Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio’s Educational Philosophy and Its Role in Social Transformation in West Africa

Abstract

Objective: This study looks at Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio's educational ideology and how it promoted social change and moral reform in pre-colonial West Africa. It highlights how, especially through the intellectual underpinnings of the Sokoto Caliphate, his idea of education contributed to ethical consciousness, social justice, and communal empowerment within Muslim nations. Theoretical framework: The study is based on Islamic social reform theory and educational philosophy, utilizing the ideas of tajdīd (renewal), ta'dīb (ethical formation), and tarbiyah (holistic nurture). These concepts are utilized to examine how Uthman dan Fodio used moral responsibility, spirituality, and education as tools for social change and injustice resistance. Literature review: The study examines Uthman dan Fodio's main writings, traditional Islamic educational materials, and current scholarly research on Islamic reform movements in West Africa.  In order to place Dan Fodio's ideas within more general conversations about transformational education, it also examines literature on education as a tool for social change. Methods: Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio's writings and relevant secondary sources are subjected to thematic analysis using a qualitative historical-textual technique. Knowledge distribution, moral discipline, social accountability, and community transformation are identified as recurrent educational themes in the study, which also looks at how these themes affect society development. Results: The results show that by encouraging moral leadership, intellectual awakening, and justice-oriented reform, Uthman dan Fodio's educational philosophy served as a key vehicle for societal transformation.  His focus on inclusive education, especially for women, improved social cohesiveness and helped bring about long-lasting institutional and moral reform. Implications: The study emphasizes the importance of Uthman dan Fodio's worldview for modern Muslim cultures looking for morally sound and socially revolutionary educational models by emphasizing education as the cornerstone of transformation. Novelty: By presenting Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio's pedagogical philosophy as a major force behind social change rather than just a historical or political reality, this study presents a novel educational-centered understanding of him.