Sufism history in Nigeria is dated back to precolonial era, A lot of town and cities established in the Northern Nigeria was done by Sufi Sages. Among the early birds in Tijaniyah order of Sufism is Sheikh Abubakar Atiku whose life and time be briefly review in this article it was narrated by one of his illustrious children Sheikh Dr. Sunusi Sheikh Abubakar Atiku (R.T.A) on 9th Rabi'u Thani 1441 (12th December, 2019) in commemoration of the 45th year of the demise of Sheikh Abubakar Atiku.
His Educational Background
He studied the following fields of education under the following respective scholars;
(1) Islamic Theology and Jurisprudence- Shaykh Muhammad Salga,
(2) Arabic Language and Literature- Shaykh Mahmud Bin Hassan Sanka / Shaykh Sani Satsari,
(3) Tijaniyyah Knowledge- Shaykh Mahmud Salga / Shaykh Abubakar Mijinyawa,
(4) Sufism (Mysticism) Knowledge- Shaykh Abubakar Mijinyawa,
(5) Hadith- Shaykh Abubakar Mijinyawa / Shaykh Ahmad Bin Abdurrahman Al-Katagumiy,
(6) Numerology and Astrology- Shaykh Muhammad Al-Halwaniy At-Tunisiy.
His Initiation into the Tariqah
He was initiated into the Tariqah of Tijaniyyah by Shaykh Muhammad Salga. His Shaykhs
1. Shaykh Muhammad Salga.
2. Shaykh Abubakar y.
3. Shaykh Ahmad Bin Abdurrahman Al-Katagumiy.
4. Shaykh Ahmad Mahmud Al-Futiy, Mali.
5. Shaykh Alfa Nuhu dJene, Mali.
6. Shaykh Muhammad Sani Bin Tahir (the father of Shaykh Aliyu Harazimiy Hausawa, Kano).
7. Shaykh Muhammad Al-Halwaniy At-Tuniy.
8. Shakh Muhammad Bin Uthman Al-Alamiy Morocco.
9. Shaykhat Khadeejah Al-Qari'ah Morocco.
His Students (DISCIPLES)
He has uncountable followers of various profiles; some few examples of the highest profiles among them are;
. Shaykh Balarabe Jega (the author of Goron Faydah),
. Shaykh Ahmad Abul Fathi,
. Shaykh Aliyu Harazimiy Hausawa Kano,
. Shaykh Adamu Katibi,
. Shaykh Balarabe Gusau,
. Shaykh Muhammad Birmin Magaji,
. Shaykh Muhammad Jibia,
. Shaykh Ibrahim Kaya,
. Shaykh Yahaya Jibia,
. Shaykh Musa Sulaiman Niamey (the present Chief Imam of Niger Republic),
. Shaykh Muhammad Kauran Asha Niger Republic,
. Shaykh Abdullahi Dandume,
. Shaykh Iliyasu Sarkin Dawa (late Chief Imam of the Nigerian Army),
. Shaykh Mainasara Gusau,
. Shaykh Ibrahim Sahihiy Gusau,
. Shaykh Aliyu Maikanti Gusau,
. Shaykh Salisu Lungun Malamai Gusau,
. Shaykh Ango Gusau, Shaykh Goni Tijjani Kanumbu Maiduguri,
. Shaykh Saleh An-Nur Republic of Chad,
. Shaykh Ahmad Wali of Yauri,
. Shaykh Usman Biu,
. Shaykh Ango Jega
. Shaykh Lawwali Jega,
His Encounter with Shaykh Ibrahim Inyass
His first meeting with Shaykh Ibrahim Inyass was in the year 1944 when he (Inyass) first visited Kano under the invitation of the then Emir, Alhaji Abdullahi Bayero. They were introduced to each other by his (Inyass's) host, a Kano merchant, who hosted him briefly before he (Inyass) met the emir.
He was born in Katsina town, in the year 1896, to a highly noble and reputable family. His father was Mallam Halliru, the son of Mallam Abubakar, the son of Mallam Musa Mai Risala.
His Children
Shaykh Abubakar Atiku had 32 children, namely, according to age seniority:
1. Ahmad Tijjani,
2. Muhammadul Hafiz,
3. Aminatul Mabrukah,
4. Halimatu,
5. Ummu Aimana Barakat,
6. Ummu Haniy,
7. Muhammad Tihamiy, 8. Muhammadul Hafiz (II),
9. Ahmad Al-Abda Lawiy.
10. Maryam,
11. Maryam,
12. Karimatu,
13. Ibrahim Rayyahiy,
15. Ummul Khairi,
16. A'ishah,
17. Abdullahil Alawiy,
18. Muhammad As-Sanusiy,
19. Muhammad Zamzamiy,
20. Muhammad Fatihu,
21. Lubabatu,
22. Muhammadul Makiy,
23. Abdulganiyy,
24. Muhammadul Murtala (I)
25. Muhammadul Murtala II,
26. Muhammadul Muntaqa,
27. Muhammadul Mukhtar,
28. Hafsat,
29. Nafisat (I),
30. Ummu Aimana,
31. Aminatul Mabrukah (II),
32. Nafisat (II).
His Relationship with other Islam Clerics
1. SHAYKH MUHAMMAD NGIBRIMA: Shaykh Ngibrima was his contemporary like
Shaykh Ibrahim Nyass, as far as spiritual hierarchy is concerned in the Tariqah of Tijaniyyah. This is because, by the time Shaykh Ibrahim Inyass came to Nigeria, both Shaykh Abubakar Atiku and Shaykh Muhammadu Ngibrima were Khaleefahs of Maulana Shaykh Ahmad At-Tijaniy R.T.A.
2. SHAYKH TIJJANI USMAN
Both Shaykh Atiku and Shaykh Tijjani Usman attended same school of Islamic Theology and jurisprudence and same school of Sufism (mysticism), under Shaykh Muhammadu Salga and Shaykh Abubakar Mijinyawa respectively.
3. SHAYKH ALIYU HARAZIMIY HAUSAWA KANO.
He was a disciple of Shaykh Abubakar Atiku. He (Harazimiy), told me verbally, several times that his father, Shaykh Muhammad Sani Bin Tahir, took him to Shaykh Atiku and told him not to interact with any Shaykh of Tariqah except Shaykh Atiku except with the permission of Shaykh Atiku, until one day when Shaykh Ngibrima paid a visit to Shaykh Atiku and sought for Shaykh Atiku's permission to take Shaykh Harazimiy with him to his town, Nguru.
NAMES OF SOME OF HIS MOST PROMINENT PUBLICATIONS IN PROPAGATING TARIQAH OF TIJANIYYAH
Shaykh Atiku's publications in propgating Tijaniyyah in particular and Islam in general, are innumerable. Few among them are:
1. AIBATUL FUQARA (popularly known as Tusamma ); it is in a form of Hausa Poem. He published it in praise of Shaykh Ahmad At-Tijaniy R.T.A. and his followers as well as acknowledging the glad tidings of the various distinguishing rewards which the Almighty Allah provides for them right from this world to hereafter.
2. I'ANAT AL-BALEED BI SHARA'IT WIRD SHAYKHANA AL-SADEED
It is a book written in a form of Hausa Poem also. It talks about the general aspects of practising Tijaniyyah and its rules and regulations.
3. MANAHIL AL-RASHAD FIL AJWIBATI AN AS'ILATI AHLI TCHAD; this book is in question and answer form. It answers more than hundred questions about the general aspects of practising Tijaniyyah, especially the puzzled ones. The questions were asked by different people of different occupations headed by the then Inspector General of Police of the Republic of Chad. The questions were asked around the year 1950.
How He Established His Zawiyyah
Shaykh Atiku established his Zawiyyah in the year 1926, with the permission of his SHAYKHS, Abubakar Mijinyawa and Muhammad Salga.
HIS ENLIGHTENMENT ABOUT THE REAL ASPECTS OF PRACTISING THE TARIQAH
Shaykh Atiku has numerous writings on these aspects, especially on some major misconceptions on Tariqah by some of its ignorant followers, who are reluctant to seek for its knowledge and who also hide under its cover to mislead the weak ones in the disguise of Haqeeqah. Shaykh Atiku has many writings on such types of bad eggs. He wrote books and pamphlets, the most popular of which is ANNASEEHAT AL-MU'AJJALAH FEE AT-TAHZEER AN AD-DAJAJILAH.
In all of such writings, Shaykh Atiku did his best in guiding the followers to understanding that the main objective of following any Tariqah, not only Tijaniyyah, is to attain the highest degree of piety, which is the only means by which one can get spiritual purity through which one can achieve one's goal, which is closeness to Allah in His (Allah's) kingdom, not by displaying different forms of Karamah or using unique modes of dressing different from other people.
(Special thanks to Seyyid Barrister Nassif Adeosun)
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