Sheikh Danfodio’s Views on Imam Mahdi (II)

He also cited some scholars who said the Imam Mahdi will also be from the progeny of the Prophet Ahlul Bait through his daughter, Fatima. Among these are Kurdubi in his book Tazakira where he cited authentic hadith with line of transmission to Caliph Usman Bin Affan. Others are Muhammad ibn Walid and Darul Kudni.On […]

He also cited some scholars who said the Imam Mahdi will also be from the progeny of the Prophet Ahlul Bait through his daughter, Fatima. Among these are Kurdubi in his book Tazakira where he cited authentic hadith with line of transmission to Caliph Usman Bin Affan. Others are Muhammad ibn Walid and Darul Kudni.
On whether Imam Mahdi is alive now, Sheikh Danfodio said he had no hadith to confirm this but mentioned the work of Shehu Abdul- Wahhab Assha’arani titled Lawafihil Anwar Fi dabakatil Akhyari, where he cited renowned scholar Hasanul Iraki who related his experience mainly an encounter with Imam Mahdi. After praying for several years to Allah in my prostration sujada in every prayer to show him the Imam Mahdi, he had an unusual experience. ‘After saying my Maghrib prayers and was praying nafilah a man sat behind me and held my shoulder, and said ‘Allah has answered your prayer my son. What do you seek? I am Imam Mahdi. So I asked him if he would accompany me to my home and he agreed but requested a place of seclusion which I provided. He gave me some 500 prayers and wurdi litany which I should hold on to. Sheikh Danfodio said he relied only on Sharia in his sermons and writings and had no hadith to back the proposal that Imam Mahdi is alive. However the Sheikh said he cited the story of Hasanu Iraqi only to share what waliyyai (friends of Allah) have experienced not because he wanted to rely on it. He also said he did not also falsify the experience because it was expressed by an upright scholar.
In another of his books Wasiyya, Sheikh Danfodio said ‘Anyone who is burdened with leadership and dispensation of justice, l should watch out for the year 1388AH because this will be a year of great trial and tribulations. It will be a year of disasters and unrest because of the baggage of sin that are being committed. We seek Allah’s protection from this. Any sensible person and anyone who wants Allah salvation should protect his faith and discard his ruling position. It is necessary to shun this because of the domination of ruling sector and leadership by hypocrites, arrogant, sinful people. It will be virtually impossible for God fearing persons to attain any position of leadership at this time. They should shun them. These sinful people and enemies of Allah and His Prophet will entrench themselves and continue their oppression until the awaited Imam Mahdi appears and eliminates them. When these sinful people are swept away, then maybe the God fearing people may again aspire to positions of leadership.’
Sheikh Danfodio said, twelve years before the appearance of the awaited Imam Mahdi, the Umma will experience severe drought and famine. He is called the awaited one because numerous people have made claims to being the Mahdi. However, the real Mahdi will appear at the end of the fourteenth centuries after the Prophet Muhammad’s hijrah (SAW). When he appears, Imam Mahdi will reform Islam and restore it to its pristine purity. He will entrench justice and equity and spread the religion far and wide. This will happen around 1430 AH plus years. The era of the Imam Mahdi will be marked by peace, prosperity and stability but there will be no peace and stability after the death of Imam Mahdi as stated in authentic hadith. This state of suffering   and hardship will continue until the middle of the fifteenth century after the Prophet (SAW).  At this time, due to the hardship, perpetual crisis that will prevail, a God-believing person will prefer being dead and buried in a grave than remaining alive. This state of affairs will continue until the end of the world. Allah is the only knower of the unseen and an ignorant human being like me has no such knowledge.’
In his preface to the book Wasiyya, 19th Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Al-Mustapha H Jokolo, stated as follows: ‘This Wasiyya is a handwritten document by the Islamic reformer Sheikh Danfodio which he left for the entire Ummah.  He had initially addressed it to his germane brother Malam Abdullahi Dan Fodio but with the intention for its content to be shared with all.’
‘In the book, the Sheikh warned leaders and their followers about the year 1388AH which is known as Fasharrik Biha. That year is also equivalent of Gregorian calendar 1967AD. The Sheikh warned that it will be the time for God fearing people to jettison power and leadership. I want people to note that this Wasiyya was written in the year 1232 AH which is equivalent of 1817 AD, that is about 181 years ago. I also want readers to note that the year 1388AH is 1967AD and it was the year that the Local Government Reform was implemented.  Emirs had power and authority withdrawn from them. Their sources of power the treasury -Baitul Mali; justice system -Sharia courts, law enforcement -‘Yan Doka   and incarcerations- Gidan Yari, were taken over completely. The emirs lost power to design or implement any policy and were placed under the newly created states. That same year also marked the beginning of the civil war against the Biafran rebels which lasted up to 1970. That year 1388AH/1967AD was also the year when the Northern House of Chiefs was scrapped.
‘Sheikh Danfodio also mentioned hijra years 1400AH as years of drought and we actually experienced drought and hunger between 1979 and 1985. All these, according to the Sheikh are countdown to appearance of Imam Mahdi which should be expected from 1430 plus years. Only Allah (SWT) knows when signs of the end will be completed and when Alkiyama (the last day will come) we are now in 1429 AH. May Allah protect us’. Sheikh Danfodio then urged us to acquire knowledge before leadership, to be patient with the people, call them to guidance through preaching, seek the truth, be just and kind to people and to remember that there were emirs and rulers before but they have passed on. Leaders should be humble and should employ learned people to help them manage state affairs. It is the responsibility of leaders to stand firm and prevent evil and tyranny in order to avert Allah’s wrath on people which is bound to happen when sins are committed.’’