Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein Al Somali

Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein (Somali: Axmed Girri Bin Xussein, Arabic: أحمد جرئ بن حسين) was a Somali military commander and general that served the Adal Sultanate. He played a key prominent role in the campaigns of Ahmad ibn Ibrahim al-Ghazi by bringing one of the largest armies to aid the Imam in Jihad. Ahmed Girri hailed from the Yabarray clan. He was also the chieftain of Habr Maqdi which was a collective of Yabarray and Bartire. He was regarded one of the most capable generals during the Conquest of Abyssinia alongside Garad Matan.

Early life Born into the prominent Jidwaaq clan, he played a key role in the Muslim conquests of the Horn of Africa by bringing one of the largest armies to Adal. and was mentioned among the honorable knights of the Imam. Ahmed Girri Bin Hussein was the commander of Adal empire . Robert Ferry also confirms“Warrior valor has remained one of the main qualities of the Somalis to this day; on the other hand, we know that the Somalis, and especially the Darod Somalis, were in full expansion towards the west and the Geri, the Marrehân, the Harti who are cited elsewhere, and the Yabarray who undoubtly identify with the Yiberri of Futuh el Habasa are precisely Darod. expansion of the Darod invaders, for their enterprise of conquest of Abyssinia. To the Somalis must be added the Harla who, under the name of Harla now consider themselves a fraction of Issa but are distinguished from the Somalis.” The famous Futuh Al-Habasha manuscript was written during the 16th century by Shihāb al-Dīn Aḥmad ibn ʻAbd al-Qādir ʻArabfaqīh, who was present during the rise and fall of the Adal Sultanate as well as the actual jihad. Shihāb al-Dīn would later document about the Ethiopian-Adal War and explicitly about the Somali clans that participated.

Arab Faqih notes“..then he assembled the Somali clans, the tribe of Girri, the tribe of Marraihan, the tribe of Yibberi with their chieftain Ahmad Girri, the tribe of Harti from the people of Mait, the tribe of Jairan, the tribe of Mazzar, the tribe of Barsub all of these were Somalis and they were ordered by the imam to hold the left flank, they were all under Matan.” But most times he led Yabarray and Bartirre under Habar Maqdi.

Arab Faqih confirms that Habar Maqdi is Bartirre;“Then he split his force into three divisions. The first consisted of the people of Sim, the tribe of Marraihan and Bar Tarri which are the Habr Maqdi and the people of Jawatir: they were under the command of the wazir 'Addol.”

Relationship with the Imam The Imam first conquered the Habar Maqdi for engaging in banditry subsequently making them submit, afterwards the Habar Maqdi made peace with him. Before the Conquest of Abyssinia, the Imam began sending messengers to every tribe in the vicinity of Harar and its surrounding areas. He dispatched a messenger named Ali to the Yabaray and two other messengers to the Geri clan and Marehan.

After the Yabaray accepted the imams call to jihad, Ahmed Girri recruited members from his tribe and united them. The first tribe to arrive in Harar was the Habar Maqdi with their leader Ahmed Girri, who brought one of the largest armies numbering 2000 soldiers, consisting of a confederacy of Yabarray and Bartirre.

Arab Faqih details:

He also notes how the imam was extremely elated at the fact that the Habar Maqdi clan accepted the call to Jihad. The Habr Maqdi clan was among the first tribes to accept Jihad alongside the Geri clan under Garad Matan. It's documented that they encamped in Qasa a place near Harar.

Arab Faqih notes: