1) The maqam of Khatamiya



I will resort to the words of one of the late scholar’s of this tariqa who is as his Tijani predecessors an established and recognized scholar in his time sidi Ahmed Skirdj may Allah be pleased with him, in his text ‘al-Jawharul Manzum’ when explaining the term [Khatm] and its meanings in Arabic linguistically, historically, religiously and then from a Sufi perspective says:



Appointed Wilaya which is a special inheritance from the prophet sala Allahu aleihi wa salam is divided to (Ama wa Khass) General and Private as mentioned by the Sufi masters.



The source of both emanates either from the batin of prophethood or batin of messengerhood or from the Muhammadian essence, each of these can be attained by the awliya the only difference is in the degree of appearance and manifestation when at that maqam.



The term Khatm when said by them at times is referring to (Khatm'ul Khilafa al-Uthma) the maqam of ‘Seal of the Greatest Viceroyroyalty/Khilafa’ which began its appearance in Adam And when thy Lord said unto the angels: Lo! I am about to place a viceroy in the earth [2:30] – the seal of this maqam is one person whose on the footsteps of Adam and it is seidna wa mawlana Ali may Allah be pleased with him because viceroyalty perfectly and absolutely manifested it self restrictively in him therefore no one of the awliya will ever reach that perfection when in that maqam and this is a meaning of a khatm and not that there will be no waliyu of Allah after him as this maqam of Khatamiya of viceroyalty will be attained by others after him except never in the degree he reached. This maqam can also be describes as Mulk.



At times when they say Khatm they are referring to (Khatm al Imama) the maqam of ‘Seal of Imams’ and this is restricted to the sons of seidna Ali they are the seals of this maqam, meaning that full and perfect manifestation in the Imama of people is restricted to them only therefore no one else will have that perfection manifestation when at that maqam except them.



At times they are referring to seal of the maqam which has no other maqam above it except that of prophethood and Muhammadian companionship, and this is the utmost and most high maqam within Qutbaniyya, this maqam is not reached except by those very unique Muhammadi Qutub’s, this maqam is only occupied by ONE person at EVERY age exactly like the Mujaddid that appears at every 100 years, this maqam is NOT restricted to one person and one person only.



This maqam has been attained by more than one person like sidi Ali bin Waffa who attributed the attainment of the maqam to his father sidi Muhammad Waffa, and also attained by Imam Qashashi and others may Allah be pleased with all, the condition of this maqam is if all the Shari-a’s were wiped out the owner of that maqam should be able to completely restore all of the Shari-a’s from his heart and memory without having to resort to an aid, also he should be able to know all the names of each animal, plants, mineral metals and other beings which is why sidi Ali Waffa said: "The most perfect of manifestations in every age is the one who manifests his spiritual revelation and knowledge in a way people could never have guessed" which is the unseen world of Allah that is not open to see except to those He almighty have chosen.



To each attainer of this maqam a special manifestation with accordance to his rank therefore despite them all sharing this element of attainment of that maqam however their shares vary from one another.



This maqam was sealed by the greatest seal of all, the famous Gnostic and Sun of light mawlana Ahmed al Tijani may Allah be pleased with him and make us drink from his all truthful cup, what is meant by him sealing this maqam is that no one will ever appear in that maqam the way he appeared and manifested in it, he has sealed the absolute appearance which manifests from that maqam and not sealed the appearance it self also this dosen't mean that no one after him will attain the rank of Wilaya as it is commonly misunderstood, this maqam was claimed by Ibnul Arabi al Hatami when he said:



We no doubt sealed Wilyaa – by inheriting the Hashimi and the Messiah





He then retracted when aware that the full, complete and absolute appearance in that maqam is to be for some one else, he did not discover who it is that will attain that absolute appearance which is why like others he called him: ‘al-Maktum’ The Concealed.



At times by Khatm they are referring to the (Khatm al Wiratha al Nabawiya) the maqam of ‘Seal of Prophetic Inheritance’ , after this Khatm appears there wont be any (Awliya of Tasreef) Awliya with power of Tasaruf - this seal will be the just Imam al-Mahdi the awaited imam, as for Wilaya without the power of tasreef it will not cease to exist after him, as for the absolute seal/Khatm the one after which there will be no awliya at all is seiduna Issa may peace and blessings be upon our prophet and him.



At times by Khatm they are referring to the (Khatm Wijud al Wilada) ‘Seal of the existence of birth’ meaning he will be the last to be born from mankind and this is restricted to one person who is on the footsteps of prophet Seth peace be upon him and holder of his secrets, after this seal there wont be any more children from the children of Adam for he is the seal of Children a sister to of his will also be born at the same time she will be born before him and he will follow, his head will be at her feet, his birth place will be China and he will speak the language of his country, sterility will be wide spread in man and women and there will be no more children, he will call people to Allah but will not be heard when Allah almighty takes his soul and the souls of the believers in his time those remaining will be at the level of animals where they don't establish halal nor refrain from haram and their conduct will be based on mindless and faithless vain-desires, this is when last hour before judgment will occur.



End of sheikh Ahmed Skirdj's words.





Khatamiyya attributed or declared?



It is narrated in the form of a Mutawatir (1) narration that our sheikh requested the presence of his dear and very close companion sidi al-Ghali Bu Talib and when he arrived our sheikh declared that he is the highest of all awliya, using the same sentence used by awliya before him Qadamay hatan ala Raqaba'ti Kuli waliyun liAllahi ta'ala upon hearing this sidi al-Ghali asked mawlna al sheikh Ahmed al-Tijani whether he is in the state of sobriety or spiritual intoxication our sheikh answered: Indeed I am in the state of complete sobriety and perfect mind and to Allah is all praise.



This account is narrated by so many of the sheikh's companions of which many were established recognized scholars of their time, pious trusted scholars who will not cheat Muslims out of their vain desires and attribute sayings that may contradict the Quran and Sunnah as the Shareef hints, they were responsible men of Allah who fear the consequences before claiming anything let alone attributing to their sheikh that which he did not say.



Now based on all of the above it is clear to the informed reader on this matter that the answer of the respected Muhmmad Shareef is based on a lack of research and facts relating to the sayings and declarations of sheikh Ahmed al Tijani and extereme lack of understanding of the meanings and kinds of maqam al-Khatamiyya, this lack of research and understanding seems to lead him to denial and a false and unfounded claim that the maqam was attributed to the sheikh by some Tijani scholars as he puts it which has made only confirms the maqam of our sheikh for ibnul Arabi said that this Khatam will encounter much denial and rejection and we see a live example today.






(1) Mutawatir: A mutawatir is an account narrated by a group of people in each level of its chain. An example of “tawatur” is the fact that Antarctica exists. It is something that a large group of people saw (either in real life or satellite photos) and then reported to a greater host of people who then wrote it in books to the rest of us

This is a posting on some numeral (abjad) proofs of the Khatmiya of Shaykh Ahmd Tijani. If one hisb the below statements from the Maqhribi (Western) abjad chart you will find the following.

birth of the Khatm. Mawlid ul Khatm = 1150
with dropping the letter
“A” from Al-Khatm because we do not pronounce it.

40 Meem
6 Waw
30 Lam Mawlid- Birth
4 Dal


30 Lam
600 Kha
400 Ta ul Khatm- the Seal
40 Meem
1150

Mawlid ulKhatm = 1150 (the birthyear of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani a.h.)

AL Khatm Allah Ab dahu

Allah has uncovered the Khatm = 1150

1 Alif
30 Lam
600 Kha Al Khatm- The Seal
400 Ta
40 Meem

1 Alif
30 Lam
30 Lam ALLAH- Allah
5 Hu

1 Alif
2 Ba
4 Dhal AB DAHU- to show or reveal
1 Alif
5 Hu
=1150 the birth year of Shaykh Tijani after hijrah

more to follow Inshallah

Shaykh al-Mukhtar al-Kunti-1728-1811 (the great Mauritanian Qadiri
Scholar/Saint) mentioned in his book Kitab al-Tara'iq that the 12th century a.h. in which he lived was similar to the century in which the Beloved Prophet lived for the Khatm of the Awliya would be born in the 12th century a. h.the same way the Khatm of the Anbiya was born in the century of the Prophet. Shaykh Mukhtar al Kunti was a contemporary of Sidina Shaykh Tijani and they never met eachother. and no other Wali made this announcement of holding this maqam during his time except for Shaykh Ahmad Tijani.

Also one must note that of all the walis that spoke of holding this maqam of Khatm Wilaya. such as: Shaykh Ibn Arabi, Shaykh Ali Wafa, Shaykh Muhammad Wafa, Imam Qashahi radiAllahu anhum. Shaykh Ahmad Tijani(Radi Allahuanhu) was the only one who is quoted as receiving confirmation from the Beloved Prophet Muhammad (Sallallahu alaihi wa Salim) that he was the owner of the maqam of Khatm Wilaya.

more to follow Inshallah

Once the people of Fes asked Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (Radiallahu Anhu).


The Prophet Muhammad (Peace and Salutations be upon him) was the Khatm Nabuwa (Seal of Prophethood) and he had his seal on his beloved back (as reported in the hadith of the clot of flesh on the back of the Prophet that was the sign of him being the Last Prophet).

They asked Shaykh Tijani, if you are the Khatm Wilaya(Seal of Sainthood) then where is your seal?

Shaykh Tijani (Radiallahu anhu) replied:

On the hearts of all my fuqara(students or disciples)

In the famous book entitled "al durratul khareeda" which is a
commentary on a poem entitled "al yaaqutatul fareeda" the author,
who is Sidi Muhammad Fatuhaa al Natheefi mentioned the
following:


the poem reads:


His station is unknown accept to Mumhammad (peace be upon him)
he has, in Muhammadiyya (peace be upon him)the choicest position.


(His station) meaning the famous Muhammadan Seal and the Hidden Pole
Sayyidina Abu al Faydh-may Allah be well pleased with him and with
us all-ameen, or the station which God specified hor him is out of
His grace and benevolence may He be exalted.

(is unknown) meaning none have knowledge nor has it occured to, nor
has anyone smelled the fragrance {of the reality of his station}.

(accept) the master of existence and the knower of that which is
witnessed, the means of every existent thing our master and leigelord

(Muhammad) sallallahu alayhi wa salam- because he {meaning abul
Abbas at Tijaani) is a benefaction from amongst his benevolence-
sallallahu alayhi wa salam-and the shadow of his noble essence-
sallallahu alayhi wa salam

(he has) meaning the famous Muhammadan Seal Sayyidina Abul Faydh-
radhiallahu anhu wa anna bihi ameen!-

(in) in the reality of

(muhammadiyya) Al Jawahir al Maani: Know that when God created the
Muhammadaic Reality, He placed inside it all that He apportioned for
the creation from the outpouring of knowledge,
gnosis,secrets,manifestations,light, as well as the creation {itself}
by way of all its rulings, neccesities, and requriments. Also know
that he-sallallahu alayhi wa salam-is now ascending in perfect
witnessing of the Divine in such a way that no one else could ever
hope for. This perfection will never end for the duration of an
eternity of eternities.

Regarding this: There is nothing within the essences of existence
anything more worthy of respect or greater than this Muhammadaic
Reality nor purer or cleaner or more perfect. Again, verily it is
in its actual reality unreachable and incognible.

Uwais al Qarni-radhiallahu anhu-said to Sayyidina Umar and Sayyidina
Ali-may Allah be pleased with both of them- when they met him: You
haven't see anything of the Prophet-sallallahu alayhi wa salam-but
his shadow. They replied: "Not even the son of Abi Qahaafa"
{Sayyidina Abu Bakr-radhiallahu ahnu-} He replied" "Not even the son
of Abi Qahaafa"-he did not say that to them until he had reach into
the depths of gnosis wherein he sought a place in the essence of the
Muhammadaic Reality It was said to him: "This is an affair whose
arrival is incapacitated for even the greatest of the Prophets so
its hopeless for anyone in any apsect or state."

Abu Yazid said-radhiallahu anhu-: "I underwent the depths of
gnosises in search of place at the essence of the Muhammadaic
Reality to where i found between me and it a thousand veils of light.
If I approached the first veil I would be burned just as a hair is
burned when cast into the fire and so I merely delayed the retreat.

(the choicest) the most virteous and greatest


(position) whoever attains a position maintains it always

al Jami of Sidi Muhammad al Mishri: "The Hidden Pole has a position facing the Muhammadaic
Reality that will never be for anyone else from amongst all the
greatest of the awliya-may Allah be pleased with all of them-. With
that said, verily his reality in that position which is specific to
him will not occur to anyone but God and the master of existence-
sallallahu alayhi wa salaam-because he has a relationship with the
Muhammadaic Reality.


May Allah make us real lovers of the Shaikh and by virtue of that
lovers of Sayyidina wa Maulana Muhammad-sallallahu alayhi wa salam