Tuesday, June 3, 2025
Nana Asma’u of Nigeria: Pioneering Women’s Education and Islamic Scholarship
By Afroz Khan, New Age Islam
3 June 2025
Nana Asma’u, a 19th-century Sokoto Caliphate princess, revolutionized women’s education through the Yaan Taru Mission. A multilingual scholar and poet, she trained women to educate girls, breaking class barriers. Her influential poetry and reforms continue to inspire, with her legacy enduring in Nigeria’s educational institutions.
Main Points:
1. Nana Asma’u, born 1793 in Nigeria, was a princess of the Sokoto Caliphate.
2. Proficient in four languages, she was a Hafiz of the Quran and a prolific poet.
3. Founded the Yaan Taru Mission in 1830 to promote women’s education.
4. Trained “Jajis” to teach girls using her poems, empowering women across classes.
5. Her legacy continues through active educational missions and named institutions.
-----
Nana Asma’u bint Shehu Usman dan Fodiyo was a princess of the Fula Empire. She was born in 1793 in Nigeria. Her father's name was Usman dan Fodiyo.
Nana Asma'u's father Usman dan Fodiyo was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate.
Nana Asma'u's husband was Usman dan Laima, also known as Gidado dan Laima. They were married in 1807 when Nana Asma'u was fourteen years old.
Since childhood, Nana Asma'u saw jihad and struggle very closely. She saw her father, uncle and brother fighting the Fulani conflict (1804–08). It was after this conflict that the Sokoto Sultanate was established. This war was a religious and political movement that was fought against the Hausa Empire.
Nana Asma'u's family came from the intellectual class. She herself was a person of sharp intellect and talent. Her father educated her and appointed the best educators for her. As a result, Nana Asma'u became proficient in four languages: Arabic, Fula, Hausa and Tamachek Tuareg.
In addition, Nana Asma'u was also a Hafiz of the Quran. She was an excellent poet, social reformer, founder of the Yaan Taaru Mission, intellectual and educationist.
Special Contribution in Women's Education And Empowerment
Nana Asma'u's biggest contribution is in the field of women's education and empowerment. In the 18th century, when it was common for girls to be married as soon as they turned 13-14 years old, and no attention was paid to the education of girls, Nana Asma'u started a movement which was launched in West Africa in 1830.
"Yaan taru Mission" Yaan Taru is a word of Hausa language which means "coming together" or "gathering". This mission was a revolutionary mission which gave new achievement to women's education and gave Nana Asma'u the status of a respected woman, social reformer.
Under Yaan taru Mission, Nana Asma'u formed a group of learned women and trained those women herself. Later these learned women used to wear a special type of red colored turban. This was worn for their unique identity. These learned women used to go to villages and towns and provide religious education to girls in homes. These learned women were called "Jajis". These learned women used to use poems and compositions written by Nana Asma'u and other Sufi saints to provide education. This movement had a very wide impact. This movement greatly improved the educational and social status of women. It was Nana Asma'u's foresight that he made education available to the poor and middle class. At that time, education was the monopoly of the upper and elite classes, but Nana Asma'u dedicated the right to education to every class.
This movement was so influential that even after the death of Nana Asma'u, the fall of the Sokoto Empire, and the colonial era, this movement did not end, but this movement is still active today.
The Yaan Taru mission is so widespread that even today this mission is actively working in many countries.
Nana Asma'u was not only a prominent Islamic scholar and teacher, but also a prolific poet. Her poems, written in Arabic, Hausa, and Fulfulde Ajami, often served as a tool for public education, encouraging the study of Islam.
Nana Asma'u wrote numerous elegies, poems that memorialized individuals, especially prominent figures and members of her community. Her poems often described the jihad, war and the people involved in it waged by her father.
Through these poems, she educated the people, and also worked to pass on her proud history.
Nana Asma'u's poetry played an important role in mobilizing public opinion behind the movement for the revival of Islam in West Africa, and her educational work, especially for women, was extremely influential.
Today in northern Nigeria, Islamic women's organizations, schools, and meeting halls are commonly named after Nana Asma'u, reflecting her lasting legacy in the region. And it also highlights the rich Islamic heritage where women were at the forefront of revolution in education.
Nana Asma'u was an outstanding and pioneering woman of Islam who will always be remembered for her outstanding contributions and will always serve as a source of inspiration for those who are working towards the upliftment of society in general and women in particular.
-----
Afroz Khan is a teacher by profession. She primarily writes about women and Islam. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Education.
URL: https://www.newageislam.com/islam-women-feminism/nana-asmau-pioneering-islamic-scholarship/d/135755
New Age Islam, Islam Online, Islamic Website, African Muslim News, Arab World News, South Asia News, Indian Muslim News, World Muslim News, Women in Islam, Islamic Feminism, Arab Women, Women In Arab, Islamophobia in America, Muslim Women in West, Islam Women and Feminism
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment