THE RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE POLITICAL ACTIONS OF SHAIKH UTHMAN BN FODIO IN THE SOKOTO JIHAD.
THE RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS FOR THE POLITICAL ACTIONS OF SHAIKH UTHMAN BN FODIO IN THE SOKOTO JIHAD.
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Date
1992
Authors
TIJJANI, ABDULREEM AHMAD
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Abstract
This thesis titled: •The religious justifications
for the political actions of Shaikh Uthman bn Fodio
in the Sokoto Jihad is primarily
aimed at justifying from the Shariaah evidences,
the religious basis for the political actions of Shaikh
Uthman in the Sokoto Jihad. The work is organised
in five chapters.
In chapter one, a general introduction is given.
The focus of the study is the religious basis for the
Sokoto Jihad. The Jihad of Shaikh Uthman was a scholarly
movement. However, it produced a political
result that could be described as the most significant
political event in the history of western Sudan in
the nineteenth Century. Because of this, the Sokoto
Jihad was conceived by some writers as a political
movement in the guise of religion. But Jihad,as a
religious movement is all embracing; such that its
political, social, and even economic significance can
not be isolated from its religious spirit. This
study is therefore an attempt to justify, in the
light of the Shari* ah evidence, the religious basis
of such significant political actions of Shaikh
Uthman in the course of the Jihad• and gdvance a
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hypothesis that Jihad as an Islamic movement, could
be as political as it is religious. Social and economic
as well. The research questions and objectives
of the study, as provided in this chapter, are geared
towards realising the inseparable nature of religious
and secular life in Islam. And it is around this
periphery that the Shariah justifications for the
Sokoto jihad could be ascertained.
In chapter two, the most relevant literatures
have been reviewed. The materials are in three broad
categories. These are:
-1 The works of the Jihadists themselves.
-2 Published textbooks, journals, seminar and Conference
papers.
-3 Post-graguate studies (mostly unpublished) on
aspects of Sokoto Jihad.
The topical review procedure is used. The topics considered
for the review are:
Hausaland before the Jihad
Objectives of the Jihad
The political ideals of the Jihad
- The outcome of the Jihad
Whereas, the sources tends to agree on most issues,
interestingly however, is the observed discrepancies
between the statements of objectives of the Jihadists
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themselves, and the objectives of the Jihad stated
by the post-Jihad writers, mostly speculative in nature
and inconclusive. The objectives of the Jihadists
(contained in their works) are more comprehensive,
authoritative, reliable and free from prejudice. It
provides therefore, the pivot abound which the Islamicity
of the sokoto Jihad (in all aspects) revolves.
In chapter three, attempts have been made to
describe the methodology for the research. The
research procedures, instruments, the population,
the sample and sampling procedures have been described.
This research being historical, adopts the purposive
sampling technique and requires no statistical means
to interprete the findings arising therefrom.
Chapter four gives thfi. analysis of the pre-jihad
(socio-economic and political) conditions, the religious
nature of the j ihad and its implications on the
political structure of Hausaland. An analytical
review of the actions of Shaikh with significant
political implications have been made. These actions
were viewed from the political and social forces of
the time and their justifications from the Shari'ah
points of view - are established. The circumstances
that led to the Jihad and the nature or way in which
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it was fought made it morally and religiously justified.
In chapter five, a summary of the study is given.
Attempt has been made in this chapter to summarise
the sources of the data and a summary of the findings
of the research. Finally conclusions are made and
recommendations based on the findings of the study
were made.
What motivated this research is my personal
experience as a student and Teacher of History, and the
observed discrepancies in the statements of objectives
of the Sokoto Jihad by the conventional historians on
one hand, and the Jihadists and Muslim historians on the
other. There is also the observed apologetic Stance of
Muslim historiians in plaining the political significance
of Sokoto Jihad. Whereas, religion and politics—are
inseparable in Islam. This research is therefore undertaken
to justify the political significance of Sokoto
Jihad in the light of such actions of Shaikh Uthman that
had political bearings.
The research is essentially historical. It therefore
adopts the historical approach (methodology) to
gather and interprete data necessary for accomplishing
the1, research objective. Five actions of Shaikh Uthman
that the political bearings are critically examined.
There are no evidences to show that the Shaikh was
politically motivated.
Description
SUBmiTTED TO THE
POST-GRADUATE SCHOOL, A.B.U. ZARIA, IN
PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS
FOR THE DEGFE OF MASTERS OF EDUCATION
(CURRICULUM AND INSTRUCTION, ISLAMIC
STUDIES
Keywords
RELIGIOUS JUSTIFICATIONS,, POLITICAL ACTIONS,, SHAIKH UTHMAN BN FODIO,, SOKOTO JIHAD,