Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Passing On of a Saint

By Jamaaludeen ash-Shadhili - Message Islam - Cape Town, South Africa
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Assalaamu 'Alaykum everyone
When I came back to the office now I received a very shocking email. It was from my dear friend and brother Achmat Kriel, and it informed me of the passing on of Shaykh Hassan Cisse.

Shaykh Hassan was from Senegal, and head of the blessed Tijani Sufi Order (Tariqa).

Alhamdu'Lillah I met Shaykh Hassan when he was in Cape Town a few years ago, and I was blessed to spend a lot of time with him and his companions. I have recently been listening to (for the umpteenth time) audio recordings of Shaykh Muhammad al-Yacoubi where he speaks about the passing on of Shaykh Abdurahmaan ash-Shagouri (Syria), and how these gnostics and Sufi Masters are a mercy for us on earth, and how their passing is a great loss to us.

This is how I feel about Shaykh Hassan. He has been doing so much work in Africa and all over the world in areas of spirituality, relief, and education. Read a brief (very brief) bio of him on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaykh_Hassan_Cisse.

I plan to do a tribute to him on Message Islam soon Insha'Allah.

As soon as I read Achmat's email I phoned Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi, who is from Madina and living and working in Cape Town for a number of years now. Shaykh Fakhruddin is a Mukaddam of Shaykh Hassan, and has gained a lot of respect worldwide in the Tijani Tariqa. Shaykh Fakhruddin said that the passing was this morning after Fajr, and Shaykh Hassan had just returned from Fez, Morocco - visiting the Maqam of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani.

Before ending I want to make 3 important points: Firstly, Tassawuf / Sufism is nothing foreign to Islam. It is, in fact, an integral part of Islam. I have written about this many times, but we have to defend the spiritual aspect of our Deen because there are misguided people popping up here and there saying that Tassawuf is a new innovation.

Also, there is no segregation or sects in Tassawuf. Yes there are many different Turuq (Sufi Orders) but they are merely different schools and paths with the same goal - ALLAH! Allah is the goal.

And we all love and respect each other. Today's occurences is a prime example. I follow the Shadhili Tariqa, my brother Achmat Kriel who informed me about Shaykh Hassan's passing is from the Naqshbandi Tariqa. Alhamdu'Lillah this is the beauty of the path of spirituality.

We have only love for everyone. Alhamdu'Lillah over the past few years I have grown to love Shaykh Hassan and the Tijani Tariqa, and just 2 Saturdays ago I was blessed to attend the Mawlid of Shaykh Hassan's grandfather, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse which was held at Shaykh Fakhruddin's mosque in Hout Bay.

Secondly, Shaykh Hassan - and the Tijani Tariqa - is a proof that there is no racism in Islam. Shaykh Hassan had the blackest of black skin. Yet his skin colour made no difference. We loved him the same, learnt from him the same, and kissed his hand the same. I know white Americans who are students and followers of Shaykh Hassan.

No policy, no revolution, no law in the world can solve the problem of racism - only the teachings of Islam can!

Thirdly, you will notice I said that Shaykh Hassan "passed on" and not "passed away" - this is because Shaykh Hazim Abu Ghazaleh taught us this year that we really only pass "on" to another stage of existence. The ruh (soul) "tastes" death, it does not die.

I think this is something we need to reflect on, Insha'Allah.

For those in Cape Town, there will be Quranic recitals for Shaykh Hassan at the Tijani Zawiya in Guguletu tonight - in fact it's been going on all day already. I will be going, and I urge more people to attend Insha'Allah, especially if Allah blessed you to sit - even once - in the company of Shaykh Hassan.

I also urge people all over the world to prayer the funeral prayer in absentia for Shaykh Hassan - you can read the Fiqh ruling about this at the SunniPath website here: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=3&ID=4108&CATE=408.

My sister has informed me that people have even already left from South Africa to Senegal.

From Allah do we come, and unto Him is our return. May Allah Almighty bless Shaykh Hassan, give him a high rank in al-Jannah, forgive all his sins and shortcomings, and give him the companionship of the Blessed Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace), Ameen.

And may Allah Almighty give ease in the hearts of his Mureeds (devout students) and his lovers (like myself, and hopefully yourself).
The unworthy servant of the people of Allah Jamaaludeen ash-Shadhili.

No comments:

Thursday, August 21, 2008

The Passing On of a Saint
By Jamaaludeen ash-Shadhili - Message Islam - Cape Town, South Africa
Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Assalaamu 'Alaykum everyone
When I came back to the office now I received a very shocking email. It was from my dear friend and brother Achmat Kriel, and it informed me of the passing on of Shaykh Hassan Cisse.

Shaykh Hassan was from Senegal, and head of the blessed Tijani Sufi Order (Tariqa).

Alhamdu'Lillah I met Shaykh Hassan when he was in Cape Town a few years ago, and I was blessed to spend a lot of time with him and his companions. I have recently been listening to (for the umpteenth time) audio recordings of Shaykh Muhammad al-Yacoubi where he speaks about the passing on of Shaykh Abdurahmaan ash-Shagouri (Syria), and how these gnostics and Sufi Masters are a mercy for us on earth, and how their passing is a great loss to us.

This is how I feel about Shaykh Hassan. He has been doing so much work in Africa and all over the world in areas of spirituality, relief, and education. Read a brief (very brief) bio of him on Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaykh_Hassan_Cisse.

I plan to do a tribute to him on Message Islam soon Insha'Allah.

As soon as I read Achmat's email I phoned Shaykh Fakhruddin Owaisi, who is from Madina and living and working in Cape Town for a number of years now. Shaykh Fakhruddin is a Mukaddam of Shaykh Hassan, and has gained a lot of respect worldwide in the Tijani Tariqa. Shaykh Fakhruddin said that the passing was this morning after Fajr, and Shaykh Hassan had just returned from Fez, Morocco - visiting the Maqam of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani.

Before ending I want to make 3 important points: Firstly, Tassawuf / Sufism is nothing foreign to Islam. It is, in fact, an integral part of Islam. I have written about this many times, but we have to defend the spiritual aspect of our Deen because there are misguided people popping up here and there saying that Tassawuf is a new innovation.

Also, there is no segregation or sects in Tassawuf. Yes there are many different Turuq (Sufi Orders) but they are merely different schools and paths with the same goal - ALLAH! Allah is the goal.

And we all love and respect each other. Today's occurences is a prime example. I follow the Shadhili Tariqa, my brother Achmat Kriel who informed me about Shaykh Hassan's passing is from the Naqshbandi Tariqa. Alhamdu'Lillah this is the beauty of the path of spirituality.

We have only love for everyone. Alhamdu'Lillah over the past few years I have grown to love Shaykh Hassan and the Tijani Tariqa, and just 2 Saturdays ago I was blessed to attend the Mawlid of Shaykh Hassan's grandfather, Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse which was held at Shaykh Fakhruddin's mosque in Hout Bay.

Secondly, Shaykh Hassan - and the Tijani Tariqa - is a proof that there is no racism in Islam. Shaykh Hassan had the blackest of black skin. Yet his skin colour made no difference. We loved him the same, learnt from him the same, and kissed his hand the same. I know white Americans who are students and followers of Shaykh Hassan.

No policy, no revolution, no law in the world can solve the problem of racism - only the teachings of Islam can!

Thirdly, you will notice I said that Shaykh Hassan "passed on" and not "passed away" - this is because Shaykh Hazim Abu Ghazaleh taught us this year that we really only pass "on" to another stage of existence. The ruh (soul) "tastes" death, it does not die.

I think this is something we need to reflect on, Insha'Allah.

For those in Cape Town, there will be Quranic recitals for Shaykh Hassan at the Tijani Zawiya in Guguletu tonight - in fact it's been going on all day already. I will be going, and I urge more people to attend Insha'Allah, especially if Allah blessed you to sit - even once - in the company of Shaykh Hassan.

I also urge people all over the world to prayer the funeral prayer in absentia for Shaykh Hassan - you can read the Fiqh ruling about this at the SunniPath website here: http://qa.sunnipath.com/issue_view.asp?HD=3&ID=4108&CATE=408.

My sister has informed me that people have even already left from South Africa to Senegal.

From Allah do we come, and unto Him is our return. May Allah Almighty bless Shaykh Hassan, give him a high rank in al-Jannah, forgive all his sins and shortcomings, and give him the companionship of the Blessed Prophet (May Allah bless him and give him peace), Ameen.

And may Allah Almighty give ease in the hearts of his Mureeds (devout students) and his lovers (like myself, and hopefully yourself).
The unworthy servant of the people of Allah Jamaaludeen ash-Shadhili.

No comments: