He is his excellence, Shaykh Ibn Khayri, the unique one (Fard) of his time, the uncontested champion in his arena, the possessor of rare virtues. He joins between the outward sciences of Islam (sharia) and the inner reality (haqiqa), with his feet firmly planted in this position.
He has spread the Tijani path and the Ibrahimi flood to all regions of the world, from Africa in the west to Saudi Arabia in the east, and it is he through whom God has guided tens of thousands to this religion of "the middle path," attracting many to partake in the feast of divine knowledge whose wellspring was opened by the Owner of the Flood, Ibrahim Niasse.
Shaykh Ibn Khayri has become known for the kind of character traits that qualify him for this special station: he possesses virtuous character, is generous and giving, lightens the burdens of others and aids them in making it through the ups and downs of life, provides for his guests and honors his neighbors, keeps up family ties and shows excellence to the needy, is astute and lofty-minded, and no reproach can touch him regarding God.
His birth:
Shaykh Ibn Khayri was born before dawn on Monday, the 22nd of Sha'ban, 1373 A.H. (April 26, 1954), near the village of al-Jarrariyyah, the site of the largest number of graves of Alawis in all of southern Mauritania, including the graves of Shaykh Ahmadu bin Shaykh Muhammad al-Hafiz—who was known as "Manna" and passed away in 1325 A.H.—and Sayyid Ahmad wuld Baddi—who was known as "Abba" and passed away in 1322 A.H.—as well as other spiritual guides and eminent scholars.
The Shaykh's birth coincided with the second visit of Shaykh Ibrahim to Agal, and Shaykh Ibrahim blessed the newborn and supplicated for him.
His upbringing:
Shaykh Ibn Khayri grew up in a uniquely scholarly atmosphere; he was nursed with a pure milk mixed with love and after the divine gaze and being pre-eternally qualified. These were his early years.
As for his childhood, he committed himself to being in a constant state of remembrance of God and attending the fragrant gatherings of remembrance, thereby living his youth—according to the testimony of those who grew up with him—in obedience to God, without his attention ever being attracted by whatever frivolities and heedlessness busied the youth of his time.
Rather, what busied him was remembrance of God and studying whatever was appropriate for the circumstances, acquiring knowledge of religious sciences and other contemporary knowledge. This is not surprising, as this was the habit of the Shaykh's family: piously devoted by night and warriors by day.
He took up acquiring religious and linguistic sciences, while at the same time acquiring contemporary knowledge, and entered contemporary schools, graduating as a gifted instructor.
His preeminence in calling to God:
The Shaykh grew up in the heart of the Tijani flood, taking divine knowledge from Muhammad al-Mishri, whom he often accompanied to Madina, where Shaykh Ibrahim was, to meet Lordly breezes, so that his path might start after that with Divine Gnosis, in which his mother was a dean of the school of purification from Muhammad al-Mishri.
Early signs of his early distinction in this arena appeared in him, which he heard either explicitly or implicitly from the people of this art, until he became uncontested to the extent that al-Mishri began to boast about him. This was in his second decade of life.
In 1975 Divine Wisdom decreed the passing of Muhammad al-Mishri, whom the Shaykh had often accompanied, even to his last moments in this world, after which came the passing of the earthly form of Shaykh Ibrahim, Possessor of the Flood, may God be pleased with him.
And so the chiefs of the experiential school (Madrasa al-Dhawqiyya) and others noticed that he had surpassed them in the area of divine gnosis, so they gave allegiance to him.
With this he presided over their spiritual upbringing & training (tarbiyya), in that he had from licenses or Ijaza from Shaykh Ibrahim Niasse, Sidi Ali Cisse, Sidi Al-Hajj Abdullah wuld al-Shaykh [Ibrahim Niasse], Sidi Muhammad Mishri, and his father Sidi Ibn Khayri and his uncle Ustadh wuld Ad.
In April 1978, he founded the village of Boubacar, located 40 km north of Arkeez in southern Mauritania, and it was here that the story of Boubacar started. He laid the first bricks to build and build up to prepare a righteous community founded on God-Consciousness (Taqwa) and His good pleasure.
~Shaykh Muhammad wuld Shaykh Abdullah al-Jayjubi (Rijal wa'l Adwar fi Thil Sahib al-Faydatu Tijaniyya)
Translated frm Arabic: Muhammad Abdullahi
May Allah give us Allah - aameen bi hurmathi nabiyyil ameen sallallahu alaihi wasallam
