The as-Salaasil ‘l-Qaadiriyya of Shehu Uthman ibn Fuduye` was composed on a Friday, the 11th of Jumad’l-Akhira, 1224 A.H. (June 24, 1809 C.E.); just at the time of the establishment and consolidation of the Sokoto Caliphate, in order to delineate that it was due to the spiritual baraka of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylani, that Allah helped formulate the Sokoto polity. This often overlooked detail was repeatedly emphasized in the prose and poetic writings of all the ideologues of the Caliphate. The text is a reminder to the Muslim activists about the essential spiritual component of the Sokoto government and the inward qualities that gave it its legitimacy. The text is arranged into ten chapters:
Chapter One: On the Chain of the Lineage of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, From the Direction of His Father, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Two: On the Chain of the Lineage of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, From the Direction of His Mother, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Three: On the Chain of the Spiritual Guides Up to Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Four: On the Chain of the Madh’hab of Tasawwuf Within the Tareeeqa of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Five: On the Chain of Word of the Shahaada Within the Tareeeqa of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Six: On the Chain of the Sufi Cloak Within the Tareeeqa of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Seven: On the Methodology of Performing the Litany of the Chain to Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Eight: On the Methodology of Making Intermediacy With Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Nine: On the Advantage of Those Who are Affliliated With Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah ta`ala be pleased with him.
Chapter Ten: On Some of the Poetic Songs of Shaykh Abd’l-Qaadir al-Jaylaani, may Allah taala be pleased with him; Which Bring Sensory and Spiritual Comfort to the Hearts; Concerning Those Who Are His Disciples Until the Day of Judgment; and the Poetry He, may Allah taala be pleased with him Composed in Praise of them.