Birth & Education in a Religious Environment

Sidi Ahmed El-Tidjani was born in 1737G (1150H) in the town of Ain Madhi, the home of his late ancestors. His fourth grandfather, Sidi Mohammed ibn Salim had moved, with his family, from the outskirts of Asfi, in Morocco, and settled in Ain Madhi, amongst the tribe of Bani-tojeen or Tidjanah, and got married from them. Thus, his descendents are known as the "Tidjanis"; called after the tribal name of their maternal-uncles. However, his real ancestry traces back to Seidna El-Hassan El-Sibt ibn Seidna Ali ibn Abu Talib (R.A.A.).

Ain Madhi was a town of great scientific importance, with an environment full of devoutness and piety, as it was a centre of knowledge and righteousness since inception. Most of the family members of Sidi Ahmed Tidjani, who constitute part of this town, had possessed a high degree of knowledge in both shari'a (Islamic jurisprudence) and sophism. His grandfathers were amongst the finest religious scholars and were well established in sainthood; like his two grandfathers Sidi Ahmed ibn Mohammed, and Sidi Mohammed ibn Salim who migrated to Ain Madhi. The father of Sidi Ahmed Tidjani was a pious scholar, very devout to the Sunnah (the Prophet's Tradition), a teacher and adherer to Allah, and to the truth who would never concede to a blamer. He had a room in his house where no one was admissible but for remembrance of Allah (dhikr).

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani grew up under righteous parents, who raised, educated and cultivated him, as their peers would do. Wherever he moved in Ain Madhi, he would find himself among religious scholars, and under the care of religious jurists, and teachers, in the mosque or zawiyah, dedicated to teach their students useful Islamic sciences. Thus, he grew up in an environment full of virtuousness, religiousness and preservation.

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani possessed a high degree of aspiration, spiritual energy, and noble character; guarded by divine providence and auspice. He was never accustomed to the habitude and excessiveness of people. He (R.A.A.) was very determinant and resolute; he would never give up what he had started, and had never left an unfinished business. His aspiration had always been supreme, and never inclined to the petty and insignificant.

Under this exemplary care, amidst a family of knowledge and righteousness, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani grew up with noble manners, perseverance and diligence, holding fast to the religion and the path of the rightly-guided, venerated by both the commons and the elites. Within this environment, which is naturally disposed for special care and guidance, he memorized the Qur'an, by age seven, as narrated by imam Warsh the student of imam Nafie, under the renowned righteous jurist & scholar sheikh Mohammed ibn Hammu Et-Tidjani El-Madhawi (of Ain Madhi & Tidjana tribe), who in turn studied and memorized the Qur'an under the saint Sidi Eissa Bu-Ukkaz Et-Tidjani El-Madhawi. Then, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani concentrated his efforts in studying the fundamentals and branches of religious and artistic sciences. He mastered them and conceived their intricacies and fine points. He continued his education until he qualified for teaching and ifta'a before he made his first trip to Fez. During this time, and while in Ain Madhi, he inclined to solitude, meditation and asceticism, and attracted to devout worshiping and night prayers.

As soon as he attained puberty his father got him married without delay, in order to preserve and safeguard him, and in observance of, and compliance with Sunna. He (R.A.A) started to guide people to Allah and exhort them to the righteous path, support Sunnah and revive the religion in the hearts of the believers. He and his family were renowned as examples in reviving the Sunnah and in commanding what is good & prohibiting what is evil. He had well deserved the name of religious revivalist.

Despite his young age, these qualities convinced the people of Ain Madhi to, unanimously, appoint him as a successor to his father in the zawiyah; he was, then, 16 years old. He carried this mission for five years teaching Qur'an & Sunnah and other religious sciences.