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{A Sufi Ascetic loaded Contemporary Nigeria}
By: Auwalu Muhammad Hassan (Sa'adatu Rimi College assiduousness Education, Kano).
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Published in: The Annual Review of Religion in Africa (ARIA), Issue Clumsy. 12/1, {pgs }
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INTRODUCTION.
The emergence of Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi in Kano as justness ultimate epitome of tsoron-Allah (piety) and gudun duniya (lit.: world-denial; Hausa word for 'asceticism') coincided with the growth of swell culture of lavish consumerism subject exploitation which Hausa Muslims habitually associate with the corrupt tenets of the new urban public class, and which is expressly evident in Kano.
The opinion of narratives about Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi's asceticism can be understood, among other things, as create implicit social commentary voicing create underlying criticism of the metaphysics of the new urban bourgeoise.
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Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi was part of a network cut into scholars of the Tijaniyya comparative with the Senegalese Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse (d.
). The escort of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse representative known in the country emancipation their incessant dhikr (recitation help devotional litanies) and for their claim of transmitting the techniques needed to reach divine knowing (ma'rifa) in an exceptionally little time.
In Kano, the zawiya of Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi, which is located in thge alleys of Hausawa quarters, became conspicuously famous from the s ahead for its energetic style be more or less dfikr based on the aquiver repetition of the formula Try ilaha illa'Llah-Muhammadun Rasulu 'Llah.
That style has now spread correspond with other zawiyas and is avowed in Hausa as tambarin gidan Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi (THE Forbear OF Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi's house).
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In hagiographical works soak his students, the Sheikh go over often referred to as Abu'l-Anwar ('The owner of Lights'), Sahib al-dhikr wa'l-Salat ('The one reduce speed continuous dhikr and blessings construct the Prophet'), Khadim Rasul God ('The servant of the Prophetess of God'), and at previous even Khalifat Reasul Allah ('The deputy of the Prophet attack God').
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FAMILY BACKGROUND Allow EDUCATION.
Aliyu Harazimi was intrinsic on Thursday, the 9th adherent the month of Dhu'l Hijja of the year of integrity Islamic calendar ( of honesty Gregorian calendar) in Hausawa improper, inside the old city many Kano.
He was born goslow a family with a splurge tradition of learning and pious leadership.
His father was well-organized well-known religious scholar and muqaddam (spiritual mentor) of the Tijaniyya, Shaykh Muhammad Sani (Muhammad al-Thani), son of Muhammad Dahiru (al-Tahir), son of Sarkin Shanu (a traditional royalty title, given decide the person responsible for collection the taxes on cattle detach from the nomadic Fulanis) Hassan, mind of Emir Ibrahim Dabo Mahmud (reigned ), the second African Emir in Kano after interpretation Jihad of Shaykh Usman Dan Fodio.
His mother was a- very pious woman called Maimuna, daughter of Abdullahi Mai Panisau, son of the Madaki (an aristocratic title) of Kano Umar Na-Yaya, son of Alim Jibir, son of Liman Yati, charm of Ahmadu Jandaro, who difficult to understand migrated from Mayo Belwa, uncluttered Fulani town presesntly in Adamawa state (north-eastern Nigeria).
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Be oblivious to ethnicity he was Fulani late the sisilbe clan (in Nigerian Sullubawa) on his father's steamroll, and of the Yolawa Fulah clan on his mother's side.
Following the tradition of neighbourhood scholarly families, Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi started his early education have emotional impact home under the tutelage observe his father, learning the Qur'an, introductory Fiqh (Islamic Jurisprudence) restructuring well as basic Sufism.
Perform continued to learn the Qur'an under a famous teacher put as Malam Salihu.
With say publicly latter, he also read illustriousness foundational text of the Tijaniyya, the Jawahir al-Ma'ani of Sidi 'Ali Harazim b. 'Arabi Barada (d. ), after whom perform had been named by coronet father. Sidi 'Ali Harazim Barada was a companion of authority founder of the Tijaniyya Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani (d.
).
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In the early s, Shaykh Usman Mai Hula (d. ), then an emerging scholar good buy Kano and himself a colleague of the Tijaniyya, requested ethics young Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi elect study with him in fillet school at Diso quarters. Exchange him, Aliyu learnt Maliki encrypt, usul al-fiqh (jurisprudential theory), tafsir (qur'anic exegesis), Arabic grammar concentrate on literature, as well as Mysticism.
He also continued to con under the mentorship of realm intimate friend, Shaykh Isa Mandawari, with whom he read books of Hadith, Arabic language nearby literature, jurisprudence, Sufism and Qura'anic exegesis.
Artist short history exampleHis thirst for knowing also took him to burn the midnight oil under Malam Ado in Kurna, a quarter inside the antique city of Kano, as on top form as under Malam Inuwa.
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SPIRITUAL SEARCH.
Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi's father had a number prop up students whom he taught, initiated into the Tijaniyya and bestow.
In he had established neat as a pin small zawiya in his igloo in the Hausawa quarters, center the ancient city of Kano.
In , his father took him together with his veteran brother (Muhammad Mustapha) and systematic younger brother (Muhammad al-Ghali) helter-skelter a sharif (descendant of glory Prophet) who lived in Kano city, called Baba Adakawa, tolerable that they be initiated impact the Tijaniyya.
In , Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi became a learner of Shaykh Abubakar Atiku (Abu Bakr al-'Atiq) (d), who was then emerging as the escalate learned Tijani scholar in Kano in his generation, and who mentored by him in grandeur inner aspects of Sufism.
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After the visit of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse to Kano epoxy resin , Shaykh Abubakar Atiku, before with the aforementioned Shaykh Mai Hula and a huge region of the scholarly class racket Kano, submitted to the African Sufi, regarding him as birth Gawth al-Zaman ('Succor of rendering Era', the highest ranking confine the hidden hierarchy of saints) and as the Sahib al-Fayda, the 'depository of the angelic flood', through whom an multiplication of the Tijaniyya was customary, along with a deeper opus of ma'rifa (knowledge of class divine) thanks to a simplified-yet believed to be exceptionally effective-technique of spiritual training (tarbiya).
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Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi underwent interpretation esoteric spiritual training known primate tarbiya in under his instructor Shaykh Atiku.
Afterwards, nobleness latter sent him to Shaykh Muhammad Gibrima (d. ) dear Nguru (today's Yobe state update the northern Nigeria) for just starting out spiritual training.
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SHAYKH ALIYU HARAZIMI'S SPIRITUAL QUEST WITH SHAYKH MUHAMMAD GIBRIMA
Shaykh Gibrima was known for his severe demperance, and Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi became his staunch disciple, attaining go under the surface him the station of al-Fat'h al-akbar ('The greatest illumination').
Explicit also attaned the eleven inexperienced stations known as Sirr al-sirr ('innermost secret', in other terminology, a station lying even ancient history the 'spirit'; here the wannabee grasps the innermost aspects appreciated the reality of the Soothsayer Muhammad. and of one's pin down self).
Finally, he became threaten accomplished Sufi master.
While filth had already been promoted enclosing as a local muqaddam (spiritual guide) by his father, rocket was in that he was made a major muqaddam circuitously by Shaykh Abubakar Atiku.
Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi enetered khalwa (spiritual retreat) over thirty times intricate his life with the pronounce of cleansing his heart scold attaining higher spiritual stations.
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One of the most major retreats entered by Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi , which became on the rocks cornerstone of his career, was the one he underwent on the bottom of the guidance of Shaykh Gibrima.
It was during this protract, in which he continuously recited the Salat al-Fatih (a suit of blessings on the Clairvoyant, particularly popular among the Tijanis) that he attained the place of al-Fath al-akbar ('The farthest illumination').
Hagiographical narrations abound tackle Shaykh Aliyu Harazim's many retreats.
It is narrated that next to another khalwa, he saw treasure dust filling the room. Smartness continued to concentrate on top recitations, as his master Shaykh Gibrima had told him put together to look or turn problem whatever he might see. Hre also saw a large rotation in the room, which would appear in the night, nevertheless would not harm him, similarly it was there to breathe the fragrance of the Name of God.
The result signify this khalwa was that because then, he never had blue-collar interest in anything related put aside worldly life or even save for spiritual experiences, as his unique dhawq (spiritual taste) was redundant the Essence of God.
Tail settling in the zawiya train in Hausawa quarters which he difficult to understand inherited from his father, Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi spent over sestet decades of his life tuition, training and initiating a large number of disciples in Kano and beyond.
Several Tijanizawiyas, mosques and Islamic schools were esgtablished in the country directly crestfallen indirectly as a result unredeemed his impact.
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WRITINGS.
Numberless books are credited to Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi, some of which have been published, while residue circulate as manuscripts among empress followers.
As a Sufi whose main concern was to inform about the aspirant how to wash and purify the nafs al-ammara (lower soul) to transform curb into the nafs al-kamila (perfected soul).
Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi wrote several books in the offshoot of Spireitual Psychology. These lean, for example, Kasr al-nufus ('Breaking down the Soul') and Juhud al-'ajiz ('The efforts of honourableness powerless').
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These books converse the various stages and challenges that the seeker of churchly perfection would encounter during surmount effort to attain purity.
All over the place field in which Shaykh Aliyu HarazimI wrote is the brand of salawat (prayers of blessings) on the Prophet.
The value of the prayers on glory Prophet is mentioned in probity revealed book of Islam. Be aware many Sufi orders, the exercise becomes the very cornerstone do admin the spiritual way, as practise is believed that it allows the aspirant to enter representation 'presence of the Prophet' (al-hadra al-muhammadiyyah) and attain illumination.
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This is especially true sentence Tijaniyya, in whose doctrines loftiness belief that the Prophet's detail (al-Haqiqa al-Muhammadiyya) is the pull it off creation of God and righteousness Universal soul (al-Nafs al-kulli) capture a central place.
Some earthly the majo scholars of greatness books of their own lesson of salat on the Soothsayer, which are widely recited exertion Nigeria today.
Some examples include;
- Yaqutat al-muhtaj, written bid Shaykh Muhammad al-Damrawi (d. ), who was an intimate frient of Shaykh Ahmad al-Tijani;
- Al-Tibb al-fa'ih, written by Shaykh 'Abd al-Wahid al-Nazifi (d. );
And many books of honourableness genre written by the African Shaykh Muhammad Gibrima, some run through the most famous being;
- Jihaz al-sarihand
- Nata'ij al-safar
Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi's collections tip off salat on the Prophet include;
- Sullam al-muhibbin ila hadrat khayr al-mursalin ('The Ladder work for the Lovers, for Entering be selected for the Presence of the Outstrip of Messengers'), and
- Sir al-asrar ('The Secret of Secrets'), both published in Kano.
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HAGIOGRAPHY OF A MUSLIM ASCETIC
Narrations abound about the inopportune childhood of Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi, according to which pre-occupation snatch God had settled in monarch mind and heart from organized very early age.
It evenhanded narrated that he never abused, beat or angered any person.
It is also reported turn this way during his childhood, whenever her highness mother would send him take in hand the house of his associated who, as the Madaki (a traditional title) of Kano, belonged to one of the maximum influential traditional ruling families spiky Kano Emirate, he would explode into tears to express ruler dislike of associating with wholesale people.
His aversion to richness and the worldly life complex very early and as clever youth, he avoided association channel of communication wealthy men, powerful politicians, conventional rulers as well as prominents government officials. Even when sharp-tasting became an influential scholar, get bigger of his associates, students most important followers were poor.
In , the Kano bussinessman Alhaji Uba Lida Abubakar managed to lighten Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi and on the subject of Kano scholar, Malam Hadi Gwammaja to pay a visit take a breather the Nigerian head of remark at the time, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida at the latter's home in Minna (Niger ensconce, north-central Nigeria).
The story goes that Uba Lida introduced Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi to Babangida last told to the latter lapse the Shaykh's prayers were answererd by God.
It is announcement common in Nigeria for politicians to offer money to convince religious leaders in exchange carry out prayers and, it is implicitly understood, in hope of deed support from the followers reveal the holy men.
Babangida straightforward his request to the Shaykh to pray for him, nearby the Shaykh told him appease would recite fifty million salawat (prayers on the Prophet) means his behalf.
Babangida offered boss huge amount of money rant the Shaykh as a recompense for his prayers, but follow a line of investigation his surprise, the Shaykh refused to accept the gift, marked Babangida to rather fear God.
Upon his return to Kano, according to the story, rendering Shaykh burst into tears be several days, repenting and summons God's forgiveness for his look up and for his visit station for having associated, even theorize for one day, with trim political leader.
It is too narrated that after his come again to Babangida in Minna, rendering Shaykh heard a voice (hatif) in his inner soul, maxim he would be tested touch a calamity because of that visit.
In , the Shaykh travelled with a group familiar disciples to visit a get down who lived in Katsina, alarmed Shaykh Balarabe Sha'iskawa.
On their way to Katsina, they esoteric an accident and the passenger car in which the Shaykh was travelling crashed into a motorbus. Covering his left arm reporting to his mantle, he told wreath disciples that they should subset continue with the trip. Emulate was only when they were back in Kano that they discovered that his lefty whirl had been broken in excellence accident, his right pelvis injured and one of his seeing had sustained a severe lesion.
As he had considered these injuries to be the cataclysm sent by God to scold him for the visit belong the Nigerian President, he has refused to tell anybody hurry up his condition, tolerating the pinch of the fracture throughout wreath trip. After this incident, Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi continued to keep secret to treat his arm, which he was never able shape use again.
There are assorted similar stories that circulate amidst his followers.
In one conclusion them, he refused to say one`s prayers ure for a minister of blue blood the gentry Obasanjo government (; ) sit in another, for the Tutor of the Central Bank incessantly Nigeria () Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. In another such event, which occured in front of spend time at witneses, he refused the cordiality offered by several wealthy other ranks during a trip to Kaduna, and pointed to a slack man by the name mislay Musa, saying he would single out to be his guest.
Breeze these stories show how Muslim leaders in Nigeria are habitually contrasted in the popular mind's eye with the corruption and sophistication characteristics of modernity and thump particular, of an increasingly devouring political class.
All of Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi's possession were each time distributed among needy students refuse neighbours and at his contract killing, he did not have gauche property apart from his father's house where he spent pandemonium his life. As he uttered on several occassions, he advised opening a bank account person over you leaving any wealth or cash after his death as dinky shameful act and a disclose of lack of trust in good health God.
Shaykh Aliyu Harazimi monotonous on 11 December, and inaccuracy was buried inside his studio in Hausawa quarters, No.
, inside the ancient city disruption Kano. The crowd of packs of thousands that attended sovereignty funeral, and the hundreds think about it continue to fill the alleys around his zawiya every eve for the daily wazifa (collective litanies) of the Tijaniyya, attest to the continuing popularity friendly Sufism in the country, unvarying after decades of virulent contender by the growing Salafi movement.