Tariqa Tijaniyya's principles

Tariqa Tijaniyya's principles are purely based on the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Sheikh Ahmad Tijani himself warned that "If you hear something transmitted from me then weigh it on the balance of the shari'ah, if it agrees with it then receive it, if it does not then reject it. Scoffers and distractors from the path blame bid'ah (innovation) on the meritorious principles and practices of the tariqa. They heavily draw upon the following hadith:

On the authority of Aishah, who said : The messenger of Allah said:

  "He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected."

p narrated by Bukhari and Muslim

And in one version by Muslim it reads :

  "He who does an act which our matter is not [in agreement] with will have it rejected."
     
The hadith clearly defines what innovation is: Any matter that does not agree with Islam or that is not path of Islam. Now the question is how do we know when a matter is not part of Islam? - If it is not in the Quran or Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Nowadays, the opponents of the tariqa invent their own definition of bid'ah which to them is ONLY anything the Holy Prophet (SAW) did not do. This is a very deviated and distorted understanding of the sunnah of the holy Prophet (SAW) because the sunnah is NOT ONLY anything the Prophet (SAW) did but also what he INSTRUCTS and what he ALLOWED and what he did NOT CRITICIZE during his blessed lifetime.

We have provided a list of proofs and evidences for each practice and condition the tariqa instructs based on the Qur'an and Sunnah of the Holy Prophet (SAW). Please don't just go over the evidences, study them deeply and understand them well. Surely truth has become manifest over falsehood.

1.    Istigfaar be recited morning and evening a 100 times


Proofs for constant seeking of forgiveness in the Quran:

 
Allah the Exalted said: "And vie with each other for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Paradise as wide as are the heavens and the earth, prepared for those who ward off evil (the righteous)."

[Al Imran Verse 133]

 

Allah the Exalted said: "But Allah would not punish them while thou was with them, nor will He punish them while they seek forgiveness."

[Anfal  Verse 33]



Allah the Exalted said: “And those who, when they have committed an indecency or wronged themselves, remember Allah and ask forgiveness for their sins – and none can forgive sins but Allah – and do not persist in what (wrong) they have done, while they know"

(Surah 3 verse 135).



Allah the Exalted said: “Seek pardon of your Lord lo! He was ever forgiving. He let loose the sky for you in plenteous rain. And will help you with wealth and sons, and will assign unto you Gardens and will assign unto you rivers."

[Nooh verses 10-12].



Proof from the Sunnah:



Abu Saeed El-Khudari narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "Iblis (Satan) said to his Lord: By Your Might and Majesty, I shall continue to beguile mankind as long as their souls dwell in them. So the Lord said to him: By My Might and Majesty, I shall continue to forgive them as long as they ask for My forgiveness." [Ahmed, Abu Ya'la, and El-Hakim and said: authentic]



Abu Hurayrah (R.A.A.) said: I heard Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلمsaying, "By Allah! I ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to Him more than seventy times a day." [Bukhari]



Anas narrated "I do ask Allah for forgiveness seventy times a day." [Ibn Habban, and Ibn Majah]



Abu Hurayrah (R.A.A) said: the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: "I do ask Allah for forgiveness and repent to him a hundred times a day". [Haithami said: trustworthy chain]

 

Abu Hurayrah narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمgathered the people and said: "O people! Turn to Allah in repentance, for I do repent a hundred times a day." [Muslim, Nisa'i and Ahmed]

 

Abdullah ibn Bisr said: I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaying, "Beatitude is for him in whose Record is found a lot of Istighfar (seeking of Allah's forgiveness)". [Nisa'i ,and  Ibn Majah. El-Haithami and Nawawi said: authentic chain].

 

Abu Hurayrah (R.A.A.) said: I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمsaying, "A man committed a sins and then said `O Lord! I have committed a sin, forgive me!' Then his Lord said: `Does My servant know that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and also punishes for it? Lo! I have forgiven My servant.' Then sometime passed and again committed a sin, and said, `O Lord! I have committed another sin, forgive me,' Allah the Exalted said: `Does My servant know that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and also punishes for it? I have forgiven My servant.' Then after some time he committed a sin and said: `O my Lord! I have committed another sin, forgive me for it'! Allah the Exalted said: `Does My servant know that he has a Lord Who forgives sins and punishes for it? I have forgiven My servant three times; let him do what he likes."  [Bukhari and Muslim]



Ali ibn Rabi'a (R.A.A) said "I saw Ali ibn Abu Talib (R.A.A.) once, when he was about to ride. When he inserted his foot in the stir-up he said: 'Bismillah' (in the name of Allah), and when he leveled himself on the saddle he said: praise be to Allah, 'Praised be to He Who hath subdued these unto us, and we were not capable of subduing them and Lo! Unto our Lord we are returned'. Then he praised Allah three times, and magnified (Him) three times. Then, he said: 'Glory be Thee! There is no God but You, I have wronged my soul, forgive me'. Then he smiled. We asked, 'O Leader of the believers! Why did you smile?' he replied, 'I have seen Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم doing like what I have just done and then smiled, so I asked: 'O Messenger of Allah! Why did you smile?' He said ' Allah, the Exalted & the Most-High, expresses His pleasure with a servant who asks: O my Lord! Forgive me. Allah says 'My servant has known that none forgives sins save Me'". [Abu Da'ood, Nisa'i, Hakim, Ahmed, and Tirmidhi, and said Authentic]



2.    Blessings of the Prophet be recited morning and evening a 100 times

Proof in the Quran for constant blessing on the Prophet (SAW)


Allah, the Exalted, said, "Lo! Allah and His angels send their Salat (prayers) on the Prophet, O ye who believe! Send your Salat on him, and salute him with a worthy salutation."

 [Ahzab, verse 56].

 

Proofs and commandments from the hadith to constantly send blessings on the Prophet (SAW)

Aus ibn Aus (R.A.A.) narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Friday is one of the best of your days. So, recite plenty of prayers (Salat) upon me, for your prayers will be presented (shown) to me." The Companions asked: O Messenger of Allah, how will our Salat be presented to you, after your body has dispersed into the earth. He صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Allah has forbidden the earth to consume the bodies of the Prophets". [Abu Daood with authentic chain, Nisa'i, and Ibn Majah. El-Hakim: through Mas'ood El-Ansari (R.A.A), and said: of authentic chain].

Et-Tufail ibn Ubayy ibn Ka'ab narrated that his father said: when two third of the night had passed, the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم would get up and say, "O people, remember Allah, remember Allah, the first blast of the Trumpet has come and will be followed with the second blast, death has come with all that it conceives, death has come with all that it conceives." Ubayy said, 'I said, O Messenger of Allah, I recite a lot of prayers (Salat) upon you, how much of my prayers should I make for you? He said. "Whatever you want." I said, 'A quarter?' He said, "Whatever you want, and if you increase it, it will be better for you". I said, 'Half?' He said, "Whatever you want, and if you increase it, it will be better for you." I said, 'two third?' He said, "Whatever you want, and if you increase it, it will be better for you." I said, 'Should I make my whole prayers for you?' He said, "Then, you will be relieved of your distress, and your sins will be forgiven". [Tirmizi, and said: good & authentic].



3.    Haylala (La ilaha illa lahu) be recited morning and evening a 100 times

Proof from the Qur’an


Allah, the Exalted, said: "Allah bears witness that there is no God but He, and the angels and those having knowledge (also bear witness to this); (He always) maintains His creation in justice; there is no God but He, the Almighty, the All-Wise).

[Al Imran verse 18]

 
Proof from the hadith

Abu Dhar (R.A.A.) said:I came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم while he was wearing white clothes and sleeping. Then I went back to him again after he had got up from his sleep. He said, "Nobody says: La ilaha illa Allah (there is no God but Allah,), then dies while believing in that, except that he will enter Paradise". I asked: Even if he had committed adultery and theft. He said, "Even if he had committed adultery and theft". I asked: Even if he had committed adultery and theft. He said, "Even if he had committed adultery and theft". I asked: Even if he had committed adultery and theft. He said, "Even if he had committed adultery and theft, In spite of Abu Dhar's dislikeness". [Bukhari].

 

Abu Moosa narrated his father as saying: I came to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمin a group of my people. So, he said to us, "Have glad tiding, and spread the glad tiding to those who are behind you that: he who sincerely bears witness that there is no God but Allah (La ilaha illa Allah) enters Paradise". So, we went out happily giving glad tiding to people. Omer ibn El-Khattab met us, took us back to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, and said: O Messenger of Allah, then people will rely (on this). The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلمkept silent (made no comment)". [Ahmed, and Tabarani. Authentic chain].

 

Jabir (R.A.A.) said: I heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The best remembrance (of Allah) is La ilaha illa Allah (there is no God but Allah); and the best supplication is El-Hamdu Lillah (Praise be to Allah)". [Tirmidhi and said good, and El-Hakim and said authentic chain].



Abdullah ibn Omer said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Glorification of Allah (saying: Subhan Allah) is half the Balance, and the Praise (of Allah) fills it, and 'La ilaha illa Allah' (no God but Allah) has no veil between it and Allah until it reaches Him'. [Tirmidhi]



Abu Hurayrah (R.A.A.) said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "increase recitation of the testimony: 'La ilaha illa Allah' (no God but Allah) before it is intervened between you and it (the witness)'. [Abu Ya'la, with authentic narrators].



Abu Saeed El-Khudari (R.A.A.) narrated that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Moosa (Moses), peace be upon him, said: O Lord! Teach me something that I remember You with, and pray to (call) You with. He (the Lord) said: O Moosa! Say 'La ilaha illa Allah' (no God but Allah). Moosa said, O Lord! All Your servants say that. He (the Lord) said: Say La ilaha illa Allah. Moosa said: There is no God but You my Lord, but I want something You favor me with. He (the Lord) said: O Moosa! If the seven heavens and their inhabitants, except Me, and the seven earths are (put) on one hand (of the scale), and La ilaha illa Allah is (put) on the other hand, La ilaha illa Allah will outweigh them all". [Nisa'i, Ibn Habban, and El-Hakim who said: of authentic chain].



Um Hani' bint Abu Talib (R.A.A.) said: I said O Prophet of Allah! I became old and feeble woman. So, guide me to a deed. He said, "Magnify Allah a hundred times, and praise Allah a hundred times, and glorify Allah a hundred times. This is better for you than a hundred accepted camels (in Allah's sake), and better than a hundred horses, saddled & reined, in the cause of Allah, and better than a hundred manumitted slaves (as a devotion to Allah) accepted (by Allah); and, saying 'la ilaha illa Allah' does not leave a sin, and no deed resembles it". [Tabarani].



Abud-Darda'a narrated that the prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "No servant (of Allah) says 'la ilaha illa Allah' a hundred times, except that Allah resurrects him, in the Day of Resurrection, with a face like a moon in a full moon night. And, no deed is raised, on that day, for anyone better than his, except for someone who says similar to his or more". [Tabarani].



Ibn Omer said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "The people of la ilaha illa Allah feel no desolation in their graves or in their resurrection, and as if I see the people of la ilaha illa Allah dusting off their heads and saying praise be to Allah who took away the grief from us". [Tabarani, Abu Ya'la, and Behaqi].



Abu Hurayrah (R.A.A.) said that the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, "Renew your faith. They asked: O Messenger of Allah! How we renew our faith? He said: increase saying 'la ilaha illa Allah' (no God but Allah)". [El-Hakim, and said authentic chain]



 

4.    The zikr of Juma’ah (recitation of La ilaha illa lahu) in congregation after salatul Asr on Friday till sunset (this can be done individually when it is not feasible to perform in a gathering)

Proof from the Qur’an:


And when the Prayer (Juma’ah prayers) 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.

[Jumuah verse 10]


"O! Ye, who believe, remember Allah with much remembrance."
(Surah Ahzab Verse 41).



Proof from the ahadith:

Anas reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "When you come upon the meadows of the Garden, graze in them." He was asked, "What are the meadows of the Garden?" "Circles of dhikr," he replied. (at-Tirmidhi)

 

Abu Hurayra reported that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "Allah Almighty has angels who travel the highways and by-ways seeking out gatherings of dhikr in the earth. When they find a gathering of dhikr, they enfold them with their wings stretching up to the heaven. Allah asks them, 'From where have you come?' They reply, 'We have come from Your slaves who are glorifying You, praising You, proclaiming Your oneness, asking of You and seeking refuge with You.' He says - and He knows better than them, 'What are they asking Me for?' They reply, 'They are asking You for the Garden.' He says, 'Have they seen it?' They reply, 'No, our Lord.' He says, 'How would it be if they were to see it?' Then He asks - and He knows better than them, 'What are they seeking refuge from?' 'From the Fire,' they reply. He asks, 'Have they seen it?' 'No,' they reply. Then He says, 'How would it be if they were to see it?' Then He says, 'I testify to you that I have forgiven them, I have given them what they ask Me for, and I give them the refuge which they ask of Me.' They say, 'Our Lord, among them is a wrongdoer who is sitting with them, but is not one of them.' He says, 'I have forgiven him as well. The one sitting with these people will not be wretched.'" (Muslim, at-Tirmidhi, al-Hakim)

 

Abu Hurayra reported from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri that the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, "There are no people who remember Allah without the angels surrounding them, mercy covering them, tranquillity descending on them, and Allah mentioning them to those who are with Him." (Muslim, at-Tirmidhi)

 

Mu'awiya reported that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, went out to a circle of his Companions and asked, "What is it that has caused you to sit together?" They answered, "We have sat down to remember Allah and praise Him." He said, "Jibril came to me and reported to me that the angels are boasting about you." (Muslim, at-Tirmidhi)

 

Agharr Abi Muslim reported: I bear witness to the fact that both Abu Huraira and Abu Sa'id Khudri were present when Allah's Messenger may peace be upon him) said: The people do not sit but they are surrounded by angels and covered by Mercy, and there descends upon them tranquillity as they remember Allah, and Allah makes a mention of them to those who are near Him. This hadith has been narrated on the authority of Shu'ba with the same chain of transmitters. (Bukhari)



Abu Sa'id Khudri reported that Mu'awiya went to a circle in the mosque and said: What makes you sit here? They said: We are sitting here in order to remember Allah. He said: I adjure you by Allah (to tell me whether you are sitting here for this very purpose)? They said: By Allah, we are sitting here for this very purpose.  Thereupon he adjured by Allah and asked if that only was the purpose of their sitting there whereupon he (the Messenger) said: I am not asking you to take an oath because of any allegation against you but for the fact that Gabriel came to me and he informed me that Allah, the Exalted and Glorious, was talking to the angels about your magnificence. (Bukhari)



5.    Performing all salat (5 daily prayers) in congregation as much as possible

Proof from the Qur’an

And be steadfast in prayer; practise regular charity; and bow down your heads with those who bow down (in worship). [Baqra verse 43]



Proof from the ahadith

 A blind man said, "Oh Messenger of Allah, I do not have someone to guide me to the Mosque," and thus asked the Messenger SAW to grant him special permission not to attend congregational prayers. As he was leaving, the Messenger called him and said "Do you hear the call? ", he said "yes". He SAW said, "Then answer." (Muslim)



Narrated by Ibn Maktoom that he said: "Oh Messenger of Allah, I am blind, live far away, and have a guide that does not suit me, so can't you give me consent to pray at home?" He said "Do you hear the call?" Ibn Maktoom replied "Yes". The Prophet SAW then said "I cannot find an excuse for you." (Ahmad)



According Abdullah bin Masoud (May Allah’s Mercy upon him) the Prophet said: “O Muslims! Allah has prescribed paths of right guidance for you among which is the offering of the daily prayers in congregation in the masjid, if you start saying your prayers individually at home, as so-and-so does, you will be forsaking the Sunnah of your Prophet, and if you forsake the Sunnah of your Prophet, you will certainly be going astray.” (Muslim)

 

According to Anas (May Allah’s Mercy upon him), the Prophet said: “The person who offers his prayers continuously for 40 days without missing the first takbeer (meaning in congregation), is granted a two-fold immunity by Allah: immunity from Hell-fire and immunity from hypocrisy. (Tirmidhi)

 

6.    Respecting the parents



Thy Lord hath decreed that ye worship none but Him, and that ye be kind to parents. Whether one or both of them attain old age in thy life, say not to them a word of contempt, nor repel them, but address them in terms of honour. (Isra’i verse 23)



“And lower unto them the wing of submission and humility through mercy, and say: ‘My Lord!  Bestow on them Your Mercy as they did bring me up when I was small.’” (Isra’i verse24)



“And We have enjoined on man (to be dutiful and good) to his parents.  His mother bore him in weakness and hardship upon weakness and hardship, and his weaning is in two years give thanks to Me and to your parents, unto Me is the final destination.” 

(Luqman verse 14)



One of Prophet Muhammad’s companions asked about the deeds God loved most.  The Prophet replied, the prayer offered on time and honouring parents...  (Saheeh Bukhari)



7.    Performing the wird (litanies or zikrs) till death

Proof from the Quran:

And serve thy Lord until there come unto thee the Hour that is Certain.

(Al-Hijr verse 99)


"And those who are constant, seeking the pleasure of their Lord, and keep up prayer and spend (benevolently) out of what We have given them secretly and openly and repel evil with good; as for those, they shall have the (happy) issue of the abode."

[Ar-Ra’d verse 22]



"Peace be on you because you were constant, how excellent, is then, the issue of the abode."

 [Ar-Ra’d verse 24]



Proof from the ahadith:

It was narrated by Alqama that he asked Aisha, "Did Allah's Messenger, use to choose some special days (for fasting)?" She replied, "No, but he used to be regular (constant) (in his service of worshipping) . Who amongst you can endure what Allah's Messenger used to endure?" (Bukhari)



It was also narrated that Masruq asked Aisha, "What deed was the most beloved to the Prophet?" She said, "The regular constant one." I said, "At what time did he use to get up at night (for the Tahajjud night prayer)?' She said, "He used to get up on hearing (the crowing of) the cock (the last third of the night)." (Bukhari)



8.   Not combining the wird of the tariqa with another



“They perform (their) vows, and they fear a Day whose evil flies far and wide.”

 (Al-Insan verse 7)

 

As one pledges or makes a vow not to combine the wird of the tariqa with wird from other tariqas, it is therefore binding for the aspirant to fulfill his/her vows. Moreover, tariqa Tijaniyya is the combination of the virtuous principles of all the tariqas combined without any of their weaknesses. The tariqa tijjaniyya also enjoys the highest status owing to the direct reception of knowledge from the Prophet (SAW) through the Khatm awliya and Qutb Maktum Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani (RTA).



9.    Non visitation of saints of other tariqas with the aim of receiving spiritual benefits as the The tariqa tijjaniyya also enjoys the highest status owing to the direct reception of knowledge from the Prophet (SAW) through the Khatm awliya and Qutb Maktum Sheikh Ahmad Tijjani (RTA).