Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gāfle or also more famously known as Gāfle (Somali: Sheekh Cabdi Abiikar "Gaafle"). A famous Bimaal ma’allin (teacher-sheikh) and warrior born in ‘Armadobe village in 1852. He was also a prominent figure in the Bimāl Revolt against the Italians. He met his end in 1922.[1] He grew up finishing his Quranic education and studies at home, he was afterwards sent for higher Islamic education to
Ceel Jaale center close to
Merca. He studied the subjects of: 1.
Fiqh (Islamic jurisprudence) 2.
Tafseer (Qur'anic translations and interpretations), 3.
Hadith (Prophet Muhammad’s tradition, Sunnah).[2] Sheikh Abdi Abikar Gāfle learned from well known sheikhs at that time like Sheikh Usman Sheikh Hassan and Sheikh Muhammad Abdalla, also known as 'Baarmawaaye'. Gaafle continued to become a well-known individual in the Bimal community. In 1888, Gaafle started to travel increasingly all over the
Shabelle Valley preaching his ideology, teaching and warning the public and about the Italian colonizers.
The Bimal Revolt Gāfle took part in the Igalle shir(
clan council) in June 1896 and led an army against the Italians. Gāfle was behind the alliance with the
Dervishes and their leader
Sayid Mohamed. Although the Dervishes provided Gāfle with firearms, they would not fight with him. Gāfle is said to have continued his resistance until 1908. == References ==