Obligatory Litanies of the Ahmediya Mohammediya Tijaniya Path

The obligatory litanies (al-awrad al-lazima) of this Tariqa Ahmediya-Mohammediya-Ibrahimiya-Hanifiya-Tijaniya are the Daily Wird, the Daily Office (wadhifa) and the Haylala of Fridays (“La ilaha illa-llah”; There is no God but Allah). The supreme Khalifa Sidi Abu Yaaza Ali Harazem Berrada al-Fasi (d. 1212/1797) reports in Risalat al-fadhl wal imtinan (The Letter of Merit and Gratitude):  "Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani (may Allah be satisfied with him) said,

All those who have taken our wird will enter paradise without any deeds accountancy as well as their children, wives except the grandsons unless they are faithful and have not transgressed the companionship, all these followers will reach the “Iliyyine” status in heaven and are neighbours to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him).

Moreover, I have heard Sidna Shaykh saying: “I have asked the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) about those who already possessed a wird from other Shaykhs and are keen to have our wird ? What shall they do?” the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) replied:

O Ahmed tell them that my wird is a great one (meaning that he -peace and blessing be upon him- has endorsed this wird  to him), this wird  dispenses all the other wirds containing all their secrets. For the one who holds on to it and quits all other wirds there will be no harm to him and he shall have no fear from his Shaykh either in this life or in the Hereafter, and he is safe. (And she must know that) only my wird  suffices him otherwise he has to leave it because as it is only accepted as a  unique one. Wassalam.

 

The Wird   "Astaghfirou Allah" (I seek Allah’s forgiveness), 100 times; "Allahouma Sali ala Sayidina Mohammed wa Alihi wa Salam Taslima", or more preferably the formula of Salat al-Fatih, 100 times; " La Ilaha ila Allah" (There is no God but Allah), 100 times. The Wadhifa  "Astaghfirou Allah Al Adhim alladhi la ilaha ila houa al hayou al kayoum" (I ask forgiveness from Allah, the Mighty. No God exists but Him. He is the Living, the Self-Existing), 30 times; Salat al-Fatih, 50 times; La ilaha ila Allah, 100 times; Jawharat al Kamal, 12 times. The Friday Wadhifa  Recitation of 1000, 1200, or 1600 times of  “La ilaha illa-llah (There is no God but Allah) either in congregation or individually (if there are no brothers in town).

In his discussion of why this venerated Tijaniya Path is called the Mohammediya Path despite the fact that all the other orders of Allah's people are alike in that respect, Shaykh al-Islam  Sidi al-Haj Omar ibn Said al-Futi (d. 1279/1864) has said,

 If someone abandons one of the litanies (awrad) of the Shaykhs, for the sake of entering this Mohammedan 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 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.

As for the Wadhifa, Shaykh Sidi Ali Harazem comments,

It is carried out in the morning or in the evening  and  it suffices once a day and it is recited either in congregation or individually. But it does not dispense the daily wird  or the Haylala of Fridays.

Sidi al-Haj Omar ibn Said al-Futi  stated in Kitab Rima'h:

Of the conditions of the Tijaniya order congregation for the performance for the wadhifa and the remembrance of the Haylala in the wake of the afternoon prayer on Friday. As we read in Jawahir al-Ma'ani: "The litanies that are essential to the Spiritual Path include the remembrance of the Haylala in the wake of the afternoon prayer on Friday, together with the congregation. If someone has brethren in the town, they are obliged."

Sidna Shaykh stated that seven recitations from Jawharat al-Kamal taught him by his grandfather (peace and blessing be upon him) result in the Prophet's physical presence (datan wa nuran wa ru'han).  One the merits and graces of Jawharat al-Kamal Sidi Ali Harazem Berrada informs in his 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),

(1) The fact that most of them will be granted each day the favour of visiting the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) in his noble garden (Rawda), and of visiting all the saints of Allah and the righteous, from the beginning of existence until his own time. Sidna Shaykh said "Allah's Messenger gave me an invocation of salat upon him called "Jawharat al-Kamal".' If someone recites it twelve times and says: 'This is a gift from me to you, O Messenger of Allah,' it is as if he has visited him in his noble garden, and as if he has visited the saints of Allah and the righteous, from the beginning of existence until his own time."

(2) The fact that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and the Four Caliphs are present with the people of this Spiritual path every day. Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani said "The Prophet told me that if someone recites "Jawharat al-Kamal" seven times or more, He and the Four Caliphs will be present with him as long as he remembers it". Allah has graciously recommended to our brethren that it should be recited twelve times in the daily wadhifa so that is sufficient for those who are lazy.

(3) The fact that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) loves its reader with a special love, different from that already bestowed on them and on all the loved ones in the first part. Sidna Shaykh Tijani said "The Prophet told me that, if someone makes a regular practice of reciting Jawharat al-Kamal more than seven times every day, The Prophet will love him with a special love, and he will not die until he becomes a saint.

As such, and in line with the greatness and uniqueness of Jawharat al-Kamal prayer, Sidna Shaykh (may Allah be pleased with him) has recommended his companions and confidants to lay aside a white cloth in the circle of congregation during their recitation of Jawharat al-Kamal. This tendency symbolizes the particularity of the Tijaniya as a Mohammedian Tariqa par excellence and shows the high courtesy  (adab) of Tijanis with the Mohammedian Prensence (peace and blessing be upon him). To further expemlify the excellence of Jawharat al-Kamal prayer, hear a vision (ruaya) of Tijani Fasite brother which become widely circlulated amongst the brothers and confidents in Fez.  The brother saw the Holy Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)  in a dream and when he looked at him he saw all the prayers (salaw) upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him); whether by men, angels or jinnis; every prayer whether known or unkown written on the Prophet's blessed legs and then he looked up and saw the prayer of Salat al-Fatih as a crown on the Prophet's blessed head and Jawarat al- Kamal written on the blessed heart of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). The dream suggests that Salat al-Fatih is the crown of all the prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and Jawahartu al-Kamal is the point that circles around all the prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). 

Jawharat al-Kamal O God, shower your blessings and salute the Source of Divine Mercy, a True Ruby which encompasses the Centre of Comprehension and Meanings, the Light of the World which is and fact to be, the Son of Adam, the Possessor of Divine Truth; the most Luminous Lightning in the Profitable Rain-Clouds which fill all the intervening seas as receptacles; the Bright Light with which You has filled the universe and which surrounds the Places of Existence. O God, bless and salute the Source of Truth from which are manifested the Tabernacles of Realities; the Source of Knowledge, the most Upright; the Complete and most Straight path. O God, bless and salute the advent of the Truth by the Truth; the Greatest Treasure, a Shower of Blessings coming from itself to itself. The Mysterious Light. May Allah bless the Prophet and his household, a prayer which brings us to knowledge of him. يقول العلامة العارف بالله سيدي أحمد سكيرج رضي الله عنه ﻔﻲ كتاب الكوكب الوهاج: صح أن النبي صلى الله عليه و سلم بسط رداءه الشريف لأخته من الرضاع حين جاءت في وفد هوازن، كما قال في الهمزية بسَط المصطفى لها من رداءٍ   أي فضل حواه ذاك الرداء و كذا بسطه صلى الله عليه و سلم لدحية الكلبي لما جاءه يريد الإسلام فبكى دحية و قبَّل الرداء و وضعه على رأسه و على عينيه، و ذلك ظاهر في التعظيم و الإجلال و لنا في رسول الله صلى الله عليه و سلم أسوة حسنة فينبغي للمريد نشر هذا الثوب لحضور سيد الوجود صلى الله عليه و سلم بل لو فرش جبينه أو مقلته لحق له ذلك كما قيل لو علمنا مجيئكم لفرشنــــــا    صبح القلب أو سواد العيون  و جعلنا فوق الجفون طريقا    ليكون المرور فوق الجفون

The Bases of Support for the Wird

The Imam Abu Zayd Sidi Hassan Cisse says in his introduction to Kitab Ruh al-adab (Spirit of Good Morals) of his grandfather Abul Fayd Sidi Ibrahim Niass al-Kulkhi (d. 1390/1975),

The wird is based on threefold principles. The first is) Asking Allah for forgiveness (astaghfirullah). It is really unconscionable for a Muslim to stop his brother in Islam from saying astaghfirullah. None of us are infallible. The same way we do something right today, we may do it wrong tomorrow. Consequently, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) has directed us by saying, “Your sickness is your sin and the remedy of your sickness is to say astaghfirullah.” In addition, there are many verses in the Quran ordering us and advising the community to say astaghfirullah. Just to mention one, in the Hadid Chapter (Ch. 57), v. 21, we are told,  “Be ye foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord.” [57:21] Be ye foremost (in seeking) Forgiveness from your Lord, and a Garden (of Bliss), the width whereof is as the width of heaven and earth, prepared for those who believe in Allah and His messengers: that is the Grace of Allah, which He bestows on whom he pleases: and Allah is the Lord of Grace abounding. And, then, there is the example of our most excellent guide, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). In spite of the infallibility of his station, and that Allah has stated clearly in the Fath Chapter (Ch. 48), v. 2, that He has forgiven all his sins, the previous and the latest, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) used to ask Allah forgiveness and repentance on every day more than one hundred times. If that is the case with him, what should be the case with those of us who live in this corrupt time when disbelief and sinfulness pervade the world.) [48:2] That Allah may forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Way;

The second principle is to say La ilaha illa-llah (There is no God but Allah). In the Hadith, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said, “The best word I have ever said together with the previous Prophets is the word La ilaha illa-llah.” And, again, in the Baqara Chapter "Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith" [2:152]. And in Sura Imran (3), v. 191,  “Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, lying down on their sides.” [3:191] Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): “Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire. And, again, in the Jumu'a Chapter (Ch. 62), v. 10, “And celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.” [62:10] And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper. Surely, when Allah, with His unlimited wealth says often, this wording is not to be taken lightly. When Allah, the Possessor and Dispenser of all wealth, suggests that something be done often, we must remember that the perspective of the wealthy is not like the perspective of the poor. And Almighty Allah, He has everything. You cannot even say Allah is the richest because everything is under His control;

And the third point is Salatal 'ala Nabi, the offering of prayers upon the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). Allah ordered the community, the believers, to offer prayers upon the Prophet after He has himself done this together with His angels, (Ahzab Chapter (Ch. 33), v. 56). Moreover, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said in the Hadith, “Whoever offers one prayer upon me, Allah will offer ten upon him.” In another report, “Whoever offers one prayer on me, Allah will offer ten on him; if he makes it ten, Allah will make it one hundred for him; if he makes it one hundred, Allah will make it one thousand for him; if he makes it a thousand, he will enter Paradise shoulder-to-shoulder together with me.” [33:56] Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: "O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect".

So these are the principles and some of the bases of support for the Dhikr of the Tijani Path. It is solely derived from Quran and Hadith. In the final analysis, we are Muslims looking for the Truth, and wherever we see the Truth, we shall follow. [33:21] Ye have indeed in the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope

Sidi al-Haj  Ibrahim Niass explains in the same book in a commentary on his father poetic line, "An advice from me to my brothers, adhere to the path of Tijaniya",

This means the call to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) by Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani (may Allah be satisfied with him). This call enjoins the Muslims to hearken to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) by holding strongly to three articles, without which the Islamic practices can never be properly established. These three articles are:

• Seeking forgiveness from Allah from our sins (Astaghfiru-llah). In the Quran, Allah commands: “And seek for His forgiveness for He is always forgiving” [110:3]. Celebrate the praises of thy Lord, and pray for His Forgiveness: For He is Oft-Returning (in Grace and Mercy). Concerning the above command, the Mother of the Faithful Aicha (may Allah be satisfied with her) said, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) never offered prayer after this verse was revealed except, he says: “My Lord, I glorify and praise you, Oh Allah forgive me.” Allah also said in the Quran [3:135] And those who, having done something to be ashamed of, or wronged their own souls, earnestly bring Allah to mind, and ask for forgiveness for their sins,- and who can forgive sins except Allah?- and are never obstinate in persisting knowingly in (the wrong) they have done. Allah gave glad tidings to the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) in the Quran when He said: “Verily We have granted thee a manifest Victory. That Allah may forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Path” [48:2]. The above statement of Allah is enough to put the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) in no need of forgiveness. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) has declared: “I seek forgiveness from Allah seventy times a day” and in another narration one hundred times. The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) has also said: “Your sickness is your sin and its remedy is to always seek for forgiveness.” Allah has said in the Quran, “But Allah was not going to send them a penalty whilst thou wast amongst them; nor was He going to send it whilst they continuously seek forgiveness.” [8:33] The above verse shows that the Muslim community has assurance of safety from the wrath of Allah in two ways. One is if the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) is in their midst and the second is if they continuously seek forgiveness. If we then look carefully, only the second option is open to the Muslim community in the present circumstance. In a Divine Hadith that is pure, Allah says: “All of you commit sins always, but I forgive all sins,” Since none are infallible but Allah and His Apostle (peace and blessing be upon him), the first act enjoined by Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani as he calls to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) is that the Muslim should return to Allah by realizing his wrong doings and saying the forgiveness formula “Astaghfiru-llah.” This is the first thing enjoined by the Tijaniya Tariqa on his disciples.

• Offering prayers (salat) upon our beloved Prophet: This is the second article of the Tariqa and it means, to offer prayers on the beloved Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). Anyone who exercises his thinking faculty very well knows that the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) does not need our prayers, not even in the least. For Allah, Glorious is His Name, has completed His blessings and favours upon him and made him a Mercy to the universe. Allah says in the verse, [93:5], “And soon will thy Guardian-Lord give thee (that wherewith) thou shalt be well-pleased”, and in the verse [48:2] Allah says: “That Allah may forgive thee thy faults of the past and those to follow; fulfil His favour to thee; and guide thee on the Straight Path”, and in the verse [5:3], “Today have I perfected for you, your religion and completed my favour upon you and pleased to have Islam as your chosen religion.” Besides these, the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) himself said: “I am the distributor while Allah is the One that Gives” Contemplating on the above verse, we find that not only has the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) acquired all favours from Allah, but any other favour that is due to any other creation passes through him for distribution. What can then the creation ask, for he who distributes? If so.. Why then do we offer prayers on the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)? We do this only to multiply our expectations from Allah. It is just like a pauper who visits the king with a gift of a small piece of bread so as to attract the sympathy and love of the king, thereby multiplying his expectations. The king's gift in return is always far better than the pauper's worthless gift.

  The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) said: “Anyone who makes one salat (prayer) on me, Allah makes ten for him. When he makes ten for me, Allah makes a hundred for him. When he makes a hundred for me, Allah makes a thousand for him and if he makes a thousand for me, he shall be shoulder to shoulder with me at the gate of the paradise.” In another narration:  “It will be written for him - safety from hypocrisy, safety from hell-fire, and safety from punishment.” Who knows the value of one salat of Allah, not to mention ten or a hundred or even one thousand! To attempt to value this is to value the work of Allah and its reward as compared to that of His servant. Indeed glory be to Allah Who differs from His creatures in every respect, essence, nature or work. Here therefore lies the secret and cornerstone of making salat (prayer) on the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). One salat of Allah is more than enough to turn the hell-fire into a frozen ice. Salat on the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him)? What a beautiful profession, that Allah and His angels partake alongside the faithful servants male and female. Allah says in the verse, [33:56], Verily Allah and His angels send blessings on the Prophet: “O ye that believe! Send ye blessings on him, and salute him with all respect”. The second article of the Tijani Path is therefore a work in which Allah and His angels are participating, and for a poor servant of Allah this makes it a finished affair.

• Dhikr of al-Haylala (“La ilaha illa-llah”; There is no God but Allah). The third article with which Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani uses in calling people to the path of Allah is Dhikr. This means remembering Allah and His absolute existence day and night by saying: “La ilaha illa-llah.” Allah says in the verse 2:152, “Then do ye remember Me; I will remember you. Be grateful to Me, and reject not Faith.” Dhikr is the only form of worship that is neither limited by amount, place or time. For example, fasting is forbidden on Eid days. Prayers are forbidden during sunrise and sunset and during menstrual periods. Recitations of Quran are not normally permitted in salats during bowing and prostrations. Likewise, Zakat and Hajj are limited to an amount and time of the year respectively. As for Dhikr, Allah says in the verse 62:10, “And remember Allah a lot so that you shall be prosperous” And when the Prayer is finished, then may ye disperse through the land, and seek of the Bounty of Allah: and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may prosper.

  In the above, Allah ordained us to make a lot of Dhikr. What a lot is in the eyes of the poor is certainly little for the rich. What then do we understand when Allah the Greatest and Self-Sufficient says a lot. Thus, the minimum we can do to at least come close to “A Lot” in the sight of Allah is to remember Him day and night, all day long and throughout our entire life. That is why Allah the Most High describes people of intellect in the Quran 3:191 as: “Those who constantly remember Allah (DHIKR) in all their standing, sitting and lying positions.” Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, and lying down on their sides, and contemplate the (wonders of) creation in the heavens and the earth, (With the thought): “Our Lord! not for naught Hast Thou created (all) this! Glory to Thee! Give us salvation from the penalty of the Fire.”

  The Best of All of the Faithful, and Mankind has exemplified this act, as was reported by his beloved wife in a Hadith: “Such was the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) who used to remember Allah (Dhikr) at all his entire time.” The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) has declared in a good Hadith reported by Anas (may Allah be satisfied with him):  “For me to remember Allah by making Dhikr with a group of people after the early morning prayer (Fajr) until the sunrise is more lovable to me than the whole world and its content. And for me to remember Allah by making Dhikr with a group of people after the latenoon prayer (Asr) until sunset is more lovable to me than the whole world and what it contains.” Allah has also warned that we should not be among those that forget Allah, as in the Quran 59:19, “And be ye not like those who forgot Allah; and He made them forget their own souls! Such are the rebellious transgressors!” Thus only the hypocrite and transgressor forgets Allah, and in this case Allah also forgets them. Because of their forgetfulness, it is doom after doom for them, day-in and day-out in this world. In the Hereafter, their rightful place shall be hell. May Allah save us from this (Ameen).

   But if you remember Allah, Allah remembers you. Which means He will help you, assist you, and give you victory in both your spiritual and mundane affairs. There are many ways of remembering Allah, but the best way is what Sidna Shaykh Ahmed Tijani has enjoined in calling Muslims to the path of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him). The Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) himself has said: “The best that has been said by myself and the previous Prophets before me, is 'La ilaha illa-llah'“. In a Holy Hadith, Allah told the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him): “La ilaha illa-llah is my fortress (protection), whoever enters my fortress is saved from my punishment.” It is therefore abhorrent and disgusting for any Muslim to advise a fellow Muslim not to say La ilaha illa-llah. Thus the Tariqa that advises Muslims to practice this is simply putting them on the path of the Prophet (peace and blessing be upon him) and towards obedience of Allah.