Mallam Abdullahi ɗan Fodio (; ca. 1766–1828), a prominent Islamic scholar, jurist, poet and theologian, was the first Amir of Gwandu (r. 1812–1828) and first Grand Vizier of Sokoto. His brother, Usman dan Fodio (1754–1817) was the founder of the Sokoto Caliphate. Usman, being more of a scholar than politician, delegated the practical regency of the western part of his empire to Abdullahi and the eastern part to his son Muhammed Bello, who later became the Sultan of Sokoto after his father.
Early life
Abdullahi was born in 1766 in a small village called Maganimi. Unlike his brother and other members of his family, who were of "sparse physique" and lighter-skinned, he was described as being "tall, fat and black". His father, Muhammad bin Uthman, was given the nickname Foduye (later Fodio), which meant a scholar or knowledgeable person in their native Fulfulde. The nickname comes from the Arabic word Faqīh meaning jurist. He belonged to the esteemed Toronkawa clan, known for their rich tradition of Islamic scholarship in the western Sudan. Abdullahi's 11th forefather, Musa Jakollo, hailed from Futa Toro as a Torodbe Fula and is believed to have led the initial group of Fulani settlers to Hausaland, specifically in Birnin Kwonni. His mother, Hauwa, descended from a prestigious lineage of renowned literary scholars. Her maternal grandmother, Ruqayyah bin Alim, held great esteem as both an ascetic and a scholar. She gained recognition for her notable work, Alkarim Yaqbal, which was highly regarded among Islamic scholars during the 18th and 19th centuries. Hauwa's father, Muhammad bin Uthman bin Hamm, surpassed even the fame and respect accorded to Ruqayyah. He was hailed as the most learned Fulani cleric of his era.
Hauwa is believed to be a direct descendant of the Islamic prophet Muhammad as she was descended from Maulay Idris I, the first Emir of Morocco. Abdullahi also claimed the Toronkawa Fulbe were descended from one Uqba. However, his nephew, Muhammad Bello, indicated that he was not sure if it was Uqba ibn Nafi, Uqba ibn Yasir or Uqba ibn Amir.
Early education
During Abdullahi's formative years, his mother played a crucial role as his initial Islamic teacher, nurturing his knowledge and fostering his understanding of the faith. As he matured, his father took over as his primary instructor, assuming the responsibility of guiding him in his religious education. It is likely that Abdullahi's formal study of Islam began around the age of 5, and by the time he reached 13, he had already memorized the Quran.
Subsequently, his older brother Usman assumed the role of his teacher, imparting more advanced subjects in Islam, such as Tauhid, Sufism and Mantiq. Usman further introduced him to Islamic poetry, including works like the Mu'allaqat poems, which had a significant influence on Abdullahi's later writings. Additionally, Usman focused on teaching Abdullahi 'Sharia' or Islamic law, with a particular emphasis on the Maliki school. Together, they studied the school's pivotal texts like the Mukhtasar al-Akhdari by al-Akhdari, Al-Risalah, and others, which continue to be taught in Nigeria today as fundamental law books. Abdullahi learnt Arabic grammar from works of Ibn Ājurrūm, and other works like Qatr al-nada and Shudhur al-dhahab both authored by ibn Hisham. Usman also introduced Abdullahi to elementary arithmetic, broadening his educational horizons beyond religious studies.
Some of Abdullahi's later teachers included his uncles, Muhammad ibn Raji, Abdullah ibn Muhammad Thanbu, and other pre-Sokoto scholars like Muhammad al-Firabri, Muhammad al-Buttugha, Mahmud Bazanfare, Muhammad al-Maghuri and al-Hajj Jibrin ibn Umar, who was an influential scholar from Agades. He himself later became a tutor and some of his students included his nephew, Muhammad Bello, al-Mustafa b. Muhammad, the father of Shaikh Abd al-Qadir dan Tafa, and Modibbo Raji, who played a significant role in shaping the Islamic scholarly tradition in Adamawa.