SALAH ACCORDING TO SHAYKH-AL-ISLAM IBRAHIM NIASSE (RA)
QUESTION:
Assalamu Alaykum
Would you be able to teach me how to read Salah in accordance to what our master Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA) taught?
Peace & Blessings.
ANSWER:
Wa Alaykum As-Salam,
Indeed, Salah is the most important pillar of Islam. It is the foundation of Shari'ah, basis of Tariqah and protection of Haqiqah. The sign of Ma'rifah. There is no Faith without Prayer.
Sahib al-Faydah Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Manasik Ahl al-Widad:
كذاك نصلي ما درينا شريعة
خلت من صلاة قط فالشأن أشمخ
Likewise we pray! For we do not know of any Religion
that has no prayer in it. For the matter is greater!
Our Muhammadan Salat (Fajr, Zujr Asr, Maghrib and Esha) are the best form of worship ever prescribed for Mankind. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his last written Diwan entitled Sayr al-Qalb:
و هل قوت روح كالصلاة و هل ترى
نظيراً لطهر أو صيام لمن صفا
عليك بها فلتركعن تواضعاً
لربي ترى التمكين و القرب و الصفا
هناك تراه أو يراك فلا تكن
و صه ويك لا تنطق حذار قفن قفا
And is there any food for the Soul like the Salat?
And is there anything that can match the Wudu and the Sawm in purifying you?
I advise you to perform that Salah and bow down in humility
Indeed, you shall achieve the proximity and purity (from Allah)
There, you shall see Him, or He shall see you, so do not exist!
And keep quiet! Beware! Do not speak! Beware and desist from speaking!
Salah is nothing but Muhammad. The Complete Arif sees the Manifestation of God's Hahut, Lahut, Jabarut, Malakut and Nasut in the Sirr, Ruh, Aql, Qalb and Nafs of Muhammad (SAW) taking place in the Five Daily Prayers. And this is reflected in us through the mirror of Hadrat al-Khatm al-Katm.
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his Diwan called Tib al-Anfas, counting ALLAH's Blessings on him, considering performing the Salat as one of those blessings:
كذلك نيلي الخمس و الخمس حافظاً
لخمس و خمس نعم هذا المصنف
ِAnd from it is my gaining of the FIVE (hadarat) and the Five (maqamat)
and performing the Five (arkan) and the Five (salats)! How blessed is this writer!
If nothing else, the SALAH is the platform in which we recite the sacred Word of God. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) would recite the entire Qur'an al-Karim just in the night prayers. He (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Taysir al-Wusul:
و إني عبد الله أتلو كتابه
و جنب رسول الله دهري أقرط
فاشكر ربي بالأمين و وده
سأخدمه مدحاً مدى الدهر يحفظ
و إن رجال الله دانو لطاعتي
و لي برسول الله درع مغلظ
For I am the Slave of Allah, reciting His Book
And praising His Prophet (SAW) always
So I thank my Lord for the Truthful Prophet (SAW) and his love
Indeed, I will serve him with praises, remembered forever
For the Men of Allah have submitted to me in obedience
And the Prophet (SAW) in my solid shield
Allah Almighty orders us to perform the Salah in more than 300 places in the Holy Qur'an. This blessed Five-Time SALAT was granted to us through the blessed Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the Night of the Mi'raj from the Divine Presence. When we pray it, we also reach there.
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) clearly states in his Diwan entitled Sulwat al-Shujun:
سرى المصطفى ليلاً و وافى بخمسة
عرجنا بها و الفضل للمتقدم
و أوصى بها عند العروج مؤكداً
ففيها ينال العبد كل تقدم
له و به قم و اركعن تواضعاً
ترى قرة للعين من خير منعم
إذا قمت من بعد الوضوء مرتلاً
و تسجد من بعد الركوع المعظم
لقد طويت عنك المسافة جهرة
وصلت إلى المحبوب كبر و عظم
The Mustafa (SAW) travelled in the Night and returned with Five (Prayers)
Through them we were elevated too, and the credit is for the first one (SAW)
And he (SAW) emphatically advised us to ascend through them (the Salats)
For through them, the slave gains all progress!!!
So, for Him and by Him, stand and bow down in humility
You will witness the coolness of your eyes from the Best of Givers
And when you stand reciting (the Qur'an) after making Wudu...
And when you make Sujud (prostate) after the noble Ruku...
All distances are openly removed from you (and ALLAH)
You have arrived to the Beloved! Make TAKBIR and honor Him
As the beloved Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:
الصلاة معراج المؤمنين
"The Salah is the Mi'raj of the believers".
Therefore, it is a non-negotiable condition of the noble Tariqah Tijaniyyah to "uphold the Five daily prayers, on time, in Jama'ah".
As Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in the Sulwat al-Shujun:
فإن كبار الناس بالليل شغلهم
ركوع و أوراد ترى الكل أخلصا
For the habit of great people, during the night time is..
making Ruku and reciting Awrad in sincerity
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his al-Kibrit al-Ahmar:
أسجد طالباً إنمحاء لكفر
في كل قطر فيجل شكري
I make Sujud, praying for the Wiping out of Kufr
in all lands, so that I may be most grateful
In the Ruh-ul-Adab, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) advises the talibes to do:
و ركعتان خفية نقل الخطى
إلى المساجد يكفر الخطا
And (make) two Rak'ahs secretly, and walk
to the Masjids (to pray)...all of that purifies you from your sins
In fact, this was one of the things that attracted me a lot to the Tijani Path; i.e. the punctuality of the Tijani Shaykhs and Murids in performing Salah, anywhere and everywhere. This was important for me as I had seen followers and even leaders of some Tariqahs not giving importance to the blessed Salah. Very disturbing indeed!
Al-Humdulillah! Our Master Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) spent his whole life performing the Salah in Jama'ah, even on his last day, where he led all 5 Prayers at the Grand Mosque of Medina-Baye, then went home and passed away.
In that, he (RA) just followed the footsteps of Rasul-Allah (SAW), Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) and his grandfather Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA).
As Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) said in his Diwan entitled Nur al-Haqq:
رضيت بربي و الحنيفة مسلكي
إمامي رسول الله لا أتخلف
دليلي رسول الله و البيت قبلتي
نصوم و بالبيت الحرام نطوف
نصلي سجوداً راكعين و إننا
على ذا درجنا الدهر لا نتعسف
I am satisfied with my Rabb (Allah) and the Hanifiyyah (Islam) is my way
My Imam is Rasul-Allah (SAW), I will never turn away from that
My guide is Rasul-Allah (SAW), and the Bayt (Ka'bah) is my Qiblah
We fast and we make Tawaf (circambulate) around Holy House (Ka'bah)
We pray, making Ruku (bowing) and Sujud (prostrating)
On this we have always lived and practiced, and will not be tired
Indeed, the first thing Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) did in his Medina was establish the Mosque facng Makkah, and appoint its Imam, Saydi Ali Cisse (RA). Besides the Jumu'ah and Eids, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) would perform all 5 Prayers behind Saydi Ali Cisse (RA)!
Our Ustadh Shaykh Baye Haiba of Mauritania told me that his father told him that once they were sitting in the Mosque with Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) waiting for Saydi Ali Cisse (RA) to come and lead the Salah. However, he got very delayed.
Sitting in the gathering was also a young Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) who had just come from the UK, wearing a suit and a tie. So Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) pointed to him to come forward and lead the Salah!
At that moment, some of the other Muqaddams sitting with Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) became a bit surprised that a man wearing a suit and tie should lead them in Prayer. So Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) looked at them and recited the following couplet by Imam al-Shafi'i (RA):
إذا المرء لم يدنس باللؤم عرضه
فكل لباس يرتديه جميل
If a person does not tarnish his reputation with foul behaviour
then every dress he wears is beautiful!!!
Mawlana Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) would also seldom lead the Prayer himself, and usually had Sidi Muhammad al-Mishri (RA) and Mawlay Muhammad bin Abi-n-Nasr (RA) lead the Prayer for him. Sometimes, he (RA) would also ask the Khalifah and Qutb Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA) to lead the Prayer, when he would be visiting from Algeria.
When some murids from Fez complained to Sayyidna Shaykh (RA) that Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA) does not pronounce certain Qur'anic Words very accurately, the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) replied to them:
رجل مفتوح عليه ! والصلاة خلف المفتوح عليه مقبولة
"He is a Man Opened Up! And Prayer behind an Opened Up person is always accepted"
(See Kashf al-Hijab by Shaykh Ahmad Sukayrij)
Like Sayyiduna Rasul-Allah (SAW), the last prayer of Sayyidna Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) was Fajr. The last prayer of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was Asr. The last prayer of Shaykh Hassan (RA) was Esha.
Shaykh Hassan (RA) informed us that when Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was bedridden in the St Thomas hospital in London during his last days, he (RA) still performed the Prayers with his eyes and fingers. When Shaykh Hassan (RA) saw him in this condition, he reminded him (RA) about the Maliki opinion that if a person is so sick that he cant sit up anymore, then the Prayer is not neccessary upon him. So Shaykh ibrahim (RA) said:
"Yes, I am very much aware of that Maliki opinion, but we are also Tijanis and that puts extra responsibilty on us. "
So he (RA) made the Salahs and Wirds on his hospital bed till his last breath.
Establishing Mosques and praying in them is a well-known Tijani practice. In fact, it is a sign of Iman as the Master of Existence (SAW) stated:
إذا رأيتم الرجل يعتاد المساجد فاشهدوا له بالإيمان
"If you see a man frequenting the Mosques, then testify to his Iman"
(Narrated by Tirmidhi)
The Prophet (SAW) also informed us that such a person will be from the few who will be shaded by ALLAH on the Day in which there will be no other Shade but His Shade.
We should pray in the Mosques regardless of who leads the Salah, as long as they dont openly slander the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA). If they do, then we cant pray behind them.
I recall once in the Majlis of Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA, a Mauritanian Shaykh was telling him of a personal incident where it was time for Salah and the people made a munkir (denier) lead the Prayers, so he refused to pray behind him, and prayed on his own.
Upon hearing the story, Shaykh Hassan (RA) told the Mauritanian: "You could have prayed behind him. Prayer is Prayer".
It is also narrated that once, one Alim from Mauritania was visiting Baye (RA) in Kaolack, so when the time for Prayer came, Baye (RA) asked him to lead the Prayer. However, the Mauritanian talibes became a bit unhappy with this, saying: "Back in Mauritania, this Alim is an enemy of the Tijani Faydah." Upon hearing that, Saydi Ali Cisse (RA) said to them: "For me it is enough that Baye put him forward." And then he proceeded to join the Prayer, and they all followed!
The Salah of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA):
So you asked HOW Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) prayed???
Inwardly, he was the complete 'Abd (Slave of Allah) and his whole being was enslaved by the Being of Allah. He said:
و إني عبد الحضرة الإلهية لم يسترقني غيرها قط
"And I am the Slave of the Divine Presence, and was never enslaved by anyone but it"
(See the Jawahir al-Rasa'il of Baye, Part 1)
This complete enslavement is only possible when one's being is non-existent, and none is witnessed but the Truly Existent and His Actions. Prayer, then is nothing but an implementation of His Eternal Command. We own nothing of it. It is but His Mercy. Baye (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Nur al-Haqq::
بصومي و حجي لم أثق فالوثائق
بفضل كريم يوم تبلى الحقائق
أصلي إمتثالاً أذكر الله تالياً
و ما ثم شيء إن تبصر ذائق
I do not rely on my Fastings and Pilgrimages (though I practice them!)
My Reliance is on the Grace of the Generous One on the Day of Resurruction
I pray and praise Him, in obedience of His Command
And there is really Nothing (but Him), in the eyes of the Knower who has tasted
You asked about how Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) performed the Salah?
Know that in the outward aspects of the Salah, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) was generally a Maliki, as all Senegalese Muslims and most African Muslims..
However, in certain matters, he exercised Ijtihad and practiced that which was the most preferred practice of the Rasul (SAW), even if it went against the Maliki Madh-hab.
Some of these preferred Sunnah practices were:
1- Folding the hands in Salah, right on left, instead of leaving them by the sides.
2- Putting the hand on the on the chest (but not too high like the Salafis).
3- Reciting the Basmalah loudly before the Fatihah.
4- Joining the Basmalah with the Fatihah without any break.
5- Saying Ameen loudly, as opposed to the Malikis.
6- Raising the Arms (Raf al-Yadayn) before going to Ruku.
7- Raising the Arms (Raf al-Yadayn) after getting up from Ruku.
8- Raising the Tashahhud finger during the final sitting, and keeping it raised till the end of the Salah (without wiggling it senselessly like the Salafis, though).
9- Making two Salams instead of the standard one Salam of the Malikis.
Most of this is mentioned in Baye's book on the fiqh of Prayer called, Raf' al-Malam.
Point 8 was also mentioned by Baye (RA) to his beloved Mauritanian Khalifah Sidi al-Shaykhan (RA) who had asked him: "How did the Prophet (SAW) keep his finger in the Tashahhud?".
So Baye (RA) answered him and also said: "I am so happy that you asked me this, as everyone else just asks me for money. " (See the Bio of al-Shaykhan by his son)
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) mentioned clearly that he prays the way his beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) prayed. He states in his Diwan entitled Manasik Ahl al-Widad:
و ذلك إبراهيم يهوى محمداً
و أمر وجود الكون غير موقع
نصلي كما كان النبي مصلياً
نصوم كذا نقفو سبيل مقفع
و ننفق لا نبقي نريد صراطه
نحج كحج الهاشمي المتبع
For it is that Ibrahim passionately loves Muhammad
from a time when the Universe was not yet in existence
We pray the way the Prophet (SAW) used to pray
We fast in the same manner following the way of the Master
And we spend (in Charity) and leave behind nothing, seeking his Path
We make the pilgrimage as the Hashrmite made it
And he (RA) stated also in the same Diwan:
ترى كل مفعولي بفعل محمد
و حالي و تمييزي إليه يشير
فجمعي و تصريفي لحب محمد
و فيه بيوعي هل تراه يبور
أرى كل شيء ما خلا الله باطلاً
و ما النصر إلا منه و هو نصير
You will see all my actions are per the actions of Muhammad (SAW)
And my state and awareness point to him as well
For my gathering and my authority are for the Love of Muhammad (SAW)
And my dealings are in him only, so will I be at loss?!
I see everything but Allah as false
And victory is only from Him, and He is the Granter of victory
Before Baye (RA), Mawlana Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) had also went against certain Maliki practices in preferance of the most perfect Muhammadan Sunnah. The great Shaykh Abu-Bakr Atiq (RA) mentioned that the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) had even prayed with Qabd (folding hands) in Algeria.
On the whole, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA) and Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) were Malikis, as all Sunni Muslims must belong to one of the Four Madh-habs. They did not break this rule.
As for us murids/talibes; we are not all required to become Malikis in order to be good Tijanis. Our Shaykhs have stated the opposite of that. There are hundreds of thousands of Tijanis in Indonesia who are Shafi'i. I myself am a Hanafi in most matters.
However, we Tijanis should indeed follow our Masters in their unique choices, even if it goes against our practiced Madh-hab.
For example, Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) strongly reccomended us to recite the Basmalah loudly before the Fatihah. This is against the Maliki and Hanafi Madh-habs, but we have to follow it. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) ordered his (mostly Maliki) followers to pray with folded hands, so Maliki Tijanis have to do it, even if it goes against the Maliki Madh-hab.
Indeed, when he was ordered by Allah, Rasul (SAW) and Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) to order the people to pray with folded hands, many people in West Africa fought him.
They said to him:
"But your father (RA) prayed with open arms???"
He replied:
"Al-Humduli'Llah! Allah has not ordered us to follow anyone absolutely but the Prophet (SAW)".
Also, when someone said:
"But Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) is related to have prayed with open arms too?"
Baye (RA) replied:
"We take the Tariqah from Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) and we dont go an inch against him. But, we take the Shari'ah from Rasul-Allah (SAW)."
As Shaykh Mahy Cisse told me, Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) also wished to pray Qabd but was not given the permission then as he had other affairs to see to, as well as the fact that his following in Fes and Morocco was not big enough to bring about such a major change. Everything has a time, and the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) ordered Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) to revive this Sunnah among the Malikis.
Other Maliki saints and scholars who also folded their hands (in oppsotion to the Madh-hab) include Imam Ibn Abd-al-Barr, Sidi Ahmad bin Idris, Sidi Muhammad bin Ali al-Sanusi, the Kattani Ulama, the Ghumari Shaykhs, and many others.
Know here that Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was an acomplished and consummate scholar of Quran and Sunnah with all their derived sciences, a Mujtahid. He himself stated:
اعلم أن لي شيخان شيخي في الظاهر الكتاب والسنة ولا يوجد أفهم فيهما مني
وشيخي في الباطن الشيخ التجاني ولا يفارقني لحظة
"And know that I have two Shaykhs:
My Shaykh in the Zahir (outward sciences of the Deen) is the Quran and Sunnah, and there is none who understands them better than me (today).
And my Shaykh in the Batin (inward sciences of the Deen) is the Shaykh al-Tijani, and he is not absent from me for a moment".
Indeed, the Ulama of the esteemed al-Azhar Universty of Cairo granted Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) the title "Shaykh-al-Islam", and made him the first African scholar to lead the Prayers at the esteemed Azhar University.
Furthermore without doubt, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) had reached the highest level of Qutbaniyyah, i.e. he was the Ghawth of his Era. And the Ghawth is not obligated to stick to any Madh-hab in all its details, as Sidi Abd-al-Aziz al-Dabbagh (RA) cleared stated in the Ibriz. He states:
اعلم ، وفّقكَ الله ، أنّ الوليّ المفتوح عليه يعرف الحقّ والصواب ، ولا يتقيّد بمذهب من المذاهب ، ولو تعطّلتِ المذاهب بأسرها لقدر على إحياء الشريعة ، وكيف لا وهو الذي لا يغيب عنه النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ولو طرفة عينٍ ، ولا يخرج عن مشاهدة الحقّ جلّ جلاله لحظةً . وحينئذ فهو العارف بمراد النبي صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ، وبمراد الحقّ جلّ جلاله في أحكامه التكليفية وغيرها . وإذا كان كذلك فهو حجّة على غيره وليس غيره حجّة عليه لأنّه أقرب للحقّ من غير المفتوح عليه ، وحينئذ فكيف يسوغ الإنكار على مَن هذه صفته ويُقال أنّه خالف مذهب فلان في كذا
And know – may Allah guide you to goodness -that the Wali who has achieved Complete Opening knows what is the truth and correct, and (therefore) does not stick to one Madh-hab only. In fact, if all Madh-habs were finished, he would (still) be able to revive the Shari’ah. And how not when the Prophet (SAW) is not absent from him, even for the blink of an eye, and he is not absent from witnessing Allah, even for a moment. So therefore, he would know the intent of the Prophet (SAW) and the intent of Allah in the prescribed duties (of the Shari’ah) and other matters. Subsequently, if he is like that, then he has authority over others and not vice-versa, as he is more closer to the truth than the one with no Opening. Consequently then, how can it be correct to criticize such a (saintly) person saying: he went against the Madh-hab in this issue or that??!
Shaykh Umar al-Futi (RA) also discusses this issue in detail in his celebrated Rimah.
As for the status of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) in Sainthood; it is clear from his statement:
فقد قصر الأقطاب عن درك شاويا
For even the Qutbs have fallen short of comprehending my status
Therefore, both on the Shari'ah and Tariqah levels, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) was not obligated to stick to the Maliki or any other Madh-hab in every detail. As he (RA) said:
نحن مالكية و لكن لسنا مماليك لمالك
"We are Malikis but we are not slaves (mamalik) of Imam Malik"
A person of his stature had to choose from between the Madh-habs that which was the closest practice to the Final Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
As he (RA) stated in the Manasik:
و إن سألوني عن حبيبي و مذهبي
جوابي رسول الله حين أجيب
And if they ask me about my preferred beloved and my Madh-hab
My answer will be: Rasul-Allah (SAW)!
Nevertheless, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) never formally left the Maliki Madh-hab and most of his Islamic practices remained according to the Maliki Way. He (RA) believed in fixing the system from within, rather than destroy the whole system (like the misguided wahhabi-salafis who dont follow any madh-hab).
In his Diwan, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) showers high praise on the 4 Imams of the Sunni Madh-habs. He (RA) states in the Shifa al-Asqam:
و هل يتاتى حب غير أحمد
فحب سوى الماحي العماية و الفسق
سوى حب آل المصطفى و صحابه
و من كان صديقاً متى حصحص الحق
و قوم قفوا منهاج أولاء سرمداً
فأمرهم صدق و حبهم صدق
فمالك و النعمان أحمد كلهم
كذا الشافعي لولاهم اظلم الأفق
كذاك ابو العباس أحمد سيدي
كذاك الجنيد السالك العيلم الخرق
فيا رب هب لي حبهم و إقتفاءهم
و فك وثاقي و ليزل عني الرق
و عن كلهم هب لي تمام وراثة
بفعل يحاكي فعلهم و كذا خلق
So how can we love anyone but Muhammad (SAW)?
For loving other than him (SAW) is blindness and corruption
Except for loving the Family of the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions
And whoever is their friend, for the sake of the Truth
And (loving) people who followed their way always
For their matters are True, and their love is True
So (Imam) Malik, al-Nu'man (Imam Abu-Hanifah) and Ahmad (bin Hanbal)
As well as (Imam) al-Shafi'i; without them the horizons would be dark
As well as Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad (al-Tijani) my Master!
And Junaid the Wayfarer (in the Sufi Way), the noble one
So O my Lord! Grant me to love and follow them
And remove me from my slavery (to other than You)
And grant me Complete Inheritance of all of them
By actions and character same as theirs
The goal of Shaykh-al-Islam (RA) was to practice Islam to the fullest and give victory to this Deen. He (RA) states in his Manasik addressing the Christians:
سعدنا بذا الإيمان حين شقيتم
بتثليثكم رغماً فديني وارث
صلاة و صوم و الزكاة فريضة
و حج و تزويج فذا الدين لابث
بنى الدين طه الهاشمي محمد
فإني مدى دهري بذا الدين ماكث
We were blessed with this (Islamic) Faith while you were cursed
with your Trinity! My Faith will inherit (this earth) despite you!
(My Faith is) Salat and Sawm, and the Fard of Zakat
and Hajj and Nikah, for this Religion will survive forever
This religion was established by the Hashemite Taha Muhammad
And I will forever remain devoted to this religion
Finally, let us listen to this WARNING of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA):
و آكد المأمورات مراعاة الصلوات الخمس في الجماعات في أوقاتها مع المحافظة على الطهارة المائية و العجب كل العجب لمن ينتسب إلى الله و إلى شيخنا التجاني و يغفل عن صلاته أو عن طهارتها....فتوبوا إلى بارئكم و اقتلوا انفسكم ذلكم خير لك
And the MOST emphasized of DUTIES is to perfom the Five Prayers, in Jama'ah, on their Times, with proper Wudu with Water. And I am MOST SHOCKED at the person who attributes himself to Allah and the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA), and then neglects his Salah or its Wudu! So make Tawbah to your Lord and kill yourselves, that is better for you!
(Jawahir al-Rasa'il, vol.1)
We conclude with the Dua of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) in his Diwan named Miftah al-Atiyyah:
يا رب فاجعلني من الذينا
لربهم قاموا و يسجدونا
O my Lord! Make me from those
who stand up for You and bow down thereafter
And with the Dua of Nabi Ibrahim (RA) as stated in the Holy Qur'an:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
O my Lord and Sustainer!
Make me and my progeny from those who establish the SALAT!
O our Rabb! Accept my Dua!
(Surah Ibrahim: 40)
AMEEN AMEEN AMEEN!
Wa Alaykum As-Salam,
Indeed, Salah is the most important pillar of Islam. It is the foundation of Shari'ah, basis of Tariqah and protection of Haqiqah. The sign of Ma'rifah. There is no Faith without Prayer.
Sahib al-Faydah Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Manasik Ahl al-Widad:
كذاك نصلي ما درينا شريعة
خلت من صلاة قط فالشأن أشمخ
Likewise we pray! For we do not know of any Religion
that has no prayer in it. For the matter is greater!
Our Muhammadan Salat (Fajr, Zujr Asr, Maghrib and Esha) are the best form of worship ever prescribed for Mankind. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his last written Diwan entitled Sayr al-Qalb:
و هل قوت روح كالصلاة و هل ترى
نظيراً لطهر أو صيام لمن صفا
عليك بها فلتركعن تواضعاً
لربي ترى التمكين و القرب و الصفا
هناك تراه أو يراك فلا تكن
و صه ويك لا تنطق حذار قفن قفا
And is there any food for the Soul like the Salat?
And is there anything that can match the Wudu and the Sawm in purifying you?
I advise you to perform that Salah and bow down in humility
Indeed, you shall achieve the proximity and purity (from Allah)
There, you shall see Him, or He shall see you, so do not exist!
And keep quiet! Beware! Do not speak! Beware and desist from speaking!
Salah is nothing but Muhammad. The Complete Arif sees the Manifestation of God's Hahut, Lahut, Jabarut, Malakut and Nasut in the Sirr, Ruh, Aql, Qalb and Nafs of Muhammad (SAW) taking place in the Five Daily Prayers. And this is reflected in us through the mirror of Hadrat al-Khatm al-Katm.
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his Diwan called Tib al-Anfas, counting ALLAH's Blessings on him, considering performing the Salat as one of those blessings:
كذلك نيلي الخمس و الخمس حافظاً
لخمس و خمس نعم هذا المصنف
ِAnd from it is my gaining of the FIVE (hadarat) and the Five (maqamat)
and performing the Five (arkan) and the Five (salats)! How blessed is this writer!
If nothing else, the SALAH is the platform in which we recite the sacred Word of God. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) would recite the entire Qur'an al-Karim just in the night prayers. He (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Taysir al-Wusul:
و إني عبد الله أتلو كتابه
و جنب رسول الله دهري أقرط
فاشكر ربي بالأمين و وده
سأخدمه مدحاً مدى الدهر يحفظ
و إن رجال الله دانو لطاعتي
و لي برسول الله درع مغلظ
For I am the Slave of Allah, reciting His Book
And praising His Prophet (SAW) always
So I thank my Lord for the Truthful Prophet (SAW) and his love
Indeed, I will serve him with praises, remembered forever
For the Men of Allah have submitted to me in obedience
And the Prophet (SAW) in my solid shield
Allah Almighty orders us to perform the Salah in more than 300 places in the Holy Qur'an. This blessed Five-Time SALAT was granted to us through the blessed Prophet Muhammad (SAW) on the Night of the Mi'raj from the Divine Presence. When we pray it, we also reach there.
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) clearly states in his Diwan entitled Sulwat al-Shujun:
سرى المصطفى ليلاً و وافى بخمسة
عرجنا بها و الفضل للمتقدم
و أوصى بها عند العروج مؤكداً
ففيها ينال العبد كل تقدم
له و به قم و اركعن تواضعاً
ترى قرة للعين من خير منعم
إذا قمت من بعد الوضوء مرتلاً
و تسجد من بعد الركوع المعظم
لقد طويت عنك المسافة جهرة
وصلت إلى المحبوب كبر و عظم
The Mustafa (SAW) travelled in the Night and returned with Five (Prayers)
Through them we were elevated too, and the credit is for the first one (SAW)
And he (SAW) emphatically advised us to ascend through them (the Salats)
For through them, the slave gains all progress!!!
So, for Him and by Him, stand and bow down in humility
You will witness the coolness of your eyes from the Best of Givers
And when you stand reciting (the Qur'an) after making Wudu...
And when you make Sujud (prostate) after the noble Ruku...
All distances are openly removed from you (and ALLAH)
You have arrived to the Beloved! Make TAKBIR and honor Him
As the beloved Prophet (SAW) is reported to have said:
الصلاة معراج المؤمنين
"The Salah is the Mi'raj of the believers".
Therefore, it is a non-negotiable condition of the noble Tariqah Tijaniyyah to "uphold the Five daily prayers, on time, in Jama'ah".
As Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in the Sulwat al-Shujun:
فإن كبار الناس بالليل شغلهم
ركوع و أوراد ترى الكل أخلصا
For the habit of great people, during the night time is..
making Ruku and reciting Awrad in sincerity
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) says in his al-Kibrit al-Ahmar:
أسجد طالباً إنمحاء لكفر
في كل قطر فيجل شكري
I make Sujud, praying for the Wiping out of Kufr
in all lands, so that I may be most grateful
In the Ruh-ul-Adab, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) advises the talibes to do:
و ركعتان خفية نقل الخطى
إلى المساجد يكفر الخطا
And (make) two Rak'ahs secretly, and walk
to the Masjids (to pray)...all of that purifies you from your sins
In fact, this was one of the things that attracted me a lot to the Tijani Path; i.e. the punctuality of the Tijani Shaykhs and Murids in performing Salah, anywhere and everywhere. This was important for me as I had seen followers and even leaders of some Tariqahs not giving importance to the blessed Salah. Very disturbing indeed!
Al-Humdulillah! Our Master Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) spent his whole life performing the Salah in Jama'ah, even on his last day, where he led all 5 Prayers at the Grand Mosque of Medina-Baye, then went home and passed away.
In that, he (RA) just followed the footsteps of Rasul-Allah (SAW), Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) and his grandfather Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA).
As Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) said in his Diwan entitled Nur al-Haqq:
رضيت بربي و الحنيفة مسلكي
إمامي رسول الله لا أتخلف
دليلي رسول الله و البيت قبلتي
نصوم و بالبيت الحرام نطوف
نصلي سجوداً راكعين و إننا
على ذا درجنا الدهر لا نتعسف
I am satisfied with my Rabb (Allah) and the Hanifiyyah (Islam) is my way
My Imam is Rasul-Allah (SAW), I will never turn away from that
My guide is Rasul-Allah (SAW), and the Bayt (Ka'bah) is my Qiblah
We fast and we make Tawaf (circambulate) around Holy House (Ka'bah)
We pray, making Ruku (bowing) and Sujud (prostrating)
On this we have always lived and practiced, and will not be tired
Indeed, the first thing Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) did in his Medina was establish the Mosque facng Makkah, and appoint its Imam, Saydi Ali Cisse (RA). Besides the Jumu'ah and Eids, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) would perform all 5 Prayers behind Saydi Ali Cisse (RA)!
Our Ustadh Shaykh Baye Haiba of Mauritania told me that his father told him that once they were sitting in the Mosque with Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) waiting for Saydi Ali Cisse (RA) to come and lead the Salah. However, he got very delayed.
Sitting in the gathering was also a young Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) who had just come from the UK, wearing a suit and a tie. So Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) pointed to him to come forward and lead the Salah!
At that moment, some of the other Muqaddams sitting with Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) became a bit surprised that a man wearing a suit and tie should lead them in Prayer. So Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) looked at them and recited the following couplet by Imam al-Shafi'i (RA):
إذا المرء لم يدنس باللؤم عرضه
فكل لباس يرتديه جميل
If a person does not tarnish his reputation with foul behaviour
then every dress he wears is beautiful!!!
Mawlana Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) would also seldom lead the Prayer himself, and usually had Sidi Muhammad al-Mishri (RA) and Mawlay Muhammad bin Abi-n-Nasr (RA) lead the Prayer for him. Sometimes, he (RA) would also ask the Khalifah and Qutb Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA) to lead the Prayer, when he would be visiting from Algeria.
When some murids from Fez complained to Sayyidna Shaykh (RA) that Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA) does not pronounce certain Qur'anic Words very accurately, the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) replied to them:
رجل مفتوح عليه ! والصلاة خلف المفتوح عليه مقبولة
"He is a Man Opened Up! And Prayer behind an Opened Up person is always accepted"
(See Kashf al-Hijab by Shaykh Ahmad Sukayrij)
Like Sayyiduna Rasul-Allah (SAW), the last prayer of Sayyidna Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) was Fajr. The last prayer of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was Asr. The last prayer of Shaykh Hassan (RA) was Esha.
Shaykh Hassan (RA) informed us that when Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was bedridden in the St Thomas hospital in London during his last days, he (RA) still performed the Prayers with his eyes and fingers. When Shaykh Hassan (RA) saw him in this condition, he reminded him (RA) about the Maliki opinion that if a person is so sick that he cant sit up anymore, then the Prayer is not neccessary upon him. So Shaykh ibrahim (RA) said:
"Yes, I am very much aware of that Maliki opinion, but we are also Tijanis and that puts extra responsibilty on us. "
So he (RA) made the Salahs and Wirds on his hospital bed till his last breath.
Establishing Mosques and praying in them is a well-known Tijani practice. In fact, it is a sign of Iman as the Master of Existence (SAW) stated:
إذا رأيتم الرجل يعتاد المساجد فاشهدوا له بالإيمان
"If you see a man frequenting the Mosques, then testify to his Iman"
(Narrated by Tirmidhi)
The Prophet (SAW) also informed us that such a person will be from the few who will be shaded by ALLAH on the Day in which there will be no other Shade but His Shade.
We should pray in the Mosques regardless of who leads the Salah, as long as they dont openly slander the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA). If they do, then we cant pray behind them.
I recall once in the Majlis of Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA, a Mauritanian Shaykh was telling him of a personal incident where it was time for Salah and the people made a munkir (denier) lead the Prayers, so he refused to pray behind him, and prayed on his own.
Upon hearing the story, Shaykh Hassan (RA) told the Mauritanian: "You could have prayed behind him. Prayer is Prayer".
It is also narrated that once, one Alim from Mauritania was visiting Baye (RA) in Kaolack, so when the time for Prayer came, Baye (RA) asked him to lead the Prayer. However, the Mauritanian talibes became a bit unhappy with this, saying: "Back in Mauritania, this Alim is an enemy of the Tijani Faydah." Upon hearing that, Saydi Ali Cisse (RA) said to them: "For me it is enough that Baye put him forward." And then he proceeded to join the Prayer, and they all followed!
The Salah of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA):
So you asked HOW Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) prayed???
Inwardly, he was the complete 'Abd (Slave of Allah) and his whole being was enslaved by the Being of Allah. He said:
و إني عبد الحضرة الإلهية لم يسترقني غيرها قط
"And I am the Slave of the Divine Presence, and was never enslaved by anyone but it"
(See the Jawahir al-Rasa'il of Baye, Part 1)
This complete enslavement is only possible when one's being is non-existent, and none is witnessed but the Truly Existent and His Actions. Prayer, then is nothing but an implementation of His Eternal Command. We own nothing of it. It is but His Mercy. Baye (RA) says in his Diwan entitled Nur al-Haqq::
بصومي و حجي لم أثق فالوثائق
بفضل كريم يوم تبلى الحقائق
أصلي إمتثالاً أذكر الله تالياً
و ما ثم شيء إن تبصر ذائق
I do not rely on my Fastings and Pilgrimages (though I practice them!)
My Reliance is on the Grace of the Generous One on the Day of Resurruction
I pray and praise Him, in obedience of His Command
And there is really Nothing (but Him), in the eyes of the Knower who has tasted
You asked about how Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) performed the Salah?
Know that in the outward aspects of the Salah, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) was generally a Maliki, as all Senegalese Muslims and most African Muslims..
However, in certain matters, he exercised Ijtihad and practiced that which was the most preferred practice of the Rasul (SAW), even if it went against the Maliki Madh-hab.
Some of these preferred Sunnah practices were:
1- Folding the hands in Salah, right on left, instead of leaving them by the sides.
2- Putting the hand on the on the chest (but not too high like the Salafis).
3- Reciting the Basmalah loudly before the Fatihah.
4- Joining the Basmalah with the Fatihah without any break.
5- Saying Ameen loudly, as opposed to the Malikis.
6- Raising the Arms (Raf al-Yadayn) before going to Ruku.
7- Raising the Arms (Raf al-Yadayn) after getting up from Ruku.
8- Raising the Tashahhud finger during the final sitting, and keeping it raised till the end of the Salah (without wiggling it senselessly like the Salafis, though).
9- Making two Salams instead of the standard one Salam of the Malikis.
Most of this is mentioned in Baye's book on the fiqh of Prayer called, Raf' al-Malam.
Point 8 was also mentioned by Baye (RA) to his beloved Mauritanian Khalifah Sidi al-Shaykhan (RA) who had asked him: "How did the Prophet (SAW) keep his finger in the Tashahhud?".
So Baye (RA) answered him and also said: "I am so happy that you asked me this, as everyone else just asks me for money. " (See the Bio of al-Shaykhan by his son)
Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) mentioned clearly that he prays the way his beloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW) prayed. He states in his Diwan entitled Manasik Ahl al-Widad:
و ذلك إبراهيم يهوى محمداً
و أمر وجود الكون غير موقع
نصلي كما كان النبي مصلياً
نصوم كذا نقفو سبيل مقفع
و ننفق لا نبقي نريد صراطه
نحج كحج الهاشمي المتبع
For it is that Ibrahim passionately loves Muhammad
from a time when the Universe was not yet in existence
We pray the way the Prophet (SAW) used to pray
We fast in the same manner following the way of the Master
And we spend (in Charity) and leave behind nothing, seeking his Path
We make the pilgrimage as the Hashrmite made it
And he (RA) stated also in the same Diwan:
ترى كل مفعولي بفعل محمد
و حالي و تمييزي إليه يشير
فجمعي و تصريفي لحب محمد
و فيه بيوعي هل تراه يبور
أرى كل شيء ما خلا الله باطلاً
و ما النصر إلا منه و هو نصير
You will see all my actions are per the actions of Muhammad (SAW)
And my state and awareness point to him as well
For my gathering and my authority are for the Love of Muhammad (SAW)
And my dealings are in him only, so will I be at loss?!
I see everything but Allah as false
And victory is only from Him, and He is the Granter of victory
Before Baye (RA), Mawlana Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA) had also went against certain Maliki practices in preferance of the most perfect Muhammadan Sunnah. The great Shaykh Abu-Bakr Atiq (RA) mentioned that the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) had even prayed with Qabd (folding hands) in Algeria.
On the whole, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA) and Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) were Malikis, as all Sunni Muslims must belong to one of the Four Madh-habs. They did not break this rule.
As for us murids/talibes; we are not all required to become Malikis in order to be good Tijanis. Our Shaykhs have stated the opposite of that. There are hundreds of thousands of Tijanis in Indonesia who are Shafi'i. I myself am a Hanafi in most matters.
However, we Tijanis should indeed follow our Masters in their unique choices, even if it goes against our practiced Madh-hab.
For example, Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) strongly reccomended us to recite the Basmalah loudly before the Fatihah. This is against the Maliki and Hanafi Madh-habs, but we have to follow it. Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) ordered his (mostly Maliki) followers to pray with folded hands, so Maliki Tijanis have to do it, even if it goes against the Maliki Madh-hab.
Indeed, when he was ordered by Allah, Rasul (SAW) and Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) to order the people to pray with folded hands, many people in West Africa fought him.
They said to him:
"But your father (RA) prayed with open arms???"
He replied:
"Al-Humduli'Llah! Allah has not ordered us to follow anyone absolutely but the Prophet (SAW)".
Also, when someone said:
"But Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) is related to have prayed with open arms too?"
Baye (RA) replied:
"We take the Tariqah from Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) and we dont go an inch against him. But, we take the Shari'ah from Rasul-Allah (SAW)."
As Shaykh Mahy Cisse told me, Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) also wished to pray Qabd but was not given the permission then as he had other affairs to see to, as well as the fact that his following in Fes and Morocco was not big enough to bring about such a major change. Everything has a time, and the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) ordered Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) to revive this Sunnah among the Malikis.
Other Maliki saints and scholars who also folded their hands (in oppsotion to the Madh-hab) include Imam Ibn Abd-al-Barr, Sidi Ahmad bin Idris, Sidi Muhammad bin Ali al-Sanusi, the Kattani Ulama, the Ghumari Shaykhs, and many others.
Know here that Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) was an acomplished and consummate scholar of Quran and Sunnah with all their derived sciences, a Mujtahid. He himself stated:
اعلم أن لي شيخان شيخي في الظاهر الكتاب والسنة ولا يوجد أفهم فيهما مني
وشيخي في الباطن الشيخ التجاني ولا يفارقني لحظة
"And know that I have two Shaykhs:
My Shaykh in the Zahir (outward sciences of the Deen) is the Quran and Sunnah, and there is none who understands them better than me (today).
And my Shaykh in the Batin (inward sciences of the Deen) is the Shaykh al-Tijani, and he is not absent from me for a moment".
Indeed, the Ulama of the esteemed al-Azhar Universty of Cairo granted Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) the title "Shaykh-al-Islam", and made him the first African scholar to lead the Prayers at the esteemed Azhar University.
Furthermore without doubt, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) had reached the highest level of Qutbaniyyah, i.e. he was the Ghawth of his Era. And the Ghawth is not obligated to stick to any Madh-hab in all its details, as Sidi Abd-al-Aziz al-Dabbagh (RA) cleared stated in the Ibriz. He states:
اعلم ، وفّقكَ الله ، أنّ الوليّ المفتوح عليه يعرف الحقّ والصواب ، ولا يتقيّد بمذهب من المذاهب ، ولو تعطّلتِ المذاهب بأسرها لقدر على إحياء الشريعة ، وكيف لا وهو الذي لا يغيب عنه النبيّ صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ولو طرفة عينٍ ، ولا يخرج عن مشاهدة الحقّ جلّ جلاله لحظةً . وحينئذ فهو العارف بمراد النبي صلّى الله عليه وسلّم ، وبمراد الحقّ جلّ جلاله في أحكامه التكليفية وغيرها . وإذا كان كذلك فهو حجّة على غيره وليس غيره حجّة عليه لأنّه أقرب للحقّ من غير المفتوح عليه ، وحينئذ فكيف يسوغ الإنكار على مَن هذه صفته ويُقال أنّه خالف مذهب فلان في كذا
And know – may Allah guide you to goodness -that the Wali who has achieved Complete Opening knows what is the truth and correct, and (therefore) does not stick to one Madh-hab only. In fact, if all Madh-habs were finished, he would (still) be able to revive the Shari’ah. And how not when the Prophet (SAW) is not absent from him, even for the blink of an eye, and he is not absent from witnessing Allah, even for a moment. So therefore, he would know the intent of the Prophet (SAW) and the intent of Allah in the prescribed duties (of the Shari’ah) and other matters. Subsequently, if he is like that, then he has authority over others and not vice-versa, as he is more closer to the truth than the one with no Opening. Consequently then, how can it be correct to criticize such a (saintly) person saying: he went against the Madh-hab in this issue or that??!
Shaykh Umar al-Futi (RA) also discusses this issue in detail in his celebrated Rimah.
As for the status of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) in Sainthood; it is clear from his statement:
فقد قصر الأقطاب عن درك شاويا
For even the Qutbs have fallen short of comprehending my status
Therefore, both on the Shari'ah and Tariqah levels, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) was not obligated to stick to the Maliki or any other Madh-hab in every detail. As he (RA) said:
نحن مالكية و لكن لسنا مماليك لمالك
"We are Malikis but we are not slaves (mamalik) of Imam Malik"
A person of his stature had to choose from between the Madh-habs that which was the closest practice to the Final Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW).
As he (RA) stated in the Manasik:
و إن سألوني عن حبيبي و مذهبي
جوابي رسول الله حين أجيب
And if they ask me about my preferred beloved and my Madh-hab
My answer will be: Rasul-Allah (SAW)!
Nevertheless, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) never formally left the Maliki Madh-hab and most of his Islamic practices remained according to the Maliki Way. He (RA) believed in fixing the system from within, rather than destroy the whole system (like the misguided wahhabi-salafis who dont follow any madh-hab).
In his Diwan, Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) showers high praise on the 4 Imams of the Sunni Madh-habs. He (RA) states in the Shifa al-Asqam:
و هل يتاتى حب غير أحمد
فحب سوى الماحي العماية و الفسق
سوى حب آل المصطفى و صحابه
و من كان صديقاً متى حصحص الحق
و قوم قفوا منهاج أولاء سرمداً
فأمرهم صدق و حبهم صدق
فمالك و النعمان أحمد كلهم
كذا الشافعي لولاهم اظلم الأفق
كذاك ابو العباس أحمد سيدي
كذاك الجنيد السالك العيلم الخرق
فيا رب هب لي حبهم و إقتفاءهم
و فك وثاقي و ليزل عني الرق
و عن كلهم هب لي تمام وراثة
بفعل يحاكي فعلهم و كذا خلق
So how can we love anyone but Muhammad (SAW)?
For loving other than him (SAW) is blindness and corruption
Except for loving the Family of the Prophet (SAW) and his Companions
And whoever is their friend, for the sake of the Truth
And (loving) people who followed their way always
For their matters are True, and their love is True
So (Imam) Malik, al-Nu'man (Imam Abu-Hanifah) and Ahmad (bin Hanbal)
As well as (Imam) al-Shafi'i; without them the horizons would be dark
As well as Abu'l-Abbas Ahmad (al-Tijani) my Master!
And Junaid the Wayfarer (in the Sufi Way), the noble one
So O my Lord! Grant me to love and follow them
And remove me from my slavery (to other than You)
And grant me Complete Inheritance of all of them
By actions and character same as theirs
The goal of Shaykh-al-Islam (RA) was to practice Islam to the fullest and give victory to this Deen. He (RA) states in his Manasik addressing the Christians:
سعدنا بذا الإيمان حين شقيتم
بتثليثكم رغماً فديني وارث
صلاة و صوم و الزكاة فريضة
و حج و تزويج فذا الدين لابث
بنى الدين طه الهاشمي محمد
فإني مدى دهري بذا الدين ماكث
We were blessed with this (Islamic) Faith while you were cursed
with your Trinity! My Faith will inherit (this earth) despite you!
(My Faith is) Salat and Sawm, and the Fard of Zakat
and Hajj and Nikah, for this Religion will survive forever
This religion was established by the Hashemite Taha Muhammad
And I will forever remain devoted to this religion
Finally, let us listen to this WARNING of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA):
و آكد المأمورات مراعاة الصلوات الخمس في الجماعات في أوقاتها مع المحافظة على الطهارة المائية و العجب كل العجب لمن ينتسب إلى الله و إلى شيخنا التجاني و يغفل عن صلاته أو عن طهارتها....فتوبوا إلى بارئكم و اقتلوا انفسكم ذلكم خير لك
And the MOST emphasized of DUTIES is to perfom the Five Prayers, in Jama'ah, on their Times, with proper Wudu with Water. And I am MOST SHOCKED at the person who attributes himself to Allah and the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA), and then neglects his Salah or its Wudu! So make Tawbah to your Lord and kill yourselves, that is better for you!
(Jawahir al-Rasa'il, vol.1)
We conclude with the Dua of Shaykh Ibrahim (RA) in his Diwan named Miftah al-Atiyyah:
يا رب فاجعلني من الذينا
لربهم قاموا و يسجدونا
O my Lord! Make me from those
who stand up for You and bow down thereafter
And with the Dua of Nabi Ibrahim (RA) as stated in the Holy Qur'an:
رَبِّ اجْعَلْنِي مُقِيمَ الصَّلاَةِ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِي رَبَّنَا وَتَقَبَّلْ دُعَاء
O my Lord and Sustainer!
Make me and my progeny from those who establish the SALAT!
O our Rabb! Accept my Dua!
(Surah Ibrahim: 40)
AMEEN AMEEN AMEEN!
Was-Salam
Servant of the Tijani Door
Fakhruddin bin Ahmad al-Tijani
Servant of the Tijani Door
Fakhruddin bin Ahmad al-Tijani
(DO SEE ALL THE ATTACHED PHOTOS)
AMOUNT OF SALAH A TIJANI SHOULD MAKE!
(According to Sunnah & the Advice of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse)
As-Salam Alaykum,
Here is a gift for our Tijani brothers and sisters.
Mawlana Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (RA) wrote in a letter to one of his senior muqaddams:
"And I give you permission to perform the following amount of Salahs daily, which are a total of 50 Rak'ahs of Fard and Nafl between the Night and the Day:
The Fards (obligatory) are 17 Rak'ahs:
- Fajr: 2
- Zuhr: 4
- Asr: 4
- Maghrib 3
- Esha: 4
And the Nafls (voluntary) are:
- Salat al-Layl (the night prayers): 12
- The Witr (final prayer): 3
- Sunnah before Fajr: 2
- Salat al-Duha (prayer after sunrise): 2
- Sunnah before and After Zuhr: 4
- Sunnah before Asr: 4
- Sunnah After Maghrib: 2
So persist on this worship; and I give permission in it to all brothers who wish to practice it as well, without any hardship on the self; and all strength and power comes from none but Allah the most High the most Great".
From the Collection of Baye's Letters by Shaykh Abu'l-Fathi entitled Ziyadat al-Jawahir (p.17)
Fakhruddin Owaisi
Oct 27, 2013
Source:
https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/qutbulmakhtum/
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Dalā’ilu l Khayrāt - Collection of prayers upon the Prophet “in Plain Arabic and Warsh script” (by Shaikh Sulaiman Jazūlī) - Arabic
Kanzul Masūn - Collections of Prayers/Supplications (by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse) - Arabic
Dawāwīn as-Sitt (Six Anthologies) on Prophetic Eulogy (by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse) - Arabic
Ahzāb wa Awrād (Collection of Prayers/Liturgies and Litanies) of Shaikh Ahmad at-Tijani - Arabic
Al-Yaaqutatul Fareeda Fii
Tariqatul Tijaniyyah (The Unique Ruby in the Tijaniya Spiritual Path), by Sheikh Muhammad Nazifi (R.A), translated by Sayyidi Jafaru Ibrahim
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• Jawāhir al-Ma’ānī wa Bulūgh al-Amānī fī Fayd Sīdi Abī-l ‘Abbās at-Tijānī (Jewels of Meanings and the Attainment of
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• Fī Riyādh
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• Jihāzu Sārih wa Sā’ihi wa Sābih wal ‘Ākiful Fālihu fī Tawajuhāt bi-Salātul Fātih
(Mandate of the Praise Worshipper, the Supplicany and the Glorifier and the
Profit Secluder, in the Supplications with ‘The Invocation of the Opener’) by
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Collection of prayers upon the Prophet “in Plain Arabic and Warsh script” (by
Shaikh Sulaiman Jazūlī) - Arabic
We also have;
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(DA MANGA, MADAA BANKI, TANGANRAL, etc.)
Dalā’ilu l Khayrāt - Collection of prayers upon the Prophet “in Plain Arabic and Warsh script” (by Shaikh Sulaiman Jazūlī) - Arabic
Kanzul Masūn - Collections of Prayers/Supplications (by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse) - Arabic
Dawāwīn as-Sitt (Six Anthologies) on Prophetic Eulogy (by Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse) - Arabic
Ahzāb wa Awrād (Collection of Prayers/Liturgies and Litanies) of Shaikh Ahmad at-Tijani - Arabic
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1. Majmū’at ad-Dawāwīn (Collection of Eulogy Works) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse’ (English translation) - Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq
2.Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega (Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
3.Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions(Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
4.The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
5. Tahniat (Congratulatory Ode) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niass - (Translation
& Transliteration of Majmuu' Qasaid al-Mawlid of Baye) - (Translated by Sayyid AbdulQadri Okeneye)
6. Handbook for every Tijaniyyat (by Shaikh As-Sufi)
8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" - (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razaq Solagberu)
9. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
10. Softcopy of Numerous Sufi Literature (Arabic & English) - (To be sent via CD & email/googledrive)
12. Sayyida Fatimat Zahara (The Rose): The Beloved Daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)
13. Sheikh Ahmad Tijani and his Spiritual Path (Tariqat) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)
14.Special Prayers from Kanzul Masun- (Translated by Sayyid AbdulQadri Okeneye)
15.Facts about Sufism by Ismaheel Abdulrauf
16. Who is Shaykh Jamiu Bulala (by Ustaz Olanipekun Shittu Tunde)
17. Mawlud lectures of Shaikh Ibrahim Niass - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
18. Practical Guide on the Wird(Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent Handbook) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
19. Hizbu Sayfi & Hizbul Mughni (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)
20. Hizbul Bahri (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)
21. Sufi Tasbih/Prayer Beads/Rosary 📿
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For order:
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WhatsApp: https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=2349078376281
1. Majmū’at ad-Dawāwīn (Collection of Eulogy Works) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse’ (English translation) - Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq
2.Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega (Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
3.Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions(Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
4.The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Translated by Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)
5. Tahniat (Congratulatory Ode) of Shaikh Ibrahim Niass - (Translation
& Transliteration of Majmuu' Qasaid al-Mawlid of Baye) - (Translated by Sayyid AbdulQadri Okeneye)
6. Handbook for every Tijaniyyat (by Shaikh As-Sufi)
8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" - (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razaq Solagberu)
9. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
10. Softcopy of Numerous Sufi Literature (Arabic & English) - (To be sent via CD & email/googledrive)
12. Sayyida Fatimat Zahara (The Rose): The Beloved Daughter of the Holy Prophet (SAW) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)
13. Sheikh Ahmad Tijani and his Spiritual Path (Tariqat) - (by Sayyid Ahmad Bello As-Suufi Harazimi)
14.Special Prayers from Kanzul Masun- (Translated by Sayyid AbdulQadri Okeneye)
15.Facts about Sufism by Ismaheel Abdulrauf
16. Who is Shaykh Jamiu Bulala (by Ustaz Olanipekun Shittu Tunde)
17. Mawlud lectures of Shaikh Ibrahim Niass - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
18. Practical Guide on the Wird(Litany) of the Tariqah Faydah Tijaniyyah (The Adherent Handbook) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)
19. Hizbu Sayfi & Hizbul Mughni (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)
20. Hizbul Bahri (Arabic text, Translation, Transliteration by Imam Marooph Raji)
21. Sufi Tasbih/Prayer Beads/Rosary 📿
To place orders;
Call: +2348074393996
WhatsApp Link:
https://api.whatsapp.com/send?phone=2349078376281
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