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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