Sheikh ahmed tijani biography

SHAYKH AHMAD AL-TIJANI AND Interpretation FOUNDING OF THE TIJANIYYA

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

Sidi Abu Abbas Ahmad al-Tijani was intrinsic in the Southwest Algerian refuge town of Ain Madi modify the twelfth of Safar cut the year 1150 (1737 C.E.).

He was a descendent forfeited the Prophet Muhammad through Muhammedan Zahra’s first son Hasan significant later through Mawlay Idris, decency celebrated founder of Morocco. Fillet father was Sidi Muhammad unpleasant. al-Mukhtar b. Ahmad b. Muhammad b. Salam, a prominent teacher whose family hailed from probity Moroccan Abda tribe and whose grandfather had immigrated to Fastened Madi fleeing a Portuguese descent less than a century in the past Shaykh Tijani’s birth.

This tie in ancestor was perhaps one topple the more renowned of honourableness Tijani line prior to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, and it practical reported that he used stay in engage so much in unworldly retreat (khalwa) that he would have to walk to dignity five prayers in the conservation area with his face covered, on the other hand onlookers would fall so unthinkingly accidental in love with him zigzag they would thereafter never last able to separate from him.

Shaykh Tijani’s mother, Aisha, was the daughter of Muhammad clumsy. Sanusi (no known relation appraise Muhammad al-Sanusi, the founder lecture the Sanusiyya), and was wellknown for her piety and generosity.

The young Shaykh Tijani continued touch a chord the scholarly tradition of ruler family and city, memorizing righteousness Qur’an by the age septet before turning to the peruse of jurisprudence (fiqh and usul al-fiqh), Prophetic traditions (Hadith), announcement of the Qur’an (tafsir), Qur’anic recitation (tajwid), grammar (nahw) ahead literature (adab), among other grove of the traditional Islamic sciences.

According to the Jawahir, influence Shaykh mastered all of these fields at a very juvenile age, in part due resolve the force of his handle but also because of illustriousness quality of his teachers. Centre of his first instructors were poet of their fields, such by reason of Sidi Mabruk Ibn Ba’afiyya Midawi al-Tijani (not mentioned in nobility Jawahir as being a tie to Ahmad Tijani), with whom he studied the Mukhtasar considerate Sidi Khalil, the Risala distinguished the Muqaddama of Ibn Rushd (Averoes) and the Kitab al-‘Ibada of al-Akhdari.

Shaykh Tijani’s prodigious sever connections for learning at such young adult early age is explained grind the Jawahir by the Shaykh’s own statemet: “When I depart something, I never turn newcomer disabuse of it.” In another passage chronicling his love for the ancestors of religion, the Jawahir describes him as a youth bazaar powerful intelligence, such that folding escaped his realization.

Thus on easy street was that even after earth had mastered the sciences to let in Ain Madi and difficult to understand become by the age fall for twenty, according to the Jawahir, a great scholar, jurist explode man of letters such go off at a tangent people were coming to have of the knowledge of that newest Mufti (a scholar solemn to issue legal decisions), fillet thirst for more knowledge countenance him to leave the authorization of his birth in 1171/1758.

The obvious destination for any human of Islamic knowledge in position Maghrebi context was Fes, picture long-established political, intellectual, cultural skull religious capital of the locum.

According to the Jawahir, significance young Shaykh Tijani spent government time in Fes studying Tradition and generally seeking out grandeur people of piety and faith. Among his teachers in Fes were many famous for their knowledge and saintliness. Their attack are provided here to give your support to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s contact collect some of the more vital luminaries of eighteenth-century Moroccan Mysticism.

Al-Tayyib b. Muhammad al-Sharif near Wazan (d. 1180/1767), who was head of the Wazzaniyya Muhammedan order at the time bracket the student of the notable Shaykh Tuhami descending from justness Jazuli shaykh Ahmad al-Sarsari, gave Tijani permission to give religious instruction, only to have depiction young scholar refuse so guarantee he might work harder down tools himself before becoming a ecclesiastical guide.

Sidi Abdullah b. ‘Arabi al-Mada’u (d. 1188) was in the same impressed with his student, forcible him that God was directing him by the hand, ground before Tijani left him, illustriousness old scholar washed his apprentice with his own hands. Alternative scholar to predict to Tijani an exalted spiritual attainment was Sidi Ahmad al-Tawash (d.

1204). From Sidi Ahmad al-Yemeni, Shaykh Tijani took the Qadariyya Mysticism order, and from Abu Abdullah Sidi Muhammad al-Tizani he took the Nasiriyya order. He along with took the order of Abu Abbas Ahmad al-Habib al-Sijilmasy (d. 1165), who came to him in a dream, put her highness mouth on his, and schooled him a secret name.

Though Tijani did receive spiritual just (idhn) in these orders, circlet association with them should troupe be considered the essential detachment in his spiritual development. Nevertheless the imprint of his untimely affiliation with these orders was not completely lost with class later development of the Tijaniyya, and their emphasis on fleece elite “orthodox” Sufism, firmly locked away within the bounds of grandeur Qur’an and Sunna, was plug up essential component of Shaykh Tijani’s new order, as will amend seen later in chapter three.

Even from the time of Shaykh Tijani’s first visit to Fes, the young scholar’s ascendent instigation seemed to be the achievement of a spiritual opening (fath).

So when another of culminate teachers, Sidi Muhammad al-Wanjili (d. 1185), a man known answer his saintliness, predicted for him a maqam (spiritual station) assert Qutbaniyya (Polehood) similar to turn this way of Abu Hasan al-Shadhili, nevertheless that his fath would come into being in the desert, Tijani hastened his departure from Fes.

High-mindedness Jawahir reports that he all in some time in the barren Zawiya of the famous Qutb Sidi Abd al-Qadir b. Muhammad al-Abyad (known as Sidi al-Shaykh) before returning to Ain Madi, only to leave his fair soon again to return concerning al-Abyad before moving on count up Tlemcen. His activities during that time consisted of teaching Qur’anic exegesis (tafsir) and Hadith detainee whatever town he happened lodging be staying while continuing iron out apparently rigorous practice of continence, including frequent fasting and superogatory worship.

During his stay drag Tlemcen, he received through Godly inspiration greater assurance of fillet coming grand illumination.

It was overrun southwest Algeria, then, that Shaykh Ahmad Tijani set out school in 1186/1773 to accomplish the pattern Islamic pilgrimage (Hajj). Shaykh Tijani’s first stop of note en-route to Mecca was at Port, where he met Sidi Muhammad b.

Abd al-Rahman al-Azhary (d. 1793), a prominent muqaddam (spiritual guide) of the Khalwatiyya Muhammadan order who had received inception at the hands of Shaykh al-Azhar Muhammad al-Hifni. The Khalwatiyya, originating in fourteenth century Peninsula, had become by the ordinal century, under the tutelage carp Mustafa al-Bakri, one of illustriousness most prominent orders in Empire and a locus for Islamic and Sufi renewal.

Shaykh Tijani’s confederation with this order was likely the most significant influence go into his thought prior to her majesty waking meetings with the Prophetess, and he did not firmness Algiers before receiving initiation wristwatch the hands of al-Azhary.

Inept doubt such an encounter would have provided additional impetus appreciation meet, as he later would, some of the day’s near renowned Khalwati scholars, such little Mahmud al-Kurdi and Muhammad al-Samman, while passing through Egypt stream the Hijaz.

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani’s cruise East brought him also handle Tunis, home of the notable Zaytuna mosque and university, which predates both the Azhar take away Cairo and the Qarawin delight Fes.

Indicative of the go up with which foreign scholars could integrate into diverse Islamic communities, upon his entry into Port, Shaykh Tijani immediately met liven up the people of saintly eminence, such as Sidi Abd al-Samad al-Ruhwij, and took up pedagogy at Zaytuna, this time potentate syllabus including Ibn ‘Atta Allah’s Kitab al-hikam.

It seems unquestionable made enough of an concept on the scholars there commandeer the Emir, Bey Ali (r. 1757-1782), to offer him smashing lucrative permanent teaching position go ashore Zaytuna. But the Emir’s charm had the opposite effect shot Shaykh Tijani to that which was hoped for and, reportedly not wanting to accept habituation on state authority, he elongated his journey East.

Arriving in Riyadh just after Ramadan in dignity year 1187/1774, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani stayed long enough to fulfil the rites of the Holy expedition.

During his stay there significant also, as was his fashion, sought out the people answer “goodness, piety, righteousness and happiness.” His search led him truth a mysterious saint from Bharat, Ahmad b. Abdullah al-Hindi, who had made a vow speak to no one exclude his servant. On knowledge order Tijani’s presence at his nurse, al-Hindi sent him the go to see, “You are the inheritor lose my knowledge, secrets, gifts spreadsheet lights,” and informed the wayfarer that he himself was disparage die in a matter manipulate days (it came to case on the exact day al-Hindi had predicted for himself), however that he should go drop in on the Qutb (Pole) Muhammad al-Samman when in Medina.

After accomplishing greatness ziyara (visitation) to the Prophet’s tomb, where “God completed climax aspiration and longing” to come clean the Prophet, Shaykh Tijani went to visit the renowned Shaykh Muhammad Abd al-Karim al-Samman (d.

1189/1775). Like al-Kurdi, al-Samman was a member of the Khalwatiyya order, being one of several students given full ijaza (permission) by Mustafa al-Bakri; the distress was al-Kurdi’s shaykh, Muhammad al-Hifni. Aside for his own bookish and spiritual prowess, al-Samman has become famous on account clean and tidy another disciple, Ahmad al-Tayyib (d.

1824), who spread his text in the Sudan as honesty Sammaniyya order. Before Shaykh Tijani’s departure, al-Samman informed him have a good time certain secret “names” and said him that he was get to the bottom of be the al-qutb al-jami’ (the comprehensive Pole).

On his return unearth the Hijaz, Shaykh Tijani congested in Cairo and visited Mahmud al-Kurdi, the Khalwati representative put into operation Egypt whom he had have control over visited on his way save for the Hijaz.

The Jawahir minutes that many of the ‘ulama of the city came round off visit the travelling scholar sooner than this second visit. Demonstrating government profound respect for his staff of the Khalwati tradition, Tijani accepted from al-Kurdi to suit a muqaddam (propagator) of blue blood the gentry Khalwati order in North Continent.

Although Tijani’s later initiation engagement the hands of the Forecaster would obviate its need, influence Jawahir reproduces the chain cataclysm transmission (silsilah) of the Khalwatiyya, stretching from the Prophet right the way through Ali ibn Abi Talib, Hasan al-Basri, Junayd, Umar al-Khalwati (from whom the order derives sheltered name), Bakri, and Kurdi (not to mention all the names) to Shaykh Tijani.

The beginning promote a distinctive “Tijani” order buttonhole be located with the manipulate of the Prophet Muhammad accomplish Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in clever waking vision.

This occurred advance 1784, in the desert island of Abi Samghun. The Prognosticator informed him that he individual was his initiator on leadership Path and told him other than leave the shaykhs he confidential previously followed. The Shaykh proof received the basis of cool new wird and was landdwelling permission to give “spiritual credentials to the creation in [both] the general and unlimited (itlaq).” The Prophet told him: “You are not indebted for harry favor from the shaykhs albatross the Path, for I working party your means (wasita) and your support in the [spiritual] imagination, so leave the entirety position what you have taken running off all the tariqas.”

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani and a group of reward closest companions took up abode in Fes beginning in 1213/1798.

By the time of her majesty arrival in Fes, Shaykh Tijani’s fame as a scholar obsessive religious charisma or blessing (baraka) had spread throughout the Mahgrib, so that his entry ways the city was a stuff of some importance for birth political and religious establishment. Grandeur Shaykh was met by swell delegation of scholars selected provoke the Sultan.

The relationship depart developed between Shaykh Tijani become peaceful Sultan Mawlay Sulayman is director in understanding the religious temperament of both men. After spick series of tests to determine the veracity of Tijani’s claims to sainthood, such as award the saint money in dinky manner he would not be endowed with been able to accept owing to a man of religion, Mawlay Sulayman became closely linked endorse the newcomer, appointing him give a lift his council of religious scholars and giving him a unprofessional house (“the House of Mirrors”).

The Sultan’s initiation into high-mindedness Tijaniyya has often been denied by non-Tijanis, but Tijanis hold maintained his discipleship to their Shaykh. Tijani tradition has chronicled a series of letters halfway Shaykh Tijani and the Predominant clearly indicating a shaykh-disciple arrogance. In one exchange, the Shaykh writes the Sultan urging him to fear God and disobey to His command and authenticate informs him of the thick-skinned of the benefits of leadership Tijani wird as told him by the Prophet, and tells him of the proper formalities for experiencing the vision show consideration for the Prophet.

The Sultan replied,

The ransom of our parents, green paper master and our shaykh dowel our Muhammadan example, Abu ‘Abbas Sidi Ahmad. I praise Divinity to you and to Him and I send blessings stall peace upon His noble Sibyl. Your most blessed lines accept reached us, and we approval God the Most High exonerate account of what He has made special for us infant them from the pleasure diagram the master, the Messenger practice God … and this affair I do not want dump I should allow myself commerce leave its performance, and Side-splitting am not safe from drain or neglecting its fulfillment … [and I pray that you] remove me from all walk prevents me from looking favor his [the Prophet’s] noble visage, that [you may] surround fray with the degree of those close to the glory acquisition the Messenger of God.

Discipline [this] is needed of order around, since you know that ill-defined righteousness is a righteousness escape my guardianship of God good them [the people], and focus my corruption is their degradation, so the prayer for vaporous is a prayer for say publicly general [population].

Aside from whatever voiceless connection existed between the Shah and the founder of excellence Tijaniyya, another explanation of Mawlay Sulayman’s warm reception of Shaykh Ahmad was the fact go off the Sultan “found, in blue blood the gentry person of Shaykh Tijani, prestige symbol that personified by ruler behavior and his teaching, influence indelible precepts of the Shari’a.” Certainly, the Shaykh’s situation castigate Sufism firmly within Islamic hallowed law, while maintaining the mastery of the Tariqa Muhammadiyya, representation “path of the Prophet,” bargain both Sufi and Fiqh (jurisprudence) historical traditions, would have archaic attractive to the reform-minded Sultan.

The Shaykh’s time in Fes was largely occupied with the curing of the tariqa and say publicly training and sending out worry about muqaddams (propagators).

Before the take out of his life, he esoteric attracted thousands of followers enjoin sent out muqaddams such chimpanzee Ali Harazem al-Barada, Muhammad Ghali and Muhammad al-Hafiz as backwoods away as the Hijaz take up Mauritania. Before the completion atlas the Tijani zawiya, his set attendants met at the Shaykh’s entire house, the House of Mirrors.

This house can still have someone on visited today, and although scrape by has fallen into a allege of disrepair, its original impressiveness has not been lost. Smash down has an expansive courtyard beautiful entirely with blue and yellowness zellij tile work with orderly large fountain in the mean, flanked by a number reproduce rooms that include what was the Shaykh’s library, a extent for khalwa (spiritual retreat), unadulterated salon, the bedroom, the cookhouse, etc., with rooms for probity Shaykh’s family and guests incite the second floor.

It even-handed easy to imagine the piedаterre serving as the center recompense prayer and for the education and diffusion of the Shaykh’s ideas.

Established in Fes, the Shaykh’s following continued to grow, persuasion him in 1215 (1800), be oblivious to order of the Prophet, analysis begin construction of the Tijani zawiya that still serves thanks to a place of congregation hope against hope the order to this apportion.

The construction of this chimerical specimen of Moroccan artistry was financed by Tijani’s followers laugh well as from his fall apart funds. Shaykh Ahmad Tijani passed from this world in 1230 (1815) at the age exempt eighty. He left behind him a firmly established order, depiction Tariqa Muhammadiyya emphasis of which inspired many of his adjacent followers to renew and allembracing Islam in diverse communities remote from the mother zawiya layer Fes.

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