Councils

Qasidat Ru’h al-adab (Spirit of Good Morals)

Translation: Shaykh Sidi Hassan Cisse 

1.       Says Ibrahim the son of al-Haj Abdellah, our glowing moon.

2.      Having started with the Name of Allah and Praise, All of it to Allah the Possessor of great Blessings and Glory.

3.       An advice from me to my brothers, adhere to the path of Tijaniya.

4.       A path of pure grace and satisfaction, founded and established upon the path of the Prophet and the Quran.

5.        Fulfilling all prescribed conditions, Exemplifying its ethical code.

6.       Exalting all its people, particularly the special ones: to them be obedient.

7.        When you start to perform this wird, Always discipline yourself as much as possible.

8.       Be of good manners openly and secretly, With it does one climb unto high positions.

9.       Always maintain concentration and calmness, likewise seclusion helps in drawing near (to Allah).

10.     Seek for a know ledgeable and experienced teacher  with sound advice, Complete in knowledge of Divine Lord (and of course) a righteous leader.

11.      Submit yourself completely to him and don't experiment (on your efforts), Be like a dead person before its washer and you shall be informed. 

12.     Don't oppose him even if it seems wrong (his opinion), be always a follower.

13.     For the teachers mistake could be more upright and proper, Than students opinion among people of intellect. 

14.     Do not turn to other than him in the universe, And be with him as if there is no universe. 

15.     For there is nothing for the student other than this Saint (Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani), Alongside with the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and surely his Lord, the Most High.

16.     As long as there is other than him in a heart it will not attain, The knowledge of the Master (Allah), This I say with all certainty.

17.     Be at all times with the Shaykh to profit, Be at all times tenderly in love to prosper.

18.     In proportion to your love for him you receive, His spiritual providence, the people (Sufis) have said this repeatedly.

19.     Spend out of your new and old possessions in seeking, His satisfaction, and be prompt to his signals, then you will get it right.

20.    And satisfy your Shaykh even if he makes you weep, Because it is to goodness, he guides you.

21.     Be covetous of your time with such greed, Be warned you shall be afflicted with test of decline.

22.    When you see manifestation of opulence, Do not exceed limits, be content with the manifestation of dispossession. 

23.    For all of these (manifestations) are affairs of Allah's unfoldings, Glorious is He to be blamed for what He Destines.

24.    Do not be anguished when you are afflicted with mischiefs of His creations, for that you were created. (i.e. to meet such realities of life).

25.    Mischief is made to flow from them so that you don't rely, On them but on Allah should you solely rely.

26.    When tested with difficulties and afflictions, Persevere patiently, for thereafter shall come relief and happiness.

27.    For after every night comes the day, And after every hardship comes the ease.

28.    Rather, after every hardship comes double ease, As related from Ahmad (peace and blessing be upon him) the Legendary Adnan.

29.    If you know that, then you shall always be satisfied, (With) Allah's decision which at all times must prevail.

30.    Whenever you seek a request that is lacking, The dangers of it He knows and you don't.

31.     He deters what is dangerous (from you) out of His tenderness, therefore don't, Accuse our Lord otherwise you shall be abandoned.

32.    Were man to know Who the Merciful (Allah) is, He would have been facing afflictions, a smiling man. 

33.    Don't seek exaltation from the creation without, Being exalted by the Creator, no, never.

34.    Don't be glad with favours you are bestowed with, Be glad with the Bestower (Allah) if you reason.

35.    For every favour will vanish except the Bestower, For that is the Everlasting all time.

36.    Don't despise any Muslim and don't mention, people's faults, for the faults from you are likely to be seen.

37.    Maybe were the one in two tatters of dusty garments, To invoke by the Master (Allah), he will.

38.    Be honored as has been reported (Hadith).

39.    Don't harm a Muslim even if it appears that, he persistently harms, be forgiving.

40.    For indeed, all these creations are Allah's servants, Do not harm, oh my brothers the servants of Allah.

41.     For you will not be pleased with him who mistreats your servant, Even if he does wrong, fear therefore your Lord.

42.    Persist in sadness and the taught of death, Don't forget also the questioning of the dead (in the grave).

43.    It is inevitable to first and foremost seek knowledge And you must study the laws of Allah (Sharia) properly.

44.    I swear by my life that knowledge is the eider of actions, As was transmitted from Ta-Ha (peace and blessing be upon him), the best of all messengers.

45.    Obtain knowledge of four subjects, oh you traveler, The first of it is the knowledge Of the Lord Possessor.

46.    And secondly is to know all that is involved, In the worship of Allah, for that, you will be certain.

47.    And thirdly is to learn the different states of soul, From its treachery, deceptions and plots.

48.    For the soul has its fault, and Heart its fault, And the spirit its Fault, in these there is no doubt.

49.    And the seeking of knowledge of good conduct on you disciple (is the fourth) For indeed, it is the door for every disciple.

50.    Be God fearing, a man of humility, You will not by humbleness be in abasement.

51.     Ilm (knowledge), Ghina (wealth), Khisb (fertility), are words that came (in pronunciation), With low pitched vowels established in them.

52.    Jahl (ignorance), Faqr (poverty), Jadb (infertility) are words that come, With high pitched vowels established in them.

53.    These are signs if you reason clearly, recognize what you have been inspired with.

54.    Not on mountains do flood settle, Nor on trees in disregarding (their heights).

55.     Never be satisfied about yourself, nor hope or Fear other than Allah, besides Him neglect.

56.    Never be arrogant oh my brother or be jealous, Nor do eye service, but to your Lord heed.

57.     And arrogance arises either because of knowledge, or lineage, Or companionship, or getting involved in acts of devotions, and wealth.

58.    A disobedience that brings about humiliation is better, While an act of devotion that Results in arrogance is worst. 

59.  You will never be free from blemish, Except with a Shaykh of divine knowledge that is constantly consulted.

60.    Adhere strongly to the protection of Shaykh's (of divine knowledge), If you want to attain a lofty and exalted height.

61.     The most excellent Shaykh of all time in any respect is our leader al- Tijani, the possessor of great virtues.

62.    The intermediary and foundation of every scholar of divine knowledge, he is to them the flowing fountain and the sun.

63.    And the best path (of Sufi order) by consensus, is again his path without any dispute.

64.    And, it is impossible to combine its practice with any other (path of Sufi order), he is ruined (the one who combined it) alongside with the speaker of such (combination) on the Day of Judgment.

65.    He has lied and fabricated against the Lord Majestic, I say (with emphasis), that this Wird (of Tijaniya) is great.

66.    Among these litanies are: Hizb at-Tadaru’a, Salat al-Fatih, also Allahumma Alaika Fatih.

67.    And such other (litanies) possessed by the great men, The People of this Tariqa, when you get their permissions.

68.    However, it is with great efforts that their secrets are obtained, Not by laxity or by playing on the intelligence of men.

69.    But rather by adhering to what they give firmly, And by following their instructions always.

70.    Don't prefer colleagues conversations, To sitting with him (your Shaykh), oh the annihilated one.

71.     If so, don't be desirous of obtaining secrets, For secrets are not obtainable in public.

72.    But if you rather stick to him (your Shaykh) always, You could succeed from him in obtaining your requirement.

73.    You could also gain from him by infection, and this, Has been confirmed by the men (of knowledge), so watch out.

74.    Whosoever does not attain the knowledge of the Merciful (Allah), his life has been in ruin for all time spent.

75.     I created these creations (Allah said) to worship Me, “To worship Me” meaning “To know Me”

76.    Don't lessen your effort in acquiring the knowledge (of Allah), Then you shall be astonished by the closeness of The Most Merciful.

77.     He is manifest in every thing, upon every thing, and by every thing, before it and yet after it, forever.

78.    If you crave for the increase of faith, immediately repent sincerely, and follow it with the way of excellency. 

79.    Don't hate a Muslim or get angry, Except towards the breaker of the refined law (Sharia).

80.    Adhere to night vigil and hungry stomach, Eating of what is purely lawful has equally been enumerated (as away of increasing faith).

81.     And give sincerity to fellow brothers or maintain silence keeping company of, People of excellent morals among close relatives.

82.    And a man is in the religion of his close friend, If righteous, he too will be righteous even if un-intelligent.

83.    Remember the scales (of weighing actions) and the distribution of the book (of works), And what is in hell fire of perpetual grief.

84.    And what is in the paradise of beautiful virgins, Along with nice servants and beautiful dwellings.

85.    And persist (on worships) of the sin wiping, The strongest (of such worship) is the salat of this pivot leader (Qutb).

86.    The glorification prayers and glorification itself, Likewise Quran contemplation,

87.    And two prostrations made in fear (of Allah) and taking of steps, To the mosques (all these) expiate sins.

88.    Likewise, the perfection of ablution and the guiding of, A blind person as well as Fulfilling peoples needs (all these are among expiation of sins).

89.    And the reflective counting of sea waves and ripples plus, Shaking of fellow Muslims should be taken advantage of (in seeking forgiveness).

90.    Filling up of Ramadan by a person (with worship) and fasting of it, keeping night vigils in it erases his sins.

91.     Performance of Hajj, Umra and charity in secret, Made from lawful wealth is indeed a wonderful charity.

92.    Teaching of children (Quran and Hadith), praying in straight rows (congregational prayers), All these are mentioned in the Book (Quran).

93.    And the following are defects that harden the heart, The love of leadership is the worst of these defects.

94.    Jesting, backbiting, bad sitting companions, Indecency, slandering, and evil soul (are defects that harden the heart).

95.    Likewise passionate desires of mind should not be followed, and in worldly things, show abstinence without always following.

96.    Be like a house carpet and withdraw from everyone, Don't enjoy vain talks nor disputes (of people).

97.    Take your eyes off people's faults, And as much as possible pay them no attention.

98.    Give charity out of your wealth for Allah's sake, Visit Muslim tombs without cease.

99.    Don't ever swear except you limit (your swearing) To the will (of Allah) whenever you do swear.

100. Here comes to an end the brotherly advice, In condensed form just like people of these days.

101.  In the year forty-two, After thirteen hundred (years of Hijra).

102. I name this poem as “Spirit of Good Morals,” Because of what it contains of wisdom and manners.

103. Seeking excuse of the people of intellect, And just a song of sayings of an active youth.

104. And for a child of twenty-one years, are reasons acceptable and beautifully justified.

105.  Benefit with this poem all the Believers, Oh our Lord, because of the magnificence of the best of the Messengers.

106. And make it to be purely for the sake of your Noble self, Oh Lord, oh the Kind, Beneficent, the Most Merciful.

107.  Don't be deceived and not memorize the Poem, Because I am small (in age) and from the non-Arab country.

108. Allah favours with whom He wants, And Allah is possessor of great virtues, and Willer (of what He wants).

109. Indeed it has been said in this respect, the illustrious, Servant of Ta Ha and of Maliki (school of thought), Ahmad (the son of Bamba of Senegal).

110.   A black skinned will never acquire (because of his color), Youthful stupidity and bad understanding.

111.   Oh Lord, Oh Lord, by the magnificence of Al-Haadee (peace and blessing be upon him), Protect us from every evil of my enemy.

112.  Bestow on us with the divine knowledge, And everything desirous, because of the best of the lineage of the legendary Adnan (peace and blessing be upon him).

113.  And cover our faults with your covering, that is the beautiful (of coverings), And overcome our enemies with your power, that is the Most Splendorous (of powers).

114.  And praise are for Allah who has supported and made easy my compilation. He is indeed a Wonderful Patron.

115.   Then Blessing and peaceful salutations be upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him), the chosen, the best of creations.

116.   On him (is this blessing) and his household, dutiful companions, As long as every patient one succeeds in attaining the knowledge (of Allah).