# Sheikh Hassan Barsane (Sheekh Xasan Barsane)

> Sheikh Hassan Barsane (1853 to 1920s): Salihiyya scholar from Middle Shabelle who led the 1924 Shabelle valley resistance.

Source page: https://calankii.com/en/people/sheikh-hassan-barsane/
Last checked: 2026-11-12
Publisher: Calankii (https://calankii.com)

## Who was he?

Sheikh Hassan Barsane was a Somali cleric and religious scholar ([Wikipedia, Sheikh Hassan Barsane](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). He led one of the last large revolts against Italian rule in southern Somalia in the 1920s (same source). The historian [Abdurahman Baadiyow](/en/people/abdurahman-baadiyow/) calls him "the resistance leader against Ethiopia and Italy" ([Baadiyow, WardheerNews, 15 October 2024](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). This page records events without taking sides.

## Early life and faith

He was born in 1853 in Ubaadi, a village about 68 km west of Jowhar ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). The village lies in today's Middle [Shabelle](/en/economy/farming-and-harvests/) region, in [Hirshabelle](/en/states/hirshabelle/) state ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). His family belonged to the Gaaljecel (Hawiye), herders who lived along the [Shabelle River](/en/regions/shabelle-river/) above [Balad](/en/regions/middle-shabelle/) ([Castagno, Historical Dictionary of Somalia, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). His father was a sheikh and a Quran teacher ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)).

He learned the Quran by heart when young (same source). He then studied Islamic law, theology and Sufism (same source). He made the Hajj and stayed three years in Mecca ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). There he met [Sheikh](/en/regions/sheikh/) Mohammed Salih, head of the Salihiyya order, and joined it (same source). On his return he helped spread the order in the Shabelle valley ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). See [Islam in Somalia](/en/society/islam-in-somalia/).

## Fighting the Ethiopian campaign

Around 1905 an Ethiopian force advanced into the Banadir interior ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). Hassan raised a force with his students, backed by Sultan Olol Dinle of Mustahil (same source). Fighting took place near Bulo Burti, El Abdi and Balad (same source). His forces pushed the Ethiopian troops out of the area (same source). Wikipedia also records fighting at Balad and Daafeet, in the [Wanlaweyn](/en/infrastructure/baledogle-airfield/) district ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). See [resistance from the 1890s to 1945](/en/history/resistance-1890s-1945/).

## The 1924 rising

After the First World War many Somalis in the south held rifles ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). The Fascist governor Cesare Maria De Vecchi ordered them to hand the guns in (same source). Castagno writes that this policy set off the risings of Hassan Barsane, Hersi Bogor and Omar Samantar ([Castagno, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)).

Hassan answered the governor in a letter ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). He wrote: "We accept no law other than our own, the law of Allah and His Prophet" (same source). He added: "It is better to die defending our laws" (same source).

In March 1924 Italian columns moved into the area from three sides (same source). They took Wanlaweyn and Jowhar and destroyed the fort at Balad (same source). Castagno writes that the government brought machine guns and artillery to make the Gaaljecel an example ([Castagno, 1975](https://archive.org/details/historical-dictionary-of-somalia-1)). Wikipedia lists fighting at Buloburde, El Dhere, Hiilweyne, Jiliyaale, Hareerile and Lafoole ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). Italian forces captured him in April 1924 (same source).

## Prison and death

He was held in Mogadishu Central Prison with a life sentence ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)). Several of his companions and students were executed (same source). Accounts of his death differ. Baadiyow gives 1926 at age 73 (same source). Wikipedia gives 1928 ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)). Baadiyow writes that thousands attended his funeral near the prison ([Baadiyow](https://wardheernews.com/sheikh-hassan-barsane-the-resistance-leader-against-ethiopia-and-italy)).

## In short

A Salihiyya scholar who led the 1924 Shabelle valley rising. A secondary school in Mogadishu was later named after him ([Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheikh_Hassan_Barsane)).

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