Islamic Studies · Lesson 9

Abyssinia, North Africa, West African empires, Nigeria, Sufi orders and reformers

JAMBWAECNECO

What the syllabus asks

JAMB: 18–19 The spread of Islam to Africa (Abyssinia, Egypt, North and West Africa); agents; Islam in Ghana, Mali, Songhai, Kanem-Borno and Hausaland; the Murabitun; Sufi orders; the mujaddidun and the Sokoto jihad; impact of Islam

WAEC: Islam in West Africa and Nigeria

NECO: Islam in West Africa and Nigeria

What you will learn

Describe the Hijrah to Abyssinia and its significance.
Outline the coming of Islam to Egypt and North Africa.
Explain the agents and methods of the spread of Islam into West Africa.
Describe the place of Islam in Ghana, Mali, Songhai and Kanem-Borno.
Trace the spread of Islam in Hausaland, Yorubaland and other parts of Nigeria.
Explain the role of the Murabitun, the Sufi orders and the mujaddidun.
Evaluate the impact of Islam on West African society.

Key points

Abyssinia: first Hijrah (c. 615); Ja‘far; Surah Maryam; Najashi’s protection and funeral prayer (Bukhari 1245).
Egypt: ‘Amr ibn al-‘As, Fustat (c. 639–42); Qayrawan by ‘Uqbah ibn Nafi (c. 670); Tariq ibn Ziyad to Spain (711).
Agents: traders, scholars, rulers, Murabitun, Sufi orders, reformers, Hajj, migration.
Ghana: two towns, twelve mosques (al-Bakri 1068); Murabitun and 1076 (debated).
Mali: Mansa Musa’s Hajj 1324; as-Sahili; Djinguereber; Ibn Battuta 1352–53.
Songhai: Sunni ‘Ali; Askia Muhammad (Hajj 1496, al-Maghili); Tondibi 1591.
Kanem-Borno: Umme Jilmi; Dunama Dibbalemi; Idris Alooma; al-Kanemi.
Kano: Ali Yaji and the Wangarawa; Rumfa and al-Maghili; Ilorin and Yorubaland.
Qadiriyyah and Tijaniyyah; differing views presented fairly.
Dan Fodio: Gobir, Gudu 1804, Sokoto Caliphate, scholarship; ended 1903.
Impact: religion, education, politics, economy, society, culture.

Start here: Islam reaches Africa first: the Hijrah to Abyssinia

Africa was the first land outside Arabia to receive Muslims. In about the fifth year of the prophethood (c. 615 CE), when persecution in Makkah grew severe, the Prophet (SAW) advised some of his Companions to go to Abyssinia (al-Habashah, in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea), whose Christian king, the Najashi (Negus), was known for justice. The first small group of about eleven or twelve men and four women included ‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan and his wife Ruqayyah, the Prophet’s daughter. A larger second group of more than eighty followed, led by Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib.

The Quraysh delegation. The Quraysh sent ‘Amr ibn al-‘As (before he became a Muslim) and ‘Abdullah ibn Abi Rabi‘ah with gifts, asking the Najashi to hand the Muslims back. The Najashi refused to judge without hearing the Muslims. Ja‘far explained how the Arabs had lived in ignorance, worshipping idols, eating carrion and breaking family ties, until Allah sent a messenger who taught truthfulness, trustworthiness, prayer, charity and kindness. When asked what the Prophet taught about ‘Isa (Jesus), Ja‘far recited the opening of Surah Maryam (Q.19), and the Najashi wept and refused to surrender the refugees. This account is reported in the sirah (Ibn Ishaq) and in Musnad Ahmad.

The Najashi’s death. When he died, the Prophet informed the people on the same day, led them to the prayer-ground and performed the funeral prayer with four takbirs (Sahih al-Bukhari 1245). Muslim scholars therefore regard him as having died a Muslim. Most of the refugees returned to the Prophet, the last group led by Ja‘far arriving at the time of Khaybar (7 AH).

Significance:

It was the first Hijrah in Islam, before the Hijrah to Madinah.
It showed that a just ruler of another faith could protect Muslims, a lesson in peaceful coexistence that is very relevant in a multi-religious country like Nigeria.
It linked Islam with Africa from the very beginning; Bilal ibn Rabah, the first mu’adhdhin, was also of Abyssinian origin.

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Practice questions

1. Muslims first sought refuge in Abyssinia in about

615 CE
622 CE
639 CE
570 CE

Show answer

A: 615 CE
Under the just Christian king, the Najashi.

2. The leader of the larger second group to Abyssinia was

‘Uthman ibn ‘Affan
‘Amr ibn al-‘As
Bilal
Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib

Show answer

D: Ja‘far ibn Abi Talib
More than eighty emigrants.

3. The Prophet prayed the funeral prayer in absentia, with four takbirs, for

Khadijah
Hamzah
the Najashi
Abu Talib

Show answer

C: the Najashi
Bukhari 1245.

4. Egypt was conquered for Islam in 639–642 by

‘Uqbah ibn Nafi‘
‘Amr ibn al-‘As
Khalid ibn al-Walid
Tariq ibn Ziyad

Show answer

B: ‘Amr ibn al-‘As
Tariq crossed into Spain in 711.

5. The first Muslim ruler of Kanem was

Mai Umme Jilmi (1085–1097)
Idris Alooma
Ali Gaji
Dunama Dibbalemi

Show answer

A: Mai Umme Jilmi (1085–1097)
Late 11th century; Kanem became a Muslim state.

Key words

Habashah: Abyssinia (Ethiopia/Eritrea).
Najashi: Title of the king of Abyssinia (Negus).
Maghrib: North-West Africa.
Bilad as-Sudan: “Land of the Black peoples”: the Sahel belt.
Ribat: Fortified place of devotion and training.
Murabitun: Almoravids, people of the ribat.
Mansa: Title of the rulers of Mali.
Askia: Title of Songhai rulers after 1493.
Mai: Title of the rulers of Kanem-Borno.
Wangarawa: Mande Muslim traders and clerics from Mali.
Tariqah: Sufi order (plural turuq).
Mujaddid: Reviver of the faith.

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