Aspects of Islamic social intellectual history in Hausaland: 'Uthman ibn Fudi, 1774-1804 C.E

The Sokoto Jihad of 1804 C.E. in Hausaland produced a powerful Islamic state. Its leaders and thinkers were Islamic scholars who communicated with each other in classical Arabic and produced an unprecedented number of writings never before witnessed in Hausaland. Many of these works are still in existence today. In an atmosphere of struggle and strife a type of intellectual renaissance occurred where scholarship was being widely disseminated and even women scholars were given authority and recognition.;Despite these achievements very little attention has been paid to the intellectual history and social impact of the Sokoto Jihad and the resulting Caliphate.;This thesis is intended to bring out aspects of the social, intellectual history of Hausaland in the eighteenth century and discuss the ideas produced by Shaykh 'Uthman ibn Fudi (the Shehu), leader of the Sokoto Jihad, to meet the challenges. An attempt has been made to look at some of the Shehu's major writings during the period of his intellectual life before the jihad, 1774-1804 C.E.;Part one, the Background, looks at the role of Islamic scholars in the development of Islam in Hausaland. It, then, delves into aspects of the social, political atmosphere, by looking at the local religious and political systems, some prominent customs, and the position of women in society. Finally, the Timbuktu system of Islamic scholarship, and the actual scholars who impacted on the Shehu are examined.;Part two, the Analysis, is an in-depth look at the Shehu's comment on social and religious customs in such areas as: personal hygiene, childbirth, circumcision, sexuality, marital relations, the affairs of the mosque, medicine, and the supernatural. An attempt is made to re-analyze the Shehu's confrontation with extremist scholars, and to look at the advice he gave his students on innovations, self criticism, and Tasawwuf (Islamic mysticism). Finally, the Shehu's concept of the role and position of women in society and the dynamics of struggle in the development of an Islamic society are explored.