ABOUT SALAT AL-FATIH & VISITING NON-TIJANI AWLIYA
QUESTIONS
Salam
Alaykum Sidi,
Why is it
that members of other turuq claim that the Tijanis are wrong since Tijanis
believe that the Salat ul-Fatih is more powerful even than recitation of
Qur'an? While we as Tijanis understand our obligation to recite wird and
wazifah everyday, surely we also understand the importance of continuous
recitation of Qur'an. Surely then, these people from other turuq are mislead?
Secondly:
the members of other turuq claim, as per the article that Tijani's think that
they are above all other turuq. Our leaders have taught us to aspire to being
like the Sheikhs, and to emulate, in every way, our beloved Prophet SAW.
Without being conceited, is it acceptable to claim that Tijani's are above
other Turuq.
Third
question: I have heard via a person outside of Tariqah that they have heard
from someone within the Tariqah, that some Tijani sheikhs do find it acceptable
for us to visit the Tombs or shrines or other Sheikhs, not out of reverence or
for any other benefit, but to show respect for these Sheikhs, if one happens to
be traveling by that area. Is this true? WE must be sure that someone is not
giving us misinformation or misguiding us since the conditions for taking the
tariqah were made quite clear to us.
Shukran
ANSWERS
Wa
Alaykum As-Salam habibi,
1)
Tijanis don’t believe that Salat al-Fatih is greater then the Holy Qur'an. That
is a lie. The Holy Qur'an is the greatest Word in existence. However, we do
believe that reciting Salawat on the Prophet (SAW) has more Thawab than
reciting the Holy Qur'an, as the latter is Allah's message to us, while the
former is Allah's Salutation to His Prophet, and it precedes the Revelation of
the Holy Qur'an.
The
Hadith states that the reward for reciting the Holy Qur'an is 10 Thawab for
each letter, but the reward for making Salat ala 'n-Nabi is that Allah Himself
sends 10 Salawat on you!
Know that
we do not recite the Holy Qur'an for reward primarily but for guidance, and
that’s why Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA encouraged his followers to recite the Holy
Qur'an daily. That’s why Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (RA) used to finish two Khatams
of the Quran every week and made all his numerous children Huffaz, boys and
girls! That’s why Shaykh Hassan Cisse (RA) established so many Qur'an schools
all over the World.
2) Yes,
we do believe (like followers of other Tariqahs also) that our Tijani Path is
superior to all paths. This is because it is the closest Path from and to
Rasul-Allah (SAW). However, that is our personal belief and we don’t force anyone
to believe that or make it a condition for entering Jannah. Saying the Kalimah
is enough for that. However Ma'rifah is something else.
Our
belief is like the standard Muslim belief that Islam is superior to all
religions. It is a matter of fact and not about arrogance and boasting. Conceit
is Haram in the spiritual path.
Know also
that while the Tijani Path is superior to all Paths, the Tijani murid must not
claim anything for himself as he can never be sure of his standing in Allah's
eyes.
Am I sure
that I am really counted as a Tijani? Am I sure that I will die as a Tijani?
Our Tijani Shaykhs stated that the murid must consider himself to be the lowest
of God's Creation. Humility is the Door to Allah. We can praise the Path, but
not ourselves.
3) Yes,
it is allowed for a Tijani to greet a Wali (or any Muslim) IF he passes by
their grave. However, this must only be when necessary. It is very dangerous
for a Tijani to visit the Tombs of the non-Tijani Awliya, lest he fall into the
spiritually prohibited act of asking them for Help or seeking their Barakah.
For this reason, our Shaykhs discouraged ANY visiting at all.
It’s
different if you find yourself there due to circumstances beyond your control
(e.g. a tour guide takes your tourist group there).
However
you should NOT go there on your own. It removes you from the Tariqah. The Murid
must not turn to anyone but Allah (SWT), the Rasul (SAW), the Shaykh al-Tijani
(RA) or the one who represents him. Anything beyond that cuts and finishes your
journey to Allah.
As for
the Awliya-Allah outside of our path, a Tijani must not even read their books,
nor must he attend their spiritual discourses, or be eager to hear their
"revelations and "predictions", or mix with their murids (other
than for common Islamic or family purposes); not in real-life or online!
This Path
is very serious. With very serious conditions, and with very serious
consequences.
What is
the difference between going to physically seek spiritual guidance from Shaykh
al-Jilani/al-Haddad/al-Naqshbandi, and between seeking it from their
books/collections of lectures?
Nothing
really!
That’s
why our great Tijani Shaykhs discouraged the Tijani murid from reading into the
books of other Turuq. It’s a form of "hidden shirk"!
Indeed, a
famous murid of Sayyidna Shaykhu Tijani (RA) was reading a Sufi book by Imam
al-Sha'rani and was getting impressed, and then he suddenly saw Sayyidna (RA)
appearing in front of him and pulling the book saying: "Are you a Tijani
or a Sharani"???
Nevertheless,
one may distinguish here between two types of readers and two types of books.
There are
average Tijanis still in their suluk (who have not yet done Tarbiyah and
achieved Ma’rifah of the hadarat), and then there are muqaddams who have
achieved this and are absolutely firm in the Tijani Path. The latter may read
the books of the Awliya as they won’t be distracted by them, and it will only
increase their conviction in the Tijani Path!
So how do
you know which category you fall into? Just ask your muqaddam!
Also,
there are books which are specific to certain Turuq and methods, and there are
books which universal to all Sufis. The Tijani may read the latter type...e.g.
the Hikam or the Qushayriyyah. Tijanis who are Arif may read the books of
Ibn-Arabi or al-Jili.
Of
course, discretion must be used and one must sense if there is a spiritual IDHN
to read them. One should stop reading if there is spiritual contraction in
reading them.
It would
also be hypocritical for a Tijani to read them if he has not yet studied our
own books such as the Jawahir, the Rimah, the Ifadah, the Bughyah, the Mizab,
the Kashif, the Ruh al-Adab....etc.
Anyways,
while a spiritually unveiled Tijani Alim may read sufi works for academic
purposes (though not spiritual benefit), normal Talibes should be taught to
avoid that as they can get distracted and confused between the various methods
propagated in these books.
At the end
of the day, they can’t really practice anything but their Tijani Wird so they
should rather concentrate on that and leave these books. For the suluk (the
spiritual journey) is not taken from books but actual practice of the Awrad and
attachment to your Shaykh.
Note also
that these are Tariqah issuesand not Shariah, issues. It is well-known that a
Sufi Shaykh may prohibit his murids from something permitted in the Shariah,
for spiritual training purposes e.g. forbidding the murid to eat meat or mix
with friends.
In our
Tijani Way:
We all
agree that it is prohibited to visit a non-Tijani Saint/Wali to seek spiritual
guidance.
We also
agree that is permissible to greet a Wali if one is their presence due to
circumstances out of our control (e.g. a Wali visits the school you are
studying in...or the school takes us all to a Wali's Tomb).
The
disagreement lies in a Tijani murid making an effort to go and greet a
non-Tijani Wali, living or passed on.
Most of
our Shaykhs prohibit this unnecessary visit because, by visiting a Wali, most
novices will inevitably end up seeking spiritual benefit from him, even if
unintentionally or unknowingly. The Wali may attract them spiritually through
his words, actions or states, and this inward distraction will cut them from
Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA).
For this
reason, Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (RA) did not even allow any of his murids to visit
the Venerated Tomb of Mawlay Idris (RA) in Fez. In fact, he prohibited them
from it, saying (al-Ifadah):
"All
people are in a valley and Me and my followers are in a valley of our
own".
The
quotations from Tijani books are many. But I will stick to BAYE as he is our
Guide.
Baye
Niasse (RA) states 3 opinions on the matter:
In
Jawahir al-Rasa'il (part.1, p. 162), he makes it clear that the condition of
the Tijani Tariqah is to "Not to visit any of the Awliya, living or
dead".
Then in
Jawahir al-Rasa'il (part.1, p. 140), he differentiates between the normal murid
and the Arif saying:
"The
Ziyarah that is prohibited by the Shaykh al-Tijani (RA), is only with regards
to the murid. As for the Arif, he is not harmed by it, except if it is Ziyarat
al-Ta'alluq (attachment). Other than that, there is no harm to our Tijanism by
greeting the living or dead Awliya".
Finally,
in Jawahir al-Rasa'il (part.1, p. 133), he advises both Arif and non-Arif to
stay away from the non-Tijani Awliya (to avoid the danger). So when asked:
"If an Arif (Tijani) can visit a non-Tijani Wali?"...Baye Niasse (RA)
answers:
"The
Ziyarah is prohibited in our Path absolutely".
It is
well-known in our books that the Prophet (SAW) personally told Shaykh al-Tijani
(RA) to remove two persons from the Tijani Path because they had passed the
Tomb of the great saint Mawlay Ibn-Mashish (RA) and went to greet him.
In fact,
al-Hajj Abdoulaye Niasse (RA) would shave of the head of any Tijani Talibe who
would have visited Shaykh Ahmadou Bamba (RA), as a reprimand.
In the
Ruh al-Adab, Baye Niasse (RA) encourages us to visit all fellow Muslims and
their graves.
But he
also prohibits the murids from turning towards any Wali but Shaykh Ahmad Tijani
(RA) stating:
"As
long as there is other than him in the heart, one will never gain the
Ma’rifah."
However,
it is permitted for a Tijani to visit a non-Tijani Islamic Scholar who may also
be a Wali, for seeking general Islamic knowledge, IF there are no Tijani Alims
providing the same knowledge, and if you will NOT get spiritually distracted by
them. Otherwise, stay far away from them and hold on to your Wird, for it is more
than sufficient WALLAH.
May Allah
keep us steadfast on this pure Muhammadan Path bi-Jah Rasul-Allah (SAW) wa
Sirrihi wa Sirri Sirrihi...Amen.
Servant
of the Tijani Door
Imam Fakhruddin bin Ahmad al-Tijani
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