Fadilatou sheikh al islam elh. Ibrahim abdullah niass (ra)

[RACINE DIA]

Sheikh Al-Islam Elh. Ibrahim Abdullah Niass (RA) came from the wolof speaking people of Senegal. He was born on evening hours of Thursday October 17th, 1900 i.e. 15th day in the month of Rajab 1320 AH at a village called Taybat – Niass in Sin Saloum district in the Republic of Senegal. Rajab is the 7th month of Muslim calendar. It was the month that the noble Prophet Muhammad (SAW) made Isra’ Wal Miraj. The Mystic vision of the ascension of the Holy Prophet to the seventh heaven. At the same time, it was the month that Allah ordained five – daily prayers and answered the prayer of Muhammad (SAW). On the issue of where to turn the face while praying (Salat).

He was also well-known among the ulama and leaders of the broader Muslim world and a member of such organizations as the Muslim World League (Rabitat al-‘Alam al-Islami based in Saudi Arabia, of which he served as Vice President), the World Muslim Congress (Mutamar al-‘Alam al-Islami; Karachi, Pakistan),the Islamic Research Assembly (Majma’ al-Buhuth al-Islamiyya; Egypt) and the High Council of Islamic Affairs (Majlis al-‘Ala li al-Shu’un al-Islamiyya; Egypt). Following a trip to Cairo, Egypt, in 1961, he became widely known as “Sheikh Al-Islam” after having led the Friday prayers in the prestigious Azhar Mosque.

Sheikh Ibrahim Abdullah Niass (R.A) was initiated into the Tijania Sufi, order by his father Sheikh Abdullah who was also initiated by Sheikh Mamadu Diallo of funta jallon in 1875, however he renewed his initiation with Sheikh Sukayrig of Fez. Young Ibrahim was trained in Sufism under his father till he reached a high position. His spiritual journey did not stop after the death of his father and he continued his struggle on his own and achieved a higher position during the course of his spiritual development.

The first task to which he addressed himself was to preach and popularizes the Tijania Sufi, other people came to him from different parts of the world. He supervised their spiritual progress and when they had attained a level of perfection, sent them to their native places to preach and consolidates the true spirit of Islam.

The Sheikh distinguished himself not only as an icon of excellence, but indeed as a role model, a great achiever and outstanding, committed, ebullient and indefatigable scholar of inestimable value. He was a great theologian and a follower of the Malikite School of Law. He was an encyclopedic inquirer. Ibn Taymiyyah, with regard to the case of the Sufis, has divided them into two categories: orthodox and heterodox.

It is obvious that the Sheikh belong to the orthodox group. He was a great Sufi; who brought Sufism into line with the orthodox doctrines. The method adopted by the Sheikh to achieve his mission was equally bold. He trained groups of disciples and sent them to all the Muslim countries to propagate what he regarded and considered as the true spirit of Islam. He urged them to make the people realize the Sunnah of the Prophet (SAW) and prepare them to counteract the forces of heresy and to make others observe the precept and tenets of Islam.

His letter to the orthodox scholars of the Muslim world was given wide publicity. Those letters were compiled and edited by Sheikh Ahmadu Abu Fat-h. It was named Jawahir Rasail. In it, he launched a vilification attacks on heretical innovation and restored its traditional orthodoxy. He appealed to the God fearing leading Tijania Muqadams in the Muslim world to realize their responsibility in situation of the Pseudo-sufis, and to vehemently condemn the nefarious acts which had infected the life of Tijania youths and damage the image of Islam in general and Sufi order in particular. He warned that any complacency in the matter would be disastrous.