His Pilgrimage (R.A.A) and His Visit to the Prophet (SAW)

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani started his trip, from the zawiyah of Sidi El-Sheikh, to Tlemcen, and then began his pilgrimage journey from there, heading towards Mecca, in 1772G (1186H). When he reached the town of Zawawa or Azwawi, he heard of the renowned imam and sheikh Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdur-Rahman El-Azhari. He visited him and got, from him, permission in the khalwatiyah tariqa. He arrived at Tunisia, in the same year. There he met with some more saints; one of those is the famous wali Sidi Abdus-Samad. The sheikh of this wali told him, through special envoy, that he is beloved. Sidi Ahmed Tidjani stayed in Tunisia for one year, moving between the Capital and the city of Sousa, delivering formal opinions in Islamic jurisprudence and answering many questions, and studying, as well, number of books, such as the 'Book of Wisdoms'. He soon became very reputable, and the news reached the ruler, who invited him to stay in Tunisia for teaching and benefiting people by his knowledge. He offered him a house and a good remuneration. However, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani, whose affection was strongly attracted towards the supreme and holy, kept silent when he received the letter of the ruler, and sailed off to Egypt next day. As soon as he reached Cairo, he visited its grand sheikh, at the time: Sidi Mohammed El-Kurdi, the Egyptian by residence and Iraqi by origin & birth. They held various deliberations among themselves. Then sheikh El-Kurdi asked him, after a few days, about his demand (aspiration). Sidi Ahmed Tidjani answered him by saying that his demand is to attain the status of the Grand Magnate. Sheikh El-Kurdi said, "You will get more than that".

From Egypt, he (R.A.A.) left to Makkah, which he arrived at in Shawwal 1187H (1773G). There he heard of sheikh Abul-Abbas Sidi Ahmed ibn Abdullah, the Indian, who had no permission to meet anybody. In spite of that, Sidi Ahmed Tidjani received from him special knowledge, through a special envoy, without meeting with him. He foretold Sidi Ahmed Tidjani about what he was destined to, and gave him glad tiding that he will inherit all his secrets, endowments, cognition, and illuminations. And, before his death on 20th Dhul-hajja 1187H he gave Sidi Ahmed Tidjani a very special Name, and asked him to recite it for seven days in seclusion until Allah endows him with revelation, but Sidi Ahmed Tidjani did not do it. He also told him that he would meet the Qutb El-Samman in Medinah, and gave him glad tiding that he would attain the status of Sidi Abul-Hassan El-Shazily, as he had been foretold before by Sidi Mohammed ibn El-Hassan El-Wanjali.

After he performed hajj and visited his grandfather, the Prophet Seidna Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم, in Medinah, he went to see Sidi Mohammed ibn Abdul-Kareem El-Samman. During this meeting, he asked Sidi Ahmed Tidjani to stay in seclusion with him for three days, but Sidi Ahmed Tidjani politely excused himself. He gave permission to Sidi Ahmed Tidjani in all the 'Names', and told him that he is the Grand Magnate (El-Qutb El-Jami'). He gave him the glad tiding that he will realize his aspiration and obtain the "Absolute General Authorization".