Abd al Aziz al-Amawi
Encyclopedia
Abd al Aziz al-Amawi (1832–1896) was a 19th century Somali
diplomat
, historian
, poet
, jurist
and scholar living in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
, Somalia
, where he pursued studies under several well-known scholars such as Sayyid Abu Bakr al Midhar, Hajj Ali b. Abd al-Rahman, and the North Africa
n scholar Sayyid Ahmad al Maghribi. Al-Amawi then left Barawa for Zanzibar
, where he studied under Muhyi al-Din al-Qathani who introduced him to Sultan
Sayyid Said. In 1850, al-Amawi, who was then only eighteen years old, was appointed by the Sultan as the Qadi
of Kilwa
.
Al-Amawi was a prolific writer and historian, and wrote extensively on the history of East Africa
. However, since the Zanzibar revolution
, his books remain missing and might have been destroyed in the chaos that ensued. One of his most important literary legacies is his poem entitled Iqd-al-la'ali ("The Pearl Necklace"), which was included in the hymnbook of a Protestant priest
stationed in Zanzibar with whom al-Amawi regularly engaged in religious debates. This series of dialogues also included several other priests and bishop
s such as William George Tozer
and Edward Steere.
In his later years, Al-Amawi became Qadi of Zanzibar itself, and began forging close relations with other Muslim
communities around the Indian Ocean
. With the rise of the Uwaysiyya
major Somali religious movement in East Africa, al-Amawi began supporting its founder Sheikh Uways al-Barawi
.
Somali people
Somalis are an ethnic group located in the Horn of Africa, also known as the Somali Peninsula. The overwhelming majority of Somalis speak the Somali language, which is part of the Cushitic branch of the Afro-Asiatic language family...
diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
, jurist
Jurist
A jurist or jurisconsult is a professional who studies, develops, applies, or otherwise deals with the law. The term is widely used in American English, but in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth countries it has only historical and specialist usage...
and scholar living in the Sultanate of Zanzibar.
Biography
Al-Amawi was born in the city of BarawaBarawa
Barawa or Brava is a port town on the south-eastern coast of Somalia. The traditional inhabitants are the Tunni Somalis and the Bravanese people, who speak Bravanese, a Swahili dialect.-History:...
, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
, where he pursued studies under several well-known scholars such as Sayyid Abu Bakr al Midhar, Hajj Ali b. Abd al-Rahman, and the North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
n scholar Sayyid Ahmad al Maghribi. Al-Amawi then left Barawa for Zanzibar
Zanzibar
Zanzibar ,Persian: زنگبار, from suffix bār: "coast" and Zangi: "bruin" ; is a semi-autonomous part of Tanzania, in East Africa. It comprises the Zanzibar Archipelago in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the mainland, and consists of numerous small islands and two large ones: Unguja , and Pemba...
, where he studied under Muhyi al-Din al-Qathani who introduced him to Sultan
Sultan
Sultan is a title with several historical meanings. Originally, it was an Arabic language abstract noun meaning "strength", "authority", "rulership", and "dictatorship", derived from the masdar سلطة , meaning "authority" or "power". Later, it came to be used as the title of certain rulers who...
Sayyid Said. In 1850, al-Amawi, who was then only eighteen years old, was appointed by the Sultan as the Qadi
Qadi
Qadi is a judge ruling in accordance with Islamic religious law appointed by the ruler of a Muslim country. Because Islam makes no distinction between religious and secular domains, qadis traditionally have jurisdiction over all legal matters involving Muslims...
of Kilwa
Kilwa Kisiwani
Kilwa Kisiwani is a community on an island off the coast of East Africa, in present day Tanzania.- History :A document written around AD 1200 called al-Maqama al Kilwiyya discovered in Oman, gives details of a mission to reconvert Kilwa to Ibadism, as it had recently been effected by the Ghurabiyya...
.
Al-Amawi was a prolific writer and historian, and wrote extensively on the history of East Africa
East Africa
East Africa or Eastern Africa is the easterly region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. In the UN scheme of geographic regions, 19 territories constitute Eastern Africa:...
. However, since the Zanzibar revolution
Zanzibar Revolution
The Zanzibar Revolution by local African revolutionaries in 1964 overthrew the Sultan of Zanzibar and his mainly Arab government. An ethnically diverse state consisting of a number of islands off the east coast of Tanganyika, Zanzibar had been granted independence by Britain in 1963...
, his books remain missing and might have been destroyed in the chaos that ensued. One of his most important literary legacies is his poem entitled Iqd-al-la'ali ("The Pearl Necklace"), which was included in the hymnbook of a Protestant priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
stationed in Zanzibar with whom al-Amawi regularly engaged in religious debates. This series of dialogues also included several other priests and bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s such as William George Tozer
William George Tozer
The Rt Rev William George Tozer, DD was a colonial Bishop in the second half of the nineteenth century.He was born in Teignmouth and educated at St John's College, Oxford and ordained in 1854. His first post was a curacy at St Mary Magdalene Munster Square. Later he was Vicar of Burgh-le-Marsh....
and Edward Steere.
In his later years, Al-Amawi became Qadi of Zanzibar itself, and began forging close relations with other Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
communities around the Indian Ocean
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third largest of the world's oceanic divisions, covering approximately 20% of the water on the Earth's surface. It is bounded on the north by the Indian Subcontinent and Arabian Peninsula ; on the west by eastern Africa; on the east by Indochina, the Sunda Islands, and...
. With the rise of the Uwaysiyya
Uways al-Barawi
Sheikh Uways Al-Barawi was a Somali scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th century East Africa.-Early life:Sheikh Uways was born in Barawe on the Benadir of Somalia coast, the son of a local religious teacher. He obtained a simple elementary education in basic theological sciences, and only...
major Somali religious movement in East Africa, al-Amawi began supporting its founder Sheikh Uways al-Barawi
Uways al-Barawi
Sheikh Uways Al-Barawi was a Somali scholar credited with reviving Islam in 19th century East Africa.-Early life:Sheikh Uways was born in Barawe on the Benadir of Somalia coast, the son of a local religious teacher. He obtained a simple elementary education in basic theological sciences, and only...
.