Tijaniyyah

TijaniyyahThe Tijāniyyah (Arabic: ‫الطريقة التجانية‬, transliterated: Al-Ṭarīqah al-Tijāniyyah, or "The Tijānī Path") is a sufi ṭarīqah (order, path) originating in North Africa but now more widespread in West Africa, particularly in Senegal,The Gambia,Mauritania, Mali, and Northern Nigeria and Sudan. Its adherents are called Tijānī (spelled Tijaan or Tiijaan in Wolof, Tidiane or Tidjane in French). Tijānī attach a large importance to culture and education, and emphasize the individual adhesion of the disciple (murīd). To become a member of the order, one must receive the Tijānī wird, or a sequence of holy phrases to be repeated twice daily, from a muqaddam, or representative of the order. Contents • • • • • 1 History and spread of the order o 1.1 Foundation of the order o 1.2 Expansion in West Africa o 1.3 Tijaniyah jihad states 2 Practices 3 See also 4 Sources and references 5 External links History and spread of the order Foundation of the order Sīdī 'Aḥmad al-Tijānī (1737-1815), who was born in Algeria and died in Fez, Morocco, founded the Tijānī order around 1781 (see Triaud, 2000). Tijānī Islam, an "Islam for the poor," reacted against the conservative, hierarchical Qadiriyyah brotherhood then dominant, focusing on social reform and grass-roots Islamic revival. Expansion in West Africa Although several other Sufi orders overshadow the Tijāniyyah in its birthplace of North Africa, the order has become the largest Sufi order in West Africa and continues to expand rapidly. It was brought to southern Mauritania around 1789 by Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ of the 'Idaw `Ali tribe, which was known for its many Islamic scholars and leaders and was predominantly Qādirī at the time. Nearly the entire tribe became Tijānī during Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ's lifetime, and the tribe's influence would facilitate the Tijāniyya's rapid expansion to sub-Saharan Africa. Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ's disciple Mawlūd Vāl initiated the 19th-century Hal Pulaar leader Al-Ḥājj Omar Tall (Allaaji Omar Taal) and the Fulbe cleric `Abd al-Karīm anNāqil from Futa Jalon (modern Guinea) into the order. After receiving instruction from Muḥammad al-Ghālī from 1828 to 1830 in Makka, Omar Tall was appointed One of its most prominent members is the novelist and historian Amadou Hampâté Bâ. has become by far the largest and most visible Tijānī branch around the world today. Most Tijānī web sites and international organizations are part of this movement. Umar Tall then led a holy war against what he saw as corrupt regimes in the area. near Thies. While Omar Tall's political empire soon gave way to French colonialism. his son Ababacar Sy (Abaabakar Sy) became the first Caliph (Xaliifa). which is "father" in Wolof). Niger. founded by Shaykh Hamallah. Serigne Mansour Sy became the present Caliph in 1997. in the Kaolack suburb of Medina Baye in 1930. The Hamawiyyah branch. The Gàmmu (Mawlid in Arabic. the African American Islamic Institute. and is also present in Senegal. Burkina Faso. in Medina Baye with branches in other parts of the world.Khalīfa (successor or head representative) of Aḥmed at-Tijānī for all of the Western Sudan (Western sub-Saharan Africa). Côte d'Ivoire. and not only specialists. In 1902. his state crumbled but the Tijāniyya remained the predominant Sufi order in the region. In Senegal's Wolof country. Mali. was founded by the disciple of a famous marabout of Fouta. The "house" or branch of Tivaouane is not the only branch of the Tijānī order in Senegal. the more long-standing result was to spread Islam and the Tijānī Order through much of what is now Senegal. a contemporary of Umar Tall who founded a similar Islamic state in Senegal's Saalum area. who preserved . Senegal (to the east of the Niokolo Koba park) was created by Mamadou Saidou Ba. he founded a zāwiya (religious center) in Tivaouane (Tiwaawan). the celebration of the birth of Muḥammad) of Tivaouane gathers many followers each year. returned to establish a zāwiya in the city of Kaolack. Nigeria. Still another in Thienaba. and Abdoulaye Niass (1840–1922) became the most important representative of the order in the Saalum. Shaykh Hassan Cisse. The Tijānī order was spread to the south by another jihadist. The branch founded by Abdoulaye Niass's son. often called "Baye" or "Baay". and Mali (see Robinson. born in 1855 near Dagana. and has a growing presence in the United States and Europe. which became a center for Islamic education and culture under his leadership. is centered in Nioro. after exile in Gambia due to tensions with the French. and Niger. Upon Malick Sy's death in 1922. Al-Hadj Ibrahima Niass (Allaaji Ibrayima Ñas. Niass's grandson and current Imam of Medina Baye. especially the northern regions of Kajoor and Jolof. 1985). Another Senegalese "house. having immigrated southward from the Jolof and. resulting in a large but fleeting empire in Eastern Senegal and Mali. has thousands of American disciples and has founded a large educational and developmental organization. upon the death of Abdoul Aziz Sy. and Mauritania. "Allaaji Maalig Si" in Wolof). After Màbba's death. Guinea. known as the Tijāniyyah Ibrāhīmiyyah or the Fayḍah ("Flood"). Amadou Sekhou. can attain a direct mystical knowledge of God through tarbiyyah rūhiyyah (mystical education) has struck a chord with millions worldwide. This branch. the Tijānī Order was spread primarily by El-Hajj Malick Sy (spelled "El-Hadji Malick Sy" in French." in Medina-Gounass. Ibrahima Niass's teaching that all disciples. is most concentrated in Senegal. Màbba Jaxu Ba. (See Brenner. and a prayer for Muḥammad called the Ṣalātu l-Fātiḥ (Prayer of the Opener). a similar formula that is chanted as a group. 29 April 1893 Tijaniyya Jihad state extinguished. It was Cherno Momodou Jallow that spread the Tariqa in the Senegambian region.) Also another scholar and sufi of the tariqa tijani was CHERNO ALIEU DEM of Njai Kunda (Koalack) Senegal. using the ruler title Imam. The muqaddam explains to the initiate the duties of the order. often at a mosque. to honor and respect one's parents. "Astaghfiru Llāh" ("I ask God for forgiveness"). 2000. The Tariqa Tijani was giving to Cherno Momodou Jallow by Alhajie Omar Futi Tall directly. after the sundown prayer (maghrib). Cherno Alieu Dem's work was later reveal in the next generation by his grandson Shieck Ahmad Tijan Dem of 'casaville' Kaolack Senegal. often fittingly titled Emir.and advocated the teachings of Thierno Bokar (Cerno Bokar). Tijaniyah jihad states While the term "Jihad State" (a territory that was established by political and religious Muslim leaders. one receives the Tijānī wird from a muqaddam or representative of the order. in 1818 founded by Shaykhu Ahmadu. in 1862 Masina (ruler title Ardo) is incorporated into Tijaniyya Jihad state. He passed it on to many scholars of the region like Mam Mass Kah who's grand son Imam Cherno Kah is the current Imam of Banjul. on 16 May 1862 conquered by the Tijaniyya Jihad state. He was well known for his work when he performs 'wirrda' 1000 Salatul Fatiha for each grain of maize. • • the Tijaniyya Jihad state was founded on 10 March 1861 by `Umar ibn Sa`id in Segu (the traditional ruler style Fama was continued by the autochthonous dynasty in part of the state until the 1893 French takeover). Initiates are to pronounce the Tijānī wird (a process that usually takes ten to fifteen minutes) every morning and afternoon. 1888 Segu lost to Tijaniyya Jihad state. Practices Members of the Tijānī order distinguish themselves by a number of practices. which include keeping the basic tenets of Islam (including the five pillars of Islam). 1864 the rulership split between Segu (styled Amir al-Mu`minin from 1869) and Masina (title Amir al-Mu´minin). invoking Jihad bin saif in the sense of holy war to establish an Islamic rule in accordance with Koranic injuctions) most often refers to Fulbe jihad states in and around Nigeria. Dina (the Sise Jihad state). notably in present Mali. and not to follow another Sufi order in addition to the Tijāniyya. Cherno Momodou Jallow's work was also revealed by his grandson Cherno Baba Jallow of Kerr Cherno in Nuimi The Gambia. They are also to participate in the Waẓīfah. as well as . the order also gave rise to a few elsewhere in Western Africa. the "Sage of Banjagara". The wird is a formula that includes repetitions of "Lā 'ilāha 'ilā Llāh" ("There is no God but Allah"). also styled Amir al-Muslimin. ruler title Imam (also styled Amir al-Mu´minin). Upon entering the order. who conquer a region by offensive war. 2000. Most major Tijānī religious centers organize a large Mawlid event once a year. Louis.) Throughout the year. This consists in repeating the phrase "Lā 'ilāha 'ilā Llāh" or simply "Allāh" as a group. New York: Simon & Schuster. These meetings usually go from about midnight until shortly after dawn and include hours of dhikr and poetry chanting and speeches about the life of Muḥammad. Oxford: Clarendon. poems praising God. as Islamic dates start at sundown and not at midnight). or another religious leader may be interspersed with the dhikr. Additionally. Sources and references • • • • • • • Brenner. Africa in History. Such meetings may involve simple repetition as a group or call-response. from Arabic dā'irah. Robinson. David. 1995. The Holy War of Umar Tall. "Amadou Hampâté Bâ: Tijânî Francophone. spelled Gamou in French). 2000. Islam and Imperialism in Senegal: Sine-Saloum 18471914. a particular religious obligation such as fasting during Ramadan. WorldStatesmen. "La Tijâniyya. Muḥammad. Stanford: Stanford University Press. or mentioning God. etc. Triaud. to engage in dhikr Allāh. Jean-Louis. eds. 2000. La Tijâniyya: Une confrérie musulmane à la conquête de l'Afrique. The most important communal event of the year for most Tijānī groups is the Mawlid an-nabawī (known in Wolof as the Gàmmu. 2000. Kano. Occasionally. a group of disciples (known in Senegal as a daayira. Aḥmed at-Tijānī. 1985. disciples in many areas organize regular meetings. Martin A. or "circle") may organize a religious conference. where they will invite one or more well known speakers or chanters to speak on a given theme. local communities organize smaller Mawlid celebrations. Davidson.here Mali Traditional States . which falls on the night of the 12th of the Islamic month of Rabīʿ al-'Awwal (which means the night before the 12th. Klein. and hundreds of thousands of disciples attend the largest ones (in Tivaouane. 2000. in which one or more leaders lead the chant and others repeat or otherwise respond." In Triaud and Robinson. another formula chanted among other disciples on Friday afternoon. Triaud. such as the life of Muḥammad or another religious leader. Kaolack. Jean-Louis and David Robinson. Basil. 1968. une confrérie musulmane pas comme les autres?" In Triaud and Robinson. Paris: Karthala. often on Thursday evenings or before or after Waẓīfa and Ḥaḍarat al-Jumʿah. or the celebration of the birth of Muḥammad.in the Ḥaḍarat al-Jumʿah. In such meetings. or the nature of God.