Others
41-614: In terms of Ihsan : The Tijjani order ( Arabic : الطريقة التجانية , romanized : al-Ṭarīqa al-Tijāniyya ) is a Sufi order of Sunni Islam named after Ahmad al-Tijani . It originated in the Maghreb but now more widespread in West Africa , particularly in Senegal , Gambia , Mauritania , Mali , Guinea , Niger , Chad , Ghana , Northern and Southwestern Nigeria and some parts of Sudan . The Tijāniyyah order
82-745: A muqaddam , or representative of the order. Ahmad al-Tijani (1737–1815) was born in Aïn Madhi in Algeria and died in Fes , Morocco . He received his religious education in Fes, Morocco. Inspired by other Moroccan saints he founded the Tijānī order in the 1780s; sources vary as to the exact date between 1781 and 1784. The order has become the largest Sufi order in West Africa and continues to expand rapidly. It
123-420: A subset of those who are mu'min , and those who are mu'min are a subset of muslims : From the preceding discussion it should be clear that not every Muslim is a man or woman of faith ( mu'min ), but every person of faith is a Muslim . Furthermore, a Muslim who believes in all the principles of Islam may not necessarily be a righteous person, a doer of good ( muhsin ), but a truly good and righteous person
164-726: A Sinig Kumba Ndoffene Famak Joof , his state crumbled but the Tijāniyya remained the predominant Sufi order in the region, and Abdoulaye Niass (1840–1922) became the most important representative of the order in the Saalum, having immigrated southward from the Jolof and, after exile in The Gambia due to tensions with the French, returned to establish a zāwiya in the city of Kaolack . The branch founded by Abdoulaye Niass's son, Ibrahim Niass , in
205-422: A community and named it Sobouldeh and started an annual Ziarre, where thousands converge to honor him yearly. Members of the Tijānī order distinguish themselves by a number of practices. Upon entering the order, one receives the Tijānī wird from a muqaddam or representative of the order. The muqaddam explains to the initiate the duties of the order, which include keeping the basic tenets of Islam including
246-640: A few. Through these disciples the tarikha spread through the Senegambia region and beyond. Most of these disciples today have loads of followers and all of them are doing the Laazim daily. Cherno Muhammadou passed it to his son Cherno Omar, who later passed to his son Cherno Muhammadou. Baba Jallow later went on looking for his grandfather (Cherno Muhammadou Jallow), whom he later found in the Casamance. After discovering his grandfather's grave, Cherno Baba created
287-500: Is a matter of taking one's inner faith ( iman ) and showing it in both deed and action, a sense of social responsibility borne from religious convictions. In Islam , Ihsan is the Muslim responsibility to obtain perfection, or excellence, in worship, such that Muslims try to worship God as if they see Him, and although they cannot see Him, they undoubtedly believe that He is constantly watching over them. That definition comes from
328-609: Is also present in the states of Kerala , Tamil Nadu and Karnataka in India. Its adherents are called Tijānī (spelled Tijaan or Tiijaan in Wolof , Tidiane or Tidjane in French). Tijānīs place great importance on culture and education and emphasize the individual adhesion of the disciple ( murid ). To become a member of the order, one must receive the Tijānī wird , or a sequence of holy phrases to be repeated twice daily, from
369-495: Is both a Muslim and a true person of faith. Some Islamic scholars explain ihsan as being the inner dimension of Islam whereas shariah is often described as the outer dimension. Ihsan "constitutes the highest form of worship" ( ibadah ). It is excellence in work and in social interactions. For example, ihsan includes sincerity during Muslim prayers and being grateful to parents, family, and God. Saalum The Kingdom of Saloum ( Serer : Saluum or Saalum )
410-494: Is centered in Nioro, Mali , and is also present in Senegal , Côte d'Ivoire , Burkina Faso , and Niger . One of its most prominent members is the novelist and historian Amadou Hampâté Bâ , who preserved and advocated the teachings of Tierno Bokar Salif Taal (Cerno Bokar Salif Taal), the "Sage of Banjagara". (See Louis Brenner , 1984, 2000.) It was Cherno Muhammadou Jallow, along with Sheikh Oumar Futi Taal, who first received
451-469: Is most concentrated in Senegal , Nigeria , Ghana , Niger , and Mauritania , and has a growing presence in the United States and Europe. Most Tijānī web sites and international organizations are part of this movement. Ibrahim Niass' late grandson and former imam of Medina Baye, Hassan Cissé , has thousands of American disciples and has founded a large educational and developmental organization,
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#1732775250154492-758: The African American Islamic Institute , in Medina Baye with branches in other parts of the world. Another Senegalese "house," in Medina-Gounass, Senegal (to the west of the Niokolo Koba park) was created by Mamadou Saidou Ba . Still another in Thienaba, near Thiès , was founded by the disciple of a famous marabout of Futa Tooro , Amadou Sekhou . The Ḥamāliyya (Ḥamālliyya) branch, founded by Shaykh Hamallah ,
533-574: The Casamance conflict —which has plagued the Gambia , Senegal , and Guinea-Bissau since 1982. He has also been very vocal in calling for a peaceful transition of political power since 2023, in preparation for Senegal's 2024 Presidential Elections. Ethnically, Saloum was and still is Serer , but gradually the Wolof immigrants have settled in along with the Fulas , Mandinkas , etc. Unlike
574-633: The French , it was later defeated. However, like the Kingdom of Sine, the royal dynasty survived up to 1969, when the last absolute monarch of Saloum, Maad Saloum Fode N'Gouye Joof had died. His year of death corresponded with the death of Maad a Sinig Mahecor Joof , who was the last absolute monarch of Sine. These two kings were the last Serer and kings of the Senegalese kingdom with absolute power . After their deaths, both Kingdoms were incorporated into
615-547: The Hadith of Gabriel in which Muhammad states, "[Ihsan is] to worship God as though you see Him, and if you cannot see Him, then indeed He sees you". ( Al-Bukhari and Al-Muslim ). According to Muhammad's hadith "God has written ihsan on everything". Ihsan is one of the three dimensions of the Islamic religion ( ad-din ): In contrast to the emphases of islam (what one should do) and iman (why one should do),
656-607: The Kingdom of Jolof , the Tijānī Order was spread primarily by Malick Sy , born in 1855 near Dagana . In 1902, he founded a zāwiya or religious center in Tivaouane , which became a center for Islamic education and culture under his leadership. Upon Malick Sy's death in 1922, his son Ababacar Sy became the first Caliph. Serigne Mansour Sy became the present Caliph in 1997, upon the death of Abdoul Aziz Sy. The Mawlid or Gàmmu ,
697-601: The king of Saloum who took residence at Kahone . Around 1862, Sambou Oumanneh Touray, a disciple of Maba Diakhou Bâ (later foe) launched a jihad in Sabakh and Sandial. Having defeated the Fara Sabakh and Fara Sandial, he joined the two countries together (hence : Sabakh-Sandial ) and ruled it. The final Fara Sabakh and Fara Sandial died in that jihad. During the Serer paternal and Guelowar maternal dynasties from
738-459: The 15th century to 1969, nearly 50 kings have been enthroned. The kings continued to hold their court in Kahone , but the city was eclipsed commercially by neighboring Kaolack . Portuguese explorers in the 15th century referred to Saloum as the kingdom of Borçalo , after 'Bor-ba-Saloum' (Wolof corruption for "King of Saloum" - Maad Saloum ). Although the Kingdom won some major battles against
779-605: The 19th-century Fulɓe leader Omar Saidou Tall and the Fulɓe cleric ʿAbd al-Karīm al-Nāqil from Futa Jalon (now Guinea ) into the order. After receiving instruction from Muḥammad al-Ghālī from 1828 to 1830 in Mecca , Umar Tall was appointed Caliph (successor or head representative) of Aḥmed al-Tijānī for all of the Western Sudan (Western sub-Saharan Africa). Umar Tall then led a holy war against what he saw as corrupt regimes in
820-592: The Kaolack suburb of Medina Baye in 1930, has become by far the largest and most visible Tijānī branch around the world today. Ibrahima Niass's teaching that all disciples, and not only specialists, can attain a direct mystical knowledge of God through tarbiyyah rūhiyyah (mystical education) has struck a chord with millions worldwide. This branch, known as the Tijāniyyah Ibrāhīmiyyah or the Faydah ("Flood"),
861-565: The King of Sine in particular is very influential, and has been able utilise his influence on the President of Senegal (notably Macky Sall ), and the old pleasant cousinship between the Serer and Jola people by liaising with the King of Oussouye (Maan Sibiloumbaye Diédhiou) to help bring about economic and cultural development in the Senegambia region, and peace in Casamance , after decades of
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#1732775250154902-443: The Kingdom of Sine which is ethnically Serer and deeply rooted in "Serer- conservatism ", such as the preservation of Serer religion , culture, traditions, etc., Saloum is more cosmopolitan and multi-religious. This explains why some Serer traditionalists who adhere to the tenets of Serer religion are reluctant to afford it the same religious status afforded to Sine as one of the sacred Serer holy sites , in spite of housing many of
943-710: The Opener". They are also to participate in the wazifah , a similar formula that is chanted as a group, often at a mosque or zāwiya once on a daily basis, as well as in the Haylalat al-Jum'ah, another formula chanted among other disciples on Friday afternoon before the sun down. Additionally, disciples in many areas organize regular meetings, often on Thursday evenings or before or after Waẓīfa and Hailalat al-Jum'ah to engage in dhikr Allāh , or remembrance of God . In such meetings, poems praising God, Muhammad , Aḥmed at-Tijānī, or another religious leader may be interspersed with
984-671: The Serer Kingdoms. Many parts of present-day Gambia were former colonies of the Kingdom of Saloum. Originally, Saloum extended south to the north banks of the Gambia River . Present-day Gambia was referred to as Lower Saloum. Upper Saloum was where modern day Saloum is in Senegal. The States of Sabakh and Sandial were ruled by the Fara Sabakh and Fara Sandial (respective titles of the chiefs), and were both tributary to
1025-529: The Serer sites (see Serer ancient history ). Although very cosmopolitan, it is also ethnically Serer, the other ethnic groups are migrants. The Serer language and Wolof are both widely spoken in Saloum. The Cangin languages are also spoken. Saloum includes flat, swampy tideland areas inland from the Saloum River delta . In recent years large areas of mangrove growth have been destroyed. There
1066-472: The area, resulting in the large but fleeting Toucouleur Empire in Eastern Senegal and Mali. While Omar Saidou Tall's political empire soon gave way to French colonialism , the more long-standing result was to spread Islam and the Tijānī Order through much of what is now Senegal , Guinea , and Mali (see Robinson, 1985). In Senegal's Wolof country, especially the northern regions of Kajoor and
1107-456: The celebration of the birth of Muhammad , of Tivaouane gathers many followers each year. The "house" or branch of Tivaouane is not the only branch of the Tijānī order in Senegal . The Tijānī order was spread to the south by another jihadist, Màbba Jaxu Ba , a contemporary of Umar Tall who founded a similar Islamic state in Senegal's Saalum area. After Màbba was defeated and killed at The Battle of Fandane-Thiouthioune fighting against Maad
1148-484: The celebration of the birth of Muḥammad, which falls on the night of the 12th of the Islamic month of Rabīʿ al-'Awwal (which means the night before the 12th, as Islamic dates start at sundown and not at midnight). Most major Tijānī religious centers organize a large Mawlid event once a year, and hundreds of thousands of disciples attend the largest ones (in Tivaouane, Kaolack, Prang, Kiota, Kano, Fadama, etc.) Throughout
1189-471: The concept of ihsan is primarily associated with intention. One who "does what is beautiful" is called a muhsin . It is generally held that a person can only achieve true Ihsan with the help and guidance of God , who governs all things. While traditionally Islamic jurists have concentrated on islam and theologians on iman , the Sufis have focused their attention on ihsan . Those who are muhsin are
1230-413: The dhikr. Such meetings may involve simple repetition as a group or call-response, in which one or more leaders lead the chant and others repeat or otherwise respond. Occasionally, a group of disciples, known in Senegal as a daayira , from Arabic dā'irah , or "circle", may organize a religious conference, where they will invite one or more well known speakers or chanters to speak on a given theme, such as
1271-450: The five Five Pillars , to honor and respect one's parents, and not to follow another Sufi order in addition to the Tijāniyya. Initiates are to pronounce the Tijānī wird (a process that usually takes ten to fifteen minutes) every morning and afternoon. The wird is a formula that includes repetitions of the shahada , istighfar , and a prayer for Muḥammad called the Salat al-Fatih "Prayer of
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1312-577: The life of Muḥammad or another religious leader, a particular religious obligation such as fasting during Ramadan , or the nature of God. The most important communal event of the year for most Tijānī groups is the Mawlid, known in Wolof as the Gàmmu (a borrowed term from the ancient Serer religious festival of "Gamo" or "Gamou" of the Serer people , from the Serer term Gamahou or Gamohou ), or
1353-480: The new Republic of independent Senegal which gained its independence in 1960. Thus the Kingdom of Sine and the Kingdom of Saloum were the last pre-colonial kingdoms of present-day Senegal to have survived up to the 20th century. In 2017, the Serer of Saloum decided to reinstate their monarchy, and Thierno Coumba Daga Ndao was selected from the Guelowar matrilineage to succeed the throne. After a contentious election, he
1394-434: The precolonial capital of Sine. The current Kings of Sine and Saloum are not absolute monarchs compared to their predecessors. Their roles are merely ceremonial and diplomatic. Although they have influence, especially the King of Sine, they have no official powers as Sine and Saloum are now part of independent Senegal. They ruled under a form of constitutional monarchy with no official powers. Despite their lack of power,
1435-669: The tarikha Tijaniyya in the Senegambia region. Cherno Muhammadou waited for the tarikha for over twelve years in Saint Louis Senegal, where Sheikh Oumar Futi Taal sent his student Cherno Abubakr. He (Cherno Muhammadou) started spreading it in the Senegambia region. Through oral history, it is that said he (Cherno Muhammadou) passed it to twelve disciples. These disciples range from Mam Mass Kah of Medina Mass Kah, Abdoulaye Niass of Medina Kaolock, Cherno Alieu, Deme of NDiaye Kunda Senegal, Cherno Alieu, Diallo of Djanet in Kolda, to name
1476-471: The year, local communities organize smaller Mawlid celebrations. These meetings usually go from about midnight until shortly after dawn and include hours of dhikr and poetry chanting and speeches about the life of Muḥammad. Ihsan Ihsan ( Arabic : إحسان ʾiḥsān , also romanized ehsan ), is an Arabic term meaning "to do beautiful things", "beautification", "perfection", or "excellence" (Arabic: husn , lit. ' beauty ' ). Ihsan
1517-465: Was a Serer kingdom in present-day Senegal as well as Gambia , then called Lower Saluum. The precolonial capital of Saloum was the city of Kahone . It was a sister to the Kingdom of Sine . Their history, geography and culture were intricately linked and it was common to refer to them as the Sine-Saloum and the Serer Kingdoms of Sine and Saloum. Serer oral traditions recount that the area
1558-423: Was brought to southern Mauritania around 1789 by Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ of the 'Idaw `Ali tribe, which was known for its many Islamic scholars and leaders and was predominantly Qādirī at the time. Nearly the entire tribe became Tijānī during Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ's lifetime, and the tribe's influence would facilitate the Tijāniyya's rapid expansion to sub-Saharan Africa. Muḥammad al-Ḥāfiẓ's disciple Sidi Mawlūd Vāl initiated
1599-464: Was crowned King on 21 May 2017 at Kahone. He is the current King of Saloum as of 2024, and the maternal uncle of the current King of Sine, Niokhobaye Fatou Diène Diouf, from the Royal House of Semou Njekeh Joof . The Sine reinstated their monarchy in 2019, and Niokhobaye Fatou Diène Diouf from the Royal House of Semou Njekeh and of Guelowar matrilineage was crowned on 8 February 2019 at Diakhao ,
1640-520: Was named Saluum/Saloum by the Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour upon succeeding to the throne, which was in the later part of the 15th century (c. 1493/4). It was named after Saalum Suwareh, the marabout of Mbegan Ndour. Saloum, just like its sister kingdom, Sine , is known for its many ancient burial mounds or " tumuli " containing the graves of kings and others. The Kingdom has numerous mysterious stone circles. The Kingdom of Saloum
1681-531: Was previously known as Mbey (in Serer ) and was renamed Saloum by the Maad Saloum Mbegan Ndour in the later part of the 15th century (c. 1494). For several centuries prior to its renaming, its capital was called Ngap . According to Serer oral tradition, Mbegane Ndour named the Kingdom after his marabout, Saalum Suwareh. Like the Kingdom of Sine, the population is overrun and ruled by the Serer people. The two are generally referred to as