International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Research

Authors
Murtala Ahmed Rufa’i

Abstract
One of the immediate measures taken by the Sokoto Jihad leaders after the wars that led to the establishment of the Sokoto Caliphate was how to ensure abundant food supply to the vanguards of the revolution. Food question was so critical during the formative period of the Jihad and its supply required urgent attention, or else the will and zeal of the Jama’a, (supporters of the Jihad movement) would be weakened. The insecurity created by the war crippled grains supply. Also, the ruling class deliberately imposed the policy of interdiction so as to cut-off grains supply to the Jihadists. This ‘food-war’ had threatened the philosophical foundation of the Caliphate in its early days 1804-1812. To break this bound and ensure enough food supply the office of the Muhtasib was established and given to Muhammadu Julde in 1812. The role of the Muhtasib in the control of grains trade was rarely mentioned in most of the literatures. The main duty of Muhtasib in this respect was to regulate and control the illegal activities perpetuated by grains traders, such as grains hoarding, adulteration and the use of sub- standard measures within and outside the markets among several others. This paper attempts to study the role of Muhtasib in the control of grains trade in metropolitan Sokoto.