This book explores the transformative role of Uthman bin Fodio in the reformation of Nigerian society, tracing his daʿwah (religious calling) from its earliest expressions to the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate in the 19th century. While much has been written about his legacy, this study uniquely focuses on the initial motivations, methods, and communal strategies he employed, often overlooked in mainstream scholarship. Building upon the foundational theory of societal change (ʿumrān) by Ibn Khaldun, the work examines the intellectual and spiritual interplay between the Maghribi thinker and the West African reformer. It argues that Ibn Khaldun's cyclical theory of social development deeply informed Uthman bin Fodio's vision, tactics, and success in transitioning society from a traditional to an Islamic governance model. Engaging both classical Islamic thought and historical sociology, this book fills a critical gap in understanding the ideological roots and methodological strategies behind one of the most significant Islamic reform movements in Sub-Saharan Africa. It will be a vital resource for students, historians, Islamic scholars, and anyone interested in the intersection of religion, society, and political change in Africa.
Dr. Shuaibu Umar Gokaru was born and raised in Gokaru, a village town in the Alkaleri Local Government Area of Bauchi State, Nigeria. He attended Iqamatissunnah Islamiyyah Primary School and memorized the complete Qur'an by heart in 2001. Later, he proceeded to Government Comprehensive Day Secondary School and Government Day Secondary School, Kofar Wamabai, respectively. Thereafter, he attended the then A.D. Rufa'i College for Legal and Islamic Studies in Misau, Bauchi, Nigeria, now A.D. Rufa'i College of Education, Legal, and General Studies, where he obtained a Diploma in Shari'a & Civil Law in 2004. Dr. Gokaru obtained his B.A. Degree in Islamic Studies in 2010 from Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto, Nigeria, and a Master of Arts Degree in Islamic and other Civilizations from the International Islamic University, Malaysia (IIUM), in 2014. He finally obtained his Doctor of Philosophy in Islamic Civilization from the University of Malaya in 2017. Dr. Gokaru was a Lecturer at Sa'adu Zungur University, formally known as Bauchi State University, Gadau, Nigeria, from 2012 to January 2023. Presently, he is a Senior Lecturer at the Department of Islamic History, Civilization and Education, Academy of Islamic Studies, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Religion and Cultural Studies, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Kazakhstan. While at Bauchi State University, Gadau, Dr. Gokaru taught various courses and supervised students at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. He served in different capacities, including as Faculty Examination Officer of the then Faculty of Arts and Education and now Faculty of Arts from 2017 to 2021, and as Dean of the Students' Affairs Division, Office of the Vice Chancellor, from 2021 to 2022. He also served as Chairman and a member of various committees such as the Senate Committee, Senate Business Committee, Committee of Deans and Directors, Appointment and Promotion Committee, and University Disciplinary Committees, among others. He is the Journal Reviewer of Al-Habeer: Journal of Islamic Studies, Al-Tamaddun: Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, Al-Milal: South Asian Journal of Religion and Philosophy, Journal of Asian and African Studies (Sage Publications), Journal of Islamic Thought and Civilization, MIT University Lahore, Pakistan, Journal of Usuluddin, Universiti Malaya, and many more. He is also the Managing Editor of AL-Muqaddimah: Journal of Islamic History and Civilization, Universiti Malaya. He has published various papers in international refereed academic journals (WOS: HNC-4320-2023 and Scopus ID: 58395942000), such as the Indonesian Journal of Social Sciences, Al-Tamaddun, Safer Communities, Emerald Publishing, and Al-Bayan: Journal of Qur'an and Hadith Studies, among others.
