour scholar. Vast and well recognized in and outside the caliphate. He was one of the most intelligent and most devoted gifted and wonderful writers. His enthusiasm in studies made him one of the greatest African writers in the Company of Sheikh Usman Bin Fodiyo. Abdullahi’s Teachings In most cases, Sheikh Abdullahi Bin Fodiyo used to accompany his elder brother, when the Shehu began to travel in order to teach or preach, they went to many places together among which are: Gobir, Kabi, and Zamfara. He learned many lessons while accompanying his elder brother. In fact he tried all his possible effort to emulate and follow the Shehu’s example in bringing people close to their creature. Following the right and authentic teachings of Islam, he act as the Shehu’s Chief Advicer and one of the bravest Warrior. Abdullahi’s Scholarship Despite the struggle and challenges ahead of them in facing the enemies of Chiefs of Hausa, Sheikh Abdullahi was a great scholar who devoted most of his life in research and writing, he wrote many books from almost all the areas in Islamic knowledge which includes: Qur’an Commentary, Ilmul Tajweed, Hadis, Fiqh Siirah, Arabic. Literature etc. After the