Scholars and religious figures
Aw Barkhadle (Sheikh Yusuf al-Kawneyn)
Aw Barkhadle, "the blessed father", is the name Somalis give to Sheikh Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn, a medieval teacher of Islam in the north of Somalia. Tradition credits him with a Somali way of naming the Arabic letters that helped generations learn to read. His tomb near Hargeisa is a place of yearly pilgrimage.
Aw BarkhadleAw Barkhadle · Sheikh Yusuf al-Kawneyn
- Known as one of
- Scholars and religious figures
- Era
- Before 1500: Adal, Ajuran and the coast
- Sources
- 3 sources
Who was he?
Aw Barkhadle, meaning "the blessed father", is the popular name of Sheikh Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn, a teacher of Islam in the north of the Somali lands in the Middle Ages (Wikipedia, Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn). He is regarded as a saint. His tomb, near Hargeisa, draws an annual pilgrimage (Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Sheikh Yusuf Kawneyn").
When did he live?
The sources do not agree. Castagno's dictionary places him in the 13th century (Castagno 1975). In 1854 the explorer Richard Burton was told by a Somali genealogist, Shaykh Jami, that "the Sayyid Yusuf el Baghdadi" visited the port of Siyaro near Berbera in 1266–67 (Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856, ch. 4). Wikipedia notes traditions that place him earlier, and records that his son is listed as an Emir of Harar in 1038 (Wikipedia).
Where did he come from?
Local tradition says he came from Arabia to teach Islam (Castagno 1975). Some scholars describe him instead as a Somali who studied in Zeila and then in Iraq, which would explain the title "al-Baghdadi" (Wikipedia). Others read the stories of Arabian origin as a later way of linking local ancestors to the Prophet's family (same source). Several communities, including families among the Gadabuursi and the Ciise, trace links to him (same source).
The Somali names for Arabic letters
He is remembered most as a teacher. Castagno writes that he devised Somali names for the Arabic letters and vowel signs, so his students could learn to read and write Arabic "with great facility". The system was still in use in 1975 (Castagno 1975). Wikipedia notes it grew into Wadaad's writing, the use of Arabic letters to write Somali (Wikipedia).
His tombs and the town
The town of Aw Barkhadle, north-east of Hargeisa, grew around his tomb. Archaeologist Sada Mire recorded local stories that the place was once called Dogor (Wikipedia). Other shrines to him stand near Boorama, near Fedis and in Harar, and one in Sri Lanka (same source). The town is listed among Somali heritage sites. See heritage sites.
His family line
Some historians describe him as the ancestor of the Walashma family, which ruled the medieval sultanates of Ifat and Adal (Wikipedia). See medieval and early modern states and Sa'ad ad-Din II.
In short
A medieval saint and scholar linked by tradition to teaching Islam in the Somali language.
Sources
- Wikipedia, Yusuf bin Ahmad al-Kawneyn · en.wikipedia.org
- Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975, "Sheikh Yusuf Kawneyn" · archive.org
- Burton, First Footsteps in East Africa, 1856, ch. 4 · gutenberg.org
Aw BarkhadleAw Barkhadle · Sheikh Yusuf al-Kawneyn
- Known as one of
- Scholars and religious figures
- Era
- Before 1500: Adal, Ajuran and the coast
- Sources
- 3 sources
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