Sidi Muhammad ibn Mechri (May ALLAH be satisfied with him)

Amongst the great companions stood the great erudite, the perceptive one endowed with understanding, the Malikite, the one that had the most pure sciences, the deposit of secrets and knowledge, the commentator of the Tariqa Tidjaniya, the Cherif of high rank Abou Abdallah Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him).

He was among the elite of the elite of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani's companions (May God be satisfied with him) and among those who inherited the fount of revealed sciences and who had access to some secrets of the world of mysteries.

Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) appointed him to Imam for the prayer and as a scribe in order to write letters and answer questions. He wrote everything he heard from Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) or everything the latter one dictated him.

He first met Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) in 1188, corresponding to the year of his return from Hajj and heading back to Tlemcen. Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) gave then to his companion, the great erudite and treasure of secrets Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri El Hassani As-sa-ihi At-Touqourti (May God be satisfied with him) the Khalwatyya way. Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) was also given secrets and other Dhikr and was close to Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) until his death in 1224.

Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) is the author of the book El Jama' that brings together all the different sciences. He also wrote Nousra El Chourafa Fi rad 'ala ahlou jafa (Chourafas' response to haughty people).

Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) appointed him to Imam for the prayer because at that time he didn't like to be the Imam unless he was among his family at home. In 1208, he was compelled to be Imam given the circumstances at that time and this case was mentioned in Jawahirou-l-Ma'ani.

We were told by the companions that Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) had become the Imam by the Prophet's authorization (Peace be upon him). Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) said then: "He ordered me, the one who I can not belie, not to pray behind anyone else unless the Friday prayer."

Whenever he was obliged to do Tayammoum at the moment of prayer and that he was among his companions, he used to be the Imam though the latter ones performed their ablutions. But he warned them before the prayer: "I have to do Tayamoum. If you want, you can pray behind another Imam."

He didn't blame those who did so. Someone who prayed behind him had the guarantee that he did his prayer perfectly according to Qadi Ibn 'Arabi and Ibn Majchoune.

In addition, Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) had said the same thing on the merit of praying behind people of high rank.

The Mahaba states of Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) were powerful. Among the proven facts, it was reported once that one day Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) was riding a horse in the desert and came close to a famous Wali's grave that was endowed with the Tasrif power but appeared to be one of his ancestors.

The love for Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) urged him not to visit the grave. Suddenly, the horse's paws started to sink and he went straight back to the grave and told to the Wali: "By Allah, if you don't release my horse, I'll go to Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani who will act against your will". The horse was released as if nothing happened.

Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) died in the desert in 1224. Jawahirou-l-Ma'ani depicts our character's tremendous qualities and we can quote that Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) prayed behind those who didn't have any reprobation by Chari'a.

For instance, if someone took bribes, in that case Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) didn't pray behind him. Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) had then an Imam : the perceptive erudite, that combined Haqiqa and Chari'a, the sciences of the Tariqa, guardian of his secret and his pact, the place of his compassion, his intimate companion: Abou Abdallah Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him), the high ranked Cherif.

He was a native of Touggourt, in Algeria, a town which is famous for its science and saints, for its erudites and well-guided Imams. All the inhabitants took the Tariqa and they used to go visit Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) but the journey took twenty days or more to go see him. They gave him presents of all kinds: money, dates and clothes.

On could often meet them at Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani's place (May God be satisfied with him) and it was difficult to find someone who could be better than them in terms of behaviour, religion and science. Indeed, they were already erudites before they met Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him). Many groups and presents from every corner of that town converged to Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him). There weren't people more valuable and well-intentioned than them.

Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) took care of them in a peculiar way, in fact, more than his belongings- he gave them more attention. When he was asked on this, he answered: "They are not like others because they seek the higher levels and the Sunna at all its states, May God be satisfied with them."

Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) was close to Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) from 1188 to 1213 in Fes. He was among those who had Fath in this Tariqa Mohammediya during the lifetime of Seïdina (May God be satisfied with him) and that is why he was ordered to leave the country in which he was.

He said in his book El Jama':

"One day I have heard Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani saying: "If Allah gave Fath to one of my companions, if he lives in the same region as me and doesn't want to be on the road to ruin, he must leave."

Some companions asked him: "Is this from you or from Allah?"

He replied: "This is from Allah without any decisions from me."

Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) head then to Tlemcen as he was ordered to and afterwards to Abi Semghoune and finally to 'Ain Madhi after apologizing to the brothers that were in Fes.

He was ill and died of it in 'Ain Madhi. Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (May God be satisfied with him) ordered then people who took the Wird from Sidi Mohamed Ibn Mechri (May God be satisfied with him) to renew their affiliation wherever they came from.