Article, Talk on spirituality in Fes Morocco

By Imam Shaykh Hassan Ali Cisse
Address at the Forum for the Followers of the Tijaniyya, Fes, Morocco, June 28, 2007. (Part I)

Translated by Dr. Abdullahi Elokene (Nigeria) and Zakariya Wright (America)

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful. Praise is to Allah by whose Blessing and Majesty righteous deeds are realized, the One who said: “O believers! Fear Allah and seek the means to Him” (5:35). He also said: “And follow the path of the one who has turned towards Me” (31:15). And He has said: “And content yourself with those who call on their Lord morning and evening seeking His countenance” (18:28).

May the Blessings and Peace of Allah be upon our master Muhammad, owner of the banner of praise and of the praiseworthy station, who said: “The best of worship is that which is constant even if little.” And peace on his family and companions, the guides and those guided. And may Allah be pleased with our Shaykh and Mawlana, Shaykh Ahmad b. Muhammad al-Tijani al-Hassani; and may He be pleased with the manifestations of this saintly sublimity, and with his inheritors by whom we seek access to the Divine Presence. Surely we have held fast with them to the unbreakable rope of Allah.

Your Excellency, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs; Your Excellencies, the distinguished descendants of the Hidden Pole and Renowned Isthmus (barzakh); Your Excellencies, representatives (khulafa’) and teachers (muqadamin): peace be upon you and the mercy and blessing of Allah.

First and foremost, I express my sincere appreciation for the efforts of the Minister in putting together this conference under the directives of His Majesty, the Commander of the Believers, Muhammad VI, King of Morocco. May Allah strengthen, assist him and may Islam and the Muslims be helped through him. Surely organizing this kind of conference serves to affirm the love in the hearts of the Tijani brothers for the Kingdom of Morocco as it has existed for a long time now. It was this same noble Alawi kingdom who had a strong relationship with Shaykh Tijani and the sons of the Tariqa Tijaniyya from the time of Sultan Mawlay Muhammad bin Abd-Allah until today. Such was Shaykh Tijani’s relationship with Mawlay Sulayman: a spiritual relationship established through mutual cooperation in piety and righteousness, a cooperation in strengthening the fundamentals of the Islamic Religion, spreading its teachings, and raising high the word of Truth. This conference therefore comes as a result of these singular efforts, which has born fruit in the reign of Mawlana, Amir al-Mu’minin, King Muhammad VI, may Allah help and strengthen him. And the taste (of this fruit) will come in his righteous reign if Allah wills.

We are indeed very glad to attend this brotherly gathering which is unique in its kind. Surely in such meetings there is abundant harvest. It has come from the (Sufi) people that, “Whoever has realized a (spiritual) state, it will not be lost on those in his presence.” Among the precepts of the Tariqa Tijaniyya is gathering together: “The meeting of the beloveds is better than recitation of the litanies (awrad) and the remembrances (adhkar), for the remembrances can be made up if missed, but the meeting of beloveds cannot be made up.”

Today, delegations of loved ones from different nations have come to this sacrosanct city, Fez, wherein lies the tomb of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, caressed by Heavenly zephyrs and Divine effulgence. As has been related in Hadith: “Indeed among the days of your lifespan, there are certain fragrant breezes belonging to Allah: would that you be touched by them, for if you should catch just one scent, you will be without complaint forever.”

There is no doubt that this conference is one of these fragrant breezes. Since its sunrise at the hand of our master, Abu Abbas Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (may Allah be pleased with him) up to this day of ours, the Tariqa has never ceased illuminating for mankind the path to Allah, and directing them to the way of guidance and righteousness, and guiding the aspirants to the best of paths by which they obtain the happiness of this world and the next. The Tijani brothers and sisters are a fraternity in Allah, and they are beloveds in Allah. It has been related from the Shaykh (RA) that the Prophet (SAW) said to him: “Tell your companions not to harm each other, for surely this harms me.” The Most High has said: “Those who hurt believing men and women without just cause, bear on themselves calumny and manifest sins” (33:58).

If you find the Tariqa Tijaniyya actualizing the brotherhood of Islam, its success lies in rending apart the walls of the ego-selves, penetrating into its depths and illuminating its hidden recesses with beneficial Divine knowledge. In a similar way, this Tariqa has nullified the borders of nations and erased the differences between the servants of Allah.

So here we are in this conference hall meeting with representatives from all parts of Africa: west, central, and north. And here we have Americans from all different areas: New York, Chicago, Memphis, Atlanta, Detroit … So they (these delegations) are one community, and what is between them is (only) love in Allah, and they have freed themselves of worshiping other than Allah so that by the Oneness of Allah, the veils have been lifted from them and they have been brought to extinction (fana‘) and substantiation (baqa‘) in Allah. They have refused to concern themselves with anything other than Allah. These are indeed true, vigorous Sufis, clothed in the Sunnah. Their secret thoughts have been made pure and their external selves have remained steadfast on the Book and the Sunnah. They have escaped from the frivolities of the ego-self and become immersed in Truth’s baptism: “the baptism of Allah - and who is better than Allah to baptize” (2:138)?

“Sufism,” said Shaykh Tijani (may Allah be pleased with him), “is carrying out the Divine command and avoiding the prohibitions, externally and internally, with regards to what pleases Him, not what pleases you.” And this cannot be realized except through compliance with the pure Shari’a. The people of the Tariqa are the people of remembrance (dhikr), the people of prayer (salat), those who seek the forgiveness of Allah throughout the night and at both ends of the day. Incumbent upon them is offering prayer upon the greatest means of access (wasila), the Prophet, and obeying the command of Allah. With this they become enlightened. The Most High has said: “It is He who prays on you, along with the angels, in order to bring you forth from darkness into the light.” (33:43).

Thus our Tariqa is a Muhammadan Path (Tariqa Muhammadiyya); its companions are they who hold firmly to the Sunnah, extinguishing themselves in love for the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace. They are wedded to the emulation of him, in both his words and deeds, and they have molded themselves with his characteristics; for surely the bases of these characteristics are the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Within these two things is found the abode of the Tariqa, and outside the Qur’an and the Sunnah there is nothing called the Tijaniyya. Long ago, Imam Junayd (may Allah be pleased with him) said: “Surely all the paths (turuq) are choked off by the creation except those following the footsteps of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah upon him, those following his Sunnah and his Tariqa.”

Our Mawlana Shaykh Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him, has declared his innocence of everything at variance with the pure Shari’a and demonstrated the orthodoxy of his Tariqa with the statement: “If you hear something from me, weigh it on the scale of the Shari’a. Whatever is in conformity, take it; whatever is at variance, leave it.” So were all his actions and pure conduct based in the Book and the Sunnah. His disciple Sidi Muhammad bin Mishry (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“Despite what you have heard of the miracles of this Shaykh of exalted rank, he was of extreme humility, and whoever did not know him could not distinguish him from his companions. Among his attributes was that he was an ascetic; one longing (for Allah); one who has obtained; one who has abandoned all injustice. He overlooked the (unclean) states of the people but worked ardently on his own self. And he was stern in following the Sunnah, nor would he indulge anyone in relaxing its observance except for those who would not obey his command. He (RA) was always urging us to pray in rank. If we traveled, he would say, ‘Whoever does not pray with you in rank, do not keep him as your companion.’ And he said, ‘By guarding the straight line in prayer, Allah will avert from you most afflictions.’”

Among the things in which he persevered was the love for the Prophet’s household (ahl al-bayt), and encouraging others to reverence and exalt them, for this itself is evidence of following the Prophet (SAW) and of enforcing the commandments of the Qur’an. The Most High has said: “Say (O Prophet): ‘I do not ask any reward of you, except the love for the relatives (al-qurba).’” (42:23). The Shaykh also used to enjoin obedience to the teachers (muqadamin) with what they required in accordance with the truth. He said, “You must obey the teachers so long as they command you with the known religious obligations or work to reconcile the differences between you.” And he warned them in this against being enamored of the worldly goods of their brethren, and to only see such possession as the bestowal of Allah, for it is He who gives, withholds, lowers and elevates. It was with this righteous method that the Shaykh trained his disciples, and it is this righteous manner that has been the inheritance of his successors (khulifa‘) generation after generation, for they have been keen to guard this foundation. In emphasizing the orthodoxy of the Tariqa Tijaniyya, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said:

You must hold firm to the rope of Allah,
For a method which deviates from the Qur’anic Remembrance is a path of misery.

If you should ask, is this litany (wird) the method of Muhammad?
I will say yes, my wird is for attaining purity.

The wird is nothing but the remembrance belonging to Allah, and He alone,
(And) offering prayer on the chosen one, the best without comparison.

In it there is no mention of the Shaykh or any other
My wird is the source of medicine for the servant’s disease.

Tread lightly so as not to deny out of ignorance
For injustice and enmity are the sources of estrangement.

The Shaykh of Islam of Tunis, Ibrahim Riyahi, made a similar statement as the above:

As for your thoughts about the organization of the wird;
(Linked to) the hand of Prophecy, can it be without foundation?

What would you think of a method
Which secures for its practitioner safety from the fire and its turmoil?

The Tariqa is not an innovation from orthodox Sufism, which has been described in the Kashif al-Ilbas (of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse) as follows: “(Sufism) is the expression of a knowledge flaring forth from the hearts of the saints until their hearts have obtained enlightenment through acting on the Qur’an and the Sunnah. And all who act in this way, for him will be kindled sciences, secrets and realities impossible for tongues to describe. This is analogous to what has been sparked in the scholars of the Shari’a with respect to their rulings until they come to know what they know in regards to the rulings of the Shari’a. And Sufism is surely the cream of the servant’s work in accordance with the rulings of the Shari’a, so long as his work is free from defect and self-contentment, just as the science of meanings and explanations is the cream of the science of grammar. So who would classify Sufism as an independent science is correct; and who would classify it as the source of rulings for the Shari’a is also correct.”

The Tariqa is built on sincerity in the truthful attention to Allah, by expelling anything else in one’s dealing with the Truth. This is not possible for him who secretly delights in his ego-self, plunging it into lusts and wicked desires. The Sufis are the true servants, they are the ascetics in every age. It has been related from Hassan al-Basri: “I saw a Sufi circumambulating the Ka’aba, and I gave him something; but he said, ‘I have naught with me but four coins, but whatever Allah has placed with me is sufficient.” This is simply pointing to the fact that the generation succeeding the companions of the Prophet was one of Sufi ascetics, for they were scholars in the sciences of the diseases and intrigues of the ego-self. Hassan al-Basri reports Sufyan al-Thawri as saying, “Had it not been for Abu Hisham al-Sufi, I would not have become aware of the subtle hypocrisies of the ego’s subjectivity (riya‘).”

The shaykhs, as has been related from Shaykh Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him, are the ropes that Allah has extended to the creation, whoever holds fast to them will be saved. Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Know that the purpose of the shaykhs is that they are links to the Prophet (SAW), who is the greatest means of access to Allah. Sidi Abdullah bin al-Hajj al-Alawi, may Allah be pleased with him, once said to me, ‘What is desired of the Tijani litanies is to smell the fragrance of the Muhammadan Reality (Haqiqa Muhammadiyya), upon it blessings and peace.’”

It is worth mentioning that the people of the Tariqa, they, men and women, are the ones remembering Allah often. They sit for the remembrance in every place and in all states. Remembrance (dhikr) is the sacred means of emulating the Messenger of Allah (SAW): “Surely in the Messenger of Allah there is for you a beautiful example, for those who hope for Allah and the Last Day, and who remember Allah often” (33:21). The people of the Tariqa are the living example of this: they come together from diverse ethnicities, gathering for the love of Allah and His Messenger, extinguishing themselves in the pursuit and victory of the truth, with asceticism and humility in the emulation of the greatest means of access, Mawlana Shaykh Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him. Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse wrote in the Risalat al-Tawba: “Despite being absorbed and extinguished in Allah, the people of Tariqa have not abandoned the affairs of the creation nor their role as vicegerents on the earth. Rather they compete in every sphere of life and they are found in diverse professions and specialties, desiring to obtain what is lawful and to expose themselves to the zephyrs of the Lord, exalted is He. May Allah bless them, shield them from the schemes of their enemies and protect them with what He has protected His Wise Remembrance, and such is not difficult for Allah.” So these are the scholars and the shaykhs and the leaders of people; and they are also business men, executives, engineers, doctors, journalists and professors …

If it is understood that the purpose of the Tijani litanies is to smell the fragrance of the Haqiqa Muhammadiyya, such a fragrance leads one to act according to the Qur’an and the Sunnah, both of which provide the capacity for security and the foundation of faith. The Prophet has said: “I am leaving with you two things, to which if you hold fast, you will never be misguided: the Book of Allah and my Sunnah.” On this foundation this Tariqa has spread to all horizons, for it is a Tariqa of truth, and the truth prevails and is not prevailed upon. Shaykh Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him, said: “This seal (taaba’) of ours will gain ascendancy over every other type of (Sufi) mark (taaba’), and none will gain ascendancy over us.” This Tariqa thus has the capacity to spread without limit, since it is grounded in magnanimity and tolerance, nor is it contrary to the flawless natural disposition (al-fitra al-salim).

Shaykh Tijani was praised by many of the exalted scholars of his time. Among them by way of example was Sidi Hamdun bin al-Hajj, whose son wrote in his book, al-Ashraf, that his father had praised the Shaykh in both knowledge of the Islamic sciences and Divine gnosis. Shaykh Hamdun, who was of the consummate scholars, praised the Shaykh in one of his poems as follows:

I commend you to the resplendent, light-giving moon,
Abu al-Abbas, I mean Ahmad at-Tijani.

The sun of sovereignty and the axis of the circle of guidance,
The moon of felicity and star of spiritual excellence.

Sea of generosity, our elucidator of heavenly wisdom,
Like rare gems in a necklace or crown (tījān).

The best of imams who has risen in ascension,
In righteousness without lethargy.

In addition, numerous scholars apprenticed themselves to him, but mentioning them here all would take us too long. Needless to say, each is like the full moon. In every corner they are the leaders of men, in every time and place. Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse indicated this in one of his poems:

To him belong companions like moons,
Possessors of illumination and secrets.

Of investiture and of gnosis,
And each one a spring among springs.

Must see lecture

Great lecture on the responsibility of the Prophet's (s.a.w) Ummah by Sh Abdullah Quick.

It looks at the example of the Prophet (s.a.w) and his companions, the universality of the message of Islam, tolerance, judging oneself, love and respect for the earth and the environment as well as living and eating simply. 

Copy and paste the following url.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lPGOde0Myec&feature=PlayList&p=0C03D776E56DBC63&playnext_from=PL&index=2

Islam and Money ....

A very interesting and informative lecture which examines the monetary system and looks at how Islamic economic system is very feared by the ' big bankers '.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6iFFs0l3fs&feature=PlayList&p=D01531706B9BECFB&index=0

Jawratul Kamal

A link to a page that helps you learn Salatul Fathi and Jawratul Kamal, sallutations upon the beloved messenger of Allah.

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

Surah Al Kaaf The First 10 verses/ Protection against the Anti Christ

There is a counter to everything, from a left hook to a thumb lock, the same is for the Anti Christ the Dajaal, there is a counter to him and the counter is told to us by The Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him, and that counter is the reciting the first 10 verses over him. So it is essential that we learn this counter, and like any counter the timing has to be correct in order for it to work, so now is the time to learn these 10 verses. InsAllah.

بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم

http://www.quran.com/18

The Three principles of Tariqa Tijaniya

[From the Introduction of Shaykh Hassan Cisse, Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse: Revivalist of the Sunnah (New York, 1984).]

Shaykh Hassan introduced this address by reminding the reader that the Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on the Qur’an and the Hadith, or narrations of the Prophet, peace be upon him. The Shaykh then sited the famous hadith of three stations of religion: Islam (submission), Iman (faith) and Ihsan (spiritual excellence) as justification for the “intent, substance and development of the Tariqa Tijaniyya.” Since Islam, as a religion suited for the lofty spiritual aspirations of the human soul, contains within it Ihsan, the religion also includes the Sufi tariqa, or the path of self-purification: the path of contemplating God, “until you worship Him as if you see Him; and if you do not see Him, know that He is seeing you” (the Prophet’s description of Ihsan from the aforementioned hadith). Shaykh Hassan continued:

It should be obvious from this Hadith that a human being has greater needs than an animal. In the same way he needs food for his body, he also needs food for his spirit; and the best food for the spirit is the remembrance of Allah (dhikr). Dhikr provides the direct link between the servant and Allah. Surely there is wise counsel in the saying, “The remembrance of Allah is the means to acquire sainthood, to be one of the awliya‘ (saints or friends of God).”

The Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on three principles:

1. Asking Allah for forgiveness (astaghfirullah). It is forbidden for a Muslim to stop his brother in Islam from saying astaghfirullah. None of us are infallible. The same way we do something right today, we may do it wrong tomorrow. Consequently, the Prophet has directed us by say ing, “Your sickness is the sins and the remedy of your sickness is to say astaghfirullah.” In addition, there are many verses in the Qur’an advising us to say astaghfirullah. For example, in Sura Hadid (57:21), we are told, “Be foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord…” And then there is the ex ample of our most excellent guide, the Prophet, peace be upon him. In spite of the infallibility of his station, and what Allah has stated clearly in Sura Fath (48:2), that He has forgiven all his sins - the first and the last - the Prophet asked Allah’s forgiveness more than one hundred times every day. If that is the case with him, what about those of us who live in this corrupt time of disbelief and sin?
2. The second principle is to say la ilaha illallah, “There is nothing worthy of worship but God.” In a Hadith, the Prophet said, “The best words I have ever said together with the previous Pro phets are the words la ilaha illallah.” And, again, in Sura Baqara (2:152): “Then if you remember Me; I will remember you.” And in Surah Imran (3:191): “Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides…” And, again, in Sura Jumu’a (62:10), “and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.” Surely, when Allah, who has no limit, says to remember Him “often”, it is not to be taken lightly.
3. And the third principle is Salat ‘ala Nabi, the offering of prayers upon the Prophet. Allah has ordered the community of the believers to offer prayers upon the Prophet just as He has himself done together with His angels, (Qur’an, 33:56). Moreover, the Prophet said in another Hadith, “Whoever offers one prayer upon me, Allah will offer ten upon him.” In another report, the Prophet said, “Whoever offers one prayer on me, Allah will offer ten on him; if he makes it ten, Allah will make it one hun dred for him; if he makes it one hundred, Allah will make it one thousand for him; if he makes it a thousand, he will enter Paradise shoulder-to-shoulder together with me.”

Support for the dhikr of the Tariqa Tijaniyya thus is solely derived from Qur’an and Hadith. We are Muslims looking for the Truth, and wherever we see the Truth, we shall follow.

http://tijani.org/sources-for-the-dhikr-of-the-tijaniyya/

Blessings derived from Salatul Fathi part 3

From a Tijaniyya Order member

The history of Salatul al-Fatih is this. A man named Sayyidi Bekri went into khalwa for 40 years, asking Allah to give him the best Salatul-ala Nabiyya. It was written on the wall in light and he was told not to give it to others until the owner of it appeared.

Another version but no arabic

Allahumma Salli'Ala Sayyidina Muhammadil Fatihi Lima Ughliqa wal Khatimi Lima Sabaqa Nasril Haqqi Bil Haqqi Wal Hadi Ila Siratikal Mustaqim wa 'Ala Alihi Haqqa Qadrihi wa Miqdarihil Azim.

From another Tijaniyya Order member

The reason why it is the best Salat Ala Nabi, Because all other Salat ala Nabi end with Wa Sallim, or Tasliman. Salim means Peace. Mankind is the only thing that needs peace. Allah and his angels don't need peace. Salatul Fatih ends with Azeem in the dua. But after finishing the prayer ends with Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbi Aalimeen. Another reason it is the best and has all those blessings as you described is because it praises The Prophet before the creation of Time and it praises him After creation. The opener and the seal. It is also said to be equivelant to reading the Quran 6 thousand times. Why? How? Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said any Salawat Ala Nabiy especially Salawatul Fatih is the Quran of Quran. Salawatul Fatih is different from other because it is the Prayer of Allah and His Angels.

Another main reason why Salatul Ala Nabi is so Powerful and great is because Only Allah can send prayers on the Prophet(PBUH). When you say Allahuma Sali You have nothing to do with the prayer anymore it is just Allah and the Prophet(PBUH). The Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on Salawatul Fatih it is the main difference between the tijaniyya and other turuq. For this approval has come from the Prophet to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in broad daylight.

From the Tijaniyya - abun-Nasr; an excert from:- And Muhammad Is His Messenger : The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety by Annemarie Schimmel, ISBN: 0807841285

The Salat (Durood) is considered to have merits of eight categories…. He who reads it once is guaranteed the bless of the two abodes; also reciting it once atones for all sins and is equivalent to six thousand (6000) times all prayers of glorification to God, all Dhikr and Dua'a, long and short which have occurred in the Universe. He who recites it ten (10) times acquires recompense greater than that due to a Wali (saint) who lived ten Thousand years, but did not say it. Saying it once is equivalent to the prayers of all angels, human beings, and Jinn from the beginning of their creation to the time when it was uttered, and saying is a second time is like [i.e. equivalent to the recompense of the first] plus the recompense of the first a and the second, and so on.

Blessings derived from Salatul Fathi part 2

Salatul Fatihi (Selections from the Rimah of al Haj Shaykh Umar Futi) 

This is a translation from one of the great pillars of the Ahmadi-Muhammadi-Ibrahimi-Hanifi-Tijani tariqa. He is Shaykh Umar Futi. He is known in Africa as one of the most renowned figures in Islamic History, for he was not just a Khalifa of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani. But also a jihadist He was responsible for at least 313 different jihads in Africa during the 1800's against the British, the French, and idolators. 

The name of this book is al Rimah al Hizb al Raheem ala Nuhur al Hizb al Rajeem (The spears of the league of the Merciful thrown at the necks of the league of the accursed) This book is a defense of Ihsan, Islamic Spirituality (Tasawwuff,Sufism) the Awliya especially, and the Tariqa Tijaniya in detail. Here is one of the sections from the chapter on Salatul Fatihi. I am giving it to you to share. You may post it if you like. This is just for information so no fitnah intended. For not much is known about the Tariqa Tijaniya compared to whats known about other turuq. So enjoy. 

Please keep in mind that the only way to derive the FULL and COMPLETE blessing of this blessed durood is to be on the the Fuqara of Sidina Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, for he received it from the beloved hands of the Beloved Prophet with its rewards and its requirements. But you are welcome for we are all muslims living in the end of times. May Allah protect us and keep us in his safety. Salaam Alaikum. From sidi Muhammad Hasan. 

The invocation of the Opener of what is locked Salatul Fatihi 

As for the invocation of the Opener of what is locked (Salatul Fatihi) it has three degrees: 
1.an external degree 
2.an internal degree 
3.the degree of the inmost (batin al batin). 

I had intended to provide a complete explanation of it at this point, and to describe its marvels and its wonders. I was prevented from that, however by the fact that most people lack the maturity required for the acquisition of that kind of knowledge. I shall therefore content myself with mentioning some of what is available in Jawahir al Ma’ani, concerning the external degree only.Allah is the Source of enabling grace! 

Our Shaykh (Shaykh Ahmad Tijani) has said: 

"As for Salatul Fatihi when I asked the Prophet about it, he informed me first of all, that it is worth six hundred thousand invocation of blessing. I also asked him, ‘For each invocation of blessing does one bird fly up toward heaven-that being the bird which has seventy thousand wings, as described in the hadith-or do six hundred thousand birds of that kind fly up each time, and is the reward of their glorification assigned to the invoker of blessing upon the Prophet?’ The Prophet replied: "Six hundred thousand birds of that kind fly up each time." 

As for the number of each bird’s tongues, the Shaykh said: "The total number of its tongues is 1,680,000,700,000,000,000,000.000. Each tongue glorifies Allah in seventy thousand languages in a split second, and all of is reward is assigned each time to the invoker of blessing upon the Prophet. This applies to every Salatul Ala Nabi other than Salatul Fatihi. As for the latter, it gives rise, each time, to six hundred thousand birds of the kind described, as previously mentioned." 

Our master, then went on to say: "When I asked the Prophet about the authenticity of the hadith: 

The invocation of blessing upon him one time, is worth the reward of four hundred military campaigns and every campaign is worth four hundred Pilgrimages. 

--The Prophet replied: "It is indeed authentic" I then asked the Prophet about the number of these campaigns: ‘Are four hundred campaigns equivalent to a single offering of Salatul Fatihi, or are four hundred campaigns equivalent to each of the six hundred thousand invocations of blessing?’ The Prophet answered: Salatul Fatihi is worth six hundred thousand invocations of blessings(salatul ala nabi), and each of the six hundred thousand invocations of blessing is worth four hundred campaigns’. 

Then he went on to say: "If someone invokes it-Salatul Fatihi; one time, he will receive the reward he would receive if he offered every invocation of blessing ever offered in the universe, by all the jinn, human beings and angels, six hundred thousand times, from the beginning of time until the moment when he utters its invocation. 

In other words, it is as if he has offered six hundred thousand times all the invocations ever invoked by al the invokers of blessing, angels, jinn and human beings, every one of those invocations being worth a spouse among the houries, and ten good deeds, and the erasure of ten bad deeds, and promotion by ten degrees. Allah and his angels will also bless him ten times for every invocation of blessing." 

Shaykh Ahmad Tijani then said: "Once you have contemplated this with your heart, you will know that no act of worship is equal to a single offering of the Salatul ala Nabi, so how about someone who offers it many times?" What gracious favor he enjoys in the presence of Allah, and this is received EACH time the invocation is offered! 

Blessings derived from Salatul Fathi

Below is some information on the blessings that is derived from the recitation of this magnificent Salatul Fathhi, salutation, prayer on the beloved Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him.

From a Tijaniyya Order member 

The reason why it is the best Salat Ala Nabi, Because all other Salat ala Nabi end with Wa Sallim, or Tasliman. Salim means Peace. Mankind is the only thing that needs peace. Allah and his angels don't need peace. Salatul Fatih ends with Azeem in the dua. But after finishing the prayer ends with Al Hamdu Lillahi Rabbi Aalimeen. Another reason it is the best and has all those blessings as you described is because it praises The Prophet before the creation of Time and it praises him After creation. The opener and the seal. It is also said to be equivelant to reading theQuran 6 thousand times. Why? How? Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said any Salawat Ala Nabiy especially Salawatul Fatih is the Quran of Quran. Salawatul Fatih is different from other because it is the Prayer of Allah and His Angels. 

Another main reason why Salatul Ala Nabi is so Powerful and great is because Only Allah can send prayers on the Prophet(PBUH). When you say Allahuma Sali You have nothing to do with the prayer anymore it is just Allah and the Prophet(PBUH). The Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on Salawatul Fatih it is the main difference between the tijaniyya and other turuq. For this approval has come from the Prophet to Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in broad daylight. 

From the Tijaniyya - abun-Nasr; an excert from:- And Muhammad Is His Messenger : The Veneration of the Prophet in Islamic Piety by Annemarie Schimmel, ISBN: 0807841285 

The Salat (Durood) is considered to have merits of eight categories…. He who reads it once is guaranteed the bless of the two abodes; also reciting it once atones for all sins and is equivalent to six thousand (6000) times all prayers of glorification to God, all Dhikr and Dua'a, long and short which have occurred in the Universe. He who recites it ten (10) times acquires recompense greater than that due to a Wali (saint) who lived ten Thousand years, but did not say it. Saying it once is equivalent to the prayers of all angels, human beings, and Jinn from the beginning of their creation to the time when it was uttered, and saying is a second time is like [i.e. equivalent to the recompense of the first] plus the recompense of the first a and the second, and so on. 

Salatul Fathi /Links/ Salams to the Holy Prophet Peace be upon Him

DUROOD-E-FATH
ALLAHUMMA SALLI WASALLIM WABARIK ALA SAYYIDINA MUHAMMADINIL FAATIHI LIMA UGHLIQA WAL KHAATIMI LIMA SABAKA WAN NAASIRIL HAQQA BIL HAQQI WAL HAADI ILA SIRAATIKAL MUSTAQEEMI SALLAL LAAHU ALAIHI WA ALA AALI WA ASHABIHI HAQQA QADRIHI MIQDAARIHIL AZEEM.

"O Allah! May Thy grace, peace and blessings rest on Muhammad, our Master, who opens that which is closed, and closes that which is preceded, who helps truth with truth, and who guided mankind to Thy straight path. May blessings of Allah be on him and his Family and Companions as according to his exalted position befitting his merit and his high rank".

Actually, this Durood Shareef is in the Holy Quran; but then it was kept a secret. Hazrat Abu-Bakr Siddique (radi Allahu anhu), the first Caliph of Islam, used to recite it daily without fail. Some narrations say that it is because of this Durood that he was awarded the title of "Siddique" which means "Testifier to the Truth".

Hazrat Abul Muqqarab (radi Allahu anhu) says that a man's total sins will be washed away if he recites Durood-e-Fath for forty days continuously.

Hazrat Shaikh Muhammad Bakari (radi Allahu anhu) says that the recitation of Durood-e-Fath once a day relieves the reciter from the Fire of Hell.

Hazrat Syed Ahmed Hillam (radi Allahu anhu) says that Durood-e- Fath was the most favourite routine of Hazrat Ghaus-e-Azam, Sheikh Abdul Qaadir Jilani (radi Allahu anhu) of Baghdad Shareef.

The great Saints also say that Durood-e-Fath is actual and real light.

Hazrat Sheikh Yusuf Bin Ismail (radi Allahu anhu) says that this Durood Shareef is the greatest mystery of Allah. It brings 100% success and happiness to the reciter. In fact, this Durood Shareef brings prosperity and favour and solves all the complex problems by the Grace of Allah. When a man recites this Durood Shareef, the Angels of Allah surround him, mercy covers him and peace starts descending on him.

A fascinating article about Salutations on the Holy Prophet Muhammad Peace and Blessings Be Upon Him. Check the following link below for the article.

http://www.islamicacademy.org/html/Articles/English/Excellence_in_Durood_Sharif_3.htm

Poem about FRIENDS!

Amran Ibn Zarkhan Al Shafi - Advice on Friends

A real friend wishes his companions well,

He's not one who allows them to get close to hell,

Always be careful of the friends you Choose,
So, in the end, Jannah you will not lose,

If you find your companion is not stopping your wrong,
then, be weary, his friendship is not strong.

If you see the pattern made,
that when you are under your friend's shade,

Your Imaan (belief) begins to fade,

Leave the worthless creation,
make friends with Allah, Surely that is a high station!.
A dervish who had knowledge of our present situation,
Once told his students the following dictation,

"The meeting of people will never enrich you,
save with the gibberish of useless gossip.
So diminish your meeting with people,
except for knowledge or to improve your condition"

Salatul Fathi / Darood Sharif / Salams to the Holy Prophet Peace be upon Him

Salatul Fathi in Arabic

Salatul Fathi in Arabic with Urdu translation

Salatul Fathi : English Translation

O God bless our Master Muhammad Sallal Laahu Ta'ala Alayhi Wa Sallam who opened what had been closed, and who is the Seal of what had gone before, he who makes the Truth Victorious by the Truth, the guide to thy straight path, and bless his household as is the due of his immense position and grandeur. 

The Benifits of Salatul Fathi ( Sallutations upon the Messenger pbuh) 

Sh Ahmed Tijani r.a said :

“Send many prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) with Salat al-Fatih because in it is the good of this world and the Hereafter, and by Salat al-Fatih one obtains all his desires and reaches all his wishes."

On the reward of Salat al-Fatih, al-Khalifa Sidi Ali Harazem reports (in Kitab Jawahir al-Ma'ani) 

Sheikh Ahmed Tijani r.a said: 

"I have asked the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) on the reward of Salat al-Fatih to which he (peace and blessing be upon him) responded, "it is worth six thousand (6000) recitation of the Holy Quran".

The venerated Tijani Sheikh, Sidi Abul Fadl al-Haj Omar ibn Said al-Futi Tall (d. 1279/1864) informs in the book entitled the "Rimah al Hizb al Raheem ala Nuhur al Hizb al Rajeem" 

Sh Ahmed Tijani said :

"As for Salat al-Fatih when I asked the Prophet about it, he informed me first of all, that it is worth six hundred thousand invocation of blessing (600,000). I also asked him, ‘For each invocation of blessing does one bird fly up toward heaven-that being the bird which has seventy thousand wings, as described in the Hadith, or do six hundred thousand (600,000) birds of that kind fly up each time, and is the reward of their glorification assigned to the invoker of blessing upon the Prophet?’ The Prophet replied: "Six hundred thousand birds of that kind fly up each time."

As for the number of each bird’s tongues, the Sh Ahmed Tijani r.a said, 

"The total number of its tongues is 1,680,000,700,000,000,000,000.000. Each tongue glorifies Allah in seventy thousand languages in a split second, and all of is reward is assigned each time to the invoker of blessing upon the Prophet. This applies to every prayer on the Prophet than Salat al-Fatih. As for the latter, it gives rise, each time, to six hundred thousand (600,000) birds of the kind described, as previously mentioned." Sidna Sheikh then went on to say, "When I asked the Prophet about the authenticity of the Hadith, 'The invocation of showering a prayer upon him (salat 'ala Sidna Mohammad) one time, is worth the reward of four hundred (400) military campaigns (ghazwa) and every campaign is worth four hundred (400) pilgrimages ('hajja).' The Prophet replied: "It is indeed authentic". 

"I then asked the Prophet about the number of these campaigns: ‘Are four hundred (400) campaigns equivalent to a single offering of Salat al-Fatih, or are four hundred (400) campaigns equivalent to each of the six hundred thousand (600,000) invocations of blessing?’ The Prophet answered: Salat al-Fatih is worth six hundred thousand (600,000) invocations of showering a prayer upon him one, and each of the six hundred thousand (600,000) invocations of blessing is worth four hundred campaigns"   

" Then he went on to say: If someone invokes it (Salat al-Fatih); one time, he will receive the reward he would receive if he offered every invocation of salat upon the Prophet ever offered in the universe, by all the jinn, human beings and angels, six hundred thousand times (600,000), from the beginning of time until the moment when he utters its invocation. In other words, it is as if he has offered six hundred thousand times (600,000) all the invocations ever invoked by all the invokers of salat, angels, jinn and human beings, every one of those invocations being worth a spouse among the houries (al-'hur al-'in), and ten good deeds ('hasanat), and the erasure of ten bad deeds (sayyiat), and promotion by ten degrees (darajat). Allah and his angels will also bless him ten times for every invocation of blessing. Sidna Sheikh then said: Once you have contemplated this with your heart, you will know that no act of worship is equal to a single offering of the salat upon the Prophet, so how about someone who offers it many times?" What gracious favor he enjoys in the presence of Allah, and this is received each time"

 

Tariqa Tijani Poster/ leaflet

The following piece of design work is a leaflet and a poster which i have designed for some people who have joined the Self purification school of the Tijaniya or for anyone who wants to know the simple basic knowledge on the spiritual path. It gives a simple outline on what is the Tariqa and looks at the zikr including the wird and the wazifa.

The importance of Ihsan ( Islamic spirituality) and the signs of end times

A very interesting lecture which examines the importance of Ihsan (Islamic spirituality) and analyzes the Prophetic traditions on the signs of end times. 

Salatul Fathi

The following is a poster that i designed which has the Salatul Fathi. I designed this so that i can hang it in my house as well as give it to my family so that they can hang it in their homes.

The Strategic importance of Islamic Spirituality

This Lecture is highly recommended for anyone interested or wanting to know more about Islamic spirituality ( Ihsan, Tassawuf, Sufism).

A very powerful lecture on the spiritual aspect of Islam and its strategic importance. A must see lecture conducted by Sh Imran Hosien.

It examines the essence of Tassawuf and Suffism, which are in fact Ihsan which is the term used in the Holy Quran and the authentic traditions of the Holy Prophet Muhammed Peace be Upon Him.

The Lecture looks at What is Islamic spirituality and what is the strategic importance as well as its history.

Some very useful information and lessons in the following article/speech by Shaykh Hassan Cisse. 

http://home.earthlink.net/~halimcisse/tijaniyya.html

Who Rides Whom?

May Allah Almighty grant us His Divine Guidance so we may continue on the straight path and be successful in fighting devils and our lower selves, our egos. The Holy Prophet, Peace be upon him, used to ask Allah to protect him against his ego: "Oh Allah, don't leave me in the hands of my ego for even a split second (literally, the time it takes to blink an eye or less than that)! In praying thus, the Holy Prophet was setting an example for his Nation, showing us that we should always seek Divine Protection against our own lower selves. This teaching of the Prophet is very important. The ego is a most dangerous enemy of mankind which triumphs by making people fall into Hell, here and hereafter. The ego is at the heart of every trouble in the lives of individuals and society in general, the culprit who has earned the title: "Public Enemy Number One".

Seeing that the ego is so dangerous to mankind, why then did Allah create it: What was the wisdom in building such a dangerous thing into man's nature? This is a valid question that deserves an answer. The answer is to be found in the Prophet's saying: "Your ego is your riding animal, your mount." If not for the ego, you would have to "walk". Therefore, Allah gives us egos to "ride" on that we may move forward. As we know of the Holy Prophet himself, his ego appeared to him as "Burraq", the heavenly winged steed that bore him from Earth to Heaven. Any one of us who strives, his ego may be transformed into a "Burraq" as well. But the desired transformation can only take place once we have taken our mount firmly in rein; only then may it serve us as a heavenly winged horse for taking us to our heavenly stations.

For example, without an airplane we can't carry our physical bodies from Earth into the skies, but once we board an airplane we may fly and reach every destination. And so, an airplane is a very, very useful vehicle, but at the same time it is a very dangerous one. If you don't know how to fly it and if there is no capable pilot operating it, it may become an instrument of destruction and may kill many people. Only a trained pilot knows how to fly an airplane. We, also, are in need of training, if we hope to ever ride our ego with the absolute precision control required for it to become a Burraq that can carry us to our heavenly, spiritual stations.

No one can learn to fly a plane just by reading a pilot's manual. That is insufficient preparation. Rather, a would-be pilot must fly alongside a master pilot so many times before he can hope to make his first solo flight. For a long period of time he will only observe the master pilot fly. After that he will be at the controls but the master will be in the copilot's seat, ready to take over the controls in case of any shakiness on the part of the learner.

So, it becomes clear how such a learning process must be carried out and that learning from books alone is inadequate. For this very reason Allah almighty sent to the Earth not only Heavenly Scriptures but also Prophets to deliver them and to show people how the teachings of those Scriptures may be put into action. If reading Scriptures alone were sufficient, Allah would not have sent Prophets but would have merely made scrolls to fall from Heaven and rain on people, both inwardly and out. In reality, however, only by observing and emulating the ways the Prophets put those Divine Teachings and Commandments into practice may one improve his outward ways and inner state.

In any given time it is impossible for people to attain heavenly positions without following an Inheritor of the Holy Prophet. Such true Inheritors will be found among mankind until the end of time. Accordingly, the Prophet has said: "Never will there cease to be a group from among my Nation living in the best and truest manner, until the Resurrection Day." If you can find even one person from among those people, he may suffice you for learning what you need to know. One person's teaching may suffice the whole world, as did the Prophet's teaching during his lifetime and the leadership of the Rightly-Guided Khaliphas in their time. But Allah Almighty, in His endless Bounty and Generosity, has caused 124,000 Saints to be living in each time, each one representing and embodying the spiritual emanations of one of the 124,000 Prophets. One Saint has been made to represent our Beloved Prophet, Sayyidina Muhammad, who is the Imam and leader of all the Prophets.

Therefore, it is the duty of every Muslim to look for an Inheritor of the Prophets, so he may learn how to deal with his ego effectively and how to put it under his command. For as long as we don't have it under our command, we are under its command, and as long as we are under its command, we are not real servants of our Lord but servants of our egos, Satan and devils. For this reason, it is a most essential point to learn how to be able to take command over our egos.

Each and every act of worship gives us renewed power for controlling our egos. But if we embark on the way of devotion by ourselves, our egos can lay so many traps in our way and play endless tricks on us. For example, sometimes our egos may say to us "Pray," or sometimes they may say "Awake at midnight and pray," or "Read Qur'an, read so much of it, I am with you, don't worry. Go to Mecca more than once five, ten, twenty times", or "fast as much as you can." The ego may dictate these actions to you and thus it may have its grimy little paws in every single one of these devotions. Later it will manifest its participation by coming to you and saying: "Oh man, Oh brother, there is no one like you; you are the best and most pious of the human race, the most famous of holy men. No one can worship like you; " When it speaks to you like this, it is just like the butcher who comes to look at the lamb every day, patting it on the back and grabbing the fat of its neck. He says: "How nice and plump, what a beautiful lamb." But he is only waiting until the sheep gets big and fat enough, waiting to slit its throat! Satan comes and says: "There is no one like you. You are of the highest degree. Then the victim answers. "Yes, I am the best; there is no one like me." When Satan obtains this confession of self-worship, he cuts off the victim's head-finished!

That is what we call "self-satisfaction" (I am all right now") and it is why Satan fell down. For he also said to himself: "I am all right; I'm really something. The Angels should prostrate before me, not before Adam, that mudpie! Oh my Lord, You are doing wrong in asking us to bow down before Adam! "From such thoughts as his we seek refuge in Allah. Since our ego plays such tricks on us by hiding itself within our acts of devotion and therein nurturing self-satisfaction and conceit, it is very dangerous and terrible for a person to strive on his own. He must take a guide and follow his path, lest so many devils catch him and cut off his head.
Who of you would dare to carry around a plate full of gold on his head and walk through London at night? Who is so brave and so foolish? (This was during the time of riots in London.) 

To perform acts of devotion is riskier even than this. When I am in the streets of London I often see "Security Cars" with chains, security windows and armed guards for carrying large amounts of money from one site to another. Similarly, everyone must have a guardian with him when he wants to take his heart from Satan's vault. Some people, like Sayyidina Omar (RA), were so strong in their faith that, if they were coming down the street and Satan was coming the other way, Satan would quickly turn up a side street so as not to have to meet them face to face. If you are like this, then you are in no need of a guide; otherwise, you must take a guardian. If you sincerely desire to meet one, then you will. In every time Allah has provided for the seeker to find. But if you aren't seeking, giant devils will catch you, chop off your head, cut you up into pieces and devour you! That is the end of your story.

Now we are living in a time when people every where are demonstrating, shouting: "Freedom, Liberation, Rebellion!" And egos are now always in rebellion and shouting: "Freedom-Hip Hip Hooray! Hip Hip Hooray! We are free now! We have broken every chain that bound us; we have broken every chain of religion and now we are free! Hip Hip Hooray! These are words that devils and egos are gleefully sounding about in our times. You must be very careful not to allow your ego to follow in this "mainstream of modern thought". Our battle is not against people but against ego, only because it drags us into the pit of badness and trouble, here and hereafter. Be careful! If you become tolerant with it and give it your finger, it will take your finger and grab your wrist also. From your wrist it will grab your whole arm and then it will catch you and take you as a slave. Once it has made you its slave it will come every day and feel you: "Yet there is only skin and bones here, we must fatten him up a little more." But when it feels that you are good and fat, then it sharpens its knife...

It is a dangerous time we now live in, as egos have reached to the peak of their badness. We shall witness such terrible events in the world as have never been seen before - a result of mankind's egos running free and wild, running amuk. All governments, from East to West, Muslim, Christian, Jewish and all others, have granted absolute freedom to their peoples' egos to go on their dirty ways. Governments have broken every law of religion and, as a result, they will be punished by the very people to whom they gave absolute freedom for seeking ego's pleasure.
I ask Divine Protection for the Nation of Muhammad, for all of us and for every believer. [ Tariqa Tijaniyya]

Atlanta Speeches of Shaykh Hassan Cisse (1)

Masjid Al-Mu'minun ~ Capitol Avenue, Atlanta, GA.
After Jumu`ah Prayer, December 13, 1993

A Letter From Shaykh Ahmad Tijani

     Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in answering someone who asked about his Isnad said: “as for the Isnad of our Tariqa, it goes back to the Prophet (pbuh), also the Isnad with the Wird and Hisbul-Sayfi is from the Prophet (pbuh). As for Musabba-Ashara, I accepted it orally from Shaykh Mahmud Al-Kurdi al-Misri (ra), and he accepted it from Al-Khidri orally. As for the Ahzaabs of Ash-Shadhili (ra) and the Wazifa of Al-Zuruqi, and Dala’il-Khairat and Al-Duril-Ala, I accepted Ijaza for all of them from our Shaykh the perfect Qutub, our master Muhammad Abdul Karim Al-Sammani-Qataani who lived in Madinatul-Munawwara”. 

Let it be known that Shaykh Ahmad Tijani was very consistent in the practice of his Wirds after prayers in the morning, to the time of Dhuha in solitude, and after the prayers of Asr to the disappearance of the sun below the horizon, and between that time and the prayers of Isha in solitude. Also Shaykh Tijani said: “I do not use any Zikr except that the Prophet (pbuh) arranges it for me in all of it’s conditions, and he (pbuh) is prompting his companions to do it, especially ‘Salatul Fatihi’ because of the great benefits that are in it”. And when anyone is seeking a thing by other than the known Wirds the Shaykh says: “do many Salawats on the Prophet (pbuh) with Salatul Fatihi because in it is the good of this world and the Hereafter. And by it (Salatul Fatihi) one obtains all his desires, and the student (Murid) reaches his wishes”.

    

 And our master (ra) said: “For every intelligent person there are times to be alone with his Lord which he can’t delay or be to busy for, and times for sitting with his brothers in the path of Allah the Sublime, for Zikr or Talim or the use of knowledge he did have before, and these times should not be abandoned”. Then he (ra) said: “the most beneficial times set for solitude with Allah the Sublime are the middle of the night after the people are asleep, to the rise of Fajr, and after morning prayers to the time of Dhuha, and after Asr prayers to Isha. A worker in those times hits his aim, and Marifat (Knowledge of Allah) is clarified according to one’s ability at those times, and what is necessary for a soul is not to be lazy and not to be displeased thereby going astray from the limit, set by his saying (pbuh): ‘surely this religion is easy and whosoever makes it difficult, it will overcome him’. So worship according to your needs and come close to your Lord and be joyful, and appoint the morning, evening, and night as times for this”. And his sayings (pbuh): “This religion is strong, so penetrate into it gently and do not hate for yourself the worship of Allah, for surely a new plan does not fulfill itself cut off, and what remains in the ground does not appear”.                            

    

 And his sayings (pbuh): “Take from the religious works what you have the capacity for, for surely Allah does not become tired of you until you become tired of Him”. And the Shaykh said: “and in all we have mentioned the person must be sincere to Allah and not associate anything with Allah the Sublime”. The above is a translation of subject nine (9) in the book “The Key to worship in the Tariqa Tijaniyya”. I am asking for the forgiveness of Allah for any mistakes that may be found in the translation, and I am asking for the patience of the people with this small effort. May Allah bless those Murids that are constant in their work.   Imam Sayed