The venerated Fasite scholar Sidi Abu Ya’aza Ali ibn Harazem Berrada al-Fasi was among those who where gifted with gnosis and perfect sainthood. He was among the intimate companions (khassa) of Mawlana Abul Abbas Ahmed Tijani (d. 1230/1815). He had a high rank before the Shaykh who used to praise him so much about his qualities before his companions that caused jealousy among them. It was reported from Sidna Shaykh that the Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) told him: ''He is for you, what Abu Bakr was for me." Among the sayings of the Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) to Sidna Shaykh is the following: ''O Ahmed! Ask the opinion of your servant and your beloved (Harazem). Indeed he is for you in the rank of Harun (Heron) for Musa (Moses). I do not advise you something better than this about him, may peace be upon you.” As such, seeking his baraka, the Alawite sultan Mawlana Suleiman (d. 1238/1823) has assigned Sidi Ali Harazem to perform the daily obligatory Tijani wird on his behalf.
Sidi Ali Harazem belongs to one of the most famous families of Fez. The Berrada family, had been prominent in Fasite scholarly circles for many centuries. The reasons that caused Sidi Ali Harazem to be linked with Sidna Shaykh is that while Sidna Shaykh was leaving Tlemcen in 1191/1776 to visit the Shrine of Moulay Idriss al-Azhar (d. 213/798) in Fez, he met Sidi Harazem in Oujda (Wajda) in north-eastern Morocco. They both knew each other in the past. Sidna Shaykh revealed him by mukashafa (unveiling) the vision that he had about him, but Sidi Ali Harazem had forget about that vision. Sidi Ali Harazem said about this meeting: “I saw a vision, two years before this time that showed my companionship with and guidance by him. Then, two or three days, after he revealed himself to me, he reminded me of my vision, which I had forgotten.” After being reminded by the Shaykh he knew that he was telling him the truth. He knew for sure that Allah Almighty showed him through that vision. The Shaykh told him: “Fear nothing from my side by the fact that I looked for you everywhere, I was eager to find you and I praise Allah for that.” Sidi Harazem responded: ''I praise Allah Almighty and I thank Him for this immense Favour that Sidna Shaykh is my support and that he will take care of all my business after he has certified all that.”
Thus Sidna Shaykh taught Sidi Ali Harazem the Khalwatiya which he himself took from the poles of the time namely Sidi Mahmoud al-Kurdi al-Misri (d. 1186/1771) of Cairo and Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdelkarim Samman (d. 1189/1774) of Medina. The Shaykh also initiated him some sciences that Allah Almighty revealed to him among them sciences and secrets of the Sunna. When the Shaykh Moulay Ahmed decided to depart to Tlemcen Sidi Ali Harazem wanted to go with him, but the Shaykh advised him to travel toward another state. While leaving Moulay Ahmed told him: ''Stay firm in your oath (‘ahd) and love (mahabba) until you reach the spiritual opening (fath).
Sidi Ali Harazem became the first successor (khalifa) of Sidna Shaykh in his lifetime. This appointment occurred during their conversation. It comes following his admiration by the Shaykh and the statements he made that showed the perfect particularity of Sidi Ali Harazem and how Allah cares of him. The Shaykh informed of his special virtues especially that the Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him) loves him deeply: a love that surpasses the love of a father towards his son.
It is also reported that the Sidna Shaykh used to say on behalf of Sidi Ali Harazem Berrada: “What the khalifa (Sidi Harazem) said, I said it.” One of the most important virtues that the Shaykh also said: “No one will gain from me except through Sidi Harazem’s liaison.” It has been also reported by the people blessed with clairvoyance (basira) and the secret (Sirr) of the Tijaniya order that this state lasts during his life and after following his death. It is also believed that the assistance of Sidna Shaykh cannot be received in any case generally or particularly without passing through Sidi Ali Harazem Berrada as he represents the Shaykh in the visible and invisible worlds. It is firmly stressed that no one can replace Sidi Ali Harazem in this high-elevated function. Furthermore the noble Tijanite community, with its successive khalifas, ‘ulama and murids, consider with full determination that no one can gain profit except trough the invisible intermediary or anyone who was preferably chosen in the sigh of Sidna Shaykh.
One of the events that show as well the particularity (khassiya) of Sidi Ali Harazem Berrada is his meeting with the companion of the Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him), the king of the jinns, the Qadi Abu Mohammed Shamharoush. Sidi Ali Harazem transmitted him, by the authorization (idhn) of Sidna Shaykh, the blessed litany of “Hizb as-Sayfi” in daylight as it was a habit by the elites.
It has been reported that Sidna Shaykh was going to some place and he told his companions including the venerated Qutb Sidi Abul Hassan Ali ibn Aissa Tamacini (d. 1260/1845) that whoever follows him in that place will go to hell. When Sidi Ali Harazem came and asked for the Shaykh, they told him that the he has forbidden anyone to go in that place and that whoever follows will go to hell. After hearing this Sidi Harazem followed the Shaykh. After seeing this Sidna Shaykh asked him, “Has not anyone told you that whoever follows me he will go to hell?” Sidi Ali Harazem responded: ''Yes." Sidi Harazem continued saying to his Shaykh that he did not follow him for hell or paradise. He followed him for Allah's Face (liwjhi-llah). After hearing this, the Shaykh asked Sidi Harazem to open his palm (hand). After opening it he saw all the seven heavens and the seven earths inside it.
Also one of his particularities that shows his high rank (maqam) is his redaction to Kitab Jawahir al-ma'ani wa-bulugh al-amani fi fayd Sidi Abil al-Abbas at-Tijani (Gems of Indications and Attainment of Aspirations in the Overflowings of Sidi Abil Abbas Tijani), which was reported by the Messenger (peace and blessing be upon him): ''That is my book. I am the one who resume it.'' Sidi Ali Harazem started to redact the book in his assembly with the people around him in Fez since the month of Sha'aban and ended two years later in the month of Dhul Qi’ada.
When Sidi Harazem was gifted by the Grand Opening (Fath al-Akbar), the Shaykh ordered him to travel and to leave the country where Sidna Shaykh resides. As it has been reported by Sidna Sidna Shaykh: "If Allah gifts one of my companions with the Grand Opening and he resides in the same country as I am, he has to leave, for fear that does not cause problems." Some of his companions asked: “Does that come from you?” The Shaykh replied: "It is from Allah with any choice of my part”. The Shaykh added: ''The fear is for only those I ordered to leave and go teach the people for the rest they should fear nothing from me''.
Since the beginning the Shaykh has predicted that Sidi Ali Harazem Berrada will reach an immense maqam and attain considerable station but with the condition to visit the Messenger’s tomb in Medina. When Sidi Ali Harazem reached Badr, he saw lot of light. So when he recited the secret name that Sidna Shaykh taught him with the condition to recite it in font of the tomb of the Messenger Sidna Mohammed (peace and blessing be upon him) he was taken over by a great mystical state that his companions thought he was dead and buried him. The Sidna Shaykh announced in Fez at the same time: “If they didn't burry him they will hear from him sciences, knowledge and secrets that they will never be able perceive and they will never find in a manuscript.”
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