SIDI AHMAD ABDALAWI: SUCCESSOR OF THE QUTB SIDI ALI AL-TAMASINI (RA)
By: Fakhruddin Owaisi
The noble Hasanid Sharif, Sidi Ahmad al-Abdalawi (RA) was one of the greatest
saints of this Tariqa and a complete inheritor (khalifa) of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani. The
successor of the Qutb
Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA), and the Shaykh of Sidi Ahmad
Sukayrij (RA).
He was born in Algeria two months before the passing away of Sayyidna
Shaykh al-Tijani (RA). So he was honored (like the great Sidi al-Arabi
bin al-Sa’ih RA) to be born in the Era of Sidna Shaykh all-Tijani (RA). His
namegiving ceremony was attended by the likes of the Qutb Sidi Ali
al-Tamasini (RA).
He grew up in a Tijani home as his father Sidi Muhammad
al-Abdalawi (RA) was a close disciple of Sidna Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA). In
fact, it is narrated that when his father returned to his tribe after taking
the Tariqa from the Shaykh (RA), he motivated all of his tribe to take this
blessed Tariqa. So he returned once again to Sidna Shaykh (RA) with 50 of his
tribesmen and they all took the Path from its Master. It is also narrated that
when he passed away, and was being washed, his dead body was heard reciting the
Salat-al-Fatih.
So Sidi Ahmad Abdalawi (RA) grew up in the company of such a father.
Furthermore, he was honored to spend
his entire childhood in the company of the Qutb
Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA), son of Sidna Shaykh (RA), in Ayn Madi. This
special relationship between them continued until the passing away of Sidi
al-Habib (RA). Till then, Sidi Abdalawi (RA) was considered his closest friend
and keeper of his secrets.
After Sidi al-Habib’s death, Sidi
Abdalawi (RA) was also from the few select Fuqara
who were blessed to see the Kunnash
al-Maktum (Concealed Diary) of Sidna Shaykh al-Tijani (RA) in which
Sidna Shaykh’s unique personal experiences with the Prophet (SAW) were
mentioned. The Kunnash
was locked up after that, not be seen again by anyone.
It is also narrated that when Sidi
Abdalawi (RA) intended to make his first trip to Fez, Sidi Muhammad al-Habib
(RA) had told him to find out the answers to three pertinent questions from any
Wali of
the Ahl al-Kashf
that he might meet in Fez, as Fez will never be free of Saints, known or
hidden. Once he arrived in Fez, he started looking for such a saint. After
meeting a few unbecoming individuals, he turned towards the Blessed Tomb of
Sidna Shaykh (RA) and asked Allah through his Barakah to guide him to such a saint.
Immediately thereafter he was met in
the marketplace by Mawlay Muhammad b. Abi al-Nasr (RA), a senior Companion and
one of the four grand Muqaddams of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA). Sidi Abdalawi (RA)
had not met him before so did not know him, but the Muqaddam came up to him and
greeted him warmly and started asking him about the well-being of Sidi Muhammad
al-Habib (RA) and the Tijani brothers in Algeria.
Taking the opportunity, Sidi Abdalawi
(RA) asked him if he knew anyone from the People of Kashf in Fez. Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA)
answered that he knew one such person and that he will organize for him to meet
this Wali
who could answer his questions (that were related to unseen matters of the
future). But first he wanted to have the honor of hosting Sidi Abdalawi (RA) in
his home. Throughout the night, Sidi Abdalawi (RA) noticed amazing occurences
with Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA). Next morning, his host told him to come again for
another night in order to meet that Wali.
Respecting his wishes, Sidi Abdalawi (RA) came again to spend another night by
his home, but insisted to Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA) to make him meet that Wali as soon as
possible. Thereupon, Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA) told him, “Why don’t you tell me
the questions you want to ask that Wali?”
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) refused, saying that he wanted to meet that Wali first. So
Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA) told him, “What if I answer the questions for you?”
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) said, “That would be even better.”
Then, before Sidi Abdalawi (RA) could
ask the questions, Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA) started answering them one by one.
He said: “You want to know if Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA) will have male
children? And you want to know if the Enemy (i.e. French Colonialist Invaders)
will harm him? Yes, he will have many male children. And no, the Enemy will not
be able to do anything to him and he will remain honored and respected.”
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) was stunned and
overjoyed to hear his questions and answers. Nevertheless, he had another two
questions in his mind. Before he could mention them, Mawlay Abi al-Nasr (RA)
told him: “You also want to know if the daughters of Sidi Muhammad al-Habib
(RA) would ever get married? And you want to know of the outcome of your own
relation with Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA)? Yes, the daughters of Sidi Muhammad
al-Habib (RA) will all get married soon. And the outcome of your relation with
Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA) will be a good one.”
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) thanked Allah and
the Shaykh, and took these answers back to Algeria to Sidi Muhammad al-Habib
(RA). Subhan-Allah,
all of these predictions came true. Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA) had two male
children who lived after him; Sidi Ahmad Ammar (RA) and Sidi Muhammad al-Bashir
(RA), both of whom were great Saints and their many Ahmadi Muhammadi descendants are still
honoring the World. As for his most chaste daughters, they found honorable
husbands in the noble Sons of the Qutb
Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA). As for the imminent French invasion of Ayn Madi.
Sidi Muhammad al-Habib (RA) honorably passed away before any such thing could
happen. He never saw a Frenchman. As for Sidi Abdalawi’s relations with Sidi
Muhammad al-Habib (RA), they remained on good terms till his last days. And
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) had the honor of washing him before his burial.
Sidi Abdalawi (RA) also received the
complete Ijazah in the Tariqah from the Qutb Ali Sidi al-Tamasini (RA) who used
to love him and who gave him the Tarbiya.
Sidi Ahmad Sukayrij (RA) narrates from Sidi Abdalawi (RA) that he was once
sitting behind his Shaykh the Qutb
Sidi Ali al-Tamasini (RA) and desired in his mind that Sidi Tamasini (RA)
should grant him the Ijazah
for Muqaddamship so that he can serve the Tariqah. As he was thinking about
this, Sidi Tamasini (RA) turned towards him and said: “I have granted you the
Ijaza!” Sidi Sukayrij (RA) states that after hearing this story from Sidi
Abdalawi (RA), he was also thinking of the same matter, and then convinced
himself to stop thinking of it. However, Sidi Abdalawi (RA) then turned towards
him and said the same words, “I have granted you the Ijaza!”
Sidi Abdalawi (RA), also met and
benefited from (and benefited) the Qutb
Sidi Akansus (RA) and the Qutb
Sidi al-Arabi bin al-Sa’ih (RA), all of whom were very impressed by him. In
fact, it was said that he was the unparalleled Shaykh in this Tariqah after the
passing away of Sidi al-Arabi bin al-Sa’ih (RA).
In the latter part of his life, Sidi
Abdalawi (RA) migrated from Ayn Madi, Algeria to Fez, Morocco to escape from
living under the French Occupation and to spend the rest of his life in the
blessed Zawiya of Shaykh al-Tijani (RA). While passing through Tunisia during
one of his travels, he met a Shaykh of the Shadhili Path. After discussing
spiritual matter with him, the venerable Shadhili Shaykh confided to him that
“although I am a Shadhili, I can feel my Madad
coming from Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (RA)!”
The people of Fez were very happy to
have this great Arif-Bi’Llah
in their vicinity, and countless people benefited from him and his company.
Many took the Tariqa, and many renewed their Tariqa.
His most dedicated student was Sidi
Ahmad Sukayrij (RA), who also became his Khalifah,
and would hardly do something without his permission. Sidi Sukayrij (RA) has
mentioned many great miracles and openings of his Algerian Master (RA) in his
great book Kashf
al-Hijab. It is said that he used to recite no less than 10,000 Salat-al-Fatih
daily, and that he would meet the blessed Prophet (SAW) and Shaykh al-Tijani
(RA) in wakefulness. Sidi Sukayrij (RA) mentioned that the Jawharat al-Dhikr
was opened in his heart so that his heart would continuously recite Salat-al-Fatih whether
he was awake or sleeping. Sidi Sukayrij (RA) also mentioned that he once saw
Sidna Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA) in the form of Sidi Ahmad al-Abdalawi (RA).
He was also known to have memorized
the entire Futuhat
al-Makkiyyah (which is in 8 large volumes) of Shaykh Ibn-Arabi (RA)
by heart. Indeed, he was unparalleled in Fez in the fields of Ma’rifa. Once when
the Jawahir
al-Ma’ani was being taught in the Grand Zawiyah by its Imam Sidi
Gannoun (RA), Sidi Abdalawi (RA) went into a deep state and said to him, “The
words of the Shaykh (RA) are higher in meanings than what you are explaining,
and none can understand his words except an ‘Alim,
and you are not an ‘Alim!”
The goal of Sidi al-Abdalawi (RA) was the Tarbiya
of the nafs
of Sidi Gannoun (RA) who was braving to teach a very sublime Book in a very
sublime Presence. Nevertheless, this caused much consternation amongst the Fuqara in Fez, and
many of them criticized Sidi al-Abdalawi (RA) for what he had said, and shunned
him after that. Sidi Sukayrij (RA) narrates in his Jinayat al-Muntasib that all those
who spoke ill of Sidi al-Abdalawi (RA) suffered great afflictions after that,
and most of them came back to him and asked his forgiveness. In fact, one of
them, al-Faqih Shagrun saw the Prophet (SAW) in a dream who told him that, “You
have hurt me by hurting Abdalawi.” Later on, even Sidi Gannoun (RA) asked for
the forgiveness of Sidi Abdalawi (RA).
Sidi Ahmad al-Abdalawi passed way in
Fez in 1328 (AH), and was buried there. He left behind a son Sidi Muhammad
al-Abdalawi (RA) who was also a noble Muqaddam of the Tariqa
Tijaniyya. While Sidi Ahmad al-Abdalawi (RA) was not recognized as a Qutb, he was
considered a Fard,
a maqam
that is beyond the Qutb
in certain respects.
Nevertheless, Sidi Idris al-Iraqi
(RA) mentions in his al-Ajwibah
al-Ghaliyah that that three great Qutbs prayed behind Sidi al-Abdalawi
(RA), namely, Sidina Muhammad al-Habib al-Tijani (RA), al-Haj Ali al-Tamasini (RA),
and Sidi al-Arabi bin al-Sa’ih (RA).
Alhamdulillah, while Mawlana Sahib al-Faydah
Shaykh-al-Islam Ibrahim Niyass (RA) had numerous chains in the Tariqah, he
would prefer to use the one that goes through Sidi al-Abdalawi (RA).
Sidi Ahmad al-Abdalawi (RA) also used
to believe that once a disciple has taken the Tariqa from one authorized Muqaddam, he does
not ever need to renew it with anyone, unless he has broken the rules of the
Tariqa. However, he may benefit from any Muqaddam if he likes.
Source;
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