Sidi Tayeb Sufiani (May ALLAH be satisfied with him)

The great knower and the famous waly, holder of benefits, lights, knowledge, secrets, the majestic lawyer of cherifian origin, our master Taieb El Hassani known as Sefiani (may Allah be satisfied with him).

He is part of the elite of the elites among the companions of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), he is the author of the book "El Ifadat-l-Ahmediya" which gathers some remarks of Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) taking care to mention the reasons and circumstances under which they have been expressed.

He had a great spiritual strength and was plunged into the world of knowledge and secrets. He is also one of the great scientists educated in religion, one of the perfect Waly and he had full knowledge in the science of reading the Quran (Tajweed).

It was reported by one of the companions of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), that he saw our character after his death and that it asked him what Allah had made of him. Sidi Taïeb Sefiani (may Allah be satisfied with him) replied that Allah gave him great favours and that he had had only the good. Furthermore, he had met the Prophet (prayer and peace of Allah be upon him) who offered him a large garden in paradise to teach children the Quran.

In addition, another story tells about the circumstances of his meeting with Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret):

Sidi Taïeb Sefiani (may Allah be satisfied with him) went to Egypt to travel to Hijaz (Arabian Peninsula), when he met the majestic Moqadem and companion of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), our master 'Abdelwahid El Misri (may Allah be satisfied with him). The latter showed him the book Djawahirou-l-Ma'ani that Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be satisfied with him) consulted. This event was the source of his irresistible desire to meet Seidina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret). By the way, he bitterly regretted being at the same place as him without having however the favour to meet him.

When he came back from Hijaz, he went to see Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), but he expressed some hesitation to take the Tariqa. Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his invaluable secret), wishing to show the special character of Sidi Taïeb Sefiani (may Allah be satisfied with him), said to him:

"So what is this hesitation, O so-and-so, and what prevents you from taking the Tariqa straight off whereas I was your teacher and your tutor even before your mother gave birth to you ? Indeed, during her pregnancy, your mother stumbled and was nearly pierced by an object that would have caused damage to your body. I thus gently prevented her from falling by the permission of Allah and the authorization of the Prophet (peace be upon him), thus preserving the image of your body against any harmful effect, except for the top of your head that was affected, and the proof of all that is the existence of a mark."

Indeed, Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be pleased with him) had a small hole in the head and he did not know its origin. This boosted his confidence, his love and commitment to Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret). When he questioned his mother on this event, she told the same story as Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), after which he took the Tariqa immediately.

One day while he was heading to the blessed Zaouia to perform one of the five prayers, he met one of his friends from the area of Wazan (who was the Sheikh another way). He discussed for a long time with him and the companion of Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), our master Sidi Moussa ibn Ma'zouz (may Allah be satisfied with him), passed next to them. He then strongly caught the hand of Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be satisfied with him) saying: "You have missed the prayer with Seïdina!" Then he took him to the Zaouiya and they found Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) performing prayers.

When Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) had finished his prayers, he said to him directly by unveiling: "Leave the people of Wazan because they only do you evil ". And he repeated it many times. In fact, this is a teaching from Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) by fear that Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be satisfied with him) fall in error. Which in turn would lead to his loss, that is to say neglecting Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) in favour of someone else.

Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) meant by "only do you evil" that any meeting with another Sheikh cannot be done without permission in order to complete education as it is recognized by all the people who educate. The advantage of the unveiling of this situation to Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be satisfied with him) is to make him aware of the omnipresent attention of Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), wherever he is.

He was previously in the Tariqa of the masters of Wazan, entirely devoted to their service, not turning to anyone else throughout months and days. When our character was dedicated to the service of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) and he gave up the meeting with people of his old way, he then had a visit from his former companions worried about him.

He received them cordially and sometimes, he went with them up to their place, keeping hidden his secret, not wanting to reveal his case. But, once precisely, Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) sent him in the region Wazan to deal with some cases. When he came back, he stayed a few days away from Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret).

When they met, Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) asked him why had he not seen him since his return, seeking thereby to show the secret of his education. Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be pleased with him) told him: "Oh! Sidi I had something that prevented me." Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) said: "Did something happen to you because of your visit to Wazan?" He said: "May Allah preserve us." Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) said: "Ask therefore your heart." From that moment, he returned to his certainty towards Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) and blamed himself because of what might occur in him as confusion and he repented to Allah for everything.

Know that Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) greatly loved our character with a special love. He praised him among his companions and certified his rank as a Sharif. On many occasions, he rose to welcome him by honour and respect. It is recognized that Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) increased the marks of respect when he met a descendant of the Prophet (peace be upon him) up to receive him on the doorstep of his house. His companions knew thereby whether the person was really a Sharif.

Among the habits Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) was the fact that nobody could embrace his hand and especially if he was a Sharif. But one day our character happened to kiss the hand of Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) when he was inattentive. Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) immediately ordered him to extend out his hand so he can kiss it in turn, he told Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret): "By Allah! Oh Sidi I find it easier to me decide to have my hand cut than let you kiss it. "Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) said: "By Allah! You must extend your hand to me. "And he finally kissed it.

Thus behaved Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) towards the noble descendants of the Prophet (peace be upon him). Moreover, he strongly recommended their respect as well as the Saints', whether dead or alive, with the best behaviour towards them.

It was reported that Sidi Taïeb Sefiani (may Allah be satisfied with him) lived in a room which was facing the grave of Sidi Moulay Idriss (may Allah be satisfied with him). Once Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), caring for his welfare, asked about the place where he lived. Our character praised his apartment by the fact that it was precisely the opposite noble grave of the Idriss, Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) told him: "Do not stretch out your legs in his direction out of respect to him ".

Among the amazing things that are happened with Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), there is the fact that Sidi Taïeb Sefiani (caring for his welfare) had asked him to invoke Allah (The Glorified and Exalted) so that he die with the love of the Sheikh, Seïdina (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret) fulfilled his request and told him: "Get ready for poverty."

But Sidi Taïeb (may Allah be satisfied with him) had an impressive wealth. It gradually declined, his heart was however soothed by the certainty of the love of Seïdina Ahmed Tidjani (may Allah sanctify his valuable secret), a love which was stronger than poverty, until his death.