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shaka
996 Posts |
 Posted - 02 Feb 2010 : 16:53:00
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http://www.seneweb.com/news/elections2007/article.php?artid=28789
XIBAR.NET (Dakar, 02 February 2010) The unseen photograph of Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, founder of Mouridism and Touba, published by The Daily, shows one of his many statements contained in his poem entitled "Jawartou" or The sacrament for Paradise, "illayakhadallahou malam YAKOUN, walla yakounou abadan lil kini Mum" or God has granted me a favor he had never granted before.
The strength of the image is glaring: In front of the horse, whose rein he proudly displayed on his back and walking firmly, is his 'lieutenant' Cheikh Ibra Fall. He appears to look away and walk firmly. It was he who created the Mouride revolution, having been the first prince of royal blood, to serve the man of God. For his guide, he was ready for anything and saw only him.
Alongside Sheikh Ibra Fall, whose Baye Fall followers are the civilian foot soldiers, is Sheikh Issa Diene. There is another horse's reins in his hands, his eyes firmly pointed toward the horizon. Legend has it that before attending Sheikh Ahmadou Bamba, he was a renowned fighter of warrior lineage. He was based, on order of his marabout, within the villages of Ndiéné and Laghan in the Department of Gossas, which are distinguished for high levels of agricultural productions.
Behind them marches Mame Cheikh Anta Mbacke, his eyes riveted on only his marabout, Serigne Touba, who also happens to be his elder brother. He strictly obeyed his marabout. He is one of his few disciples who have gone to Gabon to find the marabout when he was exiled. It was Mame Cheikh Anta, nicknamed Borom Gawanas, the name of this town he founded, who was the treasurer of the muride community.
Behind the four walked Bour Sine Coumba Ndoffene Diouf. As his title indicates, he was a king, renowned for his bravery and devotion to the truth. He is the king who put his life at stake, testifying to the humility of Serigne Touba in front of the colonizers.
The photograph was taken at the beginning of the 20th century, around 1903, when they(the colonizers) had finished snapping up Senegal. Still, they failed to subdue Serigne Touba, to whom all converged, awaiting to carry out the least of his desire with joyful hearts. Something the colonizers yearned but could not muster.
If Serigne Touba had ordered an uprising against the occupiers, it is clear that it would have to be done. But, the founder of mouridism preferred war with the heart than by the gun. He is the only one on a horse. He had pointed out that intelligence is not determined by the color of your skin, much less commitment. Thus, for the sole object of attention of his companions, he wears the white tunic of a Sudano-Sahelian.
While the Colonialists struggled to collect taxes, his disciples ran to bring all they had to him. Unlike the French occupation, the holy man does not seek to subject those who came to him, but , he inculcated awe, the struggle against evil inclinations, etc.. History has proved him right: 83 years after his death, he bequeathed the world a religious community more united and disciplined, obedient only to one path: that of the Caliph-General in Touba.
The Mourides are known also for their commitment to work, Islam and the doctrine of their master, Bamba. Muridism had done the rounds around the world. Its founder has followers in all races and social classes. It is not hard to see why the colonizers had chosen to hide this picture, seen for the first time, which shows a prince, a king, a warrior and a very close sibbling, with their marabout Serigne Touba, who blew the social inequalities and put all his disciples on the same footing, and behind a single cause: the worship of Allah and respect for the tradition bequeathed by the Prophet Mouhamed (PBUH).
The unseen photo, where Senegalese, in particular, see for the first time the face of Serigne Touba, more than three quarters of a century after his death, explains very well why the colonizers gave the name "Grand marabout" instead of Serigne Touba. He(the colonizer) weighed his words carefully. In the photo, it reads: "French West Africa, arrival of a grand marabout."
The Mouridism he has left to humanity today, is rooted in the orthodoxy that has been drawn, while being open to positive values of modernity. His serene face of faith and worship for all will be magnified, this Wednesday, February 3, on the occasion of the 115th edition of Magal of Touba. This commemoration, which will be pouring millions of talibés from around the world celebrated the exile of Khadimou Rasul, as if to say that there is a reward for service to God. A teaching to be meditated on in our world of daily competitions and confrontations.
ALL ERROR AND OMMISSIONS ARE SOLELY MINE. THIS TRANSLATION IS FACILATED BY INTERNET TRANSLATION TOOLS.
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Edited by - shaka on 02 Feb 2010 21:29:40 |
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Momodou
Denmark
11823 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2010 : 08:46:41
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Shaka, Thanks for the translation. Seringe Babba was like Gandhi and Mandela of his time. A great man!
I wish there were english translations of his poems and other achievements.
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A clear conscience fears no accusation - proverb from Sierra Leone |
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Santanfara
3460 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2010 : 13:10:05
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Interesting material Momodou Shaka. Thanks |
Surah- Ar-Rum 30-22
"And among His signs is the creation of heavens and the earth, and the difference of your languages and colours. verily, in that are indeed signs for men of sound knowledge." Qu'ran
www.suntoumana.blogspot.com |
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shaka
996 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2010 : 20:19:39
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| True, Momodou. The English version of his poems and other writings about the great man will be highly appreciated. You never know, it might just be a matter of time before a keen enthusiast take up the challenge. Maybe it is already out there without us being aware. |
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