Shaykh Abu Madyan Al-Maghribi – Moulana Mohamed Saleh Joosab Arbee

Name/title – Shaykh ul Mashaaikh, Abu Madyan Shuaib Ibn al Husain Bil Hasan e

Year of Birth/Demise – Born in the year 509 A.H and according to others in 520 A.H and passed away in 590 A.H

Region  – Shaykh Abu Madyan Al Maghribi e was born in Cantillana near Seville (Ishbiliya) in Muslim Spain (Andulus), and after travelling through many areas, he settled in Bejaia (Algeria).

Synopsis Intro – Shaykh Abu Madyan e is recorded as one of the most influential figures in the formation of Sufi Islam in North Africa. The Shaykh e was orphaned at a young age and experienced cruelty from his brothers who made him a shepherd to their flock. He fled from this tyranny after many failed attempts and travelled in pursuit to acquire religious knowledge. His journey eventually led him to Fez, where he studied at Jami al Qarawiyyeen under Shaykh Abul Hassan Ali Ibn Hirzihim e  He settled in Bejaia where he established a Khanqah or Zaawiya called Rabitatuz Zayyaat (Hermitage of the oil sellers).

Teachers/Shaykh in Tariqah

Shaykh Ali Ibn Harzihim e, Shaykh Abu Abdullah ad Daqaaq e, Sayyiduna Shaykh Abdul Qadir al Jilani e and Shaykh Muhiyudeen Ibn Al Arabi e[1]

Students/ Successors

Abu Muhammad Saali Al Majiri e. Muhammad Ibn Qaasim at Tameemi e, Abdur Rahman Attaar Az Zayyaat al Madani e, Sayyid Muhammad Ibn Ali Ba Alawi e and many others

Brief Bio

Imam Yaf’i e states “Most of the Mashaaikh of Yemen maintained a bond with Shaykh Abdul Qadir al Jilani e whilst some share a bond with Shaykh Abu Madyan e and some even say that the latter is the Shaykh of the west whilst the former is the Shaykh of the east. His son Madyan was also an accomplished Shaykh who is buried in Egypt. Imam Sha’rani e states “Mashaaikh and Sufi masters all agree and acknowledge the enormous station of Shaykh Abu Madyan e, they all maintained respect for him, they describe him to be humble, physically attractive, abstinent from luxuries, pious and one with outstanding character. Shaykh Abu Madyan e followed the Malaki madhab in Fiqh, the Ash’ari creed, he followed the Qadri Tariqah and the Ba Alawi and Shaazhili Spiritual chains include his spiritual contributions and teachings.

Books authored

Bidaayatul Mureedeen (A Manual for seekers of the spiritual path)

Unsul Waheed (Published in 1884 from Cairo with a commentary by Ahmed Ba’chan)

Tuhfatul Areeb (in Latin published in 1805)

Ad-Deewaan (A collection of his poems published in 1938 from Damascus)

The Way of Abu Madyan (A collection of ancient texts preserved at Cambridge, translated and published in 1996 by Vincent Cornell.

Important Sayings

• Spiritual training (Mujaahada) and meditation (Muraaqaba) are not the only requirements for one to be a Sufi, rather it is also very much required for him to remain amongst people and educate them.”

• Egoistic desires and pride are the biggest obstacles in attaining spiritual success, the best weapon against the Nafs (desires) is to starve it by fasting. Weaken your Nafs by fasting so that you succeed in conquering it.

• The Shamefulness of a sinner is better than the pride of a worshiper.

• When a person’s heart is focused in one direction there should be a veil on all other directions[2]

Maqaam (Mausoleum) Location

His mausoleum is known as the “Sidi Boumediene Mosque/tomb” in the El Eubbad district of Tlemcen, Algeria.

References;

• Kitaabut Tashawwuf ilaa Rijaalit Tasawwuf by The Moroccan Biographer Abu Ya’qub Yusuf Ibn Yahya at Tadili e627 A.H)
• At Tabqaat ul Kubraa by Imam Abdul Wahaab Ash Sha’raani e
• Nafahaat ul Uns by Hazrat Moulana Noor ud Deen Abd ur Rahman Jaami e

[1] Some historians say that Shaykh Abdul Qadir al Jilani e was his teacher and omit Shaykh Muhiyudeen Ibn Al Arabi e, whilst others omit the information vice versa.

[2] By this, the love of Allah ta aala is implied. That His love should ultimately prevail.