Tuesday, February 14, 2006

Shaykh Hasaan Cisse and Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse

Today, we feature the works of a grandson and his grandfather.

Bio taken from Tijaniyya.com

Shaykh Hassan Cisse, son of Sayyidi Ali Cisse and Sayyidah Fatimatou Zahra Niasse and grandson and spirtual heir of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse, is Chief Imam of the Grand Mosque in Madina Kaolack, Senegal and one of the eminent leaders of the Tariqa Tijaniyya, a Sufi brotherhood based exclusively on Qur'an and Hadith. Shaykh Hassan brought the Tariqa to the United States in 1976, introducing it to Muslims in America for the very first time. The Shaykh is the Founder and Chairman of The African American Islamic Institute, Inc., a tax exempt, international humanitarian organization.

Shaykh Hassan Cisse was born in Kaolack, Senegal in December, 1945, the first grandson of Shaykh Al-Islam Al Hajj Ibraham Niasse (RA), who illuminated the essence of Islam throughout West Africa. After memorizing the Holy Qur'an at ten years of age, Shaykh Hassan completed his elementary and post elementary studies in Senegal. Educated in Senegal, Mauritania, Egypt, England and the United States, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Islamic Studies and Arabic Literature from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, a Diploma in French Language, a Certificate in English Language and a Master of Philosophy from the University of London.
While engaged in research toward a Ph.D in Islamic Studies at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, his father, Sayyidi Ali Cisse(RA), passed away and he was recalled to Senegal to assume the inspired work that has given direction and meaning to millions of seekers of Truth in Africa, Asia, Europe and, especially, in the United States.

Since the Shaykh first came to America in 1976, he has been teaching, guiding, inspiring Muslims to fear Allah and love Prophet Muhammad(sallalahu alayhi wa salaam), always reminding us to do what Allah ta'ala says do and stop where Allah ta'ala says stop. Over the past twenty years, the Shaykh has traveled to various U.S cities, many of which have honored him as a distinguised Islamic scholar and religious leader and for the work of The African American Islamic Institute, Inc. Shaykh Hassan Cisse has been awarded the Key to the City of Cleveland, OH, Washington, DC, where June 16, 1986 was proclaimed Shaykh Hassan Cisse Day, Detroit, MI and Memphis, TN, which honored him as an Honorary Citizen of Memphis and was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the City of New Orleans, which proclaimed October 2, 1996 Shaykh Hassan Cisse Day.

Internationally, Shaykh Hassan Cisse has been recognized by the United Nations Population Fund (UNPFA) as a respected Islamic scholar and leader for his outstanding work and cooperation with the UNPFA towards achieving the goals set forth during the Cairo and Bejing conferences regarding human rights, to include family planning, the status of women, the education of girls, protection of children and the prevention of drug abuse. He has been recognized by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) for his scholarship, leadership, cooperation and advocacy regarding the issues vital to the health, education and well being of children. The Shaykh has spoken extensively on these issues, giving an enlightened Islamic perspective on human rights, womens rights, marriage, alcohol and other drugs and children during his annual International Islamic Conference in Senegal and The Gambia. As a result of his active involvement in human rights issues, Shaykh Hassan Cisse has participated in United Nations conferences for NGOs and is frequently invited guest speaker at UNICEF and other UN-sponsored events.

As the Founder and Chairman of the Board of The African American Islamic Institute, Inc., (An Institute of Nasrul Ilm, i.e., Helping Knowledge), Shaykh Hassan Cisse has directed the guidelines for the Institute's humanitarian activities in keeping with the teachings of Islam, to wit: feed the hungry, care for the sick, teach the unlettered, protect the interests of women and children, pursue knowledge and foster peace and understanding among mankind.

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse: Revivalist of the Sunnah

Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse was born in Senegal on October 17, 1902 (15 Rajab, 1320 A.H.) and died on July 26, 1975 (15 Rajab 1395 A.H.) He was the son of al‑Hajj Abdullahi Niasse and grandson of Muhammad Niasse, both of them well-known members of the Mama of Senegal. Growing up in an intellectual environment strengthened his grasp of the Islamic sciences. His father taught him Qur'an with its tafsir and Hadith with their shark (explanation). He also taught him fiqh and the science of tasawwuf from the well-known books in use among the majalisu-l-'ilm in Senegal, those circles in which students gather around the shaykhs in search of knowledge.

As a boy, the Shaykh was highly intelligent, showing signs of great potential and blessed with good character. These characteristics once prompted his father to say, "You do not need to travel as your brothers do. If you but sit, people will come to you. It is the duty of a river to be full. If the neighboring cows do not come to drink, those who are from afar will." In reference to his educational background and achievements, Shaykh Ibrahim said, "I learned Qur'an and Hadith first from my shaykh, my father, and he, from his father. I received an 'ijaza (diploma from the majalis al-'ilm) first from my father in both Qur'an and Hadith, then from Abdur-Rahman b. al­Hajj-1-'Alawi and another 'ijaza from Shaykh Ahmad Sukayrij who, himself, had earned some six hundred 'ijazas from six hundred dif­ferent shaykhs whose names are mentioned in his book' where he writes, `The first one to whom I gave authorization in all these chains of transmission was the Khalifa al-Hajj Ibrahim Niasse.' "

When Shaykh Ibrahim entered upon the Sufi path, he took the Tari­qa Tijaniyya from his father. The step was momentous, for it was within this tariqa that he was to play a major role. It was, in fact, a role without parallel since Shaykh Umar Tal al-Futi's earlier role in the spread of the Tijaniyya. Starting with his father, Shaykh Ibrahim received many appointments as muqaddam in the Tijaniyya. Before dying, his father in­structed Shaykh Muhammad Mahmoud ash-Shinghity of Mauritania to appoint his son a muqaddam. Shaykh ash-Shinghity, however, told Shaykh Ibrahim, "You have no need for an 'ijaza from a creature because you have your appointment from the Creator." 2 He had additional appointments from al-Hajj Abdullah b. al-Hajj al-Alawi of Mauritania and the master Muhammad al-Hafiz al-Tijani of Egypt as well as Shaykh Ahmad Sukayrij of Morocco, the closest link to Ahmad al-Tijani in silsilah. He certified that Shaykh Ibrahim was khalifa of the Tariqa's initiator, Ahmad al-Tijani. Of himself, Shaykh Ibrahim once said, "What I have in the way of `ijaza and muqaddam authorizations would indeed fill a book." Although he was the youngest of his father's children, shortly after his father's death in 1922, he became the most outstanding among them. He became, in fact, the most important marabout within his father's house and throughout the area. His importance is reflected in Notes Et Etudes Sur L'islam En Afrique Noir where we find the statement, "El Hajji Ibrahim Niasse est incontestablement la personalite religieuse la plus marquante de Itidjanisme senegalais dans toute la region du Sine­Saloum ou la famine marboutique des masse."
For the first time since the epoch of the founder, Shaykh Ahmas Al-Tijani (died in 1815), we find within the Tariqa an international grouping of Muslim peoples.

Shaykh Ibrahim was a staunch advocate of restoring the proper ritual observances of the Prophet's pure Sunnah. Some had become careless and begun to omit some of the recommended practices of the Prophet This was particularly true with reference to the Muslim canonical prayer (salat). In Africa the problem was especially acute. Basing himself on the prophetic tradition "Pray in the way you see me pray," the Shaykh focused his efforts on the most frequent omissions from the prayer ritual. They were: Qabdur, the placing the hands upon the breast with the right one over the left; the recitation of the formula bismillahir-rahmanir-rahim aloud before the recitation of the opening chapter (Suratul-Fatiha) and the Qur'anic lection when the prayer was said aloud and silently when it was said silently; and the raising of the hands before bowing (ruku), and after bowing. The latter practice was based on the hadith, "Everything has its beauty and the beauty of salat is the raising of the hands." The Shaykh also wrote a book entitled Raf'ul malam 'an man rafa'a wa qabada iqtida an bi sayyidil anam substantiating his claims with pro­ofs drawn from the Qur'an and Hadith. In them, he attacked a false doctrine of blind taqlid and advocated a true doctrine of taqlid which must in all cases be based upon the Prophet's pure Sunnah. The changes advocated by the Shaykh caused quite a stir in many com­munities who believed that what they were doing was the authentic Maliki practice. It was, therefore, difficult for them to break habits that seemed to them confirmed by being passed from one generation to the next. But in time a large segment of the Muslim population abandoned what they had been wont to do and adopted the establish­ed wont of the Prophet which Shaykh Ibrahim had champion­ed. This, in fact, was the beginning of the Reformed Tijaniyya as it has been called in John Paden's excellent book, Religion and Political Culture in Kano.

As a spiritual guide in tasawwuf, Shaykh Ibrahim wrote many books explaining Sufism and the possibility of spiritual perfection in the modern age. Perhaps the most famous and widely read was Kashiful-Albas or "The Removal of the Confusion." It was written in Arabic and explains the real meaning of Sufism. In it, the Shaykh states that tasawwuf possesses a definition, subject, matter, name, compilers, sources, laws, problems, attributes, and results. Everyone who takes up its study should be familiar with these ten points. Tasawwuf is to adopt every worthy form of behavior and to eschew unworthy forms of action. It is to adopt, in fact, the character of the Qur'an and Sunnah. One must give himself entirely over to Allah, the Exalted, in whatever He wills, just as He wills. A certain poet once said, "Sufism is not to wear wollen garments or affect worn out clothing. It is good behavior and good manners (adab)." Another said, "Sufism is not to wear a woolen coat and patch it, nor to weep when the singer sings. It is not to cry out, nor to dance and make merry. It is not to feign fainting as if one is mad. Rather, tasawwuf is being pure without defilement and following the truth of Qur'an and the religion."

Read rest of the bio here

Tijaniyya.com

African American Islamic Institute

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

l want to be a membership of this sufism international.l am already in locally in lagos state in nigeria and u to send me the steps involved to be a member and wait unto Allah to use me to take tijjaya and sufism to the next level insha Allahu,here is my email and home address.......yomioyesanya@yahoo.com........ABAYOMI OYESANYA NO-2 GEORGE STREET, LAST FLOOD, APONGBON LAGOS ISLAND LAGOS STATE NIGERIA C/O MR/MRS AJALA.

Anonymous said...

Ma Cha Llah! I ask the praises of the brothers Tidjanis in the world. Unity fil Oumma wa fil Hadriti Llah!Cheikh Ibrahim Niasse al Imamoul Fayda. Allahoumma ini as alouka anta bi anta fi anta wahdah Ya Rabbi aj'alni al himati Chaikhi wa chawqi wa zawqi fi tarbiyati Cheikhi Ibrahim Niasse

abdul salam said...

I am also a member of the tariqua tijaniyya and will also like to join the Sufism international and will like to know to get a lot of koranic verses as well as the hadith of the Holy prophet on the practice so as to strengthen it in me as well as to be able to defend myself and also teach other about the practice .
this is my email address
sheikhabdulbansi@yaho.com and also am from Ghana .

Abdul-Halim V. said...

Asalam-alaikum,

I should have probably said something earlier but I'm actually not affiliated with this group at all so if anyone out there watns to join them and participate you should try to contact them directly on your own.

Anonymous said...

fathia wa solatul fathy for maolana gaosu samani sheik alhaji ibrahim bin abdullahi niass(rta).am a tijanniyya and i wish to read more of the article in the book titled ruhu-l- adab,though i wish to have the english copy and any other book by the eminent sheik.you can forward me a mail on how to get the books on hamsawas@yahoo.com or taurusA3@aol.com malsallam.

Ahmzat Adesina said...

fathia wa solatul fathy fo the eminent sheik maolana wa gaosu samani sheik ibrahim bn abdullahi,i alway wanted to get some write up by the sheik and a particular one titled ruhu-l-adab and also want to be a member of sufism internation.please forwar me a mail on how i can get the books and the lionk to join the sufism internatrion on hamsawas@yahoo.com

rabiu husaini said...

i love sheik ibrahim inyas more than anybody

rabiu husaini said...

ilove sheik ibrahim inyas more than anybody in these world

rabiu husaini said...

i love sheik ibrahim inyas more than anybody in these world

rabiu husaini said...

i love sheik ibrahim inyas

Unknown said...

fathia wa solatul fathy fo the eminent sheik maolana wa gaosu samani sheik ibrahim bn abdullahi,i always wanted to get some write up by the sheik and a particular one titled ruhu-l-adab and also want to be a member of sufism international.please forward me a mail on how i can get the books and the link to join the sufism internatrional on salauafolabi@yahoo.com

Shokunbi Moshood Folarin said...

I love Sheik Ibrahim Inyass and all the Tijaniyass

munir ibrahim said...

indeed shehu ibrahim is the phototype of rasululahi [S A W ]who ever seen and love shehu ibrahim as seen and love the prophet[S A W]. i love shehu ibrahim morthern my life he is my intention, imam ,alkibla,salat,fasting,zakat, food,drink,knowledge,everything of me, his zikr has taken all over my being.cos i have never seen some one unlike him.jazakalahu shehu ibrahim. here is my email and home address ...munirdeen2007@yahoo.com[munir ibrahim] NO C4 KINSHASA ROAD UNGWAR RIMI KADUNA NIGERIA.

Anonymous said...

my name is usman ridwan. i love sheik ibrahim too much b cos is inside me myself. i will like to be getting siri weekly.

Unknown said...

The chosen one, The light, The saviour, The guardian of all to Aljannat, The revivalist of the Sunnah of prophet Muhammad (SAW), The saint of Allah, The one who doesn't know anything except Allah and His prophet(SAW), The one who spent his life time in remembrance of Allah (Zikrullah) and offering prayers and praises upon the first and the last prophet(Salat Alan Nabiyyi Muhammad SAW) Maulana, Murabbina, Sayyidina, Murshidina Sheikh Ibrahim bin Abdullahi Nyass. This man is well known Islamic scholar who do read and translate Qur'an, read and describe the Sunnah of the prophet(SAW), gave Fatawa (Legal Advice) in Islam, he was the revivalist of the sunnah,he was handsome, beautiful, sweet, the one who was chosen by Allah as a Friend(Waliyullah), the one who Allah says in the holy Qur'an that"No fear on them, nor shall they grieve" (Inna Auliya Allahu La Khaufun Alaihim Wa la Hum Yakhzanun). The man whom an honour and respect is due to. I love him Because I believe that loving him is part of faith as Allah says no fear on them Now and hereafter. May Almighty Allah benefit me and the rest of his followers and other Muminun and Salihun throuh his secrets.

zaks4peace said...

Jazaka llahu Haira

Anonymous said...

The love of Shiek Ibrahim Inyass is the highest form of blessing one can get.Pray for me that i should leave this world as a lover of this great shiek.AMEEN SUMMA AMEEN.Muhyiddeen Bala shanya.email address.....mbshanya@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

Iam already a member of Tijanniyya group in Nigeria,i just need more knownledge the ways of sufism because my Sheikh just return back to God yesterday.This my email address gidababan@yahoo.com

Abdullahi Ibrahim Babangida said...

Some work to clamp up spiritually is what need to grow in sufism.

ihsan said...

السلام عليكم

Excellent article... Saw a small typo...

"He was the son of al‑Hajj Abdullahi Niasse and grandson of Muhammad Niasse, both of them well-known members of the MAMA of Senegal."

The word MAMA should read ULAMA.

Ibraheem said...

Alhamdulillahi, may Almighty Allah bless Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W)with the best of rewards. Veriely, Tarqatittijjaniyya is the straight path to be followed by all muslims, and the destination of that path is Jannatul Firdaus. Dont listen to any body who is trying to block you from following the right path.

barhamaadam said...

i wish to congratulate the new Graand Khalifa Cheik Ahmad Tijjani Cheik Ibrahim Niasse, i wish him Allah's guidance and protection.
Barhama Lagos.

ismail said...

salam-alaihkum,my name is ismail a native of nigeria but live in malaysia i realy love to hear more about 'baba niasse'sir please i wish to been been doing or start wassyfal here and i have garded people here sir i need your support in moral and spiritual so the wassyfal can be hold,here is my mail{lanreisma@yahoo.com}i need the spirit of the gaosu to used me i surrender my self to shaykh ibrahim niasse.

Farouk Hamza said...

Assalamu alaikum brothers and sisters. I think your effort to enrich knowledge of our great spiritual leaders is very noble one. However I think the 1902 you quoted as the year of birth of Sheikh al Islam Alhaj Ibrahim Niass may is misleading. All other materials I've read about his birth indicates the year to be 1900. Please do check your facts again and ammend as appropriate. Wassalam.

Kamaldeen said...

Salamulahi, am Kamaldeen Raji from Nigeria, am happy I witnessed the maolid of MAOLANA INYASS

Anonymous said...

i thank god, because am one of menmber thegratest all d plntes maolan natija duniya wol khaira alhaji ibrahim abdallah inyass from seyiddy jamiu ilorin

Anonymous said...

I am ahlil sufi and interested with the membership. May peace & Blessings of Allah be with our leader & the leader of the universe from creation to the last day MUHAMMAD SAW. I Love Niasse who taught me 2 love Rasulillah

MUHD RABI'U said...

ASSLAM ALAIKUM WA RAHMATULLAHI TA'ALA WA BARAKATUHU,
I AM HERE LOOKING FOR THE SERIES OF NAMES OF BOOKS WRITEN BY OUR BELOVED SHEIKH IBRAHIM INYAS,ONLY, I READ IT IN HIS BIOGRAPHY THAT HE WROTE ABOUT 75 BOOKS DUARING HIS LIFE TIME, PLEASE HELP ME WITH THE NAMES ONLY,THROUGH MY EMAIL ADRESS AS FOLLOWS;-burwaye@gmail.com. YOURS FAITHFULLY;

Rabiu Haris (Ghana)-salaga said...

I am also a member of tariqua tidjaniyya and want to join the sufism international.I will be gratful if you can snd to me korani and hadith verses pertaining to the practice and also defend myself.Below is my e-mail rabiuharis@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

niasse

Anonymous said...

May the peace and blessing of Allah be upon Shaykh Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi niasse (R.T.A)and His Wives, Children, Grandchildren, grate-Grandchildren and so on and anybody who love Him, Shaykh Alhaji Ibrahim Abdullahi niasse (R.T.A). Abdullateef sulaiman. lagos, nigeria. email: sawblessniasse@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

My name is muhammad sheriff muhammad bello. i am one of the followers and lovers of SHEIKH IBRAHIM NIASS KAOLAKH,i want to use this medium to remind all the muridi's to please follow all the rules and regulations relating to practice of right path (TORRIKATUL TIJANI, WA FAIDATUL IBRAHIMIYA)as it was discribed and practiced by our great leader MAOLANA SHEIKH IBRAHIM ABDULAH NIASS .So that we can benefit from sheikh statemente (WAMON YUHIBUNI WAMONYARANI FIL-JANNATIL ULDI BILLA BUTANI, IZZA ANANI KHALIFATUL TIJANI MUHIBATUL MIN SEYYIDIL ADNANI).May ALLAH count me and all the true muridis wa muridas all over the world worthy to enter the greatest and the everlasting home in shouider to shoulder with MAOLANA SHEIKH IBRAHIM NIASS.
my email address is.sobello41@yahoo.com.
i am a Nigerian, am presently studying in manchester.

Anonymous said...

Assalam Alaikum,

I want to know the address(es) of Tariqah Sheikh Ibrahim Niass here in United Kingdom where I can observe my Sawi. Pls, if you have any idea about how I can go about this, kindly send me an email to taiwayo@yahoo.com . May Allah (swt) be with us all...AMIN!!!

Yours in-Isalam
Taofeek

Hadi said...

FOR WHERE TO GET A COPY OF RUHUL-ADAB AND KASHFUL-ILBAS (ENGLISH VERSIONS WITH COMMENTARIES) CONTACT MAL. SANUSI GOMINA:
+23480-39709758
Clicknusi@gmail.com

Anonymous said...

i wish to congratulate the new Graand Khalifa Cheik Ahmad Tijjani Cheif Ibrahim Niasse... i miss them, and they are all inside our heart and we will never forgot about them..my name is ABDUL-RAHMAN MOHAMMED

Abdul Akeem Isa-Habeeb said...

I want to say hello to sufism all over the world and to make them realize that this is the best way to follow in islamic religion and to tell them that the best of tariqah to follow is the tariqah of SHEIKH AHMAD TIJJANI, this is confirmed by the moonlight of all sheikhs ALHAJI SHEIKH-ISLAM IBRAHIM KHAOLA NIYASS.

adio ibrahim said...

l want to be a membership of this sufism international.l am already in locally in lagos state in nigeria and u to send me the steps involved to be a member and wait unto Allah to use me to take tijjaya and sufism to the next level insha Allahu,here is my email and home address.......toomuchmoney8@gmail.com.....26, ojo street akoka, yaba, lagos. adio ibrahim mayowa.my school is federal college of education(technical)akoka lagos. i want ur help in this school. thank u.

Anonymous said...

Does it mean if one follows the Rasuul(SAW) and didn't join the tareeqah, he or she can't go to jannah.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Unknown said...

Assalam Alaikum
Please what is the usual procedure for membership of sufis international. You may wish to contact me at tamaskunya@gmail.com. Thanks and God bless you for the good work and selfless service to Tariqa and Faidha worldwide.

Anonymous said...

You all should please be watchful of what you say and write so as not to commit SHIRK!! Sheikh Niasse is a man held in high esteem but he is also ALLAH's servant!! Besides, he is not a prophet! Loving him is not a crime but loving him more than RASULULLAH is not acceptable!! All I can say is that, Sheikh Niasse is a humble and dutiful slave or servant of ALLAH 'azza wa jal.

Anonymous said...

Sheik Ibraheem is our saviour at this generation

Anonymous said...

Salaam alaekum,i really wish to go deeper in this holy path.I was born into it and I want to die into it and want to be raised among it in the day of resurrection.Nevertheless,i need every book that will me in the path to perfection...I also want to be part of Sufism international.mail me at suaraibrahim13@gmail.com.I stay in Ibadan,Nigeria.Ma salaam.