The History of the Literature of African Islamic Peoples - 21 -Issue 24 September 2024 The two books were translated into English in the sixteenth century AD.

Among the most famous scholars of West Africa in the eighteenth century AD is Sheikh Muhammad al-Kathnawi, who passed away in Cairo in 1742 AD. His works include "Al-Durr al-Manzum wa Khulasat al-Sirr al-Maktum fi 'Ilm al-Talasim wa al-Nujum" (The Organized Pearl and the Summary of the Hidden Secret in the Science of Talismans and Stars), and the book "Bahjat al-Afāq wa Idāh al-Lubs wa al-Aghlāq fi 'Ilm al-Hurūf wa al-Awqāf" (The Delight of Horizons and Clarification of Ambiguity and Obstacles in the Science of Letters and Waqfs). He also wrote the book "Bulūgh al-Arb min Kalām al-'Arab" (Attaining the Goal from the Speech of the Arabs) on grammar, and others.

Among the scholars in northern Nigeria, we find Sheikh Uthman dan Fodio in the nineteenth century AD, who authored numerous books, the most famous of which is "Ihyā' al-Sunnah wa Ikhmād al-Bid'ah" (Reviving the Sunnah and Extinguishing Innovation). Sheikh Abdullah dan Fodio, Uthman dan Fodio's brother, also wrote several books on religion and literature, including "Diyā' al-Ta'wīl fi Ma'ānī al-Tanzīl" (The Light of Interpretation in the Meanings of Revelation), a book on the interpretation of the Holy Quran. He also has other books on grammar, morphology, and a collection of poetry. Similarly, Sheikh Muhammad Bello bin Uthman dan Fodio has several works, including "Infāq al-Mayṣūr fi Tārīkh Bilād al-Takrūr" (Spending with Ease in the History of Takrur), concerning the scholars of the region.

As for Sheikh Ahmad Hamad Labbo al-Masini, the founder of the Masina Islamic state in Mali, he worked on establishing Quranic schools in the Masina region and its surroundings, which led to an abundance of scholars of jurisprudence, Arabic language, and its literature in society. However, their scientific and literary works were lost due to the civil war that the Masina state experienced.

b) West Africa in the Writings of Historians: A large number of Eastern and Western travelers, historians, and geographers visited West Africa and wrote about the history of this region and its provinces, as well as its literary figures and scholars (10). Among the ancient writers who wrote about sub-Saharan Africa is Abu Ubayd al-Bakri (d. 1181 AD), who, in his book "Al-Maghrib fi Dhikr Bilād Ifriqiyyah wa al-Maghrib" (The Maghreb in the Mention of the Lands of Africa and the Maghreb), discussed the kingdoms of sub-Saharan Africa, particularly the Kingdom of Ghana and its relationship with the North African states (11). An anonymous author from the Almohad era, in his book "Al-Istibsār fi 'Ajā'ib al-Amsār wa Gharā'ib al-Aqṭār" (The Clarification of the Wonders of Cities and the Curiosities of Regions) (12), also discussed all the countries of North Africa.