Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo is a religious center and mosque based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, that provides teachings of Islam from an African American perspective. ^{1 2} In 2019, the mosque was investigated for alleged involvement in child marriage, sexual assault, and child abuse. ³

Background

Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo is a religious center founded in 2012 that teaches a Qadiri Sufi branch of the Islamic faith that venerates Uthman Fodio, a Nigerian imam who died in 1817. According to the Clarion Project, Fodio “was a Sufi jihadist best known for his involvement in the Sokoto jihad in West Africa,” an Islamic revolution that established the Sokoto Caliphate. ^{2 4 2}

Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo allegedly honors Imams Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin and Luqman Abdullah, both Muslim leaders of the Al-Ummah radical, Black nationalist-influenced Islamic organization that formed in the United States around the 1970s. ² Al-Ummah advocates for creating an independent Islamic state within the U.S. ⁵ In 2019, watchdog group Clarion Project cited a post by Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo that praised Al-Amin as the “Last REAL Amerikkkan [sic] Sunni Imam.”  ²

Partner Institutions

According to its website, Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo has ties to the Nur uz Zamaan Institute ⁶ led by Naeem Abdullah, who also leads the Masjid Al-Mumin mosque in Pittsburgh. Masjid Al-Mumin advocates for a consolidated Black Muslim community in the United States. ² The Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) has alleged that Naeem Abdullah has a history of antisemitism. ⁷

Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo’s website shows it held an event in 2016 regarding the “Black Muslim Agenda” at the Masjid An-Nur mosque in Camden, New Jersey. ⁸

Controversy

In 2019, a 17-year-old girl alleged that she was forced to marry a man nearly twice her age, Rajmann Sanders, while she was only 14 years old and that the ceremony took place at the Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo mosque. She further alleged that he began sexually assaulting her and her 10-year-old sister following the marriage ceremony. Sanders was charged with more than a dozen sexual offenses against the girls including rape, indecent assault, and forcible compulsion. The criminal complaint further alleged Sanders threatened to shoot the older victim during one sexual assault. ^{3 9} Sanders would plead guilty to various felonies, including rape of a child, in March 2020, and he was sentenced to a term of between eight and sixteen years of imprisonment. ¹⁰

According to a Clarion Project report, Amir Khalil Abdullahi became a regular preacher at Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo following a guest lecture he delivered in 2018. Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo publishes Abdullahi’s lectures on the Nur uz Zamaan Institute radio show. ¹¹ Watchdog group Clarion Project alleged that Abdullahi is a friend of convicted ISIS terrorist Edward Archer, who shot a Philadelphia police officer in January 2016 and was sentenced up to 97 years in prison. ^{2 12}

1. “Masjid Uthman dan Fodiyo Philadelphia Pa.” Facebook. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.facebook.com/masjiddanfodiyo/
2. “Clarion Intel EXCLUSIVE: Nationwide Militant Islamist Network.” Clarion Project. July 11, 2019. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://clarionproject.org/2019/07/11/clarion-intel-exclusive-report-nationwide-violent-islamist-network/
3. Pradelli, Chad. “EXCLUSIVE: Sex allegations lead to child bride investigation at Philly mosque.” ABC Action News 6. March 15, 2019. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://6abc.com/masjid-uthman-dan-fodiyo-child-brides-philly-mosque/5194053/
4. “Usman dan Fodio and the Sokoto Caliphate.” Country Studies, U.S. Library of Congress. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://countrystudies.us/nigeria/9.htm
5. Gartenstein-Ross, Daveed . “The Shooting of Luqman Abdullah.” Foundation for Defense of Democracies. November 18, 2009. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.fdd.org/analysis/2009/11/18/the-shooting-of-luqman-abdullah/
6. “Nur uz Zamaan Institute.” Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://masjiduthmandanfodiyo.weebly.com/nur-uz-zamaan-institute.html
7. Pittsburgh Imam Naeem Abdullah Responds To MEMRI Exposure Of His Statements, Adds: ‘They Are A Bunch Of Liars’ And ‘Their Only Intent Was To Slander Muslims’.” Middle East Media Research Institute. February 8, 2019. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.memri.org/reports/pittsburgh-imam-naeem-abdullah-responds-memri-exposure-his-statements-adds-they-are-bunch
8. “Classes/Events.” Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://masjiduthmandanfodiyo.weebly.com/classessevents.html
9. McColskey, Jimmy. “‘Mosque forced girl, 14, to marry “sex attacker” more than twice her age.’” Metro UK. March 15, 2019. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://metro.co.uk/2019/03/15/mosque-forced-girl-14-marry-sex-attacker-twice-age-8909938/
10. First Judicial District of Pennsylvania Court Summary for cases CP-51-CR-0003242-2019 and CP-51-CR-0003243-2019 https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/Report/CpCourtSummary?docketNumber=CP-51-CR-0003243-2019&dnh=vBYjPyzP1zirv43o8YNCuQ%3D%3D
11. “Class with Amir khalil Abdullahi – Live from Masjid Uthman Dan Fodiyo.” Nur uz-Zamaan Radio on MixCloud. July 6, 2014. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.mixcloud.com/nuruz-zamaanradio/class-with-amir-khalil-abdullahi-live-from-masjid-uthman-dan-fodiyo/
12. “Edward Archer Sentenced Up To 97 Years In Prison For Shooting Of Officer Jesse Hartnett In Name Of ISIS.” CBS News. May 14, 2018. Accessed October 13, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/sentencing-day-for-edward-archer-who-shot-philadelphia-officer-jesse-hartnett-in-name-of-isis/