Shiite Muslims in Nigeria commemorate struggle of Sheikh Usman bn Fodiyo

(Ahlul Bayt News Agency) The Resource Forum of the Islamic Movement in Nigeria celebrated it’s 6th Annual Lecture on the life of Sheikh Usman bn Fodiyo at Conference Hall of the National Mosque, ABUJA. The occasion took place on Sunday 26th Safar, 1435 (29/12/3013) with Professor Dahiru Yahaya of Bayero University Kano as Special Guest Lecturer. Invited guest at the occasion includes Dr. Mutiullah Olasupo, from Department of Political Science, University of Abuja; Shiekh Nura Khalid, Chief Imam, Apo Legislative Quarters Jumu’at Mosque, Malam Shehu Usman bn Muhammad, Rep. of Chief Imam National Mosque Abuja etc.In his lecture, the Prof. focused on how Shehu Usman bn Fodiye conducted his struggle which succeeded in reviving all spheres of human endeavours at that time.He noted that the adored contemporary philosophers and thinkers of the world e.g Charles Downing, Karl Max etc were contemporaries of Shehu, but they differ in ideology, the later of whose was purely Islamic. He corroborated that the philosophy of the so-called contemporary thinkers not conform two essential concepts viz Law and Reality, while Shehu Usman bn Fodio was able to reconciling both law and reality, which he describe as best form of reasoning and philosophy.On the impact of Shehu’s work to present day Nigeria, the erudite scholar, noted that Sheikh Ibraheem Zakzaky’s led Islamic Movement is a complete replica of Shehu’s struggle; stating that ‘Sheikh Zakzaky is very good in reconciling both Shari’a Law and contemporary reality. About Sheikh Usman bn Fodiyo:Shaikh Usman Ibn Fodio, Shehu Uthman Dan Fuduye, or Shehu Usman dan Fodio, 1754–1817, was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate in 1809, a religious teacher, writer and Islamic promoter. He lived in the city-state of Gobir until 1802 when, motivated by his reformist ideas and under increased repression by local authorities, he led his followers into exile. This exile began a political and social revolution which spread from Gobir throughout modern Nigeria and Cameroon, and was echoed in a jihad movement led by the Fula ethnic group across West Africa. Dan Fodio declined much of the pomp of rulership, and while developing contacts with religious reformists and jihad leaders across Africa, he soon passed actual leadership of the Sokoto state to his son, Muhammed Bello.Dan Fodio wrote more than a hundred books concerning religion, government, culture, and society. He developed a critique of existing African Muslim elites for what he saw as their greed, paganism, or violation of the standards of Sharia law, and heavy taxation. He encouraged literacy and scholarship, including for women, and several of his daughters emerged as scholars and writers. His writings and sayings continue to be much quoted today, and are often affectionately referred to as Shehu in Nigeria. Some followers consider dan Fodio to have been a mujaddid, a divinely inspired "reformer of Islam"./149