Sidi Muhammad El Hafidh Chingiti (May ALLAH be satisfied with him)

Among them is the holder of the most enviable positions and radiating lights, of glorious merits and exceptional prodigies, the great Wali and famous Knower , the learned of his time, unparalleled in his days, Abou Abdallah Cheikh Sidi Mohamed El Hafidh El'Alawi El Chinguiti (May Allah be pleased with him).

He belonged to the topmost elite among the companions of Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret), he whom the great sainthood opened to. He was among the people about whom Fath (Spiritual Opening) was testified through Seidina Cheikh (May Allah sanctify his precious secret).

Upon acquisition of official sciences and after he became imam, Cheikh El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him), decided to complete pilgrimage to the Holy House and to visit the tomb of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He believed that the end of his journey would be the encounter with a perfect master among those who fear Allah.

On his way, he traveled with a man from Morocco's Sejelmassi. When both men acquainted with each other very well, they shared secrets. Yet, it turned out that the both of them were pursuing the same objective. Thus, they agreed on sharing information on the discovery of the desired Cheikh.

When they arrived at Mecca, Cheikh Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) never ceased imploring Allah (Glory to Him) in every holy place he visited. Then, one day when he was making the Tawwaf around the Holy House, he met with a man who discreetly said : "your master is such and such" and he answered Siedina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah be pleased with him) whom he did not know before.

Sidi Mohamed El hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) went to his travel companion and told him about what happened. They wondered who that person was until they met the people of the Maghreb. Some answered them: "Please check with the people of Fez." And so they went to meet with the people of Fez living in that place in order to enquire.

Some people talked about a man well-versed in jurisprudence in Fez attributing wisdom and the science of alchemy to him. One person advised them to see another group nearby for more accuracy, which they did. They mentioned a learned and very holy man. They also spoke about a man belonging to the topmost elite among his companions, that is, Sidi Hajj'Ali Harazim (May Allah be pleased with him), and described to them the whereabouts of the companions.

Cheikh Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) was deeply touched and decided to visit Fez after he completed his pilgrimage and his visit of the tomb of the Prophet (Peace be upon him). He asked his travel companion to join him. However, the later could not leave his convoy and come with him.

Therefore he decided to set out for Fez. Once he arrived there he took up residence at Seidina's well-known Zaouiya (May Allah be pleased with him) where he received instruction for two consecutive years. When he was ready to return home, Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) issued him a degree (Ijaza) without limit save for the appointment of the Mouqadam, open to only ten (10) persons. These limit is specific to all the persons belonging to the spiritual lineage of Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) as was the case with the spiritual lineage of Mohamed El Ghali (May Allah be pleased with him).

Before taking his leave, he asked some advice to Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) who answered as follows: "do not reveal that you are part of the Tariqa until Allah takes upon Himself to call people unto you."

He returned home and began teaching, abstaining himself from calling people to the Tariqa, thereby respecting the advice of Seidina (May Allah be pleased with him). One day, after he accomplished the 'Asr prayer, Sidi Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him), followed by his pupils, sat down and started preaching. Suddenly, a man known for his piety and encounters with El Khadir (Peace be upon him) entered.

When he came by the gathering, someone said to Cheikh Mohamed El Haidh (May Allah be pleased with him): "this man is such and such".

He then said: "Glory to Allah!" and walked to him asking him to sit next to him. The man declined and sat down in front of him and asked: "Do you know why I am here?" And Cheikh Mohamed El Hafidh answered: "No!"

Then the man revealed: "I am here to claim for deposit you received from the hill (that is from Fez)." And Cheikh Mohamed el Hafidh replied: "O master, what did I bring from the hill except for some books? If you need some of them, I shall bring them you and they shall belong to you"

And the man answered: "Spare me all of that, I came so that you give me and authorize me about the wird of Sidi Cheikh Ahmed Tidjani." And Cheikh Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) gave it to him.

The people rallied around him dispersed and everyone went back to their family to report what they experienced. And thus, during that very night, the news spread around, and Seidina ahmed Tidjani was mentioned in every house.

The next morning, people continuously came by numbers in order to have the wird and become affiliated with him. Thus, the Way was transmitted through him in a very impressive way. A good number of people in the region had the authorization from him.

Among those who up to him there was one of the most illustrious holy men, the righteous and deserving wali Sidi Maouloud Fall (May Allah be pleased with him) as well as Sidi Bouwalid Hamma Khtar (May Allah be pleased with him). If only these two men came, such would suffice considering their good quality.

Among those who came there was Cheikh Banim (May Allah be pleased with him), who earlier on had received the Kuntiy wird as he was affiliated with the Tariqa Kuntiya that he left to follow the Tidjaniya. It is exactly afterwards that he dreamt of the Prophet (Peace be upon him) along with Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) and Cheikh Mokhtar El Kounty (May Allah be pleased with him) by his sides.

He told the story as follows: "Cheikh Mokhtar (May Allah be pleased with him) reproached me with choosing Seidina Ahmed Tidjani's wird (May Allah sanctify his precious secret) over his. At that moment, I stared at Seidina Ahmed Tidjani (May Allah sanctify his precious secret).Would he speak up for me? Yet, he bowed down his head and he lowered his gaze in front of the Prophet (Peace be upon him), which was an adeb and a commendable behaviour, without making any sign.When Chech Mokhtar became persistent in his reproach, the Prophet himself (Peace be upon him) turned to him saying: 'Here are the ones that Allah has guided, follow their guidance.' And he never said a word thereafter."

Sidi Mohamed El Hafidh (May Allah be pleased with him) died in 1245 H and was buried in Anfani, a place near Boutilimit in Mauritania.