Publication at Hussite Theological Faculty |
2019
Abstract
The study analyzes the biography of the religious reformer Usman Dan Fodio (1754-1817), according to secondary sources. Author presents his biography in a historical context and underlines the key moments in his life.
The study underlines his ethnic origin, the social issues in this period, the crucial role of Usman's teacher Jibril b. ʻUmar, and also his deep mystical experience and some milennialistic elements. On the background of mutual comparison between these moments, it occurs that Usman's concept of jihad was not driven solely by social or ethnic motives.
It was primarily a religious movement associated with mystical experience and milennialism, as a primary motive for his jihad.