From the Rimah of Shaykh Umar Futi (the scholar, the warrior, the qutb, and one of the pillars of this tariqa)

Section 14

Why this Spiritual Path of ours is called:

al Tariqa al Ahmadiyya al Muhammadiya al Ibrahimiya al Hanifiya at Tijaniya

Succes is achieved with the help of Allah, for He is the Guide by His grace to the straight path!

You should know that the full name of this Spiritual Path of ours comprises several (adjectival) names, arranged in this order

al Ahmadiyya-al Muhammadiyya-al Ibrahimiyya- al Hanifiyya- at Tijaniyya.
I

If you wish, you may call it:

al Tariqa al Ahmadiyya (the Ahmadi Spiritual Path)

or: at Tariqa al Muhammadiyya (the Muhammadan Spiritual Path)
or: at Tariqa al Ibrahimiyya al Hanifiyya (the Ibrahimi-Hanifi Spiritual Path)
or: at Tariqa at Tijaniyya (the Tijani Spiritual Path)

Suppose you raise the question: "Why have you given it several names, while other Spiritual Paths have benn give a single name?" My answer will be: "It has been given many names because it is endowed with excellent merits and special qualities, with which others are not endowed, and the multipicity of names is indicative of the superiority of the object named.

As we are told in the as Siraj al Munir: 'It-meaning the Sura of Sincere Devotion (al Ihklas) has many names and the multiplicity of names is indicative of the honor of the object named..."

According to Ibn Abi Jamra, in Bahjat an Nufus: "The probable reason why it-- meaning the Opening Sura of the Book (Fatiha al Kitab)- has been called by namy names, is the fact that it is endowed with excellent merits and special qualities, with which others are not endowed and the multiplitiy of names is indicative of the superiority of the object named, either absolutely or generically. That is why the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was called by five names. According to one of the religous scholars: "The total number of his names is approximately one hundred, whereas the other Prophets (blessings and pleace be upon them) have only one name each. That is because he (Allah bless him and give him peace) is the Holder of the Furled Standard and the Praiseworthy Station (Sahib al Liwa al Ma qud wa l Maqam al Mahmud). The mulitiplicity of names is due to the magnitude of his worth. The same applies to the multiplicity of Allah's Names, for there is nothing Like Him, so nothing resembles His Names, because of their multiplicity and their magnitude..."

In the case of our Spiritual Path, once you have understood the reason why its full name comprises several (adjectival) names, arranged in a particular sequence, you must realize that the significance of its being "Ahmadi" is still unclear to you. We must therefore describe and explain the Ahmadi reality (al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya), to make it clear to you as quickly as possible. Every intelligent observer views its being called "Ahmadi" from a paricular standpoint, so let us quote what our Shaykh Tijani (may Allah be well pleased with him) had to say on the subject, in his commentary on the Invocation of Blessing (as Salat al Ghaibiyya):

"As for the Ahmadi Reality (al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya), it is the subject previously discussed in connection with the statement 'Every giver of praise in the universe has praised Allah, but no one in the universe has praised Allah to the same extent as the Prophet has praised Him', Furthermore, the Ahmadi Reality is one of Allah's mysteries, so no one has discovered what it contains in the form of intuitions, knowledge, secrets, bountiful favors, manifestations, exalted spritual states and pure virtues, and no one has had any experience of it, not even any of the other Messengers and Prophets. Its station is peculiar to him alone (the Prophet Muhammad) who is also called Ahmad (Allah bless him and give him peace)
"As for all the attainments of the Prophets and the Envoys, all of the angels and those drawn near, all of the Qutbs and the Siddiqeen, and all of the saints and the gnostic sages, whatever they have achieved, as a whole and in detail, it has come from the gracious bounty of the Muhammadan Reality (Haqiqa al Muhammadiyya).
As for the Ahmad Reality (Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya) no one has obtained anything from it, for it is peculiar to him alone, because of the perfection of its glory and the extreme degree of its sublimity."

Once you have come to know the meaning of the Ahmadi Reality (al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya) and the understanding of it has been grasped by your mind, you should know that our Spiritual Path is called "Ahmadi" for several reasons:
1. it is called "Ahmadi" because of its having originated from the Chieftan of Existance and the Sign of Witnessing, whom Allah has named Ahmad in His Book:
Jesus said: "Iam also bringing good tidings of a Messenger who will come after me, whose name will be Ahmad." (61:6)
-so the adjective "Ahmadi" has been applied to that which emanates from him

2. It is called "Ahmadi" because of its stemming from the gracious favor bestowed by our patron Allah's Messenger upon Ahmad ibn Muhammad at Tijani.

3. it is called "Ahmadi" in order to draw attention to the fact that he (May Allah be pleased with him) is the first of the saints and their supporter, even though his physical existance came later, for he already existed in reality.
As previously mentioned, (Ibn Arabi al Hatimi) said (May Allah be pleased with him): "the meaning of the Prophet's saying:
I was a Prophet while Adam was between the water and the clay

--is 'I was a Prophet in actual fact, aware of my Prophethood, while Adam was between the water and the clay." He then went on to say "None of the other Prophets was a Prophet, nor aware of his Prophethood, except when he was sent (on his mission) after his coming into existence with his material body and his complete fulfillment of the preconditions of Prophethood." Then he added: " the Seal of the Saints (Khatim al Awliya) was likewise actually a saint, aware of his sainthood, while was between the water and the clay, and none of the other saints was a saint in actual fact, nor aware of his sainthood, except after his acquisition of the Divine characteristics that are stipulated in the definition of sainthood..."

Once this has been thoroughly understood, you will not be mystified by the previously mentioned statement: "Every giver of praise in the universe has praised Allah, but no one in the universe has praised Allah to the same extent as the Prophet has praised Him." Once you have grasped this, you should know that the Seal of the Saints has surpassed ever other giver of praise in the giving of praise to Allah, for none of the saints has prasied Allah to the same extent as the Seal of the Saints has praised Him, because he is the heir who inherits from the source, and who recognizes the degrees.

Ibn Arabi al Hatimi said:
"The Seal of the Saints is the inheriting saint, who receives from the source, who recognizes the degrees and ascertains the entitlement of their holders, in order to give each creditor his rightful due, for that is one of the virtues of the Chieftan of the Envoys, the Captain of the Community..."
My master said about the elite, just as ash Sha'rani said in Durar al Ghawwas "This comminty has two comprehensive Seals, and every degree and station has an inheritor... Every saint there has ever been, or will ever be, can only receive from these two Seals, one of whom is the Seal of the sainthood of th elite, while the other is the one by whom the common sainthood is sealed, for there will be no saint after him until the advent of the Final Hour..."

It is obvious, plain and clear, from the speech of these two masters, that the Seal of the Saints has surpassed every giver of praise in the giving of praise to Allah, for none of the saints has praised Allah to the same extent as the Seal of the Saints has praised Him. The one from whom something is received takes precedence ahead of the recipient, since it can never be correct to rand the provider of support behind the recipient of support. That is why his Spiritual Path became the Spiritual Path of love and thankfulness, as previously explained in the Seventeenth Section of this blessed book, because of its having originated from the bountiful sphere, from which Allah removed the beneficence of anyone other that his ancester (The Prophet) who said to him (Shaykh Tijani) " No creature among the Shaykhs of the Spiritual Paths has any benefit to bestow upon you, for I am your intermediary and your supporter in actual fact. You must therefore abandon whatever you have received from the all the Spiritual Paths. " He also told him: "You must adhere to this Spiritual Path without secluded retreat or isolation from the people, so that you may reach your station which you have been promised. You will thus proceed without constraint and restriction, and without a great deal of strenuous exertion. You must also abandon all the saints, for Allah has mustered the people of the Spiritual Path by sheer grace, generosity, and munificence, and their Noble Lord does not put their business without constraint and restriction, and without a great deal of strenous exertion. They were appealing by giving praise for the tremendous favor that Allah had specially conferred upon them, and by giving thanks for the superabundance that He had generally bestowed upon them." Because of what has been mentioned, it came to be called the Ahmadi Spiritual path (tariqa al Ahmadiyya)

4. It is called "Ahmadi" because the spiritual station of its master, in relation to the spiritual stations of all the saints, is like the spiritual station of Ahmad in relation to the spiritual stations of all the Prophets, because the Shaykh said (may Allah be pleased with him): " I am the Chieftain of the Saints, just as Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) was the Chieftain of the Prophets".
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him): " A saint neither drinks nor quenches his thirst (spiritual gnosis), except from our ocean, from the origin of the universe until the blowing of the trumpet"
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him), while pointing with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger. "His spirit (Allah bless him and give him peace) and my spirit are like this: His spirit (Allah bless him and give him peace) supports the Messengers and the Prophets(peace be upon them), and my spirit supports the Qutbs, the gnostic sages and the saints, from sempiternity to eterntiy (beginning to ending) everlasting.
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) had informed him that his spiritual station was higher than all the spiritual stations.(except prophethood and the companions)
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him): "The relationship of the Qutbs with me is like the relationship of the common folk with the Qutbs"

more to follow Inshallah...........

Salaam,

It should be noted that the Rimah of Shaykh Umar is the guardian of the Jawahir al Ma'ani. If the Jawahir al Ma'ani is the gold than the Rimah is the spear that gaurds it.

Even in most modern publications of the Jawahir al Ma'ani you will find it in the center of the page and the Rimah will be written around it.

It is written in the Rimah when Shaykh Umar intending to start writing the Rimah, he had a dream of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani coming to him with a treasure of spiritual jewels and precious stones of knowledge to him and told him to write the book
It serves as an explanation of Sufi thought in general and the Tijani tariqa in particular.

.....continuation of the chapter why the name of this Tariqa is

Tariqa Ahmadiyya Muhammadiyya Ibrahimiyya Hanifiyya Tijaniyya

He also said (Shaykh Ahmad Tijani) "We have a degree in the sight of Allah, which reaches such a height in the presence of Allah, that I am forbidden to divulge its definition to you. If I were to express it, the masters of truth and gnostic wisdom would be unanimous in declaring me guilty of unbelief (kufr), to say nothing of other people. It is not the degree that I have mentioned to you. No indeed, it is beyond that!"

He also said(may Allah be pleased with him), when speaking to his companions: "You should know that Allah's bountiful grace has no limit, and that bountiful grace is in the hand of Allah, who gives it to whom He will. Let me also tell you that my station in the presence of Allah in the Hereafter will not be attained by any of the saints, and not one of them will come close to it, whether his importance be great or small.
Of all the saints, from the time of the Companions until the blowing of the trumpet there is not one who will attain to our station, and not one of them will come close to it. I did not tell you that until I heard it for certain from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). As for the relationship of the degrees of the people of this Spiritual Path with the degree of the people of the other Spiritual Paths, it is like that, to the point where it reaches a limit that I am forbidden to mention and divulge."

He also said (may Allah be pleased with him): If the greatest Qutbs came to know what Allah has prepared for the people of this Spiritual path, they would weep and they would cry: 'Our Lord! You have given us nothing!' "
"If this is the case of the Qutbs in relation to them, what do you think of those below them, including the champions of truth, the gnostic sages, and the saints? If this is the condition of those just mentioned, what do you think of the people of their Spiritual Paths, who have not attained to their degree?"

He referred to what we have mentioned in his saying: "We have a degree in the sight of Allah....," to the point where he said "The peculiarity of that degree is this: If someone is not on his guard against changing the heart of our companions, with no respect for our companions, Allah will banish him from his nearness, and He will deprive him of what He has bestowed upon him." He also referred to it in his saying(May Allah be pleased with him) : " Not one of the men of distinction will have all of his companions enter the Garden without reckoning and without chastisement, whatever sins and acts of disobedience they may have committed, not one of them except me alone."

Beyond that, it is not permissible to mention what he told me about them, and which the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) guaranteed.
It will not be seen and known except in the Hereafter........


As for why this Spiritual Path of ours is called "Muhammadiyya" despite the fact that all the Spiritual Paths of Allah's people are alike in that respect, there are many reasons for it :

1.All the bountiful favors bestowed upon all the saints flow from one source, that being his (the Prophet Muhammad's) essential nature (Allah bless him and give him peace), just as all the bountiful favors bestowed upon all the Prophets flow from only one source, that being his essential nature. Our Spiritual Path is called "Muhammadiyya" because of this complete connection. Our Shaykh said: "The bountiful favors that flow from the essential nature of the Chieftan of Existence, the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace), are received by the essential nature of the Prophets (peace be upon them) and everything that flows and emanates from the essential natures of the Prophets is received by my essential nature, from which it is distributed to all creatures, from the origin of the world until the blowing of the Trumpet.
Once you have understood this, the reason for calling it "Muhammadiyya" will not be concealed from you.

2.(Because of his position of Khatm Awliya) Our Shaykh receives his peculiar support from the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) and not one of the Prophets is aware of the bounty that is peculiar to him, because he has received a special temperament (mashrab) from him (Allah bless him and give him peace).

3. It is his (the Prophet Muhammad's) Spiritual Path for a special reason, because he (Allah bless him and give him peace) stated that explicitly to our Shaykh(may Allah be well pleased with him), dispelling all doubts by telling him: "Your fuqara are my fuqara, and your disciples are my disciples," and by telling him: "Whenever you authorize someone (the wird), and he gives it to others, it is as if they have received directly from you, by word of mouth, and I am a guarantor for them."......

The Prophet also said to one the Shaykhs companions (Sayid Muhammad Ghali who is buried right across from Umm Mumineen Khadija in Mecca) : "You are the son of the beloved friend, and you have entered the Spiritual Path of the greatest deputy (khalifa) and the most renowned inheritor, the most virtuous Tijani!" This is sufficient good news for the people of his Spiritual Path, for it is more important that this world and all of its goods, and than the Garden of Paradise, its palaces and the rest of its delights, and there is no goal beyond it beyond it except beholding the countenance of our Noble Master.

4. The fact that its people have a special characteristic by which they are distinguished from others, and by which they make it known that he (the Prophet) is their guarantor and in charge of their affairs. Imprinted between the eyes of each of them is the stamp: "The Prophet Muhammad, the Messenger of Allah (an Nabiyyu Muhammadun Rasulu'llah)". Imprinted over his heart, close to his back is : "Muhammad, the son of Abdullah (Muhammad ibnu Abdullah) On his head there is a crown of light, bearing the inscription: "The Tijani Spiritual Path, the origin of which is the Muhammadan Reality (at Tariqatu Tijaniyya manshu u ha'l Haqiqatu'l Muhammadiyya)"
This is how they will be distinguished on the Day of Reckoning


more to follow inshallah..........

Assalamu 'Alaikum wr wb

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. All the praises to Allah. Solawat and Salam to our beloved Prophet, Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam, Ahlul Bait At-Tahirah, Sahabah Al-Kiram and the Noble Aulia'Allah.


Brother tijanimureed,

I'm not a scholar in Islamic studies. I couldn't really figure out what you really mean or trying to say. Some of the texts has complications that i couldn't understand. So forgive me, i need real explanations. I'm only a tiny servant of Allah through my noble Shaikh.

I hope brother tijanimureed give clarifications for the below statements:

1. Did Shaikh Ahmad Tijani Radhiallahu 'Anh say he is the Chieftain of
Aulia'?

2. Did he (Radhiallahu 'Anh) say he is the Khatmn (final) of the Aulia Allah.?

3. Did he (Radhilallahu 'Anh) guaranteed that followers of Toriqah Tijani will definitely succeed (without conditions)?

4. Did he (Radhiallahu 'Anh) mention that Toriqah Tijaniah to be superior over all other Toriqahs.?

5. Did he (Radhiallahu 'Anh) ever mention that all other Shaikhs from other Toriqahs should leave their Toriqahs to join T.Tijaniah.

6. If all the statements above are true as you mentioned, could you please provide other sources (other than Tijani) who supports the statements above, especially from Noble Shaikhs.


I'm really sorry if my understanding is different from what you mean or you quote from other sources.

Thanks,

-------------------------------------------------------------------------
I'm the khadam of the Noble Shaikh from the Sacred Ahlul Bait.
.

As Salaam Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah,

Greetings to all and especially to you brother syed. Thank you for your questions and your want of clarrification. Unfortunately everything I have posted are quotations from the famous 'Rimah' of Shaykh Umar Futi.
As you have said I am neither a scholar, and only repeating what famous ulama and awlilya have stated.
For further explanation I would recommend contacting a Tijani Shaykh who can relay to you all the questions you have. There are many where you are from.
In the meanwhile I will try to explain or answer your questions from my limited knowledge.

To answer questions 1-4, I feel I can answer them with one answer. And that is Shaykh Ahmad Tijani, was one of the accepted walis of his time. Accepted by his students and others. Known for his knowledge, piousness, and truthfulness.
He is also known among his students and known of from other turuq for his meetings with The Beloved Prophet in waking state. Everything that Shaykh Tijani said of his maqam was first prophesized by many of the Shuyukh that he met in his youth before he received his "Fat'h" in his adulthood.

Everyone from Shaykh Mahmud Kurdi (of the Khalwatiyya), Shaykh Abdul Karim as Samman (of the Khalwatiyya, Qadirrya, and Shadhiliya, who was also the Ghawth of his Time). Sidi Muhammad al-Wanjili (of the Shadhiliyya) who told him Shaykh Tijani in his youth that his maqam would be higher than the maqam of Shaykh Abu Hasan Shadhili. Sidi Muhammad b. Abd al-Rahman al-Azhary (founder of the Rahmaniyya).
Ahmad b. Abdullah al-Hindi (of the Shadhiliyya) and others
All of these contempory Awliya of Shaykh Tijani (who were of other tariqas) all gave him glad tidings of a maqam he would receive that is higher than all awliya.

But with the statements of all these awliya are in no comparison to the statement that was given to Shaykh Tijani by the Prophet himself.
For all your questions syedabu 1-4 they can all be answered that Shaykh Tijani did not say them himself but he was told that by the Chieftan of the Prophets Muhammad (May Allah bless him and give him peace).

The Prophet told Shaykh Tijani that he reached the maqam of Khatm Awlliya. This positions of Khatm Awlliya does not mean the last or final wali. But means that he reaches a maqam in awliya that was not reached how he reached it.

This maqam of Khatm Awliya is the head of the awliya and their supporter from beginning to end. This maqam was talked about from many Awliya before Shaykh Tijani. Some of them include.
Imam Sha'arani, Imam Tirmidhi, Shaykh Muhammad Waf'a and Shaykh Ali Wafa, Shaykh Muhtar al Kunti, Imam Qashahi, and others. No other wali spoke as much about this maqam as did Shaykh Ibn Arabi. and he is quoted much throughout Tijani books.

But forwards your questions. Did Shaykh Tijani say he was the Chieftan of the Saints.
Yes he did, only by the permission of the Beloved Prophet who told him. And informed him of his holding of the maqam of Khatm Awliya.

Did Shaykh Tijani give guarantee about the salvation of his followers.
Yes he did as all other major Awliya of the past gave similar guarantees to their followers. And Shaykh Tijani made this guarantee only becuase the Prophet guaranteed his requests for him. as you will see in this link

Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

Did Shaykh Tijani say his Tariqa is best than all.
All turuq believe their path to be best thats why they follow them although all turuq go back to Prophet Muhammad, through links and chains of transmissions, this tariqa is exclusive in the fact that this is not the tariqa of Shaykh Tijani, this is the Tariqa of Muhammad which was given to him by the Prophet directly. The wird was made by his beloved hands directly. and told to Shaykh Tijani when he met him. Shaykh Tijani was Qadiri, Khalwati, Shadhili, and others (and had ijazahs in many of them to train people). But when he met the Prophet in daylight he told him to leave all the other ways, for the way that I am giving you is "my personal way" and the Prophet told him that everything he (Shaykh Tijani) will receive from that day forward will be given to him directly from the Prophet. And this is why we keep this exclusiveness.

Did Shaykh Tijani say that all the shaykhs should leave their tariqa and join his?
No. But he did say that in the end of times all of the turuq will be incorporated into the Shadhiliya. And then all will be incorporated into the Tijaniya in the end of times when the Madhi will come. This statement is a seperate and lenghtly issue. But basically was is being said is that many many turuq are now becoming obsolete. The leaders of these paths are starting not to leave successors or either the successors are not fit in order to train the students. Many of the turuq that we read about in old sufi literature are now longer active.
Also many of the sufi practises that we see today in all of the different ways have something in it that are of Shadhili origin. Such as the hadrahs, and ways of training, e.t.c.

For more explanation on the position of Khatm Awliya please consult the following link. You will see furhter explanation of this maqam and also you will see quotes from other non Tijani Walis on this subject.

Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum!

For further explanation of these topics I would recommend asking a qualified Tijani shaykh who can answer more for you. If anyone would likeso send me a private message and I will give you further references.
your brother.

tijanimureed

Assalamu 'Alaikum wr wb

Bismillahir-Rahmanir-Rahim. All the praises to Allah. Solawat and Salam to our beloved Prophet, Muhammad Sallallahu 'Alaihi Wa Sallam, Ahlul Bait At-Tahirah, Sahabah Al-Kiram and the Noble Aulia'Allah.


Syukran. Alhamdulillah! Thanks for the info. The second link you gave better describe the real situation of Toriqah Tijani. Which is also the believe of all other Toriqahs. Although there are some some differences and confusion over some little issues it should be omitted for the sake of Ummah. For the interest of all the lovers of true path.

Allah knows best.

Thanks. Wassalam.

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I'm the khadam of the Noble Shaikh from the Sacred Ahlul Bait.

Jazaka Lahu khaeran Oh Brother Tijani Mureed

May Allah raise you higher in rank oh the true Mureed of Sheikh Ahmad Tijaan

May you be rewarded on behalf of all of us that benefit tremendously from the knowledge you share at this forum worldwide

You are obviously blessed with faedat Ahmadiya Muhamadiya Ibrahimiya Hanifiya Tijaniya

Remain blessed forever and ever

AMIN!!!

BISMILLAHIRRAHMANIRRAHIM

Assalaamu Alaykum wr wb,

We Tijanis highly respect all Awliya ALLAH regardless of the Tariqah and have nothing against them, We acknowledge the declaration of Sidi Abdul Qadir al-Jilani (RA) and his Maqaam.

Brother zulzul60 from Bakkah, We would highly appreciate it if you had posted this message to the Qadiriya Section because its there where it belongs. This section is for Tijaniyyah only. There can be difference of opinion but this is against adab that you come up with an emotional irrelevant topic while we are learning more about our Blessed Tariqah Tijaniyyah.

Hope the moderators will take notice and put the above post where it belongs so there will be no disruption in the ongoing very rare and knowledgable topic.

thanks

wassalaam

As Salaam Alaikum,

Brother Zulzul of Bakka, if you represent the Sultan Awliya Shaykh Abdul Qadir Jilani than please represent him well by having proper adaab in this forum. I think mntijani has answered well and we will continue with our tijaniyya discussion at hand.
We all as muslims must respect and BELIEVE the statements of ALL the Awliya. And we respect all of them no matter what Path they are on.
I have sent you a private message concerning your comment, and I welcome your reply (but please in private). we are not hear to create fitnah in public, but we can exchange this knowledge in private.

now i would like to continue our posting on why this tariqa is named

Tariqa Ahmadiyya Muhammadiyya Ibrahimiyya Hanifiyya Tijaniyya

........from the Rimah of Shaykh Umar Futi

" 5. Allah has sealed the spiritual stations of all the saints with our Shaykh's spiritual station, and He has placed no spiritual station above it, except the spiritual stations of the Prophets. He has made him the Hidden Qutb (Qutb al Maktum), the Sealed Isthmus (al Barzakh al Makhtum), the well known Muhammadan Seal (al Khatim al Muhammadi) and a center from which bountiful favors and knowledge emanate for all the Spiritual Helpers (Aghwath). That complete relationship with the immaculate Prophet will be clearly confirmed at the Resurrection."

6.Our Shaykh (may Allah be well pleased with him) acquired the Divine perfections belonging to the saints, and he encompassed them all just as Allah's messenger Muhammad (may Allah bless him and give him peace) acquired all the Divine perfections belonging to the Prophets. This tremendous secret has pervaded his Spiritual Path and its people, so it is called "Muhammadiyya" for this reason

7. Our Shaykh has said: "All the Spiritual Paths will be incorporated into the Path of ash Shadhili (may Allah be pleased with him), except this Muhammadi Ibrahimi Hanifi Spiritual Path of ours, for it is self sufficient.
We must therefore threat it as unique, because the Prophet gave it to us directly from him to us." The Prophet also told him "Nothing will reach you except with my help". He is the one who has trained us and led us, to the point where we came in contact with the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace). Al Hamdulillah
..........

8. If someone abandons one of the litanies (awrad) of the Shaykhs, for the sake of entering this Muhammadan Spiritual Path of ours, which Allah has honored above all spiritual paths, Allah will keep him safe and sound in this world and the Hereafter. He will therefore have no reason to be afraid of any affliction, not from Allah, nor from his Messenger, nor from his Shaykh, nor from anyone whomsoever among the living and the dead. As for someone who enters our company, but then backs away (harshly) from it, he will be stricken by the afflictions of this world and the Hereafter, just as Allah's Messenger decreed in relation to him Ummah

9.The rightly guided Imam (al Imam Mahdi) (may Allah be well pleased with him) will receive his Spiritual Path when the end of times arrives, and he will enter his company. The Spiritual Paths wil thus become one single Spiritual Path, with the help of his appearance, if Allah so wills, just as the sacred laws have become one Sacred Law, that being Islam.


10. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) is protective of the people of the Spritual Paths, with a special zeal, as he used to be zealously protective of his Companions, because its people are his fuqara and his disciples, just like his Companions (may Allah be well pleased with them). It has previously been mentioned that the Prophet informed Shaykh Ahmad Tijani that whatever is offensive to the people of his Spiritual Path is offensive to him (Allah bless him and give him peace).
It has also been mentioned that the Shaykh said: "We have a degree in the sight of Allah....," to the point where he said "the peculiarity of that degree is this: If someone in not on his guard against changing the heart of his companions, through lack of respect for them, Allah will banish him from his nearness, and He will deprive him of what He has bestowed upon him" All of this has to do with the secret because of which the Spiritual Path of our Shaykh is "Muhammadiyya" in the special sense of the term.

11. The Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace) conferred a Spiritual Path upon this Shaykh, the Muhammadan Seal (al Khatim al Muhammadi) because of its being Muhammaiyya in the special sense of the term. As a result, the multiplication of the reward of the good deeds of its people, in comparison with the multiplication of the good deeds of other Spiritual Paths, is like the multiplication of the good deeds of this Islamic Community in comparison with the multiplication of the reward of the good deeds of members of the other religious communities.

That is why some of its adhkar (remembrances)--the Matchless Sapphire (al Yaqut al Farida), which is another name for Salat al Fatihi for instance---recited one time, absorb all the remembrances of the gnostic sages.
Some of them----the Jewel of Perfection (Jawhar al Kamal) for instance---are equal to three times the worship of the whole world. In comparison with some of them---the Talismanic Treasure (al Kanz al Mutalsam) for instance--recited one time, all acts of worship combined are like a drop in an ocean. No one will deny this, except someone who denies the existence of the remembrances in general, so no intelligent person will converse with him, he has simply denied the master of the Sacred Law (Allah bless him and give him peace)

12. Our Spiritual path is called "Muhammadiyya" in order to draw attention to the fact that Allah treats its people as the lover treats his beloved. As previously explained, Sidi Muhammad Ghali informed me that the Shaykh had informed him that the people of this Spiritual Path have received from Alah a gracious quality peculiar to them, in addition to the gracious quality that is common to them and others.

Relevant in this context is Shaykh Ahmad Tijani's saying: "My companions will not be exposed to the horrors of the Place of Standing (at the Resurrection) and they will not experience its thunderbolts and its earthquakes. Instead they will be together with those who are safe and sound at the gate of the Garden, until they enter with the Chosen Prophet (may Allah bless him and give him peace) in the vanguard of the first troop, along with his Companions. Their permanent abode will then be in his vicinity(may Allah bless him and give him peace) in the Highest Heights, as the neighbors of his Companions. Glory be to the One who graciously favors whomever He will with whatever he will, entirely of His own volition!"
He also said(may Allah be pleased with him): "My companions would not be consumed by the Fire of Hell, even if his sins were very many, provided that he had subsequently repented."

13. Our Spiritual Path is called "Muhammadiyya" in order to draw attention to the fact that its members are more numerous than those of other Spiritual Paths, just as the members of this Muhammadan Ummah are more numerous than those of the other religious communities. As proof of that, it is sufficient to not that the Rightly guided Imam who is Expected (al Imam al Muntazar) is included among its people, and all of his followers (may Allah be well pleased with him) are included among its people

more to follow Inshallah......

BismillahirRahmanirRahim.

Salaam Alaikum Brothers of the Path,

Brother Zulzul, we are all here to exchange knowledge about the Blessed Paths of our Ummah. This being the Tijani forum we are only expressing what our Shaykh has repeated to him from the Prophet.
His position of Khatm Wilaya and Qutb Maktum is known to be unclear to many and we are clearifying its definitions. The comment you made is a very sensitive issue especially in public. Therefore we are requesting to either post it in private.
Al Hamdulillah it is known that bad adaab or rudeness was not your intention.

Forwards the quote about the Shadhilis and the Tijanis. We all believe our Respected Shaykhs and Paths to be the best. And in that post you ask about a posting showing how each Path considers their path to be the most correct for them, and their Shaykh to be best.
If one thought that some other Shaykh was best, would he not follow him.
I sent a private message to you, but if you did not receive it please post me your email address and we may converse about the Sultan Awliya Sidi Abdul Qadir Jilani(May Allah be pleased with him). We has Tijanis love and respect all awliya Allah. And honoring them is a duty put on us by our Shaykh Ahmad Tijani.
May Allah hold all our hands

continuation from last post

..... Why this Tariqa of our is called Tariqa Ahmadiyya Muhammadiyya Ibrahimiyya Hanifiyya Tijaniyya

FROM THE "RIMAH" OF SHAYKH UMAR FUTI


... As for why this Spiritual Path of ours is called "Ibrahimi Hanifi" there are several reasons for that:

1. If it is to be called "Muhammadiyya" in the special sense of the term, it must necessarily be "Ibrahimi", since Allah has said:

Say: "As for me, my Lord has guided me to a straight path
a right religion, the community of Abraham, a sincere believer." (6:161)

Thos of humankind who have the best claim to Abraham
are those who followed him, and this Prophet
and those who truly believe;
and Allah is the Protecting Friend of the believers (3:6

2. Our Spiritual Path is called "Ibrahimi" in order to draw attention to the fact that Allah combined two spiritual stations for our Shaykh: love (mahabba) and bosom friendship (khulla). Its being "Muhammadiyya" necessitates its being "Related to the Beloved" (Habibiyya)", because Allah's Messenger is the holder of love and bosom friendship, for he is the beloved (habib) of Allah and His bosom friend (khalil) as reported by al Bukhari and other traditional authorities. Furthermore, Allah has said in His definitive Book:

And who is better in religion than he
who submits his will to Allah, while doing good,
and who follows the practise of Abraham, a man of pure faith?
And Allah chose Abraham for a bosom friend (4:125)

Love (mahabba) is the kernel of bosom friendship (khulla). Since this Muhammadan-Ibrahimi-Habibi-Khalili Seal (who is our Shaykh Ahmad Tijani) plunged into the ocean of this Divine grace, into which the people of his Spiritual Path have plunged, and since he followed this Prophet Muhammad (Allah bless him and give him peace), the Beloved Bosom Friend and the Prophet Abraham, from both of whom he inherited these two spiritual stations , his Spiritual Path is called "Ibrahimi"

3. Our Spiritual Path is called "Ibrahimi" because of its being an easy Spiritual Path, originating from the compact sphere of superior excellence, in which Allah installed the Hidden Qutb (al Qutb al Maktum), the Sealed Isthmus (al Barzakh al Makhtum) and the well known Muhammadiya Seal (Khatm Muhammadi), before the creation of the universe and what it contains, just as He chose Abraham for a Bosom Friend in that sphere of superior excellence, before the creation of the universe and what it contains. As Allah has said:

And We gave Abraham of old his proper course (21:51)

The reason for calling it "Ibrahimi" is obvious, because it is the easiest of the Spiritual Paths, just like the Sacred Law of Abraham, which is incorporated into the Sacred Law of Muhammad. As Allah has said:

And strive for Allah's sake with all the effort He deserves.
He has chosen you and has not laid upon you any harship in religion,
but only the practise of your father Abraham (22:7

That is why our master's Spiritual Path is the path of ardent love and affection.....

Abraham was of a people obedient to Allah
by nature upright, and he was not one of the idolaters;
thankful for His bounties;
He chose him and He guided him to a straight path(16:120-121)

4.Our Spiritual Path is called "Ibrahimi", because all the people of the Spiritual Paths are unanimously agreed on the rectitude of Abraham, and there is no religious community whose people do not speak of him in the most laudatory terms(peace be upon our Prophet and upon him)
The Shaykh holds this spiritual station as a Muhammadiya-Ibrahimi inheritance, because all the perfect people of Allah know that Allah has a saint (wali) who seals the spiritual stations of the saints (awliya) with his spiritual station, and above his spiritual station there is no spiritual station except the spiritual station of the Prophets.

Every one of them wishes to be that wali, to the point where one of them suppose that he is he, when the lightning bolt of that spiritual station flashes for him, and he supposes that he has obtained that wish.
Then it becomes clear to him that he has not obtained it completely, and he submits the whole matter to the Creator of inspiration, in the knowledge of Allah will surely reveal him after concealment.

As for Shaykh Ahmad Tijani (may Allah be pleased with him), it has been mentioned previously in the 33rd chapter of this blessed book, that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) informed him by word of mouth, in a state of wakefulness not sleep, that he was the hidden saint. Because of this complete relationship, therefore, his Spiritual Path is called "Ibrahimi"


5. Speaking of Abraham (blessing and peace be upon him), Allah has said:
In it (the Meccan Sanctuary) there are evident signs
(one of them being) the Station of Abraham,
and anyone who enters it is safe. (3:97)

-and the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) said about this Shaykh, in connection with his Spiritual Path and its people: "You are included among those who are safe and sound, and everyone who loves you is included among those who are safe adn sound. You are my beloved friend, and everyone who loves you is my beloved friend. Everyone who receives your wird is liberated from the Fire, he and his children, his wives and his offspring."

The Shaykh said(may Allah be pleased with him) "Rejoice at the good news! If someone is devoted to our love until he dies, he will be resurrected among those who are safe and sound, in whatever condition he may be, so long he does not wear the garb of security from the cunning (makr) of Allah." end of the Shaykhs words

This good news is speaking of those who just LOVE the Shaykh. So if this is the case for those who just LOVE the Shaykh, imagine the good news for his loved ones and disciples............

To be continued Inshallah

[quote="tijanimureed"]From the Rimah of Shaykh Umar Futi (the scholar, the warrior, the qutb, and one of the pillars of this tariqa)

Section 14

Why this Spiritual Path of ours is called:

[b][i]al Tariqa al Ahmadiyya al Muhammadiya al Ibrahimiya al Hanifiya at Tijaniya[/i][/b]

Succes is achieved with the help of Allah, for He is the Guide by His grace to the straight path!

You should know that the full name of this Spiritual Path of ours comprises several (adjectival) names, arranged in this order

[b][i]al Ahmadiyya-al Muhammadiyya-al Ibrahimiyya- al Hanifiyya- at Tijaniyya.[/i]
I[/b]

If you wish, you may call it:

[b][i]al Tariqa al Ahmadiyya[/i] [/b] [b](the Ahmadi Spiritual Path)[/b]

or: [i][b]at Tariqa al Muhammadiyya[/b] [/i][b] (the Muhammadan Spiritual Path)[/b]
or: [b][i]at Tariqa al Ibrahimiyya al Hanifiyya[/i][/b] [b](the Ibrahimi-Hanifi Spiritual Path)[/b]
or: [i][b]at Tariqa at Tijaniyya[/b] [/i][b](the Tijani Spiritual Path)[/b]

Suppose you raise the question: "Why have you given it several names, while other Spiritual Paths have benn give a single name?" My answer will be: "It has been given many names because it is endowed with excellent merits and special qualities, with which others are not endowed, and the multipicity of names is indicative of the superiority of the object named.

As we are told in the [i]as Siraj al Munir[/i]: 'It-meaning the Sura of Sincere Devotion (al Ihklas) has many names and the multiplicity of names is indicative of the honor of the object named..."

According to Ibn Abi Jamra, in [i]Bahjat an Nufus[/i]: "The probable reason why it-- meaning the Opening Sura of the Book (Fatiha al Kitab)- has been called by namy names, is the fact that it is endowed with excellent merits and special qualities, with which others are not endowed and the multiplitiy of names is indicative of the superiority of the object named, either absolutely or generically. That is why the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) was called by five names. According to one of the religous scholars: "The total number of his names is approximately one hundred, whereas the other Prophets (blessings and pleace be upon them) have only one name each. That is because he (Allah bless him and give him peace) is the Holder of the Furled Standard and the Praiseworthy Station ([i]Sahib al Liwa al Ma qud wa l Maqam al Mahmud[/i]). The mulitiplicity of names is due to the magnitude of his worth. The same applies to the multiplicity of Allah's Names, for there is nothing Like Him, so nothing resembles His Names, because of their multiplicity and their magnitude..."

In the case of our Spiritual Path, once you have understood the reason why its full name comprises several (adjectival) names, arranged in a particular sequence, you must realize that the significance of its being "Ahmadi" is still unclear to you. We must therefore describe and explain the Ahmadi reality ([i]al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya[/i]), to make it clear to you as quickly as possible. Every intelligent observer views its being called "Ahmadi" from a paricular standpoint, so let us quote what our Shaykh Tijani (may Allah be well pleased with him) had to say on the subject, in his commentary on the Invocation of Blessing ([i]as Salat al Ghaibiyya[/i]):

"As for the Ahmadi Reality ([i]al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya[/i]), it is the subject previously discussed in connection with the statement 'Every giver of praise in the universe has praised Allah, but no one in the universe has praised Allah to the same extent as the Prophet has praised Him', Furthermore, the Ahmadi Reality is one of Allah's mysteries, so no one has discovered what it contains in the form of intuitions, knowledge, secrets, bountiful favors, manifestations, exalted spritual states and pure virtues, and no one has had any experience of it, not even any of the other Messengers and Prophets. Its station is peculiar to him alone (the Prophet Muhammad) who is also called Ahmad (Allah bless him and give him peace)
"As for all the attainments of the Prophets and the Envoys, all of the angels and those drawn near, all of the Qutbs and the Siddiqeen, and all of the saints and the gnostic sages, whatever they have achieved, as a whole and in detail, it has come from the gracious bounty of the Muhammadan Reality ([i]Haqiqa al Muhammadiyya[/i]).
As for the Ahmad Reality [i](Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya[/i]) no one has obtained anything from it, for it is peculiar to him alone, because of the perfection of its glory and the extreme degree of its sublimity."

Once you have come to know the meaning of the Ahmadi Reality (al Haqiqa al Ahmadiyya) and the understanding of it has been grasped by your mind, you should know that our Spiritual Path is called "Ahmadi" for several reasons:
1. it is called "Ahmadi" because of its having originated from the Chieftan of Existance and the Sign of Witnessing, whom Allah has named Ahmad in His Book:
Jesus said: "Iam also bringing good tidings of a Messenger who will come after me, whose name will be Ahmad." (61:6)
-so the adjective "Ahmadi" has been applied to that which emanates from him

2. It is called "Ahmadi" because of its stemming from the gracious favor bestowed by our patron Allah's Messenger upon Ahmad ibn Muhammad at Tijani.

3. it is called "Ahmadi" in order to draw attention to the fact that he (May Allah be pleased with him) is the first of the saints and their supporter, even though his physical existance came later, for he already existed in reality.
[quote]As previously mentioned, (Ibn Arabi al Hatimi) said (May Allah be pleased with him): "the meaning of the Prophet's saying:
I was a Prophet while Adam was between the water and the clay

--is 'I was a Prophet in actual fact, aware of my Prophethood, while Adam was between the water and the clay." He then went on to say "None of the other Prophets was a Prophet, nor aware of his Prophethood, except when he was sent (on his mission) after his coming into existence with his material body and his complete fulfillment of the preconditions of Prophethood." Then he added: " the Seal of the Saints ([i]Khatim al Awliya)[/i] was likewise actually a saint, aware of his sainthood, while was between the water and the clay, and none of the other saints was a saint in actual fact, nor aware of his sainthood, except after his acquisition of the Divine characteristics that are stipulated in the definition of sainthood..."[/quote]Once this has been thoroughly understood, you will not be mystified by the previously mentioned statement: "Every giver of praise in the universe has praised Allah, but no one in the universe has praised Allah to the same extent as the Prophet has praised Him." Once you have grasped this, you should know that the Seal of the Saints has surpassed ever other giver of praise in the giving of praise to Allah, for none of the saints has prasied Allah to the same extent as the Seal of the Saints has praised Him, because he is the heir who inherits from the source, and who recognizes the degrees.

Ibn Arabi al Hatimi said:
"The Seal of the Saints is the inheriting saint, who receives from the source, who recognizes the degrees and ascertains the entitlement of their holders, in order to give each creditor his rightful due, for that is one of the virtues of the Chieftan of the Envoys, the Captain of the Community..."
My master said about the elite, just as ash Sha'rani said in [i]Durar al Ghawwas[/i] "This comminty has two comprehensive Seals, and every degree and station has an inheritor... Every saint there has ever been, or will ever be, can only receive from these two Seals, one of whom is the Seal of the sainthood of th elite, while the other is the one by whom the common sainthood is sealed, for there will be no saint after him until the advent of the Final Hour..."

It is obvious, plain and clear, from the speech of these two masters, that the Seal of the Saints has surpassed every giver of praise in the giving of praise to Allah, for none of the saints has praised Allah to the same extent as the Seal of the Saints has praised Him. The one from whom something is received takes precedence ahead of the recipient, since it can never be correct to rand the provider of support behind the recipient of support. That is why his Spiritual Path became the Spiritual Path of love and thankfulness, as previously explained in the Seventeenth Section of this blessed book, because of its having originated from the bountiful sphere, from which Allah removed the beneficence of anyone other that his ancester (The Prophet) who said to him (Shaykh Tijani) " No creature among the Shaykhs of the Spiritual Paths has any benefit to bestow upon you, for I am your intermediary and your supporter in actual fact. You must therefore abandon whatever you have received from the all the Spiritual Paths. " He also told him: "You must adhere to this Spiritual Path without secluded retreat or isolation from the people, so that you may reach your station which you have been promised. You will thus proceed without constraint and restriction, and without a great deal of strenuous exertion. You must also abandon all the saints, for Allah has mustered the people of the Spiritual Path by sheer grace, generosity, and munificence, and their Noble Lord does not put their business without constraint and restriction, and without a great deal of strenous exertion. They were appealing by giving praise for the tremendous favor that Allah had specially conferred upon them, and by giving thanks for the superabundance that He had generally bestowed upon them." Because of what has been mentioned, it came to be called the Ahmadi Spiritual path [i](tariqa al Ahmadiyya)[/i]

4. It is called "Ahmadi" because the spiritual station of its master, in relation to the spiritual stations of all the saints, is like the spiritual station of Ahmad in relation to the spiritual stations of all the Prophets, because the Shaykh said (may Allah be pleased with him): " I am the Chieftain of the Saints, just as Allah's Messenger (Allah bless him and give him peace) was the Chieftain of the Prophets".
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him): " A saint neither drinks nor quenches his thirst (spiritual gnosis), except from our ocean, from the origin of the universe until the blowing of the trumpet"
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him), while pointing with his two fingers, the index finger and the middle finger. "His spirit (Allah bless him and give him peace) and my spirit are like this: His spirit (Allah bless him and give him peace) supports the Messengers and the Prophets(peace be upon them), and my spirit supports the Qutbs, the gnostic sages and the saints, from sempiternity to eterntiy (beginning to ending) everlasting.
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him) that the Prophet (Allah bless him and give him peace) had informed him that his spiritual station was higher than all the spiritual stations.(except prophethood and the companions)
He also said (may Allah be pleased with him): "The relationship of the Qutbs with me is like the relationship of the common folk with the Qutbs"

more to follow Inshallah...........[/quote]