A Fulani Islamic cleric has declared plans to revive the legacy of his forebear, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, saying he intends to return to and renew the teachings and traditions associated with the 18th-century Islamic scholar.
The cleric made the declaration while addressing his followers in Hausa in a video seen by SaharaReporters.
During the address, the cleric repeatedly prayed to Allah to grant him martyrdom and urged his followers to join him in saying “Amin,” while also warning that he would make certain demands and calls in the future as his plans progressed.
The cleric said that although he was currently taking things slowly, there would be a time when he and his followers would begin to make specific demands and pursue the revival of his Dan Fodio’s legacy.
“I swear, I assure you that we will call for certain things in the future. For now, I am taking things slowly. But in the future, when we reach that stage, there are certain things we will want,” he said.
“I want to revive the legacy of my grandfather, Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio.
“I want us to renew the legacy of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio. I want to make a replacement, or rather, to go back to the legacy of Dan Fodio.”
He further linked his vision to the teachings of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah al-Harrani, saying that he and his followers had been gradually paying attention to those teachings.
“This is part of what is in my heart, such as the teachings of Sheikh al-Islam Ibn Taymiyyah al-Harrani. We have been gradually paying attention to these things,” he said.
According to the cleric, the group would not continue to remain behind others in the future, saying they would become more assertive in places where they believe Islamic teachings were not being followed.
“In the future, I swear, we will not remain at the back while others move ahead,” he said.
“Every road where the teachings are not being followed, they will rise up and we’ll teach them and let the world to know.”
“Where are those who fought for us, they are dead,” he said.
He used the statement to caution his followers against allowing themselves to be intimidated by people because of what they say or believe.
“That is why we should not allow people to keep intimidating us little by little because of these statements,” he said.
The cleric also addressed the issue of fear and death, urging his followers to turn to Allah whenever they are afraid of anyone.
“Whoever you are afraid of, when you are called, call upon Allah. ‘Indeed, you will die, and indeed, they will die,’” he said.
He subsequently responded to criticism from people who, according to him, believe that he speaks too much or makes controversial statements.
“Some people say that you speak too much or make certain statements. You say, ‘This is the way the world is…’ You are a modern person; you yourself say that you belong to this modern age,” he said.
The cleric, however, argued that the knowledge available in the present era represents only a small portion of what has remained from the past, saying society is encouraging people to embrace contemporary knowledge.
“The kind of knowledge of your time that we have is only a small part of what remains with us. This is what society is telling us. Go with the knowledge of your time…” he said.
His remarks come amid continued debates over the historical legacy of Sheikh Usman Dan Fodio, the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate and one of the most influential Islamic scholars in West African history.
Dan Fodio’s religious and political legacy has remained a subject of historical, religious and political debate, particularly concerning the nature of the Sokoto Caliphate, its expansion across parts of present-day northern Nigeria and neighbouring territories, and the continuing influence of the Sokoto scholarly tradition.
In his address, however, the cleric presented the revival of Dan Fodio’s legacy as part of his personal religious aspirations, while also invoking the teachings of Ibn Taymiyyah and warning that his followers would become more active in promoting what they regard as proper religious teachings.
