The Significance of Astronomy in the Ancient Arabic Salisu Bala

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF ASTRONOMY IN THE ANCIENT

ARABIC MANUSCRIPTS OF NORTHERN NIGERIA AND
THEIR PRESERVATION

Salisu Bala*

Abstract
The main thrust of this paper is to examine critically the
significance of astronomy in the ancient Arabic manuscripts of
Northern Nigeria and their preservation. Astronomy is one of the most
significant fields of sciences that received a tremendous attention by
the early Nigerian Scholars since the late 15th and early 16th
centuries. The subject was also treated in the 19th Century by the 1804
Sokoto jihad leaders. According to our recent findings, there are few
works attributed to Sheikh Uthman Danfodiyo (died 1817), his brother
Abdullahi bin Fodiyo (died 1827) and his son Muhammad Bello (died
1837), the first Amirul Mumineen (Commander of the Faithful) of the
Sokoto Caliphate on the subject. However, the content of these works
are yet to be procured, analysed, translated, and even published for
the development of new knowledge in Nigeria. Most of the works are
scattered in different private / public repositories of Arabic / Ajami
manuscripts with less attention in terms of preservation. Some of the
areas that housed these manuscripts include the following: 1-Waziri
Junaidu History & Culture Bureau, Sokoto, 2-National Archives,
Kaduna, 3-History Bureau, Kano,,4-Arewa House, Kaduna, 5-The
Private House of Late Waziri Junaidu, in Sokoto, 6-National museum,
Jos, 7-Center for Trans-Saharan Studies, Maiduguri, 8-Centre for
Islamic Studies, Sokoto. More so, a lot needs to be studied in these
manuscripts dealing with the subject of *astronomy. If such is
achieved, the scope of reasoning as well as teaching in our tertiary
institutions will be tremendously widened and developed. As such,
serious attention needs to be devoted in the area of content analysis,
preservation and conservation.

*
Arewa House Center for Historical Documentation and Research, P. M. B 2006,
Kaduna Nigeria, larabawa@yahoo.com
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Introduction
It is a well known fact, that the repositories of the ancient
Arabic manuscripts of northern Nigeria dealt with different fields of
human development. These fields included psychology, history,
astronomy, human medicine, prosody e.t.c. Astronomy is a branch of
science that deals with the study of the motions and natures of celestial
bodies, like planets, stars, and galaxies (Abba 1987). Others say it is
the study of objects and matter outside the earth's atmosphere and of
their physical and chemical properties. The founder of astronomy
according to earlier record was Prophet idris (AS) who was born
exactly 100 years after the death of Prophet Adam (AS). He was the
inventor of the sciences of astronomy and mathematics as well as the
first to learn how to write (Ibn Kathir 2000). There exist a lot of
Arabic scripts dealing with the subject of astronomy scattered all over
northern Nigeria in both private and public repositories. These
manuscripts were written first during the time of Sheikh Muhammad
bin Abdul-Karim Al-Magheeli who was among the early scholars to
have visited Hausaland in the 16th century. The subject of astronomy
was also covered by the Sokoto Jihad leaders of 1804 and their
disciples / Emirs and scholars in the respective emirates. Scholars like
Sheikh Uthman bin Fodiyo (died 1817), Abdullahi bin Fodiyo (died
1827) and Muhammad Bello (died 1837) have written extensively on
different fields of Islamic sciences including astronomy. In recent
times, the most outstanding astronomer is Sheikh Umar Sanda (died
2004) who did not only become a world figure in astronomy but also a
consultant of NASA of the United States of America in the 20 th
century.

Historical Origin and Usage of Arabic Manuscripts in Nigeria

There is no doubt that the advent of Islam into Kanem Borno
in the 11th century and Hausaland in the 13th century was the backbone
that laid the foundation for the use of Arabic scripts in Nigeria. The
write up in Arabic in Borno according to Hunwick, was a nahwy
(grammarian) as well as Shaaíreey (A Poet) of Kanem Borno origin.
He was Abu Ishaq Ibrahim El-kanemi who was very active C. 1200
(Hunwick, 1995). More over, many scholars according to records
migrated from Mali, Mauritania and the Maghrib to Nigeria and wrote
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a lot of works in astronomy and other fields. For example, Muhammad

Dan-Masani (d. 1667), Sheikh Imam As-Suyudy (Born 1 Rajab 849/3
October 1445 and died 19 Jumada Ulaa 911/ 18 October 1505), Sheikh
Muhammad bin Al-Sabbagh (d.1640) popularly called Dan-Marina
and Sheikh Muhammad bin Abdulkarim Al- Magheely (d. 1504) were
said to be prolific writers and masters of sciences and each had few
writings in the field of astronomy.
The nineteenth century scholars popularly known as the 1804
jihadist were also scholars of great repute. The idea of the jihad did not
in any way distract their attention from teaching, preaching and wrote.
For example, Sheikh Uthman bin Fodiyo (d.1817), Sheikh Abdullahi
bin Fodiyo (d.1829) and Sheikh Muhammad Bello (d.1837) have some
works on astronomy. This will be explained later under samples of
manuscripts dealing with the field of astronomy.
The idea of recovering Arabic/Ajami Manuscripts
systematically for use as one of the source materials for the
reconstruction of the history of various polities in Nigeria developed in
the University College, Ibadan, in the mid 1950s under the initiative of
the late Professor K.O. Dike, with the support of the Government of
Northern Nigeria and his professional colleagues like the late
Professor Abdullahi Smith and Dr. S.O. Biobaku. This was their
response to the then intellectual anachronism which maintained that
hitherto there were no sufficient materials for the study of Nigerian
History before the beginning of colonial rule. (Dike, K.O. 1962,1 and
Smith, H.F.C, 1962,2).
As a result of the pressure mounted by Dike, the colonial
Government established a Public Records Department in 1953 under
the supervision of professor Dike himself. By 1954 W.E.N. Kensdale
collected Arabic manuscripts from various parts of Northern Nigeria
and deposited them in the Library of the University of Ibadan where
the Headquarters of the National Archives was first located. Since
then, great strides had been made in the endeavour to assemble the
voluminous but dispersed Arabic/Ajami Manuscripts which had been
in the possession of private individuals or families in Northern Nigeria
in particular but also in Yorubaland and Northern Edo (at least since
1400 A.D. for the Arabic and 1700 A.D. for the Ajami manuscripts,
Smith, 1962,4)
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For instance, in the period 1957-1967 the National Archives

Kaduna collected more than 5,000 Arabic manuscripts from 14
provinces of the North, including Kaduna Capital Territory (Usman,
A.B., NAK, 2/8/72). Meanwhile, from 1959 up to the mid 1960s
Professor Abdullahi Smith, M. Hisket, M.A. Alhaji and M.D Last
traversed various provinces in the North collecting manuscripts which
were filmed in Ibadan. Subsequently, many of these manuscripts (528)
were microfilmed and brought to ABU where the Northern History
Research Scheme (NHRS) was launched in 1964. Up to 1967 the
successes recorded in the collection of Arabic/Ajami Manuscripts in
the North was the result of a joint effort between the Ahmadu Bello
University and the University of Ibadan. Below are few examples of
ancient Arabic manuscripts on the subjects of Astronomy in the
various repositories of northern Nigeria.

1- Manuscript Title: ‫= هسائل الشأى الٌجن طلع فً صفر‬Masa’ilu sha’n

najm tala’a fi safar 1241=
Name of Author: Sheikh Muhammad Bello bin Sheikh Uthman
bin Fodio (1781-1837)
Name of Copyist: Mallam Ibrahim Sha-Rubutu
Call Number: MA/20.5
Date: 1597
Number of Leaflets: 15
Script Type: Sudani
Ink colour (s): Black
Number of Lines per Page: 12
Manuscript Size: 20cm/17cm
Text Size: 11x17cm
Language: Arabic

Abstract / Content: The manuscript was written by Sheikh Usman

bin Fodiyo, the 19th century Jihad leader of the Sokoto Caliphate (died.
1817). He wrote a lot of books on different subjects. This manuscript
is one of the several works he wrote on astronomy. The work is about
a certain star that comes out in the night of a specific day in Safar, the
second month in the Islamic calendar. There are a lot of signs which
the Sheikh drew the attention of his followers to which include
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persistent prayers, recitation of the holy Qurán, Zikr (Remembrance of

Allah), seeking for Allah’s forgiveness e.t.c. The paper is in good
condition likewise the text but it needs proper care and handling by
both users and researchers.

2-Manuscript Title ‫ تمرٌة الٌظن لشٍخٌا عثواى تي فودي‬Taqribun-nazami li

Sheikhina bn Fodio = The Closest companion
of our Sheikh Uthman bin Fodiyo
Name of Author: Sheikh. Muhammad Raji bn Aliyu
Name of copyist: Anonoymous
Call Number: MAF/. 231 Arewa House Archives, Kaduna-
Nigeria
Date: Not indicated
Number of leaflets: 3
Scripts Type (or Style): Sudani
Ink colour(s): Black and Red
Number of lines per page: 9
Manuscript Size: 20cm/17cm
Text Size: . 18/15cm.
Language: Arabic

Content/Abstract: Poetry on Astronomy was written by Sheikh

Muhammad Raji B Ali b Abubakr (b. 1790, d.1282/1865), a man
regarded as the founder of the Islamic scholarly tradition in Adamawa.
He also introduced the Tijjania Tariqa in the area. He was related to
sh. Usman b fodiyo on his Mother’s side. He intended to go Makka for
Pilgrimage, but found that the Bagirmi road was blocked, He settled
then in Yola where he taught several scholars and students, all with the
sole aim of spreading the Tijjaniyya order. See ALA John O Hunwick
1995). The book is about astrology and the last part deals with the
importance of holding firm to the Sufi way of the Tijjaniyyah order.

3-Manuscript Title:= ‫= لصٍذج الحمٍمح األوفاق‬Qasidatu Haqaiqu Al

Aufaq= The Real of Afaq Knowledge
Name of Author: Sheikh Dahir Bn Ibrahim Alfullatiy 1158
=1745-6
Name of copyist: Anonymous
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Call Number: MAF/276 Arewa House Archives, Kaduna-

Nigeria
Date: Not indicated
Number of leaflets: 9
Scripts Type ( or Style): Sudani
Ink colour(s): Black
Number of lines per page: 8
Manuscript Size: 19cm/17cm
Text Size: 17cm/15cm
Language: Arabic
Content/Abstract: The Manuscripts is good, but the edges are
damaged. It was written by Sheikh Al Tahir b Ibrahim b Harun b Mali
al Fullani al Fullati al barnawi al Tarazi Al-Fayrammi known as
Dahiru Feroma died after 1158 =1745- at the age of 66-

4-Manuscript Title: ‫ = تحلٍل الوطالة فً علن الٌجوم والكواكة‬Tahlilul

Madalib fi Ilmul Nujum wal Kawakib =
(Analyzing the needs in the Science of Stars
(Astrology).
Name of Author: Sheikh Ahmad bin Uthman bin Al Banna Al
Jadali
Name of Copyist: -
Call Number: JM/A. MS.1353, National Museum, Jos
Nigeria
Date: 28/12/1965
Number of Leaflets: 21
Script Type: Maghribi
Ink Colour (s): Black
Number of Lines per Page: 12
Manuscript Size: 23 x 16 cm
Text Size: 11 x 13cm
Language: Arabic

Content/ Abstract: The work was written on 1779 AD. It describes

the different formulas relating to the calculation of distances in space
as well as the different forms of Stars.

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5-Manuscript Title: ‫ = السراج فً علن الفلك‬Al-siraj fi Ilmil Falaki= The

Glittering Light in the Field of Astronomy
Name of Author: Al- Sheikh Al- Faqih Abu Zaid Abdulrahman
Al- Akhdari
Name of Copyist: - -
Call Number: NA/A. MS.1365, National Archives Kaduna,
Nigeria
Date: 28/12/1965
Number of Leaflets: 19
Script Type: Al-Sudani
Ink Colour (s): Black
Number of Lines per Page: 18
Manuscript Size: 13 x 11 cm
Text Size: 20 x 16cm
Language: Arabic
Content/Abstract: The manuscript is about the field of
astronomy. It was written on 1777 AD. It explains the different
formula of astronomical calculations. The last two pages of the
manuscript are seriously damaged, but effort is being made to repair
them through the assistance of Arewa House Kaduna. It is on
time/duration of rainfall as well as the different names of stars. There
is a crescent watermark at the middle of the paper.

6-Manuscript Title: ‫ = كتاب الحساب والكواكة‬Kitabul Hisaab wal

kawaakib = The book of Calculations, (
Mathematics and Stars)
Name of Author: Sheikh Yusuf Al- abhami
Name of Copyist: -
Call Number: WJ/H. MS.868, Waziri Junaidu History
Bureau, Nigeria
Date: 13/9/1963
Number of Leaflets: 5
Script Type: Sudani
Ink colour (s): Black
Number of Lines per Page: 20
Manuscript Size: 8 x 6 1/2 cm
Text Size: 4 x 3 1/3cm
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Language: Arabic
Content/Abstract: The work was written in 1809 AD as recorded at
the tail end of the last paper. It is divided into two parts. The first part
describes the different forms of calculations in the area of wealth
sharing among the heirs of a particular family. It is basically the
calculation of share of inheritance among the male and female children
of a deceased. The second and the last part of the book discusses the
nature of the stars, galaxies and the farest star which according to the
author is referred to as Thurayyah

7- Manuscript Title: ‫= تٌثٍه األهح على لرب هجوم اشراط الساعح‬Tanbin al-
umma ‘ala qurb hujum ashrat al-sa’a wa
alaamaatiha= Exhortation of Community
about the Signs of the Last Hour through
Astronomical Calculations
Name of Author: Sheikh Abdullahi Al-Suday (died 1889)
Name of Copyist: -
Call Number: MA/H.20.5
Date: 1880
Number of Leaflets: 23
Script Type: Sudani
Ink colour (s): Black
Number of Lines per Page: 9
Manuscript Size: 9x13cm
Text Size: 12x13cm
Language: Arabic
Content / Abstract: The Manuscript was written in 1880; the author
according to my findings died a year after the completion of the work.
It seems to be the last work of the author. The main thrust of this work
is how the world came to a close end through the different formula
used by the author in the field of mathematics as well as astronomical
calculations.

8- Manuscript Title: ‫= تٌثٍه الفاهن على حكن تارٌخ هذج الذًٍا وخلك العالن‬Tanbih
al-fahim ‘ala hukum ta’rikh muddat al-dunya
wa-khalq al-‘alam 1223= Counselling the

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Intelligents on the History of the period of the

World and the creation of the Universe
Name of Author: Sheikh Uthman bin Fodiyo (1754 – 1817)
Name of Copyist: - -
Call Number: MAH/20.9
Date: 1805
Number of Leaflets: 16
Script Type: Sudani
Ink colour (s): Black & Brown
Number of Lines per Page: 12
Manuscript Size: 20cm/17cm
Text Size: 11x14cm
Language: Arabic
Content / Abstract: The book was written by Sheikh Usman bin
Fodiyo a year after the Jihad of 1804. It is about how the world was
created including the stars, galaxies and other planetary bodies. It is
one of the major scripts of reference in Northern Nigerian university as
far as humanities and the field of astronomy is concern.

9- Manuscript Title: ‫= ترحٍل الشوس والمور‬Tarhilil Shams wal-

Qamar=The Movement of the Sun and the
Moon
Name of Author: Sheikh Abdul-Wahid bin Al-Hussain bin
Ismail Al-Raj-raj
Name of Copyist: -
Call Number: MAH.6/50
Date: Not Available
Number of Leaflets: 79
Script Type: Maghribi
Ink colour (s): Black & Brown
Number of Lines per Page: 18
Manuscript Size: 20cm/17cm
Text Size: 11x14cm
Language: Arabic
Content / Abstract: The book is about the movement of the Sun and
how that has an adverse effect on the moon. It relates the number of

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months in Islamic calendar, how the rainy season starts every year and
the question of eclipse of the moon and the sun.

General Problems of Preservation:

The present condition of almost all the private and public
repositories visited in terms of their preservation is scandalous, to say
the least. Where the custodians are able to house them at all, the
buildings are such that they provide them with nothing but protection.
The Jos museum repository is affected by sunlight and the roofing is
virtually leaking, just like Sheikh Mustapha Al-Torodi private library
in Salame (Sokoto). Moreover, the roof in Sheikh Mustapha Al-
Torody’s library is generally flat and hence is full of leakages during
the rainy season which directly affects the manuscripts. As Biddle
noted in line with Professor Alegbeleye when she visited some of the
repositories in northern Nigeria in 2008:
Today, most of our cherished documentary resources
are either totally destroyed or in extreme jeopardy.
Although there has been a measure of success in the
preservation of the built and natural heritage, there has
been no parallel development on a national scale for
collections of art, history, literature, information and
science housed in our museums, galleries, libraries,
archives and associated organizations and private
collections held by individuals and corporations
(Biddle 2008)

Apart from the poor condition of the buildings that pave ways for
sunlight into the repository, all the office equipment are old, worn and
in desperate need for replacement. The Manuscript collections in the
Kano History and Culture Bureau and the private collections of Late
Waziri Junaidu of Sokoto are perfect examples. The manuscripts are
stored in environmental conditions that never support their long-term
preservation. The temperature variation ranges between 10.50 to
33.40C. The excessive heat, high level of humidity in the wet season,
heavy dust and the use of materials that are palatable to insects by the
original owners of the manuscripts contribute to moulding and severe
insect attacks (Plenderleith 1971). To compound the problem further,
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the staffing conditions of most of the repositories are also very

unsatisfactory both in terms of quality and their quantity. They
generally lack the expertise and exposure and have very little idea of
modern techniques of handling the scripts or making them available to
searchers (Batiste 2007; Biddle 2008). Another problem facing all the
Repositories housing original Arabic Manuscripts in Nigeria is lack of
paper conservation laboratories. This poses a serious danger to the
Manuscripts since most of those handling the collections lack the
technical knowledge of preserving them and there are no restoration
techniques of how to handle dilapidated manuscripts.

Conclusion
The paper has succeeded in examining the ancient astronomical
manuscripts in some selected private / public repositories in Northern
Nigeria. Some of the manuscript centers visited for the exercise
included Arewa House Kaduna, the Jos Museum Collection, which
was established in 1957, National Archives Kaduna, Waziri Junaidu
History Bureau Sokoto, Centre for Trans-Saharan Studies in Borno
State, Centre for Islamic Studies, Usman Danfodiyo University,
Sokoto, and the History Bureau, Kano. The private collections of late
Waziri Junaidu and Sheikh Mustapha Al-Torodi all in Sokoto were
also visited. The centers are in possession of valuable original
astronomical manuscripts that require urgent attention. We have
equally made it clear in this article that almost all the repositories
where these manuscripts are kept have a number of problems, ranging
from poor storage and preservation system, lack of paper conservation
laboratory, complete absence of restoration facilities for the damaged
and dilapidated manuscripts in order to be saved from total collapse.
The shortage of manpower due to inadequate funding has also added
to the problem. However, we are recommending the following
measures for any meaningful progress to be made in the area of access,
procurement, restoration and content analysis of the available
astronomical manuscript repositories in Nigeria in order to be
preserved and conserved for future use:
(a) There is need for the translation, editing and publication of the
most important astronomical Arabic manuscripts that are
deposited in the various repositories in Northern Nigeria. This
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will help to provide source materials and text books for

advanced researches to be carried out in the field of
astronomy.

(b) It is on record that, about 60-70 % of the centres visited has a

destructive, heavy insect infestation and should be treated
urgently by placing the affected manuscripts in an anoxic
environment without further delay. This, according to
Michaell Biddle a specialist in paper conservation from the
Wesleyan University of the United States of America is the
preferable means for non toxic insect eradication.

(c) The problem of funding should be addressed immediately and

should be extended to the private Arabic Manuscript Centres
like Sheikh Mustapha Al-Torodi in Salame, Sheikh Abubakar
Atiku Sanka, Kano, Sheikh Sani Kafanga Kano, Sheikh Abul-
Fatahi in Maiduguri and Sheikh Umar Sanda Kaduna of
blessed memory e.t.c This if done properly will help
tremendously to save the collections from total destruction.

(d) There is an urgent need for the provision of at least four paper
conservation laboratories in Nigeria, two in the north where
the manuscripts centres are many and one each in the south
western part of the country and Northern Etsako in Edo State.

(e) There is also the need for comparative analytical study of

available materials on astronomy written by western scholars
and those written by Islamic scholars in the form of
manuscripts in sub-saharan Africa. This if carried out will help
to fill the various gaps in the existing contemporary secondary
sources.

(f) There is the need to organise series of workshops for local

ulama (scholars), imams and the people involved in handling
manuscripts to sensitize them on the need for having full
access to the available astronomical Arabic manuscripts for

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the development of advanced scholarship and knowledge

sharing.

(g) Professional expertise on Information Technology is urgently

needed in almost all the Arabic manuscript repositories
containing astronomical written scripts in Arabic as well as
modern translation device. This will help to raise awareness
on digital preservation as well as having the content of most of
the astronomical manuscripts translated and disseminated for
the advancement of knowledge. This will no doubt project the
image of Africa and also show the contribution of Africans to
world scholarship.

References
Abba, B (1987), An Introduction to Astronomy, Manchester UK,
England
Batiste, A.D. (2007), Report of a Survey Tour to Northern Nigeria:
The State of Arabic Manuscript Collections in Nigeria,
Library of Congress, Washington.
Biddle, M. (April, 2008), Conservation In a Box: A Primer of Basic
Paper Conservation Procedures and Treatments
__________. 2008. Saving Nigeria’s Islamic Manuscript Heritage,
Middle-Town, Connecticut, USA.
Dike, K. O. (1966) ‘Foreword’, Northern History Research Scheme,
First Interim Report, Zaria.
Hunwick J.O. (1995) Arabic Literature of Africa: The writings of
Central Sudanic Africa Leiden: E.J. Brill.
Ibn Kathir, (2000), Misbahul Munir fi Tahzeeb Tafseer Ibn Katheer.
Darul Salam Publishers, New York, USA.
Northern History Research Scheme (NHRS): Third Interim Report
(1967 – 1971, 1975. (Monograph).
Northern History Research Scheme (NHRS): Fourth Interim Report,
(1971-1976), 1977 (Monograph).
Northern History Research Scheme (NHRS): Fifth Interim
Report(1976-1978), 1981 (Monograph).

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The Significance of Astronomy in the Ancient Arabic Salisu Bala

Northern History Research Scheme (NHRS): Sixth Report (1979-

1981), 1987. (Monograph).
Plenderleith, H. J (1971), The Conservation of Antiquities and Works
of Art: Treatment, Repair, and Restoration. Oxford University
Press, London.
Smith, H.F.C.(1966) ‘First Report by the Director’, Northern History
Research Scheme: First Interim Report, pp. 2-10.
(Monograph).
Smith, H.F.C, (1967) ‘Second Report by the Director’, Northern
History Research Scheme: Second Interim Report
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