How Kano marked Tijjaniyyah Zikr
It was gathered that the da’ira was cast in the outer courtyard in order to avoid stampede that were recorded in the previous years. As is the tradition for over a decade now, the followers of the Tijjaniyyah order gathered at the emir of Kano Emir’s palace to observe the grand wazifa, zikr and prayers […]
It was gathered that the da’ira was cast in the outer courtyard in order to avoid stampede that were recorded in the previous years. As is the tradition for over a decade now, the followers of the Tijjaniyyah order gathered at the emir of Kano Emir’s palace to observe the grand wazifa, zikr and prayers to commemorate the coming of Islamic New Year.
The Tijjaniyyah order, path or movement which originated from North Africa but presently has most of its followers in West Africa, was founded by Sidi Ahmad Tijjani around 1781 and since then the order has spread to other parts of the world. Apart from characteristic sufi practices, one of the distinct practices the adherents of the path mainly engage themselves in, is a regular wird (a chain of repeated phrases, praising Allah), salatul fatih, wazifah, among others.
Like the previous years, this year’s annual zikr commemoration to mark the beginning of new Islamic year was characterized by the symbolic zikr (reciting of Allah’s names), wazifah (a symbolic prayer session), hadrat juma’a (a kind of wazifah which is performed on Friday) and many other practices peculiar to the adherents of Tijjaniyyah brotherhood.
This year’s Zikr was under the co-chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani Ibrahim Nyass and Emir of Kano Alhaji Ado Bayero.
Thousands of muqaddams (representatives or adherents of Tijjaniyya path) were everywhere around the palace holding prayer beads chanting astagfirullah (I ask Allah for forgiveness) and salatul fatih (a formula chanted during wazifah) in slow but hearty hypnotic rhythm, which broke the tranquil state of the royal palace and subdued others to form da’ira (a kind of circle) and began the emblematic chest-beating.
At about 4:30pm, the da’ira was formed and hadarat Juma’a commenced. A traditional white fabric was laid and the people started chanting lailahaillah, astagfirullahil azi mallazi laiha illahuwal Hayyul Qayyum in unison. After the hadarat Juma’a was concluded when the sun had set around 6:30pm, the congregation moved to the mosque where they observed magrib prayer, after which a series of speeches, sermons, amongst others were delivered.
The welcome address was presented at length by Malam Nura Arzai, who harped on the importance of the zikr and how the gathering foster unity among Muslims.
The Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero has called on parents to seek spiritual knowledge and inculcate religious teachings and good habits in their children for the benefit of Islam and humanity.
The Emir thanked Almighty Allah for sparing the peoples’ lives to witness the event aimed at promoting the cause of Allah and making supplications to Him for peace and prosperity in the state, the country and the entire Muslim world in general. “People should fear Allah, live peacefully and