27/05/2024
What did Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah contribute to the development of the Oromo language?
Sheikh Mohammad Rashad was born in 1934 from his father Kabir Abdullah Kabir Mummayyad and his mother Faxuma Shurra Ahimad, in Laga Arba village, Gubba Qoricha district, West Hararghe region.
His son Khalid Rashad, who now lives in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, said he showed great interest in pursuing religious studies as a child, but his father did not allow him to study away from home. Later, Sheikh Mohammed Rashad convinced his father of his talent, Sheikh Khalid Rashad said, adding that his father then allowed him to travel and study in the vast Hararghe region.
Who is the self-proclaimed 'Oromo man'?
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah, who traveled from place to place and learned from knowledgeable people, did not limit his journey to the country.
“As a child, Sheikh Mohammed Rashad studied religion, religious philosophy and Arabic grammar well and the idea of traveling to Arab countries came to him. He learned the philosophy of life, the mode of struggle and the teachings of Islam from the brave scholars of the country, Sheikh Abubakar Saphalo,” said Sheikh Khalid Rashad.
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah was born in 1949 and left the country at the age of 15 for the Arab countries.
“First I went to Djibouti. Djibouti entered Yemen. From there he entered Saudi Arabia and performed the Hajj in Saudi soon traveled to Syria and lived in Damascus for five years,” said Sheikh Khalid Rashad.
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah was recognized as a M***i after studying at the Fatul Islam school in Syria for five years. After serving as an imam of mosques in Syria, he traveled to Egypt in 1956 and had the opportunity to study at al-Azhar University.
Life at al-Azhar University, Cairo
His son Sheikh Khalid Rashad says he started working passionately about Oromoness as soon as he entered al-Azhar University.
“As soon as I entered al-Azhaar University in 1956, I became encouraged when all countries reflected their languages, cultures and identities. While going to the library, the history of different countries is written in an interesting way. I started thinking if all this was in alphabet,” said Sheikh Khalid Rashad.
At that time their father ,''We have a story to tell, a language to speak, an alphabet to spell. We want to expose all this through the media, so please allow us the media,” Sheikh Khalid said. Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah graduated with honors from al-Ahzar University in 1962 and received a certificate of recognition from the then Egyptian ruler Jamal Abdel Nasser.
After al-Azhar University.
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdullah graduated from al-Azhar University in 1962 and was assigned there. Sheikh Mohammed Rashad, who met with the Ethiopian community in Egypt, organized demonstrations against the Haile Selassie regime. Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdulle's sense of re-education had disappeared as those who returned home from the demonstrations were hunted, arrested and killed.
Al-Azhar University respected Sheikh Mohammed Rashad and did not want to send him into trouble. Meanwhile, when Somalia gained full independence in 1963, al-Azhar University sent Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdulle to Somalia. After working as a mosque imam and religious teacher in Somalia for three years, the Somali government made him a civil servant.
Radio - Mogadishu
Sheikh Mohamed Rashad Abdulle focused on the issue of Oromo language and alphabet when he had the opportunity to work in the Somali government office. In 1965, Oromo radio programs began broadcasting from Mogadishu through their efforts, Sheikh Khalid Rashad said. The radio program grew from 15 minutes to 30 minutes and then to an hour. But they also faced challenges, says Sheikh Khalid Rashad Abdulle.
“At that time, Radio Mogadishu became very popular. After that, Haile Selassie started another Oromo Radio in Harar. They did a lot to disrupt the radio message from Mogadishu.”
While working in radio in Mogadishu, he said he supported many artists of the Afran Qalloo group. His son Sheikh Khalid Rashad says it was Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdulle who called him to Somalia during the reign of King Haile Selassie when the Afran Qal'oo group was in trouble.
“It was Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdulle who first welcomed the Afran Qalloo group to Mogadishu and bought them modern musical instruments.”
Sheikh Mohamed Rashad Abdulle, who was highly regarded by the then King of Somalia, Ziad Barre, was working in coordination with the founders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) at the time, according to Sheikh Khalid.
Qubee and Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdulle
One of the main tasks of Sheikh Mohamed Rashad Abdulle while in Somalia was to promote the Oromo language. While working in the country's Culture and Tourism Department, he named the alphabet for the Somali language with the country's intellectuals. While doing this, however, their hidden motive was to spread the Oromo language and alphabet.
Sheikh Mohammed's wishes continued to succeed and in 1973 he published a book called Furaa Afaan Oromoo. The fighters who followed them began to develop, write and work with the Oromo alphabet based on their book. Mohammed Rashad Abdulle Furtuu's book reached the hands of prominent members of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and was being taught around Somalia, Sudan, Djibouti and Ethiopia, Sheikh Khalid said.
Why did they return to the Arab countries?
Sheikh Mohamed Rashad Abdulle was sent to the Arab countries in August 1983 while teaching religious matters on Somali Radio.
At that time, he was sent to Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iraq and Yemen by the Somali cultural bureau to study the Islamic religious situation in East African countries and the history of the Somali people, Sheikh Khalid said. Sheikh Mohammed, however, said that alongside his work, he started to introduce the Oromo people to the Arab countries and research and write about the history of the Oromo. After taking his job, he did not return to Mogadishu and stayed in Saudi Arabia.
Then he stayed in Saudi Arabia after a conflict with the Somali government and started writing books in Oromo and translating Arabic books into Oromo.
Qur'an Translation
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad was the first to succeed in translating the entire Qur'an into Oromo. Sheikh Khalid Rashad said it took him 25 years to translate the entire Quran into Oromo but he has prepared 29 religious books in Oromo.
“So far, only the translation of the Qur'an has reached the public. We are going to present their other books that have not yet reached the public. There are many religious books, of Oromo history, of dictionaries that he translates from Arabic into Oromo.”
In addition to translating the Qur'an into Oromo, they have also recorded it and made it available on cassette.
“In 1990, they published the entire Qur'an on cassette in Medina. They took it that year and imported the cassette and distributed it.”
Besides religious books, he wrote many books on rifle tactics, South African history, Oromo Geerarsa, History of Ahmad Giraanyi, and the way the Oromo alphabet sits. Although translating the Qur'an into another language is very difficult and requires a lot of talent and money, Sheikh Mohammad Rashad has succeeded with courage and determination.
After nearly three decades of illumination without any help, they contributed this great thing to their people. They faced many challenges to this light, saying that this language is not qualified to translate the Qur'an.
Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdullah translated the Qur'an into English, both in writing and audio, not to benefit from it but to free his people from the clutches of the Wal'aal. After publishing his work, he freely distributed it to his people. He has shown the world that great things can be done in Oromo.
As mentioned above, Sheikh Mahammad Rashad is an educated man. He is a scholar of Oromo, Somali and Arabic. Besides religion, he studied Philosophy, human nature taliga, taliga constitution, Ilminnafsi, Geography and the study of miya warfare. The Sheikh is a man besides the text
He was awarded an MA degree for his books on Islam in Arabic and English as well as his work on art and language development. As he strengthened his skills and provided free educational services to the community, he received a PhD from the University of England.
Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdulle left Saudi Arabia in 2009 to leave the refugee camp altogether. After living in the city of Adalah for four years, he passed away on the 25th of May 2013 at the age of 79 in two weeks.
Family situation.
Sheikh Mohammad Rashad was the father of five children, four sons and one daughter. Sheikh Mohammad Rashad did not back down from his previous position after his return home. They continued to speak out, correct what was wrong, and fight for human rights.
Sheikh Khalid Rashad says he was especially oppressed for saying that it was wrong to contribute his opinion when the government was allegedly interfering in religion.
''The contribution of Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdulle has not been given the place it deserves'
''I am a fighter for the People, not a political party.
Sheikh Khalid Rashad, the second of Sheikh Mohammad Rashad Abdullah's children and currently living in Mecca, said his father's contribution went without praise.
“They died leaving me the trust to share their books and stories with the Oromo people. But I don't think our people want to mention this man who has contributed so much. But I have promoted his work and I am ready to bring it to the people.”
Sheikh Khalid Rashad said he blames the government for not inquiring about the family of Sheikh Mohammed Rashad Abdulle as it pays attention to others who have contributed to Oromo.
He said the wife of Sheikh Mohammad Rashad, who is now in the city of Adalah, is in dire need of help. Therefore, I urge the state government and the people of Oromia to remember this man who has saved a proud history and help his family, said Sheikh Khalid Rashad.
BBC News Afaan Oromoo
