Fulfulde & Kanuri Ajami Materials of Northeastern Nigeria
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Item Deftere Ḥajj (Pilgrimage Book)UnknownThis manuscript is about the pilgrimage to Mecca. It is small in size but a very rich book that outlines the meaning of pilgrimage, its principles, along with do’s and don’ts. It is written in Fulfulde Ajami. The author uses images and sketches to illustrate places that pilgrims should visit, as well as the kinds of clothing they should wear. The book is also illustrated with image to enable the intending pilgrims/readers/audiences to understand how to perform well the pilgrimage rituals. The Deftere Hajj (Pilgrimage Book) has many chapters with numerous prayers. The author has written the prayers in Arabic, as they are read or chanted in Arabic. He then translates the prayers in Fulfulde Ajami.Item Al-Sanūsiyya al-Sughrā (Short Version of Al-Sanusiyya)Usman, Alhaji Goni; Al-Talmiz; b. Yūsuf al-Sanūsī, Shaykh MuḥammadThis manuscript is a copy of the work of Shaykh Muḥammad b. Yūsuf al-Sanūsī (aka Abū ʿAbdullāh) with extensive explicatory marginal and interlinear Kanuri glosses. This short book is popularly known as Al-Sanūsiyya. There are many versions of the work, including those that have detailed commentaries. But this version is the short form. It is a foundational text on tawḥīd (oneness of Allāh). Al-Sanūsiyya al-Sughrā has been a popular work that is read, memorized, and chanted by students of the tsangaya traditional Islamic schools. It deals with attributes of Allāh and the features that are not His. It also deals with many messengers of Allāh and concludes with insights about Prophet Muḥammad. An outstanding feature in this manuscript is a pattern marking at the center (page 20) and on the cover page. Such markings are commonly found on Quranic manuscripts and not in books like this one. It was originally written in traditional ink.Item Manẓūm al-Awjalī (An Apparatus of al-Aujaly)Muhammad, Goni; Mukhtar, Gana; Ṣāliḥ, Shaykh MuḥammadThis manuscript is a very short work in Arabic with extensive explicatory glosses in Kanuri Ajami. It has two parts. The first is Shaykh Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ’s work dealing with tawḥīd (oneness of God), the five pillars of Islam, the attributes of Allāh, the articles of faith, and elaborated notes on the characteristics of the Almighty God. The second part of the work deals with anger, anxiety, and depression. It provides words of wisdom on how to manage, control and eradicate these conditions. Both parts (tawḥīd and anger management) are written as poems. It is unclear whether the author of the first part is the same as author of the second part. The manuscript reflects the long history of Islamic scholarship in Kanem-Borno. The manuscript is unbound, complete, easy to read, and has no damaged pages. The total number of pages is only 11.Item Matnu al-ʿAshmāwī fi al-ʿIbāda (Al-Ashmāwī’s Islamic Rituals)Koloma, Goni Abubakar; al-ʿAshmāwīThis undated manuscript is a complete copy the Arabic work by Shaykh ʿAbd al-Bārī al-Rafā‘ī al-ʿAshmāwī, which is explained using Kanuri Ajami glosses by Goni Abubakar Koloma. The book is among the most well-known, well-read and most-cited authorities on Islamic rituals in northern Nigeria and West Africa. Considered more advanced than Qawā’id and Al-Akhdarī, Al-ʿAshmāwī is popular among clerics and students of Islamic jurisprudence. Like Al-Akhdarī and other similar books on Muslim rituals, this text contains many chapters dealing with the significance of good intent, purification of the heart, body, and the environment, ablution and ritual prayers, requirements of ritual prayers, factors that invalidate ritual prayers, and common mistakes in ritual prayers and how to correct them.Item Mukhtaṣar al-Akhdarī (An Abbreviation of Imām al-Akhdarī)Abubakar, Mahir; ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-AkhdarīThis manuscript is written in Arabic with extensive glosses in Kanuri Ajami. The book was originally written by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Akhdarī. It is a well-known text on Islamic jurisprudence that students in madrasas and tsangayas study as part of their curriculum. In many instances, the author provides details and explanations on some grey areas in Islamic rituals and jurisprudence. The benefits of some rituals are notes in marginal glosses in Kanuri Ajami. The book is typical of a market edition, written in traditional ink and reproduced. It has nearly 50 chapters that cover themes such as monotheism, prophethood, relationships, purification of the heart and body, ritual prayers, fasting, and rulings on common mistakes in ritual prayers. Kanuri Ajami is used in interlinear glosses.Item Shurūt al-Ṣalat (Rules of Required Ritual Prayers)Abubakar, Malam KolomaThis manuscript is an unbound copy of Shurūt al-Ṣalāt (Arabic: Rules of Required Ritual Prayers), with extensive glosses in Kanuri Ajami. As the title suggests, it deals with one of the most important rituals in Islam—al-Ṣalāt (the five required daily prayers) as well as purification of the body and ablution. Written from a Malikī school perspective, the work discusses the conditions and requirements al-Ṣalāt. After a one-sentence introduction, like many foundational instructional materials on Islamic rituals, the main text in Arabic is in a larger font, while the Kanuri Ajami glosses are in a smaller font. The text has both marginal and interlinear glosses. It is a popular work on Islamic jurisprudence in northern Nigeria. It is 14 pages long and is not dated. The pages are numbered.Item Matnu al-Qurtabī fī al-ʿIbāda (Imām Qurtabī’s Islamic Rituals)Goni, Abubakar UmarThis manuscript is a collection of Imām Qurtabī’s poems on Islamic rituals. It contains the original Arabic version with extensive glosses in Kanuri Ajami. The poems deal with means of purifying the body and ritual prayers. Details on the key requirements principles of ritual purification and prayers are provided in addition to how to avoid mistakes in ritual prayers and on how to correct them when they occur. This manuscript has 23 pages and is a complete unbound copy. Though, not dated, it has page numbers. It is handwritten in traditional ink and has no physical damage or stains. It represents a typical market edition manuscript. The glosses in Kanuri Ajami are easy to read.Item Qawā’id al-Ṣalāt (Principles of Ritual Prayers)Kakaduma, Goni AbdullahiThis manuscript is the Arabic version of Qawā’id al-Ṣalāt with extensive glosses in Kanuri Ajami. The text is popular and it is generally among the very first books that students in madrasa and the traditional Tsangaya schools study. Though, its title suggests ritual prayers, it first addresses the preliminary rituals of ablution, required ritual showers, and then ritual prayers, which is the major subject matter of the rest of the manuscript. The glosses are smaller in font compared to the main Arabic text. The last part of the manuscript deals with monotheism and explains the attributes of Allāh. It concludes with a supplication that is recited in the last segment of ritual prayers. In so doing, the writer illustrates the importance of Islamic ritual prayers and shows his style of writing: starting out with a strong introduction, then logically presenting the sequences of rituals involved in obligatory daily prayers, and concluding with prayers. The manuscript has 15 pages and is a complete unbound copy. It has no signs of damage. It is undated but has page numbers.Item Manẓūm ibn ʿĀshur (Ibn ʿĀshur's Poems)Abubakar, Ahana; Umar, Nahir; ibn ʿĀshūr, Muhammad al-ṬāhirThis manuscript is a collection of Ibn ʿĀshur's poems in Arabic with extensive explicatory glosses in Kanuri Ajami. The Arabic text is written in a regular poetic style. This text is one of the famous works on Islamic jurisprudence, especially in the Mālikī School. Considered by most as an intermediate mid-level work on classical Islamic education in Nigeria, the text is a collection of poems addressing rulings on various forms of Islamic rituals. The text includes an introduction to the work, details on the kinds of ritual purifications necessary before engaging in spiritual rituals, ablution, required prayers, fasting, alms giving, and pilgrimage. Similar texts with glosses in Kanuri, Hausa, Fulfulde, and Tamashek exist. The text has no publication date. It is numbered. It is a complete unbound copy and is in good condition.Item ʿAqīda al-Awwam (Creed of the Commons)(2012) Umar, Alhaji IbrahimThis is a small ten-page manuscript in Arabic and Kanuri Ajami titled “ʿAqidā al-Awwam” written in a poetic style. It is a typical classic Islamic jurisprudence instructional document written from the Mālikī school perspective. As with many similar documents, the manuscript begins with praising Allāh followed by a tribute to Prophet Muḥammad, and then delves into the subject matter: a detailed description of Allāh’s characteristics. The manuscript also talks about the many messengers of God, dwelling on the last and final one (Prophet Muḥammad). As part of the discussion on Prophet Muḥammad, the writer also talks about his companions, celebrating them. Kanuri Ajami is used in the glosses. The first date of publication is given (2012CE/1433 AH). The manuscript is unbound and has page numbers.Item Al-Qaṣāʾid al-ʿAjamiyya (Ajami Poems)(1970) b. Fodio, Shehu ʿUthmān; b. Fodio, Shehu ʿAbdullāhi; Bello, Sultan MuḥammadThis manuscript is a collection of poems written by the triumvirate: Shehu ʿUthmān b. Fodio, Shehu ʿAbdullāhi b. Fodio (his brother), and Sultan Muhammad Bello (Shehu b. Fodio’s son and Shehu ʿAbdullāhi’s nephew). The majority of the poems were written by Shehu ʿUthmān and are at the beginning of the manuscript. The poems are predominantly about Islamic jurisprudence, including purification, ablution, ritual prayers, obligatory showers, menstruation, alms giving, and how to fix mistakes in ritual prayers. The second set of poems are on the Quran. They discuss the importance of reciting the Quran and sticking to its injunctions. The subsequent set of poems are written by Amir Sultan Muhammad Bello. The scribe has indicated that the set of poems on the Quran and the subsequent ones on fiqh were all written by the Sultan. Finally, there is one last poem on the oneness of Allāh and His attributes. This is the only poem that has glosses. The manuscript is written in Fulfulde Ajami but there are a few comments using Arabic phrases to explain some points.Item Kiitaaji Diina Ujuneeree (The Book of a Thousand Verdicts)Umaru, HamiduThis manuscript is an Islamic jurisprudence work that contains injunctions on various aspects of Islamic rituals. It is original in the sense that it was not a translation of another person’s work, but the author’s own work. "The Book of a Thousand Verdicts" covers a wide range of themes, including a chapter on each for the five pillars of Islam, details on various aspects of worship (purification, ablution, ritual prayers, inheritance, marriage, business transactions, divorce, alimony, menstruation, etc.). Perhaps the wide coverage of topics led the author to title the work "The Book of a Thousand Verdicts.” The work is not dated. The manuscript is written in Fulfulde Ajami. There are a few glosses indicated in boxes. Comments mainly note Quranic verses referenced in the text.Item Deftere Wanginoori Maʿna Mukhtaṣar al-Akhdarī (A Book on the Meanings of Akhdarī)(2001) Tijani, Ahmad Adib; ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-AkhdarīThis manuscript is a complete translation of the book that was written by ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Akhdarī – an important Maliki jurist. The manuscript is written in Arabic and Fulfulde Ajami. Each Arabic line is rendered in Fulfulde Ajami. It has nearly 50 chapters, covering a wide range of themes. These themes include relationships between Muslims and their Creator, community and the society, purification of the body and soul, ablution, ritual prayers and their requirements, different kinds of blood, and common mistakes made in ritual prayers and how to correct them, to name only these. Published in 2001, the manuscript has a table of contents at the end. It is dated using CE and AH systems.Item Tafsiru Juz’u Amma (Translation of the 30th Part of the Quran)UnknownThis manuscript is a complete originally bound copy of the Fulfulde Ajami version of the tafsir (exegesis) of Juz’u Amma, which is the last part of the Quran. This sub-unit is called “The short chapters” of the Holy Book and is one of the most well-known parts of the Quran. Students of the traditional Tsangayas and modern madrasas in northern Nigeria begin learning and memorizing the Quran from this portion. The Fulfulde Ajami manuscript of the tafsir was written in ink rather than with modern pens. The manuscript is not dated. The Fulfulde dialect used suggests that the author was from northeastern Nigeria, rather than northwestern Nigeria.Item Tatal Koldiniigal (Pillars of Religion)Ahmadu, Shehu; Tijani, Ahmad AdibThis manuscript is an original work on Islamic ritual practices written in Fulfulde Ajami. Although not very long, the text is rich. It addresses many topics, including what the Islamic faith is about, ritual prayers, ablution, types and rules of ritual purifications, and so on. It spells out the principles and ideal practices of alms giving, fasting, pilgrimage, and the manners in which each of these rituals should be performed. The manuscript has over 20 chapters written in Fulfulde Ajami. It also contains various prayers and details on how and where they should be made. All the pages are numbered. A table of contents is included on the last page. It has dates.Item Bushra’u (Panegyric Poems of the Prophet)b. Fodio, Shaykh ʿUthmān; Bello, Sultan Muḥammad; b. Fodio, AbdullāhThis manuscript is a book of panegyric poems dedicated to Prophet Muḥammad. It is locally called "Bushra’u"(meaning: good news or good omen). It is a large collection of praises dedicated to Prophet Muḥammad. Bushra’u, as the title suggests, describes the unique and unrivaled attributes of Prophet Muḥammad. It describes his character and what makes him outstanding, including being a chosen person, trustworthy, noble yet humble, generous, brave, and compassionate. Bushra’u speaks to all of mankind—illustrating the virtuous habits of Allāh’s final messenger. It argues that Prophet Muḥammad is a messenger for all mankind. The poems also discuss paradise and its marvels. Bushra’u is a very popular collection of poems among Fulfulde speakers in northern Nigeria. The poems are regularly chanted in religious events.Item Saffondi Nayi al-Nawawī (Collection of al-Nawawī's Forty-Four Ḥadiths)Tijjani Adib, Muhammad Ahmed; al-NawawīThis manuscript is a Fulfulde Ajami translation of Imām al-Nawawī’s forty-four ḥadiths. This ḥadith collection is perhaps the most popular one in northern Nigeria. Students in Quranic school students study the text and are expected to read, memorize, and chant it in Arabic and to translate it into other local languages. The author, whose name is not written on the digitized manuscript, provides a line by line translation of the Arabic ḥadiths and offers comments in Fulfulde Ajami. The text addresses many aspects of Islamic rituals, including faithfulness, goodwill, chastity, devotion, contentment, virtuous habits, oneness of Allāh, human relations, and preparedness for the judgment day.