Nana Asma’u Fodio, a twin, was born in about 1793 in Degel, a small settlement lying 25 miles north west of Sokoto, which was only an unimportant harmlet in the year of her birth. Asma’u’s twin brother was named Hassan, but instead of the name Hussaina, the Shehu chose “Asma’u” for his daughter, a name that recalls the extraordinary seventh-century Asma bint Abubakar daughter of Abubakar As-Siddique, the Prophet’s Companion and the first Caliph. The historical Asma became famous for unhesitatingly aiding her father and the Prophet, Muhammad (SAW), when they were being hunted by their enemies, by taking food to them while they were hiding.
A classical Islamic education shaped Asma’u’s view of the world. This was not simply rote memorization of the Qur’an, although this approach is one by which children first assimilate the word of God, but it involved a rigorous programme of study beyond the initial phase. Tutored by her family, Asma’u studied Islamic philosophical text on prayer, mysticism, legal matters, fiqh, and tawhid.
Furthermore, women were familiar with both the battlefield and scholarly endeavours in which men were engaged. As was true in the seventh century for Aisha (RA), the Prophet Muhammad’s wife, so too the nineteenth century women of Sokoto were eye witnesses to battles during the Jihad. Principal among these was Nana Asma’u, the Shehu’s daughter. Asma’u’s scholarship was well respected because it actively supported the major tenets of the Jihad. The promotion of Islam, and the end of oppression of Muslims. She taught both men and women, was fluent in four languages, composed didactic and philosophical works in whatever language suited her intended audience. Asma’u was egalitarian in training non-Muslim refuges as she was comfortable communicating with revered Muslim scholars far across West Africa. As listed in an outline choronology of her life by Jean Boyd & Beverley Mack in their book titled The Caliphs Sister, her life can be summarised as presented in the following paragraphs.
The history of Nana Asma’u is still a subject of research. To summarize everything, the following is the account of her life from the time she was born in 1793. Asma’u was brought up by Shehu’s wives Aisha and Hauwa, Muhammed Bello’s mother after the death of her mother in 1795. Asma’u married Usman Gidado in 1807, and moved to live in Sokoto, the town built by Muhammad Bello in 1809 and gave birth to her first son Abdulqadir in 1810.
She translated Tabban Hakika (be sure of God’s truth) a poem written by Shehu in 1811 which was a plain guide to rights and responsibilities under Islamic Law. In 1820 Asma’u gave birth to her second son and wrote her book “The Way of the Pious”, a book about morality and working for the community. Between 1824 to 1829 Nana Asma’u and her husband Gidado hosted commander Huqh clapperton; She wrote ‘Give Us Victory’, “Elegy for Abdullahi”, wrote the Qur’an and received her first grandchild Halilu from her son Abdulqadir and at the same time gave birth to her third son Usman.
By 1832 Asma’u was established as “Uwar gari” and gave birth to her fourth son Abdullahi Bayero”. From 1834 to 1839, she wrote “A warning”, “forgive me” gave birth to her fifth son Muhammad Laima, “Elegy for Bello”, “Elegy for my sister Fadima” and translated the Qur’an and wrote Elegy for Buhari. Between 1840 to 1854 Asma’u authored the “Story of Shehu”, “Remembrance of Prophet”, “The path of Truth”, “Elegy for Gidado” her husband after his death in 1874. She translated the Qur’an into Arabic and several other works such as “Islam, Sokoto and Wurno”, “Destroy Mayaki” “ Elegy for Na’Inna” and “Remembrance of the Shehu”. “Elegy for Aisha I & II”, “Elegy for Mustapha”. “The Battle of Gawakuke”, “A warning”, “Elegy for Zahratu”, “Prayer Rain”, “Elegy for Hauwa’u”, “Reasons for seeking God”, were written between 1855 to 1861.
Nana Asma’u died in 1863 after writing “Elegy for my niece Fadima” and “Dan Yalli”, and was buried in the Hubbare, where her father was buried.
This is based on Muhammad Jameel’s paper titled Nana Asma'u Tradtion: An Intellectual Movement and a Symbol of Women Rights in Islam During the 19th Century DanFodio’s Islamic Reform, presented at the Conference on Sokoto Jihad Organized by the Centre for Hausa Cultural Studies Kano, at the Murtala Muhammad Library, 7-8 June 2004. It can be downloaded from the list of resources.
