Sheikh Ahmad Tijani bin Ali Cisse
Leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi Order
26
Sheikh Ahmad Tijani bin Ali Cisse
Leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi Order

Sheikh Ahmad Tijani bin Ali Cisse is the spiritual leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order. The Tijaniyya is the largest Sufi order in Western Africa, and its leader commands a following of millions.

Birth: 1 January 1955 (Age: 69)

Source of Influence: Preachers & Spiritual Guides

Influence: Spiritual leader of around 100 million Tijani Muslims

School of Thought: Sunni, Traditional Sunni, Maliki, Tijani Sufi Order

Status: Featured in current year

Influence

Sheikh Ahmad Tijani bin Ali Cisse is the spiritual leader of the Tijaniyya Sufi order. The Tijaniyya is the largest Sufi order in Western Africa, and its leader commands a following of millions.

Leader of Tijani Muslims: Cisse became leader of the Tijaniyya following the death of his elder brother Sheikh Hassan Cisse in 2008. He is the Imam of the Grand Mosque in Medina Baye, Senegal, which is one of Western Africa’s key positions of Islamic leadership. Tijani Muslims are located throughout Western Africa and further afield..

Education and Activities: Sheikh Tijani Cisse (b. 1955) studied Qur’an, Arabic and classical texts with both his father, Sheikh Ali Cisse, and his legendary grandfather, Sheikh Ibrahim Niasse. He then continued his studies at Al-Azhar University in Egypt, studying Arabic and Usul Al-Din (theology). He has edited and published several important works, including Sheikh Ibrahim’s Kashif Al-Ilbas.

Posts: In 2001, Sheikh Tijani Cisse was appointed Senegal’s General Commissioner for the Hajj. In 2006, he was again recognized by Senegalese President Aboulaye Wade and appointed a Senegalese “Special Missions Ambassador”, a position he holds until the present time. He has also received Senegal’s distinguished award, the Ordre de Merite (1993).

Descendent of The Tijaniyya Founder: The Tijaniyya is a Sufi order founded by Ahmad Al-Tijani Hasani, an Algerian, in the late 18th century. As the spiritual leader of the Tijaniyya, Cisse is considered to be the bearer of a spiritual inspiration called the Fayda Tijaniyya (“flood” or “overflow of spiritual grace”), giving him authority to carry on the teachings of Ahmad Al-Tijani Hasani.. The Tijanis are characterized by strict following of the sunnah, recitation of spiritual litanies (awrad) individually and in gatherings and an emphasis on developing an inward relationship with God.