Exposing Plans of Fake Hausa Activists & Ba-Zata Mischief Mongers to Cause Confusion and Discord in Northern Nigeria (9)
By Bashir Yahuza Malumfashi
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√ How Dan Fodio Helped the Muslim Community as a Whole:
To the respected readers who patiently follow this commentary, peace be upon you. I hope we all understand how some malicious individuals are trying to bring calamity and misfortune upon us (may Allah protect us).
In this ninth part of the commentary, by the will of Allah, we will briefly examine some of the important contributions and assistance rendered by the Mujaddid (reviver of Islam), Shehu Usman Dan Fodio (RTA), both to the Hausa people in particular and to the Muslim community worldwide.
The greatest and most impactful contribution that the Mujaddid Shehu made to the Hausa people was rescuing them from the darkness of ignorance and polytheism. Before his jihad, history confirms that although the rulers of the Hausa states were Muslims, they had corrupted themselves and their people with practices that contradicted the teachings of Islam.
At that time, oppression and injustice by rulers were widespread. Among the general population as well, society had become morally degraded, dominated by spirit worship (bori), superstition, immoral speech and shameless behavior. By Allah’s power, as a result of Shehu’s jihad, a strong and influential Islamic state was successfully established across West Africa.
As I mentioned in previous articles, there are still many books and historical works through which one can find clear and authentic evidence supporting this account.
Another source of pride and joy is that, through this jihad, the society was liberated from ignorance. Oppression, which had become common among rulers of that era, was curtailed. The people were successfully returned to the true teachings of Islam, as commanded by Allah and His Messenger.
As a result of this jihad, the Hausa people attained freedom, dignity and prominence in the world. The Hausa language itself gained recognition and special attention due to the efforts of Dan Fodio and his students, who devoted themselves to writing and preaching using the language. Before this jihad, writing in Hausa (Ajami script) was not well developed.
Through his jihad, the Mujaddid established a strong and effective system of governance for the Hausa people based on Islamic teachings, a system that purified society and guided it back to the right path.
The Hausa people, once known for practices such as spirit worship and superstition, had their beliefs and character transformed toward the worship of one God alone. Dan Fodio’s jihad changed the Hausa individual from a morally loose person into one who is modest, truthful, values kinship and strengthens brotherhood. The Hausa became a true Muslim, devoted to Allah and His Messenger, committed to seeking and spreading knowledge; rather than the previously widespread image of being unrefined and lacking discipline. Even the dignified style of Hausa dressing today is a result of the awareness brought by Dan Fodio’s movement.
At this point, it is important to remind people that Dan Fodio did not promote the Fulani language or tribal identity. Rather, he promoted Islam and its noble values, educating the Hausa people and their neighbors across West Africa. The Islamic state he established had a profound influence from that time up to the present day. This is also why, when European missionaries arrived in Hausaland, they struggled to establish Christianity. They had to adopt the system of Indirect Rule before they could govern the region. Even then, they did not achieve the level of success they had in Southern Nigeria in spreading Christianity.
Therefore, Shehu did not promote Fulani culture. He promoted Islam. Nor did he elevate the Fulfulde language; instead, he gave significant importance to the Hausa language, as he and his students produced extensive literary stuff in it. If he had been driven by ethnic Fulani interests, he would have forced people to learn Fulfulde and made it the official language of governance in his state; just as the Europeans imposed English in Nigeria and other colonies.
From all indications, it is enemies of Islam who have introduced the scheme to destabilize Muslim communities, especially in the North through the so-called “Ba-Zata” movement, under the guise of promoting Hausa identity. Their main objective is to create conflict and hatred between Hausa and Fulani people, who have long become one community through Islam, intermarriage and centuries of coexistence.
It is also well known that, as a result of Dan Fodio’s jihad, many communities across Northern Nigeria, as well as parts of Niger, Cameroon and Chad, came to identify as Hausa due to the widespread influence of the Hausa language and culture over their original languages.
Dear readers, in the tenth part of this series, by Allah’s will, we will raise an important question: In today’s world (the 21st century), who truly qualifies as a “pure” Hausa person?
Before then, here is a message to those who are eager to incite conflict between Hausa and Fulani under the guise of ethnic loyalty: continue insulting people in the name of defending Hausa identity. Such actions only expose your true intentions and reveal your malicious agenda to the Muslim community. And know this: just as your predecessors (the colonial masters) eventually gave up their schemes and left the Usmaniyya Caliphate, you too will give up, no matter how elaborate your plans may be. After all, if yesterday has passed, what power does today really hold?
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