Inside ‘Madina’: Assembly Ground for Tijjaniyas
Before him, two other persons in Maiduguri, Borno state, said the same thing when I told them I was going to spend some time in Dakar as part of my 2009 leave. In-fact, one of them, a core Tijjaniya member, inferred that I would be committing a grievous sin if I visited Senegal without going […]
Before him, two other persons in Maiduguri, Borno state, said the same thing when I told them I was going to spend some time in Dakar as part of my 2009 leave. In-fact, one of them, a core Tijjaniya member, inferred that I would be committing a grievous sin if I visited Senegal without going to Kaolack which he referred to as ‘Kaulaha,’ like many Nigerians call the place.
After spending days in Dakar I set out for the journey to Kaolack which Mu’azu warm-heartedly organised by road and attached me with a guide, Mohammed, a Nigerian based in Senegal. The road from Dakar to Senegal wasn’t quite smooth- but it wasn’t horrible either- just in between, ‘Nigerianly’ tolerable if you like: there were potholes that made our car move less than 100 kilometres per hour while we stopped at times at police check points. An appealing aspect of drivers/ police relationship there was that of the police commanding respect from drivers, because like other drivers were doing, ours always stopped on sighting police, moved out to present his papers and in less than two minutes, he usually concluded with the policemen and we drove off- there was no exchange of twenty naira, sorry, I mean some notes of CFA’s- the currency used there, from drivers to police.
After about two hours and thirty minutes, we were in Kaolack, located some 200 kilometres away from Dakar. We moved to ‘Madina’, a small street with houses and stores closely built together. The street had an entrance gate, on the top of which was a bold photograph of late Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha, the spiritual leader who founded Tijjaniya in 1939.
The term Madina is the name of a holy city in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; where, Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. lived and died after he migrated from Makka, also in Saudi, to Madina about one thousand four hundred and thirty years ago. The holy city is regarded as the nucleus of Islamic growth.
While Madina in Saudi remains famous in the entire Muslim world, followers of Tijjaniya, an age-long Islamic order with followers spread across the world love Inyass’s ‘Madina’ even as they, like other Muslims, regard the original one in Saudi.
Sheikh Inyass was said to have migrated from the township in Kaolack to a nearby area in 1939 which he named Madina. The place was meant to be a centre of Qur’anic memorising, Islamic knowledge and preaching and also a converging point for followers of Darikattul Tijjaniya given the position of Inyass as the one who took over the spiritual leadership of Tijjaniya sect from late Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani. According to the sect’s followers, Ahmadu Tijjani, whom divergent historians have described as either an Algerian or Moroccan Islamic Scholar, saw Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) in his dream and was tasked by the Prophet to set up the sect, called Darika which requires every member to on daily basis and at specific times, recite some numbers of zikr- Astagfirullah (seek forgiveness from God) Salatul Nabiyi (spiritually appraise the Prophet) and say La-ila-ha-illallah (there is no deity worthy of worship except Allah) in addition to carrying out some activities in a particular manner of worship, mostly in a circle of small or large group of followers, seated together mostly inside mosques (in the case of men- while women do theirs individually)- the activity is called Wazifa. Tijjani, whose original name was Sheikh Sidi Ahmed Ettidjani Bin Mohamed Bin Mokhtar, a descendant of Hossein Ibn Ali, was born in `Ayn Mādī , Algeria in 1737 (1150 AH). He travelled to Fes (in present-day Morocco) seeking to meet Sufi sheikhs, and applied himself to the study of the Prophetic traditions. After devoting his life to religious studies, the Sheikh died in 1815 (1230 AH) in Morocco. His grave, described as an architectural master piece, located in Morocco a religious school of Zaouia founded by the Sheikh, is like Mecca to all Tijjaniya followers in the world.
Ahmad Tijjani was said to have established the order about three hundred years ago and his name was directly linked with it as Tijjaniya or Darikattul Tijjaniya. It is believed by his followers that while he lived, he had prophesised that someone was going to assume his position many years after his death and that he gave the features of that person and where he was coming from; all of which suited Shiekh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha who became the spiritual head of the Tijjaniya as Faidhe of Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani, a position he assumed about two hundred years after Tijjani died. Their followers believe that both men had so much faith in God, immense love and compassion for Prophet Muhammad S.A.W. which was why they became hishly placed spiritually.
Sheikh Inyass’s brief history
According to numerous historical accounts on him, Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha was born on Thursday 15th RaJab 1320 A.H- the year 1900 in Thaiba, some place in Senegal . Some researchers have argued though, that during his lifetime, Inyass was said to have faulted that date, correcting that he was born in 1318 A.H- 1898 and not 1320- 1900. He began learning Quranic recitation and other Islamic lessons at a tender age under the watchful eyes of his father- late Sheikh Abdullah Inyass, also a leading Islamic scholar in his life time. Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha was said to have memorised the Holy Qur’an at a tender age, many said he was in his twenties. At the age of 21, he authored some Islamic books and one year later, he lost his father. When he was in his 30s, signs of spiritual relevance began to manifest in him as his influence on people who came in contact with him continued to grow. Some records of his life recall that in 1939, after he returned from his first hajj, at about 40 years of age, he moved from his father’s residence in Kaolack town to establish a territory he named Madina where he had his house and also built a mosque. Some of his followers and pupils also moved there and lived around him. There are some researchers who fault the date Madina was established. Malam Muhammadu Ghali Inyass, conservator of late Sheikh’s personal room and residence, said from his numerous research into the life of the Sheikh, Madina was established in 1937, the same year the Sheikh went for his first hajj. He also said the Sheikh laid foundation for his mosque in that very year and completed the building one year later (1938) before he expanded the mosque in 1958 due to increasing number of worshippers. Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha became famous soon after he returned from the hajj and moved to Madina. He was said to have met with the then Emir of Kano, Abdullahi Bayero in Saudi Arabia during the hajj and like many others who met with the Sheikh, Bayero acknowledged him as the spiritual leader of the Tijjaniya. The Emir who was said to have invited the Sheikh to visit him in Kano, Nigeria, which the Sheikh did in 1951 during which he spent 6 days in Kano before proceeding for his second hajj. That Kano was first to host the Sheikh apparently explains why the Tijjaniya has very high membership in the state.
Sheikh Inyass had four wives. The number of his children has often been another subject of controversy. While some researchers say that the Sheikh had 75 children, published 75 books and died at the age of 75, others described the recount as only rhetorical. Again, Muhammadu Ghali Inyass said that the Sheikh had about 100 children while he the number of books he authored has not been ascertained. Amongst his books were Decwan kashiful Ilbas, and Dawawinu sitta. Muhammadu Ghali Inyass also noted that the Shehu died at the age of 77 and not 75 as commonly said. The Sheikh’s eldest child is Sayyada Fatima Zahra, still alive and based in Kaolack while she was followed by numerous brothers and sisters 50 percent of whom are still alive while 70 percent are said to have memorised the Quran.
Inyass’s Reign
The Sheikh moved to numerous places in the world and met different people, including world leaders, spreading the Tijjaniya doctrine. He was even conferred with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on 14th October, 1971. His daily routine in Madina, as recalled by Muahmmadu Ghali Inyass, was associated with Quranic recitation, prayers, wazifa, preaching and teaching pupils and receiving visitors with the peak being at Maulud celebrations. The Sheikh was said to have always recited the full Quran twice every week and he started recitation on Saturdays and Ended Fridays- reading from the Quran in the day time and memorising the same portion same day at night without looking at the Quran. The Sheikh was used to sleeping for 2 ours only- from 2am to 4 am while he used the remaining time for religious activities. Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha lived as spiritual leader of Tijjaniya until 26th July, 1975 when he died at a hospital in London, England after a protracted illness.
His Khalifas
Before he died, Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha was said to have written a will requesting to be buried within the Madina mosque and also requesting that Sayyadi Aliyu Sise who had three associations with the Sheikh as the Imam of the mosque, the Sheikh’s secretary and also Inlaw (husband of the Sheikh’s daughter- Fatima Zahra) should be the first to take over from him as Khalifa and after him, the Sheikh’s children could follow suite while the leadership of Madina mosque should be exclusive to Sise’s family except where no one is competent to be an Imam.
The Sheikh’s will was adopted and Sise took over from him as Khalifa. He was said to have done so much to advance Tijjaniya while he did so much like his predecessor to beautify the Madina mosque. Sise died in 1982. After his death, Sheikh Abdullahi Inyass, first son of the Sheikh took over as the second Khalifa and he died in 2001. His brother, Sheikh Ahmad Dam took over as leader of Darkattul Tijjaniya as well as the Inyass family called faidal Ibrahimiyya. He is still of the Khalifa.
Inside Madina
The place is a street which has many houses and stores, some of which are owned by the followers, pupils and family of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha. The focal point in the area is the Sheikh’s mosque which has his grave around it that is usually visited by millions of Tijjaniya followers from different parts of the world. The mosque’s design, though comparatively far smaller in size, was apparently copied from the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina, Saudi Arabia, perhaps since the foundation was laid after the Sheikh’s visit to Saudi for hajj. The area for Friday huthba (sermon) mounted by the Imam was designed like that in the Prophet’s Mosque. Similarly, the interior part of the mosque was similar to that of the Prophet.
The Sheikh’s grave located in a building attached to the mosque, is named Raudha- originally for a door inside paradise. That again was copied from the Prophet’s Mosque, inside which an area close to the Prophet’s grave within his mosque, is called Raudha. Beside the Sheikh’s grave are those of his first Khalifa, Sayyadi Aliyu Sise while those of four other persons: Shieikh Abdullahi Inyass (second Khalifa) and his two other brothers: Mohammed Nazir Inyass and Mohammed Hadi Inyass as well the son of Sise, Imam Hassan Sise who was nephew to the three children of Inyass, are located also in the same premises.
Madina, also has around it the bedroom of the Sheikh with his bed where he was said to have mostly sat, located in a small, light greenish house where the Sheikh lived. Items used by the Sheikh including his bed and chairs as well as books he either read or authored have been preserved for thousands of followers who usually visit the bed room.
Also around Madina are buildings said to have been given freely to the Sheikh which he in turn set aside for visitors from various parts of the world who go to the area. There are also Islamic schools for pupils in the area and a large ground around the mosque for hosting people especially during maulud celebration which is a peak period in Madina.
Significance Of Madina To Tijjaniya Members
Numerous members of the Tijjaniya group regard visit to Madina as a high spiritual undertaking and a form of attracting reward from God because the Sheikh was a good servant of God who was chosen by Him. From many countries, especially, Morroco, Nigeria; Iraq and almost from every continent of the world, followers of Tijjaniya embark on trips to Madina especially during Maulud which is usually lined up with activities. The Maulud, which is a spiritual celebration of Prophet Muhammad’s date of birth is significantly marked by Tijjaniya followers wherever they are while some prefer to be in Madina since it is a heart of Tijjaniya.
During the visits, followers- men and women, old and young in what is called ziyara; go into the bedroom of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass as well as his grave side and those of others to offer prayers to God for the Sheikh and the dead ones. Some perform rakats in both places. Some embark on such visits for the love they have for the Sheikh and Tijjaniya while many others believe that being holy sites, God answers prayers offered to Him for solutions to problems and as such many consider it a spiritual privilege to visit the places as one is often congratulated whenever he or she tells the conservators of the places where he or she comes from. The conservators openly embrace visitors and are keen to show visitors areas of interest.
A catchy aspect of the Sheikh’s grave side was the royal touch accorded with gold metals and glass objects. The grave was apparently designed to look like that of Prophet Muhammad in his mosque in Madina, Saudi Arabia. Similarly, Sayyadi Aliyu Sise’s grave was also beautified like the others, with all closely located within a small house beautifully built behind the mosque.
Followers are mostly given freer access to the graves and the Sheikh’s bedroom on Fridays while on other days; the Sheikh’s room is only opened on demand, mostly for visitors. Photographers are commonly found especially around the grave side to take photos of visitors who happily retrieve copies as evidence of having visited a place they equate with spiritual relevance.
Main Schedules In Madina
According to Muhammadu Ghali Inyass, conservator of the Sheikh’s bedroom and residence, four key activities are lined up on annual basis even as visitors are usually expected at all moments from different parts of the world. He said Madina hosts what is called Ziyara kalis. He said this was originated during the Sheikh’s life time when his pupils used to come together to raise funds to offer to him as a way of assisting him in feeding numerous people that relied on him, the funds were also used to host visitors and carry out other activities. This is still being done on annual basis at a period usually determined by the pupils. Ziyara Dugub is also staged, in which pupils bring farm produce to assist the Sheikh in feeding people and hosting visitors. Ramadan fasting is held with Qur’anic recitations, prayers and preaching. Maulud, forms the climax of events held in Madina as according to many followers of Tijjaniya, the place hosts a crowd of people with representatives from all countries in the world such that it is only next to the gathering of Muslims during hajj or Umra at Mecca or Madina in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Some scholars and leaders of the Tijjaniya order in Nigeria include Sheikh Tahiru Uthman Bauchi, Sheikh Abdul Fatahi of Maiduguri, Sheikh Ahmed Tijjani Yan Mota of Kano, Caliph Isyaka Rabiu, a Kano based billionaire business man, Sheikh Muhammed Salga of Kano and many others spread in the many parts of the country while the countries where the order is said to have significant presence include, Mali, Sudan, Morocco, Nigeria and others across the globe.
was said to have met with the then Emir of Kano, Abdullahi Bayero in Saudi Arabia during the hajj and like many others who met with the Sheikh, Bayero acknowledged him as the spiritual leader of the Tijjaniya. The Emir who was said to have invited the Sheikh to visit him in Kano, Nigeria, which the Sheikh did in 1951 during which he spent 6 days in Kano before proceeding for his second hajj. That Kano was first to host the Sheikh apparently explains why the Tijjaniya has very high membership in the state.
Sheikh Inyass had four wives. The number of his children has often been another subject of controversy. While some researchers say that the Sheikh had 75 children, published 75 books and died at the age of 75, others described the recount as only rhetorical. Again, Muhammadu Ghali Inyass said that the Sheikh had about 100 children while he the number of books he authored has not been ascertained. Amongst his books were Decwan kashiful Ilbas, and Dawawinu sitta. Muhammadu Ghali Inyass also noted that the Shehu died at the age of 77 and not 75 as commonly said. The Sheikh’s eldest child is Sayyada Fatima Zahra, still alive and based in Kaolack while she was followed by numerous brothers and sisters 50 percent of whom are still alive while 70 percent are said to have memorised the Quran.
Inyass’s Reign
The Sheikh moved to numerous places in the world and met different people, including world leaders, spreading the Tijjaniya doctrine. He was even conferred with Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by then Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, on 14th October, 1971. His daily routine in Madina, as recalled by Muahmmadu Ghali Inyass, was associated with Quranic recitation, prayers, wazifa, preaching and teaching pupils and receiving visitors with the peak being at Maulud celebrations. The Sheikh was said to have always recited the full Quran twice every week and he started recitation on Saturdays and Ended Fridays- reading from the Quran in the day time and memorising the same portion same day at night without looking at the Quran. The Sheikh was used to sleeping for 2 ours only- from 2am to 4 am while he used the remaining time for religious activities. Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha lived as spiritual leader of Tijjaniya until 26th July, 1975 when he died at a hospital in London, England after a protracted illness.
His Khalifas
Before he died, Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha was said to have written a will requesting to be buried within the Madina mosque and also requesting that Sayyadi Aliyu Sise who had three associations with the Sheikh as the Imam of the mosque, the Sheikh’s secretary and also Inlaw (husband of the Sheikh’s daughter- Fatima Zahra) should be the first to take over from him as Khalifa and after him, the Sheikh’s children could follow suite while the leadership of Madina mosque should be exclusive to Sise’s family except where no one is competent to be an Imam.
The Sheikh’s will was adopted and Sise took over from him as Khalifa. He was said to have done so much to advance Tijjaniya while he did so much like his predecessor to beautify the Madina mosque. Sise died in 1982. After his death, Sheikh Abdullahi Inyass, first son of the Sheikh took over as the second Khalifa and he died in 2001. His brother, Sheikh Ahmad Dam took over as leader of Darkattul Tijjaniya as well as the Inyass family called faidal Ibrahimiyya. He is still of the Khalifa.
Inside Madina
The place is a street which has many houses and stores, some of which are owned by the followers, pupils and family of Sheikh Ibrahim Inyass Kaulaha. The focal point in the area is the Sheikh’s mosque which has his grave around it that is usually visited by millions of Tijjaniya followers from different parts of the world. The mosque’s design, though comparatively far smaller in size, was apparently copied from the Prophet’s Mosque in Madina, Saudi Arabia, perhaps since the foundation was laid after the Sheikh’s visit to Saudi for hajj. The area for Friday huthba (sermon) mounted by the Imam was designed like that in the Prophet’s Mosque. Similarly, the interior part of the mosque was similar to that of the Prophet.
The Sheikh’s grave located in a building attached to the mosque, is named Raudha- originally for a door inside paradise. That again was copied from the Prophet’s Mosque, inside which an area close to the Prophet’s grave within his mosque, is called Raudha. Beside the Sheikh’s grave are those of his first Khalifa, Sayyadi Aliyu Sise while those of four other persons: Shieikh Abdullahi Inyass (second Khalifa) and his two other brothers: Mohammed Nazir Inyass and Mohammed Hadi Inyass as well the son of Sise, Imam Hassan Sise who was nephew to the three children of Inyass, are located also in the same premises.
Madina, also has around it the bedroom of the Sheikh with his bed where he was said to have mostly sat, located in a small, light greenish house where the Sheikh lived. Items used by the Sheikh