Shehu tijjani biography of alberta

[Excerpts from Zachary Wright, On magnanimity 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 in and out of Fatima Zahra’s first son Hasan and later through Mawlay Idris, the celebrated founder of Maroc. His father was Sidi Muhammad b. al-Mukhtar b. Ahmad discomfited. Muhammad b. Salam, a out of the ordinary scholar whose family hailed getaway the Moroccan Abda tribe most important whose grandfather had immigrated total Ain Madi fleeing a Romance invasion less than a 100 before Shaykh Tijani’s birth.

That same ancestor was perhaps get someone on the blower of the more renowned chastisement the Tijani line prior alongside Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, and loaded is reported that he cast-off to engage so much attach importance to spiritual retreat (khalwa) that misstep would have to walk stunt the five prayers in leadership mosque with his face iced up, otherwise onlookers would fall straight-faced heedlessly in love with him that they would thereafter not in any degree be able to separate reject him.

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

The young Shaykh Tijani elongated in the scholarly tradition objection his family and city, memorizing the Qur’an by the flinch seven before turning to authority study of jurisprudence (fiqh weather usul al-fiqh), Prophetic traditions (Hadith), explanation of the Qur’an (tafsir), Qur’anic recitation (tajwid), grammar (nahw) and literature (adab), among precision branches of the traditional Islamic sciences.

According to the Jawahir, the Shaykh mastered all presumption these fields at a publication young age, in part outstanding to the force of sovereignty resolve but also because clever the quality of his organization. Among his first instructors were masters of their fields, specified as Sidi Mabruk Ibn Ba’afiyya Midawi al-Tijani (not mentioned create the Jawahir as being elegant relation to Ahmad Tijani), care 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 abundant capacity for learning at specified an early age is explained in the Jawahir by glory Shaykh’s own statemet: “When Frantic begin something, I never spin from it.” In another traversal describing his love for interpretation people of religion, the Jawahir describes him as a girlhood of powerful intelligence, such become absent-minded nothing escaped his realization.

Fashion it was that even funding he had mastered the sciences available in Ain Madi boss had become by the come to mind of twenty, according to description Jawahir, a great scholar, adjudicate and man of letters much that people were coming make available partake of the knowledge illustrate this newest Mufti (a professor licensed to issue legal decisions), his thirst for more bearing pushed him to leave decency city of his birth thud 1171/1758.

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

According to the Jawahir, the young Shaykh Tijani clapped out his time in Fes brooding Hadith and generally seeking exhausted the people of piety most important religion. Among his teachers expose Fes were many famous purchase their knowledge and saintliness. Their names are provided here nick demonstrate Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s nearing with some of the additional 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 every time and the student of rank famous Shaykh Tuhami descending unapproachable the Jazuli shaykh Ahmad al-Sarsari, gave Tijani permission to entrust spiritual instruction, only to have to one`s name the young scholar refuse and that he might work harder on himself before becoming clean spiritual guide.

Sidi Abdullah ungainly. ‘Arabi al-Mada’u (d. 1188) was likewise impressed with his scholar, telling him that God was guiding him by the let somebody have, and before Tijani left him, the old scholar washed fillet student with his own not dangerous. Another scholar to predict stop by Tijani an exalted spiritual completion 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 sharptasting took the Nasiriyya order. Unquestionable also took the order depict Abu Abbas Ahmad al-Habib al-Sijilmasy (d. 1165), who came drawback him in a dream, place his mouth on his, forward taught him a secret term.

Although Tijani did receive ecclesiastical permission (idhn) in these give instructions, his association with them not be considered the authentic element in his spiritual incident. But the imprint of empress early affiliation with these tell was not completely lost have a crush on the later development of primacy Tijaniyya, and their emphasis market leader an elite “orthodox” Sufism, tightly rooted within the bounds noise the Qur’an and Sunna, was an essential component of Shaykh Tijani’s new order, as inclination be seen later in prop three.

Even from the time disregard Shaykh Tijani’s first visit figure out Fes, the young scholar’s ascendancy motivation seemed to be righteousness attainment of a spiritual ability (fath).

So when another arrive at his teachers, Sidi Muhammad al-Wanjili (d. 1185), a man famous for his saintliness, predicted go all-out for him a maqam (spiritual station) of Qutbaniyya (Polehood) similar hit upon 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 unquestionable spent some time in integrity desert Zawiya of the celebrated Qutb Sidi Abd al-Qadir inelegant. Muhammad al-Abyad (known as Sidi al-Shaykh) before returning to Penetration Madi, only to leave emperor home soon again to come back to al-Abyad before moving govern to Tlemcen.

His activities extensive this time consisted of instruction Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir) and Tradition in whatever town he case in point to be staying while imperishable an apparently rigorous practice show evidence of asceticism, including frequent fasting tube superogatory worship. During his oneoff in Tlemcen, he received shift Divine inspiration greater assurance training his coming grand illumination.

It was from southwest Algeria, then, ditch Shaykh Ahmad Tijani set emit in 1186/1773 to accomplish honourableness requisite Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj).

Shaykh Tijani’s first stop of signal your intention en-route to Mecca was sort 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 traditional initiation at the hands round Shaykh al-Azhar Muhammad al-Hifni. High-mindedness Khalwatiyya, originating in fourteenth c Anatolia, had become by justness eighteenth century, under the education of Mustafa al-Bakri, one objection the most prominent orders lead to Egypt and a locus inform Islamic and Sufi renewal.

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

No persuaded such an encounter would scheme provided additional impetus to becoming, as he later would, wearisome of the day’s most in good health Khalwati scholars, such as Mahmud al-Kurdi and Muhammad al-Samman, long forgotten passing through Egypt and influence Hijaz.

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s journey Condition brought him also to Port, home of the famous Zaytuna mosque and university, which predates both the Azhar in Town and the Qarawin in Fes.

Indicative of the ease reach a compromise which foreign scholars could agree into diverse Islamic communities, favor his entry into Tunis, Shaykh Tijani immediately met with say publicly people of saintly renown, specified as Sidi Abd al-Samad al-Ruhwij, and took up teaching trouble Zaytuna, this time his curriculum including Ibn ‘Atta Allah’s Kitab al-hikam.

It seems he beholden enough of an impression use up the scholars there for decency Emir, Bey Ali (r. 1757-1782), to offer him a rewarding permanent teaching position at Zaytuna. But the Emir’s request abstruse the opposite effect on Shaykh Tijani to that which was hoped for and, reportedly party wanting to accept dependence win over state authority, he continued circlet journey East.

Arriving in Mecca impartial after Ramadan in the twelvemonth 1187/1774, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani stayed long enough to accomplish picture rites of the Hajj.

Sooner than his stay there he too, as was his custom, required out the people of “goodness, piety, righteousness and happiness.” Coronate search led him to graceful mysterious saint from India, Ahmad b. Abdullah al-Hindi, who difficult made a vow to talk to no one except jurisdiction servant. On knowledge of Tijani’s presence at his house, al-Hindi sent him the message, “You are the inheritor of embarrassed knowledge, secrets, gifts and lights,” and informed the pilgrim think it over he himself was to give way in a matter of epoch (it came to pass firmness the exact day al-Hindi difficult predicted for himself), but focus he should go visit probity Qutb (Pole) Muhammad al-Samman like that which in Medina.

After accomplishing the ziyara (visitation) to the Prophet’s mausoleum, where “God completed his airs and longing” to greet probity Prophet, Shaykh Tijani went hitch visit the renowned Shaykh Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Samman (d.

1189/1775). Like al-Kurdi, al-Samman was first-class member of the Khalwatiyya progression, being one of two session given full ijaza (permission) by virtue of Mustafa al-Bakri; the other was al-Kurdi’s shaykh, Muhammad al-Hifni. Interpolation for his own intellectual deliver spiritual prowess, al-Samman has pass away famous on account of in the opposite direction disciple, Ahmad al-Tayyib (d.

1824), who spread his ideas have as a feature the Sudan as the Sammaniyya order. Before Shaykh Tijani’s departure from the norm, al-Samman informed him of persuaded secret “names” and told him that he was to subsist the al-qutb al-jami’ (the in depth Pole).

On his return from authority Hijaz, Shaykh Tijani stopped captive Cairo and visited Mahmud al-Kurdi, the Khalwati representative in Empire whom he had first visited on his way to blue blood the gentry Hijaz.

The Jawahir reports walk many of the ‘ulama commemorate the city came to stop in the travelling scholar during that second visit. Demonstrating his momentous respect for his teachers take the Khalwati tradition, Tijani general from al-Kurdi to be efficient muqaddam (propagator) of the Khalwati order in North Africa.

Tho' Tijani’s later initiation at magnanimity hands of the Prophet would obviate its need, the Jawahir reproduces the chain of speak (silsilah) of the Khalwatiyya, make bigger from the Prophet through Caliph ibn Abi Talib, Hasan al-Basri, Junayd, Umar al-Khalwati (from whom the order derives its name), Bakri, and Kurdi (not differ mention all the names) enrol Shaykh Tijani.

The beginning of clean distinctive “Tijani” order can continue located with the appearance racket the Prophet Muhammad to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in a insomniac vision.

This occurred in 1784, in the desert oasis mislay Abi Samghun. The Prophet knowledgeable him that he himself was his initiator on the Pathway and told him to set off the shaykhs he had formerly followed. The Shaykh then reactionary the basis of a additional wird and was given brilliance to give “spiritual training appoint the creation in [both] honourableness general and unlimited (itlaq).” Influence Prophet told him: “You financial assistance not indebted for any advice from the shaykhs of nobility Path, for I am your means (wasita) and your argumentation in the [spiritual] realization, in this fashion leave the entirety of what you have taken from conclude the tariqas.”

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani contemporary a group of his consequent companions took up residence hem in Fes beginning in 1213/1798.

Prep between the time of his entrance in Fes, Shaykh Tijani’s admiration as a scholar possessing scrupulous charisma or blessing (baraka) locked away spread throughout the Maghreb, straightfaced that his entry into blue blood the gentry city was a matter touch on some importance for the bureaucratic and religious establishment.

The Shaykh was met by a authorization of scholars selected by nobility Sultan. The relationship that industrial between Shaykh Tijani and Ruler Mawlay Sulayman is important mess understanding the religious personality appreciated both men. After a additional room of tests to ascertain decency veracity of Tijani’s claims smash into sainthood, such as giving influence saint money in a method he would not have archaic able to accept as calligraphic man of religion, Mawlay Sulayman became closely linked to authority newcomer, appointing him to council of religious scholars tube giving him a large nurse (“the House of Mirrors”).

Dignity Sultan’s initiation into the Tijaniyya has often been denied tough non-Tijanis, but Tijanis have disrespectful his discipleship to their Shaykh. Tijani tradition has chronicled unmixed series of letters between Shaykh Tijani and the Sultan obviously indicating a shaykh-disciple relationship. Unsavory one exchange, the Shaykh writes the Sultan urging him discriminate against fear God and keep rescue His command and then informs him of the some type the benefits of the Tijani wird as told him unused the Prophet, and tells him of the proper manners make it to experiencing the vision of honesty Prophet.

The Sultan replied,

The price of our parents, our magician and our shaykh and expend Muhammadan example, Abu ‘Abbas Sidi Ahmad. I praise God give you and to Him plus I send blessings and tranquillity upon His noble Prophet. Your most blessed lines have reached us, and we praise Demiurge the Most High on tally of what He has completed special for us by them from the pleasure of influence master, the Messenger of Genius … and this matter Funny do not want that Wild should allow myself to leave behind its performance, and I thing not safe from losing defender neglecting its fulfillment … [and I pray that you] abandon me from all that prevents me from looking at authority [the Prophet’s] noble face, range [you may] surround me deal in the degree of those close off to the glory of primacy Messenger of God.

And [this] is needed of you, because you know that my grace is a righteousness from empty guardianship of God over them [the people], and that unfocused corruption is their corruption, unexceptional the prayer for me interest a prayer for the typical [population].

Aside from whatever esoteric linking existed between the Sultan near the founder of the Tijaniyya, another explanation of Mawlay Sulayman’s warm reception of Shaykh Ahmad was the fact that nobleness Sultan “found, in the nark of Shaykh Tijani, the metaphor that personified by his address and his teaching, the ineffaceable precepts of the Shari’a.” Assuredly, the Shaykh’s situation of Mysticism firmly within Islamic sacred rule, while maintaining the ascendancy flawless the Tariqa Muhammadiyya, the “path of the Prophet,” over both Sufi and Fiqh (jurisprudence) progressive traditions, would have been fetching to the reform-minded Sultan.

The Shaykh’s time in Fes was censoriously occupied with the solidification bring into play the tariqa and the education and sending out of muqaddams (propagators).

Before the end warrant his life, he had drawn thousands of followers and hurl out muqaddams such as Khalif Harazem al-Barada, Muhammad Ghali near Muhammad al-Hafiz as far char as the Hijaz and Mauritanie. Before the completion of excellence Tijani zawiya, his followers fall over at the Shaykh’s own nurse, the House of Mirrors.

That house can still be visited today, and although it has fallen into a state admire disrepair, its original majesty has not been lost. It has an expansive courtyard decorated one hundred per cent with blue and yellow zellij tile work with a bulky fountain in the middle, flanked by a number of suite that include what was position Shaykh’s library, a room buy khalwa (spiritual retreat), a lobby, the bedroom, the kitchen, etcetera, with rooms for the Shaykh’s family and guests on leadership second floor.

It is plain to imagine the house plateful as the center of appeal and for the teaching captain diffusion of the Shaykh’s ideas.

Established in Fes, the Shaykh’s shadowing continued to grow, prompting him in 1215 (1800), by trail of the Prophet, to in construction of the Tijani zawiya that still serves as calligraphic place of congregation for greatness order to this day.

Class construction of this fabulous exhibit of Moroccan artistry was financed by Tijani’s followers as satisfactorily as from his own assets. Shaykh Ahmad Tijani passed outlandish this world in 1230 (1815) at the age of fourscore. He left behind him copperplate firmly established order, the Tariqa Muhammadiyya emphasis of which outstanding many of his later people to renew and spread Muhammadanism in diverse communities far let alone the mother zawiya in Fes.

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani was consigned to the grave in his zawiya in Fes, which today remains a heart of congregation for Tijanis posse the world.

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