AFRICAN SCHOLARS AND SAINTS: THEIR LIVES AND TIMES: SHAYKH MAHI HAIDARA

SHAYKH (SHARIF) MUHAMMAD AL-MAHI HAIDARA

(Khalifah of Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse in Mali)

"He spent 36 years in khalwa “of Salat al Fatihi”. Some people spent 20 years in his house and did not see him!"

Shaykh Muhammad Mahi was born in 1921 in Segou (Central Mali) in a famous Sherifian family. His grandfather Shayk Sidi Ibrahim Sherif known as Nioro Karamoko (the Shaykh of Nioro [his native village nearby Segou]) is considered at least in Segou as the greatest saint after Shaykh Umar Futi in Mali.

Shaykh Mahi's grandfather the Wali of Nioro (city in Mali) adopted the Sanusiya Tariqa till his arrest by the French in the 1940's and deportation to Ivory Coast. While in prison he received the daylight vision of Shaykh Ahmad Tijani in broad day light who told him to take the Tariqa Tijaniya. He was later released and sent back to Segou and to Niaro under tight French surveillance where he spent the rest of his life.

Niaro Karamoko used to say that whenever he saw the prophet (SA) he was with Shayk Ahmad Tijani( R.A) and that he never saw the later without Shaykh Umar behind him bearing his prayer mat.

His grandson Shaykh Muhammad Mahi would grow to be his inheritor and leader of his grandfathers students.

It is one of his famous saying namely that a Godly man can be in a market full of people but not be distracted due to his direct witnessing of Allah (SW), that inspired Shayk Muhammad Mahi to find out how this is possible. As Shayk Mahi would say later on that none of the books he read nor the devotions he made could achieve his ambition.

Then he decided to leave hundreds of Koran students he was in charge of to search for the truth. At the age of 30 he left Mali for Madinah. He wept so much at the blessed tomb of the prophet (SA) that when he left the mosque someone called him and told him that the knowledge he wants, he can found only in Kano (Nigeria).

Shayk Mahi headed to Kano and met with Osman Kano, a khalifa of Shaykh Ibrahim Niass. That's where he got the tarbiyya and came back to Mali.

Six months later he went to Medina Baye-Kaolack, Senegal. When Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse saw him coming, he told his Khalifa Sidi Ali Cissé that:

“This is a man you have never seen a like of and you will never see such. If he has not come to me I would have gone for him! Today I can affirm without any doubt that my mission as the bearer of the Fayda will be a success.”

In another occasion, people complained to Shayk Ibrahim Niass that his guest (Shaykh Muhammad Mahi) never attends the wazifa, on which he replied: “this my guest has the same noor (light) I have, but the difference is I can bear mine, while he cannot!”.

Shaykh Mahi spent two years in kaolack and was appointed by Shayk Ibrahim Niass as his khalifah in Mali. He is the only khalifah appointed by Shaykh Niass himself in Mali.

He and his students bought a new land and built a house for him where he settled and never came out for 36 years except on few rare occasions!

Shaykh Mahi is known in kaolack as the man of khalwa (Spiritual Retreat), for he spent 36 years in Khalwa. Some people spent 20 years in his house and have not seen him! Shayk Mahi himself didn't know where his home was when once he went to the capital city and on the way back his car was broke down. Someone accepted to drop at least one of the passengers. When arrived at Segou he was dropped few hundred yards from his house. This was a strange experience for he hasn't been familiar with the area of his house in so long he didnt know where to find his home. So he kindly asked a beggar to show him the house of "Shayk Mahi"!

In few years time, people ran to him in such a way that has never been seen in Mali. His own house constantly guested more than 500 men and women students for more than 30 years and up to now this is continuining. Shaykh Mahi brought more than 200,000 people into the tariqa and knowledge of Allah. For example three of his khalifas had more than 200 Muqqadems each and Shaykh Mahi had more than 50 Khalifas in Mali, Burkina fasso, Ivory Coast, Sierra leone, Guinea Konakry.

Shaykh Muhammad Mahi is known to have said that he can't sleep if he thinks that there are still some people who don't have marifa. Thanks to him hundred of thousands of muslims have got true gnosis. Shaykh Mahi is the first muslim in Mali to celebrate publicly Mawlid with all night long preaches. Now Mawlid is more celebrated in Mali than eids. In fact, Mawlid is the only occasion during which Shaykh Mahi would publicly preach from his spiritual retreat room using a microphone and never come out. He received twice the visit of Shaykh Ibrahim Niass in Segou and was married to one of his blessed daughter, Sayida Zainab Niass and had many blessed offsprings through her.

Shaykh Mahi passed away in 1992. His tomb is in the mosque he built in his house. His son Mohamed Mounir Mahi Haidara has been appointed as his khalif.

May Allah sanctify their secrets, and grant us his barakah....ameen!!!

Info credit goes to:

Sidi Munir Uba Waru & Tijani Tariqa facebook page

SUFI BOOKS BY/ON SHAYKH IBRAHIM NIASSE AND THE TIJANI TARIQAH (AVAILABLE FOR SALE)

1. Vessel of Spiritual Flood, Translation of Goran Faydah by Shaykh Balarabe Haroon Jega - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

2. Rihlat Konakriyah (A trip to Conakry), Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse - (Translated by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

3. Shariah and Haqeeqah: In the Light of the Qur'an and the Prophetic Traditions (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

4. The Icon of Mystics: Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse Al-Kawlakhy (Compiled by Khalifah Awwal Baba Taofiq)

5. Kano Conferences (Majlis Kano) and the khutba titled (Hadiqat al-Anwar fii ma ihtawa alayhi qawaaid al-Islam minal hikam wal asrar) - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

6. Katsina and Kaduna Conferences (Jadhbul ahbab ila hadrat Rabbil arbab) and Mecca Conference - (Translated by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

7. A Brief Biography of the Shaykh al-Islam Ibrahim Niasse (Compiled by Sayyidah Bilqis Grillo)

8. Risalat at-Tawbah (Epistle of Repentance) of Shaykh Ibrahim Niyass al-Kawlakhi" – (Translation & Commentary by Dr. Razzaq Solagberu)

9. Islamic Law of Inheritance, by Sayyid Ali ibn Abubakar al-Muthanna ibn Abdullah Niasse (Translated by Dr. Sulaiman Shittu)

10. Muassasah Nasr al-'ilm Int. (AAII) Magazines No. 13, 14 & 15 (with Articles like Outline of Life of Sufi Heros & Heroines like Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse, Shaikh Abdus-Salam Oniwiridi Pakata, Shaikh Muhammad Bello Eleha, Shaikh Ahmad Rufa'i Nda Salati, and others...this magazines also features other interesting Articles).