AFRICAN SCHOLARS AND SAINTS: THEIR LIVES AND TIMES: SAYYIDA BILQIS NIASSE

BIOGRAPHY OF SAYYIDA BILQIS NIASSE

Excerpts from the book titled: The Virtues and Ideals of Sayyida Bilqees Niasse

Authored/Compiled by: Alhaji Abdulmalik foundation (Published in 2015)

Originally posted by: Abdulmujib Attijjeniy Usman

Sayyida Bilqis, the wife of the spiritual leader of Tijjaniyyah path in Islam, Sheikh Ibrahim Niass, passed on from this primordial world on Saturday 15th April 2017, at Abuja (Nigeria), after a brief illness at the age of 77.

Sayyida Bilqis, born on 31st of December 1939, was the daughter of the Nigerian first High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Sheikh Abdul-Maleek, who himself was the son of the first traditional head of Ebira land, Atta of Ebira land in Kogi State (Nigeria), Atta Ibrahim Onoruoiza. Her mother was Hajiya Amina of blessed memory.

Alhaji Abdul-Malik (First Nigerian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom & Father of Seidah Bilqis)

Hajiya Amina (Wife of Alhaji AbdulMalik and Mother of Seidah Bilqis)

Our mother got married to Sheikh Ibrahim Niass in Kaolack, Senegal, in 1954 when she travelled with her father to that country. The marriage was witnessed by her uncle, Sheikh Ahmad Rufai and several others.

Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse, Seidah Bilqis and her Father (Alhaji Abdul-Malik)

Sayyida once narrated the story of her birth and growing up, titled:

My Birth, Upbringing and Marriage

…which states thus:

Sunday 31st of December, 1939 equivalent to 21st of Zhul- Qa’ada, 1358 saw the fruit of that marriage between Alhaji AbdulMalik Okene and Hajiya Amina, for on this day, I came into this world as their third child.

Sayyida Amina with her children (Saidi Mashood & Sayyida Bilqis)

The prayers and love of my father for me started with my name Bilqis, he showered so much love for me that word of mouth couldn’t describe. He hardly travels without me; he went on his first Pilgrimage in 1947 with me when I was just 8 years not minding the inconveniences of children of my age.

When I say love, I mean care and kindness and with these I grew up to love none but my father or whoever and whatever he loves. My obedience was therefore natural, I remembered one day, I was asked by my primary school girl-friends, “ who would you like to marry when you grow up?, I said: “Abubakar”.

This Abubakar loves my father very well and was very close to him and because of this I mentioned him, but Abubakar was also the husband of my sister. So they said to me: “you can’t marry your sister’s husband.” I replied: “then whoever my father loves to be my husband is my husband.”

They asked: “Even if such a person is physically disabled?”
I replied: “Even if he is physically disabled, so far as it’s my father’s wish, I will love such a person”.

As a result of his deep kindness and care for me, I had this extreme love and intention of obedience for my father. My father later travelled with me to Kaolack, Senegal in 1951 to visit his Shaikh and the fruit and blessing of this Ziyara culminated into the showing of desire by Shaikh of his intention to marry me.

Alhaji Abdul-Malik, Saida Bilqis & Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse

Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse & Abdul-Malik's father (Alhaji Ibrahim Onoruoiza, the first traditional head of Ebira land, Atta of Ebira land in Kogi State (Nigeria))

After our return to Nigeria, the likes of Shaikh Abubakar Atiku of Kano approached my father and disclosed to him the desire of Shaikh, then added: “Nigeria would be made proud if Sheikh married from us”.

Look, this was their habit, all the students of Shaikh saw themselves as one, not as Hausa, Yoruba, Fulani or Ebira, but as one tribe. This habit they learnt from Shaikh, who regarded the whole of Africa as one entity.

He assists any of the Presidents of countries of Africa whenever the need arises, He assisted Seiko Tore of Guinea, Gamaal AbulNaser of Egypt; Sir Ahmadu Bello of Nigeria; Nkrumah of Ghana, etc.

Seidah Bilqis, Imam Hassan Cisse and her step-sons (Shaikh Baba-Lameen and Shaikh Makki Niasse)

This is Shaikh, whatever will be beneficial to mankind and he has the capacity to assist, he will.

Finally in 1954, my father travelled again with me to visit Sheikh in Kaolack at which time Sheikh made a formal request to marry me in the presence of Sheikh Ahmad Rufai Okene and immediately, the marriage was conducted.

Note that my father never asked for my consent, for he knows that my mind was also with him. My fellow brothers and sisters, understand this lesson: The sincere love of a parent to a child will make a child to completely trust his parent; nobody will sincerely love his child and would not always wish for the happiness and progress of that child.

The most caring of mankind (Prophet Muhammad) Sallalaahu Alaihi Wasallam has said on the authority of Abu Huraira as reported by Tabarani:

“Assist your children to be respectful; And whoever wishes, Can remove disobedience from his child.”

Sayyida Rahmat, Sayyida Ummuhani, Sayyida Hafsa & Sayyida Fatima.

The remains of Sayyida Bilqis Ibrahim Niass was buried on Sunday 16th April 2017, in Okene local government of Kogi State.

May Allah grant her Aljanatil Firdaus…Ameen!

ALLAHU AKBAR!!! THIS IS A SHORT QASIDAH/POEM WRITTEN BY MAULANA SHEIKH IBRAHIM NIASS PRAYING FOR ALLAH’S BLESSINGS UPON ALHAJI ABDUL MALEEK ATTA, HIS IN-LAW, HIS DAUGHTER OUR RECENTLY DECEASED GRANDMA, HIS WIFE SAYYADAH BILQEES AND HER CHILDREN, SAYYADAH Ummuhani Ibrahim Niasse AND HER SIBLINGS. AND FOR REAL, ALLAH HAS ANSWERED THIS DU'A, BECAUSE ALHAJI MALEEK WHO WAS THE THEN NIGERIAN HIGH COMMISSIONER TO GREAT BRITAIN LIVED WITH SO MUCH HONOR AND NOBILITY. SAME APPLIES TO HIS DAUGHTER, SHEIKH'S WIFE AND HER CHILDREN AS WELL. SHE WAS SO MUCH CHARACTERIZED WITH CHARM AND CHARISMA WHEREVER SHE WOULD GO. HER DAUGHTERS ARE ALWAYS CHARISMATIC AND CHARMING AS WELL, YOU WOULD SEE THEM ARRESTING PEOPLE'S ATTENTION WHEREVER THEY WOULD GO, STRIVING TO BE IN THEIR COMPANY, ASKING THEM TO PRAY FOR THEM.

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🌺 وهب لي وهب عبد المليك مراده##

لدى حضرة الربّ المليك ولا تخزي

And fulfill my need and the need of Abdul Maleek ##

(By) the pre-eminence of the Lord of Maleek and do not dishonor (him)

🌺 وتكسوه في الفردوس بالسندس الذي##

يباهي به أبهى وألين من خزّ

And clothe him in Firdaws with fine brocade which ##

Is ennobling and flamboyant, that eases (his) pain

🌺 وكنْ حصنه عمّا يخاف وكنْ له##

كذا لإبنه مشهود من غير ما ميزِ

And be as his safeguard against what he fears and be (there) for him ##

Just like his son, Mashood, without any discrimination

🌺 كذا بنته بلقيس تحيا كريمة##

بأولادها من دون خدشٍ ولا وخْزِ

Just like his daughter Bilqees (make her) live in honor(and dignity)##

With her children without any scratch nor any prickle (physically and morally sound)

Translated By: Hussseini Yushau BabalWaiz, New York.

In the pictures below you can see Sheikh with his in-law, Alhaji Abdul Maleek Atta and Sayyadah Bilqees, and a pic showing her children (Sayyida Ummuhani, Sayyida Hafsa, Sayyida Fatima & Sayyida Rahma)....and another pic showing Sayyida Amina with her children (Saidi Mashood & Sayyida Bilqis)

Alhaji Abdul-Malik, Saida Bilqis & Shaikh Ibrahim Niasse

Sayyida Ummuhani Ibrahim Niasse and her Siblings (Sayyida Hafsa, Sayyida Fatima & Sayyida Rahma)

Sayyida Amina with her children (Saidi Mashood & Sayyida Bilqis)

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).