SANKORE' Institute of Islamic - African Studies International Ta’leem Al-Anaam The Education of Humanity Regarding Allah’s Great Estimation For Our Prophet (Upon him be the best of blessings and peace) By: The Amir of Gwandu, the Chief Wazir and Military Commander of the Victorious Armies of the Sokoto Islamic Empire Shaykh Abdullahi ibn Muhammad Fuduye’ ibn Uthman Famous as Ibn Fuduye` Edited & Translation by: Abu Alfa Umar Muhammad Shareef bin Farid 1 ‘Ta’leem Al-Anaam’ Copyright 1413/1992 Muhammad Shareef Published by Sankore’ Institute of Islamic-African Studies International www.sankore.org / www.siiasi.org [email protected] First Edition 1992 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. 2 Translator’s Preface In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful. Peace be upon the best of creation, Muhammad ibn Abdullah, the seal of the Prophets and the Last of the Messengers, and upon his family and Companions. The Sankore’ Institute is honored to present to the reader a book which clarifies in the most concise and eloquent manner the reality ( haqiqah ) of the last and final Messenger to mankind, Muhammad ibn Abdullah ibn Abdu’l-Muttalib ibn Hashim, (may Allah bless him as long as the east wind blows and to the number of created things). Many writers in the past have written about the sublime reality of this noble Messenger. However, this book was written by one of Africa’s leading scholars and revolutionaries. Thus, we can get a glimpse as to how the people of the Lands of the Blacks viewed their beloved Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. This book demonstrates the love that the Muslims of Africa had and still have for him. It is and abridgement of the greatest book concerning the Prophet, the Shifa of Qadi al-‘Iyad. It was this book, which had a special place in the Islamic curriculum of learning throughout Africa. The scholars of the Sudan held the study of the Shifa as an important component in the education of the scholar. The exposition, commentary and explanation of this great book became a permanent function at the ancient Sankore’ university/mosque in Timbuktu. Shaykh Abdal Qaadir al-Murabit said in his Root Islamic Education , “This book, Shifa , is a book of sira , because I think that in this age it is necessary to temper Islamic knowledge with a very clear understanding of the life of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, what is said about him, what is claimed about him, what is understood about him, what we can say about him, and what we may not say about him…you go in (the Shifa ) one man, and you come out another kind of man, and that other man has had vast openings, not only in love of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, but in awe of him, and respect for him, and esteem for him…”. Wherever the study of the Shifa became established there emerged in that society a love for the Messenger of Allah, which manifested itself in the form of outward Islamic governance and inward spiritual mastery. When one examines the ideological basis of the Islamic kingdoms of the Sudan, one finds at the fundamental level the study of the Shifa . In fact, no real understanding of the empires of Songhay, Mali, Takrur, Wodai, Baghirma, Kanem Borno, Funj, Dar Fur, Sokoto, Hamdullahi, Segu, and the Mahdist Kingdom can be had without a deep understanding of the status that the Shifa had among these various people. The present book Ta’leem ‘l-‘Anaam by Abdullahi ibn Fuduye’ is an introduction to the study of the Shifa . It sums up concisely what is detailed in the Shifa . Its brevity is a mercy in this age wherein men lack the patience and fortitude to study voluminous texts. Shaykh Muhyideen Ibn al-Arabi said in his book Miratu ‘l-‘Arifeen , “What is elaborated and detailed in the Book of Allah is summed up in the Fatiha …it is inclusive of all the grades and all the worlds. As all the grades and all the worlds are reflected in it, it is for this reason that it is called 3 the Source of the Book ( Umm’l Kitaab ).” Thus, this book by Shaykh Abdullahi is to the Shifa what the Fatiha is to the Qur’an. Just as the Fatiha contains seven verses, Shaykh Abdullahi divided this book into seven chapters. And just as Fatiha contains in general what is detailed in the Book of Allah, the Ta’leem ‘-‘Anaam summarizes what is detailed in the Shifa . Just as the Fatiha is the ‘Opening’ which initiates the believer into the elaborate meanings of the Qur’an; we at the Sankore’ Institute present this concise but thorough book as an introduction and summation which will initiate the reader into the elaborate meanings of the Shifa of Qadi al- ‘Ayaad. Allah ta’ala says, “There has come to you a Messenger from among yourselves, who grieves over your discomforts, full of concern for you, compassionate and merciful to the believers. If they turn away, then say, ‘Allah is enough for me. Upon Him do I rely. He is the Lord of the Tremendous Throne.” Allah says the truth. He alone is enough for guidance on the Way and He alone is the best of Guardians. O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad, who is the first, the middle and last of all things. O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad whose light preceded the creation of the worlds, and whose appearance was a mercy to all the worlds. O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad to the number of all things, which have passed away and to the number of all things that remain. Bless him to the number of those who will attain bliss and to the number of those who will attain misery. Bless him to the number of everyone who remembers him and to the number of everyone who forgets him. O Allah! Bless him with a prayer that encompasses all limits, which has no end, and which will gain for us Your good pleasure. O Allah! Bless our master Muhammad with a blessing that is eternal with Your Eternity and continuous with Your Continuity. O Allah! Bless his wives, his children, his descendants, his Companions and all those who follow him until the Day of Judgment. Ameen. Muhammad Shareef Ramadan 19, 1413 Houston, Texas 4 Ta’leem Al-Anaam 5 In the Name of Allah, the Beneficent, the Merciful.1 Peace and blessings of Allah be upon the Noble Prophet. 2 All praises are due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. Peace and blessings be upon the master of the Messengers 3 and upon his family 4 and Companions - all of them. 5 This is the book: The Education of Mankind Regarding Allah’s Esteem of Our Prophet Upon him be the Best Blessings and Peace 6 1 The author, may Allah be merciful to him, begins with the basmalla following the example of the Book of Allah where the basmalla opens each of the Qur’anic chapters; also following the words of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Every matter of importance which is not begun In the name of Allah the Beneficent the Merciful will be cut off.” This prophetic tradition was narrated by Abd’l-Qaadir ar-Rahaawi in his al- Arba`een on the authority of Abu Hurayra. The author this blessed text is the Shaykh , the Realized Professor and Military Commander, Abu Muhammad Abdullahi ibn Fuduye` Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Salih ibn Harun ibn Muhammad Ghurtu ibn Muhammad Jubba ibn Muhammad Sanbu ibn Ayyub ibn Maasiran ibn Ayyub ibn Buba Baba ibn Abu Bakr ibn Musa Jokolli ibn Imam Dambuba. Shaykh Abdullahi ibn Fuduye`, may Allah be pleased with him was born in the year 1179 of the hijra in a town called Maghanimi. He was the full brother of the Light of the Age, the Reviver of the Religion, the Sword of Truth and Imam of the Awliya, Shehu Uthman ibn Fuduye`. His mother was Hawa bint Muhammad ibn Uthman ibn Hamm ibn `Aal ibn Muhammad Jittu ibn Muhammad Sanbu ibn Ayyub ibn Maasiran, from the line of the same above mentioned lineage. 2 The author follows the example of his words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Whoever sends blessings upon me in a book, there will always remain an Angel seeking forgiveness for him as long as my name is in that book.” This prophetic tradition was related by at-Tabarani in his al-Awsat on the authority of Abu Hurayra. 3 Here again the author follows the example of the Sublime Book of Allah where the first verse of the Opening chapter is: ‘ All praises are due to Allah the Lord of the worlds’; as well as acts in accordance with the legal judgment derived from his words, may Allah bless him and grant him peace: “Every matter of importance which is not begun with All praises are due to Allah and sending blessings upon me will be cut off.” The author, may Allah be merciful to him referred to him, upon him be blessings and peace as ‘ the master of the Messengers ’. Its meaning is as Ibn Shamil said: “The sayyid is the one who is elevated above all others in intelligence, wealth, defense and bringing benefit.