DESCRIBING THE CAPITAL-CITY OF THE FAYDAH TIJANIYYAH

MEDINA BAYE: THE BLESSED CITY OF FAT'H (DIVINE OPENING)

(On The Path of Prophet Sallahu Alaihi wa Salam)

via: SoutIlaahi, July 21, 2013. 

By: Imam Fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi

Photo: Shaykh Fakhrudin Owaisi outside the mosque

Following the Sunnah of his masters, the Prophet (SAW) and Shaykh al-Tijani (RA), Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) also migrated from his hometown due to the oppression of his jealous enemies and established his Mosque and Zawiyah in a new place. This new village of Shaykh Ibrahim (in the Kaolack district of Senegal) was named as ‘Medina’ al-Jadid Maskan al-Qutb al-Farid, i.e. the New ‘Medina’, the Residence of the Unique Qutb.

It is also known as Madinat ash-Shaykh among Arabs, and more popularly, ‘Medina Baye Niyass’ (Shaykh Ibrahim is commonly know as ‘Baye’ in Senegal which means ‘Our Father’).

Since the appearance of the Great Faydah, Medina-Baye has become the most active centre of the Tijaniyyah in the entire world. Tens of Thousands of Tijanis from all over the world are constantly coming there to Ziyarah the Sahib al-Faydah. Even the Ahfad of Sidina Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) are regularly visiting there from Algeria and Morocco to show the love and brotherhood.

In fact, during the great Mawlid al-Nabawi Festival (known as ‘Gamou’ in Senegal), about half a million Tijanis gather there to praise Sayyid-al-Wujud (SAW).

Nearly everyone in the whole town is a Tijani, and the daily Wazifah in the great Mosque of Shaykh Ibrahim (also known as the Zawiyat Ahl al-Dhikr) attracts nearly a Thousand people, including hundreds of ladies. About every house in the town is represented there.

There are also numerous Awliya-Allah walking around in that holy place. The Jami al-Ibrahimi is constantly filled with worshippers praying, reciting their Awrad and pursuing their Tarbiyah.

Indeed, countless Tijani murids have experienced their Fat’h al-Akbar of the vision of Allah (SWT) in that blessed Mosque. Numerous Ahbab have daily visions of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA) and the Prophet (SAW) there.

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse & Shaykh Muhammad al-Thani Kafanga

The Nigerian Khalifah Shaykh Muhammad al-Thani Kafanga (RA) mentions in his work Ghayat al-Amani fi Karamat al-Shaykh al-Tijani that once when he traveled to Medina Kaolack with the Emir of Kano Sidi Muhammad al-Sanusi to visit the Sahib al-Faydah, the Shaykh welcomed them and told them to stay in the Grand Ibrahimi Mosque. Later on, when they came from the Mosque to Shaykh Ibrahim, he asked Emir Sanusi:

“Did you see Shaykhuna Ahmad al-Tijani (i.e. in the Mosque)?”

The great Emir replied: “Yes I did.”

Pictures (below): 

 Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse & Emir Muhammad Sanusi

We mentioned previously that none other than Sidna Ahmad Sukayrij (RA) derived the following words from the Ibrahimi Mosque’s date of building (1349):

“Maqamu Ibrahima wa man Dakhalahu Kana Aaminan bi-Hudah”

“The Station of Ibrahim! And Whoever enters it will be safe though his guidance”

To perform the Salat-al-Fajr in that Mosque with hundreds of dedicated Tijanis behind the Imam Sayyidina Shaykh Hassan Cisse, is an otherworldly experience. The Jum’ah there is like ‘Id in other places.

Indeed, the Shaykh al-Azhar of Cairo, Sidi Dr Abd-al-Halim Mahmud stated after praying in that Mosque:

“I have not experienced such a feeling of ‘Mosqueness’ in any other Mosque despite praying in countless Mosques worldwide!”

This is not surprising as Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) himself stated about his City that:

Sara Laha Sirru Madinati ’n-Nabi

Khabasaha Tanfi bila Tarayyubi

The Secret of the Prophet’s City flowed into my City

Indeed it removes all filth from it without doubt!

Then revealing the Secret of the radiance of Medina-Baye and praising the numerous Gnostic Men of Allah among his Tijanite disciples there, he states:

Li-annaha Mazharu Faydi ’l-Khatimi

Fiha Rijalun Dhawquhum ka’l-Hatimi

Because it is the Manifestation of the Faydah of the Seal (of Saints)

In it are Men whose Spiritual State are like that of al-Hatimi (i.e. Ibn-Arabi)

In another line, the Ghawth al-Akbar Niyass wrote:

Bi-Hubbi Rasul-Illahi Ta’lu Madinati

Ala ’l-Muduni wa ’l-Amsari wa ’l-Khayru Yahduthu

By the Love of the Messenger of Allah, my City rises above

all Cities and Lands, And Goodness Continues to happen (there)

Describing the countless seekers of Haqq who would travel to Medina-Baye to meet Shaykh Ibrahim, his successor Arif-bi’Llah Abu’l-Hasan, Sayyidi Ali Cisse wrote:

“Thousands after thousands of men have arrived at (the spiritual station of) Kamal al-Ma’rifah al-Ayaniyyah al-Shuhudiyyah (the Complete and Open Vision of Allah’s manifestation) on his hands (i.e. under his Tarbiyah).

Delegations after delegations of numerous people from the Whites and the Blacks, come to him daily to enter our Tariqah Tijaniyyah, which is a treasury of Divine Grace and Gnostic Gifts.

They come in multitudes from every corner of the World, and none takes this Illustrious Wird (al-Tijani) from his hands, except that he benefits and gains the Divine Assistance through him (i.e. Shaykh Ibrahim), and enters the realms of Irfan.”

Here one can only state: Allahu Akbar ala Zuhur hadhihi ’l-Faydah al-Ahmadiyyah al-Muhammadiyyah al-Tijaniyyah al-Ibrahimiyyah! Allahu Akbar thumma Allahu Akbar!

The American researcher Christopher Gray wrote in his paper The Rise of the Niassene Tijaniyya:

“[T]here were 300 or so Northern Nigerians living at Niasse’s zawiya at any one time.”

Do note that we are not talking about a medieval Zawiyah, but one that was functioning in the latter part of the 20th century!

Indeed, this reminds one of something the great Sidi al-Arabi bin al-Sa’ih (RA) had written about the Zawiyah of the great Khalifah al-Haj Ali al-Tamasini (RA) about a hundred years before that.

He (RA) wrote that a reliable acquaintance of his had personally attended a gathering there where 200 men had gathered from various far-off places, all seeking the Wird al-Tijani from Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA). Al-Humduli’Llah, this tradition continues in Medina-Baye Kaolack.

Many Tijani poets have praised Medina-Baye. The great Mauritanian Saint, Sidi Muhammad Abd-Allah al-Alawi (RA) writes in praise of Medina-Baye, its great Mosque, its sacred land, its saintly people, and the Supreme Tijani Khalifah living there:

A’Masjidu Ibrahima Ussista ala ’t-Taqwa

Wa Arduka La Ta’thimun fihi wala Laghwa

Li-Sahbi Abi’l-Abbasi fika Tahalluqun

Tanalu mina ’l-Ulya bihi al-Rutbatu ’l-Quswa

Madinatuka ’l-Gharra’u Khayra Madinatin

Li-Kulli gharibin fi Jawanibiha M’awa

Wa min Khulafa al-Shaykhi fiha Khalifatan!

Mada ’d-Dahri lam yudrik lahu Mudrikun Sha’wa

Fa-Ashabuhu yumli alayhim Ma’arifan

Wa Yamla’uhum Fiq-han wa Yamla’uhum Nahwa

Badat min Abi’l-Abbasi fihi Khilafatan

Qafa Amruhu fi Kulli Mas’alatin Qafwa

O Mosque of Ibrahim! You been established on Taqwa!

And your land is free of sin and frivolity

The disciples of Abu’l-Abbas (al-Tijani) gather in your precincts

Through that you have gained the highest status!

Your shining City is the best of cities

Every stranger (who comes to visit) finds a home there

Resident in you is one such Khalifah of the Shaykh (al-Tijani)

None can ever achieve what he has achieved!

And he fills his disciples with the Divine Gnostic Sciences

And he fills them with Fiqh and the Knowledge of Grammar (as well)!

His Khilafah of Abi’l-Abbas (al-Tijani) is apparent!

And he follows his (i.e. Shaykh al-Tijani’s) way in every matter

As one may notice, the poet praises Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) as the Unmatched Khalifah of Shaykhuna al-Tijani (RA), his follower to the teeth, and an excellent murabbi of his Tijanite Ashab. And that is the only purpose of the Sahib al-Faydah.

Another great Mauritanian Shaykh Sidi Muhammad Abd-ar-Rahman bin Salik bin Bab al-Alawi (RA) wrote:

As-Sir Sirru Sirru’ sh-Shaykhi fi Medina!

Fa’khtaraha Allahu lan Mawtina

Daydanu Ibrahima Hadyu ’l-Wara

Wa Lam Yani ’l-Ilmu lahu Daydana

The Greatest Secret (you are seeking) is with the Shaykh (Ibrahim) in Medina!

Indeed Allah has chosen it to be our (spiritual) home

For the concern of Ibrahim is only the guidance of Mankind (to Ma’rifat-Allah)

And indeed (teaching outward) Knowledge also remains his concern!

All Praise be to Allah, the city of Medina-Baye Kaolack is a living proof of the greatness of the Faydah of Shaykhuna al-Tijani (RA) that appeared on the hands of Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niyass (RA).

Here I wish to state my testimony that Medina-Baye continues to flourish under   leaders like Shaykh Imam Tijani Cisse and Mawlana Shaykh Mahy Cisse exactly as it did under his Murabbi and Grandfather, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA). The Hadrah is still the same, and the Tijani Faydah still flows in the same way! It can never end. Those who fight it will end….as Baye (RA) predicted. . I visited there 3 years after the demise of Shaykhuna al-Hassan (RA), and I can testify to that. Al-Humdulillah!

al-HumduliLlah wa al-AbduliLlah!

Imam Fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi

   

ENGLISH BOOKS BY/ON SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE AND THE TIJANI TARIQAH
(AVAILABLE FOR SALE)

1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

3. Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

4. The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

5. Kano Conferences (Majlis Kano) and the khutba titled (Hadiqat al-Anwar fii ma ihtawa alayhi qawaaid al-Islam minal hikam wal asrar) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

6. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

7. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" – (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razzaq Solagberu)
9. Islamic Law of Inheritance, by Sayyid Ali ibn Abubakar al-Muthanna ibn Abdullah Niasse (Translated by Dr. Sulaiman Shittu)

10. Numerous “English” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)

11. Numerous “Arabic” Sufism & Tijaniyyah Tariqah E-books/Journals/Articles (soft copies - to be sent via email)

To order for copies, contact;

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