The Muhammad al-Maghili Controversy: Islamic Reform in Songhai

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the arrival of the North African scholar Muhammad al-Maghili in the Songhai Empire during the reign of Askia Muhammad. Al-Maghili, a fiery jurist from Tlemcen, brought a strict reformist vision of Islam that clashed with the empire's syncretic traditions. They discuss his fatwa against Askia Muhammad's predecessor, Sonni Ali, the debate over the status of conquered peoples, and the lasting impact of al-Maghili's writings, including his treatise 'The Obligations of Princes'. The conversation reveals how Islamic scholarship and politics intertwined in the Sahel, shaping Songhai's religious landscape and leaving a controversial legacy that resonates today. #SonghaiEmpire #MuhammadalMaghili #IslamicReform #AskiaMuhammad #Timbuktu #SonniAli #SahelHistory #WestAfrica #Fatwa #IslamicScholarship #ObligationsofPrinces #Tlemcen #TransSaharanTrade #Gao #Sankore #ReligiousHistory #History #FexingoHistory #SunniAli #SankoreMosque Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo