His Return Home (R.A.A.) and His Second Trip to Fez

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani returned back to Cairo, with the pilgrims. As soon as he arrived, he visited sheikh El-Kurdi, to greet him, out of respect and good conduct. Sheikh El-Kurdi warmly welcomed him, and asked him to visit him on a daily basis. He complied with his wish. Those daily meetings had evolved into scientific assemblies, and dialogues. In those meetings, he answered with great competence and mastery questions on legal issues of jurisprudence. He quickly became widely known in Egypt; many scholars visited him and benefited from his profound knowledge.

Sheikh El-Kurdi, then, authorized him in the Khalwatiyah tariqa and tarbiyah (spiritual training), but Sidi Ahmed Tidjani was hesitant to accept. Sheikh El-Kurdi, then, asked him to authorize people under his guarantee. So he accepted. Sheikh El-Kurdi, wrote him the "Authorization and the Chain of Authority".

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani traveled back to Tunisia, where he did not stay for long. He left to Tlemcen in 1774G (1188H). He stayed there for three years in devout worshiping and guidance of people to Allah. In 1777G (1191H) he (R.A.A) made his second trip to Fez from Tlemcen, with the intention of visiting Mawlay Idriss El-Azhar. He met, during this trip, with his scribe & trustworthy Sidi Mohammed ibn El-Mishry El-Hassani El-Subaa'ie El-Sa'ihi of Takrat. Since then, Sidi El-Mishry, lead the prayers for Sidi Ahmed Tidjani and his family, and wrote the answers on his behalf until 1794G (1208H); the year that Sidi Ahmed Tidjani started himself to lead the prayers, in compliance with the instruction of his grandfather Prophet Mohammed صلى الله عليه وسلم. And, in the city of Wajdah (Oujdah), while returning back to Fez, he met, for the first time, Sidi Ali Harazim Baradah El-Fezi (from Fez), who accompanied him to Fez. Sidi Ali Harazim said, about this meeting, "I saw a vision, two years before this time, that showed my companionship with, and guidance by him. Then, two or three days, after he revealed himself to me, he reminded me of my vision, which I had forgotten." During this meeting, he authorized him in khalwatiyah tariqa and confided him with special knowledge and foretold him of what would be of him in revelation and strengthening. Thus, the first persons whom Sidi Ahmed Tidjani had authorized in the khalwatiyah tariqa were Sidi El-Mishry and Sidi Ali Harazim Baradah. These two companions lived up to the expectations, through the dedication and effort they had shown in servicing, and spreading of, the tariqa.

After visiting the maqam of Mawlay Idriss, he told his caliph Sidi Ali Harazim of his decision to go back to Tlemcen. He (R.A.A) bid him farewell, the same year he came to Fez, and asked him to hold fast to the vow, belovedness, and truthfulness & devotion in his endeavor to Allah.

Sidi Ahmed Tidjani stayed in Tlemcen for a while and, then, departed to Qasr El-Shallalah & Abu-Samghun.