THE DIVINE FLOOD

MAQAM OF SHAYKH AHMAD TIJANI (RA) AND OUR POSITION

By: Imam Fakhruddin al-Madani

Note:

(The Tijaniyyah do not claim it is compulsory for all Muslims or all Sufis to believe in the elevated Maqam of Shaykh al-Tijani)

As-Salam alaikum,

Answering the queries of some respected brothers, i write:

Like all other Orders, the honorable Tijaniyyah also believe in the validity of all the known Sufi Orders and the greatness all the eminent Sufi Shaykhs. Anyone who claims otherwise is a liar.

However, once again, like many other Orders, they reserve the right to consider their Order the best. For two reasons; a general one and a specific one. First we mention the general one:

1-Shaykhs of all Orders have stipulated that a Murid can never really benefit from his Shaykh and his Order, if he doesn’t consider it to be the best. If he believes that some other Shaykh is greater than his Shaykh, then why is he sticking to his ‘lesser’ Shaykh? If he is intelligent, he will immediate submit to the greater Shaykh.

Al-Shaykh al-Akbar Mawlai Ibn-Arabi and Imam al-Sharani also confirm this point in their works on adab al-Murid.

Many people do not grow spiritually because they fanatically stick to their ‘lesser’ Shaykhs and deprive themselves of what is far better, believing its ‘haram’ to leave their ‘original’ Shaykh.

Also, no one can claim that ‘all shaykhs are equal’, because the Shaykhs themselves deny that and clearly state that there are ranks among the Awliya, some a re abdal, some are awtad and one is the Qutb al-Waqt.

Some people might not be sure about their Shaykhs, but there are others who are, in themselves, quite sure that their Shaykh is the Qutb. There is nothing wrong in believing that.

2-The specific reason is that the Tijaniyyah firmly believe that al-Qutb al-Ghawth ar-Rabbani Sayyidina wa Mawlana al-Shaykh al-Sayyid Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) was the Khatm al-Wilayah al-Muhammadiyyah predicted by many great Awliya before him; thus, his Maqam and the Maqam of his Awrad is higher than all others, like Rasul-Illah (SAW) and his Shar’ is better than all others, despite the truthfulness and divine origin of all others.

What adds to this is the fact that unlike all other Orders, the Awrad of the Tariqah Tijaniyyah were given to Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani by the Best of Creation (SAW) himself. So, he (SAW) is considered the founder of the Order.

Before meeting the Prophet (SAW), Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani was following many other Tariqahs and even had Ijazahs in them. Then the Prophet of Allah (SAW) appeared to him in broad daylight, and ordered him to relinquish all other Orders he was following, gave him the Awrad of the (new) Tariqah and told him that “From today, I am your Shaykh.”

That’s why unlike the other Orders, in the Tijani Sanad, the Shaykh after Sayyidi Ahmad al-Tijani is Rasul-Allah (SAW) himself. Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani had no other Shaykh al-Murabbi but him, and his opening was at his blessed hands.

All of this uniqueness was in perfect conformity with his status of Khatm al-Wilayah al-MUHAMMADIYYAH.

In any case, there is nothing in all of this which is against the Shariah or impossible aqlan. The Tijaniyyah don’t claim that they are the only valid Tariqah or their Shaykh is the only true Shaykh; they simply believe in the high status Allah the Most Generous and his Prophet (SAW) bestowed upon Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) as being the Khatm al-Awliya al-Muhammadiyyin.

Many Qadiriyyah believe Sayyidina Shaykh Abd-al-Qadir to be the greatest and his Order to be the best. Some Naqshis also have similar beliefs. I read in one famous Shadhuli book that Imam al-Shadhili’s Maqam was higher than that of Shaykh al-Jilani (RA).

In the authentic biography of Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) we read that the first Shadhuli Shaykh he went to told him, “My son your maqam will even be higher than Imam al-Shadhuli himself”.

Nevertheless, the Tijaniyyah do not claim it is compulsory for all Muslims or all Sufis to believe in the elevated Maqam of Shaykh al-Tijani (RA).

It is enough to respect him as a great Wali, the way we respect all Awliya-Allah.

One can live and die without recognizing the Khatam al-Awliya and still enter the Jannah. Nay, one can even deny the existence of such a Maqam called Khatm al-Wilayah, and still be a good Muslim, beloved to Allah (unless one’s denial is accompanied with insults and disparagement of the Awliya-Allah, which can then turn into a ‘war with Allah’).

More about this Maqam though.

The existence of such a Maqam is proven through the kashf of many great Awliya. In fact, they affirm the existence of two Khatms. The first is Khatm al-Wilayah al-‘Ammah, which all (including Ibn-Arabi and the Tijaniyyah) agree is Sayyidina Esa bin Maryam (A.S), when he descends.

The second Maqam is that of Khatm al-Wilayah al-Muhammadiyyah. The difference is about this one.

The great Tijani Shaykh of Rabat, Morroco, Sidi al-Arabi bin al-Sa'ih al-Umari (R.A.) wrote in his Bughyat al-Mustafid, that the Maqam of Khatm al-Wilayah al-Muhammadiyyah does not mean there are no more Muhammadan Walis......in fact, the Qutb of every age must of necessity be on the heart of Sayyidina Muhammad (SAW)...meaning he is 100% on the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) and all his madad comes from him.

The meaning of the Khatm al-Wilayah al-Muhammadiyyah is that among all the Muhammadan Qutbs, the Khatm is the greatest and the Anwar, Ilm al-Ladunni and Essence of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) was more APPARENT (Zahir) in him than any other saint before or after him. In fact, he is the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) minus Nubuwwah.

Mawlai Ibn-Arabi wrote a lot about this Maqam in his books, and at one stage even ‘thought’ (he didn’t affirm) that he was the holder of this Maqam.

However, in numerous places in the Futuhat (for example pages, 1021, 2598...etc), he clearly states that it was revealed to him that this Maqam belongs to someone else other than himself, and that he even met this Seal of the Saints personally in the ‘Alam al-barzakh !!

He intentionally refrains from mentioning the Seal’s full name (although he claims to know it!) but gives us the following clues:

A) The Khatm will appear in Fez , Morroco.

B) He will appear in the Akhir al-Zaman, the latter days of the decline of Islam.

C) His kunyah shall be Abul-Abbas.

D) No wali will face so much criticism like he will, due to his high Maqam.

Now, if one follows these akbari clues, then there remains no doubt that Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) is the predicted Khatm.

Firstly, he appeared in Fez and is buried there, and that is the main centre of his Order till today.

Blessed Tomb of Shaikh Ahmad al-Tijani @ Fez, Morocco

Secondly, he appeared ‘on the scene’ much later than all other great Awliya. He passed away in 1815, the time in which the colonialists were invading Muslim lands.

Thirdly, his well-known kunyah was Abul-Abbas, even before gaining this Maqam. The two most famous books of the Tijaniyyah are, "Jawahir-ul-Ma'ani fi Faydhi Sayyidi Abul-Abbas al-Tijani", by the Shaykh’s khalifah Sidi Ali Harazim Baradah al-Fasi, and "Kashif ul-Ilbas an Faydhat al-Khatm Abil-Abbas" by the Shaykh-al-Islam of Africa al-Hajj Ebrahim Niass (RA).

Fourthly, no other Shaykh of any Order was so condemned and vilified like Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani.

Unlike Shaykh Ibn-Arabi (RA), who was condemned by Wahhabis and some Fuqaha only, Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani was fought by many so-called ‘Sufi shaykhs’ also, mostly those who were jealous of his Maqam and his growing fame. (didn’t the so-called ‘followers’ of Prophet’s Musa and Esa fight Sayyidina Muhammad, alayhim as-salah was-salam?)

Yet, they could not stop his Order from becoming the biggest of the Tariqahs in North and West Africa, with tens of millions of followers, including countless great Ulama, Muftis and Shuyukh. Even in a far off land like Indonesia , there about half a million Tijanis.

Nevertheless, the Tijaniyyah’s greatest proof in affirming this Status of Khatm al-Wilayah al-Muhammadiyyah for Shaykh al-Tijani is the fact that the Prophet (SAW) himself personally told this to Shaykhuna al-Tijani on many occasions (the first time being on Arafah in the year 1800).

No other Shaykh claimed this Prophetic approval of his Khatmiyyah, not even Mawlai Ibn-Arabi.

This clears any doubt as far as the Tijaniyyah are concerned, and ideally speaking, should be not disputed by any Muslim because it comes from the holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW) himself.

Shaykh al-Tijani’s Wilayah is agreed upon by all the various Tariqahs, so there is no reason to believe he was (nauzu-billah) lying about the Prophet (SAW). Many other Awliya also met the Prophet (SAW) before him but none claimed something like that.

It is also narrated that when his first Murshid (before he met the Prophet SAW), Sidi Mahmud al-Kurdi al-Khalwati (khalifah of Shaykh Mustafa al-Bakri) asked him what was his aspiration?

Imamuna al-Tijani said: "It is to have al-Qutbaniyya al-Uzma, the highest position above the other Qutbs".

Sidina Mahmud al-Kurdi responded that the Maqam reserved for him is even higher than THAT! (i.e. the maqam of Khatam al-Awliya)

When Sayyidina Shaykh al-Tijani went to Madinah to visit his ancestor the Prophet (SAW), he met the Qutb Shaykh Muhammad bin Abd-al-Karim al-Samman (founder of the Sammaniyyah Way) who also gave him his blessings and also told him that he would be the Khatam al-Wilayah without doubt.

Furthermore, the Haqa’iq and Ma’arif found in the works of Shaykh al-Tijani and some of his major Khulafa surpass even those found in the books of the Shaykh al-Akbar. In fact, they mention secrets that even Shaykh Ibn-Arabi (RA) didn’t ‘get to know’, or were not revealed to him. This is a fact. Zalika Fadlullahi Yutihi Man Yashaa!

The late Shaykh-al-Islam of Africa mawlana al-Hajj Ebrahim Niass (RA) of Senegal wrote a book on this topic called, Inba‘ al-Azkiya bi-anna al-Shaykh al-Tijani Khatam al-Awliya.

It is out of respect for Rasul-Allah (SAW) that the Tijaniyyah are ordered to relinquish all other Awrad and Turuq except the one given to the Shaykh by the Prophet (SAW) himself. His gift is considered more than enough. A baby cannot drink from two breasts at the same time. A woman cannot have two husbands. The Prophet (SAW) even ordered Sayyidina Umar to put away the Torah of Moses (A.S), although it was a book of Allah!

I end this with two lovely lines written by the eminent Khalifah of Shaykhuna al-Tijani, who was also the great Shaykh-ul-Islam of Tunis, and grand Imam and Qadi of the Zaytunah (in fact the first Alim in Tunis to hold both positions), Sayyidina al-Imam al-Shaykh Ebrahim al-Rayahi (RA), who was Shadhuli before taking the Tijani Way:

Rabbi Inni Saddaqtu Kulla Waliyyin

Ra’iyan Qadrahum bi-Ayni Ihtirami

Ghayra anna Ibna-Salimin huwa

Sahmi wa Muradi wa umdati wa Imami

O Allah! I believe in every single Wali

Honoring their status and view them with utmost respect

But Ibn-Salim (i.e. Shaykh Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani) is

My goal and my desire, my master and my leader

Radiyyallahu Anhum Ajma’in.

Was-Salam,

Needy of duas,

fakhruddin Owaisi al-Madani

Sep 16, 2005

I am attaching some valuable material (in Arabic) on the maqam al-Khatm and Shaykh Sidi Ahmad al-Tijani (RA)

Also read this good article: http://www.altgania.com/tarif.html

SUFI LITERATURE AND PRAYER BOOKS COLLECTION (AVAILABLE FOR ORDER)

Sayidat Rabiat Adawiyat (RA) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

A Practical Guide on the Wird (Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent's Handbook)....by Sayyidah Bilqees Bolajoko Grillo at-Tijani

*SALAT ALA NABIYY (PRAYER UPON PROPHET) COLLECTION/SERIES*

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3. Jaami'u salawaat alaa nabiyy....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

4. Sullamu l muhibeena ilaa hadrat khairul mursaleen....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

5. Salat qadaa'i l hawaa'ij....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

6. Sirrul asraar fii salaat alaa Jaami'u l anwaar....by Sheikh Aliyyu Harazim (kano).

7. Mataalib al abd fii salaat alaa afdal mash'had....by Seyyid Hussein ibn Ilyas al-harazimi.

8. 'Awaa-idu l barakat fi fawaaidul waraqaat min hadrat Mawlana al-Arif billah Shaykh Aliyyu Harazim

9. Jihazu Sarih of Sheu Gibrima

10. Hizbu suwar al maneehi....by Sheu Gibrima

11. Nataij safar....by Sheu Gibrima

12. Itbaau tazyeel....by Sheu Gibrima

13. Sidratul muntaha....by Sheu Gibrima

14. Tazyeel wa tahaqeeb....by Sheu Gibrima

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NEW BOOKS AVAILABLE

1. Sayyida Fatimat Zahara (The Rose): The Beloved Daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

2. Sheikh Ahmad Tijani and his Spiritual Path (Tariqat) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

3.Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse's Annual Mawlid Nabiyy Lectures at Senegal - Arabic text & English Translation.

4. Selected Prayer Poems (Qasaa'id) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse from Kanzul Masun - Arabic, Transliteration & English Translation.

5. Jawahir Rasail (A Collection of Priceless Expositions via Letters "Letters 1 to 10"): Diamond Sparkles - Arabic text, English Translation and Commentary by Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

6. Tahniah (Congratulatory Ode) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse to the Prophet Muhammad (Part 1) – Selected, Transliterated & Translated by Alhaji Abdul-Quadri Okeneye

5. Handbook for Every Tijaniyyat - (Compiled by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)

Other available books

1. Tafsir al-Jalalayn...warsh
2. Quran...written in warsh style with hausa leather pouch
3.Quran....very old (500years old) handwritten manuscript...written in warsh with hausa leather pouch

4. Diya at-Ta’wil fi Ma’ani at-Tanzil (hafs)...Published copy the tafsir by Abdullahi bin Fodio
5. Shifaa Qadi Iyadh (warsh)

And many other books are available

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CLASSICAL QUR'ANIC CALLIGRAPHY & MANUSCRIPTS (Available for order)

1. Qur’an (warsh) - Handwritten, with Barnawi/Kanawi calligraphic style (neatly wrapped in a leather skin-bag)

2. Qur’an (warsh) - Handwritten (Over centuries old manuscript, loosely bounded in leather case)

3. Qur’an (warsh) - Electronic print

4. Dalail al-khayrat (warsh) - Electronic print

5. Shifaa of Qadhi Iyadh (warsh) - Electronic print

6. Fii Riyadh Tafsir of Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse (7volumes)

7. Majmuu’at at-ta‘areef bi Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse (7volumes)

1. Dala'ilu l khairat of Shaikh Sulaiman Jazuli (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

2. Hizbu Sayfi & Hizbul Mughni (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

3. Hizbul Bahri (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)

4. Hizbu Suwar al Manee'hi – ‘Arabic (composed like Hizbu Sayfi)’ (by Shk. Muhammad Gibrima)

5. Sidratul Muntaha ad-daa'een– ‘Arabic’ (by Muhammad Gibrima)

6. Jihazu Sarih – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shk. Muhammad Gibrima)

7. Tibbul faa'ihi – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shk. Abdul-Waahid Nazeefii)

8. Nataa'ij Safar – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shaikh Muhammad Gibrima)

9. Itbaau Tazyeel – ‘Arabic prayer book on Salatul fat’hi’ (by Shaikh Muhammad Gibrima)

10. Sirrul Jaleel fii l Khawaas 'Hasbunallahu wa ni'mal Wakeel (by Shaikh Abul Hassan Shadhili)

11. Afdalu Salawaat ala Sayyidi Saadaat – ‘Arabic collection of Salat upon the Prophet’ (Shaikh Yusuf ibn Ismaa'eel an-Nabahani)

12. Kanzul Masun wa luuluu l Maknuun – ‘Arabic collection of prayers written by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse. Compiled by Imam Hassan Cisse’.

13. Ahzab wa Awrad (Litanies) of Shaikh Ahmad Tijani

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. Muassasah Nasr al-'ilm Int. (AAII) Magazines No. 13, 14 & 15 (with Articles like Outline of Life of Sufi Heros & Heroines like Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse, Shaikh Abdus-Salam Oniwiridi Pakata, Shaikh Muhammad Bello Eleha, Shaikh Ahmad Rufa'i Nda Salati, and others...this magazines also features other interesting Articles).

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

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

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TIJANI FAQAT (TIJANI EXCLUSIVE) CUSTOMISED T-SHIRTS