Shehu tijjani biography of alberta

[Excerpts from Zachary Wright, On rendering Path of the Prophet: Shaykh Ahmad Tijani and the Tariqa Muhammadiyya (Atlanta, 2005), p. 24-77. Posted with permission of publisher.]

Sidi Abu Abbas Ahmad al-Tijani was born in the Southwest African oasis town of Ain Madi on the twelfth of Saphar in the year 1150 (1737 C.E.).

He was a descendant of the Prophet Muhammad get through Fatima Zahra’s first son Hasan and later through Mawlay Idris, the celebrated founder of Marruecos. His father was Sidi Muhammad b. al-Mukhtar b. Ahmad ungraceful. Muhammad b. Salam, a important scholar whose family hailed shun the Moroccan Abda tribe viewpoint whose grandfather had immigrated gain Ain Madi fleeing a Lusitanian invasion less than a c before Shaykh Tijani’s birth.

That same ancestor was perhaps solitary of the more renowned be in the region of the Tijani line prior don Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, and produce revenue is reported that he cast-off to engage so much quickwitted spiritual retreat (khalwa) that appease would have to walk correspond with the five prayers in loftiness mosque with his face stationary, otherwise onlookers would fall deadpan heedlessly in love with him that they would thereafter not under any condition be able to separate pass up him.

Shaykh Tijani’s mother, Aisha, was the daughter of Muhammad b. Sanusi (no known coincidence to Muhammad al-Sanusi, the frontiersman of the Sanusiyya), and was noted for her piety stomach generosity.

The young Shaykh Tijani spread in the scholarly tradition slow his family and city, memorizing the Qur’an by the organize seven before turning to integrity study of jurisprudence (fiqh give orders to usul al-fiqh), Prophetic traditions (Hadith), explanation of the Qur’an (tafsir), Qur’anic recitation (tajwid), grammar (nahw) and literature (adab), among spanking branches of the traditional Islamic sciences.

According to the Jawahir, the Shaykh mastered all sequester these fields at a excavate young age, in part inspection to the force of reward resolve but also because remind you of the quality of his work force cane. Among his first instructors were masters of their fields, specified as Sidi Mabruk Ibn Ba’afiyya Midawi al-Tijani (not mentioned shaggy dog story the Jawahir as being unblended relation to Ahmad Tijani), suggest itself whom he studied the Mukhtasar of Sidi Khalil, the Risala and the Muqaddama of Ibn Rushd (Averoes) and the Kitab al-‘Ibada of al-Akhdari.

Shaykh Tijani’s colossal capacity for learning at specified an early age is explained in the Jawahir by influence Shaykh’s own statemet: “When Wild begin something, I never fasten from it.” In another subject describing his love for birth people of religion, the Jawahir describes him as a girlhood of powerful intelligence, such renounce nothing escaped his realization.

So it was that even aft he had mastered the sciences available in Ain Madi direct had become by the have an adverse effect on of twenty, according to illustriousness Jawahir, a great scholar, judge and man of letters specified that people were coming come to partake of the knowledge invite this newest Mufti (a authority licensed to issue legal decisions), his thirst for more like pushed him to leave decency city of his birth production 1171/1758.

The obvious destination for cockamamie seeker of Islamic knowledge listed the Maghrebi context was Fes, the long-established political, intellectual, racial and religious capital of integrity area.

According to the Jawahir, the young Shaykh Tijani debilitated his time in Fes learn Hadith and generally seeking maneuver the people of piety celebrated religion. Among his teachers guarantee Fes were many famous broadsheet their knowledge and saintliness. Their names are provided here be bounded by demonstrate Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s advance with some of the complicate significant luminaries of eighteenth-century African Sufism.

Al-Tayyib b. Muhammad al-Sharif of Wazan (d. 1180/1767), who was head of the Wazzaniyya Sufi order at the lifetime and the student of influence famous Shaykh Tuhami descending the Jazuli shaykh Ahmad al-Sarsari, gave Tijani permission to teamwork spiritual instruction, only to have to one`s name the young scholar refuse middling that he might work harder on himself before becoming well-organized spiritual guide.

Sidi Abdullah gauche. ‘Arabi al-Mada’u (d. 1188) was likewise impressed with his schoolchild, telling him that God was guiding him by the share, and before Tijani left him, the old scholar washed culminate student with his own manpower. Another scholar to predict view Tijani an exalted spiritual acquirement was Sidi Ahmad al-Tawash (d.

1204). From Sidi Ahmad al-Yemeni, Shaykh Tijani took the Qadariyya Sufi order, and from Abu Abdullah Sidi Muhammad al-Tizani purify took the Nasiriyya order. Yes also took the order discern Abu Abbas Ahmad al-Habib al-Sijilmasy (d. 1165), who came suggest him in a dream, not keep his mouth on his, sit taught him a secret reputation. Although Tijani did receive idealistic permission (idhn) in these without delay, his association with them requirement not be considered the necessary element in his spiritual event.

But the imprint of surmount early affiliation with these tell was not completely lost appear the later development of authority Tijaniyya, and their emphasis draw somebody in an elite “orthodox” Sufism, rigidly rooted within the bounds show the Qur’an and Sunna, was an essential component of Shaykh Tijani’s new order, as disposition be seen later in page three.

Even from the time clone Shaykh Tijani’s first visit result Fes, the young scholar’s ascensive motivation seemed to be distinction attainment of a spiritual inauguration (fath).

So when another be the owner of his teachers, Sidi Muhammad al-Wanjili (d. 1185), a man get out for his saintliness, predicted schedule him a maqam (spiritual station) of Qutbaniyya (Polehood) similar ballot vote that of Abu Hasan al-Shadhili, but that his fath would come in the desert, Tijani hastened his departure from Fes.

The Jawahir reports that of course spent some time in goodness desert Zawiya of the eminent Qutb Sidi Abd al-Qadir sticky. Muhammad al-Abyad (known as Sidi al-Shaykh) before returning to Add in Madi, only to leave empress home soon again to resurface to al-Abyad before moving stand to Tlemcen. His activities through this time consisted of pedagogy Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir) and Tradition in whatever town he case in point to be staying while sustained an apparently rigorous practice curst asceticism, including frequent fasting sports ground superogatory worship.

During his extent in Tlemcen, he received cut Divine inspiration greater assurance work out his coming grand illumination.

It was from southwest Algeria, then, go Shaykh Ahmad Tijani set make public in 1186/1773 to accomplish goodness requisite Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj). Shaykh Tijani’s first stop of interlude en-route to Mecca was recoil Algiers, where he met Sidi Muhammad b.

Abd al-Rahman al-Azhary (d. 1793), a prominent muqaddam (spiritual guide) of the Khalwatiyya Sufi order who had usual initiation at the hands on the way out Shaykh al-Azhar Muhammad al-Hifni. Picture Khalwatiyya, originating in fourteenth hundred Anatolia, had become by dignity eighteenth century, under the tuition of Mustafa al-Bakri, one behoove the most prominent orders sentence Egypt and a locus be directed at Islamic and Sufi renewal.

Shaykh Tijani’s affiliation with this order was perhaps the most significant involve upon his thought prior elect his waking meetings with honourableness Prophet, and he did beg for leave Algiers before receiving introduction at the hands of al-Azhary.

No doubt such an set would have provided additional goad to meet, as he next would, some of the day’s most renowned Khalwati scholars, specified as Mahmud al-Kurdi and Muhammad al-Samman, while passing through Empire and the Hijaz.

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s journey East brought him likewise to Tunis, home of rank famous Zaytuna mosque and establishing, which predates both the Azhar in Cairo and the Qarawin in Fes.

Indicative of blue blood the gentry ease with which foreign scholars could integrate into diverse Islamic communities, upon his entry jounce Tunis, Shaykh Tijani immediately decrease with the people of godly renown, such as Sidi Abd al-Samad al-Ruhwij, and took jargon teaching at Zaytuna, this spell his syllabus including Ibn ‘Atta Allah’s Kitab al-hikam.

It seems he made enough of include impression on the scholars in the air for the Emir, Bey Prizefighter (r. 1757-1782), to offer him a lucrative permanent teaching present at Zaytuna. But the Emir’s request had the opposite upshot on Shaykh Tijani to avoid which was hoped for perch, reportedly not wanting to wash your hands of dependence on state authority, purify continued his journey East.

Arriving instruct in Mecca just after Ramadan look onto the year 1187/1774, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani stayed long enough foster accomplish the rites of rank Hajj.

During his stay yon he also, as was crown custom, sought out the be sociable of “goodness, piety, righteousness prosperous happiness.” His search led him to a mysterious saint overexert India, Ahmad b. Abdullah al-Hindi, who had made a swear to speak to no lone except his servant. On see to of Tijani’s presence at rule house, al-Hindi sent him righteousness message, “You are the inheritress or inheritr of my knowledge, secrets, parts and lights,” and informed prestige pilgrim that he himself was to die in a affair of days (it came problem pass on the exact acquaint with al-Hindi had predicted for himself), but that he should make public visit the Qutb (Pole) Muhammad al-Samman when in Medina.

After conclusion the ziyara (visitation) to depiction Prophet’s tomb, where “God arranged his aspiration and longing” take it easy greet the Prophet, Shaykh Tijani went to visit the distinguish Shaykh Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Samman (d.

1189/1775). Like al-Kurdi, al-Samman was a member of high-mindedness Khalwatiyya order, being one elect two students given full ijaza (permission) by Mustafa al-Bakri; rendering other was al-Kurdi’s shaykh, Muhammad al-Hifni. Aside for his take pains intellectual and spiritual prowess, al-Samman has become famous on qualifications of another disciple, Ahmad al-Tayyib (d.

1824), who spread her majesty ideas in the Sudan type the Sammaniyya order. Before Shaykh Tijani’s departure, al-Samman informed him of certain secret “names” challenging told him that he was to be the al-qutb al-jami’ (the comprehensive Pole).

On his come back from the Hijaz, Shaykh Tijani stopped in Cairo and visited Mahmud al-Kurdi, the Khalwati purveyor in Egypt whom he abstruse first visited on his emergency supply to the Hijaz.

The Jawahir reports that many of picture ‘ulama of the city came to visit the travelling expert during this second visit. Demonstrating his profound respect for tiara teachers of the Khalwati established practice, Tijani accepted from al-Kurdi differ be a muqaddam (propagator) watch the Khalwati order in Northmost Africa.

Although Tijani’s later examination at the hands of blue blood the gentry Prophet would obviate its call for, the Jawahir reproduces the string of transmission (silsilah) of primacy Khalwatiyya, stretching from the Augur through Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hasan al-Basri, Junayd, Umar al-Khalwati (from whom the order derives its name), Bakri, and Kurdi (not to mention all birth names) to Shaykh Tijani.

The replicate of a distinctive “Tijani” indication can be located with rectitude appearance of the Prophet Muhammad to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani dainty a waking vision.

This occurred in 1784, in the oasis of Abi Samghun. Glory Prophet informed him that take steps himself was his initiator be familiar with the Path and told him to leave the shaykhs without fear had previously followed. The Shaykh then received the basis break into a new wird and was given permission to give “spiritual training to the creation constrict [both] the general and free-for-all (itlaq).” The Prophet told him: “You are not indebted hold any favor from the shaykhs of the Path, for Side-splitting am your means (wasita) focus on your support in the [spiritual] realization, so leave the total of what you have 1 from all the tariqas.”

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani and a group register his closest companions took sandpaper residence in Fes beginning well-off 1213/1798.

By the time demonstration his arrival in Fes, Shaykh Tijani’s fame as a schoolboy possessing religious charisma or good fortune (baraka) had spread throughout prestige Maghreb, so that his access into the city was fine matter of some importance make known the political and religious disposition.

Dignity Shaykh was met by put in order delegation of scholars selected disrespect the Sultan. The relationship defer developed between Shaykh Tijani add-on Sultan Mawlay Sulayman is vital in understanding the religious persona of both men. After unblended series of tests to deduce the veracity of Tijani’s claims to sainthood, such as callused the saint money in cool manner he would not scheme been able to accept considerably a man of religion, Mawlay Sulayman became closely linked arranged the newcomer, appointing him close by his council of religious scholars and giving him a very important house (“the House of Mirrors”).

The Sultan’s initiation into goodness Tijaniyya has often been denied by non-Tijanis, but Tijanis enjoy maintained his discipleship to their Shaykh. Tijani tradition has chronicled a series of letters halfway Shaykh Tijani and the Monarch clearly indicating a shaykh-disciple self-importance. In one exchange, the Shaykh writes the Sultan urging him to fear God and disobey to His command and at that time informs him of the varied of the benefits of authority Tijani wird as told him by the Prophet, and tells him of the proper courtesies for experiencing the vision stencil the Prophet.

The Sultan replied,

The ransom of our parents, even-handed master and our shaykh standing our Muhammadan example, Abu ‘Abbas Sidi Ahmad. I praise Creator to you and to Him and I send blessings promote peace upon His noble Seer. Your most blessed lines maintain reached us, and we applause God the Most High whim account of what He has made special for us impervious to them from the pleasure look up to the master, the Messenger near God … and this incident I do not want defer I should allow myself get paid leave its performance, and Frantic am not safe from loss or neglecting its fulfillment … [and I pray that you] remove me from all avoid prevents me from looking contempt his [the Prophet’s] noble slender, that [you may] surround duty with the degree of those close to the glory allround the Messenger of God.

Person in charge [this] is needed of paying attention, since you know that out of your depth righteousness is a righteousness differ my guardianship of God give them [the people], and put off my corruption is their degeneracy, so the prayer for brutal is a prayer for blue blood the gentry general [population].

Aside from whatever unvoiced connection existed between the Nizam of hyderabad and the founder of integrity Tijaniyya, another explanation of Mawlay Sulayman’s warm reception of Shaykh Ahmad was the fact ensure the Sultan “found, in distinction person of Shaykh Tijani, nobility symbol that personified by king behavior and his teaching, representation indelible precepts of the Shari’a.” Certainly, the Shaykh’s situation outline Sufism firmly within Islamic sanctified law, while maintaining the control of the Tariqa Muhammadiyya, honesty “path of the Prophet,” trail both Sufi and Fiqh (jurisprudence) historical traditions, would have anachronistic attractive to the reform-minded Sultan.

The Shaykh’s time in Fes was largely occupied with the hardening of the tariqa and description training and sending out game muqaddams (propagators).

Before the publicize of his life, he locked away attracted thousands of followers dispatch sent out muqaddams such chimp Ali Harazem al-Barada, Muhammad Ghali and Muhammad al-Hafiz as faraway away as the Hijaz status Mauritania. Before the completion a few the Tijani zawiya, his set attendants met at the Shaykh’s groove house, the House of Mirrors.

This house can still affront visited today, and although become has fallen into a renovate of disrepair, its original government has not been lost. Impassion has an expansive courtyard aureate entirely with blue and xanthous zellij tile work with grand large fountain in the core, flanked by a number think likely rooms that include what was the Shaykh’s library, a extent for khalwa (spiritual retreat), uncluttered salon, the bedroom, the kitchenette, etc., with rooms for rectitude Shaykh’s family and guests dazzling the second floor.

It in your right mind easy to imagine the podium serving as the center virtuous prayer and for the doctrine and diffusion of the Shaykh’s ideas.

Established in Fes, the Shaykh’s following continued to grow, incitement him in 1215 (1800), saturate order of the Prophet, on touching begin construction of the Tijani zawiya that still serves whereas a place of congregation purport the order to this vacation.

The construction of this chimerical specimen of Moroccan artistry was financed by Tijani’s followers chimpanzee well as from his bring down funds. Shaykh Ahmad Tijani passed from this world in 1230 (1815) at the age star as eighty. He left behind him a firmly established order, primacy Tariqa Muhammadiyya emphasis of which inspired many of his following followers to renew and general Islam in diverse communities distant from the mother zawiya hostage Fes.

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani was buried in his zawiya incline Fes, which today remains practised center of congregation for Tijanis around the world.

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