Leaving the Tariqa Tijaniyyah, entering Tariqa Shadhiliyyah

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله رب العلمين والصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

As-salamu alaikum wa rahmatuLlahi wa barakatuh, 

I have to expand on yesterdays event, so there are no misunderstandings.

Wednesday September 26., between Salat al-maghib and Salat al-isha, I left the Tijani Tariqa. I met with al-Shaykh al-'Allamah al-Murshid Muhammad Abul Huda al-Yaqoubi al-Hassani who took my hand, accepted me 

as his murid and student, and initiated me in the Shadhili Tariqa.

What I did that night was keeping my word to Allah Most High. It has nothing to do with the Tijaniyyah per see. I have nothing but good say, what so ever, about the tariqa, its blessed daira, its shakykhs, muqaddams and initiates. I have benefitted immensly form reciting Wird al-Lazima and al-Wadhifa. WaLlahi, I pray for their faydah.

There is only One Reason for my decision, the Only Imporant reason that really matters: Our Lord Allah the Mighty the Majestic. Everything else, we can do without.

A long time ago I promissed Allah tabaraka wa ta'ala, that if al-Shaykh al-'Allamah al-Murshid Muhammad al-Yaqoubi would ever accept me, I would follow him. This promiss has now been fulfilled and I pray that Allah accepts this from me.

I do not say one path is better than the other. I had to fulfill a promisse to my Lord. I could not have done otherways.

And Allah tabaraka wa ta'ala knows best.

Fi amaniLlah

Your brother in Islam, Shahid Saif al-Islam

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم الحمد لله دب العلمين

الصلاة والسلام على رسول الله

وبعد

I came across a hadith handed down to us by al-Hakim in his al-Mustadrak.

The scholar al-Hakim, whose full name was Abd Allah bin Abd Allah al-Hakim al-Nisahaburi and lived from 933 to 1012 CE. He was born in Nisabur and studied with numerous teachers in Khorasan, in today’s Iran. He was a great muhaddith of his time and was called the “Imam of the Muhaddithin” and the “Muhaddith of Khorasan”. He has also been suggested as the mujaddid of the 4th century. Among his students was the famous muhaddith Iman al-Bayhaqi.

At the age of 70, al-Hakim started compiling his al-Mustadrak ala Sahihain, usually just called al-Mustadrak. The aim of the book al-Mustadrak ala Sahihain was to collect ahadith not found in the Sahihain of Imam al-Bukhari and Imam Muslim, but still meeting the criteria of a sahih hadith according to the two Masters’ criteria.
Let’s look the text:


The Prophet (pbuh) said:

“Take benefit of five before five:

your youth before your old age,

your health before your sickness,

your wealth before your poverty,

your free-time before your preoccupation,

and your life before your death.”

A whole book can be written on each and every line in his transmission. But since I’m not a scholar and don’t claim to be one. I’m a common Muslim that Allah has given the gift of love of knowledge, either it be as a scholar of biology or studying classic Islamic knowledge. And I teach because of the verse in Surah al-Baqarah…giving from what Allah has given me.

  
Let’s reflect for a moment on each line of the hadith, insha Allah.

“Take benefit of five before five”
HabibuLlah recommend us to consider 5 things before 5 things. This text is an excellent example on the use of language and the fact that the Arabic language was at its pinnacle at the arrival of our Prophet Muhammad.

“Take benefit of five before five”
Grammatically there are missing words here. We would say “Take benefit of five THINGS before five THINGS” in translation. However, this omission of words is a common technique in Arabic rhetoric. Like in the Basmallah; bismiLlah is missing something, it is not a sentence. So there is a meaning behind why YOU say the Basmallah. An example could be “Ibtidau bismiLla” I begin in the Name of Allah.

“your health before your sickness”
Obviously, health is almost a requirement for high activity of religious works, such as memorization, standing in long extra prayers, awrad in addition to what is required of us. These things require strength and energy, good health and wellbeing. If we loose our health, intended extra work may also be lost. But as we will see in the next section, the believer should not loose his/hers trust in our Magnificent Lord, Allah tabaraka wa ta’ala.

“your youth before your old age,”
Why? Young people, as healthy people have energy and strength for doing extras. For young people there is energy to get a lot more done in worship. I mean extra prayers, forcing yourself to get up before fajr to pray tahajjud (well that may be easier with age and the need of less sleep), memory is better, so one can more easily memorize more Quran. And have a lot of Qur’an in ones heart is a way to motivate one for night prayers. Even though a few rakat in the night were only Allah observes you are excellent. Old age means the body starts to break down and energy might be less and practice may start to be too difficult. However, we can read in Surah Tiin – Chapter The Fig, that the reward will continue when energy for your constant practices are lost. It should be noted that many scholars consider this an ishara – an interpretation other than the literal meaning of the words, but the mentioned tafsir is from Tafsir al-Jalalain and form Shaykh Muhammad al-Yaqoubi in his almost 5 hours long tafsir of this chapter.

“your wealth before your poverty”
Wealth and money have no intrinsic value what so ever. Wealth and money are only a mean, not a goal. Think of Abu Bakr when he gave all his wealth to the Prophet, where the Prophet replied “What did you leave for your family and Abu Bakr answered “I left them Allah and His messenger”.

It is many ways to use wealth and the que is charity, sadaqa is the Arabic and popular word. There are two forms of sadaqa; the gift that benefits immediately, like always carrying some coins in your pocket and give a little to a beggar or leave your change in the collection boxes we see in shops and masajid. This is helping people and great mean to get rid of miserliness, which is not a very nice character trait.

The second is the ongoing charity sadaqa jariah. This type of sadaqa involves things that last. For example, you contribute to building a school or a masjid. It is implicated in ongoing that you constantly rewarded as long as the project exists. Something like it is when you write a letter starting with the the basmallah, praising Allah and pray for the Prophet – the dua will continuously increase you in reward as long as the document exists.

So the essence for me in this line is that it is better spending when you can, before poverty overcomes you and all you have to give is your dua or share a meal. And remember Allah teaches us that giving away will NOT decrease our wealth. Rather, the opposite is true; Give Allah 1 kr as a loan, and He pay you back with at least 10 kr in this world OR He gives what He want in the akhira.

“your free-time before your preoccupation,”
As Muslims and as sufis, as tijanis in particulare, we should attempt to be maximalists with respect to our time. Maximalists in that we should not waste time by engaging in activities that have no benefit in them. Our free time is time we can dedicate to Allah. We need to think about that, first and foremost reminding my self of that fact. Because we all have limited time; a limited life time, jobs and families to look after. This time is not actually yours, if you think about it. Our free time is the time we can spend, as we like. And we can choose what to do! We can choose to watch the next football match or we could leave the television and rather grab the subha or the Mushaf and do something useful.

“and your life before your death.”
This life is our investment capital. This short life we has been give is the only time we have. If we spend it well – we can expect the forgiveness of Allah and endless bliss in His Garden. If we waste the opportunity,  khalass – one cannot do other than hoping for Allahs forgiveness.

To conclude with another hadith, which is hadith no. 66 in Riyadh as-Salihiin and taken from Sunan al-Tirmidhi:

Shaddad Ibn Aus (May Allah be pleased with him) reported: The Prophet (sallallahu alayhi wassallam) said, "A wise man is the one who calls himself to account (and refrains from doing evil deeds) and does noble deeds to benefit him after death; and the foolish person is the one who subdues himself to his temptations and desires and seeks from Allah the fulfillment of his vain desires".

والله تعالى أعلم

Islamic medicin: Black seed oil: 

- Nigella sativa L. -

The Muslims know black seeds and black seed oil from the sunnah of our Master Muhammad (may the choisest blessings of Allah be upon him). In Sahih al-Bukhari we can read the following hadithain (two hadith) from Abu Huraira (may God be pleased with him:

”Use black seed regularly because it has a cure for every disease except death.”

and

"Allah has not sent down any sickness without sending down its cure as well."

References to the black seeds, in Arabic called habbat-u-l-baraka, the blessed herb, or habbat-s-sawda, the black herb, are found in most books on prophetic medicine (tibb an-nabawi). However, the healing properties of the seed and the oil of the seed from the plant Nigella sativa L. known already at the time of prophet Musa (peace be upon him). The the Nigella seeds is mention in the Bible and black seed oil was found in the tomb of Tut Ankh Amon.

al-Hamdu liLah, all praise belongs to God, in the last few years competent scientists has studied the active substances in the black seeds. What they found, was chemicals what has the exact same properties as Rasul Allah said. As Muslims we are not surprised. We should expect that sound science is in harmony with the Islamic teachings. Allah (azza wa jahl) has given us Islam and He is al-Khaliq – the Creator of all that exists in the seen as well as in the unseen world. Obviously, there are agreement between the Religion from Heaven and modern science.

Now I will give a short summary of the biochemical literature on the active compounds in the black seed. First of all an important reminder: I am a biologist and not a physician. You must, under no circumstances stop taking medicine you general practitioner has prescribed for you, even though you think black seed oil can cure you. Take black seed oil as a supplement to you medication and talk to you physician about it.

Black seed oil can be a healthy and protective supplement in your diet, as it has been proven to strengthen the general health, and to have positive effects on the blood, heart and liver. The reason is that compounds in the Nigella oil induce production of endogenous scavengers [i] of free radicals. Free radicals are highly reactive and harmful derivatives of oxygen and are the waste from the body’s normal metabolism. This waste has to be eliminated to avoid damage of other components of the cells.

In experiments where ulcer has been induced in rats has demonstrated that treatment with black seed oil improves healing of gastro-intestinal wounds. The current data indicates that the healing effect occurs by stimulation of antioxidant production, as free radicals also are produced by states of disease. As well, the oil contains very healthy fatty acids, which strengthens the immune system and can reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood. Thus, black seed oil will be a healthy daily supplement.

By a having a relaxing effect on the bronchial muscles and the trachea (wind pipe), as well as mucolytic properties, the oil can be added to boiling water and the steam inhaled to treat symptoms light asthma and common cold.

In experiments with rats, it has been demonstrated that black seed oil can enhance healing of broken legs.

Interestingly, components of the black seed oil have an analgesic and antiinflamatory effect. The chemical thymoquinon inhibits the activity of the enzymes that are involved in pain generation in joints and tendons. Personally, by using black seed oil I do not need regular cortisone injection and other prescription drugs against arthritis.

Also, the oil can be used to treat skin conditions, such as eczema.

In the kitchen, whole Nigella s. seeds are nice spice, and can successfully be used in bread baking. The Turks uses it at the top of the bread. I use it in the dough.

And God Almighty knows best.

By a slave in constant need of his Lord,

Shahid Saif al-Islam C.G. Ossum, Ph.D, biochemistry (Email: shahid.ossum@gmail.com)

---

[i] Free radical scavengers are generally called antioxidants. Red vegetables are generally rich in natural antioxidants, and the tomato contains one of the most powerful naturally occurring antioxidants. If your diet contains a lot of red meat, and maybe, God forbid, alcohol, it is recommended to eat a lot of natural oxidants, such as vegetables and black seeds. 

Why join a sufi tariqa?

Tariqa Tijaniyyah, as revived by the honourable Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niass (may Allah sanctify his secret), in whose hands the promised fayda (spiritual flow) appeared, is, in my eyes the tariqa for the end of time.

This short paper discusses the value of following a tariqa, a spiritual path. At the end, there is a reference list to valuable sources in both Danish and English to learn about this noble Tariqa Tijaniyyah.

Every Muslim, or actually every human being, is in dire need of purifying his or her heart and soul and work for a closer relationship to God, Allah the Majestic. We live in a time where we are challenged with tribulation and ethical dilemmas almost on a daily basis. We live in a society characterised by relative ethics – where right and wrong differ according to the will of the masses. Deviations form traditional ethical norms, whether Islamic or Christian moral teachings, have become normal. From traditional Islamic teaching we know that when the society accepts and defines moral deviations as normality, the community as a whole will be affected by tribulation and sorrow.

In such a situation we all need to work on our self. I’m talking to Muslims as well as non-Muslims. As Muslims, we need to adhere to the Holy Qur’an and the Sunna of our beloved prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) according to one of the four rightly guided schools of Islam.  The non-Muslims should protest against the bad form of secularism, look into them their hearths and consider their ethical values and return to the ethical teachings of Christendom.  Or even better, they should explore the true nature of Islam, the normative, Sunni tradition. If one does so, the person will most probably experience a living, vibrant tradition, which is applicable to day and to the end of time. As well, one will experience a belief system that in and of it self is a transforming factor in a persons life.

In order to purify oneself, one needs to practice Tasawwuf or Sufism, two words for the same thing. Sufism is the science of the heart and a method to purify one's heart, inner self and outward action. There are numerous Sufi orders/tariqas, each leading to the same goal: Allah Most High, but differ in the methods and rules for obtaining this valuable goal.

To reach realization of the Divine Existence in this life, one needs to do a lot of spiritual work in addition to guarding ones five daily prayers. This works, mainly the regular performance of dhikr at specific times of the day, which consists of prayers for forgiveness, prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and remembrance of Allah, the Lord of all creation. Effective performance of dhikr – remembrance, requires a spiritual guide, technically called a murshid or Shaykh al-tarbiyyah. By connecting to a tariqa and a spiritual guide, the permission to perform the dhikr is transferred to you, in a chain back to the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and consequently by the permission of God.

One may ask, “Why can’t I just perform dhikr and practise Sufism without being involved in a tariqa?” Yes, you can. But the chance of failure is high, very high. There is a secret in the heart to heart transmission of the dhikr. As I said, the transmission from a Shaykh or his representative, a muqaddam, includes permission from our Lord Most High, which is both a blessing and a great help for success in travelling the spiritual path. Travelling the path alone, without a guide requires a very special and determined personality and I have only met one or two people who have been able to do this.  In a tariqa there are obligatory litanies to be performed on a daily basis. As well, the guide will know you and your weaknesses and therefore he or she can assign to you extra adkar (plural of dhikr) to overcome your particular weaknesses and protect you from failure in the spiritual work.

Dear reader, if you have questions, comments or need some advice, you are very welcome to contact me at shahid.ossum<at>gmail.com or info<at>tijani.dk, so do not hesitate.

Recommended readings:

http://www.tijani.dk/

http://www.dar-sirr.com/tijanism.htm

http://tijani.org/

http://www.tijani.co.uk/

http://www.tidjaniya.com/en/index.php

The Salah of Ibrahim Niass (may Allah be pleased with him)

Written and published by permission of Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi

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

Notes about Iman - talk given at the tijani daira in Copenhagen

IMAN linguistically: Affirm and to make oneself secure.

What we have iman in:

ALLAH

صفات الله

Existence	وجود	الصفة النفسية
No beginning	قدم	الصفات السلبية
No end	بقى
Self sufficient	قيام بالنفس
Uncomparability	مخالفة للحوادث
Absolute unity	وحدانية
Life	حياة	الصفات المعاني
Knowledge	علم
Will	إرادة
Power	قدرة
Speech	كلام
Sight	سمع
Hearing	بصر

His angles -

are beings of light

Cannot do anything other than to obey and execute the tasks given by Almighty Allah.

His Books

Tawrah to Musa

al-Zabur to Dawud

Injeel to Isa

al-Quran to Muhammad (God bless him, keep him)

His Messengers

Trustworthiness and truthfulness

Completely delivering the Message

Superior intelligence

Cannot:

Lye

Commit treachery or sins

Not delivering the complete Message

Being stupid

The Last Day

The resurrection: Bodily raising of the dead from the grave.

Punishment of body and soul

The Gathering

The Scale

The Bridge

The Basin: Drinking from it: Never thirst again. Drinking in al-Jannah is for pleasure.

The Hell Fire – al-Jahannam

The Gardens of Paradise – al-Jannah

The Decree -

–      what is good and what is bitter; it all come form Allah Most High.

Very complex issue.

It is enough for us to understand it as what Allah has measured out. That is what He allows to happened.