Shaykh
Ahmad Tijani in answering someone who asked about his Isnad said: “as for the
Isnad of our Tariqa, it goes back to the Prophet (pbuh), also the Isnad with
the Wird and Hisbul-Sayfi is from the Prophet (pbuh). As for Musabba-Ashara, I
accepted it orally from Shaykh Mahmud Al-Kurdi al-Misri (ra), and he accepted
it from Al-Khidri orally. As for the Ahzaabs of Ash-Shadhili (ra) and
the Wazifa of Al-Zuruqi, and Dala’il-Khairat and Al-Duril-Ala, I accepted Ijaza
for all of them from our Shaykh the perfect Qutub, our master Muhammad Abdul
Karim Al-Sammani-Qataani who lived in Madinatul-Munawwara”. Let it be known
that Shaykh Ahmad Tijani was very consistent in the practice of his Wirds after
prayers in the morning, to the time of Dhuha in solitude, and after the
prayers of Asr to the disappearance of the sun below the horizon, and between
that time and the prayers of Isha in solitude. Also Shaykh Tijani said: “I do
not use any Zikr except that the Prophet (pbuh) arranges it for me in all of
it’s conditions, and he (pbuh) is prompting his companions to do it, especially
‘Salatul Fatihi’ because of the great benefits that are in it”. And when anyone
is seeking a thing by other than the known Wirds the Shaykh says: “do many
Salawats on the Prophet (pbuh) with Salatul Fatihi because in it is the good of
this world and the Hereafter. And by it (Salatul Fatihi) one obtains all his
desires, and the student (Murid) reaches his wishes”.
And our
master (ra) said: “for every intelligent person there are times to be alone
with his Lord which he can’t delay or be to busy for, and times for sitting
with his brothers in the path of Allah the Sublime, for Zikr or Talim or the
use of knowledge he did have before, and these times should not be abandoned”.
Then he (ra) said: “the most beneficial times set for solitude with Allah the
Sublime are the middle of the night after the people are asleep, to the rise of
Fajr, and after morning prayers to the time of Dhuha, and after Asr
prayers to Isha. A worker in those times hits his aim, and Marifat (Knowledge
of Allah) is clarified according to one’s ability at those times, and what is
necessary for a soul is not to be lazy and not to be displeased thereby going
astray from the limit, set by his saying (pbuh): ‘surely this religion is easy
and whosoever makes it difficult, it will overcome him’. So worship according
to your needs and come close to your Lord and be joyful, and appoint the
morning, evening, and night as times for this”. And his sayings (pbuh): “This
religion is strong, so penetrate into it gently and do not hate for yourself
the worship of Allah, for surely a new plan does not fulfill itself cut off,
and what remains in the ground does not appear”.
And his
sayings (pbuh): “Take from the religious works what you have the capacity for,
for surely Allah does not become tired of you until you become tired of Him”.
And the Shaykh said: “and in all we have mentioned the person must be sincere
to Allah and not associate anything with Allah the Sublime”. The above is a
translation of subject nine (9) in the book “The Key to worship in the Tariqa
Tijaniyya”. I am asking for the forgiveness of Allah for any mistakes that may
be found in the translation, and I am asking for the patience of the people
with this small effort. May Allah bless those Murids that are constant in their
work. Imam Sayed