THE FOUR PILLARS OF FAYDAH TIJANIYYAH IN KANO

FOREMOST MUQADDAMS OF SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE IN KANO

1.0 Shaykh Tijani Usman
2.0 Shaykh Sani Kafanga
3.0 Shaykh Abubakar Atiku...
4.0 Shaykh Usman Maihula

 

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

 

1.0 SHAYKH AHMAD-TIJANI 'USMAN IBN MUHAMMAD (RTA) - (d1970)

[POPULARLY KNOWN AS; SHAYKH TIJANI USMAN (KANO STATE, NIGERIA)]

{One of the foremost scholars to embrace Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse in Nigeria (in 1937)}

By: Dr. Awwal Baba-Taofiq

Author's email:
babataofiq@yahoo.com

His Book:
The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niass Al-Kawlakhy

 INTRODUCTION

Shaykh Ahmad-Tijani 'Uthman ibn Muhammad (d1970) was Beriberi. He was one of the foremost to embrace Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse in 1937 (in Nigeria) and immediately after the second world war, he went to Kawlakh to study.

J. N. Paden (in his book 'Religion and Political Culture in Kano' - 1973) observed that by virtue of his Youth, Fluency in Arabic, Religious knowledge, Relative lack of contact with western culture and Unquestionable loyalty to Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse, he emerged as the major spokesman in Northern Nigeria for the people of Faydah and presided at most public worship sessions of the (Tijaniyyah) brotherhood.

Shaykh Tijani Uthman was the first to organise the group leaders (Muqadamuun) in Kano for evangelical/proselytisation work in both rural and urban areas. Muaqadams were created and inaugurated at grassroots level in order to enhance mass followers.

About fifteen(15) works are ascribed to Shaykh Tijani Uthman. 

SHAYKH TIJANI UTHMAN'S TEACHER

(Shaykh Muhammad Salga)

The emergence of Muhammad Salga's students in the scene of Faydah(Spiritual Flood) brought about rapid proliferation of the reformed Tijanis in Nigeria. These students are:

-Abubakar Atiqu (d1974),
-Tijani Uthman (d1970),
-Umar bn Abubakr Falke (d1962),
-Sanni Kafanga (d1987), and
-Uthman Maihula (d1988).

Shaykh Muhammad Salga, who was the then leading Muqaddam in Kano was on his death bed, and was unable to meet Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (when he visited kano (for the first time) in 1936-37).

 SHAYKH TIJANI UTHMAN'S ENCOUNTER WITH SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE

In the 1st visit of Shaykh Ibrahim Niass to Nigeria(in 1936/7), he brought five copies of his first major work titled: Kaashif al-Ilbaas along with him and he distributed them to;

1. Emir Abdullah Bayero,
2. Atiqu Abubakar,
3. Sani Kafanga,
4. Tijani Uthman and
5. Umar Falke...

In 1944, Shaykh Ibrahim paid his 2nd visit to Kano. It was this second visit that Shaykh Mijinyawa, Shaykh Maihula, Shaykh Gibrima, Shaykh Yahuza, Shaykh Abdul-Quadri Zaria, Shaykh Balarabe Gusau, Shaykh Balarabe Jega, Shaykh Abul Fat'hi and host of others renewed their initiation from the Shaykh.

In 1946, Umar Falke, Tijani Uthman and Sani Kafanga were the first people that went to Kawlakh from Nigeria to swear allegiance with the Shaykh. The trio spent three years with rigorous Khidma at Kawlakh and the did Tarbiyyah (Spiritual Training) directly from the Shaykh before coming back to Kano in 1949.

Duaa:
May Allah spread his barakah on we murids. May Allah illuminate his grave with Light upon Light;

Bijahi Baye Niass (RTA), Ameen!!!

Source;
"The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niass Al~Kawlakhy"

 2.0 SHAYKH MUHAMMAD-SANNI KAFANGA (RTA)

{One of the pioneering Muqadams of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse in Nigeria}

By: Dr. Awwal Baba-Taofiq

Author's email:
babataofiq@yahoo.com

His Book:
The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niass Al-Kawlakhy

 Shaykh Sanni Kafanga (d1987), a typical hausa from Kafanga area, kano city. He was a versatile scholar, outspoken and prolific writer.

As a Tijaniyyah leader, he wrote vituperative and defensive works to explain the basic tenents of the order and to defend the claims and views of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse on contentious issues as it's evident in his work, "Sabeel Rashaad fii Raddi alaa mu'alif qam al-fasaad", a work that replies Mallam Nasiru Kabara's (d1996) "Qam al fasaad".

 SHAYKH SANNI KAFANGA'S TEACHER

(Shaykh Muhammad Salga)

The emergence of Muhammad Salga's students in the scene of Faydah brought about rapid proliferation of the reformed Tijanis in Nigeria. These stidents are: Abubakar Atiqu (d1974), Tijani Usman (d1970), Umar bn Abubakr Falke (d1962), Sanni Kafanga (d1987) and Usman Maihula (d1988).

Shaykh Muhammad Salga, who was the then leading Muqaddam in Kano was on his death bed, and was unable to meet Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (when he visited kano in 1936-37).

 SHAYKH SANNI KAFANGA'S ENCOUNTER WITH SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE

In the 1st visit of Shaykh Ibrahim Niass to Nigeria, he brought five copies of his first major work titled: Kaashif al-Ilbaas along with him and he distributed them to; Emir Abdullah Bayero, Atiqu Abubakar, Sani Kafanga, Tijani Uthman and Umar Falke...

In 1944, Shaykh Ibrahim paid his 2nd visit to Kano. It was this second visit that Shaykh Mijinyawa, Shaykh Maihula, Shaykh Gibrima, Shaykh Yahuza, Shaykh Abdul-Quadri Zaria, gShaykh Balarabe Gusau, Shaykh Balarabe Jega, Shaykh Abul Fat'hi and host of others renewed their initiation from the Shaykh.

In 1946, Umar Falke, Tijani Uthman and Sani Kafanga were the first people that went to Kawlakh from Nigeria to swear allegiance with the Shaykh. The trio spent three years with rigorous Khidma at Kawlakh and the did Tarbiyyah (Spiritual Training) directly from the Shaykh before coming back to Kano in 1949.

Kafanga was the first person to celebrate Shaykh Ahmad Tijani's (d1815) birthday/malid in Nigeria. The first one was held in his residence in 1961.

Duaa:
May Allah spread his barakah on we murids. May Allah illuminate his grave with Light upon Light;

Bijahi Baye Niass (RTA), Ameen!!!

Source;
"The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niass Al~Kawlakhy"

 3.0 SHAYKH ABU~BAKR ATIQU OF KANO, NIGERIA

(A Mystical Sage of the Tijani Path)

By: Shaykh (Dr.) Awwal Baba Taofiq,

via: In His book, "The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niass Al~Kawlakhy"

 Shaykh Abu~Bakr Atiqu (d 1974) is Hausa; his great grand~father migrated to Kano from Katsina.

He was one of the most prolific writers among the Sufi scholars in the 20th century.

His literary ability in Hausa and Arabic has helped to interprete Tijanniyah doctrines within the community and he has acted as a spokesman on doctrinal issues with non~Tijani groups.

Prof. Y. A. Quadri ascribed one hundred and nine (109) works to him.

 His works can be placed under four major categories, namely;

(1) Eulogy works
(2) Didactic works on the Tijanniyah Sufi order.
(3) Works on the general principles and doctrines of Sufism.
(4) Defensive works on the doctrines and principles of the Tijaniyyah.

Shaykh Abu~Bakr Atiq did less travelling than his colleagues, but concentrated in teaching and writing among his direct students were Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega, the author of CoranFaydah (a popular Hausa eulogy work on Shaykh Ibrahim Niass).

Shaykh Ahmad Abu~l~Fat'hi (d 2003) and Shaykh Abu~Bakr al~Miskin of Bornu respectively are one of the prominent leading direct students of Shaykh Abu~Bakr Atiqu.

Most renowned leading Muqaddams in Kano undertook spiritual training under the trend setter (Shaykh Hadi ibn Mawlud Fal of Mauritania) and these includes Shaykh Abubakar Atiqu.

 SHAYKH ATIQU'S UTTERANCES ON THE DIVINE FLOOD (FAYDAH) OF SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE

Shaykh Abu~Bakr Atiqu of Kano said:

قد خصنا الله تعالي - بظهور هذه الفيضة الأحمدية في وقتنا...

Translation:
Indeed, Allah has distinguished us...by the emergence of this Sahib Al~Faydah (Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse) in our age.

A rider to that, Shaykh Abu~Bakr Atiqu said in one of his Hausa praise poems;

 May God increase the miracles of Shaykh Ibrahim and increase his companions. God has made him the successor. He trusts him as Ruling (Mulk) and Sovereignty (Malakut). Shaykh Tijani gave signs for his coming in his book, Yaaquutat al~Fareedah. The Mahdi will get his litanies from him and our Prophet gave him the flag of thanks. Any one who follows Shaykh Ibrahim today is following the Prophet, our Shaykh today is the one who reforms otherness (Ghayriyat). Shaykh Tijani appointed him to be responsible for all our affairs and he gave him all his mysteries (Asraar).

 Post by Imam Muhammad Abdullah al-Tijani al-Ibrahimi;

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse said;

“Indeed, I have rolled up and made easy the Path to the Haqq (Allah)

For every seeker who desires to reach God through God

Indeed, I have folded (i.e. combined in me) the Knowledges of all the Arifs

Because I smelt the Fragrance of the Mustafa, the Truthful One (SAW)”

The Nigerian Tijani Khalifah Shaykh Abu-Bakr Atiqu (RA) writes in the footnote to this couplet:

(he means) He made easy the Path to Allah for all sincere seekers, therefore
they arrive to Allah (SWT) in the shortest period. And this we have seen!

All of this is nothing but the Barakah of the Faydah Tijaniyyah promised by the Qutb al-Maktum (RA).

May we continue drinking from it forever. Amin.

 4.0 SHAYKH USMAN MAIHULA (RTA)

{One of the four Pillars of Fayda in Kano}

via: Icon of Mystics (By Dr. Awwal Baba Taofiq)

 Shaykh Uthman ibn Ali ibn Sulayman (d1988) is a descendant of the first emir of Kano (Sulayman).

He acquired his sobriquet MAIHULA, by selling caps in the market during the early part of his career.

Most renowned leading Muqaddams in Kano undertook spiritual training under the trend setter (Shaykh Hadi ibn Mawlud Fal of Mauritania) and these included Shaykh Uthman Maihula.

He is the proprietor of Madrasat Minarat al-Islam fi Ta'alum al-Arabiyyah wal Ahkam.

Students came from many cities to study Shari'ah and Sufism with him, this also served as a vehicle for the spread of Faydah al-Tijaniyyah.

In the book “Rawa'iu al-Anbarriyah fi Bayan al-Rihlat al-Qalansawiyyah”, Shaykh Usman Maihula of Kano, Nigeria gave account of his visit to Kawlakh. He said;

Thumma wasalnaa li-Madeenati l 'ulaa *** Madeenat al-faydi sa'aadunaa 'ulaa

Hunaaka adaynaa Salaatal Jum'ati *** yawminaa al-ghawthi l 'azeem ar-raf'ah.

Translation:

Then we arrived at the great city, city of Spiritual Flood, where we became prosperous.

We observed Friday congregational prayer therein, while the great and most excellent succour led us in prayer.