SPIRIT OF GOOD MORALS By Shaykh of Islam Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

Translation and Commentary 

Imam Hassan Cisse

The Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on three principles:

(1) Asking Allah for forgiveness. (It is really unconscionable 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 (SAWS) has directed us by saying, "Your sickness is your sin and the
remedy of your sickness is to say astaghfirullah." In addition, there are many
verses in the Qur`an ordering us and advising the community to say
astaghfirullah. Just to mention one, in Sura Hadid (57), v. 21, we are told,
"Be ye foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord..." And, then, there is the example of our most excellent guide, the Prophet (SAWS). In spite of the infallibility of his station, and that Allah has stated clearly in Sura Fath (48), v. 2, that He has forgiven all his sins, the previous and the latest, the Prophet (SAWS) used to ask Allah forgiveness and repentance on every day more than one hundred times. If that is the case with him, what should be the case with those of us who live in this corrupt time when disbelief and sinfulness pervade the world.) (2.) The second principle is to say La ilaha illa-llah. (In the Hadith, the Prophet (SAWS) said, "The best word I have ever said together with the
previous Prophets is the word La ilaha illa-llah." And, again, in the Qur`an Sura Baqara (2), v. 152, "Then do you remember Me; I will remember you."
And in Sura Imran (3), v. 191, "Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, lying down on their sides..." And, again, in Sura Jumu`a (62), v. 10,
"...and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may
prosper." Surely, when Allah, with His unlimited wealth says often, this wording is not to be taken lightly. When Allah, the Possessor and Dispenser of all wealth, suggests that
something be done often, we must remember that the perspective of the wealthy is
not like the perspective of the poor. And Almighty Allah, He has everything. You
cannot even say Allah is the richest because everything is under His control.) (3) And the third point is Salatal `ala Nabi, the offering of prayers upon the
Prophet (SAWS). Allah ordered the community, the believers, to offer
prayers upon the Prophet after He has himself done this together with His
angels, (Sura Ahzab (33), v. 56). Moreover, the Prophet (SAWS) said in the
Hadith, "Whoever offers one prayer upon me, Allah will offer ten upon him."
In another report, "Whoever offers one prayer on me, Allah will offer ten on
him; if he makes it ten, Allah will make it one hundred 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."
So these are the principles and some of the bases of support for the Zikr of
the Tariqa Tijaniyya. It is solely derived from Qur`an and Hadith. In the final
analysis, we are Muslims looking for the Truth, and wherever we see the
Truth, we shall follow.

Bismi-llahir Rahmanir Raheem "Ye have indeed In the Apostle of Allah an excellent pattern (of conduct). For any one whose hope is in Allah and the Final Day, And who engages much In the praise of Allah." (Q. 33: 21) 1. Says Ibrahim the son
of Al-Hajj Abdullahi, our glowing moon. C.1 C.1 Al-Hajj Abdullahi
Al-Hajj Abdullahi is the father of the author. He was a great and celebrated
scholar of his time. Eminent scholars have written a lot of biography about
him. The following is a comprehensive account of what was written by the
great historian Muhammad Abdullah Al-Alawi Al-Tashitee in his biography of
"Al-Hajj Abdullahi the son of Muhammad and father of Shaykh Ibrahim
Niasse". He related that: "Al-Hajj Abdullahi from his youth has an excellent
pattern of life not common among youth. As a boy he had very good
manners that encompassed humility, patience, quietness and intelligence.
He is reported to have committed to memory at first sight his entire portion of
the Qur`an written on the slate for him, and later on, anything that he read he
committed to memory at first sight. Al-Hajj Abdullahi was said to have always
clinged to his father so as not to miss any lessons, particularly the
commentary of the Qur`an. On the orders of his father, he later traveled to
neighboring countries to study, even after some of his teachers humbled
themselves to become his students, quoting that Imam Malik used to be
accepted by his teachers as superior in knowledge."
In the year 1309 Hijra, Al-Hajj Abdullahi performed the pilgrimage to Mecca
and returned through Egypt and the renowned University of Azhar. He was
so highly regarded that on his return, he was too much of a force to be left for granted. He
continuously devoted his time to revive the traditions of the Noble Prophet
(SAWS) and fight against innovations both in his home town Tabai, and his
country Senegal. This led the colonial masters to make life difficult for him.
They insisted that he restrict his preaching and surrender his children for
western education. To this Al-Hajj Abdullahi vehemently objected, describing
it as an evil plot against Islam. He therefore migrated to Gambia with his
family where he remained for ten years. Within this period, tens of thousands
of students migrated to him. In the tenth year of his hijra, he traveled to Fez
in Morocco to visit the tomb of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, the renowned and
celebrated leader of all Saints of Allah. During this journey, he received
recognition from the great Sufis of Fez. From them he obtained certifications
and rare collections of Islamic books, including the original copy of the
Jawharat-ul-Ma`ani that was in the custody of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani for at
least sixteen years and later on with his descendants. On his return he
passed through his country, where he was so well received that the colonial
government requested him to settle in Kaolack. He agreed to this request
but with conditions that he shall be allowed to preach and teach the Qur`an,
build mosques, and carryout his farming activities. The colonial masters
agreed to these conditions, which led to his staying in Kaolack. The first
thing he did in Kaolack was to build a mosque, then a living house. This
mosque was the first mosque in the whole of Kaolack. There are today over
fifty mosques.