Rajab is the month of the birth of the Shaykh al Islam, al hajj Ibrahima Niasse.

SPIRIT OF GOOD MORALS
By
Shaykh of Islam
Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse
Translation and Commentary
By
CHIEF IMAM OF MEDINA KAOLACK SENEGAL
Shaykh Hassan Cisse
Second Edition
Compiled & Edited
By
Alh. Abdul Hakim Halim (late)
Published by
THE AFRICAN AMERICAN ISLAMIC INSTITUTE
Shaykh Hassan Ali Cisse Founder, Shaykh Tijani Ali Cisse Chairman,

Preface
(Page i)
The subject of this discussion, Shaykh al-Islam Al-Hajj Ibrahim Niasse, was
a knowledgeable and talented individual and the possessor of many gifts
from Allah, the Almighty. But, if we were limited to describing the Shaykh in
one word, we would definitely say that the Shaykh was a Muslim throughout
his life, in every time, place, and situation. Most assuredly, he was a Muslim
doing his best to follow in the footsteps of the Prophet, peace and blessings
of Allah be upon him. He mentioned in one of his poems,
“If I am asked what is your Madhhab, and who is your beloved, I will definitely
answer that the Prophet (SAWS) is.”
Early in his life, Sh. Ibrahim joined the Tariqa Tijaniyya which is a tariqa based
purely on the Quran and Hadith. And if we are herein to describe the Tariqa in one word, again we will say that it is simply to rule oneself according to the teaching of Quran and the teaching of the Prophet (SAWS). The Tariqa Tijaniyya was founded
by Shaykh Ahmad Al-Tijani, may Allah be pleased with him, who lived from 1737
to 1815.
The Tariqa was passed on to Sh. Al-Tijani directly from the Prophet (SAWS). It
should be noted that to see the Prophet after his death is not impossible. Up to this
day, virtuous Muslims are still seeing him and meeting him. In a hadith reported in
Bukhari, the Prophet (SAWS) said,
“Whoever sees me in a dream has seen me in reality because Shaytan cannot
take my form.”
And in another report he said,
“Whoever sees me in a dream will see me”.
Therefore, we should know that to see the Prophet (SAWS) today is not impossible,
that Allah provided this gift for His beloved and righteous servants.
(Page ii)
Since Sh. Al-Tijani passed, many of the Ulama of the Tariqa have come and
performed their duty in propagating Islam and expanding the Tariqa, such as
Sh. Umaru Futi, Sh. Muhammad Al-Hafiz Al-Tijani, a Mauritanian Shaykh
who brought the Tariqa to West Africa for the first time, Sh. Al-Hajj Abdullahi
Niasse, the father of Sh. Ibrahim, and Sh. Al-Hajj Malik Sy. People who were
contemporaries of these great leaders respected them as eminent Ulama
and whoever met them or read their writings also considered them to be
highly knowledgeable.
In time, the responsibility of leadership passed to the hand of Sh. Ibrahim
Niasse who was to play an even greater role in spreading Islam and the
Tariqa in that area of the world. Indeed, he has achieved accomplishments
in this field that have no parallel in the history of West Africa. To this day,
contemporaries bear witness to his achievements, whether they were with
him or against him.
The Tariqa Tijaniyya was a major motivating force in the life of Sh. Ibrahim.
As was mentioned earlier, it is based on Quran and Hadith, and the wellknown hadith which appears translated below best capsules the intent, substance, and developmental thrust of the Tariqa Tijaniyya: On the authority of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: “One day while we were sitting with the Messenger of Allah (may the blessings
and peace of Allah be upon him) there appeared before us a man whose
clothes were exceedingly white and whose hair was exceedingly black; no
signs of journeying were to be seen on him and none of us knew him. He
walked up and sat down by the Prophet (SAWS). Resting his knees against
his and placing the palms of his hands on his thighs, he said: ‘O
Muhammad, tell me about Islam.’ The Messenger of Allah
(Page iii)
(SAWS) said: ‘Islam is to testify that there is no god but Allah and
Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, to perform the Prayers, to pay the
Zakat, to fast in Ramadan, and to make the Pilgrimage to the House if you
are able to do so’. He said: ‘You have spoken rightly.’ He said: ‘Tell me about
Iman.’ He said: ‘It is to believe in Allah, His Angels, His Books, His
Messengers, and the Last Day, and to believe in Divine Destiny, both the
good and the evil thereof.’ He said: ‘You have spoken rightly.’ He said: ‘Tell
me about Ihsan.’ He said: ‘It is to worship Allah as though you are seeing
Him, and while you see Him not yet truly He sees you.’ He said: ‘Then tell
me about the Hour.’ He said: ‘The one ‘Then tell me about its signs.’ He said:
‘That the slave girl will give birth to her mistress and you will see the
barefooted, naked, destitute herdsmen competing in constructing lofty
buildings.’ Then he took himself off and I stayed for a time. Then he said: ‘O
Umar, do you know who the questioner was?' I said: 'Allah and His Messenger know best.' He said: 'It was Gabriel (AS), who came to teach you your religion.'" It was related by Muslim. It should be obvious from this Hadith that a human being has greater needs than an animal. In the same way he needs food for his body, he also needs to feed his spirit; and the best food for the spirit is the Remembrance of Allah. Zikr provides the direct link between the servant and Allah. Surely there is wise counsel in the saying: "The Remembrance of Allah is the means to acquire Sainthood, to be one of the Awliyya." The Tariqa Tijaniyya is based on three principles: (1) Asking Allah for forgiveness. (It is really unconscionable for a Muslim to stop his brother in Islam from saying (Page iv) astaghfirullah. None of us are infallible. The same way we do something right today, we may do it wrong tomorrow. Consequently, the Prophet (SAWS) has directed us by saying, "Your sickness is your sin and the remedy of your sickness is to say astaghfirullah." In addition, there are many verses in the Quran ordering us and advising the community to say
astaghfirullah. Just to mention one, in Sura Hadid (57), v. 21, we are told,
“Be ye foremost (in seeking) forgiveness from your Lord…”
And, then, there is the example of our most excellent guide, the Prophet
(SAWS). In spite of the infallibility of his station, and that Allah has stated
clearly in Sura Fath (48), v. 2, that He has forgiven all his sins, the previous
and the latest, the Prophet (SAWS) used to ask Allah forgiveness and
repentance on every day more than one hundred times. If that is the case
with him, what should be the case with those of us who live in this corrupt
time when disbelief and sinfulness pervade the world.)
(2.) The second principle is to say La ilaha illa-llah. (In the Hadith, the
Prophet (SAWS) said, “The best word I have ever said together with the
previous Prophets is the word La ilaha illa-llah.” And, again, in the Quran Sura Baqara (2), v. 152, "Then do you remember Me; I will remember you." And in Sura Imran (3), v. 191, "Men who celebrate the praises of Allah, standing, sitting, lying down on their sides..." And, again, in Sura Jumua (62), v. 10,
“…and celebrate the Praises of Allah often (and without stint): that ye may
prosper.”
Surely, when Allah, with His unlimited wealth says often, this wording is not to be
taken lightly. When Allah, the Possessor and Dispenser of all wealth, suggests that
something be done often, we must remember that the perspective of the wealthy is
not like the perspective of the poor. And Almighty Allah, He has everything. You
cannot even say Allah is the richest
(Page v)
because everything is under His control.)
(3) And the third point is Salatal ala Nabi, the offering of prayers upon the Prophet (SAWS). Allah ordered the community, the believers, to offer prayers upon the Prophet after He has himself done this together with His angels, (Sura Ahzab (33), v. 56). Moreover, the Prophet (SAWS) said in the Hadith, "Whoever offers one prayer upon me, Allah will offer ten upon him." In another report, "Whoever offers one prayer on me, Allah will offer ten on him; if he makes it ten, Allah will make it one hundred for him; if he makes it one hundred, Allah will make it one thousand for him; if he makes it a thousand, he will enter Paradise shoulder-to-shoulder together with me." So these are the principles and some of the bases of support for the Zikr of the Tariqa Tijaniyya. It is solely derived from Quran and Hadith. In the final
analysis, we are Muslims looking for the Truth, and wherever we see the
Truth, we shall follow.

(To be continued in sha Allah).